PC Games and Best Buy

[Keeper]

Just had a WEIRD experiance.
I had 20 bucks in reward zone points. So I said the HECK with it... Let me pull the trigger on the new Tomb Raider.

Walked around.. Looked.... Read... Enjoyed myself.
Went to the PC game section



Two TINY shelves. Went to the free standing Tomb Raider cardboard display. NUTTIN. Got a guy. He checked.
"Weird" he says. "PC version not on our website. I cant order it. etc etc."
I said "what about Digital Download. Can I get that from you?"

"Nope" he said...
I proceeded to buy a 20 dollar "Steam Card".

So sad in a way. I know BB is on a Death Watch. But they have a purpose. Ran good sales at times. I was hoping the upper "Peeps" were restructuring their operations.

Sitting here at my desk, lookinng at their website. It is a CF. They are actually pointing you to other merchants on some items.
And NO Tomb Raider PC ANYWHERE on their site.

MAN, I hope they don't think they can be another Amazon...

 

[Canun]

BB just doesn't stock many PC games anymore. I figured that'd be the case when I still saw Warcraft 3 for $60 on the shelf in 2008.

 

[you2]

BB believed the hype that PC gaming is dead. In their defense the internet pubilshers (steam, gog, origin, ...) probably kill enough of the business that it isn't profitable to retail any longer.

 

[Kalmah]

I don't think anybody really stocks much for pc games anymore. I think this is potentially threatening. When I was a little kid walking around a store I could look at all the boxes and learn about the possibilities. Without them on the shelves, the kids are going to be looking at the console games instead. And then the kids who don't know about digital purchases may never know. Hopefully I'm underestimating them.

 

[Keeper]

I don't think anybody really stocks much for pc games anymore. I think this is potentially threatening. When I was a little kid walking around a store I could look at all the boxes and learn about the possibilities. Without them on the shelves, the kids are going to be look at the console games instead. And then the kids who don't know about digital purchases may never know. Hopefully I'm underestimating them.

I am right there with you. Except I used to walk around the store as an ADULT LOL.
I spent MANY a lunch hour in the local Comp USA... Pouring over the PC games and such......

 

[power_hour]

I am right there with you. Except I used to walk around the store as an ADULT LOL.
I spent MANY a lunch hour in the local Comp USA... Pouring over the PC games and such......

Same here. I miss them days. Frys was really decent too IIRC.

 

[HarvardAce]

I don't believe that BestBuy sells digital downloads, and as far as I can tell, Tomb Raider for the PC is not available in a physical box -- only as a download (for example, Amazon only lists the digital download).

Boxed PC games are quickly becoming a thing of a past. I got SimCity in a box from Amazon (they had a $20 promotion on the box and only a $5 on the download), and it's the first boxed game I've bought since the original World of Warcraft. With bandwidth as pervasive as it is (and a requirement for most games these days), boxed copies of games are quickly going the way of the dinosaur.

 

[JimKiler]

BB believed the hype that PC gaming is dead. In their defense the internet pubilshers (steam, gog, origin, ...) probably kill enough of the business that it isn't profitable to retail any longer.

Agreed, but BB did have Diablo 3 on sale for the last Black Friday. I just read they are getting more into the home appliance market and will cut back home media even more.

 

[HarvardAce]

I don't think anybody really stocks much for pc games anymore. I think this is potentially threatening. When I was a little kid walking around a store I could look at all the boxes and learn about the possibilities. Without them on the shelves, the kids are going to be looking at the console games instead. And then the kids who don't know about digital purchases may never know. Hopefully I'm underestimating them.

Kids in 5 years are going to look at you funny when you say "go to a store".

I'm much more likely to pick up a game on Steam in the comfort of my own phone where I can also look at reviews, demos, videos, etc., than I am at a store just by looking at a box. Even consoles are shifting toward digital downloads, as you don't have to pay a retailer a part of the profits with that model.

 

[Schfifty Five]

I loved walking around BB and other stores browsing their PC games. Anyone remember when PC game boxes were still pretty big. I loved the ones where it had flaps and stuff to open to view the artwork/screenshots inside, etc.

 

[Midwayman]

I stopped going years ago when I realized how small their PC section had grown. Sadly it was still the best selection of PC games in town. Gamestop, target, etc are a joke for PC games.

 

[PowerYoga]

I bought master of orion because the box looked interesting. Same with Dune 2. 2 of the best decisions in my life.

Would be a shame if kids can't do that anymore...

 

[dave_the_nerd]

First the video game playing moved to the home. RIP, Arcade.

Then the video game buying moved to the home. RIP, Babbages.

