GAME in serious trouble

super_furry

End times. Can't see them surviving in Ireland at all. Even if Gamestop do buy them out, they'll most likely shut the majority of Irish stores and rebrand the few they do keep.

Shame there isn't another player in the market here.

Reekwind

Given that GAME's PC shelf space has shrunk to about the size of a Ryanair carry-on bag, I don't think I'll be missing them much

cherryghost

super_furry wrote: »

End times. Can't see them surviving in Ireland at all. Even if Gamestop do buy them out, they'll most likely shut the majority of Irish stores and rebrand the few they do keep.

Shame there isn't another player in the market here.

Gamestop aren't doing doing too well either. Was talking to one of the managers this morning and they're laying off a lot of part timers as well as slimming down on full time staff.

penev10

super_furry wrote: »

End times. Can't see them surviving in Ireland at all. Even if Gamestop do buy them out, they'll most likely shut the majority of Irish stores and rebrand the few they do keep.

Shame there isn't another player in the market here.

The guy in the Dawson st GAME said something about them rebranding. Didnt realise it was Gamestop.

downwithpeace

On BBC news now, even said some groups that watch companies have said Game shares are worthless and another group was appointed to find a buyer.

Hopefully Gamestop doesn't buy them, fine in their own right but they gave up on stocking PC games years ago, nicer staff though in my experience.

Notorious

penev10 wrote: »

The guy in the Dawson st GAME said something about them rebranding

There's definitely no rebranding underway currently. I'd say the guy in Dawson St. used that as an excuse for the lack of a paper bag.

Meesared

penev10 wrote: »

The end is nigh!

Recently posted on SKY News:
http://news.sky.com/home/business/article/16186951

GAME site is down as well "for maintenance"

The website is fine. Now at least

Lambsbread

I find the debate around the pricing and competition interesting in Ireland. I always found that between Gamestop/HMV/Game you could always get a good deal on a new game or pre-owned. I remember picking up Deus Ex for €25 about a month after release in Game new.

I have since moved to Paris and the price of games is shocking here. A new release is €70 in most of the shops (fnac, Virgin) and the prices don't tend to fall as quickly. The cheapest games in these shops would be €30-€40.

I don't think people in Ireland realize how good they have it. Or maybe I've only been here a few months and haven't found the best places over here.

I also prefer to buy in the shops than online because most of the time i would but on impulse if i have a free weekend or something and can't wait 5 days for delivery. I think overall this is a sad story and less competition is a bad thing.

WildCardDoW

If you read back though the thread Pat offers the retailers perspective on games in Ireland, they are making very little per game right now. The prices you are seeing are the RRP.

Reekwind

Lambsbread wrote: »

I also prefer to buy in the shops than online because most of the time i would but on impulse if i have a free weekend or something and can't wait 5 days for delivery. I think overall this is a sad story and less competition is a bad thing.

That's the only value that I see in bricks and mortar retail... and the chains stopped providing it for PC games years ago. Now if I want to buy a new game my only options, unless it's a massive AAA title, are online retailers and digital downloads. So I find it very difficult to feel sorry for GAME or its high street rivals. (The employees facing redundancy are obviously another matter entirely)

As for competition, publishers' desire to protect retailers means that many DD releases have an artificially high price on release. You will regularly find games cheaper on Amazon than Steam, for example, for the first few months. This is despite the digital version having a fraction of the distribution costs associated with physical retail. But publishers are still thinking in terms of bricks and mortar and don't want to cannibalise high street sales

Pacing Mule

Reekwind wrote: »

As for competition, publishers' desire to protect retailers means that many DD releases have an artificially high price on release. You will regularly find games cheaper on Amazon than Steam, for example, for the first few months. This is despite the digital version having a fraction of the distribution costs associated with physical retail. But publishers are still thinking in terms of bricks and mortar and don't want to cannibalise high street sales

You have this completely wrong I'm afraid.

When you see a higher price on DD that price is usually the publishers expected sale price that a retailer should be selling the game at. The retailers cost price for the game is set against that recommended retail price. If the publishers were to drop their sale price to the same price as the retailers on day one then they would have to drop the cost price to retailers in tandem with it.

