The purchase between Hot Topic and GeekNet, ThinkGeek's parent company, was seen by many, including us, as a done deal. At the last minute, however, it appears that GameStop stepped in with a better offer, pledging to buy the company's shares for $20 a pop -- compared to the $17.50 price Hot Topic had agreed. As part of the deal, Hot Topic will receive a "termination fee," the value of which hasn't been disclosed, but will probably not be enough to ease the pain that only comes when your corporation is jilted.

The press-release makes mention of GameStop using the company to broaden its "product offering in the fast-growing collectibles category." It makes a big chunk of sense, since the store is suffering at the hands of its online rivals and has recently decided to go into the retro gaming business in a big way. Perhaps, much in the same way that Radio Shack stopped being a supply store for ham radio enthusiasts, GameStop will soon become a place you go to buy things other than games.