GameStop is now making its own gaming device… sorta
Matt Hawkins Well if you can no longer sell hardware effectively, make your own I guess? Also, you now have a new place to get rid of that old ass first gen iPod Touch.
As noted several times already, America’s largest retail provider of video games has been in a real tailspin as of late. While shops are hardly closing down in droves, they’re clearly feeling the heat of the up and coming digital marketplaces. Yet many PC titles are also available in boxed varieties (as the recent clusterf*ck with Deus Ex demonstrated), there’s one platform… some say gaming’s hottest… that they have absolutely nothing to do with. And that’s smartphones.
Well, change is in the air. First off, as of today, GameStop will accept iOS devices for trade-in, like any other piece of gaming hardware (or software). This includes any kind of iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad. But furthermore, as Gamasutra reports, they’re all putting together something similar of their own.
Is GameStop making its own iPhone? They wish! Nope, instead, they’re launching their own brand of Android gaming tablet, which be regarded as a “GameStop certified gaming platform.”
First off, if that’s the case, why can’t you also trade in any Android device as well? Lord knows there’s tons more than Apple’s offerings. Though more importantly. nice try GameStop, at trying to maintain relevancy (and profitability) in the even changing landscape. I’m actually surprised that this hasn’t been achieved sooner.
Truth be told, it’s actually a super smart move that I believe this will be a huge success. Imagine a cheap-o Android tablet that’s basically subsidized with goofy GameStop ads, along with those stupid video features that’s always playing on the televisions by the counters (that everyone ignores while standing in line), and more importantly, special coupons and other deals offered to such customers.
This might be the shot in the arm that they so desperately need to stay afloat. Though anyone looking to sell their used iOS devices, I would seriously suggest Jailbreaking that sucker and putting it on Craigslist. You will be shocked by how much you’ll be able to fetch.
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