Gamertell

As Retail & Leisure International (RLI) points out in a recent article, GameStops are a worldwide presence. The video game giant, owned by Barnes & Noble, is now a conglomeration of many different video game stores. After all, Funcoland, EB Games, Software Etc. and Babbages were all acquired and merged together on the company’s path to domination. In fact, the giant is growing even bigger, recently acquiring the French video game chain Micromania.

RLI states that now there are more than 6,000 GameStop stores around the world and more than 550 stores were opened globally in 2008. The company even plans to start opening stores in Asia , specifically the Middle East, China and India.

But is this a good thing?

I’ve always had good experiences when shopping in GameStop stores. I’m usually able to find what I’m looking for and, if I can’t, one of the workers always offers to call and check with other nearby stores to help. Also, there is the discount program you can join to get additional discounts on used games.

But, this growth also means that smaller chains and family-owned game stores may become even more rare. I can name at least seven GameStops in my immediate area but when it comes to just a local game store, I find only think of two. One of those two, Disc Replay, shouldn’t even count since its a general used media store that mainly specializes in DVDs and CDs.

So then it comes down to one: Video Games Etc. in Norridge, Illinois.

When you walk in, you can tell there’s a whole different feel in Video Games Etc. It’s a hominess and sense of nostalgia that a GameStop store, or even regular chain, couldn’t capture. The most recent systems - the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PSP and DS games - are all near the front. As you walk towards the back, you begin to step back in time. You’ll see the presence of NES and Famicom games, SNES, Dreamcast, Genesis, Colecovision, Atari, Jaguar, Intellivision, Lynx, Gamegear and other classic systems.

The front of the store even has an old fashioned game kiosk with different systems hooked in - an Intellivision is hooked up next to a PlayStation. Admittedly, I’ve never walked in and seen this kiosk turned on, but the fact that its there adds a certain atmosphere other stores don’t have.

There’s even a back room filled with computers. If you pay a reasonable fee at the small desk, you can enter in and play PC games. For those gamers who have ancient computers, or simply aren’t sure if they want to invest in a title like Call of Duty without trying it first, Video Games Etc. offers a unique test-drive opportunity.

In an ideal world, GameStop stores could function without overriding the smaller institutions that existed before them. With the recent economic developments, the small game stores may become extinct. So, the next time you’re about to step out and check a GameStop for a used title, pause for a moment. Get out your Yellow Pages or check online to see if there’s an independent game store near you. You may be glad that you did.

Read [Retail & Leisure International] Also Read [Gamertell] Site [Video Games Etc] Site [GameStop]