GAME Australia enters administration, takes Diablo III?

[Antitonic]

Looks like GAME Australia is following its UK counter-part. There's nothing officially announced yet, but Kotaku is reporting that staff got emails to the effect of "We're in administration". By itself, not great news, but that doesn't mean all the stores are closing. However, there is some other news:

"Due to the appointment of an administrator to our business this morning, it is with regret that I inform you all that our stores will not be receiving any stock of diablo 3 (sic). Because of this, we regrettably will be unable to fulfill any pre-orders. Also, we will be unable to refund any deposits paid towards a pre-order of diablo 3. If you need any more info, please email [email protected]"

That's apparently a copy of text messages sent to customers. The part that sticks out?

Because of this, we regrettably will be unable to fulfill any pre-orders. Also, we will be unable to refund any deposits paid towards a pre-order of diablo 3.

What annoys me is that under Australian law, it is legal for a company in administration to not perform refunds. So conceivably, people could very well end up with nothing.

Opinions? Anyone get this message?

Source: The Verge [http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/5/13/3018593/game-australia-goes-into-administration], Kotaku [http://www.kotaku.com.au/2012/05/game-australia-has-gone-into-administration/].

UPDATE: According to the forums [http://us.battle.net/d3/en/forum/topic/5007290816], Blizzard is willing to help out anyone who misses out on their copy of D3 due to the situation at hand.

 

[distortedreality]

Hardly surprising. It sucks, but not much that can be done about it unfortunately.

Having said that, pre-ordering a game from a company that has had serious financial problems for a while now probably wasn't the smartest move to make, especially when you can get it cheaper elsewhere.

If it was me, and for whatever reason i'd pre-ordered D3 through GAME, I would of cancelled and got a refund as soon as the UK situation looked like happening.

I do feel for people that this effects though.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Oh great, it's the whole ME3 and The Last Story all over again in Australia! Well ok this only apply for those who intend to buy the game over there but still I can feel their annoyances (I pre order The Last Story from GAME too).

 

[Smooth Operator]

Well people already knew this was going on with GAME, if they still gave them money I can hardly feel sorry for such stupidity, if $60+ is what it takes to learn the lesson then so be it.
None the less it is incredibly sleazy of GAME stores to even take in pre-orders knowing people will be getting fucked, but then again sleazy is their bread and butter and your job as a consumer to not let them rape you.

 

[Rawne1980]

Well, I hope this time one of those big retailers dies. Last time it was an equal disappointing ending like ME3.

Yay, it's great that a whole horde of people lose their jobs. That's fantastic and we should all celebrate.

Comments like this irritate me to no end.

 

[Iwata]

Well, I hope this time one of those big retailers dies. Last time it was an equal disappointing ending like ME3.

Speaking as someone who lost his job and has been unable to find another in this economy (oh, and I have a daughter on the way) when one of those "big retailers" died, I'd like to tell you things that'd get me in trouble in these forums... but I won't, because I'm a civilized man.

 

[wooty]

Well, I hope this time one of those big retailers dies. Last time it was an equal disappointing ending like ME3.

Yay, it's great that a whole horde of people lose their jobs. That's fantastic and we should all celebrate.

Comments like this irritate me to no end.

Couldnt agree with you more. Been down that road of losing my job due to administration and its not a pretty one.

OT: I thought they went down with the UK branches, or are the Aus ones not linked with us except in name?

 

[Craorach]

A lot of people are being screwed by this, employees included.

I stopped into my local Game after I was told, and it was clear the girl there had been crying, she'd been abused by dozens of assholes more concerned about their game than the money or this person's job.

I'm pissed that we won't see our money back, Aussie law basically means we're unsecured creditors and only get money after everyone else who they owe money gets theirs.

 

[Iwata]

Well, I hope this time one of those big retailers dies. Last time it was an equal disappointing ending like ME3.

