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)
Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site
Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools.
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2:30 PM on 12.22.2008
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On a side note, gamestop still annoys me. Maybe this would make them less annoying. I buy my shit at target.
Ehhh.. I wonder if he was Cuban.
CONFIRMED: GAMESTOP HOOKAH LOUNGE.
And what the hell is that translucent semi-sphere above the search kiosk? Is that a gamestop mind-reader device?
Creepy.
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..
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??
Fuck yes. I don't have to ask the zombie behind the counter for help. Now, onto robo-clerks!
EB Games is owned by Gamestop. You can tell because all of the marketing material is the same.