Game nearly over

UK free daily newspaper - Metro reports on the worsening situation for the Game Group. following recent snubs from EA and Capcom the company now appears to be up for sale in a bid to stave off the inevitable.

[AusRogo]

They were expensive compared to jb hifi here in aus anyway , so meh. Feel sorry for people who will lose jobs if it happens though.

[spenn2010]

Is gamestop next? i know they gave me 20.00 and 15.00 USD for left for dead 2 and Madden 2012. Those buy back prices are never that high for these two types of games.

Whats going on can anyone that works for these companies explain....

[Bagogames]

Gamestop are doing just fine and will probably buy out Game in the near future and use their stores as their UK branch, they pulled out due to currency inflations. I worked for Gamestop once and a local manager was adamant that although their store was closing the local Game would probably be converted to a Gamestop by 2013.

[irepbtown]

No problem with Gamestop I think.

The only other worry is Gamestation. Since it's owned by Game (or vice versa).
We'll have to see in the upcoming months.

[Anarki]

The prices of the games in Game are just stupid. They charge way more than their competition and expect us to pay it too.

[Kurt Russell]

I bought 4 games for £8 in game this weekend.

GAME OVER YEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!

[demetre72]

Are seriously kidding me the Deals I got from Game where a million times better the JB-hifi

Jb-hifi are a rip with no deals going !!! there recent inclusion list gimmick is a joke

Meh all the way to Jb-hifi

[bunfighterii]

They were good a couple of years ago. Their prices were on par with JB, and I thought the service was better and they have a better, more fleshed out online store. That said, I had noticed them raising their prices to the point I stopped buying games from them, although I did pre-order my Vita with all the trimmings through GAME, simply because Vita stuff costs the same everywhere. Shame to see them go though.

[MGRogue2017]

I'm currently looking for a job myself.. It's going to make it so much harder now that an additional 10,000 people are going to be searching as well.. *sigh* just great..

[M83_]

Try being Irish, where nobody wants you unless you have a third level degree and 4+ years experience!
At 17 I can't even get my foot in the door. More time for drinking I suppose.
This doesn't look good for the old alco stereotype!lol

[Pyscho_Mantis]

maybe you should go to university or take home course instead on these forums or drinking all the time. Seriously if your going to complain at least make it reasonable.

[DragonKnight]

And where would the money for his education come from eh? Despite what your obvious response would be, some don't want to be in debt to the government for the rest of their lives whilst trying to better themselves. At 17 he should be able to get basic "first" jobs, but if he's having troubles doing so (not surprising considering the economy) it has nothing to do with where he spends his leisure time.

[Wintersun616]

I feel you man. I'm from Finland though but sometimes I feel like you have to be 20 years old with a 3rd degree and 10 years of work experience plus a driver's license for a frickin space shuttle to even get to an interview for a job.

[M83_]

@pyscho_mantis
I'm on a year out because the biomedical engineering course I want to do would be too strenuous for a 17 year old (around 44 hours a week) I want to go crazy and get a bit of that out of my system before I get bogged down with such a huge workload.
I'm not complaining but it would be good to get my ass some work until september!lol

[Bagogames]

What's being Irish got to do with it? I'm Irish and I'm employed full time as a Paramedic. Stick your arse down for a university course and stop moaning.

Taking a year out is also probably the most stupid thing you could have done by the way, I've no idea who told you to do it but good luck getting back in the system.

[M83_]

Bagogames

I couldn't give a fuck if you're fully employed. I've been trying to get a job since last september but they're just not there. I hate when teenagers get accused of being lazy when there is just nothing going.
Who are you to lecture me about what to do. You're completely wrong.
In fact this year out has been great for me because I actually sorted a lot of things out, matured and enjoyed spending time with my friends without the stress of starting a crazy difficult course when I wasn't ready for it.

[MagicAccent]

@Bagogames
That's the most brainless thing I've read on the internet today. Congratulations.

[irepbtown]

People who have got degrees are struggling. It is all over the news. Over a million young people are looking for work.

Even IF you go to University, and get your degree, it's still close to impossible to get a job.
Shit economy!!!

[CDbiggen]

Are you guys seriously having this debate? On N4G?

[Solid_Snake37]

i feel ya bro. They all expect us to have 10 years+ experience, which is stupid since i just graduated

[bunfighterii]

Put on a British accent and say you went to Eaton.