Speaking as someone who lost his job and has been unable to find another in this economy (oh, and I have a daughter on the way) when one of those "big retailers" died, I'd like to tell you things that'd get me in trouble in these forums... but I won't, because I'm a civilized man.

There are always casualties in war.

Well, shit, man, that makes me feel a lot better that you feel that way! Talk about casually dismissing other people's problems for your own satisfaction. Any other clichés you feel like throwing to make those who are unemployed and yourself feel better?

The thing most people fail to realize is that GAME employees are gamers, just like everyone else. I worked at Gamestop and lost my job there for the very same reasons, and the ammount of people clapping and cheering made me realize just how cruel people can be. their petty dislike for a commercial chain overrides whatever humane feelings they may have towards the thousands of people who will have their lives screwed over because of stuff like this.

When I worked at Gamestop, I loved what I did, and I shared that with our customers. I never once gave anyone a bad deal, and I was ALWAYS honest with my opinions, sometimes at the expense of a sale. I treated every customer as if it was me walking through those doors. So to see some of the gaming community I happily served be all joyfull at the incredible mess my life suddenly became, well... it felt bad, let's just say that. Thankfuly, I know the majority of people are not like that.

 

[Iwata]

snip

Since you continued like a civilized man I'm going to answer you.

I don't want to imply that it is a good thing that people will lose jobs. It is actually the only thing that does not let me enjoy the sweet bitterness in the downfall of GAME like I'd like to.

But is this really the only argument in hoping to keep GAME afloat? Because to be honest, I find it a weak argument. It provides jobs... So do a lot more retailers without screwing over customers, the industry they get their products from and their employes.

Well, this are just my thoughts, I hope for you you'll find a job soon.

It's not just "they provide jobs".

It's "they provide jobs for people who are passionate about what they do, who often fight the company to keep customers happy, and who are the first thrown into the fire when the shit hits the fan, while others cheer". I have a lot of retail experience, and you don't find many places where the people behind the counter care as much for what they do than at GAME or Gamestop. Because like I said, we see ourselves in every customer.

And thanks for the best wishes.

 

[Iwata]

Well, I hope this time one of those big retailers dies. Last time it was an equal disappointing ending like ME3.

Speaking as someone who lost his job and has been unable to find another in this economy (oh, and I have a daughter on the way) when one of those "big retailers" died, I'd like to tell you things that'd get me in trouble in these forums... but I won't, because I'm a civilized man.

Sometimes progres requires a little suffering.

As for the people working there I have no sympathy for them. GAME in Australia has been on the verge of collapse for a long time now. Anybody smart enough would have realised this and already gotten a new job. You dont wait untill the sinking ship is completely underwater before you abandon it.

It must be nice living a life so certain of the capabilities and lives of others that you can so casualy pass judgement.

 

[Iwata]

It must be nice living a life so certain of the capabilities and lives of others that you can so casualy pass judgement.

Yea its a wonderful life being smart enough to know staying on a sinking ship is a bad idea. We knew six months ago that GAME Australia was guarenteed to go into administration. It was one of the main reasons that GAME in Europe was in so much trouble. Nobody wanted to buy them out because any buyout would have to include the non-profitable Australian division.

They had plenty of time to make arangements to find a new job.

I know. Some people are just too blind in their hatred of a big corporation to realize that it's made up of normal people just trying to earn a living, to do the best job they can, in spite of everything.

I dont hate GAME at all. I just have no sympathy for fools.

So, getting fired by trying to hang on to a job in a job market that has no prospects for other employment not only doesn't get sympathy from you, but also warrants the label of "fools". Clearly you're one of those people who thinks that trouble happens because people deserve it. You're clearly so much better than the rest of us.

Unbelievable...

 

[Iwata]

So, getting fired by trying to hang on to a job in a job market that has no prospects for other employment not only doesn't get sympathy from you, but also warrants the label of "fools".

Yep people who hang onto a job at a place they know is going to close down instead of you know getting another one are fools. There are plenty of jobs out there. People just need to look around and stop being so picky about what they are willing to do.

