GAME has announced plans to close 35 stores and its Gameplay.co.uk website.
The closures are part of the retailer's formerly announced plans to cut its UK GAME and GameStation outlets from 610 locations to 550 by Christmas 2013.
GAME will shut Gameplay.co.uk, which it acquired in 2004, next week. "So that all of our customers can enjoy the benefits of the new online platform that we launched last year, Gameplay customers will be served through Gamestation.co.uk from March 1st 2012, including customer support for their purchases," said a spokesperson.
"All new orders will be directed through gamestation.co.uk from that date. We're talking to our customers who access our online community through Gameplay about this today, and look forward to welcoming them to the growing community at gamestation.co.uk."
GAME has encountered a number of stock issues since it emerged that the firm was facing credit insurance problems, including being unable to sell Ubisoft's Vita launch titles this week.
Comments
67 comments so far...
BG88 on 23 Feb '12 said:
i have used gameplay for a long time for preorders, i found them to be a very good site, the highlight was when the 360 come out i had it preordered with them for a long time and due to the shortages i didnt recieve mine on day 1, i rang them and they managed to sort me 1 out still somehow for a couple of days later.
Shopto, welcome to my money.
Riffxxx on 23 Feb '12 said:
I feel kinda quilty now for ordering all those games from Amazon, but my bank balance dont. Sorry Game UK
echopark on 23 Feb '12 said:
I thought this was happening any ways by the look of last xmas .. went in to my local Game in Perth and it was dire, hardly any games and now its far worse. Its bad when ya have a larger 360 libary than they do. Its like they havent been accepting trade ins.
JuiKuen on 23 Feb '12 said:
This was always going to happen. I used to work for GAME in 2004-06 and back then we had the best team: everyone knew what they were talking about and showed enthusiasm. But around mid 2006, this is when things started to turn 'corporate'. The fun was sucked out of the environment and the company was forcing all this add on crap on us . Well, it was always there but not so enforced. It was then most of us jumped ship. I saw what GAME would become and didn't want to be a part of that. Our managers got treated like s*it from their 'superiors' who were, what came to be, running the company into the ground.
I've not shopped in GAME in years and I say good riddance
WHERESMYMONKEY on 23 Feb '12 said:
Its not like you couldn't see this coming. More over as a comapny they did it to themselves. They're not competitive at all and they have no respect for or trust for their customerbase.
metallicorphan on 23 Feb '12 said:
there are two stores in the Trafford Centre in Manchester more or less on top of each other as one used to be EB Games,i would rather keep them both though thanks,its good for launch day you get two shorter queues instead of the one long one
if GAME closed,i would only have an HMV near me
TOKEN on 23 Feb '12 said:
Dont worry same owners different name like EB games or even Gamespot,or you could use their other shop gamestation.
VAV on 23 Feb '12 said:
i feel sorry for the people working at GAME, but on the other hand
Solm on 23 Feb '12 said:
I'm one of the old stock I still shop on the high street, but I don't go near GAME. They gave the least credit on trade in's and they charge the most for new games. In this particular branch the manager is all about the sale and not about the customer. When I did shop in GAME on the few occasions I was always fogged of with sorry sir but the price on the box is incorrect and the reason? Kids come in an change the prices around, best excuse I ever heard, considering they have a security guard.
DAEDALUS79 on 23 Feb '12 said:
I cant believe gameplay is going to die, ive been ordering from them since they were offering orders by mail. Id sit with the catalogues as a kid, cutting out pictures of all the games and accessories I wanted for my birthday/christmas. Good riddance to game, their prices are a joke and service is poor, but im sad to see the smaller companies they swallowed go with the,.
runadumb on 23 Feb '12 said:
There are two 5 mins away from each other in Belfast. Always seemed stupid to me...a person that doesn't shop in game.
fatherofthenoo on 23 Feb '12 said:
Shame. Great for console deals, appalling for game prices. Got my DS lite on release with Metroid for 110 quid. Bargain. Ditto my PS3, 80gig version on release with Resistance 2, LBP, Fallout 3 and Lost (which went straight on eBay), all for 284 quid. Now where am I going to get my Wii U and 3DS version 2? Oh well, there is always online I guess, but it isn't quite as satisfying as that moment you walk out of the store with a new console. On the other hand, the Bedford store might not be one of the ones closing. Although it is always empty...
