In Response to Wal-Mart.

[Peepers]

The front page of xboxaddict.com is reporting that Wal-Mart pulled Halo (and GTA) from the shelves in response to the W. Virginia snipings.

This was stupid. If they're going to be this reactionary, it seems that they should pull the guns from their sporting goods section* before they pull Halo from the video games section!

The fact that sportsmans' hobbies are held in such higher esteem than gamers' offends me. How many people have actually been killed by an Xbox? Yet Wal-Mart must assume that number must be greater than the number actually killed by guns.

I demand equality! Gamer's rights should be the last thing to go here!

Ultimately however, as a proponent of free-enterprise, I must respect Wal-Mart's decision, even as I dissapprove of it.

The article didn't specify whether it was just the Wal-Mart in W. Virginia that pulled the games (which I guess I could understand) or if it's a nationwide thing (which would be preposterous).


*I am a Republican in favor of gun rights so I wouldn't favor this either.

[slickbmw]

very true...Walmart is really stupid by pullin Halo off the shelves for sniper shootings....they will be losing alot of money...remeber my slogan.... Guns dont kill people....Video games do....

[bluefire712]

I don't see why you people are so upset by this. Free enterprise is a simple concept. If they don't offer the product you want, you go somewhere else. It only ultimately hurts Wal-Mart seeing as probably Best Buy, Circuit City, GameStop, EB, and K-Mart still have it in-stock. I don't really see why people buy video games at Wal-Mart in the first place, I guess just convenience.

[Peepers]

Originally posted by bluefire712
I don't see why you people are so upset by this. Free enterprise is a simple concept. If they don't offer the product you want, you go somewhere else. It only ultimately hurts Wal-Mart seeing as probably Best Buy, Circuit City, GameStop, EB, and K-Mart still have it in-stock. I don't really see why people buy video games at Wal-Mart in the first place, I guess just convenience.

If you note my orignal post I say that I am a proponent of free enterprise, and therefore respect Wal-Mart's decision. However, that does not mean that I can't dissaprove of it for other pragmatic and idealogical reasons.

[bluefire712]

Originally posted by Peepers


If you note my orignal post I say that I am a proponent of free enterprise, and therefore respect Wal-Mart's decision. However, that does not mean that I can't dissaprove of it for other pragmatic and idealogical reasons.

Why are you getting mad at me? I don't see why this even in the news. This is just another media thing blown way out of proportion.

[Discretion]

I can only say one thing... It's pathetic and this is another reason not to shop at Wal Mart... It's a loser store IMO

[Peepers]

Originally posted by bluefire712


Why are you getting mad at me? I don't see why this even in the news. This is just another media thing blown way out of proportion.

My tone might have been a little formal, but it certainly wasn't angry. Rest assured I'm not mad at you.

I might agree with you that this is a big news story-in the mainstream news. But in gaming news, the kind XBA usually covers, this is a big deal

Two things might come to the surface to mitigate this story's impact.

1. I find out it's only the W. Virginia Wal-Mart that's pulling Halo et al off the shelves.

2. I find out this is only a very temporary measure.

Hopefully both of these things are true. If that's the case, I might even agree with Wal-Mart, but I would continue to think that they have their prioritied scewed in this matter.

So lets get back to the original topic: Why Wal-Mart made a stupid decision.

[Kortiz]

See, this is how I see it from the Wal-Mart executives. They sell guns....and video games. Wal-Mart is the soccer mom heaven of stores....AM I RIGHT?!?! OR AM I RIGHT?!?! They see mothers getting upset about video games being to violent. On the other hand, you have ish goin' on around the country. Guns would be a great thing to get rid of in their eyes...but people like you and me would boycott them until the end of time......I seriously think getting rid of guns would put them in serious trouble.

Those games getting pulled make mothers happy...getting rid of the guns make the mother's husbands' very UNHAPPY!





either way, halo and gta getting pulled isn't such a big deal.......i mean who buys their games from Wal-Mart anyway? Everytime i go there i see their prices and notice a huge increase in price from EB or even Bestbuy.

