Microsoft is really making a serious push into retail, as evidenced by what I've seen today at the opening of their first retail store. One of the biggest issues with software sales at retail is the real estate that it takes up on the sales floor. You can't possibly have every product available for the consumer to buy. Or can you?
At Microsoft Stores, customers will be able to purchase anything in the Microsoft catalog of PC software, even if the retail box is not carried in the store. Using a kiosk with a touchscreen display that resembles a stripped down, user-friendly version of the Microsoft online store, customers will be able to add products to a cart. Once finished, you save your cart with a name and approach any of the store's representatives with a handheld computer.
After paying with cash or credit card, the disc, cover and manual are printed in the back of the store. The entire process takes about four minutes and the final result looks just as good as if you'd purchased the retail box.
This is the kind of thing I've been waiting to see for years (in fact, about five years ago, I proposed a similar solution to the executives at a major retailer I worked for to better manage CD and DVD sales). Having a one-stop shop for everything Microsoft has to offer without having to worry about shipping times from an online store or praying that the big box retailer down the street will have what you want in stock is a huge advantage for the new chain. Well done, Microsoft.
Conrad Zimmerman is Destructoid's News Editor and home to the busiest mustache in the gaming press. An amateur historian and pop culture fanatic, Conrad possesses a nearly limitless wealth of videogame factoids and a passion for the power of games to teach, inspire and entertain. He enjoys reading, writing and turning things which should be fun into work.
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Contest:
2:04 PM on 10.22.2009
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Still think it's pretty cool. I wonder if you can re-sell them, though? Like, if they burned the games in the store, would that still be kosher to sell back to Gamestop or something?
Hmm...
Now, more importantly, are you going to sue them for stealing your idea, Conrad?
MS makes a lot of dick moves lately but this is pure awesome.
EVERYONE WIN
I would still like to see special editions such for sale in physical form, especially if it came with special boxing or other free things (maps figures etc etc)
The on-demand aspect of digitally distributed games could lead a myriad of new types of deals -- coupons and discounts for a physical copy, deals on multiple purchases, etc.
Kudos, MS.
I see indie developers as another possible big winner here - on demand copies means a publisher could be bypassed. If Microsoft set their marketplace up so that all you need to provide is a PDF of the artwork and the disc image, all you'd have to worry about is getting a devkit and passing the certification process.
I want Braid and Shadow Complex on my shelves!
We need these in the UK!
Erm, Scottsdale pretty much IS Phoenix. The only difference may be the design of the streetlamps when you cross the intersection.
That said, I live in Phoenix and I'm STRONGLY tempted to go run off one of those discs, though I have no idea why.
All they need to do is make the thing able to Burn disks, print and label covers for the disks, and print manuals by itself... might need some work, but i think it's all pretty feasible... nearly an entire gamestop could be replaced by a single vending machine (and they thought they would only have to worry about Digital distribution)... and all you need is some guy to reload the paper/disks/DVDcases once in a while
Pop into store, repair 360, buy a copy of Windows 7 and head home.
I wish them all the success, just like Apple before them.