GameStop Starts Game Imports
Importing games from outside the US isn’t a traditional business practice of big brick-and-mortar game retailers – it’s messy in several ways, from language issues to region coding to legal issues, although I suppose that’s more of a hardware issue. But in the wake of the litigious murder of Lik-Sang, that Hong Kong-based exporter which was done in by Sony’s legal goons, not only is there a market vacuum but more attention has been drawn to the popularity of (and therefore potential profit from) importing games to North America.
Which may explain why GameStop began accepting preorders for two Japanese DS games shipping this month: the $49.99 Jump Superstars, a power-packed crossover fighting game with over 150 characters from 27 manga and anime series that have graced the pages of Shonen Jump, including Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yu Yu Hakusho and Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. The second DS import, Naruto: Saikyo Ninja Daikesshu 4, also a fighting game, goes for $39.99.
This is probably a test run for GameStop, to gauge how import sales of a few popular titles fare against what must be a relatively vocal demand to play games we’d otherwise not see stateside. I can’t imagine a terribly profitable turnout for game imports, with shipping costs and a relatively rarefied customer base, but maybe it’ll catch on. We’re certainly ripe for an import revolution, trend-wise, but ultimately I wonder if the language barrier and lack of promotion won’t limit the effort.
Still, this may be the only way I’ll realistically be playing the Tingle game anytime soon.
Retail Radar: GameStop offering imports [GameSpot]
[Via: Aeropause]
tiny dancer
Posted to Video Games on 13 December 2006
· Comments (6)
Other stuff like this: gamestop, imports, jump superstars, naruto: saikyo ninja daikesshu 4, shonen jump
this is not EB’s first foray into the business of selling imports. many moons ago, back in the days of the PS1 and Saturn, EB and its franchises ie Walden Software, dealt in import software. in fact, my japanese copy of Symphony of the Night for the Saturn, was purchased at a local Walden Software.
as I recall, they had to stop selling PS1 games because Sony got mad that they were taking money away from them. (SOA doesn’t make any money if you buy the Japanese version of their software.) I wonder how long this will go on, if Nintendo is OK with this or if they “pull a Sony,” or if this expands further. I’d love to be able to go to a store to buy my imports again.
I’ve also seen both these imports over at the local Worst Buy … errr I mean Best Buy
Yeah, I saw Jump Superstars ($50) at a Best Buy before.
Personally, I just don’t see what the big deal is whether I buy a game from here or there. Either way, the company as a whole gets my money, even if it’s not the branch in my area.
To me, this means that American video game stores are just about getting to the point where American record stores were about 20-25 years ago…. big discount retailers selling a narrow selection of games cheaply, while smaller boutique stores (no pun intended) sell a wider range, but at list price, along with used and import stuff.
Nowadays brick and mortar record stores, at least the chains, don’t usually carry used or import stuff, and apart from impulse buyers they’ve largely been replaced by Amazon, CD Universe and other online stores. It actually surprises me that the game stores haven’t taken a bigger beating since their customers should be more tech-savvy, but I guess they’ll all be doomed in another 5-6 years.
raindog, brick and mortar game stores are still relevant largely due to the facts that 1) they make a lot of their money by gouging you on pre-owned software (in comparison to independant shops) and 2) a large portion of the demographic isn’t old enough to have a credit card. the more “mature” market is a nice piece of the pie, but the kids market is still a juicy demographic. lord knows, most of us are not going to be playing the newest Dora the Explorer, or Kim Possible titles. since gaming is a considerably wider demographic than music stores, I think that brick and mortar stores shall be around for a good while.
I would totally buy Jump Superstars if I had an extra $50 laying around somewhere.
xoxo