Strickly Pc Games Store would you go

[lonebyrd 0]

I have an idea of opening a PC game only store. Around where I live we have mixed stores with xbox, playstation, nintendo, and PC games. But there is such a variety of PC games that you cant get unless you go online. I am so tired of looking for a game at a local store only to find that they only have Warcraft or the Sims. I mean really what about all the other games out there.I was also toying with the idea of having a 'gaming arena' where teams of 4 can put up an entry fee and play other teams for prize money. What do people think of that idea?

[rvalkass 5]

The key is market research. You need to find out how many people in the local community play computer games. How often? How much do they spend per month/year on PC games? What genres do they like? Would they visit a store specialising in PC games before going online? From these sorts of questions you'll be able to work out roughly how much the market is worth, what the best-selling genres are in your local area, etc. If you can't do that yourself, or you don't think you'd be able to collect enough responses quick enough, then look at hiring a market research company to find all this out for you.

I was also toying with the idea of having a 'gaming arena' where teams of 4 can put up an entry fee and play other teams for prize money. What do people think of that idea?

That would give you a unique selling point over the other gaming stores, but could be costly to set up and run if you have to dedicate some of your floor space to a collection of computers where people can play. It would depend very much on how you would operate this sort of thing as to whether it would be financially viable. Again, use market research to find out if people would be interested in participating.

[Xalor 0]

Basically for a video game store to do well, it needs to appeal to the whole crowd. Market Research is a load of crap sometimes. The people who often play PC Games, are comfortable with buying stuff online. They usually can find a better deal from downloading and buying a license, or a code. To get a good following the area really needs to be population dense, like take NYC for example, the Manhattan area is prime for gaming stores, for people to browse by and take a look. Its rather hard to get those games in stock, especially if its sold online. To buy en masse, is a problem also. There is a good benefit, and that is a good profit. Games are often pure profit if bought from a wholesaler. It costs very little to package and create, but then if you need a game that is very unique and unknown like PC Games not available direct or from a wholesaler, its rather hard to make a profit. Then you also have competition, from the big names, and then again, people aren't likely to trust someone who isn't a chain retailer for such a professional inventory. If you don't turn a profit, you're going to be losing money in the beginning, hard to break even.

[lonebyrd 0]

I didn't honestly think about the point that if it was a strictly pc store people are comfrotable buying things online. I think I need to do some more thinking about what exactly would work

[rvalkass 5]

Market Research is a load of crap sometimes.

True, but you'll find it very hard to get any finance without any market research in your business plan. Without it you have absolutely no idea what the market wants and what your prospects are. With it, you at least have a vague idea.

The people who often play PC Games, are comfortable with buying stuff online. They usually can find a better deal from downloading and buying a license, or a code.

It is not always cheaper to buy online, especially when compared to an independent retailer. My brother is a big PC gamer, yet still buys his games from an actual store. Why? It's often actually cheaper (even more so if delivery is factored into the cost of buying online) and you have the game there and then, in your hand. Within half an hour you can be playing it - that's quicker than downloading it. You can also look at loyalty schemes and discounts and things like that to encourage people to buy in-store rather than online.

[ackotheadvertiser 0]

I think that the real business will be if you ain't only selling games online. Try to re-sell and get the prices as cheap as possible(and there'll be like at least $0.2 for you lol), and focus on earning money from advertising. And possibly add some bonuses, so the people won't buy the game only, for instance trainers or something.

[SofiaComp 0]

well a game store is really good to open, as 100% of the people i know are playing computer games, sure the prices should be cheap unless you're selling them to richer people .As a gamer i can tell you what i like the store to have. FPS at least 50 titles , man i play fpss all the time and what do you know one game play is about 2 or 3 days. or as much as a week.( i've never saw such a game); every genre 50 titles and Xbox, and playstation... You got a lot of titles there man, And make something like client requests so the clients can order some game that you don't have, you know like catalog or something.One more thing: make a Stand Up against piracy.

Edited February 3, 2009 by SofiaComp (see edit history)