Game (UK Retailer) Discussion

[Stacy]

So that's Gamestation is gone too? Other than Tescos why the hell do I buy my games now?

Anybody though some decent online retailers?

[Blue Blood]

So that's Gamestation is gone too? Other than Tescos why the hell do I buy my games now?

Anybody though some decent online retailers?

ShopTo. They're fantastic. Very good prices, reward scheme, and shipping's great too.

[Badnik Mechanic]

So that's Gamestation is gone too? Other than Tescos why the hell do I buy my games now?

Asda, Morrisons, HMV (Their selection of games is actually more diverse than GAME I've found), Grainger Games, Indi's.

As for online. Amazon, Play.com, shop 2 (never used them, but shadz has), Videogamesplus.ca.

It's not like theres no other place that has games for good prices.

Edit: You know, this brings me onto something that I want to throw out there... is it just my imagination, or is the actual game selection at GAME (instore at least) amazingly crap? When you think of all the games that they could stock, does anything instantly come to mind other than COD, Arkham City, LA Noire, Skyrim? I know they have other titles in stock, but I'm also thinking about how they market pre-owned stuff too.

[Stacy]

Asda, Morrisons, HMV (Their selection of games is actually more diverse than GAME I've found), Grainger Games, Indi's.

As for online. Amazon, Play.com, shop 2 (never used them, but shadz has), Videogamesplus.ca.

It's not like theres no other place that has games for good prices.

Edit: You know, this brings me onto something that I want to throw out there... is it just my imagination, or is the actual game selection at GAME (instore at least) amazingly crap? When you think of all the games that they could stock, does anything instantly come to mind other than COD, Arkham City, LA Noire, Skyrim? I know they have other titles in stock, but I'm also thinking about how they market pre-owned stuff too.

Thanks. I am okay for newer Games, but what about older Pre-Owned stuff? Any good sites for that?

[Detective Shadzter]

Edit: You know, this brings me onto something that I want to throw out there... is it just my imagination, or is the actual game selection at GAME (instore at least) amazingly crap? When you think of all the games that they could stock, does anything instantly come to mind other than COD, Arkham City, LA Noire, Skyrim? I know they have other titles in stock, but I'm also thinking about how they market pre-owned stuff too.

That's one of my problems with GAME. In store they don't tend to stock anything more than a few months old, and if they do, it's something that's a continued big seller, like most Mario and Call of Duty games. Their selection isn't very varied at all, while HMV has a lot of variety across all platforms. For a specialist retailer, you expect some variety and choice. They have that in pre-owned, but not in new, which is the condition I like to buy my games in.

So that's Gamestation is gone too? Other than Tescos why the hell do I buy my games now?

Anybody though some decent online retailers?

In store:

ASDA

Tesco

Morrisons

Sainsbury's

HMV

Currys/PC World

Blockbuster

Grainger Games

Toys R Us

Smyths Toys

Argos

Comet

Online:

Play.com

Amazon

HMV

Blockbuster

ShopTo

Grainger Games

Zavvi

The Hut

Woolworths

Send It

Toys R Us

Argos

Currys

PC World

Dixons

Comet

ASDA

Tesco

Sainsbury's

DVD.co.uk

BlahDVD

Base.com

101CD.com

365games.co.uk

Cool Shop

The Game Collection

Simply Games

Game Gears

Video Games Plus

Bee.com

Game Seek

Propel Gamer

Thanks. I am okay for newer Games, but what about older Pre-Owned stuff? Any good sites for that?

HMV, Amazon and Play.com are good for pre-owned.

[Bisylizzie]

Add CEX, uk.webuy.com

They're pretty good for preowned

[Detective Shadzter]

Rescue hope for Game Group

http://www.telegraph...Game-Group.html

I'd be surprised if anyone saves them from administration now.

[Detective Shadzter]

BREAKING NEWS

Sky Sources: Game To Go Into Administration

http://news.sky.com/...rticle/16196320

EDIT:

MCV: The administrator HAS been appointed, announcement pending #savegame https://twitter.com/...212877228511232

[Detective Shadzter]

Sorry for the triple post, but it's official.

GAME enters administration

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/game-enters-administration/093359

My thoughts go out to the staff

There's this too.

Ian Shepherd attacks media GAME coverage

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/ian-shepherd-attacks-media-game-coverage/093358

Don't really see the 'attack' in any of the comments myself, though.

[Badnik Mechanic]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwnPFryXF6g

And so it ends.

Game is now in Administration, the details have only just been made public. The statement has been released.

