Game (UK Retailer) Discussion

[Patticus]

UK shop GAME appears to be in trouble after doubt was cast on its ability to buy new games.

Eurogamer has heard from multiple UK industry sources that the specialist video game retailer has lost credit insurance with a number of publishers.

This means that publishers are now forced to take the risk on games that do not sell - something they do not wish to do.

GAME is now being asked by publishers to pay for new stock up front with cash. If GAME doesn't have the cash, it could result in the shop being unable to stock new games.

This week sees the launch of Final Fantasy 13-2, SoulCalibur 5, NeverDead and Metal Gear Solid HD Collection. Eurogamer understands GAME will stock these games on Friday.

Eurogamer readers have reported that GAME is not selling Metal Gear Solid HD on its website, and that the shop has been turning away Mass Effect 3 pre-orders.

Metal Gear Solid HD Collection is currently not listed on GAME's website.

[Lady Soniko]

are you fucking kidding me? GAME? i hope this is just bullshit because seriously, what the fuck.

[Bisylizzie]

Ugh, that means HMV(and blockbuster) will dominate the high street until somewhere else pops up, or this turns out to be fake :/

At least we still have Shopto.net

EDIT: Wai-wai-wait... Does that mean the same for consoles as well?

Dayumn, all the people who stuck down deposits for these games and stuff :/

Edited February 1, 2012 by Bisylizzie

[Lady Soniko]

and HMV's price for games are fucking ludicrous

pretty sure they're selling titles from 2010 full price still

and Blockbuster doesn't even exist in my area for at least 50 miles.

[Bisylizzie]

and HMV's price for games are fucking ludicrous

pretty sure they're selling titles from 2010 full price still

and Blockbuster doesn't even exist in my area for at least 50 miles.

That was my point. I have a BB in town, and the prices are on a similarly ludicrous scale. Even their preowned(read, ex-rental) games are pretty expensive.

[Lady Soniko]

That was my point. I have a BB in town, and the prices are on a similarly ludicrous scale. Even their preowned(read, ex-rental) games are pretty expensive.

i used to have 2, one in my town centre, and another near my old college, they both closed down and became a take away and the other was one of those police information booths

used to have a gamestation too, but that changed into one of those shitty gadget stores that only last a few month before changing to something else.

so if Game goes bust, there is no video game store for miles around here, which sucks.

[Bisylizzie]

i used to have 2, one in my town centre, and another near my old college, they both closed down and became a take away and the other was one of those police information booths

used to have a gamestation too, but that changed into one of those shitty gadget stores that only last a few month before changing to something else.

so if Game goes bust, there is no video game store for miles around here, which sucks.

Nice... The only other options for me(other than Game, GS, HMV and BB) are really: Cash Generator, Tesco, ASDA, PC World, Currys, Comet and Downtown XD So a lot of choice, but not really cheap all the time...

Try Shopto.net? They're reliable, try to get stuff shipped within 5 mins of order being placed, if they have it in stock, otherwise preorders arrive the day or day before release.

EDIT: Although GAME are saying otherwise: https://twitter.com/...689656003313664

https://twitter.com/#!/Gamedigital/status/164689511664730113

Edited February 1, 2012 by Bisylizzie

[Lady Soniko]

Nice... The only other options for me(other than Game, GS, HMV and BB) are really: Cash Generator, Tesco, ASDA, PC World, Currys, Comet and Downtown XD So a lot of choice, but not really cheap all the time...

Try Shopto.net? They're reliable, try to get stuff shipped within 5 mins of order being placed, if they have it in stock, otherwise preorders arrive the day or day before release.

yeah i have an Argos and a PC World, but their prices are just as bad, plus some of the more obscure titles don't seem to make it into Tesco's 'game of the month' chart, don't think Alice Madness returns made it into Tesco.

i have GAME gift cards too, you can't even use them online they need to be redeemed in store so if my local Game closes down, i'll have nowhere to redeem my codes until i hitch a ride to a further away store, but for the sake of a game it just seems pointless lol.

