Goodbye Game?

[Durial666]

So I expect most of you have heard already, but it is starting to look like Game are flying now the proverbial shithole. Earlier today an internal memo want sent out to all branches explaining that March releases from EA Games will not be released by any Game or Gamestation stores. This includes the big hit Mass Effect 3, now that has to hurt. A lot of money lost and of course a lot of very angry customers, who like me, will probably not be buying from them again.

If things goes as they are they will have lost the rights to all future EA releases and from what I've heard Ubisoft titles as well. This obviously does not bode well for the company especially as rumours have it that Nintendo are pulling the plug on them too. Those who have already submitted an order can get a full refund in cash, not credit as some sources say, as well as a £5 goodwill voucher. I'm sure it won't do them much anyway.

Discuss, or not it doesn't really matter but it would be intresting to hear your opinions.

source

[Tora-kun]

Yeah I hear they're also not going to have Mario Party 9. If you're not stocking Nintendo, Ubisoft or EA, that's some major gaps in your market.

The last few times I've gone into Game/station there's been a range of about 15 new games for the main three consoles. DS fares a little better, but you can tell its their second-hand sales which have kept them ticking over for the last 6 months (if not longer).

Big opportunity for the Supermarkets to move in on this and start racking up those games. That said Tesco's games selection has been abysmal lately with very uncompetitive prices. Reckon Asdas, Sainsbury's and maybe even Morrisons could get a look in on this.

[ninja]

It's quite simply EA are charging them a fee for the stock that they don't think is fair. Game can't get insurance to hold the stock due to there financial problems, and now when you cant stock the first blockbuster multi format game launch then clearly your not far off either administration or liquidation.

Doesn't help when pretty much you turn yourself into a 21st century flea market with your products, the aggressive pushing of second hand games put me off game for a long time. Well that and the utter contempt for PC games even before steam became mainstream. Frankly, I support my local video game store where the staff have been there 10 years plus because they are passionate about video games and there jobs.

[SUPERFISH5000]

Originally Posted by ninja

, I support my local video game store where the staff have been there 10 years plus because they are passionate about video games and there jobs.

Solid Gold by any chance?

[ninja]

Originally Posted by SUPERFISH5000

Solid Gold by any chance?

Correct answer!

They have helped me and the wife out on a great number of times, its just getting parked thats a nightmare now!

[SUPERFISH5000]

Originally Posted by ninja

Correct answer!

They have helped me and the wife out on a great number of times, its just getting parked thats a nightmare now!

Been in only once myself. Never even knew it existed until I spotted them selling a dvd I wanted on amazon a while back and I dropped in past to get it in person.

The guy behind the till was cool though and I ended up buying a couple of games while I was there. Might have to frequent it more often once I move into the 'deen this summer. I do hear nothing but praise for it.

[ussjtrunks]

Games prices are stupid anyway they expect people to pay r.r.p for any game lol, If I go there everygame is ~€50 whereas If I go to HMV its around €40 lol doesnt help that in Cork Hmv is just down the road from Game lol

[latro]

The only upside for me is that Game didn't just let it sit as a rumour and deal with the backlash when people came in to try and pick up ME3 (which they quite easily could have done). Instead I got a very clearly worded email when I got home yesterday asking me to come down ASAP to get my £5 back plus the £5 reward discount.

Sadly Game just haven't been able to stay competitive on price in recent years (the price of 2nd hand games in particular is disgusting), though personally I feel that this could be helped if they didn't think they needed so many stores. When you take into account that Gamestation is the same company they have 5 stores in Bradford, 2 in Halifax and at least 6 in Leeds - its madness!

[Swaggletooth]

Originally Posted by latro

Sadly Game just haven't been able to stay competitive on price in recent years (the price of 2nd hand games in particular is disgusting)

I haven't been into a Game store for years, 5 years or something like that. I was put off by their high prices back then, seems incredible that they never bothered to move to fix that - I would much rather buy a nice clean game from amazon for a lower price, than a disgusting fingerprinted copy covered in stickers for a high price.

2nd hand games are much worse - often you can find the same item for 1/2 or 1/10th of the price online (sometimes it'll even be new and unopened). What reason does anyone have to go into Game?

[megalomaniac]

Originally Posted by Swaggletooth

I would much rather buy a nice clean game from amazon for a lower price, than a disgusting fingerprinted copy covered in stickers for a high price.

Never understood why they don't leave the things sealed, there is no reason at all to stick them in those mangy cardboard sleeves.

[Matt Kamen]

Originally Posted by latro

personally I feel that this could be helped if they didn't think they needed so many stores. When you take into account that Gamestation is the same company they have 5 stores in Bradford, 2 in Halifax and at least 6 in Leeds - its madness!

I wrote a bit about just that the other day, actually. It's a bizarre string of buyouts and name changes that lead to their current situation.

[Ross]

Losing retail to online outlets only will be a massive blow for mainstream gaming. I guess all we can hope for is that someone with a clue will buy the chain and turn it around.

Pricing at GAME has been a major issue for a while now - when their own website undercuts the shelf price, they're basically helping to kill their own market. I walked into GAME expecting to pay the advertised £29.99 for Wipeout 2048 but bailed when it was on the shelf for £34.99. I just ordered it from their website and waited for it.

[megalomaniac]

Originally Posted by Ross

Pricing at GAME has been a major issue for a while now - when their own website undercuts the shelf price, they're basically helping to kill their own market. I walked into GAME expecting to pay the advertised £29.99 for Wipeout 2048 but bailed when it was on the shelf for £34.99. I just ordered it from their website and waited for it.

HMV are the worst for that, at least Game will usually (but not always) match their own website prices when challenged. Had many conversations with HMV along these lines:

• "Are you sure this price is right? It's less than half that price on your website"
• "Yes, that price is correct"
• "Will you match the web price?"
• "No sir, we can't, it's run by a different company"

...wtf...sufficed to say HMV do not get any business from me at all anymore, either online or in-store.

[Tora-kun]

Originally Posted by megalomaniac

"No sir, we can't, it's run by a different company"

Yeah this is true as the website is HMV Guernsey as opposed to UK. Tax loophole and all that...

[TelexStar]

Originally Posted by Ross

Losing retail to online outlets only will be a massive blow for mainstream gaming.

Absolutely. I don't think the gamers with pitchforks who all love to hate GAME, realise this unfortunately.