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I was thinking recently about how GameStop might pivot. They have retail locations, which a lot of companies don't, so they should take advantage of that. Some examples I have thought of include: * put 3D printers in the stores and sell custom objects based off of your gamer profile. * convert the stores into a gamer bar and show eSports tournaments. * host LAN parties or move into tabletop games
I was thinking recently about how GameStop might pivot. They have retail locations, which a lot of companies don't, so they should take advantage of that. Some examples I have thought of include: * put 3D printers in the stores and sell custom objects based off of your gamer profile. * convert the stores into a gamer bar and show eSports tournaments. * host LAN parties or move into tabletop games
I'm not into the gaming community but I suspect there's a big contigent in the pre-teen/teen age range. GameStop could pivot into a local gaming/community place safe for pre-teens and teens that is semi-supervised. Parents could feel more comfortable knowing their kid is hanging out at a place where there is at least one adult to make sure they aren't doing bad things.
Every now and then I see a new one pop up - usually focused more on consoles rather than PC games, but they seem to inevitably go out of business.
What is GameStop going to be five years from now when digital distribution is the only way video games are sold? I can't imagine selling game-related tchotchkes is a very good business. What else is there?
Rebuilding into a place for gamers to congregate in person rather than shout at anonymous trolls on the internet? They've got the space, and after 18 months of limited social contact it could be an opportunity
What is GameStop going to be five years from now when digital distribution is the only way video games are sold? I can't imagine selling game-related tchotchkes is a very good business. What else is there?
What is GameStop going to be five years from now when digital distribution is the only way video games are sold? I can't imagine selling game-related tchotchkes is a very good business. What else is there?
I saw long lines around the block for BestBuy when Animal Crossing was released on Switch during Covid lockdown. I still dont know why people lined up instead of downloading but they did and do and maybe they will keep on doing that. I guess it does make sense if you intend to buy games as gifts for other people.
As for PC gaming, it essentially already is all digital.
What is GameStop going to be five years from now when digital distribution is the only way video games are sold? I can't imagine selling game-related tchotchkes is a very good business. What else is there?
Tangent - is that direction really guaranteed for console games? Digital sales have been around for a long time and I realize the console world is really pushing it now but I'm curious if console gamers are buying in to it as fast as other markets (e.g. computer gamers and general entertainment markets (movies))? Maybe the pandemic is speeding it up[0]?
I've bought exclusively digital for computer gaming for over a decade (maybe two decades, yeesh) now but continue to cling to physical for console gaming because of the trade-in factor. E.g. most recently when the Switch came out I waited a few months for one to come in to a local used games store and traded a Wii U + games for the Switch + Link's Awakening all on trade-in value. I have done pretty much that or something similar for console upgrades for as long as I can remember. I don't even have a sense of what a new console costs at this point.
I have always assumed that is sort of the norm but I suppose that wouldn't make any sense for the broader market, hah.
[0] https://www.polygon.com/2020/8/11/21363951/video-game-sales-...
I was wondering if GameStop would use their once in a lifetime overpriced valuation to raise money to invest in a game streaming platform (ie Netflix for games).
GameStop had YEARS to adapt themselves to the new gaming situation, but they instead chose to go the way of the strip-mall and follow the example of BlockBuster Video. When did Steam get started? The middle-naughts? That was the time for GameStop to act. It's too late now. Even if they have the money, do they have the leadership to pull this off? Maybe they'll try, but it will be an uphill fight, even with the Chewy…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> They could easily swing-trade this stock all the way down, using massive buy/sell orders to drive the price. I call BS. Selling a huge amount of shares and then buying them again will not generate a profit.
https://marketrealist.com/p/short-ladder-attacks-explained/ When you have millions reading a forum saying "BUY THE DIP" and you can create a dip, then you probably stand to make a lot of money.
> A short ladder attack is when a stock goes down for totally valid, normal reasons, but the bagholder realizes a conspiracy theory is preferable to admitting to a dumb trade."
Also, I like these tweets by Jima Chanos (@Diogenes), well-known short-seller:
> Can anyone explain to me what a “short ladder attack” is? I have seriously never heard the term before this week.
> Now I know why I had never heard of a “short ladder attack”...Because it is complete gibberish.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Rebuilding into a place for gamers to congregate in person rather than shout at anonymous trolls on the internet? They've got the space, and after 18 months of limited social contact it could be an opportunity
I share your thoughts but then thinking more on it made me realize how drastically different that business model would have to be. Retail is all about getting a customer to that cash register and then out the door with a decent chance of coming again for something similar. A hangout spot...a Gamestop-branded Dave and Busters or other video game lounge makes a lot of sense if you have the space. But the business reaso…
Steam and Epic were able to leverage their catalogue, and got moving early on. Moving into an online game platform would be far more of a than building a hangout.
> And all the while you suddenly have to contend with the culture of your patrons a lot more
You do, but Gamestop don't have much choice, they're in a dying market that's been disrupted.
Local boardgame shops and bookshops near me have managed to survive by moving into this type of business.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Rebuilding into a place for gamers to congregate in person rather than shout at anonymous trolls on the internet? They've got the space, and after 18 months of limited social contact it could be an opportunity
Like Radio Shack seamlessly turned into makerspaces, as the maker movement came out, where people could 3d print, design things together, and whatnot? Turning businesses around is HARD. I hope they do something, but I'm not optimistic.
Not turning them round is harder.