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11-02-05 12:59 PM
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Acmlm's Board - I2 Archive - General Gaming - The End of Toy Stores, Long Live the Game Stores | |
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Anya

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Posted on 01-25-05 08:36 AM Link | Quote
The KB Toy store across the way is closing (I work at Game Stop) and now I am hearing news that Toys R Us will be closing down in about six months.

We were talking at work about how kids (and in general) no longer want to buy toys, but are more into video games, thus making the toy stores suffer. This is mainly due to all the game stores, our Targets and so forth.

Now, I am a gamer true and through, so I'm a bit fine with this, but a point was made at work, "what about a child's imagination?". Sure, v'games can take us to levels that can drive the imagination wild at times, but but is it true that regualr toys no longer have a place in today's world?

Without KB Toys (also known as Toy Works) and Toys R Us, there's not really any toy stores left. Now all we have are the game stores and the department stores that tend to sell everything under the sun.
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Posted on 01-25-05 08:42 AM Link | Quote
From what I know, TRU isn't considering shutting down - rather, they want to try sell off the toy division and focus on Babies R Us. At least in the United States. Of course, the difficulty is trying to find a buyer for the toy division. The TRU here in Lasalle is in a good location and always has a few cars in the parking lot, so I don't know about the Canadian business.

Funny story; when I used to go to Plattsburgh (New York), I would always go to the KB in the mall there. Between there and EB, I was set. Anyways, a few years ago, TRU came into the mall and set up shop RIGHT ACROSS from KB.

Flash forward a few years, TRU ends up shutting down their store, Borders is in its place... and KB is still standing. Small world.
Anya

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Posted on 01-25-05 08:47 AM Link | Quote
They used to have a Kid R Us, but that failed really fast. There's only one Baby R Us that I've seen, so its not that big here.

The Toys R Us that is across from the mall, has been there since I was a kid. I remember going there and just playing around with the toys. Aw, those were the days.
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Posted on 01-25-05 08:52 AM Link | Quote
I don't even think we have Babies R Us in Canada. I believe that TRU has a section in their stores devoted to babies (a *RATHER* large section at that) so I guess the Canadian policy is to just have everything under one roof.

I did go to TRU solely for video game purposes back in the day... but that was when the NES was king. It was awesome looking back at the large counter and seeing about 300 stacks of different games lined up, from SMB3 to Final Fantasy to Ice Climber.
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Posted on 01-25-05 11:39 AM Link | Quote
As long as there are video games and anime, there will always be a market for model kits and action figures to be placed on top of televisions and shelves in badass poses.
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Posted on 01-25-05 11:47 AM Link | Quote
Back in the NES game, I heard that Toys R us was the company who sold the most Nintendo games. Around 50% of the profit came from Nintendo games back then I heard.

...so people mostly buy games from toy shops, the rare times I visit one it\s always becuse of the game section. You can find intresting old games there sometimes, probably becuse most youths seems to avoid going into toy shops...
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Posted on 01-25-05 04:07 PM Link | Quote
Originally posted by Melvin
As long as there are video games and anime, there will always be a market for model kits and action figures to be placed on top of televisions and shelves in badass poses.


My thoughts exactly. What are you seeing more and more of in video game stores lately? Action figures. When I went to look at my local Gamestop for stuff like that, I noticed they had quite a few Halo figures in stock, but not a single Master Chief in sight. Not ONE.

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Posted on 01-25-05 06:55 PM Link | Quote
As for action figures go, we only have a few, which are Megaman, sport figures, and Halo 2. I know some of the other stores tend to carry a bit more, but I guess we're not that liked to have more figures.
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Posted on 01-25-05 07:00 PM Link | Quote
Originally posted by Jarukoth
not a single Master Chief in sight. Not ONE.


Captain Obvious to the rescue!
alte Hexe

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Posted on 01-25-05 10:01 PM Link | Quote
I'd rather a child have a shit load of fun imagining that his top his an intergalactic death ship and the sock puppet he made in grade. 2 as an evil jello demon than a video game. This just royally screws kids over. If I become a parent I'm going to be very strict with videogames. I just don't like they way that many are going in relationship to kids.
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Posted on 01-25-05 10:52 PM Link | Quote
I believe my nearby KB Toys is already out of business. There were a swarm of people last time I saw and most of it was empty. The Toys R' Us nearby I heard is going to close too due to lack of sales. Seems kind of sad, really...

Although at Red Lobster, I usually see kids come in with either SPs or DSs and only the babies have toys. Seems like technology is getting to the kids' heads. Either that, or parents are using video games to make the kids shut up and not annoy them. That one is a possibility.
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Posted on 01-26-05 01:03 AM Link | Quote
I'm going to be balanced. Yes, my games will have a choice to play video games, but I'll also take them out to parks and places like that. Mix it up, I think is the best way to go, instead of an overload of one said item. That's how I grew up, I played games a lot, yet I still went out to play and I had toys. Heck, I still have a bunch of stuffed animals and toys (though they're more collector items than anything).
alte Hexe

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Posted on 01-26-05 01:22 AM Link | Quote
Anya, you referred to children as games?
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Posted on 01-26-05 02:08 AM Link | Quote
Gaming finally got to her head.
Anya

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Posted on 01-26-05 02:34 AM Link | Quote
I agree with Adamant on this one.
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Posted on 01-26-05 02:49 AM Link | Quote
This is actually sad

I love my toys.

I'm getting all sentimental now just thinking about the Terminator and Swamp thing.
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Posted on 01-26-05 03:44 AM Link | Quote
Actually, most of the time I played alot with no toys. None whatever.

...we just did roleplay behind the bushes in school. I liked to be an Yoshi for example... god how silly I was.

My favorite toy is a tiger I got on my first christmas... if there is anything that have big sentimental value in my life.
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Posted on 01-26-05 04:16 AM Link | Quote
I was brought up on toys, I hated being brought up on toys (I was just weird like that)... except one...

Building blocks... and legos (Same difference). I swear Im going to become some kind of computer engineer when I grow up. Combine the toy with the tech

Dont worry Kitten Yiffer... you arent the only Crazy unique person who did that
alte Hexe

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Posted on 01-26-05 04:19 AM Link | Quote
Originally posted by Kirby ATW

Building blocks... and legos (Same difference). Something about melding the two or technology, frankly Ziff doesn't care


It's already been done...For the past 10 years. Lego Mindstorm.
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Posted on 01-26-05 04:52 AM Link | Quote
Good ol' Lego's, that's a good $300 or so ...

I used to have fun imagining I was playing Super Mario RPG with my Mario toys also.

That is sad news. It's not like I go to Toy's R Us anymore, but back in the day as a young kid it was really fun to go to such a place with nothing but toys and games around.

KB Toys I never really cared about, they were always more expensive.

At least you can still find a handful of toys at Target's, Walmart's, etc.

Even as a kid though I'd always rather go to a Gamestop, Babbages, or something.


(edited by Xeogred on 01-25-05 07:53 PM)
(edited by Xeogred on 01-25-05 07:54 PM)
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