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[Omikaru]

This was already posted in the official "GAME am doomed" thread, but I feel this is big news and warrants a new thread.

Eurogamer: GAME not stocking Mass Effect 3 or EA games past SSX

GAME 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 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.

Also, here's EA's take on all of this.

MASS EFFECT 3 UK LAUNCH UPDATE

The Mass Effect 3 N7 Collector’s Edition will now be available at the following retailers:

-Amazon.co.uk
-Play.com
-Zavvi.com
-***********

For customers who have pre-ordered the N7 Collector’s Edition please re-order your copies through these retailers.

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.

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.

Mass Effect 3 will be released on the Xbox 360®, PlayStation®3 and PC from Friday 9th March 2012.

In my view, after this they're toast. You can't not stock EA games and continue to be a legitimate retail presence.

And here's a leaked memo shedding some more light on the situation.

“Last week we held an event for out partners in the industry and explained the challenges we are facing in the short term – and we asked for their support. We asked them to trade with us using manageable credit terms, and for them to continue to do that whilst we work through the strategic review and refinancing our business.

“We gave the industry commitments – we committed to integrity and openness in our dealings, and working with everyone equally.

“We committed to only stocking products on which we could get the right credit terms, regardless of the title or the supplier. We will not stock products if the terms are not right for our business – we will not sacrifice long-term credit requirements for short-term sales opportunities.

“As a result of us taking this position – a position that we believe is critical to our long-term health as a business – we have taken the very difficult decision not to stock EA’s March releases, including Mass Effect 3.

“As a specialist retailer dedicated to games and gaming, it is never easy to make a decision not to stock a title, particularly one with such a strong fan base, it is imperative that we treat every supplier evenly, that we stick to our commitments, and that we don’t sign up to payment terms that will hamper us further in the future.

“It is even more critical that we manage the a[appropriately with our loyal customers. We know they will be disappointed regarding Mass Effect in particular, and in recognition of thus, we will be contacting our Mass Effect pre-order customers and as a gesture of goodwill we will be offering them £5 of reward card/elite card credit.

“I know that many of you will have to mage customer and supplier feedback directly, and I would like to thank you in advance for your support and am prepared to answer any questions you have directly – just grab me as I walk around.”

 

[Electivirus]

Uh...that's kinda big. ._.

 

[MRORANGE]

edit : wrong

 

[winstano]

Can you update the OP to say that Nintendo appear to be bailing out as well?

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-29-game-group-not-stocking-mario-party-9

 

[Psychotext]

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

That's actually not right:

http://images.eurogamer.net/2012/articles//a/1/4/6/2/6/4/7/WP_000582.jpg.jpg
http://images.eurogamer.net/2012/articles//a/1/4/6/2/6/4/7/WP_000581.jpg.jpg

It's your deposit back plus £5 in credit by way of apology.

 

[VOOK]

It's all over for GAME.

 

[Parl]

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

can't be stated enough, what were they thinking?

Pretty sure that's against the law, except as an option.

That's actually not right:
[/QUOTE]
Oh there we go..

 

[Psychotext]

Also...

 

[OMG Aero]

Looks like it's GAME over.
Edit: Is this only effecting bricks and mortar stores? You can still order Mass Effect 3 on their website.

 

[Petrichor]

Looks like it's over, then.

 

[MRORANGE]

That's actually not right:

http://images.eurogamer.net/2012/articles//a/1/4/6/2/6/4/7/WP_000582.jpg.jpg
http://images.eurogamer.net/2012/articles//a/1/4/6/2/6/4/7/WP_000581.jpg.jpg

It's your deposit back plus £5 in credit by way of apology.

ah ok, it's not that bad then. (damn eurogamer article)

 

[scarybore]

Glad I woke up early (well, early for me) as I saw this news in the other thread and rushed to Play to pre-order the N7 Collector's Edition again. While the situation of Game is not EA's fault, they do deserve blame for selling the CE exclusively in the first place and hopefully this makes them think twice of doing so in the future.

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

I've not put money down for a pre-order in over a decade but that is outrageous.

Edit: Oh, so that's bollocks, good.

 

[masterkajo]

So basically game.co.uk won't be shipping me my ME3 N7 CE...

Any news when amazon.co.uk will update their website?

 

[Kafel]

GAME has no game

 

[ScreenSplitter]

R.I.P Game.

 

[winstano]

So basically game.co.uk won't be shipping me my ME3 N7 CE...

Any news when amazon.co.uk will update their website?

No news yet, but if you're desperate to secure it, it's up on Zavvi, Play and Shopto

 

[offshore]

Title is a bit misleading, as it appears to be just for March releases. I guess we'll see in April if EA games come back to GAME.

 

[Ubersnug]

*RUNS TO ZAVVI*

Phew, that was close. Still some collectors editions left for pre-order.

 

[Carbonox]

Anyone got a Zavvi code I could use to knock down the price some more? :lol

 

[hamchan]

Wow, they are so dead. How does this affect the Australian GAME stores?

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

Um...wut :O

 

[Dachande]

They're on Shopto now, but I can't link them because of the filter.

 

[Lily]

You may add Nintendo to the list too as they wont be stocking Mario Party 9, and cancelled all Last Story orders last week too.

Oh, and Tekken 3DS.

 

[radioheadrule83]

Are GAME familiar with the dreamcast?

You don't so business in this industry without the support of the industry's most powerful publisher.

I agree, this doesn't bode well.

I'm confused by the article's wording though. Is this just for March?

 

[CrunchinJelly]

ShopTo are trending on Twitter.

The Mass Effect Universe are going wild.

