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[Monkeylord]

I just remembered, I still haven't gotten a WI Fi adapter for my spare 360 that's in the bedroom.

Anyone know if there is/intended to be any deals on them?




Don't even know why that just came to me. I'm updating spreadsheets, absolutely nothing 360 or Wi Fi related. The brain is a mysterious organ!

 

[toythatkills]

I love Poundland.

Some stuff is overpriced, though.

Poundland have always had a pretty solid selection of music whenever I've been in. All mid-90s pop and indie, from back when music was better

 

[acm2000]

the downfall of GAME will lead to the rise of the indie again, i hope, we got a Swallow Games here, but didnt last long due to GAME/Gamestation, and CeX just down the road, they were the only indie store we had

 

[mclem]

By £5 or TO £5.

This is important... don't hold out on me!

(I know the answer, but refuse to admit it).

Sorry, bud. CE was *by* £5 (to £20). Although the non CE was *to* £5, if that'll do?


Edit: Oh, and I'm saying CE in the Complete Edition sense, not in the Collector's Edition sense.

 

[acm2000]

I just remembered, I still haven't gotten a WI Fi adapter for my spare 360 that's in the bedroom.

Anyone know if there is/intended to be any deals on them?




Don't even know why that just came to me. I'm updating spreadsheets, absolutely nothing 360 or Wi Fi related. The brain is a mysterious organ!

cex sell the old one for £28, or the new one for £35, or generic wireless n adapter for £18-£22

 

[Monkeylord]

Sorry, bud. CE was *by* £5 (to £20). Although the non CE was *to* £5, if that'll do?


Edit: Oh, and I'm saying CE in the Complete Edition sense, not in the Collector's Edition sense.

It's the CE I'm after... dang.

 

[dc89]

When Woolies closed down we ended up with a 99p stores. Terrible place, but really they have pretty much all the same stuff that Woolies used to stock bar the new release CDs and DVDs.

I remember when Woolies sold chart CD's at nearly £13 a throw. Was it £13? Or am I being too generous.

I do miss those little cans of coke though.

 

[defel]

The only purpose I ever used Woolies for was to stack up on sweets and snacks before smuggling them in to Warner Village Cinemas at Harrow-on-the-Hill.

 

[zomgbbqftw]

I remember when Woolies sold chart CD's at nearly £13 a throw. Was it £13? Or am I being too generous.

I do miss those little cans of coke though.

You can get those in Tesco and Sainsburys, though not in singles.

CDs were £17 for new releases I thought?

 

[Misfits]

Child of Eden ps3 for 98p. Should I buy ir? Can I use a standard controller?

 

[zomgbbqftw]

Child of Eden ps3 for 98p. Should I buy ir? Can I use a standard controller?

Dude fucking buy that shit.

 

[Dachande]

Child of Eden ps3 for 98p. Should I buy ir? Can I use a standard controller?

Yes and yes.

 

[SmokyDave]

I remember when Woolies sold chart CD's at nearly £13 a throw. Was it £13? Or am I being too generous.

I do miss those little cans of coke though.

Check in the spirits section of your local supermarket. They sometimes sell 'em as mixers.

 

[Misfits]

buying it now, thanks guys.

 

[Mr. Sam]

Check in the spirits section of your local supermarket. They sometimes sell 'em as mixers.

Bleh. They were always lukewarm in my local Woolies, and never tasted as good as the proper cans. The 99p Store which has replaced it isn't much better.

 

[Carl]

Ah, I used to live in Lincolnshire, sadly the Boston Gamestation had naff all in the way of retro stock even though I sold many, many systems and games to them after moving house. Curious to see if Panzer Dragoon Saga has dropped from the £110 it used to cost at Gamestation.

You used to live in Boston?! Lucky you, i STILL live in Boston

 

[BibiMaghoo]

GAME will no be stocking Resident Evil. Capcom are out too.

Bad times.

 

[Linkified]

In a more positive light Hilco are looking at Game Group's international assets and OpCapita is looking at Game Group UK.

 

[industrian]

the downfall of GAME will lead to the rise of the indie again

I think I either said this here or in the OT, but I'm giving serious consideration to opening a small video game store when I get home.

I nearly started an online VG store in 2004 but the Princes Trust ironically didn't trust a 19 year old with a £3000-4000 loan.

 

[Bumhead]

There's a pretty cool indie store in my City Centre and I would love it if they bought GAME's retail space when they're gone.

Either that, or start up myself.

What are the profit margins and economics of running a high street games retailer now? Is it even possible to compete with online prices etc? Where would you even start?

 

[acm2000]

I think I either said this here or in the OT, but I'm giving serious consideration to opening a small video game store when I get home.