[Cryogenic Pyro]

Actually, I'm sure some people have been killed by the Xbox. Take this for example:

A mother buys his son an Xbox for Chistmas, not realizing her son is a PS2 fanboy. This family lives on the 5th floor in a condo. The next day the son grabs the Xbox, throws it out the window, and at the same time a man is walking by. This man is instantly killed by the sheer weight of the Xbox.

Very realistic IMHO.

[Shadow20002]

Originally posted by Cryogenic Pyro
Actually, I'm sure some people have been killed by the Xbox. Take this for example:

A mother buys his son an Xbox for Chistmas, not realizing her son is a PS2 fanboy. This family lives on the 5th floor in a condo. The next day the son grabs the Xbox, throws it out the window, and at the same time a man is walking by. This man is instantly killed by the sheer weight of the Xbox.

Very realistic IMHO.

Wow, seems like you have so many imaginations about video games. But this could be possible by the chance of 1/100000. After all, he could just ask her mother to change the Xbox for a PS2 since the box is not opened.

[JediMasterChief]

I think Wal-Mart made a stupid decision.

Halo has been on shelves for nearly two years now, but at least it's just one chain of stores.

[RudedogX]

Ya know, this news from wal-mart doesn't surprise me. They've always tried to ensure that they stay away from controversy, no matter how trivial it is. If any of you all watch the 'Big Urban Myth Show' on MTV, you would have seen that at one point last year, Wal Mart refused to sell a doll (similar to barbie) because she is pregnant and doesn't wear a wedding band. Um...it's a doll! It's a videogame! To some people this is ridiculous, to others it's a great thing. In the end, you have to choose a side, and no matter what side you choose, you're going to alienate people. In this case, Wal-Mart just tried to ensure they picked the side that would prevent the promotion of a very bad thing in today's society. I don't think they're doing the right thing, but at the same time, the loss of customers is their own loss, and that lack of income...it's not going to affect Wal-Mart too greatly, so they don't see a reason not to do it.

[Casper]

I was bored and just wrote this to Walmart corporate HQ

I read an article today that was quite disturbing in regards to removing video games from the shelves of your stores due to the West Virginia sniper shootings. Why is it that your corporate heads have resulted to remove a simple video game (Halo and Grand Theft Auto) from being able to be purchased, rather than your guns that you sell? Guns are the problem, not video games. No matter how much a game can try and influence a person into doing a bad act, it's not reality. It's not the virtual cartoonish figures that are shooting people, it's the dylusional ones that have the issues, purchase your guns, and go use them to kill people....not the videogamers.

Please reconsider this. I have been a loyal customer to your company for many years, and to hear this news that you have removed a game, and not the guns, has sickened me in the aspect that your views are so distorted to think this way.

[Chaotic]

Originally posted by casper
I was bored and just wrote this to Walmart corporate HQ

you have way to much time on your hands :o

[RudedogX]

I agree...I thought you were working!

[CrazyCougar]

Ya'll gotta remember where Walmarts roots are from. The good ole bible belt and they pride themsleves upon family values. Is it wrong for them to do this, no....is it a good sales decision, no...is it related to the owner, family and many customer beliefs, yes. I repsect Walmart in decisions like this as they try to make a statement. Still cant figure out why the gun shelf remains open though if they are trying to help society. (Thats not a gun control comment either.)

I think the real issue is this crackpot in West Virginia that caused this whole ordeal. He's the one that needs to be taken off the shelves permanently.

[Casper]

Originally posted by rudedogX
I agree...I thought you were working!

Look you board stalker, why don't you do something productive today...I'm working on my routers

[RudedogX]

Originally posted by casper


Look you board stalker, why don't you do something productive today...I'm working on my routers

Damn, it must both chaotic's and your times of the month! Both of you are ****y!

[Chaotic]

Originally posted by rudedogX


Damn, it must both chaotic's and your times of the month! Both of you are ****y!

and both of us are about to come down to virgina and kick your ass

[DZNUTZ]

dont' u kids have anything better to do then squablled like lil girls?


why don't u go play in the freeway and count the cars as they run you over.