Then the video game multiplayer moved to the home. RIP, LAN Parties.

The games are becoming cloud-based and development is already becoming crowdsourced...

 

[Keeper]

I loved walking around BB and other stores browsing their PC games. Anyone remember when PC game boxes were still pretty big. I loved the ones where it had flaps and stuff to open to view the artwork/screenshots inside, etc.

I STILL have several (Many) in my bookcase in my cellar...

GOD I need help LOL

 

[thm1223]

Doesn't Fry's still have a sizable PC games section?

 

[Keeper]

I don't believe that BestBuy sells digital downloads, and as far as I can tell, Tomb Raider for the PC is not available in a physical box -- only as a download (for example, Amazon only lists the digital download).

Boxed PC games are quickly becoming a thing of a past. I got SimCity in a box from Amazon (they had a $20 promotion on the box and only a $5 on the download), and it's the first boxed game I've bought since the original World of Warcraft. With bandwidth as pervasive as it is (and a requirement for most games these days), boxed copies of games are quickly going the way of the dinosaur.

THATS INTERESTING.... No BOX for PC?????

So there was no collectors edition or such?
This COULD be a BAD BAD SIGN...

Yet whats funny? A HUGE cardboard kiosk with DOZENS of the new Sim City in it.... Is that even available for console?

 

[Keeper]

First the video game playing moved to the home. RIP, Arcade.

Then the video game buying moved to the home. RIP, Babbages.

Then the video game multiplayer moved to the home. RIP, LAN Parties.

The games are becoming cloud-based and development is already becoming crowdsourced...

LAN parties...... WOW.... WOW... I can rememebr the wires all across my living room... GOD DAMN.
We used to even BUILD PC for Lan Parties (Small box.... ZERO bells and whistles....)
We had a training room here at work. the TECH boys set up Unreal on it......

Someone quick.... Get me my cane and shawl and a peppermint.....
Let me tell you about days gone by......

 

[TechAZ]

Back in the early 90's Best Buy was incredible. I loved that place, it was great for PC enthusiasts and other than BB there were only a couple local computer shops.

Now? I only step inside the store maybe once a year. The industry has changed so much, I look back fondly at BB just as I do MTV. So much has changed, and not for the better IMO. My consumer happiness and excitement is not even close to what it used to be.

 

[Majes]

I still do LAN parties every month. 8+ people come over and game in my basement. We play Path of Exile, League of Legends, and Warcraft 3. I'd like to get into some of the cheaper steam games too. Much better than just skyping every night.

 

[Kalmah]

THATS INTERESTING.... No BOX for PC?????

So there was no collectors edition or such?
This COULD be a BAD BAD SIGN...

Yet whats funny? A HUGE cardboard kiosk with DOZENS of the new Sim City in it.... Is that even available for console?

Yeah, you're still going to see AAA titles that are force-fed into the stored with $. Also, with console games taking up so much shelf space they probably have reasons not to have full blown kiosks for specific games. They probably don't need the advertising due to reasons based on marketing and economics. (more word of mouth advertising, larger target group etc...)

Your post barely makes sense btw.

 

[Barfo]

I proceeded to buy a 20 dollar "Steam Card".

And that's everything you need *shrug*
Who cares if they don't stock PC games anymore? it's THEIR loss.

 

[Genx87]

Ahh LAN parties. Then highspeed internet came around along with Teamspeak\Ventrillo. Why go through with the hassle of loading up your PC when you can drink at home and talk with a headset?

 

[Keeper]

Yeah, you're still going to see AAA titles that are force-fed into the stored with $. Also, with console games taking up so much shelf space they probably have reasons not to have full blown kiosks for specific games. They probably don't need the advertising due to reasons based on marketing and economics. (more word of mouth advertising, larger target group etc...)

Your post barely makes sense btw.

In what way? I was responding to BOXED PC hames becoming a thing of the past. AND OH NO... COllector editions for the PC.
Over the years I have bought a few collectors editions that came with perks (Swag).... No more = Bad sign.

And Tomb Raider is a BIG franchise name, or so I thought. They didnt carry that BUT they carried the new Sim City. I thought that funny.

 

[Keeper]

And that's everything you need *shrug*
Who cares if they don't stock PC games anymore? it's THEIR loss.

I agree..... Its just kind of sad to see this type pf change.
Change is all around. Some good. Some not.

It was just a matter of time, before the console segment SQUISHED the used game market. My son told me the Xbox 720 is RUMORED to finngerprint a game to a specific console.

Buh Bye Gamestop........

 

[Xellos2099]

I believe that tomb raider for pc is digital only.