I nearly started an online VG store in 2004 but the Princes Trust ironically didn't trust a 19 year old with a £3000-4000 loan.

gameplay was built on a princes trust fund, he is now royally minted

 

[industrian]

There's a pretty cool indie store in my City Centre and I would love it if they bought GAME's retail space when they're gone.

Either that, or start up myself.

What are the profit margins and economics of running a high street games retailer now? Is it even possible to compete with online prices etc? Where would you even start?

Margins on video games are tighter than a 60-year-old nun. Startup costs and marketing yourself are a massive drain. Plus you've got major domestic competition from Amazon, Play and retail giants like Tesco as well as foreign competition from Video Games Plus, Play-Asia and Amazon.com. Like it or loathe it, trade-ins would be a necessary evil. That and/or getting a "specialist" edge. For example, being an importer, selling "culture" based items like t-shirts and music, and the like.

 

[PaulLFC]

There's a pretty cool indie store in my City Centre and I would love it if they bought GAME's retail space when they're gone.

Either that, or start up myself.

What are the profit margins and economics of running a high street games retailer now? Is it even possible to compete with online prices etc? Where would you even start?

Some prices are decent(ish) but some seem ridiculous - e.g. £51.05 for Castlevania Lords of Shadow on 360... I assume that drops significantly with bulk orders?

I was actually thinking of setting up a shop that sold preowned games plus the biggest one or two new games of the last week or two, at big discounts. For example if I could buy lots of copies of ME3 or MW3 and buy enough to get the costs down low enough to sell at a low price and still make some profit on each sale, it might make a profit. On weeks where there wasn't a big release though, we'd have to rely on preowned sales. There'd be a website to sell to customers who weren't local, and sofas/consoles/magazines to read, etc. Retro section too. I very much doubt it'd be profitable but I wish it was, because I'd love to do something like that.

 

[Bleepey]

I think I either said this here or in the OT, but I'm giving serious consideration to opening a small video game store when I get home.

I nearly started an online VG store in 2004 but the Princes Trust ironically didn't trust a 19 year old with a £3000-4000 loan.

http://www.nick-james.com/public/86.cfm

Should have waited a year.

 

[Chopper]

Are there many reports of hardware being included in these sales? Is there any chance of picking up a cheap PS3?!

 

[Bumhead]

That and/or getting a "specialist" edge. For example, being an importer, selling "culture" based items like t-shirts and music, and the like.

Exactly that. I think that would be the key, going above and beyond anything else a current retailer provides.

 

[industrian]

gameplay was built on a princes trust fund, he is now royally minted

http://www.nick-james.com/public/86.cfm

Should have waited a year.

...

I still created a small-scale eBay store for a few years that dealt with used games (buy cheap, sell at profit) and made enough to live off it during university. But reading this shit kind of stings.

 

[no angel]

Popped into my local gamestation at lunch, nothing in there but disappointment and confusion. Preowned Uncharted 2 £15, preowned Uncharted 1 £20. Game Group in a nutshell.

 

[JonathanEx]

Margins on video games are tighter than a 60-year-old nun. Startup costs and marketing yourself would be a massive drain. Like it or loathe it, trade-ins would be a necessary evil. That and/or getting a "specialist" edge. For example, being an importer, selling "culture" based items like t-shirts and music, and the like.

When I lived in the middle of nowhere, I went to Norwich once every few months and the highlight wasn't checking GAME - I liked Gamestation as it did retro things - but hidden around the back of a street was an awesome indie store, where I bought DS imports and little silly Nintendo bits from Japan.

 

[toythatkills]

Exactly that. I think that would be the key, going above and beyond anything else a current retailer provides.

If you sell import games, Sony and Nintendo will come after you. You won't make much selling OSTs or the like because the market is tiny and the prices are huge. Anyone that thinks indies are going to replace GAME is living in a dream world, and anyone thinking about actually setting one up needs to think very hard about it.

 

[industrian]

Exactly that. I think that would be the key, going above and beyond anything else a current retailer provides.

It's the same as any business plan whatsoever for any industry or business type. Market differentiation, bitches.

If you sell import games, Sony and Nintendo will come after you. You won't make much selling OSTs or the like because the market is tiny and the prices are huge. Anyone that thinks indies are going to replace GAME is living in a dream world, and anyone thinking about actually setting one up needs to think very hard about it.

I think the days of a large chain of video games dedicated shops is over. Indies won't ever be as powerful, but they'll offer a good local alternative and with the right management be financially stable.

 

[Family Fry]

When I lived in the middle of nowhere, I went to Norwich once every few months and the highlight wasn't checking GAME - I liked Gamestation as it did retro things - but hidden around the back of a street was an awesome indie store, where I bought DS imports and little silly Nintendo bits from Japan.

Wasn't Chips was it?

