Game stores across Ames offer variety of benefits to customers
January 22, 2013
All along Lincoln Way, gamers rejoice. The cold does not stop people from making the trek to either Gamers or Pixels to purchase a new video game, offering a break from the new semester rush of classwork. Pixels and Gamers offer a wide variety of electronic goodies for gamers young and old.
“GameStop doesn’t even have Gamecube games anymore,” said Aaron McMahon, owner of Pixels. Pixels deals with every system. From the ’80s into the new millennium, Pixels, in addition to Gamers, deals in the vintage and the rare.
“We offer more specialized and used games, and it’s easier to beat [competitors’] prices,” said McMahon.
Most gamers will tell you the price of a new Xbox 360 game is $60, but Pixels knocks off $15 off the new game’s price. Gamers offers a similar experience, giving customers more in-store credit than retail giant GameStop.
“On newer titles, we can usually undercut $10 – $15,” said Justin Zimmerman, Gamers’ assistant manager.
Having Gamestop only a few blocks away from either store, Pixels and Gamers really only feel the pressure of Gamestop when games are about to be released.
“We only really compete with GameStop when there are new releases,” said Katie Kinnetz, manager of Gamers. “People usually go to GameStop for new releases.”
Though Zimmerman said Gamers does host midnight releases for bigger titles like “Halo 4” and “Skyrim,” he and Kinnetz agreed that customers still often end up at GameStop. However, Gamers still has the advantage of being a chain store.
“If we don’t have the game here, we can call our store in Mason City or Coralville to see if they have it,” Kinnetz said.
Pixels, however, is not a chain store. McMahon used to work at Gamers but left the store in order to start Pixels, but McMahon said having an independent store has its benefits as well.
“Since we’re not a chain store, we’re very flexible with our hours. We also try to create a gaming environment,” McMahon said.
McMahon started Pixels to nurture his love for video games and make a profit.
“I’ve always wanted to mix hobby with work,” said McMahon.