Clearly you're one of those people who thinks that trouble happens because people deserve it. You're clearly so much better than the rest of us.

Unbelievable...

Nah but I cant feel sympathy for somebody who knows trouble is coming and then does nothing to avoid it.

If I needed any proof that you're detached from reality and humanity in general, that bit where you say "there are plenty of jobs out there" sealed the deal.

Whatever. I can't make you care for the plight of others, that's between you and your conscience. I do, however, tell you that shit like that only adds insult to injury to the people who worked for you and others like you for years and now find themselves out on the street.

 

[Iwata]

Well I live in Portugal. I've been looking for a job for the past 6 months, without success. I've spread hundreds of CV's to pretty much anything, and pretty much any and all human resource agencies have my CV and contact. I got a grand total of two interviews, of which nothing resulted. I have a degree in History, yet I'm willing to take anything.

As a result, me, my girlfriend and our baby will be leaving the country in November to look for better opportunities elsewhere. The point where this all started? When I lost my job at Gamestop.

So try not to be so cavalier and judgemental with how things are to others.

 

[dimensional]

You can find 100 people willing to serv coffee at starbucks for $6 an hour but nobody out there wants to do roofing for $18 an hour. There is always and I mean always jobs available in the trades. It doesnt matter if you are trained or not there is always positions available pushing wheelbarrows or digging holes. People just dont want these jobs because its to much work.

There is a reason farmers have to import foreign workers every single year and its not because of a lack of unemployed people.

I have done manual labour as a stop gap a few times when between jobs and believe me if you are untrained (i.e it is manual labour and you are not a carpenter,roofer etc) you will not be getting a decent wage actually in all my jobs I have never even been payed minimum wage even now I am below minimum wage if someone offered me $6 an hour to work at starbucks and $18 dollars to sit on a roof and pretend to know what I was doing id take the roofing option its a no brainer, also ever tried digging holes everyday by hand for 8,10,12 hours at a time with a 20 minute lunchbreak the only stop (if your lucky) and then lugging the crap around in a wheelbarrow you have to find a rhythm and it completely nackers your back and hands even when you are doing everything correctly posture wise (and you really want to be).

If you are laying concrete well then its even more fun hope you didnt just eat because if you did it will be coming straight back up again if its a hard mix because it can be that exhausting if you are doing a long stretch, oh and safety is absolute crap if you are on a large team seriously no one gives a shit they dont want you wasting time following regulations they want the job done and if your too argumentative over it you will be gone, seriously manual labouring is a very shit job and not one with a future. On the plus side it keeps you fit for a while.

Also the reason farmers import foreign workers every single year at least in my experience is because they are easier to keep seriously they are foreign they are here to work for you via a work visa and cant just up and go somewhere to do a less shit job (like manual labour im not joking here harvesting crops is the shittest job I have ever had by a large margin) oh and the pay lol yeah the pay seriously I was better off not working the state actually gave me more money for doing nothing than the job did for working but for some of the foreigners it may be quite good compared to what they would get in their home country I dont know. Oh and they are also easier to bully into accepting crap working conditions,hours and accomodation.

As for companies having to turn down a 60`000 dollar contract due to lack of workers well obviously they have a problem if they cant secure a workforce almost certainly they dont offer enough incentives to negate the negatives its the companies fault not the workers. Workers by and large dont give a shit how much the company earns or loses as long as they get payed its all good but then again if the company is having to turn down contracts due to lack of workers its obviously starting to sink so any smart person would obviously jump ship right? and get another job.



Er yeah now onto the original post Im not surprised to be honest either that they are going bust or stealing customers money I have come to expect these things from businesses especially large ones.

 

[DanteLives]

It'll have a lower chance of survival than the UK one, which is now stocking ME3. Check the UK website if you want to accuse me of telling a pork pie.

