GAME in Trouble

[ipop@you]

I shall be somewhat annoyed because it's the most convenient for me to get to, I can however just switch to HMV/Gamestation/Cex and only have to take a short train journey extra, so I'm hardly starved for choice.

I have been seriously annoyed with them since a few months ago when I went to trade my Wii and 360 (and games + accessories) in and they'd only give me £180 store credit then I went to CEX and got £380 for it.

EDIT: I'm a fool, I forgot the most wonderful of all Steam, gotta love Steam. I can use play play.com too.

 

[xplosive59]

That sucks, Game is the only gaming store around here that isnt that far away (next town over) and has a descent selection (theres a Blockbusters in town but they always seem to run out of big releases on day 1).

 

[JamesCoote]

This is symptomatic of wider problems with retail. The retailers best adapting to the disruptive forces of the internet are those that have a strong online presence but add value by having a physical store (such as food and clothes retailers).

Or to put it a different way, why would I actually go to a physical shop? Less selection, online screenshots, reviews and videos give me a better idea of the game than the box. The only reason is immediacy (I need the game NOW!) which is not very often

Incidentally, HMV are in a whole world of pain atm, and have only survived this far because all their competitors went under

 

[BenTheWolf]

The biggest problem here is that GAME and Gamestation are either owned by or are the same company. One going will eventually murder the other. Then Gamestop can sidle in and screw us over too. Because that's fun.

 

[Andaxay]

Thank god I quit working for GAME a few weeks ago, then.

The company's in trouble, of that there is no doubt. An e-mail from Ian Shepherd sounded like bad news. They spend money buying 1000 copies of Dora the Explorer and 2 copies of MW3. Spending money on stock we weren't selling. It'd be a shame for my colleagues if GAME went under (no doubt taking Gamestation with them - good riddance if you ask me, I worked there for 3 months and the place is a shithole), but it's cheaper online elsewhere. The company left a bitter taste in my mouth when I left after a bad four-ish months - never used to be like this when I started four and a half years ago, but nowadays they treat their staff like crap. Just before I left, staff discount was reduced, break times were reduced, hours were completely slashed and there was absolutely no incentive to sell their stuff.

It'll be sad if it completely goes under, as I used to shop there all the time and for most of my working life there, it WAS fun. But the company's taken a complete turn for the worse, and it's showing in staff morale and sales.

As for the digital age, there're still a good few people who rely on disc-based copies out there (I have an Internet connection but it's god-awful and anything over 50MB just won't download), but I can see why there's worry. Instead of panicking, they should try and adapt to the situation and make changes that would benefit the company. GAME have introduced digital-based MS Points, PSN points and digital downloads of full games, but the games are a little pricey, especially when you can get a pre-owned disc version for MUCH less.

 

[Loop Stricken]

The biggest problem here is that GAME and Gamestation are either owned by or are the same company. One going will eventually murder the other. Then Gamestop can sidle in and screw us over too. Because that's fun.

GameStop pulled out of the UK (In reality, only a few stores in Ireland) a week or so ago.
On the bright side, if this happened we might be able to get some of those snazzy pre-order bonuses the Yanks get.

 

[Catfood220]

Well apparently GAME is safe for the time being.

http://www.metro.co.uk/tech/games/889278-game-avoids-disaster-with-new-finance-deal

The biggest problem here is that GAME and Gamestation are either owned by or are the same company. One going will eventually murder the other. Then Gamestop can sidle in and screw us over too. Because that's fun.

From what little I've read about Gamestop, there doesn't seem to be that much of a difference in the way that the work to GAME at the moment, you know, pushy staff trying to sell you crap you don't want, emphasis on used games and crappy trade in prices. Like everywhere, there are good and bad branches but the way I see it, there really wouldn't be much of a change if Gamestop did take over.

Wait, why does everyone hate GAME? I haven't had any problems with them... ever. and I've been buying games from them for years.

As said above, pushy sales staff, emphasis on used games and crappy trade in prices. Thats just my experience of GAME but I'm sure other people have other problems with them.

I have mixed feelings about GAME, on one hand it doesn't bother me too much because I buy most of my games online. But on the other hand, I would miss it for the occasional impulse buy and the odd decent chat with a member of staff about gaming. Plus it would cost lots of people their jobs...which is bad...people need their jobs for working and stuff...

 

[RazielXT]

So this might sound stupid but... WHAT is GAME?? After further reading I figured its regular game shop, so its just like gamestop etc? I never buy from such shops, why would it be tragedy for one shop Ive never heard of to close?

 

[Hazy992]

Good riddance. It's sad to see any company go under, but Game was full of unkind managers, terrible prices and poor quality choices for actually buying games. I have CEX and Gamestation across from each other in my town as well as Game, and it will mean nothing to me if they go.

But Gamestation is owned by GAME, so if they go down so does Gamestation

 

[Soxafloppin]

Well I hope not, They employ lots of a people, Job losses suck no matter how much you dislike a certain company.

I mean theres plenty of young people who work there while they study or whatever, more youth unemployment is something the U.K does not need.

 

[Da Orky Man]

Good riddance. It's sad to see any company go under, but Game was full of unkind managers, terrible prices and poor quality choices for actually buying games. I have CEX and Gamestation across from each other in my town as well as Game, and it will mean nothing to me if they go.

GameStation is owned by the same company as GAME, so if one goes out of buisness, it's likely the other will as well.
And CEX is a second-hand store, and given the current attcks on second-hand games, you may be out of a physical store to get games from pretty soon.

 

[hazabaza1]

Maybe if they stopped charging 40 fucking quid for a new game nearly a year after release this wouldn't happen to them.

 

[HerrBobo]

I'd be sorry to see them go, I have been shopping at GAME since well before they took over electronics boutique, here in Ireland.