You're absolutely right that digital distribution costs a lot less even without the fact that the middle man (the retailer) is taken out of the equation and therefore prices could and should be lower there but it's certainly not that publishers are protecting retailers. They are actually protecting their own profit margins on retail sales which is understandable If (and some say when) bricks and mortar retail is effectively wiped out publishers will be able to drop prices - whether they will or not is another days debate.

mcgovern

Just a thought, I can understand how Game/Gamestation etc are subsidising new sales through sales of 2nd hand games, but how come then the likes of Harvey Norman (who don't do 2nd hand as far as I know) are regularly the cheapest for new releases (especially AAA titles)?
I can't see them subsiding game sales from profits from white goods/furniture etc.

ScumLord

Reekwind wrote: »

That's the only value that I see in bricks and mortar retail... and the chains stopped providing it for PC games years ago. Now if I want to buy a new game my only options, unless it's a massive AAA title, are online retailers and digital downloads.

I always found Game in Galway to be very good for PC titles, they pretty much dedicated a (small) room upstairs to PC titles. I understand that's not the norm I think they just ended up getting the run off from other shops that reduced PC content which allowed them to maintain a PC stock.

mcgovern wrote: »

how come then the likes of Harvey Norman (who don't do 2nd hand as far as I know) are regularly the cheapest for new releases (especially AAA titles)?

Bulk, it's all down to how many you buy. The likes of Harvey Normans that run on big discounts won't even consider buying something unless they can get huge bulk discounts.

Pedro Monscooch

Do I need to rush to my nearest Game before it closes down? I need to use my reward card. Could I use the 15 euro I've saved on a PSN card?

Pacing Mule

mcgovern wrote: »

Just a thought, I can understand how Game/Gamestation etc are subsidising new sales through sales of 2nd hand games, but how come then the likes of Harvey Norman (who don't do 2nd hand as far as I know) are regularly the cheapest for new releases (especially AAA titles)?
I can't see them subsiding game sales from profits from white goods/furniture etc.

They loss lead (sell below cost price) as a marketing excercise. The advertised headline price is available in very limited quantities per store. The loss is written off as part of their advertising / marketing budget. It gets people talking about them, gets them visiting their stores, creates a perception of all round value so when you are buying your TV, Sofa whatever it may be you will hopefully return expecting all prices to be as relatively cheap.

cloud493

Game are selling the mass effect 3 guide :rolleyes: I laughed.

Clover

Pedro Monscooch wrote: »

I need to use my reward card. Could I use the 15 euro I've saved on a PSN card?

Yes you can , use the €15 on the card add €5 cash to it and get a €20 psn card ( did it myself last week ).


Have bought from Game on and of for a long time now and would be gutted for the staff to see them go under.

Deano7788

Now they're not stocking Resident Evil: Operation Racoon City, Warriors Orochi 3 or Ninja Gaiden 3.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-13-game-wont-stock-resident-evil-operation-raccoon-city

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-13-game-wont-stock-ninja-gaiden-3-or-warriors-orochi-3

At this rate, they will literally only have a preowned section.

calex71

I think the thread title should now read "Gone out of business" and not "in serious trouble".

super_furry

CEX gets by without any new games at all - they operate purely as a videogame pawn shop, so there's room in the market for GAME to do likewise but it would have be on a massively scaled back operation.

Andy!!

They are selling PC titles at knock down prices now, and those PS Move Sharpshooters for 7 quid. (i.e. getting rid of pointless bulky stuff ASAP). I'd say in the next day or two we are going to see all titles drop to nothing.

me-skywalker

I seen the signs up for Spring Clean... is that what they are calling Insolvency these days?

Deano7788

And now Kid Icarus won't be stocked.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-14-nintendo-confirms-you-wont-be-able-to-buy-kid-icarus-uprising-from-game-gamestation

Not really surprising, after The Last Story and Mario Party weren't stocked.

cherryghost

Someone just shoot it ffs

Korvanica

May drop into GAME on the way home

K.O.Kiki

cherryghost wrote: »

Someone just shoot it ffs

cloud493

Harvey normans are always over priced for me cheapest how?

Grumpypants

If you have the Move you should pick up that sharp shooter for 7 euro its class, works with Killzone 3, resistance 3 and with the Resident evil chronicles getting a HD release you will get plenty out of it for 7 quid.

Taltos

Just popped in at lunchtime - good few PS3 games priced now at a reasonable 39Euro. Picked up Drake, yes could probably have gotten it cheaper 2nd hand but prefer it new where possible.

gizmo

Looks like they've been saved.