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[Dirtyshubb]

Its sad to hear just for the simple fact that im sure many people will be out of a job again but otherwise GAME deserve everything they get, their prices are just ridiculous and in no way reasonable. Of course, the options for buying new games on the highstreet can be pretty damn crappy no matter where you go, for different reasons.

GAME – Prices are terrible
HMV – Prices equally as terrible
Sainsburys/Tesco/Asda etc – Prices might be slightly better (Not always) but ther selection they have is normally an embarrassment and becomes pointless to look at.
CEX – Prices can vary from good to almost brand new which is terrible.

The only real places for decent prices is the odd indi shop such as Gamespot/Game on etc. They can be surprisingly good in comparison.

These days I either go digitally (When a game is on sale since new prices are even worse than GAME etc.) or just buy online.

As for the CEX staff comments, I don’t mind the fact that the staff seem around 90% alternative as its quite refreshing. What I cant stand is how useless they all are, I swear me and my wife went in once and they had at least 8 people behind the counter, no one in front of us and it still took 1 minute for them to serve us as they were either fucking around or busy doing ‘something’ and it took the manager to tell them to serve us.

 

[PancakeAlmighty]

Mind you, I'd still rather visit GAME than CeX which makes me feel like I've happened upon a coven of hobos and carnival workers who've decided to set up their own game shop.

So true on so many levels

 

[hodgy100]

you can get bargins at CEX but everything looks like someone has rubbed their genitals all over it :S

I like the smaller franchises personally. Playtime and Grainger Games are both cheap and have really good service.

 

[Visualante2]

The thing is retail is a dying business, it's not going to exist in the long term. That's why I don't shed a tear for them. Most people worked in agriculture, then we mechanised those jobs and we do other things. It's a constant cycle, perhaps a little cold but I don't think people should be made to feel bad for it. GAME has had their glory days, enjoyed their monopoly on the high street. Their time is up.

 

[Anung]

Can't say I'm beat up about it and it'd be a long time coming. They've had many chances to change up and I'm surprised they're still about. Their prices are ridiculous and I don't see how they get many sales unless it's from people who don't know any better. It's been years sense I've even stepped foot in a GAME as I usually just go for online retailers which are way cheaper and don't involve awful small talk or being hassled to get game protection for a quid. I know it's the higher ups that make them push preorders, game protection and other stuff but I hate that stuff. Also their trade in prices are a rip off compared to places like CEX which give you a decent price for a cash value.

I don't think I'd miss them if they were to disappear off the high street.

 

[roytheone]

The thing is retail is a dying business, it's not going to exist in the long term. That's why I don't shed a tear for them. Most people worked in agriculture, then we mechanised those jobs and we do other things. It's a constant cycle, perhaps a little cold but I don't think people should be made to feel bad for it. GAME has had their glory days, enjoyed their monopoly on the high street. Their time is up.

I still think there is a market for smaller, specialized stores that have a lot of passion and knowledgeable staff. But big chains though? they are going the way of the dinosaur fast.

 

[Charles Brandon]

If retail gaming has a future in the UK it really needs some new ideas. Game offers nothing except the fact that if you want a game NOW you can go and buy it. The shopping experience is poor, the value for money is poor, the selection is poor. There is nothing to attract you to the shop other than the ability to purchase a game.

I would like to see a much more clued in, gamer-friendly environment. A wide selection of new and used games but also a retro gaming section and old systems to try. Maybe coffee and food and those tables with built in NES systems that the US had in the eighties, gaming paraphernalia on the walls, contests, an arcade section, console repairs, somewhere where people can come and hang out and indulge their hobby with likeminded nerds.

The second biggest problem with GAME after the basic flawed business model, is that there is no love. It's abundantly clear that all they want is for you to give them as much money for as little value as possible before fucking off. A good business doesn't have to be that way.

 

[Spinning Plates]

I was in GAME last week and I heard them offering to disc replacement cover for £1 if you happen to accidentally scratch or crack the disc.

My first thought was I bet any (scratched) faulty discs they get back they try to restore and then sell as used for £40.

 

[Moobabe]

I was in GAME last week and I heard them offering to disc replacement cover for £1 if you happen to accidentally scratch or crack the disc.

My first thought was I bet any (scratched) faulty discs they get back they try to restore and then sell as used for £40.

It's a nice, and cynical, thought - but that's untrue.

 

[Huw_Dawson]

On Bold Street in Liverpool, three video game shops sit on the same street.

Game is at the bottom. It's a fairly large store, well presented and with competent staff. Trade Nation, Grainger's rebranding of its 2nd-hand electronics side, sits close by. Also staffed by a nice bunch, they often have a really nice selection of games with reasonable prices.

At the top is CEX. Its first floor is bare wood and red metal. It is lined with empty game boxes on one side and a glass wall beyond which sit phones and the more expensive tech they sell. There is always a queue of at least ten shifty-looking people. Nevertheless, the staff are competent once you convince them you are not a crazy person and just want to ask if they have any working Guitar Hero controllers in.

All three have their strengths and weaknesses, but Grainger manages to trump Game at the vast majority of things. Grainger are cheaper, have better stock and usually a better preowned section.

CEX is really its own somewhat dingy thing. I don't know what their financials are like, but when I am game shopping in Liverpool centre I just prefer Grainger's shop.

