Knoxville Gaming Store Review

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Below is a review of the gaming stores in the Knoxville area.

GAME HAVEN

Locations: 3

Downtown West - Formerly on Kingston Pike next to Barnes and Noble; Now on Kingston Pike next to Chuckie Cheese

Knox Center - Across the strett from Knox Center Mall (East Town) next to Taco Bell

Maryville - Near Dairy Queen and McDonalds, next to a pool store

Selection by generation

  • 3rd: NES (used)
  • 4th: SNES (used), Genesis (used)
  • 5th: Playstation (used), N64 (used)
  • 6th: Dreamcast (used), Playstation 2 (used), XBox (used), Gamecube (used)
  • 7th: XBox 360 (new, used), PS3 (new, used), Wii (new, used)

Review - The people there are usually cool, and they won't harass you to buy extras when you're just going in to get a game. I've only had one bad experience there at the old West Towne location, where the guy working the counter was too busy talking to his buddy to check me out. They usually don't get new releases until a day or two after the street release date unless it is something big. They rarely do midnight releases.

Rare Finds - Last year I bought a used ROB robot for $20 there. In the past I have also found a few rare NES games and accessories (like the Power Pad). They keep the rare games behind a glass case, and not out with the other NES games.

GAME CRAZY

Locations: 2 (1 closed)

Oak Ridge - Next to Hollywood Video in the Books a Million shopping center

Maryville - Next to Hollywood Video in the Kroger shopping center

Farragut (closed) - Next to Hollywood Video and across from Blockbuster Video on Kingston Pike

Selection by generation

  • 3rd: none
  • 4th: none
  • 5th: none
  • 6th: Playstation 2 (used), XBox (used), Gamecube (used)
  • 7th: XBox 360 (new, used), PS3 (new, used), Wii (new, used)

Review - These are usually located in the same building next to Hollywood Video, and you can walk between the stores without going outside. They used to sell NES, SNES, PS1, and Dreamcast games, but they quit selling those one or two years ago. Some of the workers are knowlegable about video games and classics. However, they will bug the hell out of you when you simply want to buy a game.

Usually there are four or five questions they ask:

  • Do you want the strategy guide
  • Is there anything you need to prebook
  • Do you want the "game guard" (I don't even know what the hell that is)
  • Do you want the warranty
  • Do you want to buy their membership plan

Game Crazy would probably be the #1 place that I would go to if it wasn't for all the damn questions they ask. They make a 2 minute transaction turn into a 10 minute transaction.

They usually get new releases the next day at 10am (or at least they what they will tell you). They have had a few midnight releases for games like Final Fantasy XII, WoW: Wrath of the Litch King, and Halo 3.

PACKARDS

Locations: 2 stores, 1 or more flea markets

Knox Center Mall - first floor near Sci Fi City

Oak Ridge - Grove Center

Flea Markets - Sweet Water (maybe more?)

Selection by generation

  • 3rd: NES (used)
  • 4th: SNES (used), Genesis (used)
  • 5th: Playstation (used), N64 (used)
  • 6th: Dreamcast (used), Playstation 2 (used), XBox (used), Gamecube (used)
  • 7th: XBox 360 (new, used), PS3 (new, used), Wii (new, used)

Review - The Packards locations have some really rare classic games, but they are also way overpriced. They once had Bubble Bobble 2 for the NES, but he wanted $200 for it. There have been articles in the local newspaper about him being arrested for selling hot property, so beware before you buy anything from him.


GAME STOP

Locations: Too Many

Oak Ridge - At the old "Cat's Music" location next to Subway in front of Wal-Mart

Knoxville - Two in West Towne Mall, Two in Knox Center Mall, Two within a half mile of each other at Turkey Creek

Maryville - At the Wal-Mart shopping center behind Hooters

Selection by generation

  • 3rd: none
  • 4th: none
  • 5th: none
  • 6th: Playstation 2 (used), XBox (used), Gamecube (used)
  • 7th: XBox 360 (new, used), PS3 (new, used), Wii (new, used)


Review - Game Stop is usually my last resort. The people there are usually brain dead or highschool kids who know nothing about classic games. Ninety-five percent of the time will lay a huge guilt trip on you if you ask for a new release and you don't have it prebooked. The Maryville location doesn't seem to be as bad as some of the others, and they seemed knowledgeable in 90's games.

When you go in to just buy a game, they will also waste your time by asking many questions similar to Game Crazy:

  • Do you want the strategy guide
  • Is there anything you need to prebook
  • Do you want the warranty
  • Do you want to buy their membership plan