GameStop Acquiring Impulse

GameStop announces the acquisition of streaming technology company Spawn Labs and an agreement to acquire Impulse, the digital distribution service started by Stardock in 2008. According to GameStop CEO J. Paul Raines: "With these important acquisitions, we will continue to make appropriate investments related to our multichannel strategy. GameStop is uniquely positioned to be the leader in both the physical and digital gaming space." There's also a Stardock Community FAQ about Impulse Acquisition by GameStop on Impulse saying this should not affect users' accounts, they do not foresee any layoffs as a result of this, and this does not impact Stardock or its current development plans, as this is a completely separate business.
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Re: GameStop Acquiring Impulse
Apr 1, 2011, 01:55
Dev
28.
Re: GameStop Acquiring Impulse Apr 1, 2011, 01:55
Apr 1, 2011, 01:55
Dev
 
Cutter wrote on Apr 1, 2011, 00:48:
OK and your ratio of Gamestop/Impulse games compared to Steam/retail in general is what exactly?
I dunno, I've probably purchased 15-30 or so stardock/impulse over the years and I have over 300 steam. So between 5% and 10%.

I used to get tons of retail PC games from EB (especially the good games when they went into the bargain bin and a few on day of release). I have bookshelves full of PC retail boxes (and thats after throwing out other bookshelves full). Now? Let me give you an example. I got the UT2004 tin collectors that came with a $25 EB gift card. EB got bought out by gamestop. It took until last year (2010) for me to use it. I think I used it on SC2 collectors. The gift card was so old, it wouldn't work in their computer system at the store and I had to email support at GS. They couldn't get it to work either and had to go digging around in archives in the obsolete gift card system they used to have. Then they mailed me a replacement.

What exactly does any of that have to do with anything? Are we measuring e-peen? Regardless of YOUR lack of impulse games, this sale WILL affect the digital game industry in some manner. If GS screws it over, then steam will have less competition and valve can feel more free to gouge customers. If GS succeeds (remember they have a large customer base), they will likely do weird things with the service like pushing harsher DRM, or pushing higher digital prices and convincing publishers not to have good sales, either of which could ripple through the industry, etc. Or maybe if you think GS cares about PC gamers, they could use their muscle to push for less DRM, and better digital pricing than their physical stores, etc.

This comment was edited on Apr 1, 2011, 02:12.
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