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| How Wal-Mart controls your gaming | ||
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| Topic Started: Apr 13 2006, 11:53 PM (54 Views) | ||
| Abyss of Borg | Apr 13 2006, 11:53 PM Post #1 | |
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Alsatian Rank
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credit: joystiq.com In a recent issue of The Escapist, Allen Varney tackles the subject of Wal-Mart's influence on the gaming industry and -- believe it or not -- it's huge. As the number one retailer of pretty much any perishable and non-perishable good, Wal-Mart's decision to sell (or pull) a product will have a dramatic effect on the success (or failure) of the good -- and the company can use that to make its own rules. The smaller game boxes we have all come to know and love? Wal-Mart wanted more shelf space to display more games. The lack of nudity in Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K. 2 and Giants: Citizen Kabuto? Wal-Mart refuses to carry "any software with vulgarity or nudity," according to spokesman Tom Williams in October 2002. Our favorite anecdote is the story of Deer Hunter, a game designed with the average Wal-Mart shopper in mind. While you may never have played the game, you have probably seen the little CD case on display the last time you visited the store and, like it or not, that game sells well. With the advent of Steam and other solutions for online distribution, brick-and-mortar stores have the potential to become less influential in the decisions of game development; however, they are not going away any time soon, and a large majority of games are still (and quite possibly will be for generations to come) purchased at a store. And that store is probably called Wal-Mart. Still, thanks to online vendors and downloadable content, those who want more risque titles now have more outlets at which to shop. |
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| Vars Illusional | Apr 14 2006, 03:24 AM Post #2 | |
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Rottweiler Rank
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I've also seen stuff like that happen at Walmart. Such as when I got my Sims II - It had seemed to become a bit smaller. | |
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| Abyss of Borg | Apr 14 2006, 03:27 AM Post #3 | |
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Alsatian Rank
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The smaller game boxes are good actually. Instead of the massive cardboard box with huge instruction book you get a standarodized DVD like case like the consoles. Which really helps with shelf storage at home you don't just radomly stack them on a desk or floor. | |
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| Vars Illusional | Apr 14 2006, 03:32 AM Post #4 | |
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Rottweiler Rank
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I agree to that. Massive boxes wont do that much work - So thats why the games shrunk. I guess people were complaining about it. | |
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| Sinion Kabe | Apr 14 2006, 01:11 PM Post #5 | |
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Pitbull Rank
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I can't really comment. We don't have Wal-Mart here in Britain. We have a supermarket owned by Wal-Mart but thats about as close as it gets. Lol. | |
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8:27 AM Jul 11
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8:27 AM Jul 11