21st October 2009, 3:02 AM
Wal-Mart does, in fact, have a digital music store.
Of course, they don't mind selling media-less players because they sell money cards for iTunes and like services. The profit Wal-Mart makes on a $25 iTunes card is easily ten times what they make on $25 worth of CDs. You can't steal an iTunes card (and have it actually be worth anything), and you can order a thousand cards for next to no real cost. They don't impact inventories, either, because they're usually pay-per-scan.
The stores devoted exclusively to video games will almost certainly go under when digital distribution becomes the standard, but the big retailers will fucking love it. It'll be far more profitable for Wal-Mart to sell PSN cards than actual, physical games. Hell, even the little retailers will love it, because they'll be able to get in on the game, too. You'll see PSN, Live, and Nintendo Shop cards sold almost everywhere in the universe.
Of course, they don't mind selling media-less players because they sell money cards for iTunes and like services. The profit Wal-Mart makes on a $25 iTunes card is easily ten times what they make on $25 worth of CDs. You can't steal an iTunes card (and have it actually be worth anything), and you can order a thousand cards for next to no real cost. They don't impact inventories, either, because they're usually pay-per-scan.
The stores devoted exclusively to video games will almost certainly go under when digital distribution becomes the standard, but the big retailers will fucking love it. It'll be far more profitable for Wal-Mart to sell PSN cards than actual, physical games. Hell, even the little retailers will love it, because they'll be able to get in on the game, too. You'll see PSN, Live, and Nintendo Shop cards sold almost everywhere in the universe.
YOU CANNOT HIDE FOREVER
WE STAND AT THE DOOR
WE STAND AT THE DOOR