News - GAME’s post EAster resurrection

[HEXUS]

EA return follows Nintendo, Activision, Microsoft and Namco.

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[Trash Man]

Good to hear.

I don't use GAME much as they are generally quite a bit more expensive for most things but at least a lot of people's jobs are saved.

[Noxvayl]

I think the writer is on the mark with game merchandise, games alone is not good enough for a high street store in my opinion. I'm happy to browse a gaming store with all sorts of equipment and games but not a store with only games.

If they get some Nintendo DS consoles out for people to try or even some console "zones" where people can play demo versions of games I think they will do a lot better. Wouldn't hurt for them to have the TV's people test games on for sale as well.

[OilSheikh]

I miss Virgin Megastores. They had plenty of consoles in the form of arcades with latest games that you could try out.

[Zeven]

The Game here in Guildford is still in tact so I assume that that particular branch was doing well. They did close the second branch five minutes away a while back, though. I hope OpCapita makes a positive change with Game now under their ownership, both for the video game industry and consumers.

[crossy]

I think the writer is on the mark with game merchandise, games alone is not good enough for a high street store in my opinion. I'm happy to browse a gaming store with all sorts of equipment and games but not a store with only games.

I'm little confused by that statement - I've never been in a GAME that only sold games - all the stores I've been in also sold hint books, accessories, trading cards, t-shirts, etc. Last time I was out at my "local" GAME I got a BF3 hint book and a MW3 keyring! Have I just been "lucky" and managed to pick the diversified stores?
That said, I was in a GAME in Glasgow a week ago and they'd got the headset I bought at the beginning of the year - for 50% more than I got it for from PC World! Which seemed mighty strange, since the rest of the stock seemed to be slashed in price.

If they get some Nintendo DS consoles out for people to try or even some console "zones" where people can play demo versions of games I think they will do a lot better. Wouldn't hurt for them to have the TV's people test games on for sale as well.

Again, a couple of the stores I've been to had that - depending on which store it tended to be the big consoles - Wii, XBox, PS3 - rather than the DS. But I'm sure that at least one of the stores also had a pair of 3DS's on a plinth with some hack n' slash running (Zelda?)

Like most, I'm glad to see that they've managed to survive - hopefully OpCapita will be able to rationalise the stores (e.g. no GAME and Gamestation within 10 minutes walk of each other). Oh, and as long as they don't close my local Gamestation!!!!

[aidanjt]

I wouldn't miss Game at all if they completely folded. Retail is dying. No point flogging a dying horse. And if the rumours about the Xbox 720 is to believed about having no optical drive and only offering on-demand content, Microsoft will have garrotted Game's neck.

[crossy]

I wouldn't miss Game at all if they completely folded. Retail is dying. No point flogging a dying horse. And if the rumours about the Xbox 720 is to believed about having no optical drive and only offering on-demand content, Microsoft will have garrotted Game's neck.

Personally I'm not convinced - there's still consoles out there that still push physical media - whether that be shiny spinning thing or small plastic box. And (thanks to BT!) there's folks out there will poor or non-existent internet, for whom having to download ME5/6/7 is a non-starter. Plus there's the folks with either usage caps (BT/Sky?) or throttling "Fair" Usage Provision (yes, that's you Virgin).

Perhaps there's a market for some kind of half-way house - where a GAME store could sell you a disk or memory card and then populate it with content. I know it's been proposed many times before... WRT the 720/NG I can't see MS going disk-less with that, since (a) it knackers the use of the console as a CD/DVD player (MS - any chance of BD this time?) and (b) that means restricted compatibility with '360 titles since not all titles are available via XBL. There's also the small issue that if you're reliant on XBL, then not only do you need a decent internet connection, but also an XBL account (more expense!).

Then again, there's consoles and accessories - sure you CAN buy those easily mail order (and it's probably cheaper to do so) but then again that leaves you at the mercy of HDNL or Royal Mail (or whatever stripped down excuse the current government leave us with). E.g. I ordered a pair of screen protectors from Amazon last month, and I'm still waiting for them.

[shaithis]

I'm little confused by that statement - I've never been in a GAME that only sold games - all the stores I've been in also sold hint books, accessories, trading cards, t-shirts, etc.

If you go back far enough, GAME (and their high-street rivals) sold gaming peripherals, sound cards, gfx cards etc

A proper selection of goods for gaming!

[crossy]

If you go back far enough, GAME (and their high-street rivals) sold gaming peripherals, sound cards, gfx cards etc. A proper selection of goods for gaming!

Oops, got the wrong end of the stick there - you're right, they don't do a range of products for the PC gamer (unless you count the hint books, and the odd headset).

Console gamers do a lot better ...

[Kjnowak]

The Game here in Guildford is still in tact so I assume that that particular branch was doing well. They did close the second branch five minutes away a while back, though. I hope OpCapita makes a positive change with Game now under their ownership, both for the video game industry and consumers.

Don't forget the one that was at the top of Debenhams as well is now shut. I mean 3 stores was just greedy

[Zeven]

Don't forget the one that was at the top of Debenhams as well is now shut. I mean 3 stores was just greedy

There was one at the top of Debehams? I never ventured there so I wouldn't know!

[j.o.s.h.1408]

Oops, got the wrong end of the stick there - you're right, they don't do a range of products for the PC gamer (unless you count the hint books, and the odd headset).

Console gamers do a lot better ...

They should start selling them again, 680gtx cards, pre built pc gaming machines, HDTV's, surround sound systems etc and i bet they will do well. They should also sell Ipads

[Zeven]

They should start selling them again, 680gtx cards, pre built pc gaming machines, HDTV's, surround sound systems etc and i bet they will do well. They should also sell Ipads

Don't mind the sound of that actually. They could really expand by doing that and could cater to PC gamers again as well. Good thinking!

[Trash Man]

Don't mind the sound of that actually. They could really expand by doing that and could cater to PC gamers again as well. Good thinking!

But would anyone buy from them? GAME have never been a company for competing on price with others. They have stock in their shops that, sometimes is double the amount you can get it for online. Even their own website is cheaper than their shops. I know a retail outlet has more costs and so higher prices.

If they were to start stocking CPU's, graphics cards, etc, who is going to be willing to spend and extra £20-30 on a component than they need to? It's one of the reasons GAME got it trouble in the first place.

[Zeven]

But would anyone buy from them? GAME have never been a company for competing on price with others. They have stock in their shops that, sometimes is double the amount you can get it for online. Even their own website is cheaper than their shops. I know a retail outlet has more costs and so higher prices.

If they were to start stocking CPU's, graphics cards, etc, who is going to be willing to spend and extra £20-30 on a component than they need to? It's one of the reasons GAME got it trouble in the first place.

That's also true. I guess I was subconsciously associating their takeover by OpCapita to lower the prices to an appropriate level as well. Then again, I don't buy much from physical stores these days, if at all.