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[Walshicus]

Went into Crawley's County Mall for a Boots lunch just now. Seems the GAME there is shuttered up with a sign on the window saying the nearest store is Gamestation across town centre. Seems odd as there are three GAME stores in Crawley - the one in the Mall and the Gamestation the other side of town (small) and the larger GAME a hundred metres outside the Mall.

So seems like Crawley is stuck with a Gamestation and no GAMEs now. Will have to see if Chichester's tiny GAME is closed on the way home...

 

[PumpkinPie]

Game opened one store right next to another near me not too long ago, so there was a Gamestation and two Game shops all in the same place.

 

[JosephManderley]

Good article in The Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/leisure/9167039/Game-Group-goes-into-administration-6000-jobs-at-risk.html

 

[clockpunk]

Here's hoping once all the stores have been notified, the entire list will be made publically available.

 

[HuntTheMusic]

That statement from Ian Shepherd is laughable.

“I’ve said a number of times that the administrator, once appointed, takes charge of the business,”

“Having two people try to do that is both confusing and a waste of money. With that in mind, I’ve agreed with Mike that I will step down as CEO and the business immediately – this is my final email to you all.”

You don't agree anything with 'Mike' Ian. 'Mike' does what he wants as administrator. While he may have agreed that you resign before he makes you redundant to save face, trying to gloss it up via a Company memo that you are doing this to help the business is utter bullshit. You jumped before you were pushed pure and simple.

The fact is that you HAD to sign the paperwork this morning because RBS had a gun to your head and would have made a hostile approach for appointment if you refused.

I don't think all the blame goes on Mr Shepherd for the position to be fair and I don't think the acquisition of Gamestation by his predecessor helped at all but have a backbone man.

 

[winstano]

The administrator has said "There's still room for a specialist games retailer", suggesting they're hopeful of a sale.

If that's the case, I suggest they actually make it a specialist retailer, instead of a shop that sells the same range of games as the supermarkets (and a shedload of tat) at a higher price.

GAME hasn't been a specialist retailer for at least the past 5 years. If people wanted a game that was a bit niche a couple of weeks after launch, the store would have to order it in. At which point it becomes easier for an individual to order it online. Silly.

 

[acm2000]

Don't trust a fucking thing that soon-to-be-dead rag say anymore.
Its like the frantic rantings of a drunk now. They are plainly making shit up CONSTANTLY.

but most the stuff theyve "rumored" about was true, stuff leaks from behind the scenes all the time

 

[frankie_baby]

Don't trust a fucking thing that soon-to-be-dead rag say anymore.
Its like the frantic rantings of a drunk now. They are plainly making shit up CONSTANTLY.

Mcv may be spouting shit for clicks but half the shops going is clearly the only way the business will survive, however its quite possible (probable even?) That other smaller chains may pick up a few of the closed down shops here and there

 

[Linkified]

Don't trust a fucking thing that soon-to-be-dead rag say anymore.
Its like the frantic rantings of a drunk now. They are plainly making shit up CONSTANTLY.

1)They aren't soon to be dead from advertising and the amount of people in the industry who receive said mag, developers, publishers, etc.
2)They did slap a big old rumored sticker on it.

 

[bigtroyjon]

Eurogamer

GAME.co.uk has been taken offline as the specialist shop's administrators shut stores on the high street.

A message on GAME.co.uk reconfirmed the appointment of PwC as administrator, which will manage GAME Group's "affairs, business and property as their agents and without personal liability".

It continued: "We are currently reviewing and processing orders placed on this website.

"We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and we hope to be back up and running very soon."

The message is mirrored on Gamestation.co.uk, which says, "We'll be right back!" and, "See you soon!"

In a statement issued today, GAME said it had taken the decision to enter administration after "careful consideration and ceaseless interrogation of every possible alternative".

"Further to our announcements of 21st March, the Board of GAME has completed its discussions with lenders and third parties without resolution, and has therefore today appointed PWC LLP to act as administrators for the Group," GAME said.

"This decision is taken after careful consideration and ceaseless interrogation of every possible alternative. The Board would like to thank the teams of GAME and Gamestation colleagues around the world for their exemplary dedication, passion and professionalism."

Stores have already begun closing, and staff notified of layoffs. PwC told Eurogamer it hopes to issue a statement on store closures and employees later.

 

[123rl]

Ian Shephard has jumped already. It's nice to know when the company is in the shitter the man responsible has already bailed.

 

[j0hnny_385]

so now that GAME is gone, what about their retailer exclusive games? The Witcher 2: Dark Edition pops to mind. I presume they're gonna reallocate the stock to other shops like EA did with ME3 CE. The question is: when?

 

[dc89]

"Apparently the Birmingham New Street Gamestation - Gamestation's flagship store - is now closed. Didn't expect that one to go."

From Twitter.

 

[Moobabe]

"Apparently the Birmingham New Street Gamestation - Gamestation's flagship store - is now closed. Didn't expect that one to go."