dicky1993 on 23 Feb '12 said:
which stores?
muzzer77 on 23 Feb '12 said:
The people at the top should be losing their jobs, this is their fault. Buying as many companies as possible to corner the market whilst losing sight of what is important, the customer. GREED has brought this on and the ignorance to online shopping and being competitive. I feel sorry for Gameplay being taken over by game and I fear for Gamestation. Trying to get to big to soon.
Trevor_Compton on 23 Feb '12 said:
Feel sad for Gameplay as I used to shop with them, until that is when Game bought them and I must admit it was the same with Gamestation. Just never liked Game at retail. I found them arrogant and condescending it was like they looked down their nose at their customers. Not only that if I want help or assistance I will ask for it.
AJDarkstar on 23 Feb '12 said:
I but cheap stuff from them and ordered Last Story from game.co.uk, but I live in Norwich and there are two Games and a Gamestation less than five minutes apart. Then again, we have three Santanders and three Bella Italias...
Agent75 on 23 Feb '12 said:
GAME have taken too much on. I don't know why they don't shut a load more stores and just go with the Gamestation name, or just go online, but they'd still be expensive just like HMV online. Some companies mess about too much and usually end up in the thick of it. But why anyone would want to buy from stores for games, DVDs and CDs is beyond me. But the likes of Amazon, Play and Shopto have started to get a bit expensive. But as stores close, that's less competition for online stores, so they put their prices up. Next gen, I can see £50 games with the RRP being £60 (the usual £10 discount). Prices are front loaded like with the 3DS and Vita.
tsazio on 23 Feb '12 said:
I know i keep repeating myself but in regards to this latest news story surrounding GAME and their problems - I TOLD YOU SO...
DoomGuy84 on 23 Feb '12 said:
I always thought Game was one of the best shops around, i remember only a few years ago getting COD 4 from there brand new for £29.99 i think when everywhere else was nearly £40. Its been around since the days when i used to go there with my dad for a new Mega Drive or Snes game so its sad what is happening to it.
budge on 23 Feb '12 said:
Bugger! I was going to pre-order ME3 collectors edition from my local Gamestation today. I used to always order from Game online and they were really reliable with me up until the recent FFXIII-2. I know use Zavvi.
G_R7 on 23 Feb '12 said:
I just texted my mate who still works in the GAME I worked in about a year ago to see if they are closing down. I have another mate who works in the GameStation down the road in the same town about who I messages on FB about it as he has been saying for weeks he was sure they would be closing. He took the hint when they didn’t send in many copies of new games and recalled tons of the stock. I’m waiting to hear back from both of them now but I know it won’t be good news for one of them.
I don’t care about the company, just my friends still in it. They put up with so much crap and I know because, like I said, I had to put up with it as well.
MagicBoughie24 on 23 Feb '12 said:
I can think of about 5 in Glasgow, the furthest away is about a 15 min walk depending on where you are.
Was in Game at the Fort last night and one of the staff was trying to sell a guy a pre-owned PS3 controller without Six-Axis or Dual shock(cant remember which one) for £44.99, felt the need to intervene. All I can say is good riddance.
G00N3R on 23 Feb '12 said:
The most difficult thing for Game is going to be winning back customer confidence. Just as an example I placed my order for ME3 yesterday. I've already got the following week booked off work so I can hopefully enjoy it in peace. So I really can't have any delays in my delivery or else I'll have a wasted day. In the past Game only let me down once (Deus Ex HR), every other time I've received my order on release day or even a day early. But after everything I've read the last few weeks about stock issues, I felt it was too risky, so I ordered from Amazon instead. Game need some positive headlines before all their customers abandon them for good.
nb_nmare2 on 23 Feb '12 said:
Well, HMV are in dire straits too.
