Game UK won't be selling Mass Effect 3

[Servo]

Mass Effect 3 will not be stocked at Game stores across the UK, the high street chain has announced.

The Electronic Arts (EA) title is released at the end of next week.

Game has apologised to customers on its Facebook page but does not give a reason for not being able to supply Mass Effect 3.

"We're contacting you with news that, unfortunately we are not in a position to supply you with your copy of Mass Effect 3," said a statement.

"As dedicated gamers, we know how disappointing this will be for you, and we apologise sincerely for the inconvenience that this will cause."

Game customers who have pre-ordered the title will be given £5 in loyalty card reward points.

The high street chain has refused to comment on reports that other EA games could be affected from next month.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/17210489

According to a leaked memo doing the rounds on some gaming sites, the reason they're not stocking the game is because EA won't give them credit. Given that Mass Effect 3 is a sure fire seller, Game's finances must be in serious shit to not get credit on something they're guaranteed to be able to sell.

With the major increase in people buying their games from online retailers due to price and exclusive DLC offers, could this spell the end of Game stores, and maybe high street gaming stores in general, in the UK?

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I'm not especially fond of either EBGames or GameStop, and I find myself buying virtually all my games either from Amazon (physical copies, new or used) and Steam (digital).

Games are one area where there's very little need to have physical stores selling them anymore, I think.

 

[Servo]

I agree. I buy all my new games from ShopTo.net, simply because they're usually cheaper than everyone else, and 9 times out of 10 I'll get the game a day or two ahead of release.

I'd be willing to bet that the main thing keeping high street gaming stores afloat these days is the pre-owned market, but with the rise in single-use codes for online elements, I wouldn't give that too much longer anyway.

On a slightly related note, I had to laugh when I went in Gamestation today and saw them selling pre-owned copies of DC Universe Online for £12.99. Cheeky bastards trying to capitalise on the uninformed.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

It's not just EA, apparently Nintendo are refusing them, too. But if GAME go under I say good riddance. Can't stand the company.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I agree. I buy all my new games from ShopTo.net, simply because they're usually cheaper than everyone else, and 9 times out of 10 I'll get the game a day or two ahead of release.

I'd be willing to bet that the main thing keeping high street gaming stores afloat these days is the pre-owned market, but with the rise in single-use codes for online elements, I wouldn't give that too much longer anyway.

Yeah, though even used games aren't that much of a deal anymore. I checked out Amazon, and they're selling new copies of ME2 for $19, and used copies for $15.29 and up. GameStop's website lists $19.99 for new, $17.99 for used. Basically, unless there is a GameStop just around the corner from you, it's cheaper to buy it online and have it shipped than to drive to GameStop. So, the instant gratification crowd might be the only thing that keeps them alive.

On a slightly related note, I had to laugh when I went in Gamestation today and saw them selling pre-owned copies of DC Universe Online for £12.99. Cheeky bastards trying to capitalise on the uninformed.

Hilarious!

 

[Servo]

I agree. I buy all my new games from ShopTo.net, simply because they're usually cheaper than everyone else, and 9 times out of 10 I'll get the game a day or two ahead of release.

I'd be willing to bet that the main thing keeping high street gaming stores afloat these days is the pre-owned market, but with the rise in single-use codes for online elements, I wouldn't give that too much longer anyway.

Yeah, though even used games aren't that much of a deal anymore. I checked out Amazon, and they're selling new copies of ME2 for $19, and used copies for $15.29 and up. GameStop's website lists $19.99 for new, $17.99 for used. Basically, unless there is a GameStop just around the corner from you, it's cheaper to buy it online and have it shipped than to drive to GameStop. So, the instant gratification crowd might be the only thing that keeps them alive.

Not to mention the smaller retailers that are muscling in on the second hand market. There's a shop called Grainger Games in my local town centre, and they outdo Game/Gamestation on pre-owned prices practically across the board. They claim to be able to beat them on trade-in offers too, but I haven't got anything to trade in to test that out.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I agree. I buy all my new games from ShopTo.net, simply because they're usually cheaper than everyone else, and 9 times out of 10 I'll get the game a day or two ahead of release.

I'd be willing to bet that the main thing keeping high street gaming stores afloat these days is the pre-owned market, but with the rise in single-use codes for online elements, I wouldn't give that too much longer anyway.

Yeah, though even used games aren't that much of a deal anymore. I checked out Amazon, and they're selling new copies of ME2 for $19, and used copies for $15.29 and up. GameStop's website lists $19.99 for new, $17.99 for used. Basically, unless there is a GameStop just around the corner from you, it's cheaper to buy it online and have it shipped than to drive to GameStop. So, the instant gratification crowd might be the only thing that keeps them alive.

Not to mention the smaller retailers that are muscling in on the second hand market. There's a shop called Grainger Games in my local town centre, and they outdo Game/Gamestation on pre-owned prices practically across the board. They claim to be able to beat them on trade-in offers too, but I haven't got anything to trade in to test that out.

Grainger started off as a single shop up in Geordieland somewhere and have spread all over. They were embroiled in somewhat of a scandal recently with the GMA awards where they showed up with strippers and coked up and earned the wrath of many-a-gamer and producers.

 

[Reverend]

I'm not especially fond of either EBGames or GameStop, and I find myself buying virtually all my games either from Amazon (physical copies, new or used) and Steam (digital).

Games are one area where there's very little need to have physical stores selling them anymore, I think.

