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Phone cam pics of a new prototype GameStop store photo

Going into those little hole in the mall GameStop stores leaves much to be desired. Some are so small that you're likely to knock sh*t off the shelves just walking through it. It's also sometimes difficult to find what you're looking for in the clutter. And while you can always ask a clerk if they have a certain game in stock, not all of them know of or have heard of Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army, and sometimes it's just better to look for yourself.

This prototype, found and stealth photographed by NeoGAF member Feep ("f*ck them, I'm a ninja" he says), is in Gainesville, Florida. According to that store's clerk, this is one of only a few prototype stores in the nation.

First off, it's three times as large as a standard Gamestop, with two separate wood-inlaid counters and high-quality flooring. There were no less than EIGHTEEN separate demo kiosks around the store, including a giant custom kiosk for Guitar Hero: World Tour. They were even demoing Valkyria Chronicles(!). Also littering the outer walls, amongst the games, stood high-definition touch-screen displays that you could browse the store catalog, as well as manually search for any title to check for a game description, price (both new and used), and whether or not the game is currently in-stock. Both these touchscreen displays and several of the kiosks feature those high-quality audio cone things mounted above. Also, thanks to these displays, I found out Prince of Persia is selling for $40 new due to some Amazon price drop. Awesome. I bought it.

This looks pretty great. What do you think? The stock searching is just what these stores need.

[Thanks, Patrick]


LAUNCH GALLERY (4 IMAGES)
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25 comments | showing # 1 to 25

necrozen's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 14:32
necrozen
The picture on the left looks like some kind of Fallout 3 themed hooka.

On a side note, gamestop still annoys me. Maybe this would make them less annoying. I buy my shit at target.
garison's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 14:42
garison
That is so rad. Sucks I don't live in a large urban metropolis. So I prolly won't ever to be in one of these stores.
R3Y GUTI3RR3Z's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 14:45
R3Y GUTI3RR3Z
The prototype store in Miami had droids that greeted you in 42 different languages and were familiar with moister-vaporators. Come to think of it.. they also spoke Batchi.

Ehhh.. I wonder if he was Cuban.
DreRox's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 14:54
DreRox
I live in Barrie, Ontario (Canada) and we have one of those in my mall. We also have an EB Games on the lower level that was there first.. But it's been a couple months now and it still hasn't closed. Maybe they're looking to co-exist.
Chicken008's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 14:55
Chicken008
Wheres the tower of Rockband/Guitar Hero World Tour?
Wexx's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 14:58
Wexx
That stand that the DSs are on looks like a hookah.

CONFIRMED: GAMESTOP HOOKAH LOUNGE.
Saint Demon's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 15:18
Saint Demon
Sounds like their just doing what Funcoland (anyone remember them) did before they were bought out by the Gamestop/Barnes and Noble franchise. I remember you could play any game before you bought it and you could even flip through a catalouge that held the prices for trades and such. The store was still small. And parents would often leave their children there to play Pokemon while they shopped at other stores.
mykie's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 15:29
mykie
Considering that most Gamestop stores are strip mall retail slips that are no larger than a dumpster, I don't see this coming to EVERY store, maybe just flagship stores.

And what the hell is that translucent semi-sphere above the search kiosk? Is that a gamestop mind-reader device?

Creepy.
Redzie's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 15:40
Redzie
Yeah these stores where in the newswires months ago, and everyone back then were speculating that this move was made to fight the threat of Play N Trade's "try-before-you-buy" policy.
covah's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 15:52
covah
Big gamestop is big. And speaking of the amazon PoP price drop, did he get the LE for 40? Cus I just did haha.
Zeno's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 15:58
Zeno
Does it include less obnoxious employees?
Cynical Gamer's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 16:24
Cynical Gamer
It's still not enough to shop at Gamestop ever again.
Reisen's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 17:02
Reisen
We had a Gamestation store like this in the UK: it was made up of two floors, the first floor had a massive space filled with new releases, a few competition areas, some of those cool full size character models (at least two Snake's I think) and a retro cabinet. Then the basement was dedicated entirely to game related paraphanelia (T shirts, figures, statues etc), a whole section for old imported and retro games (<3) and a row of demo pods to try out what's new. It was the most amazing game shop ever!

Sadly, last time I visited it I found the entire basement had been filled in and everything that made the store good was gone: I can find barely any second hand games in there. Its all gone rather clinical, sounds a bit like what i've heard Gamestops to be like over in the USA; the huge space of the first floor is now filled with full price retail games with £39.99 stickers all over them, which I wouldn't touch given how ridiculous these prices are. Its certainly duller than any of the other smaller GS's i've seen anyway.

I tell you though, I envy this spring of cool looking stores coming across the pond. I just wish they'd still pay that attention as to what gamers want over here too..
Static Jak's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 17:32
Static Jak
Those seats look shite.
q-pa's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 18:23
q-pa
Reminds me a lot of those Virgin MegaStores, with that big thing in the middle and better designs.

Here in Pittsburgh where there are a few local alternatives, I see GS as a hellhole pretty much. Hopefully these changes will make it more tolerable.

And what's that I hear, demo kiosks that actually work??
Jawmuncher's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 18:37
Jawmuncher
If we can search a store's stock online that would be amazing!!!
The Amazing Shenazin's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 19:08
The Amazing Shenazin
it defiantly wont come to here
welkstar's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 19:25
welkstar
Do I have to pre-order something to use the kiosk?
Monodi's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 21:32
Monodi
Holy shit, I am loving it. I hope this is in most, if not every mall.
TrailerParkJesus's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 23:25
TrailerParkJesus
"high-definition touch-screen displays that you could browse the store catalog"

Fuck yes. I don't have to ask the zombie behind the counter for help. Now, onto robo-clerks!
nintendoll's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/22/2008 23:26
nintendoll
@DreRox

EB Games is owned by Gamestop. You can tell because all of the marketing material is the same.
Wedge's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/23/2008 01:32
Wedge
Lol this won't be going inside any of the mall locations, there's no space for it. Those things are always ludicrously cramped. And I get 90% of my games off the internets these days anyways, between Amazon and auction and trading sites.
ToxinBlackheart's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/23/2008 18:30
ToxinBlackheart
Needs more ball pits.
Solgrim's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/23/2008 20:55
Solgrim
Gamestop is fearing the age of Digital Distribution.
Pizzajam's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/24/2009 00:01
Pizzajam
lol at the ball pits comment. I'm excited to see where Gamestop goes from here. I'm only a college kid, but I have invested in their stock.
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