Let it never be said that GameStop isn’t willing to try something new every now and then to stay fresh and “with it”. Because DLC is becoming hugely popular (Battlefield 1943 is an excellent example), GameStop is planning to launch an in-store DLC service where consumers will buy the content at their local shop and download it once they get home.
Getting DLC with your games from GameStop is not an altogether unfamiliar practice for those who have pre-ordered games and gotten bonuses, but this strikes me as a little strange. You can already buy Microsoft Space Dollars and PSN and Wii point cards in store, so those of us without credit cards can get our DLC at home anyways. So, unless GameStop discontinues the sale of those cards, I don’t see any real way that this will succeed.
Of course, this is all speculation right now, and it will probably end up as yet another selling point that the person behind the counter has to bombard you with before you purchase your game. What do you guys think? Is this destined for failure, or will it hook those gamers afraid of the natural progression of the industry?
Source: 1up
I don’t think that this will work because the whole point of DLC is exactly that(DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT!) something you DO NOT have to go to the store to buy. This is what makes DLC so convenient and appealing. Having to buy it through a store strips that away.
“An in-store DLC service where consumers will buy the content at their local shop and download it once they get home.”
I like that you chose the word ‘consumers’ instead of ‘customers’. It’s true, it’s what they do.
I think with the direction of gaming ( -> More to console, less to PC = younger audience / less informed gamers) that this may well be a good thing.
There’s a lot of kids who are having games purchased FOR them that have no idea what DLC even is… So if this is some way of educating them that they can get stuff without Mommy holding their hand all the way to the mall; go for it! If it puts more money in the hands of people who develope good games, I say beat them up and steal the change!
I think this could go fairly well for them. It is the same system that World of Warcraft uses when they have 30 day cards at Walmarts and other stores. Also, if I payed for JUST the content, and not the microsoft points that I always end up having to have a couple left over, I would consider this as a good medium to physically purchase DLC.
Why would I go to a store when I can do it sitting on my bed, in my underwear, drinking a Mai Tai, scratching my butt?
You wouldn’t Anthony, that’s the reason most of us will be skeptical of it lol.
When I first read about this on The Escapist, I assumed this meant DLC on a disc that you can take home. Except it isn’t, and it’s basically DLC for the “RARRRRGH POINTS CARDS” crowd.
They’re doing it because people can use their trade ins toward the purchase of DLC, and not just normal games. Trust me, I work at Gamestop, and people LOVE to trade.
People do love trading. I paid off my Assassin’s Creed II pre-order and put 25 bones down on the Mass Effect 2 LE yesterday. Good stuff, in my opinion.