Steam Wallet exclusive to GameStop, doesn't change company investment in Impulse [Joy

[DP ServBot]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/steamwalletgamestop530.jpg (http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/steam-wallet-exclusive-to-gamestop/)
On the surface, GameStop providing Steam Wallet cards (http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/steam-wallet-store-displays-arrive-at-gamestop/) would seem like a white flag, a sign of surrender by the old brick-and-mortar giant to the king of digital distribution. Business is never so simple. Frenemies they may be, both sides will profit greatly from this deal. Valve's Steam service just obtained access to thousands of GameStop stores (and its army of associates) across North America, and GameStop gets a cut of Steam, particularly from Steam users without credit cards or access to electronic payment methods (http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/gamestop-sees-majority-of-digital-sales-from-cash-wont-pursue/).

"We are currently the only retailer with it," Steve Nix, manager of PC digital distribution for GameStop told us today. He expressed there's no specific exclusivity window for the company, but that GameStop's proprietary tech for selling DLC, which allows the company to go directly to digital distribution holders instead of going through a third-party vendor, helped make the deal possible.

Nix explains that he went to Valve with the deal a few months ago, with factoids like 84 percent of GameStop customers claim to play PC games, and made his case for this deal to occur. Nix's background probably helped grease the wheels. The executive was formerly an early supporter of Steam as the CEO of Ritual Entertainment (SiN Episodes) and director of business development and digital platforms at id Software, adding the company's catalog to Steam in 2007.

Nix also told us the Steam deal will not alter the company's plans for its own digital distribution service, Impulse. He also mentioned the company already sells Origin points and is open to doing something similar with GoG.

"Really, this doesn't affect anything we're doing with Impulse," Nix said. "We doubled the PC download business (http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/gamestop-sees-modest-increase-to-all-time-high-sales-of-9-5/) with the Impulse technology we acquired. We're happy with that. We're now online over 1600 SKUs (http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/gamestop-touts-largest-selection-of-in-store-downloadable-pc-gam/), we'll continue to grow that and continue to invest in that."

"We're just offering options for customers. This in no way changes our investment or what we're doing with that business."http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif (http://www.joystiq.com)Steam Wallet exclusive to GameStop, doesn't change company investment in Impulse (http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/steam-wallet-exclusive-to-gamestop/) originally appeared on Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com) on Mon, 14 May 2012 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).

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[Ze_ro]

1. Another company starts up a system that completely bypasses your entire business model.
2. Begin selling passes for that company's system.
3. ???
4. PROFIT!

Seriously, I don't get why they're doing this. Does GameStop have some sort of plan for trancending used game sales as the digital era overtakes them? Or are they just trying to feed on scraps before they go out of business?

--Zero

[Kitsune Sniper]

Gah, why don't they have $10 cards? >:|

[heybtbm]

1. Another company starts up a system that completely bypasses your entire business model.
2. Begin selling passes for that company's system.
3. ???
4. PROFIT!

Seriously, I don't get why they're doing this. Does GameStop have some sort of plan for trancending used game sales as the digital era overtakes them? Or are they just trying to feed on scraps before they go out of business?

--Zero


It really is hilarious. Polishing the brass on the Titanic.

[Cryomancer]

This would be a bit more exciting if it was available somewhere open 24 hours a day.

[Dangerboy]

1. Another company starts up a system that completely bypasses your entire business model.
2. Begin selling passes for that company's system.
3. ???
4. PROFIT!


Sales of PSN cards shot straight up after the whole Credit Card debacle. It's a way to invest in games if you prefer cash or want to to use trade in credit. Also makes a gift option possible for non-Steam users (read: Grandparents + relatives) who need to get something for the game player in the family.

[Jorpho]

But what is baffling is that they are doing this at the expense of Impulse. Unlike Origin and GOG, there's a lot of stuff on Steam that could just as easily be purchased on Impulse and earn GameStop more money and marketshare.

Of course, it could be argued that there's no taking down Steam at this point, but then why did they invest in Impulse at all?

[The 1 2 P]

Of course, it could be argued that there's no taking down Steam at this point, but then why did they invest in Impulse at all?

