GAME are no longer selling Mass Effect 3 and possibly no EA games after SSX

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-29-game-not-stocking-mass-effect-3-or-ea-games-past-ssx

Group will not be stocking any EA games past SSX in March, including Mass Effect 3, Eurogamer has discovered. This encompasses all GAME and Gamestation stores.

Various GAME and Gamestation staff alerted Eurogamer to this situation after a company-wide memo was sent out at around 10.30am this morning.

Eurogamer has secured an image of this memo, which also reveals that FIFA Street 3, Tiger Woods 13 and Sims 3 Showtime will also not be stocked by GAME Group.

Eurogamer has corroborated this information with individual GAME Group stores. The last stocked EA game will be SSX, we were told.

If you have a pre-order, GAME will refund you via in-store credit, rather than with cash.

EA responded to Eurogamer's request for comment by directing us to a Mass Effect 3 Launch Update website. GAME's absence from the list of retailers speaks volumes.

This worrying text followed: "For customers who have pre-ordered the N7 Collector's Edition please re-order your copies through these retailers."

These are Amazon, Play, Zavvi and ShopTo.

"For further information regarding the Mass Effect 3 Standard Edition with the N7 Warfare Gear in-game weapons pack, please check this page later today," the blurb continued.

"If you have placed a deposit for a pre-order or are uncertain that your existing pre-order will be guaranteed, please contact your local retailer."

"Your local retailer is doing everything possible to make this process as smooth as possible to ensure you get your copy on launch day."

HMV told Eurogamer it couldn't comment on a competitor's situation, but confirmed it would be stocking Mass Effect 3 and the rest of EA's titles.

GAME Group hasn't responded to Eurogamer's request for comment.

I believe this is only for March (from what I've read elsewhere). But still, sounding like the death knell.

Not surprising though when one of the country's specialist games retailers, ends up offering nothing over Tesco for the average consumer apart from a few more preowned titles.

Shall purchase SSX there on Friday with my gift card, lets hope they last that long now.

game's circling the drain...this is just another nail in their coffin really.

good riddance to game tbh, such a clinical shop with staff that are very dim, gamestation on the other hand i would actually miss a lot :(

Man, this can't be good for GAME. First Tekken 3D, then The Last Story, and now EA's games aren't being stocked. Are they about to go bankrupt or something?

Man, this can't be good for GAME. First Tekken 3D, the The Last Story, and now EA's games. Are they about to go bankrupt or something?

caryslan2

they have been circling the drain for a while, they didnt even get MGS HD collection in either in my area and it sold out in near enough every other shop in town.

But they only have themsevles to blame for most of it to be brutally honest.

What is GAME?

Is that the european version of gamestop?

What is GAME?

Is that the european version of gamestop?

ZombieKiller7

Yes, them and gamestation (also owned by GAME) are the only 2 large high street shops that sell games.

[QUOTE="ZombieKiller7"]

What is GAME?

Is that the european version of gamestop?

Legacy-of-Todd

Yes, them and gamestation (also owned by GAME) are the only 2 large high street shops that sell games.

I ordered the ME3 collectors edition from gamestaion are they saying its no longer valid?

I ordered the ME3 collectors edition from gamestaion are they saying its no longer valid?

John_Coffey

But why?mrmusicman247

More than likely EA are refusing to supply GAME.

Good, GAME sucks! Back in the 90s though it was such a badass store competing with Electronics Boutique, you could get so many amazing deals but then GAME decided to be a monopolizing b*stard and by "merging" just as they did with Gamestation when they were getting popular, became the only big high street store in the UK (although they kept the 'Gamestation' name, it's not the same).

Argh, I hate them with a passion and hope they die.

[QUOTE="ZombieKiller7"]

What is GAME?

Is that the european version of gamestop?

Legacy-of-Todd

Yes, them and gamestation (also owned by GAME) are the only 2 large high street shops that sell games.

[QUOTE="John_Coffey"]

I ordered the ME3 collectors edition from gamestaion are they saying its no longer valid?

Ravensmash

That was my fear but I decided to use Zavvi instead, it was a few quid cheaper and I dont seem to have to worry about them filing for bankruptcy in the next fortnight. Sorry Gamestation.

In all honesty I havent bought a video game from an actual shop in a few years but this still makes me a little sad. When I was a kid going into a GAME shop was the highlight of going into town with my parents, even if I didnt buy anything I'd play on the demos or just look at the new releases. Now I'm getting all nostalgic.

I'm sure they have their reasons but going to miss out on whatever proceeds they would have received during the month Mass Effect 3 releases which is a guarantee to sell a lot.

