GameStop buys Electronics Boutique

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<a href="http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20050418005419&newsLang=en">The grisly details</a>

DAMMIT. Not only do I hate to see a local-company-made-good vanish, but this is simply going to decimate gaming outlets in this area, as EBs litter the landscape and are often within a mile or in the same malls as GameStops.

GameStops don't carry used PC games. The bigger EB clearance outlets (Edgmont, Springfield, Downingtown) are likely toast, and those are where I buy 90% of my used AND new games of all types. Easy comparison shopping between different inventories with different prices will be harder. Since Blockbusters around here have also essentially given up on used game sales, this leaves only one meatspace outlet of note. Without local competition, game prices around here will likely rise to match those of more remote areas.

Poopie.

Remember, in thirty years mergers will have left the world with only three companies: Microsoft, Wal-Mart and a player to be named later. I believe Wal-Mart has dibs on the name "Oceania."