I really don't understand why everyone doesn't just order from Amazon, Play.com, shopto.net, etc. It typically saves you at least a fiver per game, and with pre-orders you normally receive the game on (and occassionally before) launch day), or if the game's already out it'll arrive a couple of days later. Sign up with Amazon Prime (something like £15.00 a year) and you get next day delivery - and remember this also applies to any movies, albums, clothes, books, etc, etc you order from them.
Augustus_aka_AG on 23 Feb '12 said:
Shock Horror! Overpriced high street retailer shuts down outlets after customers wise up to being ripped off!
gmcb007 on 23 Feb '12 said:
I can already see the Michael Jackson effect: Before a hated icon but after death, sorely missed.
G_R7 on 23 Feb '12 said:
Once they are dead and 100% gone and everyone puts their prices up and no one offers trade in they will be.
gmcb007 on 23 Feb '12 said:
Exactly, their loss will only add to problems. I was never a fan of Zavi but when it shut down I was stuck with HMV which shot their prices sky high. Choice is the best thing for the consumer, not always bargins.
Vampyre on 23 Feb '12 said:
In Wolverhampton there are two literally 50 (+/- 10) yards away from each other. I like the staff in the larger one. They aren't irritating pests like in the other and they genuinely know what they're talking about. Not that I actually shop there tho
I just go in to browse during a lunch time and have a quick chat! But I'd be sorry to see any of them lose their jobs.
gmcb007 on 23 Feb '12 said:
Haha yeah, one in Castle Court then straight outside you've got another one. I think they just wanted to be right beside HMV to steal the competition!
If Game goes then Belfast will only have HMV selling games on the high street and they sell 2009 games at £50!
Megatrons_Fury on 23 Feb '12 said:
Ok......
Game are closing a minimum of 60 stores between now and march 2013 they are mostly duplicate stores in towns that are not performing ie if your town has a game and a gamestation one of them is gone, or if you have 2 games then 1 of them is definately closing.
The plan is to have and hold 550 stores in the uk although head office already know that more closures will be needed in order to satisfy the money lenders agreement made 2 weeks ago. Gameplay.co.uk is merging with gamestation online to save face in reality its totally closing hence why 47 people at head office were laid off a while ago.
They are trying to sell all european interests and that will probably happen by the end of this year and now the focus as i said earlier is to hold onto as many of the 550 stores and become the new ARGOS, staff are to be trained to teach customers who come in of the benefit of ordering from online site to save money then come in to pick up their game, it sounds a great idea as it will allow all the haters to finally get what they want, internet prices on a high street store however what they dont realise is that a huge amount of customers have already left them and found other places like shopto, play, amazon, zavvi etc..... Their plan will just help mums and dads xmas shopping and maybe a few people with new releases if they work near their local game and can go pick it up on lunch break etc.
Argos work because they open till 8 in the evening so people can click and reserve then collect after work when they have time, game stores usually close at like 5-5.30 folk are still at work, you see why its a good idea but wont work like they want.
Someone else mentioned the Michael Jackson effect when Game go and they are totally spot on right, its easy to hate and deflect personal hang-ups onto someone or something else but once the high street stores go of course online retailers and especially supermarkets will put prices up because simply you will have no other choice if you want boxed copies of your games, thats how business works.
I already miss GAME and Gamestation because since around 2006 time they have not been the company they used to be the deals they made with EA and ACTIVISION and especially MICROSOFT have turned their stores into little more than a showroom for 15 different games, KINECT and nothing else, the amount of choice in your local store sucks i bet.
If anyone reading this is currently working for Game or gamestation you need to start looking for another job now because that parent company is doomed, it will probably hold out for another 12-18 months but its back is against the wall, when you lack operating capital your screwed.
ChotaDon on 23 Feb '12 said:
This is really bad, I hope GAME doesn't close, If they do then there competitors will have no competition and so will charge as much as GAME charges right now for it games.