Same here. In fact I'm pretty sure that if it wasn't for all the Origin giggery pokery I'd be getting ME3 from Stream, seeing as it's where I bought the last two.

As it stands, I managed to get a pre-order in from the CE on Amazon yesterday. The down side is that it's unclear if they're even going to have the Argus rifle DLC, let alone the N7 Wargear. Not a huge loss, I'm sure, but it's still mildly vexing.

I've been lurking on the thread over on the Bioware Social forums to keep an eye on things and I see a lot of people cancelling their pre-orders and re-ordering whereever they think the DLC will be availible, sometimes even paying £10+ over the odds for French imports and the like. Bloody stupid if you ask me since, if ME2 is any judge, it's a fair bet most of it will be up for sale separately in a few months for a fiver.

 

[Servo]

Grainger started off as a single shop up in Geordieland somewhere and have spread all over. They were embroiled in somewhat of a scandal recently with the GMA awards where they showed up with strippers and coked up and earned the wrath of many-a-gamer and producers.

They must be doing pretty well for themselves if they can afford strippers and blow for the top brass, and still keep pre-owned prices down.

 

[Cutter John]

^ Well they wouldn't be the first former company where the owners snorted away all the profits.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Grainger started off as a single shop up in Geordieland somewhere and have spread all over. They were embroiled in somewhat of a scandal recently with the GMA awards where they showed up with strippers and coked up and earned the wrath of many-a-gamer and producers.

They must be doing pretty well for themselves if they can afford strippers and blow for the top brass, and still keep pre-owned prices down.

Did I mention they were sponsoring the event?

 

[Jono]

When I heard this news I started to crap my pants as I got it through GAME Australia, but thankfully they have said that they will be stocking the game.

 

[Lonemagpie]

It's not just Game- they own Gamezone as well, so they aren't having it either. Or any more EA titles.

It seems to be a mixture of Ninty and EA not giving them any credit cos they're financially boned anyway, and Game trying to talk tough by saying "you're not giving us enough special editions for the store, so we'll refuse to take your stuff until you up the number of CE supplies." And EA laughing in their faces.

Basically that's the high street gaming shop dead in the UK, leaving only second-hand retailers like CEX, multimedia retailers like the few Zavvi stores, and supermarkets for the top 20 or so.

Amazon and Play will be laughing all the way to the bank.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Zavvi still have stores? Grainger have plenty of shops about the place. But yeah pretty much HMV and the like and Supermakets.

 

[23skidoo]

Being able to buy games on Amazon Canada is relatively new (couldn't do it before about a year ago and we weren't allowed to order games through Amazon US). But the prices are no different than EBGames will be charging. Even Mass Effect 2 is listed at $18.99, while I got my copy at GameStop or EB (I forget which) for $19.99, so I saved money on the postage and had the game immediately.

I've never heard of this UK company, but yeah if they're not being extended credit for selling the game, there must be a problem. But the bricks-and-mortar stores are still going strong at least here in Canada. Mind you the death of the video rental store industry removed a major source for obtaining games, so that pushed a lot of folks into the gaming stores. Plus you're starting to see places like EB offering exclusive DLC content too. Maybe Game UK didn't want to/couldn't pony up the extra money to host bonus armor or missions?

Alex

 

[Deckerd]

All the big supermarket chains do preowned now as well. They must have a huge turnover.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^Even Amazon and some gaming websites do trade ins now.

 

[Reverend]

Zavvi still have stores? Grainger have plenty of shops about the place. But yeah pretty much HMV and the like and Supermakets.

This must be a north/south divide thing, because I've never heard of Zavvi or Grainger. Last time I went into town down here the only gaming shops I noticed were Game, the Virgin megastore and a very small Gamestation. I suppose you could count W.H. Smiths, but they're probably no better than the likes of Tescos as far as games are concerned (even Virgin is probably only marginally better.) So if both Game and Gamestation go under, then that really is the end of high street game shops as far as I'm concerned. The only way out for them I suppose is to specialise in used games and gaming systems only. Maybe try their hand at retro-gaming, though that is *very* niche.

...Not that I've shopped at any of them in years mind. I've long since preferred to use Amazon or Steam.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^Virgin haven't existed for years, Zavvi replaced Virgin then went out of business and now is online only as far as I know. Looks like you're right about Grainger Games, they appear to only go as far south as Nottingham and only as far north as Berwick.

 

[Reverend]

^Shows how long since I've been into town to shop, I had no idea Virgin closed up! Mind you, Salisbury isn't exactly a thriving metropolis (more of a bloody oversized market town really) so it's hardly a fair representation of southern cities.

The last time I was in town at all, it was only to a pub at the very edge of the town center, but even the short walk from there to the fast food place down the road was depressing for all the painted up windows and 'To Let' signs. I mean it was bad enough before the crunch, but now it's turning into a bit of a ghost town, even around the market square!

Slight change of subject, but is anyone here on PSN? I have a cunning plan to turn my useless £5 Game.co.uk voucher into bioware points, but it hinges on PSN selling EA game cards that are accepted on Origin and I can't exactly get at my brother's PS3 right this moment to check for myself.

[EDIT]

Good news everyone! (who pre-ordered with Amazon)

A bit odd that this is *instead* of the Argus rifle rather than in addition to, but then armour + rifle trumps just a rifle on it's own. No worries.

[EDIT EDIT]

Scratch that. As far as Bioware are concerned, the N7 Wargear code includes the Argus anyway, so everything is now back where it was.