There is an interesting story that appeared in the most recent edition of the on-line magazine, "The Escapist." In it, the writer claims that Wal-Mart is in virtually complete control of what video games make it to the market. How do they control it? Because of the fact that they are the nation's largest retailer...and if they make a decision not to carry a game, that particular game is almost never brought to the market.
According to The Escapist, Wal-Mart has shaped the video game market in much the same way it shaped the markets for CDs and DVDs. Says game designer Allen Varney who wrote the article:
"The retail games you buy at GameStop or Best Buy or online are the games Wal-Mart has decided you can buy. Publisher sales reps inform Wal-Mart buyers of games in development; the games' subjects, titles, artwork and packaging are vetted and sometimes vetoed by Wal-Mart. If Wal-Mart tells a top-end publisher it won't carry a certain game, the publisher kills that game. In short, every triple-A game sold at retail in North America is managed start to finish, top to bottom, with the publisher's gaze fixed squarely on Wal-Mart, and no other."
While I really don't give a hoot about what video games come to the marketplace, I really find it disturbing that Wal-Mart is in such control of our lives. I suppose it is a normal byproduct of a world controlled by giant corporations, but it is still sad. Giving Wal-Mart control of what videos we can watch or what music we can listen to, or what games we can buy is tantamount to giving McDonalds control over what we can eat. To quote a famous musician, "Mediocrity is King and creativity is a liability."
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