 

[JonathanEx]

Wasn't Chips was it?

Possibly. Sounds familiar. I remember there was one and then another one took over. Didn't live there so can't remember names. Just remember it being a highlight of my days in the city when younger.

 

[Cookie18]

I tried to buy Lego Harry Potter Vita from Game yesterday but despite the fact that they'd had the case on display for a week they didn't get any stock. I have a feeling this is going further than the big games. They don't seem to have any new games at all.

 

[Family Fry]

Possibly. Sounds familiar. I remember there was one and then another one took over. Didn't live there so can't remember names. Just remember it being a highlight of my days in the city when younger.

Was probably Toyz and Gamez think it was called, opened little after Chips closed.
Reaso I asked is I used to be the assistant/deputy in Chips, was there from opening day til bout 9months before closure, good 4+years. Great era for games bad era for business, so many great memories from there.

 

[woo and indeed hoo]

Possibly. Sounds familiar. I remember there was one and then another one took over. Didn't live there so can't remember names. Just remember it being a highlight of my days in the city when younger.

Heh. It's gone now :/.

 

[Facism]

still want to get that DS lite.

 

[mclem]

Bleh. They were always lukewarm in my local Woolies, and never tasted as good as the proper cans. The 99p Store which has replaced it isn't much better.

Hmmm. I know a Woolies' that was replaced by a 99p Store, too. Did 99p stores buy several of the leases, or do you happen to be referring to Templar's Square?

 

[Bumhead]

If you sell import games, Sony and Nintendo will come after you. You won't make much selling OSTs or the like because the market is tiny and the prices are huge. Anyone that thinks indies are going to replace GAME is living in a dream world, and anyone thinking about actually setting one up needs to think very hard about it.

In terms of indie upstarts making tons of money and replacing GAME as a national supplier, you are probably right. At local level though, I do think there is room for well managed indie stores to spring up and offer a competetive service. Many already do, and that's with GAME still around.

I think to launch a successful GAME store now you have to capture the whole experience of buying into the industry. I've always been frustrated by the fact that I couldn't walk into an alleged "specialist retailer" and find rare collectibles or even commercial merchandise. I never understood why I had to cross town to our nearest Forbidden Planet to buy a figure or whatever, or other accessories and tidbits. I think you would have to upsell the whole gaming culture.. create a place that was a true specialist retailer.

I just don't know how viable it is to do it, even to maintain a sustainable business at local level.

 

[Jeff Albertson]

Lee's games in Blackburn was my favourite game shop, I'd often go in and trade a n64 game and they'd let you try things on their console first. Thing is they'd give you £25 or so for most games even oldish ones so you never paid much out for a game then GAME came along and ruined it and they went out of business

 

[nofi]

Lee's games in Blackburn was my favourite game shop, I'd often go in and trade a n64 game and they'd let you try things on their console first. Thing is they'd give you £25 or so for most games even oldish ones so you never paid much out for a game then GAME came along and ruined it and they went out of business

They used to have one in Lancaster, too. Great shop.

 

[acm2000]

used to have an awesome indie here in ipswich called Microsonic, could swap games, like-for-like value, for £3 charge, i got through so many games that way

 

[CrunchinJelly]

I'm lucky to still have an indie in my town, I guess.

Got Sonic & Knuckles on the Mega Drive for £4 from there a few weeks back.

 

[micster]

Well goddamn. I just came back with a massive haul of both awesome and weird. Firstly, the games. Finally found a copy of Vanquish for PS3 and some other awesome stuff.

But, in New Street GAME, I noticed something underneith the PC section.

Hoooolyyyyyy Shit. And yes, the unit and game were £1.47 together.

 

[Facism]

New street game? birmingham?

 

[micster]

New street game? birmingham?

Aye, there was only two of them Gametraks. I got one and my friend the other.

 

[Gazzawa]

Popped into my local gamestation at lunch, nothing in there but disappointment and confusion. Preowned Uncharted 2 £15, preowned Uncharted 1 £20. Game Group in a nutshell.

Theres a new Uncharted game?
Lets increase the price of the old ones.

 

[Little Old Man]

Huzzah! My copy of Advance Wars DC has been shipped by Game. The postal equivalent of the Millenium Falcon escaping the second Death Star as it explodes!

 

[Stubo]

Huzzah! My copy of Advance Wars DC has been shipped by Game. The postal equivalent of the Millenium Falcon escaping the second Death Star as it explodes!

I probably found this funnier than I should have done

I've also had a couple of games sent out by them at the end of last week, neither have arrived yet though.

Has anyone found newer games like syndicate reduced yet? That'll be the real sign that it's over.

 

[Yen]

The workers in my local GAME bought the entire stock of PS3s since they were heavily reduced. They plan to sell them on, on eBay. Fair play.