If you live in Edinburgh, then SPOnG urges you to pop into your local HMV down on Princes Street this coming weekend, as the retailer opens the first of its gaming zones in the flagship Scottish store on Friday 19th October.
The zone is an impressive 2,000 square feet and, being backed by Microsoft, is stocked full of 27 LIVE-enabled Xbox 360s all hooked up to Samsung high-def screens.
The zone launches this coming Friday with a Halo 3 multiplayer tournament, with further 360 game-offs in the pipelines including a Project Gotham Racing 4 event and a Guitar Hero 3 rock-off!
If the zone proves successful, and SPOnG cannot imagine that it won't be, HMV will consider opportunities to roll out the concept to other stores in the chain.
Access to the zone will be through a membership scheme, via which members can purchase 'slots' of time to play any games on show at a cost of £3 per hour of play, or £5 for a three-hour slot. A great way to really test out whether you want to splash out the full £40 on a new title or not.
HMV's Head of Games, Tim Ellis, commented on the initiative, saying, "Games are now an integral part of the HMV offer, and whether we're selling them or, as in this case, also making them available on a pay-per-play basis, it's about getting our customers closer to the things they love, and giving them access to content however they wish to consume it.
"This is a really exciting project, which I feel will generate a great deal of interest. If the HMV gaming zone proves a hit, then we'll consider if there are opportunities to roll out the concept to other stores in the chain."
The zone is an impressive 2,000 square feet and, being backed by Microsoft, is stocked full of 27 LIVE-enabled Xbox 360s all hooked up to Samsung high-def screens.
The zone launches this coming Friday with a Halo 3 multiplayer tournament, with further 360 game-offs in the pipelines including a Project Gotham Racing 4 event and a Guitar Hero 3 rock-off!
If the zone proves successful, and SPOnG cannot imagine that it won't be, HMV will consider opportunities to roll out the concept to other stores in the chain.
Access to the zone will be through a membership scheme, via which members can purchase 'slots' of time to play any games on show at a cost of £3 per hour of play, or £5 for a three-hour slot. A great way to really test out whether you want to splash out the full £40 on a new title or not.
HMV's Head of Games, Tim Ellis, commented on the initiative, saying, "Games are now an integral part of the HMV offer, and whether we're selling them or, as in this case, also making them available on a pay-per-play basis, it's about getting our customers closer to the things they love, and giving them access to content however they wish to consume it.
"This is a really exciting project, which I feel will generate a great deal of interest. If the HMV gaming zone proves a hit, then we'll consider if there are opportunities to roll out the concept to other stores in the chain."
Companies:
HMV
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Comments
Joji 15 Oct 2007 13:26
1/2
£5 for 3 hours? Not bad but will people bite. HMV might as well just set this thing up as an new type of arcade, separate from HMV. Problem is you'd probably get the chavs camping there.
zoydwheeler 15 Oct 2007 13:42
2/2
£5 for 3 hours is superb. Same as Omega Sektor in Brum. I hope HMV in London follow suit soon. Sony has missed a trick by not getting involved in this.