THE FINALISTS 2012 Exclusive Retail Category Partner YOUR TEAM • YOUR GAMES • YOUR AWARDS
AWARD CRITERIA: Customer service, Range and marketing, Use of technology, Ease of use, Industry relations (including developer support)
RETAIL DIGITAL RETAILER
PLAYSTATION STORE Despite facing one of the largest and most talked about system attacks in all of ʻbig dataʼ, PlayStation Networkʼs retail Store goes from strength to strength. It was redesigned in 2011, and last year also pioneered day-and-date digital releases, with high profile games like Mass Effect 2 and 3 and Infamous 2 all available to download at the same time they hit store shelves. That laid the groundwork for Vita – all of its games are digital releases, with physical the optional choice. Clearly, in a fast changing world, PlayStation Store has helped retailers get to grips with some of the biggest changes.
STEAM Valve-owned Steam is the leading global digital distributor, with estimations of its market share being upwards of 80 per cent of the download market. The outfit says it posted 100 per cent growth in 2011, its seven consecutive year of doubled growth. Thatʼs despite challenges in the market from EAʼs Origin rival, and reports of a data breach in November. Plus Steamʼs Steamworks tech is used in almost every publisherʼs PC releases, from stalwarts like Segaʼs Total War series to upcoming hits like Borderlands 2. New iOS and Android apps for accessing the marketplace show the firm has its eye on the evolving market, too.
XBOX MARKETPLACE A revamp late in 2011 which added Bing search functionality may have been controversial in some quarters, but only rammed home what the Marketplace does well. And thatʼs selling music, film and apps alongside games of all shapes and sizes. New entertainment offerings from Netflix, BBC, LoveFilm and Disney have helped further boost the 360ʼs appeal in the mainstream while back in games continued success with promotions such as Summer of Arcade show it still manages to push new IP into the marketplace through digital channels from firms of all sizes.