It's quite simple my friend: to get a piece of the pie that Steam dominates. As you already alluded to, theres really no taking down Steam at this point. It's the same reason you see so many fps games coming out these days. They are all trying to get a piece of the fps pie that COD and Halo have dominated for the last 10 years. As the cliche goes "if you can't beat them join them" .

[The Shawn]

It's quite simple my friend: to get a piece of the pie that Steam dominates. As you already alluded to, theres really no taking down Steam at this point. It's the same reason you see so many fps games coming out these days. They are all trying to get a piece of the fps pie that COD and Halo have dominated for the last 10 years. As the cliche goes "if you can't beat them join them" .

Are you really comparing Halo Fanboy's to this mix? Good gawd what a pathetic bunch of individuals to include.

You should prob. go home and feed your human centipede...

[The 1 2 P]

Are you really comparing Halo Fanboy's to this mix? Good gawd what a pathetic bunch of individuals to include.

You should prob. go home and feed your human centipede...

I'm comparing Halo and COD sales to all other fps game sales. Seems simple enough for those of us with an average IQ or higher. And for the record my centipede died years ago.

[The Shawn]

I'm comparing Halo and COD sales to all other fps game sales. Seems simple enough for those of us with an average IQ or higher. And for the record my centipede died years ago.




You also compared L4D to the same in another thread. Would you like to participate in a little wager?

[Kitsune Sniper]

But what is baffling is that they are doing this at the expense of Impulse. Unlike Origin and GOG, there's a lot of stuff on Steam that could just as easily be purchased on Impulse and earn GameStop more money and marketshare.

Of course, it could be argued that there's no taking down Steam at this point, but then why did they invest in Impulse at all?

Why did they invest in Kongregate? No fucking clue either.

My guess is they wanted an easier way to distribute digital games, Impulse was cheap, so they grabbed it.

[The 1 2 P]

You also compared L4D to the same in another thread. Would you like to participate in a little wager?

Compared L4D to what series in which thread?

[The Shawn]

Compared L4D to what series in which thread?

No, C'mon man of manz..

Let's compete in a way I can't actually thrash your ass at your spa where you work. I will play you any L4D level of either game. Most kills wins and loser bans themself from DP. I choose professional with realistic. AND we still have to med eachother up. Or whatever levels you choose.

What say you two dog fucking?

Wanna do this?

[The 1 2 P]

No, C'mon man of manz..

Let's compete in a way I can't actually thrash your ass at your spa where you work. I will play you any L4D level of either game. Most kills wins and loser bans themself from DP. I choose professional with realistic. AND we still have to med eachother up. Or whatever levels you choose.

First, I don't work in a spa: it's a massage parlor for professionals. And wtf does this even mean?


What say you two dog fucking?

As for yoru offer, I don't even play L4D outside of beating the first games campaign earlier this year. If you want to compete we need to pick something we both actually play like the aformentioned Halo and COD. Unless of course you don't play those two. Also, why are we even suppose to be playing online?

Edit: I just reread your post and noticed the part about being banned. At the rate you are going theres no need for you to compete with that as a stake. You probably won't be around here much longer. Just saying.

[The Shawn]

First, I don't work in a spa: it's a massage parlor for professionals. And wtf does this even mean?



As for yoru offer, I don't even play L4D outside of beating the first games campaign earlier this year. If you want to compete we need to pick something we both actually play like the aformentioned Halo and COD. Unless of course you don't play those two. Also, why are we even suppose to be playing online?

I was playing Halo while your momma was still getting beef broth at the NJ soup kitchens. I though you may have more to output when it came to L4D as you seem to say a lot about it is all. How about borderlands? Are you any good at that? Or do you suck?

[The Shawn]

Edit: I just reread your post and noticed the part about being banned. At the rate you are going theres no need for you to compete with that as a stake. You probably won't be around here much longer. Just saying.


HAHAHA! bear your guns big dawg. There are 50 percent of folks who hate your ass more then mine. Just accept a challenge will you?


Meh...

Coward.

[The Shawn]

How about perfect dark?