[QUOTE="John_Coffey"]

In all honesty I havent bought a video game from an actual shop in a few years but this still makes me a little sad. When I was a kid going into a GAME shop was the highlight of going into town with my parents, even if I didnt buy anything I'd play on the demos or just look at the new releases. Now I'm getting all nostalgic.

sts106mat

when probably the biggest game distributor for retail drops you, you know that something is severely wrong.

When a supplier pulls their products like this, it usually means someone was not paying their bills.

When a supplier pulls their products like this, it usually means someone was not paying their bills.

tbolt76

Game isn't going down the Pan, niether is gamestation , they are just restructuring and closing stores. http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/02/23/game-to-close-35-more-stores-shut-gameplay-co-uk/delta3074

A few weeks ago I would have been inclined to agree with you but the situation seems to be now that they cant get one of the largest publishers in the world to supply them with the years biggest releases. This is incredibly dire and as EA's lack of support once sounded the death knell for the dreamcast, so to may it do so for the Game group (not quite the same situation I'll admit but the comparison seemed apt).

game's circling the drain...this is just another nail in their coffin really.

good riddance to game tbh, such a clinical shop with staff that are very dim, gamestation on the other hand i would actually miss a lot :(

razgriz_101

Hate to say it, but if GAME goes... so does Gamestation. GAME owns Gamestation, so what happens to one happens to the other

[QUOTE="delta3074"][QUOTE="sts106mat"] dude, its much worse than that now thanks to todays news. i found on another website for the game "birds of prey" that they weren't stocking that either as Konami were not willing to "agree terms" they are doomed!sts106mat

If Game only have used copies of games the buyer has little choice but to buy the used copy.

Game make much higher profits from used games.

[QUOTE="tenaka2"]

[QUOTE="sts106mat"] why only buy 10 new copies? though. are people just not buying them new or is that game group cannot afford to buy loads? like i said earlier, i tried to get BF3 new the other day (rang up the store), no new copies instock....HOW is that possible? its months old. there are loads available online at other retailers, (even on the game website) they showed them in stock. I think what we are seeing here is partly due to this "online pass" thing, its cheaper to buy the game new online, than it is at GAME for a pre-owned copy. sts106mat

If Game only have used copies of games the buyer has little choice but to buy the used copy.

Game make much higher profits from used games.

thats exactly where they went wrong though, we have the choice to buy online, which is why game is in trouble in the first place, they failed to realise people WILL shop around / shop online.

THey also have online shops thought don't they? What is the story with used games online? Is it just as cheap/easy to get them?

Its because they couldn't afford to pay EA for the copies of the game and EA refused to work out a credit scheme. Honestly though I am annoyed. I had my pre-order there for over a year and the fact that this news got leaked before GAME informed customers is bull. That means a lot of Collectors editions are going to get snatched up by late comers while people who pre-ordered early are going to be screwed. Never pre-order from GAME lesson learned. 6matt6

Damn, that's unlucky man hope it works out for you.

[QUOTE="tenaka2"]

[QUOTE="sts106mat"] yeah, game sell new and preowned games online. their online shop is dearer than shop.to or play.com though. they rely on the loyalty card scheme, but unless you spend a lot frequently it is cheaper to buy elsewhere. then if you want a game new due to dlc or multiplayer pass etc, it can be cheaper to buy online than get one from a shop especially if game are not stocking new ones lol. just found out they aren't stocking Mario party 9 sts106mat

[QUOTE="6matt6"]Its because they couldn't afford to pay EA for the copies of the game and EA refused to work out a credit scheme. Honestly though I am annoyed. I had my pre-order there for over a year and the fact that this news got leaked before GAME informed customers is bull. That means a lot of Collectors editions are going to get snatched up by late comers while people who pre-ordered early are going to be screwed. Never pre-order from GAME lesson learned. eyebrows

Damn, that's unlucky man hope it works out for you.

I hate GAME, so good.

Once people start buying online from places like Amazon, you'll realise how much places like GAME f*** you over.

Just better prices, better customer service and their 2nd hand market doesn't f*** over publishers.

Maybe if GAME sold games at... you know: Reasonable prices, then they wouldn't be in such a bad situation, modern gamers are learning where to get the best deals for their games and, while on the odd occasion you can find an absolute steal, GAME is just over-priced. Blazblue Calamity Trigger from GAME was something like £20 used last time I was there, while CEX had Continuum Shift (the sequel) for £12.

I'm guessing EA is collecting A/Rs are bit too quickly for Gamestation to handle... Oh well. Go to another shop, not a big deal, since the product is all the same.

Maybe if GAME sold games at... you know: Reasonable prices, then they wouldn't be in such a bad situation, modern gamers are learning where to get the best deals for their games and, while on the odd occasion you can find an absolute steal, GAME is just over-priced. Blazblue Calamity Trigger from GAME was something like £20 used last time I was there, while CEX had Continuum Shift (the sequel) for £12.

DARKNESSxEAGLE