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UK retailer GAME not stocking any EA games after SSX (includes ME3) [&Nintendo?]

Ahhh feck. I have a £25 game voucher which i was planning to use me3. Guess id better go invest in something quickly before the shit hits the fan.

MS points it is then.
 
I work at Gamestation, and damned if I'm going to tell customers they can't have cash refunds for their deposits. I'm running through cash refunds, regardless of what I'm told.




When they don't stock games like Mass Effect 3, Mario Party 9, and other games parents might want to buy, I'd hardly say they're specialists.

Don't worry, Eurogamer were sloppy - it's refund PLUS a fiver store credit.
 

Omikaru

Member
Stop referring to GAME as a specialist retailer.

They are no more specialist than fucking Cash Converters.

I know they're not specialist, but an uninformed consumer will think they are. That's what I'm getting at. They will feel a lot more intimidated when buying games if there isn't a "specialist" store around to "advise" them on what games, consoles and accessories to get. We all know it's a sham, but we have a completely different perspective on GAME than the vast majority of people do.
 

Jonnyram

Member
Wow, GAME is fucked.
Will never forget the day I bought Ocarina of Time from them.
Hadn't preordered and they were basically "no preorder, no sale", but some kind lady at the register didn't need her preorder any more so let me have it instead.
 
My sympathies go to people working there, between the bleak future and the impossible position they'll be put in with the ME3 cancellations. Seriously.

Preordered on zavvi just in case, still waiting to see what amazon does though.
 

SmokyDave

Member
I know they're not specialist, but an uninformed consumer will think they are. That's what I'm getting at. They will feel a lot more intimidated when buying games if there isn't a "specialist" store around to "advise" them on what games, consoles and accessories to get. We all know it's a sham, but we have a completely different perspective on GAME than the vast majority of people do.
Uninformed people will just buy whatever is in the Top 10 in the supermarket. They'll be cool.
 

Lily

Member
I've just cancelled my CE order from them.

I'm now considering downgrading to the standard edition. I'm not that bothered by the CE contents... I can do without the litho, bonus armour, art book and soundtrack.

Mass Effect? i wouldnt bother ordering again, because they are just going to cancel it.
 
Ahhh feck. I have a £25 game voucher which i was planning to use me3. Guess id better go invest in something quickly before the shit hits the fan.

MS points it is then.

Think my credit's going to have to go on overpriced points too. I'm tempted to get SSX but EA pulling this shit a week before release has really soured me on their brand.
 

Gowans

Member
GAME has the exclusive on the ME3 CE, what's gona happen to that? No UK release????

Game can't die soon enough.
 

Omikaru

Member
Uninformed people will just buy whatever is in the Top 10 in the supermarket. They'll be cool.

Eh, I still feel that a parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent or whatever looking for a present for a child will be buying fewer games after this.

But I should add that I feel that GAME going under will be good for the types of games I play. That place was a glass ceiling for many games I enjoy, and if more people desert GAME and look elsewhere, then I think my favourite kinds of games will be more viable to sell over here.

GAME has the exclusive on the ME3 CE, what's gona happen to that? No UK release????

Game can't die soon enough.
It's in the OP. EA are recommending people go to Amazon, Zavvi, Play.com or Shop To.
 

offshore

Member
Official statement FWIW.

“We currently have a supply issue with regards to Mass Effect 3, which means that GAME and gamestation will not be able to fulfil orders for Mass Effect 3 at this time. We want to give customers as much notice about this as possible and provide them with a range of options ahead of launch.

We appreciate that this is disappointing for our customers, and we apologise sincerely for the inconvenience that this will cause. We value the loyalty of our customers very highly and as a gesture of goodwill we are providing the following:

Customers who have pre-ordered in store, will have the opportunity to add £5 worth of Reward points to their card if they visit us from 1st March through to 16th March 2012.
Customers who have placed a deposit for the title* will receive a refund as well as the £5 worth of Reward points between 1st – 16th March 2012.
Customers who have pre-ordered online, will be provided with an online voucher to the value of £5 to be spent on any purchase on our sites.

For more information we would advise customers to visit EA www.ea.com/uk/masseffect3update
on how to get hold of Mass Effect 3.”

http://www.vg247.com/2012/02/29/game-to-not-stock-mass-effect-3-for-launch/
 

Lakitu

st5fu
What's best for pre-release delivery, Amazon, Zavvi, Shopto or Play? With Game, I would occasionally receive a game on Thursday instead of Friday.
 
