electronics-boutique
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Fury still being sold in retail outlets, but who's buying it?
There's a forum post at atomicmpc.com that involves itself with the fact that Fury is still being sold in retail outlets (Electronics Boutique specifically named, though apparently there are others), when the game is free to download and free to play. As written here, though, it's not quite so cut-and-dried, as there is a slight benefit to owning the physical disc. My question, however, is this: given the depth of negative press Auran has gotten for Fury, is it worth paying for at all? Across the board, Fury's gotten nothing but horrible reviews, and I'm surprised the game exists at all. This is an industry story on the level of Duke Nukem Forever, or Daikatana. Is the disc worth owning for any reason other than a White Elephant gift?
Rumor: GameStop and EB Games no longer selling new GBA titles?
The current buzz around the Cheap Ass Gamer community indicates that both GameStop and Electronics Boutique, the latter being a subsidiary of the former, are supposedly suspending the sale of new GBA games. Similar to how the two retailers recently converted their dusty GameCube stock, GBA titles that were previously marked as "new" are now considered "used" and are sold at used prices. While this seems like the perfect opportunity to fill in the gaps of our GBA collection without having to spend too much, we are a little worried that this changeover might prompt some stores to gut the new games, throwing away their boxes and manuals to free up rack space. That just ain't right![Via CAG]
Phoenix Wright: Sales for All
Amazon has cut the price of Phoenix Wright: Justice for All, the sequel to everyone's favorite court-based adventure game, bringing it down to $19.99. We don't expect this deal to last for long, so race your shopping cart to the checkout lane as fast as your feet will allow.If for some reason, God forbid, you haven't played Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney yet and are hesitant to start the series midway through, don't forget that you can also pick up a used copy at GameStop or EB Games for as low as $21.99! We admit, that's still pretty expensive for a game as old as this one, but it's better than paying full price. All you'll need to take advantage of this sorta-bargain is the coupon we posted earlier this morning.
Save $5 on overpriced used games at EB/GS
We've always thought that GameStop and EB Games's used titles were, at the very least, $5 too expensive, especially when you consider the pittance they reward you with for trading in your games, old or new. The thrifty among you will find some solace in this coupon that both companies sent out last night, enticing you to "Save $5 when you buy any used DS game priced $14.99 or higher."You'll have a better selection picking out your game from the stores' shelves, but the coupon code, "EBC3002763," should also work with online purchases. If you head to their "Used Games" pages now, you might be able to scavenge preplayed titles like Elite Beat Agents and Resident Evil: Deadly Silence before the wolves descend upon them and tear their availability from your grip. Check past the post break for the coupon.
Euro retailer Game buys Gamestation for $150 million
The European game retail space just got a little less competitive. American movie rental giant Blockbuster announced today that it is selling its British Gamestation subsidiary to European mega-retailer Game Group PLC for $150 million (approx. £74 million). The move will increase Game's British footprint by over 200 stores and leave the chain as the largest games retailer in Europe by a sizable margin.The consolidation is reminiscent of the merger between Gamestop and EBGames a few years back that created a virtual monopoly on U.S. game retailers. There had been some speculation that GameStop would scoop up GameStation next, getting a larger toehold in the British market in the process, but that now seems to be a missed opportunity. "Instead of gaining traction in the market through an acquisition of Gamestation, GameStop allowed its key rival in the UK, Game Group, to create a greater barrier to entry in that market," analyst Michael Pachter said. "We are not optimistic that GameStop will be able to grow a grass roots presence in the UK for at least three years."
Gotta pre-catch 'em all: Pokemon preorder bonuses
If you've been on the fence about this whole Pokémon thing, just waiting to be convinced about the monster-collecting genre (thus giving away your rock-underside-located residential status) then Nintendo knows just how to tempt you: free junk. Preorder the new DS Poké-games, Diamond and Pearl, from the Gamestop -EB mega-retail conglomerate and you'll be rewarded with a stylus! Also included is a ... stylus ... holder! It's a holder for your stylus! (Back in our day, we had stylus holders too. We called them DSes.)Naturally, both of these items are decorated with Pokemans, so friends who come anywhere near your DS-wielding hand or your designated DS Accessories Storage Area will be tipped off about your pathological need -- your addiction -- to catch 'em. Also, it wouldn't be Pokémon if there were no incentive to buy both games -- in the case of these bonuses, the styli each have a different little Poké-mascot on top: Dialga for the Diamond version and Palkia for the Pearl version. We assure you that those are real Pokémon names and not rare diseases. Or maybe both? We don't have medical degrees.[Via GayGamer]
EB-Gamestop launches download service, "largely garbage" declares 1UP
EB Games and Gamestop have launched a download service, staking claim in the growing industry trend to distribute content digitally. If you're familiar with the conglomerate retailer's websites, the setup is straightforward, giving browsers near-instant access to over 1,000 PC titles; though it's a collection that has been criticized by 1UP as being "largely garbage." We're also concerned about prices. The games range from $9.99 to $49.99, but, for example, Texas Hold 'Em and Zuma, which are featured on the Gamestop (pictured) and EB pages, both retail for $19.99, whereas XBLA versions of the same games retail for just $10. Still, as 1UP points out, there are a few gems to be unearthed from the trash heap (e.g., 1942, Civilization III, Deus Ex, & Heroes of Might and Magic). Unfortunately, the sites lack a satisfying interface for sorting out these favorites from the rubbish. Looks like an act of desperation to us. This service needs a makeover and more reasons for us to check it out. Anyone cashed in on a game yet? How are the download speeds? [Via 1UP] Shop - Gamestop Shop - EB Games
