Confession: Even though I'm heading into my late thirties, I am still an avid gamer. Along with movies, books, and music, video games still have a place on my shelf of escapism. Even though games have gotten more complicated than the simple days of the Nintendo Entertainment System when I was a kid, I still like to keep up with newer consoles and I genuinely enjoy newer games as well as retro.
Along with music, video games seem to be shifting toward digital as the preferred method of purchasing. I do purchase digital downloads from time to time, but I still prefer to have a physical copy. I like having artwork to look at while the game is loading, and most importantly, I can sell it back to Gamestop when I'm done with it. You can't do that with digital downloads.
I've been frequenting this Gamestop for a few years now because it's closest to my home but also because the staff and customers seem to be more well mannered than other Gamestops I've been to. At this Gamestop, the employees make sure to greet you when you walk in even if they're in the middle of helping someone, and they will always check up on you to see if you're looking for suggestions or anything in particular. The staff here seem to be genuinely friendly and really care about video games and are always stoked to talk about whatever game you're thinking about purchasing as well as upcoming games.
As you see, I left off a star, and if you're a Gamestop shopper, you probably already know why. As much as I love Gamestop, I'm not a fan of them pushing their employees to upsell products. I just came in to trade a few games and look around; I don't need the $35 walkthrough guide, I'm fine without the warranty since every PS4 game is a blu-ray disc, and it's difficult to scratch those unless you really go out of your way, and if I wanted to pre-order an upcoming game, I'd tell them from the get-go, not wait for them to bring out a binder full of upcoming releases and asking me to check it out to see if there's anything I might be interested in.
I mean, I get it from a business standpoint, but it gets a little annoying as a consumer. I know what games are coming out soon, I don't care about the walkthrough guides, I just want to trade the games I brought in and purchase the game I want. Again, this is not this particular Gamestop's fault, it's the company's fault as a whole. However, the employees at this Gamestop are generally pretty cool about it all. As soon as you say, "Nah, I'm not interested," they don't pressure you further like some other Gamestops do. They abide by the corporate mandate but they also respect you as a customer. I can totally get behind that.
The game selection here is pretty good if you're looking for a used copy of a newer game. They usually have a few in stock and if not, they'll point you in the direction of the nearest Gamestop that has one so you can save a few bucks instead of purchasing the game brand new. The interior is clean and well organized, and the staff are great to chat with while you're looking around or making a transaction.
The parking situation here is a little iffy because they're right next to a Chipotle in a cramped shopping center, so you might find yourself parking at the nearby gym and just walking over. I won't knock them for that.
If you're a gamer, and you live in the Mills/50 area, this is the Gamestop to go to, and I haven't had a bad experience with them. What bothers me is the corporate mandate that makes employees upsell stuff you don't really need, but the staff here totally brushes that aside the second you say you're not interested.
So yeah, I'm a fan of this Gamestop. And if you're not a gamer, they also have other stuff like Funko-Pop dolls and various other geeky accessories, so this would be a good place to check out if you're birthday shopping for a friend. As a final tip, always check their website before you go. Gamestop regularly runs BOGO specials and marks down older games. The deals are pretty sweet if you're trading in some stuff for new games, and your total might end up in the single digits. I give this Gamestop 4 stars which is the equivalent of the Mario victory finger sign from Super Mario World. read more