 

[Antitonic]

here, let me say things:

Spoiler: Snip

Employee's take more shit every day than people think in any type of retail job. Sure, to some it might be just another job but to others it's all they can do at the moment since they might have needs unknown to others.

People, and by proxy, Gamers who flip their shit when their pre-order gets canceled or their game isn't in stock and take it out on the employee rather than the actual company are the entitled bastards that embarrass the rest of the gaming community.

Oh, you aren't able to get Diablo 3 from your local retailer?

Nevermind the thousands of people who are losing their jobs and for most only source of income which could have long reaching problems for them financially, I mean, you are not getting your game, obviously you have more problems that someone who just lost their job!


Quit your fucking crying, its just a game that you should of already had pre-installed if you actually wanted to play it.

If this is directed at me, I apologise for presenting that image. Obviously, I feel bad for anyone who loses their job. Hell, if I wasn't hesitant about putting up with my current bosses I could be in the same boat. At the moment, no-one's lost anything. No stores have closed. Obviously this could change, but it might not.

Also, including the news about Diablo was closer to an aside, given that a similar thing happened in the UK with Mass Effect. Personally I'm not interested in the game, but I know people who are. Also, isn't pre-installing only available digitally? That wouldn't matter to people who buy physical media via retail, would it? I don't know.

 

[Cat of Doom]

Well I live in Portugal. I've been looking for a job for the past 6 months, without success. I've spread hundreds of CV's to pretty much anything, and pretty much any and all human resource agencies have my CV and contact. I got a grand total of two interviews, of which nothing resulted. I have a degree in History, yet I'm willing to take anything.

As a result, me, my girlfriend and our baby will be leaving the country in November to look for better opportunities elsewhere. The point where this all started? When I lost my job at Gamestop.

So try not to be so cavalier and judgemental with how things are to others.

I lived in Spain almost two years ago now. Since leaving school to graduating from university and beyond I couldn't find a single part time job, or work placement. I sent out CVs to anything with a pulse and could only find temporary work around Christmas. Now youth unemployment is even higher in Spain and I know Portugal have a far worse deal than us. Its so hard to find employment in southern Europe right now, especially in the gaming industry, so I feel for you, and hope you find work wherever your moving.

Had to move in with step dad in the UK, before finally finding work. Now I'm in a marketing position in the gaming industry in Prague, and loving it. If you look and try hard enough one day your find your dream job, wish you the best of luck.

 

[Antitonic]

Looks like Blizzard's willing to help out anyone who misses out on D3.

http://us.battle.net/d3/en/forum/topic/5007290816

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

As sad as I am for the employees, none of this surprises me. They failed to offer better deals on their newly released products, and quite often EB Games (basically gamestop the subsidy) offered better deals on post peak games. Its well known we pay way too much for our games in Australia, GAME could have changed that and made a killing in sales. Instead their uncompetitive business practices blew up in their face.

Sad fact about EB: Americans are all too aware of it, because it used to be one of our companies. Then Gamestop bought it out, officially absorbing their last major competitor, and used game prices skyrocketed immediately afterwards. They also took that opportunity to kill off the used PC game market, which EB was almost single handedly keeping afloat before the buyout. I miss EB, the real one where used games started at $5 and topped out at $30[footnote]In a market where new games started at $10 and topped out at $50, I might add., not the Gamestop puppet that you guys know.

OT: The above illustrates why this is bittersweet for me. By all accounts, Game was a terrible place to buy games, but if it results in a local monopoly for EB/Gamestop... well, it's not going to end well for the consumer. I also feel bad for all of the employees.

Edit: More explanation about EB: They changed all the EB Games stores in America to Gamestops, because apparently that was the better known brand in the U.S. as a whole. I always found this funny, because I remember going to EB games back when it was still Electronics Boutique, but I had never even heard of a Gamestop until a couple of years before the buyout. Anyway, they kept the EB name outside of the U.S., because it was apparently the better known brand. The buyout was called a merger at the time, but its pretty obvious which corporate culture won out, sadly.