We go a stage, most kills wins, loser get's to fuck out of here forever. I remember you saying how great you were "back in the day".


Me to Mother fucker.

[The 1 2 P]

I was playing Halo while your momma was still getting beef broth at the NJ soup kitchens. I though you may have more to output when it came to L4D as you seem to say a lot about it is all. How about borderlands? Are you any good at that? Or do you suck?

I don't suck at any game. It's just that I'm not good at some of them. And I now have the full picture. I was a bit spaced out earlier. And you should know that there will never be a day when I get banned from here. I don't do that kind of stupid shit online to get banned. But I'm just going to presume you want to compete on XBL because you don't do a very good job of it here. Or maybe you just want to yell at me thru the mic.

[JSoup]

Where the hell is ProgAce with that "lardtaint" quote when we need him?

[The 1 2 P]

HAHAHA! bear your guns big dawg. There are 50 percent of folks who hate your ass more then mine. Just accept a challenge will you?

That was the funniest thing you've ever posted. Mainly because people post about how much of a douche you are everyday.



Meh...

Coward.

Of you? Now you're delusional too.

[The Shawn]

I don't suck at any game. It's just that I'm not good at some of them. And I now have the full picture. I was a bit spaced out earlier. And you should know that there will never be a day when I get banned from here. I don't do that kind of stupid shit online to get banned. But I'm just going to presume you want to compete on XBL because you don't do a very good job of it here. Or maybe you just want to yell at me thru the mic.

I don't talk in the mic with anyone I don't know. Just there to play games. And if I destroy you in the process, so be it. Can't seem to get you to leave otherwise. And I finf no reason to actually talk to you anyway.


Well, c'mon then big man. Take me in a game, you choose. I'm not fussy. Hurryt to fuck up and decide before the vbenderites troll this thread forever.

[The 1 2 P]

I remember you saying how great you were "back in the day".

So.....you mad?

[The 1 2 P]

Can't seem to get you to leave otherwise. And I finf no reason to actually talk to you anyway.

Again with the leaving talk. So you are mad huh. Well dude theres an easy solution for that. You can leave DP on your own free will and not only do you never have to see my post again but you would be making atleast half the DP community happy in the process. So it's a win-win really.

[The Shawn]

Again with the leaving talk. So you are mad huh. Well dude theres an easy solution for that. You can leave DP on your own free will and not only do you never have to see my post again but you would be making atleast half the DP community happy in the process. So it's a win-win really.


So I think you should shut your piehole out of games you can not win then. Aye? Is that what you are saying? I guess you will never admit it...

[The Shawn]

So I think you should shut your piehole out of games you can not win then. Aye? Is that what you are saying? I guess you will never admit it...



As you won't do this an honorable way. How about MK? Do you remember enough to know how to play that?

Fucking Coward sperm dodger.

[The Shawn]

Where the hell is ProgAce with that "lardtaint" quote when we need him?

That "Lardtaint" quote came from me dumbass.

[JSoup]

That "Lardtaint" quote came from me dumbass.

That was my point. He had made it a point to just reply to you ever time with your own quote. Any of that ring a bell?

[The 1 2 P]

As you won't do this an honorable way. How about MK? Do you remember enough to know how to play that?

Fucking Coward sperm dodger.

This is a really silly argument. You wouldn't leave after I beat you anyway. Besides, you went from being my punching bag to being the punching bag of the whole site in record time. I can't think of anyone who wants you here(probably why you are worried about Vbender members) and yet you still come back everyday. You have no plans to leave and thats find with me. I do like the fact that me being here has made you lose sleep for some time now. Thats a +1.

[JSoup]

This is a really silly argument. You wouldn't leave after I beat you anyway.

This is why I like the idea of an account dual so much. Basically, two users agree, with a moderator overseeing, to a challenge, the loser of which is banned from whatever given site the challenge was issued from by the overseeing mod. It's actually a great way to kill two birds with one stone if you think about it.

[The Shawn]

This is a really silly argument. You wouldn't leave after I beat you anyway. Besides, you went from being my punching bag to being the punching bag of the whole site in record time. I can't think of anyone who wants you here(probably why you are worried about Vbender members) and yet you still come back everyday. You have no plans to leave and thats find with me. I do like the fact that me being here has made you lose sleep for some time now. Thats a +1.