:EDIT: WOW Dick move Eurogamer :l

Edited February 1, 2012 by Samus Aran

[Blue Blood]

GAME's highstreet demise is inevitable really, regardless of whether or not this story is true. Supermarkets and other store readily stock games at low prices these days, and they're getting on board with trade-ins too. Not to mention that with the digital market picking up and showing no signs of slowing they're really going to be taking quite a few hits. They restructured a lot of their in-store activities last year to focus around selling point cards, vouchers and the like. But all that sort of stuff will be more easily available through supermarkets or direct online through consoles themselves. What was once their niche market is becoming increasingly mainstream so it won't be long before they lose out to more powerful, less specialised competitors.

[Dobkeratops]

Everytime I read about GAME having issues I shudder. They're literally the only dedicated VG retailer around these parts, and if they closed down with no replacement I'd be forced to buy games at the supermarket chains that never have deals, never drop prices, never offer a second hand selection and always mark up all the prices by 10€ over the average.

Importing is not an acceptable substitute if I want to have games on release day, buy DLC for them and/or not have to sacrifice a virgin to Baphomet so that the shitty postal service actually delivers the goddamn thing.

[Detective Shadzter]

UPDATE 2: Eurogamer has this morning talked with GAME about its current credit insurance and stock difficulties.

A GAME spokesperson guaranteed the launch of Sony portable console Vita in its shops.

"The games coming out this weekend, Final Fantasy, SoulCalibur 5 and Metal Gear Solid, are moving through our system as we speak," we were told. "They're all booked in for launch on Friday in our stores and that's exactly what we'll be doing.

"In terms of things further out like Vita, as you'd expect we're working closely with our industry partners and have got big plans for those launches."

On Vita specifically: "There are pre-order campaigns in store. We're very excited about it. Yes [we can guarantee Vita will launch in GAME]. We have big launch plans for Vita."

On the loss of credit insurance with agencies, GAME said: "You work with each supplier to come up with an answer and that's what we're doing."

GAME is investigating the removal of Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection from its website and reports that pre-orders for Mass Effect 3 are being turned away.

Konami, which publishes Metal Gear and NeverDead, declined to comment when contacted by Eurogamer.

http://www.eurogamer...stock-new-games

Sounds like they're not denying the problem.

[Badnik Mechanic]

Won't this also impact Gamestation as well as the online stores flying under the Game Group banner?

If this is a rumour though, it's a pretty huge one considering the implications this will obviously have, it's no secret that the Game group has been in trouble for a while, but to lose credit with insurance is a pretty huge thing.

Hmmm I wonder if I should be spending my reward points... like asap!

[Badnik Mechanic]

Having a look at Games facebook page right now... theres definately some damage control going on.

Like photos from one of their warehouses showing lots of copies of FF 13-2 and updates saying "first wave of 2012's releases now in stock" etc.

And yet they've still not flatout denied that they're having troubles with their insurers.

I also found this which made me laugh...

Edited February 1, 2012 by Hogfather

[hoggys2much]

I have got to say that doesn't surprise me in the least that GAME are in trouble as they are the biggest rip-off merchants when it comes to video game prices.

I used to live in Electronics Boutique and GAME but that was before Amazon and Amazon marketplace came along with their cheaper prices.

The only time I go there now is when I want a game that is out on day release (or just after) as it will be the same price anywhere.

As for Blockbuster there used to be one in my town but I hardly ever used it. Then I got my 360 and I thought I can start using that for renting games but it went and shut down on me! My nearest one now is in the next town about 3 or 4 miles away and since I don't drive it will cost me £4 there and £4 back to get there by taxi and then it will cost the same to return the game and then there is the rental price on top of that so I don't bother as I could buy a game for that.

[Blue Blood]

Looks like they're gonna be having problems with EA.