It's kind of weird that this CE will be available only online... shouldn't they have included HMV or someone to have a measure of brick and mortar presence ?
 

Omikaru

Member
What's best for pre-release delivery, Amazon, Zavvi, Shopto or Play? With Game, I would occasionally receive a game on Thursday instead of Friday.

Shop To are the best for pre-release delivery (received FFXIII-2 on the Wednesday before release, and a few hours later a text telling me it had shipped!). Amazon are awful unless you pay for shipping, Play.com will get it to you on release date, and Zavvi aren't even worth mentioning (you may get it in April...).
 

Jamie OD

Member
I think if GAME goes under, it will be bad for the UK industry. While a lot of us, myself included, refuse to shop there, many-a-parent will feel intimidated if there's no high street presence for them to buy games for their kids.

Whether we like it or not, GAME filled that role, and unless someone is going to step up to the plate and become "the specialist" on games, there are going to be a lot of confused buyers at and around the gift giving season.

However, I don't buy for a second that this will hurt the niche game industry. GAME had already stabbed the "middle class" gamer and said games' publishers in the back, and with a GAME-shaped hole in the UK industry, hopefully some of those games will get in front of more customers.

As someone who doesn't really play AAA blockbusters, but goes for some of the less marketed games, this won't affect me at all. But if they go under there will be serious ramifications.

Do you think supermarkets like Tesco will be eager to try and fill into that role a little bit?

Now is probably the best time to spend whatever GAME Reward points I have left.
 
Well this sucks, although from what I gather it's currently only March titles - we'll see what happens after.

Although not being able to stock one the year's biggest games....good luck GAME.

Need them to hold on for two more days so I can get SSX with my gift card.


Shopto Save the day!

ShopTo are great, so quick as well.
 

Lakitu

st5fu
Shop To are the best for pre-release delivery (received FFXIII-2 on the Wednesday before release, and a few hours later a text telling me it had shipped!). Amazon are awful unless you pay for shipping, Play.com will get it to you on release date, and Zavvi aren't even worth mentioning (you may get it in April...).

Thanks! Shopto it is... and £65 for the CE. I'll do it.
 
What's best for pre-release delivery, Amazon, Zavvi, Shopto or Play? With Game, I would occasionally receive a game on Thursday instead of Friday.

Not Play or Zavvi.

Amazon are normally v good. Shopto have been good also, although i did have an issue with a late preorder of Gears of War 3, but that was an isolated issue


Edit to say that I have Amazon prime
 

Pie and Beans

Look for me on the local news, I'll be the guy arrested for trying to burn down a Nintendo exec's house.
6e6Pw.jpg


Kinda genuinely shocked. How on earth does a business that has a virtual monopoly on this specialist retail area let it get to this point. Sure the supermarkets and amazon brought the noise, but to get to this point is mis-management of galactic proportions.
 

Omikaru

Member
6e6Pw.jpg


Kinda genuinely shocked. How on earth does a business that has a virtual monopoly on this specialist retail area let it get to this point. Sure the supermarkets and amazon brought the noise, but to get to this point is mis-management of galactic proportions.

I think having three or more stores in small towns did it. I live in Cardiff (350k people at most), and they have two GAME stores and a Gamestation within 5 minutes of each other. A lot of people say similar for their town/city.

Even worse is they have super long leases on these stores, so they have to make a choice of continuing to run the store, or closing it up and keeping the lease (whichever bleeds less cash, I assume). I'd say they could sell the lease onto someone else (is that even possible?) but I don't think many companies want a high street presence right now.

But I've got to admit, if you want to open an independent games store in your town/city, now would be a good time to start planning. If you've got a good business plan and can be a true specialist, I expect people would flock to you in GAME's absence.
 

Murkas

Member
Feel bad for the workers but can't say the same for GAME. Stupid decisions everywhere.

£44.99 for year old games is crazy.
 
I think having three stores in small towns did it. I live in Cardiff (350k people at most), and they have two GAME stores and a Gamestation within 5 minutes of each other. A lot of people say similar for their town/city
Didn't the gamestation close?

There's still three games within 10 mins of each other though (if you include the one near Cardiff City's Stadium).
 

Dabanton

Member
If GAME does go down does it affect Gamestation?

