With the expansion of the trade edition of GAME NEWS there's more room for our regular features. Behind the Counter... The Retail Opinion is a good example. Often, the retailer quotes were included with the Bestsellers. Now the questions and replies can be reported separately.
"How were this quarter's sales compared to this quarter last year?"
Twelve stores said sales were up, seven said about even, four said down.
"Our sales are up because we moved, 'way up.'" -Andre Prada Gamer of Berkeley Berkeley, CA
"We're having a phenomenal year!" -Andy Supranovich Game World Chester Springs, NJ
" July and August were very good, sales were down in September. The quarter is up." -Steve La Prade Game Shop Norman, OK
"Best August ever." -Scott Newberry Yankee Doodle Games and Hobby Kansas City, MO
"Not good. Not that many new games this summer." -Danny Kilbert The Compleat Strategist New York, NY
"Much better. We weren't open last year. -Kim Monk Sawmill Hobbyland Columbus, OH
"Better. The only other game store in town closed." -Jim Beers The Compleat Strategist Philadelphia, PA
"Do you think awards have an effect on game sales?"
Fourteen stores said yes, and eleven said no. Two were unsure. Several stores mentioned the Games 100 and the Omni magazine list, both published every year before Christmas, as being better recommendations for a game.
"Absolutely, but not as much as Game 100 or Omni." -Derrick Bang Game Preserve Davis, CA
"People do not come in and ask for Charles Roberts Award winners." -Dennis DeLaPena The Compleat Strategist Falls Church, VA
"Games 100 or Omni list are more significant." -Doug Aldritch Games People Play Boston, MA
"More useful are timely reviews." -Mrs. Hanlon The Little Shop of War Akron, OH
"We only looked at Ragnarok's Middle Passage because of its award." -Wayne Godfrey Sword of the Phoenix Atlanta, GA
"Yes. Look at the effect on Car Wars sales." -Kim Monk Sawmill Hobbyland Columbus, OH
"No, nothing like word of mouth." -Glen Brewer Rock Bottom Books and Comics Columbia, MO
Back to Table of Contents -- Game News #10
To Game News List of Issues
To MagWeb Master Magazine List
© Copyright 1985 by Dana Lombardy.
This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com