HMV opens in-store gaming zone

Author: Joe Martin
Published: 15th October 2007
Comments (8) Stumble
The new gaming zone at HMV will cost users around £5 for three hours of gaming.

The new gaming zone at HMV will cost users around £5 for three hours of gaming.

HMV has been having a bit of a tough time as of late and the internet has been sapping away a fair bit of business from the retail chain. Rather than getting grumpy and fighting back with DRM and such like, HMV has decided to take a different route and will be opening up a gaming zone in the flagship Edinburgh store this Friday.

The gaming zone will be set across a 2000 square foot space according to GI.biz and will house 27 Xbox 360s and HD screens, offering multiplayer for up to 16 players and full XBL access.

The gaming zone will be supported by a membership scheme which will charge customers £5.00 for three hours of game time. The retailer will also be running regular events and competitions with games like Guitar Hero III and Halo 3 already confirmed as part of the line-up.

"Games are now an integral part of the HMV offer," said Tim Ellis, Head of Games at HMV "it's about getting our customers closer to the things they love, and giving them access to content however they wish to consume it."

"If the HMV gaming zone proves a hit, then we'll consider if there are opportunities to roll out the concept to other stores in the chain," he added.

Having recently been to see the Omega Sektor LAN centre in Birmingham, it looks like gaming zone may be making a bit of a comeback and HMV may face some stiff competition. What do you think of this new move though? Let us know in the forums.
Quote voidboid 15th October 2007, 11:04
Reminds me of when I was a kid, there was a game shop with a load of consoles up-stairs that you could play on... was cool for playing latest games on SNES, as all my friends had Megadrives and I was an Amiga geek...
Quote Veles 15th October 2007, 11:21
Well HMV might have a better time if their in-store prices weren't stupidly high.
Quote DougEdey 15th October 2007, 11:23
Quote:
Originally Posted by Veles
Well HMV might have a better time if their in-store prices weren't stupidly high.

Even the manager said that to me, their prices are higher then online and they can't price match themselves.
Quote whisperwolf 15th October 2007, 11:38
they occasionaly have the cheapest prices in their sales, but its a 1 in 500 chance.
Quote Juppun 15th October 2007, 11:46
I haven't been to a high-street shop for AGES now. Not too sure if I ever will since most things can be had for cheaper online. And hey that pic of HMV is the one I used to go to in Hong Kong Central... thought it looked familar heh.
Quote mikeuk2004 15th October 2007, 12:14
Quote:
Originally Posted by voidboid
Reminds me of when I was a kid, there was a game shop with a load of consoles up-stairs that you could play on... was cool for playing latest games on SNES, as all my friends had Megadrives and I was an Amiga geek...

Those were the days. I spent ever Saturday in my local game shop (Chips, Top, Soft and Dream) playing the latest’s game. It used to be great playing the latest games all day on a Saturday, Top Soft had a mega Drive, Snes and 4 Pc's in the shop for you to play and try the games before you buy. Only thing was that I didn’t buy because I was 14 with no money :)

Shops don’t do it any more which is a shame. I even used to play games in Debenhams (Game boy), Boots (Mega CD) and Woolworths (Game Gear). but these shops don’t bother anymore.

I now have to check XBOX live for demos before I buy a game unless im really sure its going to be great. I wish I could go into a shop and try a game like I used to. GAME have a WII, 360 on demo but don’t connect the controllers. That really P**** me off, like why have them on demo, you might as well just get a TV and DVD play and run videos.
Quote Blademrk 15th October 2007, 15:37
What would be good is if they deducted the £5 you spent to demo the games if you actually bought one from them.
Quote evanbraakensiek 15th October 2007, 23:49
Shame it's only limited to consoles, although I can see why. The good thing about HMV over traditional LAN centres is location. I mean for example, the main one in Newcastle is on Northumberland street. Like two minutes from the bus station, right next to loads of other shops, Mc'Donalds is right next door as well. Good idea, hope it works out for them.

I just bought ET:QW collectors edition from them last week for £35. Does it bother me that I could've gotten it cheaper online? Nope, because I know if there was literally anything wrong with it, or I had to return it for any reason, I wouldn't get any hassle what so ever. Game or virgin is just as expensive, so it's six and two three's really.
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