[Wintersun616]

@CDbiggen,

To be honest, the more this topic is discussed, the better. True, this might not be the correct place for it, but it's not entirely off topic in this case..

[redDevil87]

Everytime i see that phrase i think of Aliens lol.

Sony 2012# Raising PlayStation 4 awareness
Open Zone 2012# Bring back the open zone

[StayStatic]

Managed to get Resistance 2 for 48p (2.98 - 2.50 reward points) :D

[TooTall19]

Best 48p you ever spent.

[IM_A_MARVEL]

Just imagine the closing down bargains if things play out the way they seem to be going!

[Sashamaz]

I know right! Man I am looking forward to that day, starting to save up now, only two weeks left to find out.

[Kurisu]

I think I am going to refund my extended warranty for my Vita when I go to GAME on Thursday. I was checking the details last night and you have 45 days to do so. Dont want them to close and have me sitting on a wasted payment. I will put the money towards a game.

[Beeeaans]

This is why the stock market collapsed in 1929 lol

[NBT91]

Haha! You have the right idea there, my friend.
thousands loosing their jobs? Bitch please, cheap games!!!

[Dazel]

Some mega deals to be had on second hand games right now, spent all my store credit yesterday.

Still when there gone it will make trading games in a bit of a mare, leaves only Blockbuster within a 40 mile radius where I live.

[aaaaaaaaa]

Once Game & Gamestation goes I think you will see less companies willing to do trade-ins at the prices of the past

[Ness-Psi]

Asda still do trade ins.

[iamgoatman]

Amazon do trades for credit as well, on occasion you can get quite a bit more than what you could in GAME or CEX. Traded GTA4 in a little bit back for £9 I think, pretty decent for an old game.

[Denethor_II]

See yer.

[Lucreto]

I have £60 of discount to use.

Any suggestions?

[DontShoot-Me-Bro]

Some stores are doing BRAND NEW Wii's for £50, you can get one on the GAME.CO.UK website for £39.99 although its pre-owned, heard seme stores have PS3, 40GB, 60GB, 80GB for £99.99, and Xbox 360 4GB for £69.99. Not every store has these deals, which leads me to think maybe its only the stores which could close down, as there are rumours that GAME will shut down the stores with the least turnover. So maybe these stores are trying to get rid of stock.

[tigertron]

They sold out of 320GB PS3s bundled with Assasin's Creed for £99.99. 0.o

[Lucreto]

I am looking at actual games. I have all the hardware I need and they don't ship to Ireland.

I see
Crysis 2 for PC
Rayman origins for the Vita

[evilsooty]

Go and spend it NOW before they go into administration and the administrator decides not to honour prepaid cards and discounts.

They can and will do that.

[Ness-Psi]

spend it on a prostitute!

[Phoenix76]

Me and my bro were talking about this only other day. Told him not to worry as they will simply close down shop and re-open the following week under a different name.............. Properly something like 'GAME-OVER!' lmao

[VTKC]

Ha! GAME is getting its just deserves! Buying out Electronic Boutique, Gamestation and ruining the brand name by changing its priorities. I hope they fold like origami! Treating customers like idiots-thats what you get! Dont let the door hit you on your way to liquidation.

[resistance100]

You do know EB brought out GAME right? Not the other away around. They kept the GAME name so they didn't have to keep paying rights for the EB name.

Also is GAME didn't buy out gamestation, chances are they would have gone bust a.while back anyway.

[Tone]

Thats not correct mate.. i used to work for Gamestation, I opened up most stores up here in Scotland, and the 2 guys that started it sold most of it to Blockbuster.. Gamestation started getting more market share than Game... so what did Game do.. Approach the Directors of Blockbuster and made an offer they could not refuse!

If that never happend i can bet Gamestation would be doing just fine :)

[kma2k]

imagine how shitty it is to be an employee there this week, knowing regardless of how good of an employee you are or what you do there you most likey dont have a job there by weeks end! Man they should blow out all inventory for pennies on the dollar. Wish i was in the UK when that went down!

[pbasson]

good riddance. I do however feel it for the employees that are going to become jobless. As for GAME, Gameplay & Gamestation are all part of the same parent company

[DonnieDarko]

Didn't realise that. If you go to www.gameplay.co.uk it says they are now under gamestation. They've basically ceased trading. They're defo going under.

[DanSolo]

I think one reason its happening is because GAME refused to bow down on used game sales.... now they are in trouble and companies like EA and capcom are turning the screws......

