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7-Eleven to sell video games year round (194 hits)

Can I get a slurpee with that game?

DALLAS -- Gamers never die; they just grow up ... and continue to play ... and play ... and play. Today, the average gamer is not in his teens, but in his early 30s and, not surprisingly, most likely male. They play at home, at social gatherings, at work (shhhh) and online.

That's good news for 7-Eleven, Inc. whose customer base skews heavily male between the ages of 18 and 34. The world's leading convenience retailer is ready to take the proverbial plunge into video game sales after dabbling in it over the past years with successful Slurpee(r) beverage promotions aimed at top-selling game franchises like Microsoft's Halo and EA Sport's Madden.

This month, participating 7-Eleven(r) stores introduce a line-up of seven of the top video game titles for sale as well as one of the most comprehensive selection of prepaid gift cards for another growing gaming phenomenon - Massively Multi-player Online Games, or MMOGs.

"Video games 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 (12 am) on the release date at locations closer to their homes."

The video game industry is a $12 billion business and growing. A recent survey by the Entertainment Software Association found that 65 percent of American households play computer and video games, with 41 percent of Americans expecting to purchase one or more games this year. Of the top-selling games, 85 percent are rated E for "Everyone" and T for "Teen."

"AAA" VIDEO GAMES

"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 PS2, 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 line-up 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 video games 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."

"We think video games 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."

See also: 7-Eleven a great place to buy big name games early