Is GameStop Going Out of Business?

Without hesitation I can say I go to GameStop for all my gaming needs. I love the store. I like walking in and browsing for hidden gems. I like pre-ordering games, buying used games, and every once in a while having small talk with the friendly, albeit, somewhat nerdy, staff.

Other than their awesome return policy on used games, and on occasion the reasonable pricing, I don't really think of GameStop as a generous, price conscious company. I know up front they are in it for the money, and to be fair, for the money, they mostly deliver.

I know that they buy my old games for coke caps and sell them for gold bullion. With all this said, I still love GameStop. if you're a gamer, how can you not?

Here's what is worrying me. I think of GameStop as an evil necessary friend, or a necessary evil; whatever, you know what I mean. They're kind of like your drug dealer, if you're addicted to crack. He doesn't really care about you, but he's got what you NEED and is always there when you need him.

With that said, I'm afraid I might lose my dealer and here's why.

First

GameStop is in a mad dash to get rid of their inventory. I bought 47 games for $108. That's with shipping and two-day delivery.

Second

The rumor mill, the Hopi Indians, the web-bot, and even "chatter" being picked up by the NSA, are pointing to an all digital gaming market. All downloads... No more buying CD's or cartridges.

Third

GameStop is not a publisher or a developer. It's a retail business, like Best Buy, and in case you haven't heard, they're closing a boat load of stores.

Fourth

GameStop bought Kongregate, no doubt to diversify their revenue stream.

I'm speculating of course, but the future does not look good for GameStop. Or does it?

After all, GameStop has built a gaming empire, mecca, military industrial complex, universal healthcare, smelly kids utopia, gaming retail business Donald Trump would be proud of.

Surely they've got something up their sleeves. Please tell me you have a plan.

I know one thing for sure:

GameStop execs are working their butts off to survive the coming gaming apocalypse. You know, the one the Mayans predicted. You can be sure the corporate offices of GameStop are tense and cutthroat. And in this environment they will either succeed and survive, or alter their business model and be relegated to "publishing" browser games.

We will know Friday December 21, 2012.

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PS3 Gaming Is Going Social - Why Co-Op Is Set To Revolutionize the World

With the news that Sony has just launched a new social network site in Japan called the 'Play Community', it is the only confirmation we need that the future of gaming is social.

So much so that Sony have taken it upon themselves to bypass the Japan Social network Mixi completely, with a stand-alone version of their own.

Based pretty much on the look of Mixi, 'Play Community' has replaced the official PlayStation community sites in Japan and comes complete with some additional gaming features and a new social echelon, which is set to revolutionize how games are played and developed.

Play community allows you to integrate and merge your existing PSN friends list and there's a special section for recruiting friends for multiplayer partners. This opens the door for greater gaming social activity worldwide.

Already the evidence that Massive Multiplayer Online gaming is the new trend in gaming cannot be ignored.

You only have to look at Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 which has its own social network integration built into the game. Your achievements and milestones are automatically posted to Facebook.

The new Snowboarding Supercross game SSX, allows you to share unchartered routes with your PSN friends. This makes the whole solitary experience, which is the nature of this game just that bit more social.

In fact it's becoming clear with some game developers that single player versions are becoming a second-rate gaming experience.

In AC Revelations for example you need to play the multiplayer version to unlock rankings and disclose some of the games darker secrets and mythology. It's impossible to progress in this game unless you co-operate with your online buddies.

Perhaps the strangest form of this social interaction can be found in 'Journey'. The whole basis of the game is to force you to befriend nameless online strangers to help you through, and solve puzzles together. You're not able to find out the PSN names of these individuals or chat, but you have to rely and trust one another to excel.

On the flip side in Dark Souls, single play isn't really single play. During the game you have to align yourself with various factions and depending upon your choices these factions will send other real online players to either help you or to kill you.

The future of gaming is definitely social and it won't be long before this social networking phenomenon is fused with gaming rental and cloud services like Love film and Steam.

Sometimes it may feel that you are missing out on great games and falling behind because of the expense.

Yes you can go the game-trading route but a far easier option that I've found as a love film subscriber, is to make use of the love film free trial option to audition games.

It will save you a ton of money in the long run and as a love film game package user you'll also be able to rent and stream movies to ps3 too.

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