From Twitter.

Did not expect that - I guess Bullring and Pallisades stayed open.

 

[Songbird]

I'm going to pop out and check Hull's stores, be back soon. Might take evidence.

 

[123rl]

"Apparently the Birmingham New Street Gamestation - Gamestation's flagship store - is now closed. Didn't expect that one to go."

From Twitter.

It's not surprising. That store has never been profitable. It was a black hole for the brand in terms of money.

 

[Raide]

I hope all my friends in various GAME shops around the UK land on their feet. I know a few have been there for 6+ years, so the sudden change is going to be hard. Everyone else, good luck as well.

 

[daviyoung]

Ian Shephard has jumped already. It's nice to know when the company is in the shitter the man responsible has already bailed.

It's nice to put a face on a company so that blame can be proportioned like a personal vendetta, but that's not how it works. The dude just works there, he's not Alan Sugar or Ronald McDonald. Why should he be any more loyal than any other employee?

 

[Psychotext]

Looks like Gamestation is going to be taking the brunt of this. Sucks, I always preferred them.

 

[123rl]

It isn't loyalty, it's professional responsibility. I was made redundant this year. I worked for Best Buy UK. The managers at my store (and Head Office) were inspirational in the way they helped the staff look for work and supported us during the close-down. My boss said she had a responsibility to her team to support them until the day we left. Once I left she was still helping me with job applications and supplied a reference for a couple of interviews I had.

 

[HuntTheMusic]

Christ, that was quick.
Well, thats the end of that then. The website and warehouse staff are probably at home now, or the pub, or the jobcentre.
I can see every store being shuttered by Wed at this rate, or even tomorrow.

I don't think you understand what they are doing here. The website has to shut down until the administrators can be sure that orders can be fulfilled. It will be back though becasue they need to maintain continuation in order for a sale to be viable.

The store closures will be linked to yield against cost. The biggest stores with low turnover but high rent/staff costs will be the first to go because as of todays appointment the administrator becomes responsible for the rent and wages. He will disclaim the leases of any property that will cost more to operate than keep open upon appointment.

 

[SKINNER!]

"Apparently the Birmingham New Street Gamestation - Gamestation's flagship store - is now closed. Didn't expect that one to go."

From Twitter.

yea, That store was huge and busy when I was there last weekend. I thought they'd just close down the little stores in towns.

 

[awanderingsoul]

"Apparently the Birmingham New Street Gamestation - Gamestation's flagship store - is now closed. Didn't expect that one to go."

From Twitter.

Birmingham Fort has also closed.

 

[Natural]

Any news of any of stores being closed in the Bristol area? I know theres three Games and one Gamestation in the centre so surely at least one or two has to go..

I'm gonna have to run to one of them after work in a few hours to use my card!

 

[Danj]

I've heard that they're just going down the list from A to Z, which is why we're seeing all these places beginning with B having store closures. Wonder how long it'll take them to get to C for Cambridge?

 

[CrunchinJelly]

I've heard that they're just going down the list from A to Z, which is why we're seeing all these places beginning with B having store closures. Wonder how long it'll take them to get to C for Cambridge?

Canterbury is closed so I Don't think it's alphabetical.

 

[Chinner]

i'll look in leeds in a bit to see whats happening there.

 

[shaneskim]

I'm totally ignorant of these things, so fill me in - what happens to existing shareholders in this situation? Say the company is sold as a going concern...are the proceeds of the sale distributed to the pre-existing shareholders?

I'm guessing if it's not sold as a going concern, but assets are liquidated, creditors would be paid first in a certain order, and shareholders would likely not receive anything?

Yup, partly one of the reasons why an equity stake is higher risk than taking debt.

Shareholders / members are first when it comes to getting a share of the profits in a solvent business and last when it comes to a share in the realisations from an insolvency.

 

[Slightly Live]

GAME in Portadown, NI is still open.

 

[Smelly Tramp]

fs i liked screwing the system at the New Street store, used to buy games and trade them in for higher values than i bought them for if they had some stupid price deal going on.

ahhh, it was never going to last.

 

[dc89]

According to MCV:

W. Mids Area GAME casualties: Gamestation New Street, Palisades, Comet Concession, Sutton, at least 1 Coventry store”

 

[WeylandxYutani]

Stories circulating of customers going mental at staff because they cant redeem any store credit - presumably gift cards/ trade ins etc. Whilst I can understand someone's frustration at that, you'd think people might be a little calmer. There'll be 3000 odd people out of work soon enough.

 

[Suairyu]

Whilst I can understand someone's frustration at that, you'd think people might be a little calmer.

You have no idea.

 

[frankie_baby]

fs i liked screwing the system at the New Street store, used to buy games and trade them in for higher values than i bought them for if they had some stupid price deal going on.

ahhh, it was never going to last.

