Capcom Ditches GAME As Possible Closure Looms

[gigastar]

And with that, off to Amazon i go.

If GAME is still around this time next year, i probably wouldnt care in the slightest.

 

[The Wykydtron]

I don't really care. Thanks for the dirt cheap games Game (you'd almost think they are doing a closing down sale) but Amazon awaits for all my future gaming needs.

Capcom jumping ship has definitely knocked in the last nail in Game's coffin as far as i'm concerned. Who else is there left to bail out of Game's shelf space?

The odd thing is they're still selling Catherine. Y'know that obscure block pushing puzzle game that I really need to get around to finishing? Those 9(?) endings aren't going to complete themselves you know.

I will end you Spiral Corridor Stage 2... One day.

[sub]GOD THESE FUCKING BLOCKS! YOU CALL THIS EASY MODE?![/sub]

 

[PunkRex]

I heard this the other day but it was about Mass Effect and EA. This is bad news for us here in the UK and most likely the colonies as from what I hear HMV won't be around for much longer either. So its basically Toy'R'us or one of the big chain super markets for new games. Gawd I hope Computer EXchange is holding out... if they go that will basically be it for my gaming experience...

CEX is an entirely second hand shop.

I can see them actually booming from GAME and Gamestations growth as you can't exactly trade games in online can you?

Still, it could be tricky.

The thing is Tesco's, ASDA, etc are now stocking pre-owned games and this could effect CEX badly if they offer better deals which I could really see happening. Still, the fact that CEX stocks EVERYTHING where as the chains would most likely only trade and stock big new games means that CEX is proberly safe... I really, REALLY hope this is the case.

Why don't you just buy games online?

I've been doing that for years, and they're cheaper then at brick and mortar stores.

I do it more now but I liked it when I just went out with no particular objective and went... yeah that looks fun, TO THE PAY COUNTER!

 

[Tipsy Giant]

Soon this will be the fate of every high street shop selling items that don't require customisation ( eg. clothes, shoes etc)
Bring on the creator direct to audience distribution, i'm sick of giving my money to non-creative middle men

 

[Scarim Coral]

RIP GAME (hey I'm one of the few people who like the store). Now I need to start finding a good game online store to shop now.

 

[Llamazoid]

Look's like the wheels are in motion. GAME was the only place I could go, that would have a variety of new games on multiple platforms and since HMV own's GAME it wont be long before it goes under too. Leaving CEX to fill the gap for trade in's, though in the near future when Publishers and developers work around that strategy it wont last. So that leaves me with the supermarkets which are overpriced and provide a limited selection of games. I'm going to miss going through the shelves and buying a physical copy for myself.

Gaming retail for the UK is going to be incredibly bleak for the foreseeable future.

 

[DTH1337]

So, this is the beginning of the end for the video game high street shops, is it?

Well, if I can still buy games online, then I guess all isn't lost...yet.

 

[5-0]

As long as Gamestation stays open, I'll still be OK...but God forbid them closing down too, then all I'll be left with is the extortionate prices of His Master's Voice.

Gamestation = GAME (owned by Game Group and having both the same problems...)

Yes, I know they're owned by GAME too. That's why I hope they don't close. Always preferred them to GAME anyway.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

RIP GAME (hey I'm one of the few people who like the store). Now I need to start finding a good game online store to shop now.

If I may be so bold as to suggest this place. [http://www.shopto.net/]

The games are cheaper to begin with and their reward scheme rewards you the more titles you buy.

Their customer service is brilliant, and they always deliver on time (hell, I usually get them a day early).


I don't work for them, honest, I just think they deserve custom.

 

[Valdus]

Really hope game doesn't close, I get a lot of my purchases from there. Though if it does it may mean that people are more likely to see through this "2nd hand sales cripples games" crap when the game publishers maintain their money-grabbing buisness model.

 

[Sgt Pepper]

Nooo! I love Gamestation! GAME can go, but not Gamestation as well!

I was always under the impression that EB Games was part of GAME and Gamestation, since EB was the shop that existed before GAME in my town. Doesn't EB still exist in America? I'm confused!

Okay Electronics Boutique bought GAME and then rebranded all EB's in the UK into GAME. Then there US owners were bought by Gamestop, the UK branch then seperated into a seperate company whuch then bought Gamestation.

So if Gamestop buys GAME there just rebuying what they once sold.

Close but not quite. The British company that traded as EB licenced the name from the US chain but were not part of the same company.

When EB(UK) bought GAME they decided it made sense to rebrand the EB stores as GAME so they could stop paying EB(US) for the privilege of using the name.

As to the OT, man, I'm surprised it's happening this quick.