 

[Ninja Kn1ght]

C'mon Amazon. Get it up!

 

[ScreenSplitter]

Are GAME familiar with the dreamcast?

You don't so business in this industry without the support of the industry's most powerful publisher.

I agree, this doesn't bode well.

I'm confused by the article's wording though. Is this just for March?

Apparently so, but I can't imagine next month, or the month after that being any better. I don't know about SSX, but Mass Effect 3 in particular is a HUGE Spring title. They are going to lose millions.

 

[Jibbed]

*RUNS TO ZAVVI*

Phew, that was close. Still some collectors editions left for pre-order.

THANK YOU. N7 edition for PC secured

 

[offshore]

ShopTo are trending on Twitter.

Good. ShopTo are awesome.

 

[FeD.nL]

So no FIFA.. GAME am f*cked :lol

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

And the thieving bastards at cex rub their hands with glee.

 

[overburning]

One week from launch...
Anyone know if this affect GAME AUS at all?

 

[Zutroy]

Cancelling per-orders doesn't really make sense to me. They're guaranteed sales, so where's the credit issue? They could have at least fulfilled them.

 

[acm2000]

n7 edition £64.85 at shopto / £69.99 at play.com / £64.95 at zavvi

 

[Lucius86]

See you later Game, you won't be missed by me at least.

My pre-order has now gone to zavvi.co.uk. Wanted to spend my last points on my Game card on ME3 before it sank....can't even do that now!

 

[Keyser Soze]

Cancelling per-orders doesn't really make sense to me. They're guaranteed sales, so where's the credit issue? They could have at least fulfilled them.

They have no game to give people.

 

[Jibbed]

n7 edition £64.85 at shopto / £69.99 at play.com / £64.95 at zavvi

PC version is £10 less!

 

[iNvid02]

just been to my local game store, wow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPjUO2YSjn0

 

[TheDrowningMan]

Ordered from Shopto...I'd previously missed out on the n7 360 edition, too. With that said, I'm not happy about this, despite Game's many glaring flaws as questionable practices. We need a gaming retailer, we just do. With HMV in trouble and minimising their game sections, they're not going to pick up the slack.

 

[heliconsoul]

ShopTo are also now showing the Diablo 3 Collectors edition. This was previously only on Game as well.

Abandon ship!!!

 

[SmokyDave]

Do we know why this has happened? I suspect EA won't give them a credit line. (Edit: Just read the leaked memo. Yup, credit woes!)

I reckon I'll cash out my reward card this weekend.

And the thieving bastards at cex rub their hands with glee.

CEX only sell pre-owned games, don't they?

 

[The Friendly Monster]

This is huge, surely the beginning of the end for Game. I'm not unhappy about this.

 

[Messofanego]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoBFhdeR9PE#t=0m52s

 

[Tempy]

What exactly are these credit terms Game is speaking of? Returning unsold copies?

 

[Keyser Soze]

Ordered from Shopto...I'd previously missed out on the n7 360 edition, too. With that said, I'm not happy about this, despite Game's many glaring flaws as questionable practices. We need a gaming retailer, we just do. With HMV in trouble and minimising their game sections, they're not going to pick up the slack.

A good one would be nice, not one that charges £30 for a 2 year old preowned game

 

[GarthVaderUK]

Wow!

 

[Omikaru]

I think if GAME goes under, it will be bad for the UK industry. While a lot of us, myself included, refuse to shop there, many-a-parent will feel intimidated if there's no high street presence for them to buy games for their kids.

Whether we like it or not, GAME filled that role, and unless someone is going to step up to the plate and become "the specialist" on games, there are going to be a lot of confused buyers at and around the gift giving season.

However, I don't buy for a second that this will hurt the niche game industry. GAME had already stabbed the "middle class" gamer and said games' publishers in the back, and with a GAME-shaped hole in the UK industry, hopefully some of those games will get in front of more customers.

As someone who doesn't really play AAA blockbusters, but goes for some of the less marketed games, this won't affect me at all. But if they go under there will be serious ramifications.

 

[Shotgun Kiss]

I work at Gamestation, and damned if I'm going to tell customers they can't have cash refunds for their deposits. I'm running through cash refunds, regardless of what I'm told.

I think if GAME goes under, it will be bad for the UK industry. While a lot of us, myself included, refuse to shop there, many-a-parent will feel intimidated if there's no high street presence for them to buy games for their kids.

Whether we like it or not, GAME filled that role, and unless someone is going to step up to the plate and become "the specialist" on games, there are going to be a lot of confused buyers at and around the gift giving season.

When they don't stock games like Mass Effect 3, Mario Party 9, and other games parents might want to buy, and other games are incredibly hard to find/arrive a week late (Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, Soul Calibur V, etc), I'd hardly say they're specialists.

 

[acm2000]

funny to see that EA could be the ones that bring GAME down, seeing how GAME pretty much helped EA destroy their competitors via paid stand placements/advertising/stock pushing in all the GAME stores

 

[CrunchinJelly]

I think if GAME goes under, it will be bad for the UK industry. While a lot of us, myself included, refuse to shop there, many-a-parent will feel intimidated if there's no high street presence for them to buy games for their kids.

Whether we like it or not, GAME filled that role, and unless someone is going to step up to the plate and become "the specialist" on games, there are going to be a lot of confused buyers at and around the gift giving season.

Stop referring to GAME as a specialist retailer.

They are no more specialist than fucking Cash Converters.

 

[Lakitu]

I've just cancelled my CE order from them.

I'm now considering downgrading to the standard edition. I'm not that bothered by the CE contents... I can do without the litho, bonus armour, art book and soundtrack.