GAME (UK) and Steam

[rodneyy]

I find a bit of bullshit in the quoted section though. The GAME in our town has quite a large selection of PC games and the top 20 chart it has are the ones that are charted everywhere.

you are alot more lucky than me then, maybe i am a little spoilt as in the past ive had a virgin store close by that had a very large pc gaming section, but the game store close to me is exactly what is described. the pc gaming shelf is about as wide as my shoulders and the selection of games was terrible at best. then the rest of the shop had 1 wall for sony 1 for xbox along with spinners for nintendo things.

if you went back the selection would vary little from previous visits and normally was bereft of newer titles

 

[messy]

I hate GAME they refuse to sell me 16+ games unless I have an I.D. Gamestation on the the hand will without an I.D, except if I get served by a guy that used to work at GAME. "Ummmmm.....I'm gonna have to see some I.D dude."
Steam goers I will hate GAME twice as much just for you.

You realise people get in loads of trouble at their jobs if they don't ID you, it is sorta the Law. And I'm sure you look over 16 but to the employee its not worth any of the bollocks they'll get from higher ups. Plus government agencies said in people to catch stores out, in terms of IDing people, they did for me at Argos.

Although I also understand that IDs are expensive, only real reason I have a provisional driver's licence.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

Isn't this old new? I remember hearing about companies across the dip doing this months back.

 

[JordanMillward_1]

You guys do know it's just a rumour, right? There's no evidence that the "GAME blackmails people!!!!" story is true.

The fact that GAME have entirely denied it, and said that they can ask any publisher and they'll agree with them, sort of helps with the "it's all bullshit" side of things.

But eh, gamers on the Internet aren't gamers on the Internet unless there's a conspiracy theory about people oppressing them and trying to screw them over, right?

 

[Kushan101]

Gotta agree with the OP, I went on a major rant about this to my girlfriend the other day. As expected, she didn't give a shit
I find it unbelievable that Game are threatening to not sell recent PC games like Space Marine unless they get some exclusivity from Steam - I live in Watford and the Game here has the most pathetic PC games selection ever, and yep WoW is still in the "top ten" here too.
The PC display is about equivelent to those "bargain bin" sections you get in most decent computer game stores. Its insulting.

I had to find a backdoor route to even download the Space Marine demo the other day, ALL Space Marine related things in Steam have completely vanished. Because of these guys.

I hate Game, its expensive and don't stock the games they are stopping Steam from selling.

 

[JordanMillward_1]

I'm no expert but I'm fairly sure this is against European trade laws. Scummy, even if it is within the law.

Problem is, aside from the law, I can't imagine much stopping them. Petitions? Boycotts? PC gamers make up a fairly small minority of their sales so I doubt it. Only thing I can think of is if a bunch of publishers stood up and said "FUCK THAT." Or if Activision did it, I'd like to see them refuse to stock Call of Duty.

Game, as established already, are a pretty shitty store anyway. Not been that often seeing as there isn't one where I live (Seriously, pretty much the most isolated part of Britain. We don't even have McDonald's) but when I do get the chance the selection is poor, overpriced and the customer service is less than good.

Entirely legal, actually. It's all about distribution agreements, and not allowing Steam to have it for the first month, but selling it at retail stores and on online stores during that time, is A-OK (just finished my law post-grad, where I specialised in UK/EU commercial law and IP law).

As I said in my last post though, there's zero evidence that this is true. Currently, unless someone does come up with e-mails or documents to show it's true, it's just another rumour with no basis.

 

[JordanMillward_1]

From: http://www.next-gen.biz/news/game-denies-steam-blackmail-claims

UK retailer Game Group has emphatically denied that it has been coercing publishers into guaranteeing it a period of exclusivity before PC games are made available through Steam.

Yesterday a poster on the Facepunch forum claimed: "Some time around the start of this year Game started talking to multiple publishers regarding their games being available on Steam. They basically want (at least) one month from release date where the game cannot be purchased by those in the UK on Steam.

"And this applies to all games released by that publisher. If the publisher doesn't agree then they'll supposedly refuse to stock and sell that publisher's games via their stores."

The post claims that games from THQ and Bethesda have been or are currently unavailable for UK users to pre-order, and in some cases were unavailable to buy for up to a month after launch. Bethesda's upcoming Skyrim, and THQ's Space Marine and Saints Row: The Third, are all unavailable for pre-order.

In a statement, the retailer said: "We can categorically state that these rumours do not relate to Game Group or any of its employees. We have had no such conversations with any publisher and have been in contact with various publishers who can confirm this for you as well."

While Game's denial is a relief in a week where bricks and mortar and digital retailers alike have hit headlines for the wrong reasons, it still leaves one question unanswered: why are THQ and Bethesda's games not being released, or made available for pre-order, to UK Steam users? We've sought comment from both publishers and will follow up should we hear back.

OP, could you at least put the other side of the story in your post? Kinda harsh to just have the rumour there, and not GAME's response.

 

[SomeBrianDude]

I hate GAME they refuse to sell me 16+ games unless I have an I.D. Gamestation on the the hand will without an I.D, except if I get served by a guy that used to work at GAME. "Ummmmm.....I'm gonna have to see some I.D dude."
Steam goers I will hate GAME twice as much just for you.

