GameStop is trying something new this holiday season. The company announced today a new line of concept stores called GameStop Kids, the first of which will open today in Grapevine, Texas, the location of GameStop's worldwide headquarters. 
In all, GameStop plans to open 80 GameStop Kids locations at malls across the country during the holiday season. A full list of stores is available at the GameStop Kids website.
GameStop Kids stores will feature a range of games and accessories from the Skylanders, Angry Birds, Lego, Star Wars, and Minecraft franchises. Offerings available include host of gaming and non-gaming items including licensed products, toys, and collectibles.
No mention was made regarding whether or not GameStop Kids retail outlets will appear outside of the United States.
Discussion
Well other than a different facade and arguably different business model, I don't see how this fundamentally differs from Gamestop as we know it.
I think this is actually a good idea. It makes it easier for parents to buy the appropriate stuff for their kids. Where-as if they go into a Gamestop store, they have to find a game, look at the rating to see if it's appropriate for little Timmy, then when it's not they rinse and repeat... spending a great deal of time and frustration in the process. Usually they'll end up getting something the kid will hate just because they wanted to get out of their.
With a dedicated "Kids" store, parents know everything in the store is appropriate for little Timmy, making their shopping experience that much quicker and a better chance of getting the kid something they'll like in the process.
BONUS: Now maybe we won't have so many ill-informed politicians trying to regulate gaming because it's bad for children.
Because hardcore gamers love Gamestop, amirite?
Gamestop is so full of *beep*.
GameStop must be doing well to open 80 long-term pop-up stores for the holiday season. And for those of you who don't realize it, this is less an appeal to kids than it is to those people who are shopping for kids (which is where the real money is). Little Timmy may want that Assassin's Creed III for Christmas, but grandma thinks he would have more fun playing this cute Angry Birds thing that she's been hearing so much about...
I give this one less than 6 months. Just because kids aren't 18 or older yet doesn't mean they don't play games for "adults". When I was a little kid during the NES days, I avoided "kiddie" games like Sesame Street and those little educational things that serve no real purpose if you're already going to school. I chose games like Contra, Double Dragon, Battletoads, and others instead of "kiddie" games. The problem is not because those games are intended for kids, but most kiddie games seem to belittle the intelligence of the youngsters. The games are very boring, lacks any actual form of gameplay and polish, and most of all, they're usually don't have much interesting happening to motivate the person to continue playing.
Maybe they should ask real life kids about what kind of games they really play. I bet they wouldn't be surprised to hear that kids love Gears of War, GTA, Street Fighter and almost everything else that adults play. Kids nowadays aren't dumb and naive, they can enjoy the same games that older gamers do because it's all about the fun factor and the gameplay that magnetizes players, not a simple age bracket.
I bet the first few customers for this "Kids" version of GameStop would be parents or grandparents who still don't know what their children really enjoy. After realizing what their kids want, GameStop Kids would really spiral down and be closed as soon as the next year.
I hope whoever planned this Kids version has a back-up plan to save his own job because his idea reeks of failure.
This is implying that there's a Gamestop for adults.
Don't really understand the need for this, but oh well. Better than going to the nearest Toys R Us
Since I hate GameStop so much, now I will have to teach my kid to hate GameStop Kids.
amazon + toys r us = better than gamestop
So Im guessing there wasnt enough kids games to go around in the original store? wtf are they gonna sell thats so different from the other store...? Nintendo games!? A_waste_of_space.
Will the store employees bring the "new" lego sets home and try them first, so they are missing pieces and full of smudge?
Alrighty uptight parents and conservative politicians, I don't wanna hear any more bullshit about games like GTA benig "marketed towards children". 'Cause I guarantee you can't buy it at THIS store.
You can't pirate or digitalize these kinds of toys and accessories, so that's one way of surviving when more and more people get their games from other places than retail stores.
I wonder if you can still trade in any game at these locations or if they would turn you away if you showed up with a copy of Shadows of the Damned.