I've thought for a while that the future of GAME wasn't great and that within a decade they'd probably be gone (Amazon, Steam and the possibility that next gen consoles will start to move towards increasing digital distribution or cloud based gaming) but I at least thought they'd have a few more years.

At this rate, they may be gone by the end of 2012.

Not that I use them much, it's never been the same since EB and GAME merged, especially once they took over GameStation - they just simply weren't as competitive as they were and I think that's made many consumers, myself included, move away from the high street to the internet.

 

[Treblaine]

and-nothing-of-value-was-lost.jpg

Sorry to the employees, and I hope they find work soon with any company that comes in to fill this void, but the days of selling £49.99 PC games with unconditional no-return policy had to end.

I am mindful of all the parents they had duped out of their hard earned money, selling games like Jumper: Griffin's Story for full price several years after it was released to damning reviews. They exploited their trust and now no one wants to buy there any more.

Some may interpret this as hard times for video games industry in the UK but I think they need to wise up to how video games are not some specialist interests any more, they are mainstream like Movies and Music. And they deserve better than exploitative stores like Game.

 

[Kmadden2004]

Jesus, all this is giving me flashbacks to the time I worked at Zavvi when they went into administration.

The origin of the problem is quite different, but the developing circumstances are becoming increasingly similar.

It'll be a sad day for UK gamers is Gamestop - or anybody - doesn't step in and buy the chain.

 

[Alexchaser]

First they came for Game
and I didn't speak out because I had Gamestation

Then they came for Waterstones,
and I didn't speak out because I had Amazon

Then they came for HMV,
and I didn't speak out because I was lazy.

Then they came for Gamestation
and there was no where left for me to shop

 

[Daystar Clarion]

First they came for Game
and I didn't speak out because I had Gamestation

Then they came for Waterstones,
and I didn't speak out because I had Amazon

Then they came for HMV,
and I didn't speak out because I was lazy.

Then they came for Gamestation
and there was no where left for me to shop

Gamestation would disappear at the same time as GAME. They're both owned by the same company.

Besides, GAME only exists to rip off parents and grandparents who don't have a clue what they're after.

Seriously, I've seen games in there that have been out for several years but are still upwards of 30 quid.

Anyone who knows anything about video games has already moved onto other retailers or online because they're tired of being ripped off.

 

[Alexchaser]

First they came for Game
and I didn't speak out because I had Gamestation

Then they came for Waterstones,
and I didn't speak out because I had Amazon

Then they came for HMV,
and I didn't speak out because I was lazy.

Then they came for Gamestation
and there was no where left for me to shop

Gamestation would disappear at the same time as GAME. They're both owned by the same company.

Besides, GAME only exists to rip off parents and grandparents who don't have a clue what they're after.

Seriously, I've seen games in there that have been out for several years but are still upwards of 30 quid.

Anyone who knows anything about video games has already moved onto other retailers or online because they're tired of being ripped off.

I know i hated game too I'm just talking about my local shopping area the game closed down last year the HMV about 6 months ago and the waterstones on Sunday.

but i know where to go if i wont expensive cloths. EVERYWHERE

 

[Baldr]

Nooo! I love Gamestation! GAME can go, but not Gamestation as well!

I was always under the impression that EB Games was part of GAME and Gamestation, since EB was the shop that existed before GAME in my town. Doesn't EB still exist in America? I'm confused!

Okay Electronics Boutique bought GAME and then rebranded all EB's in the UK into GAME. Then there US owners were bought by Gamestop, the UK branch then seperated into a seperate company whuch then bought Gamestation.

So if Gamestop buys GAME there just rebuying what they once sold.

Close but not quite. The British company that traded as EB licenced the name from the US chain but were not part of the same company.

When EB(UK) bought GAME they decided it made sense to rebrand the EB stores as GAME so they could stop paying EB(US) for the privilege of using the name.

As to the OT, man, I'm surprised it's happening this quick.

I've thought for a while that the future of GAME wasn't great and that within a decade they'd probably be gone (Amazon, Steam and the possibility that next gen consoles will start to move towards increasing digital distribution or cloud based gaming) but I at least thought they'd have a few more years.

At this rate, they may be gone by the end of 2012.

Not that I use them much, it's never been the same since EB and GAME merged, especially once they took over GameStation - they just simply weren't as competitive as they were and I think that's made many consumers, myself included, move away from the high street to the internet.

Not quite right either. In 1995 EB bought 25% of the company and they change the names to EB, Although it was still under separate management(Game group) from EB, in 2004 EB sold their percentage of the company back to the company(Game group)

EB merged with GameStop in 2005.