Since the 80's, we've had dedicated video game stores that featured a far wider selection of games than your typical Wal*Mart, Target or Kmart. Babbages, Funcoland, Software Etc. each offered a unique experience for gamers looking for something new to play. Oh, you've never heard of those stores? I'm not surprised, as they all vanished years ago.
The rise of retro gaming has led to an explosion of new video game stores that sell both new and old games, however the king of game stores, Gamestop, has been struggling in recent years. Go into one today and you'll see as much merchandise adorning the shelves as you will video games.
The rise of digital
Digital distribution has completely changed how consumers buy video games. While it hasn't wiped out console and handheld gaming yet, its simply an inevitability. Only 8% of PC games today are sold on a physical format. Consoles gamers are also rapidly adopting the digital model and its unlikely that the next versions of the Playstation and XBox will support physical media at all.
With no games being released on physical media, retailers like Gamestop have to increasingly rely on selling merchandise, older games and digital download points cards to stay profitable. If Gamestop still exists 10 years from now, its going to be practically unrecognizable from the ones scattered around malls in 2017.
Collectors unite
The good news is that there will always be the need for game stores that cater to retro game collectors. We hate digital downloads, because its essentially buying air. You don't own anything other than the right to play a game you don't really own. While its extremely convenient, its not without its downsides.
Retro game collectors will always need stores to buy games and hardware, so stores that cater to this market will continue for decades to come.
A changing landscape
Much like music and movies, games are moving into an all-digital future of downloads and streaming services. Though as the resurgence of the popularity of vinyl has shown, there is room for physical media along with digital. Game stores that cater to game collectors and retro game enthusiasts will remain viable for years to come, long after Gamestop has sold its last copy of Call of Duty 26.
Retail, in general, has been dying and GameStop was never a good store to begin with. Whereas stores like Best Buy and Microcenter push you to buy extended warranties, Nordstrum and Target push you to get credit cards, etc Gamestop pushes its stupid membership card and punishes employees who fail to make their unrealistic weekly quota.
They also push customers to buy used games while offering you a fraction of the price for trading them in. With retail dying due to the rise of online marketplaces, Gamestop is dying along with it while helping to accelerate its own demise.
I agree with your collecting standpoint. Pink Gorilla is a pretty successful chain of retro games in Seattle but that niche market has little to do with modern gaming. Retro enthusiasts will always exist but collecting for mordern systems is fairly pointless.
It is a generational thing. Everything comes back in style, eventually. Just look at the resurgence of LP's or 1980's vintage shoes such as Nike or whatever. People love that stuff for whatever reason even years after it is long gone from stores - sometimes enough demand is made to warrant re-issues of classic stuff (like LP's or new product in the style of the old).
Video games will be no different. The problem with video games is there is a HUGE after market reselling niche that are willing to overbid just about anything so they can feature it on their "channel" on Youtube. There is a bubble that is about to burst here and that group is probably the most to blame for it.
Stores selling just retro video games are probably going to die off quicker than we expect. I figure what will happen is all "retro" stuff ends up in little shops, not just games. Like a mega retro store where you can buy those missing NES games alongside the action figures that were released, or the game was based on, and a copy of the television series on DVD/VHS and the comics - all in one stop. That is what I think will happen to retro stores.
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used game stores are a blessing to less fortunate people but pricing for gaming is rediculous these days
Exactly. I bought a PSP 3000 (intended to get a 2000) specifically to mod so I could take pics. I figured I would grab some games for it at that same game store. I quickly changed my mind when I saw they wanted $13 for Daxter and $30 for each of the God of War games. Those are higher than Ebay fees - instant gratification is not worth that much to me.
Thanks for the reading list!
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