This month, participating 7-Eleven stores are introducing a lineup of seven of the top videogame titles for sale as well as one of the most comprehensive selections of prepaid gift cards for another growing gaming phenomenon: Massively Multi-player Online Games, or [image-nocss] MMOGs.
"Videogames aren't just for kids anymore, and they're not just sold at big-box and game stores either," said Michael Jester, 7-Eleven category manager for gaming and electronics. "We can compete with the major players and offer consumers a more convenient place to purchase games and accessories. They can pay a deposit and reserve their copies ahead of time and pick them up starting midnight on the release date at locations closer to their homes."
"AAA" games, as they're called in the industry, are the top-selling, most anticipated games, often sequels with proven appeal to both serious and casual player alike. Suggested retail prices are $59.99 for Xbox 360 and PS3 games, $49.99 for Nintendo Wii, and $39.99 for PS2. Predicted to be the hottest sellers this holiday season, these game titles are available at 7-Eleven stores while supplies last: Guitar Hero: World Tour-Band Kit (Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2, Nintendo Wii) Fallout 3 (Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PS3, personal computer or PC) World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King (MMOG available on PC only) 007: Quantum of Solace (Xbox 360, PS3 and PS2) Gears of War 2 (exclusive to Xbox 360) WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 (Xbox 360, Sony PS3 and PS 2) Call of Duty: World at War (Xbox 360, PS3) "This is not just a holiday promotion for us," Jester said, "but a brand new product lineup that will be available year-round. We may not be a total entertainment destination...yet, but we're hoping to expand our selection beyond the high-dollar, hot-selling games to include options for all budgets, like value-priced videogames as well as DVD movies. For consumers wanting convenient one-stop shopping for at-home entertainment along with groceries and gas or who just want to avoid big-store shopping inconveniences, their local 7-Eleven store is open and ready."
Displayed right next door to the console games is a broad selection of online game gift cards to make virtual purchases in MMOGs or pay for monthly subscription. Played on the Internet, these online games feature at least one virtual world and enable players from around the world to communicate, cooperate and compete with each other.
"MMOGs got their start in Asia, but have gained a worldwide audience of millions," said Brian Haynes, 7-Eleven category manager for services. "In November of 2007, 7-Eleven was the first convenience retailer in the U.S. to introduce the Nexon gift card, its first foray into the world of MMOGs."
This year, the number of prepaid game cards available at participating 7-Eleven stores has expanded to approximately 20 different cards in varying denominations. So popular have these prepaid game cards become that 7-Eleven is placing a major focus on this growing segment of the prepaid business next year.
While most games are free to play; players can use microtransactions, an innovative cash-shop system that allows payments of little as a quarter for a virtual item, to make purchases to individualize their characters and create unique identities. These features are purely optional, and players can try out items in virtual dressing rooms before making a purchase. They can also spend cyber-dollars to unlock clues and levels of the different games.
Most top-selling video games have action- or battle-oriented objectives popular with male players. Many of the online MMOGs, however, are classified as "casual," "role-playing" or "experiential" and attract a higher percentage of female players.
The 7-Eleven prepaid game card lineup includes Nexon, Habbo, Gaia, Guild Wars, gPotato, Runescape, Aeria, City of Heroes, Exteel, ijji, IMVU, Neopets and Sims2 prepaid game cards. Sold primarily in denominations of $10 and $25, many of the cards can be used to make purchases within multiple online games. 7-Eleven and Slurpee have a presence in some games where players can receive afree Slurpee Machine to place in their virtual room.
Along with the prepaid MMOG cards, 7-Eleven offers prepaid gift cards for the two biggest game platforms, Sony PlayStation Network and Microsoft Xbox Live. Players can use the Xbox and PlayStation gift cards to download new games, and game content and access playable demos of upcoming releases.
"We think videogames will be a great year-round seller for us," Jester said. "Whenever a big-name game is released, it creates instant demand, and we plan on being there to meet it."
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