Be prepared next gen to see price hikes, and a seriously reduced used game trade!

I for one will enjoy any bargains I pick up, but I still realise that GAME going under isn't a good thing for gamers!

[Harelgur]

bye bye retail

[Blastoise]

I picked up Castlevania lords of shadow for £3 and Metroid Prime 3 for £2 in the sales, which was good but GAME were just too damn expensive in general. Theres no reason to shop there when you can buy online for much less

[TheComedian]

The Game? Wait just one minute...could this be...? Oh my it could be...

[IM_A_MARVEL]

It's weird, in one way I'm over the moon that this store of cretins (generalisation: some staff are genuinely knowledgeable and care about customer service, but I've only encountered a seldom few) is on the ropes. Penance for years of high prices, misinformation and banking on the ignorance of parents. But on the other, it really is a sad time for retail and big blow for an already crippled job market, at least in the UK. Uncertain times ahead for sure.

[Ness-Psi]

agree, but also it was one of the gaming only stores and there aint many of them around anymore. doubt if we will see any for a while unless they get bought out by gamestop?

[DudeJets]

I was originally going to save all of this for a blog but here goes,

Whats happening at game and what does it mean for us gamers?

First let me explain a few things,
The retail video games industry is one of the toughest on the market with one of the lowest profitable mark ups on new stock, Thus the exceptionally "vigorous" pre owned push.

A few things about buying relevant:

Obviously people think Shop buys stock then sells it, But its a little different and more complicated.

Sale or return : You hold the goods and pay for them as you sell them, Any unsold goods are able to be returned to the distributor.

Dating: You order £xxx of stock then get an invoice date usually 30 days after, If paid within X amount of days you usually get a higher discount on the purchase.

Ok so that's kind of all you need to know about what goes on behind the scenes so i guess ill start explaining whats happened whats gone wrong and where.

Game is a company owned by share holders, unforgivably any profit made over the years has been handed back to them not kept in the company to secure any future.

With the recent fall out with EA and other major developers GAME is struggling to get stock as you may already know, However those companies could in theory do a leap of faith, SONY is currently doing it anyone who recently bought any vita product from there will see a sticker on the back saying "Product of SONY etc" its near the bar-code, This is because all SONY stock in game at current is on sale or return.

What happened with EA ?
Game could of still got ME3 in stock but they made the decision not to, EA and GAME used to have very good terms GAME holds about 70% of englands Video game market thats ALOT. But if GAME would of chosen to get ME3 in stock they would have lost money on every copy sold ( Not even broken even) as EA wanted to change there buying arrangement originally decided months ago when they set the price for the N7 edition, Would you as a business owner do that?.

Oh noez there games are so pricey!

The most profit game has ever made on a single full SRP Title is £5 after VAT, The video games market in a retail sense is bloody pathetic, There is no money in it what so ever. The reason game charge full SRP is because if they are selling a game at £39.99 that probably cost them around £32.99 + 20% Vat thats just under £2 profit. This is the reason alone you barely see any indie stores anymore. There is 0 mark up in Hardware and MS/ PSN Points again no money retailers take a small commission on units sold.

Oh there preowned is far to expensive.

In some senses yes, But does any other retailer offer the exact same warranty as new ? So what you can buy it £10 cheaper on ebay, You pay for service and reassurance that nothing will go wrong with it. I traded in my Saints Row 3 for £35 about a week after purchase they were selling it at £37,99 How is that a rip off? There pre owned prices are also down to there UK stock level VS demand of a game.
If they have in one branch alone 100 copies of a game think of there national levels, Why would they offer you an arm and a leg for the product? You just wouldn't its business one of my local branch's rent and rates come to 150k a year alone, + Staffing costs.

[DudeJets]

Oh i miss GAMESTATION
The interesting thing looking over internal paperwork and how much each stores take GAMESTATION Branches ever since take over and before hand on average take ALOT less money than GAME my local GAMESTATION was closed down due to both local GAME's taking 4x the turnover they did, Why would you keep them open ? Gamestation wasnt some amazing store its a simple "Grass is greener" Situation.

Game Closes Why should i care? How would that effect me ?

Well the obvious one is 10,000 people looking for new jobs,
Then you have no high street specialist anymore for those that dont wanna walk around monsoon with there O/H and would rather go grab a good bargain ( Yea they existed you just have to look rather than sit on your pc slagging a company off).

