Blind Mind pulls game from Impulse following GameStop acquisition
Star Ruler removed "due to a rather large list of things we detest" about retailer
Blind Mind Studios
Blind Mind Studios (BMS) is a startup Computer Game development company, currently focused on making...
Star Ruler developer Blind Mind Studios is to pull its game from Stardock's Impulse service following the announcement that GameStop is acquiring the digital delivery business.
"Due to a rather large list of things we detest about GameStop, Star Ruler will no longer be available for purchase on Impulse after the takeover," said Andrew Ackermann, founder of the developer.
We would never have signed onto distribution through GameStop, and being forced into this situation has only made it worse for us.
Andrew Ackermann, Blind Mind Studios
"We are ending sales through Impulse due to GameStop's long, negative behaviour toward the PC platform and independent games. We would never have signed onto distribution through GameStop, and being forced into this situation has only made it worse for us.
"We feel GameStop cannot serve as the leader of a true competitor in the digital distribution market."
Star Ruler is also available from Direct2Drive and GamersGate, and Blind Mind said it would continue to support the game through Impulse where possible.
"GameStop's business practices stand opposed to our goals," detailed Ackermann. "We feel they would not respect our customers."
"GameStop consistently focuses only on large budget titles and safe bets, shying away from the independent market."
can't say i disagree. for all of stardock / impulse's talk with their 'gamers manifesto' etc it's more than a little disturbing that they would go this route. gamestop is pretty much everything that's wrong with retail, and is the majority of the reason why i have moved exclusively to digital distribution purchases over the past several years.
the local gamestop (pick one / any one) is 99% dedicated to nice slick shelves with the latest console games, and then there is literally one tiny section of decrepit, unorganized (and very dishevelled) PC games, most of which are poorly masked second hand copies being sold for near full price, etc etc etc...
they are going to have to do a lot of work to convince me that they (and impulse in turn) are worth supporting from both the gamer and developer standpoint.
Posted:2 years ago