If you thought that Toys "R" Us
The popular video game retailer has teamed up with Amazon to roll out its new online storefront. The move is unusual in a couple of ways. First, it adds fuel to the fire of the Toys "R" Us claims that it is paying up for exclusivity, even though video games were never really the issue in the legal scuffle.
Yet the real fireworks lie not in the details but in the bloodline. Do you know which company spun off GameStop and still retains a meaty financial interest in the venture? Well, it's Barnes & Noble
With Borders
Yet the real winner here -- beyond whoever collects on having to keep Amazon's deservedly elevated ego in check -- might actually be Electronic Arts
With EA's chances of growing the online base of Sims users -- and collecting $9.99 a month after the first trial month -- all but certain, it's not Rockem or Sockem that stands to ultimately land the knockout blow.
Both Amazon and Electronic Arts have been worthy Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendations in the past.
Can a retailer succeed online without going through Amazon? Yes, there are quite a few out there, but is it a viable strategy or is it best to just embrace Amazon? All this and more -- in the Amazon discussion board. Only on Fool.com.
Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz has been an Amazon customer since the 1990s -- but he does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this story.