Page 5 of 7

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:06 pm
by Twinny
This probably doesn't affect me, but I'd figured I post this here for the sake of discussion....and it's not pretty either.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/store-cl ... ion/093365

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:18 pm
by Kaito-kun
mtwinny wrote:This probably doesn't affect me, but I'd figured I post this here for the sake of discussion....and it's not pretty either.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/store-cl ... ion/093365
Yep. It's the end. Although I feel a strange sense of pride knowing that I helped contribute to that list: Informing MCV that Gretna had closed.

*Browses through the list* Hmm, it looks like Carlisle and Dumfries are still open. I might pop into tomorrow and give them some cookies or something to cheer them up.

*Keeps browsing* NO!! NOT THE DUDLEY BRANCHES!

Five branches in Leeds?! Dear me...A tad excessive.

It does make me wonder what will happen next: It's a time of uncertainty for video game shoppers in the UK.

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:32 pm
by Reknoc
I think the Gamestop buyout may be the best option at the moment. Assuming it means a full rebranding so they're the "new Gamestop" and not the "GAME who couldn't stock big titles a lot of people wanted".

edit: ah the Lister Gate one closed, that sucks I had a friend who worked there and it was generally my favourite GAME to go to.

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:44 pm
by Kaito-kun
Reknoc wrote:I think the Gamestop buyout may be the best option at the moment. Assuming it means a full rebranding so they're the "new Gamestop" and not the "GAME who couldn't stock big titles a lot of people wanted".
True, true, and it would be nice to still have a shop around here that just sells games - Here in the sticks the only dedicated games retailers for roughly a 50 mile radius are were branches of either GAME or Gamestation - however that plan still doesn't ensure their survival on the high street. Popped down to Zavvi lately?

Still, I do wonder, while upper management at GAME were at fault for many of their failings, the events of the past couple of months, particularly publishers not providing GAME with stock, makes me wonder if the publishers were perhaps getting their revenge for GAME's heavy promotion of pre-owned titles rather than shiny new games from the publishers. Will the retailers/publisher balance of power shift slightly towards the publishers now?

Or maybe I'm just being ridiculous by thinking aloud and being overly speculative. Who knows?

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:58 pm
by Gonic
Manchester Arndale lost both games but gamestaion is still standing.

Thankfully the My local Game and Gamestation are still surviving. The staff there have known me and my family for years.

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:03 pm
by Reknoc
Kaito-kun wrote:True, true, and it would be nice to still have a shop around here that just sells games - Here in the sticks the only dedicated games retailers for roughly a 50 mile radius are were branches of either GAME or Gamestation - however that plan still doesn't ensure their survival on the high street. Popped down to Zavvi lately?

Still, I do wonder, while upper management at GAME were at fault for many of their failings, the events of the past couple of months, particularly publishers not providing GAME with stock, makes me wonder if the publishers were perhaps getting their revenge for GAME's heavy promotion of pre-owned titles rather than shiny new games from the publishers. Will the retailers/publisher balance of power shift slightly towards the publishers now?

Or maybe I'm just being ridiculous by thinking aloud and being overly speculative. Who knows?
I'm not so sure about that, that would seem like cutting your nose to spite your face.

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:51 pm
by Kaito-kun
Reknoc wrote:I'm not so sure about that, that would seem like cutting your nose to spite your face.
True, there would be nothing to stop retailers from banding together and saying "Nah, we're not going to play your way. Good luck selling your product."

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 11:52 pm
by Gavvie
My local one closed, literally 15 minutes after I'd wandered in to see what the state of play was.

It's actually quite gutting for me in a way, as I'd worked there for 2 years. Wasn't many members of staff left from the time that I was there, but seeing them sat in the shop, looking quite dejected and unsure as to what'll happen next, well it wasn't very nice.

Problem is, most of the other local GAME/Gamestations closed as well, so my local one is now...Lincoln or Nottingham. Which aren't actually all that local at all.

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 10:31 am
by Tru
We had too many stores here, so we've gone down from six to two, I think. I haven't really had time to pop in and visit myself, but I am sad to see them go.

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 11:24 am
by Killer French Bread
only one in Canterbury has gone.