EA concerned about financial state of GAME?

Published Thursday, Feb 2 2012, 10:23 GMT | By Liam Martin|

Electronic Arts has expressed concerns about the financial state of a "major European retail partner", thought to be GAME.

EA's John Riccitiello told investors that the retailer's financial condition could affect future earnings.

"We are concerned with the financial condition of one of our major European retail partners, which could lead to both increased bad debt and lost sales," he said.

Chief financial officer Eric Brown said that the company was "focused on some isolated European retailer issues", admitting that a "negative outcome could adversely affect Q4 results", reports MCV.

Yesterday it was reported that GAME is facing possible supply issues after losing credit insurance with a number of publishing agencies.

The high street retailer's ability to stock new games is in doubt unless it is able to pay for new stock in cash.

Its shares plummeted by 90% in 2011 despite £1 billion in annual turnover.

GAME is said to be working with suppliers to rectify stock issues, and claims to have "big plans" for the launch of the PS Vita.

Well that doesn't sound good now, does it? Their shares went into free-fall to drop by 90% last year, so they really must be struggling.

[Badnik Mechanic]

I think tomorrow would be a good time to spend my reward points before they call in the administrators... since that looks like the direction we're headding to.

Don't think that Game is too big to fail or that it can't happen, look at Woolworths and Whittards, and if you're having financial problems, the reward points are the first things to go.

[Detective Shadzter]

Banks throw GAME a lifeline

http://www.computera...ame-a-lifeline/

Looks like they've managed to save themselves for the time being.

[Patticus]

Just been checking GAME's 'Fun for a Fiver' pre-owned promotion: Link

Of the 28 PS3 games on offer, only 9 are in stock.

[Gavvie]

It'll be a sad day for the industry if GAME goes under, but it's no secret that the High Street is being killed off by the Internet, and after the troubles GAME have seemingly had this week, I can't imagine it'll be too much longer before they cut losses and progress to being an online business. Would be cheaper for them as they could just ship the games out from their central warehouse, instead of having to ship to stores and then sell on from there.

It's something I can see HMV doing as well, actually. HUGE gulf in prices between HMV online and HMV in store.

[Mollfie]

It sucks for everyone who works for them. I used to work for GAME until last year and still have lots of friends who work for them (or GameStation) and I'd hate to see them lose their jobs.

[Patticus]

Has anyone else seen this?

http://www.game.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HubArticleView?hubId=165310&articleId=165311&catalogId=10201&langId=44&storeId=10151&cm_sp=FunForAFiver-_-TopNav-_-Deals

So they're offering 2 week rentals of new games for only £5 (with all the pre-order codes/bonuses)?

[Detective Shadzter]

GAME confirms layoffs at head office

http://www.computera...at-head-office/

[Stacy]

The GAME were I live closed we still have a Gamestation its shit like this along with the new Xbox Rumour (if it happens) thats going completely destory game stores which is really shit because people will lose their jobs.

Edited February 9, 2012 by BW199148

[Your Vest Friend]

Just a small addendum from me; when I went to buy Mario and Sonic London 3DS this morning, neither GAME or Gamestation had any stock in, the boxes still said "Coming Soon". I ended up having to buy from Grainger Games.

[Badnik Mechanic]

Just had a look at games facebook page looks like a few people are reporting that there were no new games in stock at several stores today.

Chelmsford Game had no Catherine or Inversion on release day. No artbook for my pre-order. Cannot get to store over weekend so will miss out on bonus despite getting there early this morning. After last week its getting even worse. You really are about to go bust aren't you.

Hey Game, was it true that if you pre-ordered Catherine, you got an art book and CD? I pre-ordered the Stray Sheep edition, it came today, but no art book and CD. ;w;

And the lovely Lucky also told me that she had to go to several different Game Stores to find the pre-order bonus for Mario & Sonic 3DS today too.

.... hmmm yeah... I think it's time to spend those reward points.