PS3 News: GameStop: We've "Got To Be" In The Classic Game Business - PS3 News

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GameStop: We've "Got To Be" In The Classic Game Business

So I've got this unique toy store near me that sells old video game systems and cartridges. GameStop typically sticks with the new stuff, usually only going back one, maybe two generations if you're lucky.

However, that may change in the future, at least in the online capacity. In speaking to Polygon, GameStop CEO Paul Raines said his company does see an opportunity in the classic, retro world of gaming. Don't forget that GameStop still has quite a few old games due to trade-ins over the years.

Said Raines:

"We've got them. We think there's a vintage sales opportunity, so we're accumulating some inventory. It's a big idea, and there's a few problems with it. The first one is sourcing the product, the condition, the refurbishment, all that stuff. But there's a customer for it. And we're working on some stuff we haven't announced yet. If you go to eBay and look at all of the gaming stuff that's on there, it's unbelievable. Collector's stuff. We've got to be in that business. We will be."

This would likely come in the form of an added channel on the GameStop website, so don't think you'll wander into a brick-and-mortar location and pick up Super Mario 3 for the SNES. Raines said he believes the website is the perfect location for vintage titles, as they "wouldn't demand the overhead of shipping the product to stores." Okay, so that makes them relatively cheap for the consumer, right, Paul?

Anyway, given the fact that most older gamers will always love the classics, this doesn't seem like a bad idea.

Tags: gamestop, old games, vintage games, retro games

8/30/2012 8:29:13 PM Ben Dutka

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Comments (16 posts)

xenris
Thursday, August 30, 2012 @ 9:31:06 PM
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My only problem with this is people can make replicas of NES game really easily, and I think SNES games to some extent. So you might just be playing a ROM and not an authentic vintage copy.

I dunno how likely it would be that they do this, but still it raises some concern for me.

I mean if the prices are good then I mean who cares, but if you pay top dollar for something that is not vintage and gamestop is profiting from it then I think that is a sleeze move.

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Killa Tequilla
Thursday, August 30, 2012 @ 9:32:20 PM
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Move forward gamestop. Also give the publishers their share.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, August 30, 2012 @ 9:43:23 PM
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Yeah since they are dying that would be a good idea to extend their life a bit, I love classic gaming but I put most of my money into keeping up with this generation so the Dreamcast and Xbox1 are perfect retro system emulators for me. It's also sweet to get the old Dos games like Quake and Doom running on them.

I've even started a neat craft project of building my Dreamcast collection up by putting all the proper artwork and labels onto the discs and jewel cases. Looks great too. I really wish my old light guns could still work :(

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ethird1
Friday, August 31, 2012 @ 1:42:36 AM

Worldendwithme! I loved the dreamcast so much. PSO. Sonic. My favorite game was probably Record of Lodoss War. That was one epic game.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, August 31, 2012 @ 10:26:32 AM

I know I've got that in my collection someplace. Isn't it sort of like Diablo? For me it's between Grandia II and Skies of Arcadia. Shenmue is badass too.

I recently upgraded my shartty old A/V cables to S-video for a better experience. I can't afford the crazy VGA upconversion stuff for 1080p right now but I think it would be cool at some point.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 8/31/2012 10:27:04 AM

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Coffeya
Saturday, September 01, 2012 @ 12:31:52 AM

the anime record of lodoss war was amazing and I loved that opening theme song =D

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BikerSaint
Thursday, August 30, 2012 @ 9:48:17 PM
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If they want to do it right, it better include the manuals & the "original" case(or box) w/cover art, and not that fugly GS branded all-white "no cover art" paper that they put slip into some of their used game cases.
And as a collector, I would never buy any games without all of the above.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, August 30, 2012 @ 9:52:15 PM

I imagine they would sell beat up scraps for a semi-reasonable price and then severely overprice the games that are in good shape and come with box and manual.

Man, remember when game boxes were just cheap cardboard? So many memories.

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BikerSaint
Thursday, August 30, 2012 @ 10:14:12 PM

World,

That's the only thing I regret no keeping with my old 3DO games & my earliest PS1 games.

I had put them all into smaller CD jewel cases to save shelf space & threw away all of those big bulky elongated boxes.

Now I wish I still had all those old cases.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, August 30, 2012 @ 10:47:15 PM

That's rough biker, but as I mentioned above you can do a pretty darned good job with some photo paper, online box art repositories and clear cases bought off ebay. Takes some work and measuring but it's fun :)

http://www.cdcovers.cc/covers

http://www.thecoverproject.net/view.php?cat_id=5


Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 8/30/2012 10:49:36 PM

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BikerSaint
Thursday, August 30, 2012 @ 11:35:24 PM

Thanks world,
That will work!

And highly appreciated!!

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WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, August 31, 2012 @ 12:12:08 AM

Anytime my friend, got to respect the collection :)

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firesoul453
Thursday, August 30, 2012 @ 10:08:14 PM
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N64 games for life!

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Rogueagent01
Thursday, August 30, 2012 @ 11:35:55 PM
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I just hope Gamestop stays out of it. The shops I have around here are fantastic and I feel Gamestop would be going into that market for one reason, and that is to eliminate any competition.

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Solid Fantasy
Friday, August 31, 2012 @ 1:30:24 AM
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Sure would be nice to replay the original 8 bit Zelda. The first one that started it all. For me I would need a way to play with game genie codes on. Did you know that once you beat the game the second playthrough will have all of the levels reorganized into different locations? That had to be the first attempt at replay value in history.

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Coffeya
Saturday, September 01, 2012 @ 12:34:26 AM
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I don't mind if they go into that market. Actually I miss it. I use to go to game crazy for that type of stuff. If gamestop picks it up then I think they will do a good job. I like to go into a store sometimes for older generation games instead of online all the time.

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