Brick ‘n’ mortar survival: GameStop president Tony Bartel shows how retail fits into a digital future

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — With digital content playing a significant role in the next wave of platforms, traditional retail sales are another victim of popular opinion’s dire prognosis. Yet Wednesday at GamesBeat 2013, president Tony Bartel of GameStop (the video game retail Goliath that built its empire off of the buy/sell/trade model) seems unfazed not only about a digital future but also the downward trend in the current console market.

During a discussion with Adam Sessler, a producer at Internet television network Revision3, Bartel explained why he sees a decline in the current console game market. “There’s been nine straight quarters of negative growth in the video game sector. So I think what you’re seeing is a lack of innovation. I mean, how many people in the crowd have a cellphone in their pocket that’s more than 5 years old?