You know that staff can get fined (I think it's up to a grand, might be more), and most likely sacked for failing a test purchase? The penalties are the same as selling booze to someone under 18. They're just doing their job. Can you really blame them for valuing their own employment and income more than you getting the game you want?

 

[Treblaine]

Edge did something on this as well.

http://www.next-gen.biz/news/game-denies-steam-blackmail-claims

Of course they would deny it, they would get into a dickload of trouble with Trading standards if anyone found out and at the moment an emphatic denial can be all that is needed.

On topic: fuck retail. I never like shopping for games, whether for console or PC it is thoroughly unpleasant. Browsing the shelves is just depressing seeing nothing but huge price tag everywhere for mediocre games, and it's so annoying as you KNOW online the games are a fraction of this cost. Then how they bore their eyes into you, as if I were either a shoplifter or a rubbernecker, they only seem remotely human when you can over a huge wodge of cash for a mediocre game.

For GAME in particular they have zero knowledge about games and are so opinionated. I had one guy swear that halo 3 was in native 1080p! His justification; he pointed to the supported TV modes on the back of the box that were:

"720p and 1080p supported"

And he claimed this meant the game was RENDERED in 1920x1080 pixels with no consideration of upscaling. I could tell from how angry he was getting that I - a customer of all people - dared to question him, and I could tell when I suggested he check beyond-3D forums to confirm this that I'd better leave before he gets angry enough to kick me out.

Yes, I've seen them order customers to leave their store for disagreeing with them on the "if you're not here to buy anything then you're banned!" logic.

 

[JordanMillward_1]

Edge did something on this as well.

http://www.next-gen.biz/news/game-denies-steam-blackmail-claims

Of course they would deny it, they would get into a dickload of trouble with Trading standards if anyone found out and at the moment an emphatic denial can be all that is needed.

No they wouldn't, because even if they did do it, it's entirely legal.

Damn, I wish people would only give opinions on stuff like this if they actually know what the hell they're talking about.

 

[Daverson]

From: http://www.next-gen.biz/news/game-denies-steam-blackmail-claims

UK retailer Game Group has emphatically denied that it has been coercing publishers into guaranteeing it a period of exclusivity before PC games are made available through Steam.

Yesterday a poster on the Facepunch forum claimed: "Some time around the start of this year Game started talking to multiple publishers regarding their games being available on Steam. They basically want (at least) one month from release date where the game cannot be purchased by those in the UK on Steam.

"And this applies to all games released by that publisher. If the publisher doesn't agree then they'll supposedly refuse to stock and sell that publisher's games via their stores."

The post claims that games from THQ and Bethesda have been or are currently unavailable for UK users to pre-order, and in some cases were unavailable to buy for up to a month after launch. Bethesda's upcoming Skyrim, and THQ's Space Marine and Saints Row: The Third, are all unavailable for pre-order.

In a statement, the retailer said: "We can categorically state that these rumours do not relate to Game Group or any of its employees. We have had no such conversations with any publisher and have been in contact with various publishers who can confirm this for you as well."

While Game's denial is a relief in a week where bricks and mortar and digital retailers alike have hit headlines for the wrong reasons, it still leaves one question unanswered: why are THQ and Bethesda's games not being released, or made available for pre-order, to UK Steam users? We've sought comment from both publishers and will follow up should we hear back.

OP, could you at least put the other side of the story in your post? Kinda harsh to just have the rumour there, and not GAME's response.

It's already there. It's right at the bottom.

In my experience though, when someone "categorically" states something, it's because they're lying through their teeth. I'll admit, there's no concrete evidence they're responsible, let's look at the facts, shall we?

1. This corporation has previously threatened smaller studios in an attempt to undermine a competitor.
2. Two very large publishing houses withdraw their products from said competitor uniquely in the operating region of this corporation. (And that bits important, it's not a global thing, like EA are doing, this is only happening in the UK)

This is almost unquestionably coercion from someone, and GAME have the means, motive and opportunity.

 

[Daveman]

I did think it was weird that Skyrim wasn't on Steam for Pre-order, yet it was in Gamestation. Well on the one hadn I really want Skyrim but on the other hand FUCK GAME. So yeah, I won't be getting it 'til christmas.

 

[Tyrant T100]

I've always had huge problems with Game, they were the first UK store to make really crap policies towards PC games, can't take it back unless the disc is physically damaged. So you'd have a hard time arguing if the disc was glitched ect.

I bought Counter Strike from them and the CD key had already been used, they refused to return the game until I threatened to contact trading standards, they gave me a new wrapped copy but it was obvious the staff had used the cd key from the original box.

They sometimes have good 2 for £15 deals and 2 for £30 deals but I generally find the Staff are rude, they try and force you to join their members club ect and walk up to you when your browsing their prices ect.

 

[Da Orky Man]

Before using Steam, I used to love GAME specifically BECAUSE they stock old games. If it wasn't for them, I never would have played Warcraft 3 or KotOR. And now, KotOR is one of my favourite games of all time, and Warcraft 3 is up there as well. I even saw both Starcraft and Diablo 2 there today.