That said there PC sections have been steadily going downhill for a number of year. I don't buy games on release anymore, so that has really cut back my shopping on the high street, but I still pick up the odd game in GAME is its on sale.

 

[Mewick_Alex]

Good riddance. It's sad to see any company go under, but Game was full of unkind managers, terrible prices and poor quality choices for actually buying games. I have CEX and Gamestation across from each other in my town as well as Game, and it will mean nothing to me if they go.

Hate to say it, but I'm pretty sure Gamestation is owned by GAME as of a few years ago. They'll probably be in trouble too.

 

[Tiswas]

Up in the North East we have Grainger Games which have a helluva lot better stock than Game do, import DS and PS3 titles and are cheaper.

Catherine, Last Story, One Piece, Tales of the Abyss, Disgaea 4, Cave Story 3DS and Boom Street are a handful of games I've either tried to pre-order or walked in on release date and asked for. Only to be told to try online instead. As far as I'm concerned Game are only stocking the same games the supermarkets are stocking...but at a premium price. Why should I pay £42 for Final Fantasy in Game when I can go to Asda and pay £32? financially you can buy a game AND get next day shipping most of the time in amazon for less than what Game charge.


As for the stock. They're already feeling it. I was in there today using up my points amassed on my card to buy a 3DS e-shop gift voucher to overhear a manager on the phone 'No, we don't have any of Metal Gear Solid on the PS3' and then tell a customer to go to Gamestation to get their Metal Gear Solid HD pre-order on the PS3. The same manager then walked over, removed all of the boxes and Soul Calibur and put them behind the desk.

Game never really got me for the pre-owned area. I do buy pre-owned Games but I don't think I've ever bought any games pre-owned from them. Poor trade in prices. I remember seeing someone trade in the Hangover on Blu-Ray. Game gave them £3 for it and the next week it was on their shelves for £13 pre-owned. Everytime I look at their pre-owned section I always see the same damn games too. Fifa, Pro-Evo, Call of Duty and Battlefield. Imagine Babies/Cats/Vets/Gynocologist on the DS and that's where it ends. No choice and over relience on them = meh.

Gamestation can go die too for all I care. I stopped shopping with them when they started putting games on the shelves that they didn't even stock. When asked WHY they aren't even labelling them as out of stock was basically told to 'f-off' by the new manager. The other one near me has a GREAT 'New Releases' lineup too. Call of Duty, Fifa 12, Battlefield 3, Uncharted 3 and Skyrim. EVERYTHING else in the PS3 and 360 shelves were pre-owned. Why should I bother walking into a Game store that specialises in games when they aren't even stocking them.


As for HMV. They're also struggling. I doubt either will see the year out.

 

[Lunar Templar]

heh, i though it was an actually game, not a 'gamestop' like place

 

[dimensional]

Strangely enough I went to a couple of GAME stores near me when I was out and about last week and I thought bloody hell there is nothing in stock all the shelves are near empty they are either doing really well or are in trouble.

I stopped going to GAME about the start of this console gen mainly due to the fact it was cheaper and easier to order online but also because of the abysmal selection of games they started to stock, unless you want the latest chart topping game you will be unlikely to find it adorning their shelves.

Mainly I think they have just lost the trust of a lot of buyers for every one staff member who actually seems to know a bit about games you get 10 whos knowledge starts and stops with COD this includes the managers. I remember a conversation with the (idiot) Manager at my infrequently visited local store he had not heard of Catherine, Disgaea 4 (or any Disgaea), Child of eden or Xenoblade Chronicles jeez man at least know a bit about the products your supposed to specialise in one game he had heard of though was MW3 which he reminded me of every time he got a chance (this was just before it was released so gotta push those pre orders) yeah anyway I left without purchasing/pre-ordering anything.

When I was in another of their stores briefly last week I was browsing their pitiful selection when a girl came in and asked a member of staff who made Assassins Creed to which he replied er yeah thats by Eidos so she pleased with this misinformation then asked if they did any other games because they would be just as good right? on hearing this he just said yeah should be, have a look on the wall there if it says eidos on the front its by the same people. I was going to inform her that she had been told an absolute load of bollocks but I didnt think she would care really maybe she will mistakenly expand her gaming horizons instead.

Yeah anyway the only thing I buy from GAME now is the actual consoles themselves but its about time they went they should have concentrated on offering a good service with knowledgeable staff that could have proved a counterpoint to online sales digital and hardcopy wise instead they tried to take them on and it seems arent faring to well.

 

[BrotherSurplice]

Uh oh, I hope they last till March, as I've pre-ordered Mass Effect 3 from them D:

 

[Tiswas]

Uh oh, I hope they last till March, as I've pre-ordered Mass Effect 3 from them D:

And what made you pre-order with them over Amazon, Shop.to, Zavvi, play, Asda, Morrisons, Tesco or Sainsburys? Each of which will sell the exact same game cheaper or offer some slightly different extras. The savings you make can go towards the inevitable DLC we'll get.

But it won't be a quick 'oh. where did my local game shop go?' it'll be a slow and painful death. The problem Game are facing now is the same one that Woolies faced a few years ago. Like I said earlier. Give it to the end of the year.

 

[Drop_D-Bombshell]

Good riddance. It's sad to see any company go under, but Game was full of unkind managers, terrible prices and poor quality choices for actually buying games. I have CEX and Gamestation across from each other in my town as well as Game, and it will mean nothing to me if they go.

is it creepy that i think i know where you're talking about? :S

OT: Meh, never went into Game much, or Gamestation for that. They always seemed to charge a lot for new games, even if they had been out months. GAME still sells Skyrim for £40 where i live and i find it frustrating that they sell the game for that much when i can go to CeX and purchase it used for £25.