Mike Jervis and Stuart Maddison of PwC were appointed joint administrators of the UK and Ireland operations of The GAME Group plc, Game Stores Group Limited, Gameplay (GB) Limited, Game (Stores) Limited, Games Station Limited, Game (retail) Limited, Gamestation Limited (“the group”) on 26 March 2012. The appointment was made following the company’s announcements on 21 March that the listing of its securities on the Main Market of London Stock Exchange plc had been suspended from trading and a filing of a notice of intention to appoint an administrator had been made.

The group, with a turnover of £1,625m in the year to 31 January, is a multi-channel retailer of video games and video games hardware trading under the names of Game and Gamestation. The group’s head office is based in Basingstoke with operations in the UK and Ireland, Spain, Portugal, France, Czech Republic and Australia. There are currently 609 stores throughout the UK and Ireland. There are 385 employees based in the group’s head office in Basingstoke and 5,136 store employees across the UK and Ireland.

Mike Jervis, joint administrator and partner at PwC said:

“The group has faced serious cashflow and profit issues over the recent past. It also has suffered from high fixed costs, an ambitious international roll-out and fluctuating working capital requirements.

“Despite these challenges, we believe that there is room for a specialist game retailer in the territories in which it operates, including its biggest one, the UK. As a result we are hopeful that a going concern sale of the business is achievable.”

Edit: Gosh darn! I have been Ninja'd or goosed!

lol Wow, the company director blaming the media instead of blaming his boards incompetence and high prices. Epic.

[Detective Shadzter]

News of store closures and job losses is being delivered to stores rihgt now, MCV understands

https://twitter.com/#!/MCVonline/status/184225156800057346

Really hope the staff pull out of this ok.

lol Wow, the company director blaming the media instead of blaming his boards incompetence and high prices. Epic.

Yeah, from what I've been reading over the past few weeks from various staff members, the company's been handling this so poorly. Staff have had to find out the latest updates themselves online.

[Badnik Mechanic]

If anyone is near a GAME/Gamestation and discovers games are being sold for 20p, be a dear and let us know.... idealy the moment you find out.

[Detective Shadzter]

GAME: Administration came after period of "careful consideration"

http://www.mcvuk.com...deration/093360

If anyone is near a GAME/Gamestation and discovers games are being sold for 20p, be a dear and let us know.... idealy the moment you find out.

Me and my wife are going out into our local shopping centre this afternoon, so I'll have a look in the GAME and Gamestation stores there and see if anything's being sold off cheap. I won't be able to post anything until I'm back, though.

EDIT:

GAME CEO Ian Shepherd steps down, confirms store closures

http://www.mcvuk.com...closures/093361

[Swiss]

I'm really tempted to head into town...but I don't want to go for nothing. I've got a huge feeling they're still going to be their usual tightwad selves up to their final breath.

[Detective Shadzter]

Store closures begin at GAME and Gamestation

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/store-closures-begin-at-game-and-gamestation/093365

[Badnik Mechanic]

Games website is gone!

Gamestation's website is gone! (oh the irony of the message thats there "We'll be right back")

[Your Vest Friend]

I think this warrants a topic title change.

[Badnik Mechanic]

I think this warrants a topic title change.

GAME over...? Yeah...

So looks like we were right with all the predictions about 'it'll be over before April.' I almost want this topic pinned since it's one hell of a read from when this news first broke to how it's all gone crashing down.

Edit: Holy... Gamestations Birmingham New Street store has shut down, according to people on twitter, that was a 'flagship store' *nervously looks towards the Hull one*

Edit 2: Gamestation New Street and Palisades stores in Birmingham – the former of which is the chain's flagship, has been confirmed closed. GAME's Oxford Street Store in London is still trading.

[Detective Shadzter]

Can't believe they've closed that big flagship irmingham Gamestation store The Palisades GAME has also been closed. Not heard anything about the GAME store in the Bullring.

UPDATE: We're hearing of confirmed closures of a number of GAME and Gamestation stores, with more coming in every minute. There has also been a report of Gamestation's flagship Birmingham New Street store closing its doors.

UPDATE 2: The closure of the Gamestation New Street and Palisades stores in Birmingham – the former of which is the chain's flagship, has been confirmed. GAME's Oxford Street Store in London is still trading.

http://www.mcvuk.com...estation/093365

I'm about to head out to Merry Hill shopping centre in Dudley now. Will see what's happening down there with the 2 GAME stores and 1 Gamestation store.

[Swiss]

Gamestation have posted details on the situation right now. Just about pre-orders, Elite cards and the like, really.

[Detective Shadzter]

Important news about GAME

by GAME on Monday, 26 March 2012 at 05:59 ·

Dear GAME customers,

Here’s some important news about us. GAME Group plc (the parent company of GAME in the UK) is now in administration. We want you to know that the Administrators aim at this time is to continue trading while they seek to find a new owner for the business.