PS3UberTool on 23 Feb '12 said:
Can't beat Shopto.net for me... Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition, due for release on Friday 24th arrived on my doormat Wednesday 22nd
PS3UberTool on 23 Feb '12 said:
GAME store wise in Leicester there are 2 GAME stores and a Gamestation... no way all three of those will remain open.
richomack360 on 23 Feb '12 said:
Whilst I am not pleased people will be losing their jobs I do feel that GAME are their own worst enemies. In Lakeside Essex there are 2 shops very close to each other, so not sure why they feel the need to have so many shops in a small place (RIP Thatz Entertainment) Mind yo uTescos are just as bad, having two copies of ME2 on sale next to each other (in sealed cases) with one priced £19 and another priced £34...very odd !
Oh well, looks like they are going the way of Software Plus, Special Reserve et al....
funkyjack on 23 Feb '12 said:
I like my local Game store at Braehead (*dodges rotten fruit*
... but I doubt it's been affected by the closures as it's always busy.
I feel very sorry for those about to lose their jobs.
sonic_uk on 23 Feb '12 said:
Dammit, I like Gameplay. I doubt I'll get my Me3 Collectors Edition now then as I have it preordered with them (and the way things are going Game wont have the ability to buy any stock which is why I went with Gameplay in the first place). This is the whole reason why Collectors Editions should NOT be retail exclusive, apart from the whole entrapment thing of course.
Saying that though, Shopto have always been my favourite online retailer and I wont be sad to see Game go. Plus people are saying once retail stores die online will put the prices up, but consider this...they'll still have competition from their rivals so this may not be as cut and dry as you think.
Megatrons_Fury on 23 Feb '12 said:
SPECIAL RESERVE......... You must be an oldie like me good sir, remember paying 6 quid for life membership and getting the NRG magazine every month? Ahhhhh good days. People think that amazon and play etc championed mail order game ordering but its people like Special reserve that did all the hard work then got raped by people with bigger pockets.
I'm all nostalgic now....... Awwwwwwww
KMakawa on 23 Feb '12 said:
If they wish to stick to extortionate price plans for games and "We'll buy your stuff for £3 and sell them for £20" .. then it is their problem. GAME stayed in time and didnt move with time, so for that.. dont feel guilty.
wishface on 23 Feb '12 said:
I bet neither of the two stores in Central Bristol along with the Gamestation (so 3, then) will be closed.
I bet their pricing policy will not be examined.
I bet they will still rip people off with trade in deals that can be beaten anywhere.
I bet they haven't learned a damned thing. Their head office is staffed by cretins, much i'm sure to the chagrin of frontline staff.
Cazy008 on 23 Feb '12 said:
£59.99 for Soul Calibur V in my local Game store the other day + two different prices for Rayman origins (in one section it said £29.99 and across the shelf they were priced a £19.99). Proves why they deserve to go bust.
mass_terra on 23 Feb '12 said:
Is it not Gameplay shutting down the stores and deciding to shut their own webpage ?.
©2012 Gameplay (GB) Ltd. trading as Game.co.uk ???
eastldn on 23 Feb '12 said:
welcome to business only the strongest shall survive
MrRage on 23 Feb '12 said:
There are two Games within about 100 meters of each other in my town centre. They didn't need two when I worked there about 12 years ago.
flyfletch on 23 Feb '12 said:
Was just about to say the same thing, if they closed the Castlecourt one it would be of no loss to anyone, just keep the main Game in Donegall Arcade.
On a different note though, slap it up Game, i cant bloody stand their stores now, i used to love them before they became all corporate and full of bulls**t. Now all they do is torture when you go in, and when they start that nonsense, i walk!!
herman toothrot on 23 Feb '12 said:
In Aberdeen there is two game stores and a gamestation within a 5 minute walk of each other.
alan666 on 23 Feb '12 said:
i remember Special Reserve & i still have one of their magazines !
here are some photos of it, it's from xmas 2001, it has pre-orders for the gamecube & xbox, just look at the spec of that PC & then the price
http://thumbnails51.imagebam.com/17643/622965176422286.jpg http://thumbnails31.imagebam.com/17643/3de3a1176422310.jpg http://thumbnails56.imagebam.com/17643/55fb83176422353.jpg http://thumbnails66.imagebam.com/17643/271028176422379.jpg
hopefully GAME can turn things around, real shame if they shut down
sonic_uk on 23 Feb '12 said:
Yeah I used to always use Special Reserve for my Megadrive games back in the 90's. They we're awesome until they put their prices up to the same level as retail and started selling s*** like BB guns that their customers who were funnily enough gamers weren't interested in. Shame though, their magazine NRG was brilliant, but the reviews were all a tad biased! They rated every single game as awesome, so obviously people would buy it!