BUT More importantly The pre owned market would basically DIE overnight, Supermarkets only do it to pinch consumers from game, CEX/Cash in hands etc prices would drop on trade ins. People that dont give a toss about online pass codes and do need to save that extra £4 by getting pre owned and use there last title to trade in are also screwed.

Its cool mate i can still shop in HMV and online!
That's all well and good but HMV have already said they are looking at stopping video games the reason is due to the lack of money to be made. As for online, As soon as the highstreet stores go online prices usually go up it happened in every other retail industry so far including sports (And trust me there's a HUGE mark up in clothing and sports).

Someone will replace them!
Maybe maybe not, The only companies that i could see tempted by it are GAMESTOP and possibly VIRGIN, Personally i could purchase GAME STORES GROUP right now but i cant afford the amount it needs to sort its debts the market cost of the company is about 2.9million but i would say you need around 10 million to fix what needs to be fixed + around 15 million for debts etc. Game is currently in partial administration meaning creditors and banks are running the show, no-one will buy it until it goes into liquidation as all its debts will be written off. However if you had the money knowing how little money there is in the industry to be made, Would you really bother? I wouldnt.

I apologize for grammar it has been typed quickly and this is the short version i do still plan to type up properly what else it means, But tbh im getting tired and this will only fall on death ears.

TLDR : Game Goes = Consumers Screwed more than you realise.
And its mainly the publishers fault

[retrofly]

Out of interest where does the Money go? Devs, Publishers, ditributors?

I'm going to guess Publishers and the licence owners (microsoft/sony), I heard £5 pound on ever sale goes to them for console purchases, is that true?

[Ace_Man_6]

Lol, no-one is going to read this shit

[ninjahunter]

I am told they had a negative effect on the industry, particularly developers, so I guess this is a good thing.

[MeatAbstract]

I popped into GAME today on the way to work and there really was a sense of impending doom in there. Like all the staff watches you walk in and they suddenly stiffen up, watch you with sunken, hollow eyes and try and act nonchalant but really they wanna run over begging you to buy something.

If you live in the UK definately get in there though, the 'spring cleaning sale' has some fantastic offers on, so get it while they're cheap and desperate.

[NBT91]

Yeah. Like them or not, Soul Calibur 5 is only like £27 in there right now.

I did laugh a little at the tag line though " Prices like this won't last long - not even as long as the spring weather!" Well yeah, thats because your company is going to bite the bullet before spring is over.

[Blackcanary]

guess i need to buy some games since they start to lower the price i hope anyway. i knew this would happen.

[fOrlOnhOpe57]

I was in my local GAME last weekend and found the hardback Killzone3 Collector's Edition Guide, marked up for just 1.99p. I had to ask the guy if that was the correct price before I bought it! lol

[Ezetta]

Maybe in UK, but let's not forget that GAME is spread all over Europe, and they have no problems with stocking games at all.

[IM_A_MARVEL]

Regardless of geographical spread, i think that whatever ails the Game Group ails all that come under that banner!

I could be wrong but i'm pretty sure their woes aren't solely contained within the UK.

[Kemicalbeliefs]

Yes it's the Game group not the UK. These are the problems with being floated as a public company. When you're in the shit, it's hard to wash it off.

[Dugstar]

I think the "imminent" collapse of GAME is just a sign of things in the UK today as many towns and cities are "dieing" due to the Government and the piss poor handling of this country at the moment.

So many places are going to Administration and going under due to the econimic climate and GAME is just being added to that... although talk of Gamestop wanting to buy them might well be more viable and perhaps bring GAMES ridiculous pricing down as well.

[Kemicalbeliefs]

I think it's more to do with the business model and the delusion that the massive profit bubble would last forever. It boomed, it bust.

HMV are in the same boat. Buying companies, expanding, taking on massive loans with the idea that the profit margins will double each year. In truth, it doesn't and won't. Now they're stuck with huge debts and a decreasing profit margin. Just look at HMV's pricing in the same context as Game. They like to take the piss.

[Dugstar]

Upper management with no clue on what "proper" Gamers want I think.. so fair pricing goes out the window.

Customers are gagging for Bargains and deals as times have now changed .. seemingly GAME didn't heed to warnings over the past few years about the economy going tits up.. and here we are.

I do agree with HMV though.. never stepped into a HMV store for years now..

[stumpa]

Totally Agree

[stumpa]

Game give people £5 for traded in game then try to resell the same game for £20-25 pure greed now they are reaping what they sow feel sorry for the employees but not the company