This weekend I went to the mall for a spell, and strolled casually into Gamestop/EBGames. During my high school years EBGames was the place to get games. Almost all of my PS/N64/PC game purchases were exclusive to EBgames, and most of those were pre-orders. Funcoland was a neat place to pick up some oldie for a cheap price, and occasionally get rid of a stinker someone bought me for Christmas and get a few bucks back. The staff weren’t exactly experts on what they were selling, but they were very helpful and courteous and never pushed anything on you, all relatively clean cut and pleasant. But times have changed. Anytime in the past few years I walked into EBgames/Gamestop/Funcoland, now all one company, I find myself retreating and feeling rather sordid, as if I have somehow been violated.

I’m not sure what exactly it was. Perhaps it was the clientel, asking for used copies of new games, or buying some game that I’d never heard of because it’s so craptastic that it won’t appear in most gaming press reviews. Or perhaps the people behind the counter, looking like they need a bath and shouting across the store at customer and at co worker alike. Could it have been the “would you like to pre-order such and such” at some mom would was buying a DS game for their kid. Or the citation of advertising taglines associated with the offered pre-order game? The shoddily shelved games, putting used next to new? Or was it all the stories I’ve been reading about wherein used games are sold as new?

Yes, this is not a one time experience, but a repeat experience I have had at various Gamestop/EB outlets across metropolitan Massachusetts, and even going back to the Mid-Hudson valley in college. What was once a proud place where I willfully spent my money is now a place I would never buy from. The combination of shameless corporate promotion, utter disrespect, and sheer rip-offs artistry have turned places I was giddy to go to five years ago into miniature hell holes you can find in any mall and various strip malls across America. I feel like everything that I loathe about gamers and the gaming industry and is somehow been compacted and distributed into each and everyone of these retail shops. Sure they were never amazing, but there is something to be said for staff that help you despite their lack of knowledge and staff that say “Oh no you should get this game its new and amazing! Also you can trade it back for 5 bucks once your done with it!”

Perhaps I exaggerate. But the horrible purchases I have seen recommended in these stores, especially to ignorant parents, as well as the blatant disregard, just reinforced that feeling I get every time I go near one of these retail outlets. The total lack of responsibility and respect this company and its employees has for the gaming public is just wrong. I can’t image what it would be like to be a gaming ignorant parent of a 12 year old, who is more or less spit on by these tagline pre-order pushing people. Not to mention the clientel who seem to exhibit the personality and intelligence of the crap they are buying. If something like a third of all game sales come from these places, then the image they portray has a tremendous impact on the image of gaming and gamers everywhere. It is a sad state of affairs, and I can only hope that Gamestop burns, I am glad for the GTA IV delay that they claim will punch a hole in their glorious profits. Profits of a company that exhibits all the qualities of a monopoly. No, not an outright monopoly, but a monopoly on the exclusive game retailer.

But what are my major retail choices for brick and mortar game retail these days?

Best Buy
Circuit City
Wal-Mart/Target
EBgames/Gamestop

Yeah, I think I will stick with Amazon and just wait those extra few days for the free shipping.