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Duel me any game you choose monkey boy. Other then that I don't much care. This will be good for the site though.

Loser leaves, how's that?

I love idiot's, For they make a man wonder what true logic is all about.

C'mon 12P let's do this, or are you afraid?

I feel like the cast of Outsiders.


C'MON!

[The Shawn]

This is why I like the idea of an account dual so much. Basically, two users agree, with a moderator overseeing, to a challenge, the loser of which is banned from whatever given site the challenge was issued from by the overseeing mod. It's actually a great way to kill two birds with one stone if you think about it.

There you go!, And you should join also. First player takes both out aye?

Other then that I would keep my trap shut.

[JSoup]

There you go!, And you should join also. First player takes both out aye?

Other then that I would keep my trap shut.

Nah, I'm good. You kids have fun though.

[The Shawn]

Nah, I'm good. You kids have fun though.

Well no. Anyone who has such important input must know how to compete. I beg of thee to get involved further, oh enlightened one, and if you do you will be involved in a 3-way score of whatever we come to the conclusion of.

As it stands right now I challengs 12P to LFD, LFD2, The Darkness, Borderlands, halo 3 or 1 or 2 on the original xbox, RAGE, Dead Island, or for lack of memory any other game he sees fit to say he has not played. I will be given 3 days though if I have truley not played it. And My xbox tag will tell wheather i have or not.


After the games are set, And rules are in place, one of us will leave? Do you Acknowledge this 12P?


Let's fucking do this?

[The Shawn]

Oh well. Thought I would be getting a man to answer.


Doesn't really matter to mr I guess.

[The Shawn]

Meh. Another reply for souless idiots.

I really miss when the real people were around.

'

[The Shawn]

Good lord I hate cowards...

[Sunnyvale]

Yee-Ha!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VYP-WB6H50

I like it like that.

[JSoup]

Yee-Ha!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VYP-WB6H50

I like it like that.

That video always makes me think of this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX1Qcflxak0

[jupitersj]

I don't visit DP much these days, but JFC you two are still fighting here?

:popcorn:

[PapaStu]

Shawn, what purpose does your being a huge ass in this thread have anything to do with GameStop selling Steam point cards? Oh wait, there is no purpose. I think it's time to go play L4D on your own and when you eventually die consider that your 'loss'.

You're done here.

[Hep038]

What was this some staged fight to draw attention to the board? No way that fight was real.

[JSoup]

As I recall from the last time Shawn was banned, he feels that the board has become slow and boring. His solution for that is to act like a bigger jackass than usual and start a few slap fights.

[Kitsune Sniper]

What was this some staged fight to draw attention to the board? No way that fight was real.

Yes it was. He was being an asshole to me in another thread and all I was asking for was to change its title because it ruined the surprise on the video... :\

[The 1 2 P]

Not sure how anyone who actually read that chain of events could think that this was staged but I'm going to throw my two cents in to put the final nail in the coffin. For whatever reason TS didn't like DP and I would guess he hasn't for years. But instead of doing what most people with common sense would do(leaving DP and going to a forum they actually did like) he continued to come back every day and basically troll threads while also acting like a jackass in general. This was not the first time he was banned and wouldn't be the last time if he was allowed to return. But I doubt he will be let back this time as he has done hardly nothing to endear himself to the site over the last few years. What makes this whole situation even more ridiculous is that TS isn't some little kid who was coming on message boards to troll just for the laughs. He's actually a 39 or 40 year old man which makes it even more baffling. But I think this saga of DP is finally over and the board will peacefully move on.

[JSoup]

He's actually a 39 or 40 year old man which makes it even more baffling.

This actually floored me when I found out. Just following a topic where he was making comments about my mothers vagina, another user pointed out he was 40. I just...didn't know what to think of that. A 40 year old man just tossed middle school insults at me. What.

[PapaStu]

Guys, it's over. Drop it. The Shawn is gone and isn't coming back.

I think the thread has gone and derailed itself enough.

**lockerooni**