World-8 — Local services in Los Angeles

World 8 is a dying breed and you probably already know if you're interested in it. The mom and pop video game store, once displaced by big retail in the form of GameStop and then by internet retailers like Amazon lives on here and for that personal touch, you can't go wrong with World 8, but be aware that if there's ever a specific something you need, they aren't always able to help you.

The place oozes personality - the front wall hosts a hand painted mural usually reflecting a game in the popular discourse (at the time of writing a firey Smash Bros symbol has been on the side a little over a year). The inside is a mix of games old and new, plushies and paraphernalia, and on your first visit undoubtedly a pleasant dose of video game culture. Staff are always friendly in person and reasonably knowledgeable. It's not even unheard of to snag little deals, even unadvertised on games that are, say, not selling or that another retailer has for similar price. If that informal friendly retailer is what you're looking for, find it here.

A word of caution thought that for specific items, I don't rely on World 8. While their cases host collectors editions, I'd asked after Ace Combat 7 and Octopath Traveller for ages and they never materialized. At one point I wanted to get a PS4 from them and over the phone they said they'd be getting the model I wanted in a few days, but calling back later I was told no such thing was there, nor would it be. It really isn't the place to go for everything.

But it gets 5 stars because I want to go there and give them whatever business I can. Not just because they do a point system that gives you credit on future buys, or that you will occasionally find some special game you didn't know would be there, but because the sense of community they foster is one of a kind, increasingly rare, and worth...

For the vast, while I have had a problem with my PS3 60GB (pictured) not being able to play PS1-games. So after taking this in the wonderful people told me that a laser was inefficient thus, causing the errors. When I got home, I was mad at the fact, it wasn't working again!! Thankfully when I picked it back up, the first time, Kat (a great person) informed me of the 30 day policy to return, such a thing that became previously operated on, and they'll reexamine it, free of charge. Turns out, that a "factory default" laser (I think... if I remember correctly) was THE exact error, on this time around so after going back, the second time around to pick it back up, I made sure the system worked correctly as possible. So Kat (once again, bless her soul) helped me as I, inserted the discs (because during the defaulted laser phase no disc whatever could work at-all, for-your-information everybody reading this) her turning on a television. So not only did a DVD began to work, so did every variation of in-which that system could load-up. They did all they can to make it work, & all were very, helpful, indeed. I highly recommend their services.

(Shout-out to Curtiss for being the majority of communications as I was going through...

INCREDIBLY pretentious workers. If you own a video game store or any store for that matter you should be able to offer knowledge on your product or at least try to help. Asked for help and was basically told that "this is a retail store and he was too busy to offer help or knowledge on a video game, and that he had people in line" if you have people in line then maybe put me on hold and deal with your customers then try to help a potential customer who politely asked for help not for some halfwit to be pretentious and condescending. For sure not ordering here anymore. Spent hundreds, close to a thousand here because we loved it so much the last time we visited, but whe I was met with a pretentious attitude and condescending tone when I asked for help on a video game it definitely locked in my decision to not shop here anymore. I've worked retail for years and alot of it was with art, collectables and video games and I can truly say that I've never turned down someone who needed help on a product or had issues with progress on a game. If you are a good worker and someone who actually cares about gaming culture and the people in it you don't act like you dont have the time or inclination to help...