Okay this is interesting, but in a business standpoint why? Especially since Gamestop is going to have a fight on there hands with the new systems becoming cloud based. It seems like a waste of money. Being a parent, yes a "kids based" game store is appealing but the gaming market is not really geared towards the "kid" demographic.
This seems like the stripped off version of Gamestop but it still seems interesting.
What is this I don't even.
Most malls already have a Gamestop so this is a waste...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KB_Toys
Wait a minute, they can't afford glass cases so that their games don't get stolen but they can afford to open 80 new stores? Haha wtf I'm never shopping at Gamestop again. I'm sick of paying full price for used games. And for all you nerd GS fanboys that say "Well they've never been played!" stfu you don't know that. Hell even GS employees admit to opening new games to take home...
We'll see how this plays out.
COD will be the best selling game there ever!
Are they also making a GameStop Adult? (Rhetorical question) What if I want Skyrim or GTA merchandise?
are you Fing kidding me? lmao
Sounds like a smart move, we'll see how it pays off.
GREAT! Now they can more directly rip off children!
This is not the first time something like this happened before, however only generally with clothes stores. Examples include:
Gap / Baby Gap
Toys R Us / Babies R Us
Pottery Barn / Pottery Barn Kids
Ibiza Fashion / Ibiza Kids
The Limited / Limited Too (Now Justice)
Personally, I think that because they are selling toys and accessories along with games, why not call it Kidstop?
Why the hell should I go to a Gamestop Kids for my Star Wars accessories?!
It's an interesting concept especially as brick and mortar stores are dying. I think it's a good strategy to increase sales, and for the brands which they are stocking. All they need is a babysitting program while the parents shop...
Little kids don't want little kid games anymore. Movies and games have to be "re-rated" every few years because violence and language is becoming more socially accepted. So little kids won't want Lego Batman (though I enjoy the lego games), they will want Black Ops II, Assassin's Creed III, and Halo 4.
If all the casual shovelware goes to the kids stores and the actual games go to the regular stores, this could actually be a good thing.
So this is where the resale of games profit are going...Stores ought to be made of gold.
I might even hit this up, I love my accessories and collectibles.
fail
Good luck GameStop Kids, you'll need it, because I bet this holiday season a bunch of little kids are begging their parents for Black Ops 2.
Sorry, I just don't see the logic in this. Even Toys R Us sells rated M games, so I doubt GameStop Kids makes sense.
this doesnt make any sense. new stores for kids games. so does this mean that gamestop will only have 14 and up games?
or will I have to buy kingdom hearts from GS kids and something like Call of duty from GS?
I probably wouldn't have minded going there as a kid, though I still played more mature games. It might be a cool place to hangout for kids in the mall, if they do it right.
@nurnberg Dude, I still can't get over buying a "new" copy of Jet Force Gemini for N64 at full price, back in the day, only to find someone already had TWO save data files on it! >_<
@TheGecKOo you are wrong my friend, I used to make my parents buy more games as a kid than I do on my own now, games are targeted at kids mainly, even the ma15+ rated games. so this store makes perfect sense, kids will always be the main demographic
@CivilizedPsycho Lol, shop at peace? Yeah right, this is not going to stop any parents bringing in little kids. The gaming market is not really there, yet.
@CivilizedPsycho If the parents want to get most if not all video games, they will still have to go to the regular store. This isn't a full-on replacement for the actual store.
@emperiox just ask for a sealed copy....
@emperiox oh darn
@TheoAlmighty yeah I don't think you'll be seeing COD at these locations. Think Angry Birds plush dolls and gimmicky games and Naruto lol
@cswagner Lol Kidstop that so freaking hilarious man. XD
@HitmanDante because knowing gamestop theyl'll get an exclusive toy that you have to pre-order before launch date lol.
@lensflare15 Indeed. I wonder if such a concept came to mind during the conception of this... enterprise.
@RAHBRT They gut ALL of the copies at my location and reseal them.
@Kingdom_fighter @cswagner ;p they shouldve called it that!