It is a shame because Game does have a really great parlance with the UK industry and their in-store events are a real treat when you can get them. But when the store next door is drinking your milkshake, it is really hard to justify shopping there because they held a cool Injustice prelaunch event once.

 

[Camp Freddie]

Game is a store that has no purpose. It's expensive, while still being somewhat intimidating/embarrassing to non-gamers (the atmosphere is very much the doritos'n'dew EXTREME gaming sterotype).

Supermarkets allow Mum & Dad to conveniently buy games.

Kids will shop online or in cheaper stores like CEX.

CEX has half-decent trade-in prices, but their stores make you want to take a shower afterwards. They literally smell like a teenage boy's bedroom and have an equal understanding of cleanliness and tidiness.

Grainger seem to be the best on the high street. A simple, clean, no-nonsense store with good prices.

Game haven't changed a bit since the takeover. The VC guys just need to play Far Cry 3 to understand what is wrong.

 

[jesta]

For me, I rather like the idea of them cutting down the stock in stores and having an area open to social meetups. Bring back a few PC's for a in-store cyber cafe to try games and it will invite more people in.

Obviously, they could do with having more competitive pricing but i really like the idea of going to trial a game the week before it comes out or getting a few folks together for a LAN party.

Most of the GAME stores seem to be taken up by stuff that hasn't been looked at, let alone bought for months. Sell it off and make way for some good old in-person interaction again.

 

[Burai]

I don't blame them for their prices - you can't afford those high street letting rates on Amazon or out-of-town supermarket prices.

But the sad truth is that the high street is dead. It was an act of folly to try to save GAME and it's no surprise it still can't survive. Nothing has improved in retail since they last went under and no amount of cost cutting and streamlining is ever going to compete with loss-leaders or tax-dodging mail order.

 

[KnockOneOff]

Game every now and then have really good deals, but there prices in store on all other items are awful!!

why can't they just create a stable price point which isn't above everywhere else, even there cash and exchange rates are lower than other places, you always have to get them to price match computer exchange or something

 

[James Hetfield]

They would be fucked without trading a lot. You do know quite a few people trade in old games and that's how they afford new games from them?

I personally never traded in games, so not bothered. But even I think that would be suicide from them. Their problems are purely down to pricing of new games and lack of sales instores.

I said tech not games. Games is how they make their profit. This is just a tales from my ass but i don't see them making a lot of money competing with CEX to offer over the odds prices on crap stolen phones. CEX had an oled vita second hand and battered for £120. I nearly spat out my neckbeard.

 

[TrebuchetGames]

So they pass the cost of their high rent, electricity, marketing, wages ect ect directly on to customers who in turn don't pay their high prices and they end up going in to administration just like they did a short while ago?

Seems like a really shitty way to run a business and the informed customer has clearly spoken. It's an outdated and archaic model that is once again going to cost hundreds/thousands of people their jobs.

You do know that they were making a profit since coming out of administration right...and them going into administration previously was not just about high prices. Companies do all manner of stupid things that put them at risk of going under. Blockbuster were actually making a profit in the UK when the went under the first time, the 2nd time when they were brought out... well there were *other* circumstances at play. THQ were doing ok until the U-Draw fiasco. It happens, people in charge don't always do the thing that works out best for the company,.

Also what do you expect them to do, not add the cost of business onto the products.

Really sometimes I dismay at the attitude of people... they are too expensive, let them burn attitude does no one any good.

 

[Dunkers92]

Really interesting reading this thread.

I work for Game so maybe I'm a little biased. But I strongly disagree with the people saying they wouldn't be missed if they were to go out of business. Maybe not missed by customers but the industry would miss them hugely. Game is as much of an advertiser as it is a game retailer. They are extremely valuable for the fact they, for a lot of people, are the place people find out release dates and news about games. I can see why this might be hard to comprehend, but you would be surprised.

I'm not going to lie though, game retail is almost a broken business model in a lot of ways. Margins are awful on new games. As others have said, supermarkets etc can make losses on games and make back the money on food and other products. Game's hands are tied in this respect. Game are diversifying more than they ever have done in the past though, with buying an esports company, they aren't as rigid as they used to be. Things are no where near as bad as this article suggests

 

[Charles Brandon]

What is the margin (in £) on a new AAA PS4/Xbone or Wii U game?

Actually, perhaps a better question is; what is the cost price?

 

[Pie and Beans]

What? HMV are way more expensive than even GAME.

Normally, but nowadays GAME has gone into overdrive. On my retail hunt for Monster Hunter 4 at launch, GAME was trying to charge £45 which is fucking insane, HMV £38, and Argos £34.

 

[nuttyevans]

I'd miss GAME if it was to disappear again. You get the occasional weekly deal that is pretty good and it's a decent place to kill 10 mins on a lunch break.

CEX can do one.

 

[TGO]

I've been buying from Shopto for years now but I do occasionally buy some exclusives from them and deals, but they are slacking.
They no longer deliver a day before release which was a bonus but now I only buy from them if I have to.

 

[ShogunDarius]

Btw, quick question for those in the UK.

Where do you usually buy games from now (I'm a PS4/Wii U owner)?

Would be interested which places people rate highly. For me It's Amazon or play.com at the moment.

I dont have a specific place, it can be from Game online, or shopto etc I go to whoever is cheapest and reliable