Can someone who works for a game store answer this for me?

Uh... they don't for big-name titles.

Anyhoo, the basic answer to your question is unsold stock = money lost.

when i worked for a game retailer the stock levels depended on certain factors:

1) Publisher allocations (negotitated by the buyers v other companies)

2) Potential popularity of the game

3) Stores get allocated on pre-orders taken and sales turner over.

Uh... they don't for big-name titles.

Anyhoo, the basic answer to your question is unsold stock = money lost.

Oleg_Huzwog

Now, I would understand games like Soldier of Fortune or some other off brand game, but Burnout is a big title. I'm sure if say Gamestop ordered 10 copies over the pre-orders, they would most likely sell all of them. Don't they rotate overstock to stores that can sell it? So I don't see any revenue loss.

Because you have weird game stores in your area?mattyftm

True. Instead of going to a "game store" to buy a newly released game (because they only fill pre-orders), I have to go to Target instead? Does that make sense?

Now, I would understand games like Soldier of Fortune or some other off brand game, but Burnout is a big title. I'm sure if say Gamestop ordered 10 copies over the pre-orders, they would most likely sell all of them. Don't they rotate overstock to stores that can sell it? So I don't see any revenue loss.

EnderSR388

The people at the store obviously feel differently about the potential sales of this game. And rotating overstock is not free.