In the meantime, we’ve had to make some changes. We’ve summarised them below. Some of them are temporary, some are permanent.

1.Online Sales: We expect some disruption to our online services over the next few days while we make some changes. We apologise for the inconvenience this causes.

2.Refunds and Exchanges: Until further notice, we will not be able to offer refunds or exchanges for products purchased either before the administration or for products purchased from the date of the administration.

3.Pre-Orders: No new pre-orders can be taken until further notice. No refunds can be given for any pre-order deposits which have been paid. We are reviewing this over the next week.

4.GAME Reward card: We have had to suspended use of GAME Reward Cards. This means that points can be earned but NOT redeemed until further notice.

5.Gift cards: We have also had to suspend GAME gift cards. The value on these cards cannot be redeemed. If this changes, we will let you know. We apologise for the inconvenience this causes.

6.GAMEWallet: the value stored in GAMEwallet accounts will be suspended until further notice following the appointment of administrators.

7.Pre-owned Software: You can still buy pre owned products at great prices in your local store or online. If you trade in a pre-owned software item then you will still be able to accrue reward points and use your trade in to exchange for another item. You will not be able to trade in pre-owned software for cash. If this changes, we will let you know. We apologise for the inconvenience this causes.

8.Pre-owned Hardware: We have had to suspend trade in for pre-owned hardware at this time. If this changes, we will let you know. We apologise for the inconvenience this causes.

9.Click and Collect titles: We have had to suspend this service. We apologise for any inconvenience this causes.

MJA Jervis and SD Maddison have been appointed as Joint Administrators of The GAME Group plc, Game Stores Group Limited, Gameplay (GB) Limited, Game (Stores) Limited, Games Station Limited, Game (Retail) Limited and Gamestation Limited on 26 March 2012 to manage their affairs, business and property as their agents and without personal liability. MJA Jervis and SD Maddison are licensed in the United Kingdom to act as insolvency practitioners by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

If you have any questions please feel free to email us at: customerservices@game.co.uk

https://www.facebook...150774075271000

EDIT:

Somewhat ninja'd XD

[Mollfie]

My old store is on that list...but the Gamestation (where other friends of mine also work) isn't. At the moment anyway. Shit.

[Badnik Mechanic]

Twitter tells me that GAME in Hull has gone, but Gamestation is still up and running.

However out of the two GAME stores we had open, one was closed on friday so I dunno if they mean that one or not... lol I just want the Gamestation to stay open, all my friends work there and thats where the giant Sonic statue lives!

Double post! OH NOS! OH NOS!

Posting this here since MCV's website keeps going down (lol can't think why).

GAME/Gamestation's entire chain of Irish stores are to be closed.

The following stores have also been confirmed to have closed.

GAME

Croydon

Bristol Cabot Circus

Bath Southgate

Milton Keynes Midsummer Place

Coventry West Orchards

Norwich

Bromley

Exeter

Plymouth New George Street

Bournemouth Commercial Road

Birmingham Palisades

York (theres actually a photo of TSS peeps in this store).

Liverpool

Telford - both stores

Manchester Arndale - both stores

Burton-on-Trent

Birmongham Fort

Canterbury

Falkirk

Stevenage

Blackburn

Glasgow Buchanan Galeries

Reading Oracle

Basingstoke

Barrow

Bridlington

Weston Super Mare

Stockton on Tees Wellington Square

Newcastle

Edinburgh Ocean Terminal

Edinburgh Princes Street

Stirling

Portsmouth Cascades

Cardiff Queen Street

Dorchester

Gloucester

Preston St George's Centre

Slough

Glasgow Sauchiehall Street

Isle of Wight

Northampton

Galway

GAMESTATION

Birmingham New Street

Sutton

Enfield

Bromley

Llaneli

Sunderland

Norwich

Great Yarmouth

Taunton

Ilford

Cumbernauld

Coventry

Hyde

Bournemouth

Brighton

Liverpool

Shrewsbury

Stafford

Leicester

Skelmersdale

Perth

Halesowen

Walsall

Gainsborough

Harlow

Dumbarton

Cannock

Kettering

Stockton on Tees High Street

Salisbury

Hartlepool

Stevenage

Nuneaton

Cheltenham

High Wycombe

Glasgow Sauchiehall Street

Hastings

Long Eaton

Leamington

[Your Vest Friend]

NONE of my local stores, in both Stoke-on-Trent and Derby, were on that closure list. What a bloody miracle.

[PSI Wind]

Good lord. I feel horrible for those who worked at GAME and Gamestation. The unemployment rate is gonna go up a bit in the UK, isn't it?