Having that go down as well will be disastrous. I don't like ordering every game i buy off of the internet. Sometimes i like to wander into a store and see whats out or pick up a game i've missed for cheap. I don't think the supermarkets will be stocking anything outside of the top 10 much less all those older gems, they won't have the shelve space.

Interesting times indeed.


But I've got to admit, if you want to open an independent games store in your town/city, now would be a good time to start planning. If you've got a good business plan and can be a true specialist, I expect people would flock to you in GAME's absence.

That would be the only good thing that could come out of this i remember years ago we used to have a lot more independent game stores about in London. For people who have to swap their old games to get new games they were a godsend and offered better trade in rates than places like GAME. And the parents loved them my local one used to get a lot of parent traffic in.

A resurgence of them would be welcome
 

Kyoufu

Member
Phew. ShopTo are stocking the ME3 CE. This means I get it even faster than release date. Awesome.

If GAME can't even stock EA's titles then this really is the end for them.
 

Kyari

Member
This is awesome for me. I waited too long and couldn't preorder the collector's edition of ME3, and now I can off play.com :D
 

Pie and Beans

Look for me on the local news, I'll be the guy arrested for trying to burn down a Nintendo exec's house.
I think having three or more stores in small towns did it. I live in Cardiff (350k people at most), and they have two GAME stores and a Gamestation within 5 minutes of each other. A lot of people say similar for their town/city.

Buying Gamestation back in 2007 was an absolutely bizarre move, weirder still keeping all those Gamestation stores around as if they were a separate entity while they eviscerated the retro aspect of the store and got rid of all the older system pre-owned stuff. Now you just have the same products in slightly different colour-themed stores.

If GAME does go down does it affect Gamestation?

Yes. They're one and the same at this point.
 

acm2000

Member
Do they usually ship a day or two early? Never ordered from ShopTo before :)

yes, receive the game day before or day of, release

"If you pre-order Mass Effect 3 before 12pm on Wednesday 7th of March 2012 we will guarantee that you will receive it by the release date of Friday 9th of March 2012, if you do not receive it we will compensate you with £5.00 on your shopto account."
 

ace3skoot

Member
come on amazon hurry the fuck up!!!

so glad amazon are getting collectors edition i can use my boat load of gift cards :D

Game is a shit company which deserves to go down!

disgruntled ex-employee

edit: i feel sorry for anyone potentially losing there jobs, but i promise you, there is better out there for you!
 

Xavien

Member
Finally no more perks (steelbooks, DLC etc) exclusive to shitty GAME.

BTW isn't it time that Shopto is removed from the banned sites list?

www.***********

Do they usually ship a day or two early? Never ordered from ShopTo before :)

Every preorder i've made through Shopto arrived at my door on release day and in the case of TOR, it arrived a few days earlier than release day.
 
I can finally preorder the CE?

*cancels tesco order*

raptorjesus.gif

Do they usually ship a day or two early? Never ordered from ShopTo before :)

Always get my games 1 day early from shopto as they dispatch tues/wed depending, I live south UK if that makes any difference.

It's kind of weird that this CE will be available only online... shouldn't they have included HMV or someone to have a measure of brick and mortar presence ?

It was a game exclusive but now only 9 days away from pal launch it's a bit late to throw them everywhere, shopto and zavvi must have worked out a deal with EA since its how they roll.
 

Omikaru

Member
Didn't the gamestation close?

There's still three games within 10 mins of each other though (if you include the one near Cardiff City's Stadium).
Didn't know about GAME near the stadium. Jeeze.

But no, Gamestation isn't closed as far as I know. They temporarily shut it down when the entrance to St David's was being refurbished, but they moved further into the arcade and re-opened.
 

Moobabe

Member
disgruntled current employee

edit: i feel sorry for anyone potentially losing there jobs, but i promise you, there is better out there for you!

Popped into today on my day off to see how things were going down only to find my manager on a conference call with a grim look on his face. It's good I like in such an affluent area and will find a job straight away...
 

acm2000

Member
Finally no more perks (steelbooks, DLC etc) exclusive to shitty GAME.

BTW isn't it time that Shopto is removed from the banned sites list?

www.***********



Every preorder i've made through Shopto arrived at my door on release day and in the case of TOR, it arrived a few days earlier than release day.

if only :/
 
No Gamestation either?!

I went to the Epsom Ashley Center, and the GAME was gone. Then I hear about the news that GAME won't be able to stock new titles.

I only have just the Gamestation near me. If they're gone, it really is...

jbsrEPYfM1bJyx.jpg
 
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