Its all your fault, lmao

 

[awanderingsoul]

According to MCV:

W. Mids Area GAME casualties: Gamestation New Street, Palisades, Comet Concession, Sutton, at least 1 Coventry store”

Fort can definitely be added to this, shutters are down, staff have gone home

 

[zomgbbqftw]

Ian Shephard has jumped already. It's nice to know when the company is in the shitter the man responsible has already bailed.

He was sacked by PwC. The rest of the board will follow.

 

[liger05]

According to MCV:

W. Mids Area GAME casualties: Gamestation New Street, Palisades, Comet Concession, Sutton, at least 1 Coventry store”

Surely in wolverhampton one has to go. There are two game stores on the same street and a gamestation close by.

 

[Psychotext]

Stories circulating of customers going mental at staff because they cant redeem any store credit - presumably gift cards/ trade ins etc. Whilst I can understand someone's frustration at that, you'd think people might be a little calmer. There'll be 3000 odd people out of work soon enough.

Anyone with half a brain should have already spent their points / credit / vouchers. It's been on the cards for more than a month now.

The only people I have sympathy with are the old dears who buy for their kids, but the likelihood is that they had no idea they even had credit on their reward cards anyway.

 

[CrunchinJelly]

Wow. Seems they are going to be leaving certain high streets entirely. My local has been closed.

 

[Moobabe]

According to MCV:

W. Mids Area GAME casualties: Gamestation New Street, Palisades, Comet Concession, Sutton, at least 1 Coventry store”

I'd be shocked if that was it in the region.

 

[dc89]

I think it's safe to assume either Gamestation or Game in stockport has closed today. They are next door to each other. Srsly.

 

[micster]

Surely in wolverhampton one has to go. There are two game stores on the same street and a gamestation close by.

The old-EB GAME opposite Primark closed yesterday. That was a planned closure, though

 

[Danj]

I'd be shocked if that was it in the region.

Since neither GAME nor the administrators can be bothered to bring any transparency to this process, this information is coming from customer reports, which is why that's not the whole list.

 

[CrunchinJelly]

Since neither GAME nor the administrators can be bothered to bring any transparency to this process, this information is coming from customer reports, which is why that's not the whole list.

There is going to be a list later today, says EG.

 

[zomgbbqftw]

Christ, that was quick.
Well, thats the end of that then. The website and warehouse staff are probably at home now, or the pub, or the jobcentre.
I can see every store being shuttered by the end of the week at this rate, if theres no immediate interest in buying them.

They will shut the online presence to ensure that existing orders are filled, then open it back up with all existing stock up for sale, once stuff goes out of stock, it goes out of stock.

The way I see it, Game.co.uk has some mileage left in it and the administrator will want to keep it going and sell it off separately, possibly to one of Asda/Tesco/Sainsburys who will integrate it with their entertainment distributor and offer crazy prices online. GAME on the highstreet is dead though, the brand is toxic and any buyer of stores will rebrand the whole lot, possibly to Gamestation which has a much stronger brand.

 

[Moobabe]

Since neither GAME nor the administrators can be bothered to bring any transparency to this process, this information is coming from customer reports, which is why that's not the whole list.

Well I'm aware of a few closures as well - but I'll wait for the list to become available before chatting too much.

They will shut the online presence to ensure that existing orders are filled, then open it back up with all existing stock up for sale, once stuff goes out of stock, it goes out of stock.

The way I see it, Game.co.uk has some mileage left in it and the administrator will want to keep it going and sell it off separately, possibly to one of Asda/Tesco/Sainsburys who will integrate it with their entertainment distributor and offer crazy prices online. GAME on the highstreet is dead though, the brand is toxic and any buyer of stores will rebrand the whole lot, possibly to Gamestation which has a much stronger brand.

For all of those with this view - being that GS is a much stronger brand - where are you getting that information from?

 

[Disguises]

Additional info here:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/game/important-news-about-game/10150774075271000
Confirming that you can no longer (at the moment) redeem points or gift cards :/.

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.

Edit. Pretty ironic: "GAME. You can't lose" :/

 

[killer_clank]

Was in Stirling GAME and Gamestations this morning about 11, they were still open. One might have been closed now though

 

[Danj]

There is going to be a list later today, says EG.

What, an official one? Or just compiled from customer reports or them sending out reporters to various locations?

 

[DemonNite]

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

Here's a list of the stores we believe to have been closed:

GAME

• Croydon
• Bristol Cabot Circus
• Bath
• Milton Keynes
• Coventry West Orchards
• Norwich
• Bromley
• Exeter
• Plymouth New George Street
• Bournemouth

GAMESTATION

• Birmingham New Street
• Birmingham Palisades
• Sutton
• Enfield
• Bromley
• Llaneli
• Sunderland
• Norwich
• Great Yarmouth
• Taunton
• Ilford
• Cumbernauld
• Coventry
• Hyde
• Bournemouth