Windowlicker79 on 23 Feb '12 said:
This is a good thing. There are far too many branches of Game owned stores very close together.
For example in my local shopping Centre (Meadowhall, Sheffield) There are 2 branches of Game and one branch of Gamestation, all within a ONE MINUTE walk of each other. When you take into consideration just how much these units cost to rent (some being up to 10x as much as equivalent high street units) and they are doing this in a lot of shopping centres across the country then its pretty easy to work out why they are having money problems.
The Bossman on 24 Feb '12 said:
Maybe they'll learn to stop fleecing the customer now. They still ask me for ID buying games and I'm 23 in early March, they can go f**k themselves.
rhyfel on 24 Feb '12 said:
na 35 isn't enough close the lot of em, out of all the big retailers game are the worst.
MattSwain on 24 Feb '12 said:
There's 2 pokey little GAME shops in Leeds and a Gamestation that's not much bigger. Would make much more sense to shut all 3 and have one decent sized shop.
udobald on 24 Feb '12 said:
I'm sad to see the end of gameplay.co.uk. I've ordered there for many years and they had great special offers. The website of gamestation is an ugly shambles.
Xrs10 on 24 Feb '12 said:
Tis a shame really, but i find that they try and swindle you out of money when you can get the same stuff cheaper on amazon :S
Manjushri on 25 Feb '12 said:
In twenty odd years of gaming I can honestly say that I've only ever used GAME a handful of times.
Most of my stuff comes from Amazon or Steam these days.
stats193 on 25 Feb '12 said:
Not really surprised considering how high they hike there prices when other online shops and retailers will drop there prices to compete
Boci on 25 Feb '12 said:
Never bought anything from GAME
hixxy4 on 25 Feb '12 said:
It looks like Game are screwed.
OfussialeQ on 25 Feb '12 said:
I feel kinda quilty now for ordering all those games from Amazon, but my bank balance dont. Nothing is inpossible.
xRamzz on 26 Feb '12 said:
I've seen some in Denmark. They are very rare, like Gamestop. We usually buy games in electronics store that sells everything from cds to 60 inch flatscreen tvs and overpriced games
iroddy on 26 Feb '12 said:
I was never a big fan of GAME, they are one of the most un competitive stores around. Look at PS VITA, they're still selling them at full RRP while retailers like Asda are selling them for £30 cheaper! It's crazy!
richomack360 on 27 Feb '12 said:
OMG alan and megatron - glad there are fellow people that remember Special Reserve !!! Yup am a gaming oldie too !! (and proud) Next thing you will be telling me is that you subscribed to Mean Machines magazine......ahhhh the good old days of gaming....awesome cartridge games (mowing down Agent Akbar in Desert Strike for no reason) great magazines - and more importantly, SHOPS THAT KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING !!!!
paulhudd on 27 Feb '12 said:
GAME Over
Mooch72 on 27 Feb '12 said:
Hmm sad to see this just pre ordered a diablo 3 collecters ed too from them online hope that works out ok
flyfletch on 28 Feb '12 said:
MEAN MACHINES!!! I loved that magazine! Think i still have some in the loft! Was there as soon as the shop opened to buy it every month! the good old days!!
GlobalNightmare on 28 Feb '12 said:
I'm not surprised. The last time I went into a Game store, one of their spotty prozac robots pounced on me with the old "ArE yOu LoOkinG FOr AnYThing INParTiCular SiR?" (Capitals denote breaking voice). I took one long look at him, said nothing and just walked out. Their customer service is very programmed and desperate, and the management fails to realise that this is the UK, not the USA. Brits just want to be left alone, not followed around the store by a doughy-eyed teen desperate to impress his boss with his sales skills.
sonic_uk on 28 Feb '12 said:
I never subscribed to Mean Machines, but did on occasion buy a copy of Mean Machines Sega.