With Microsofts recent announcement of the 360's price aswell as the RRP's for its games and accessories the different way in which gaming stores rip gamers off becomes ever more aparent.

Both the UK and the US have large gaming retailers the US has stores like EB and Gamestop and the UK has places like GAME and Gamestation, these stores supply most of their country's gamers softcore and hardcore alike but they still find dirty ways to rip their customers off.

EB and Gamestop have both recently begun taking pre-orders for the Xbox 360, and gamers werent to pleased with what was on offer. EB forced gamers to buy bundles packed with things most people didnt want if they wished to buy the 360 through their online store meanwhile Gamestop created rediculous bundles that reached prices of $2000.

In the UK the large retailers have for some reason or another refused to offer any kind of bundle, while this may not seem so bad as their not forcing overpriced bundles onto people it is just as bad if not worse. GAME the UK's largest gaming retailer are selling all 360 games at the stupidly high price of £50 thats the equivilent of $90 dollars in the US. Gamestation arnt much better either with their games retailing at £45.

Why do such large retailers do this...because they can and nobody can stop them. While the Hardcore or smart gamer may hunt for better deals online or in smaller stores the mainstream will always turn to the likes of GAME EB Gamestation and Gamestop. Its much the same case with all of the rehashed games EA being out on a yearly basis, if the mainstream buy it they will keep doing it. Why? Because they make millions from blinded softcore gamers who dont know any better.