GAME Can’t Win as Sales Continue to Fall
GAME might be the largest videogame retailer in the UK, but that doesn’t mean much if no one is buying. The company’s sales have dropped 13.9% in the past 18 weeks, with games like Modern Warfare 2 and FIFA 10 failing to bring in the cash. Peter Lewis, chairman of GAME, blamed falls in both hardware and software sales:
Recent console price cuts from Sony and Microsoft have increased demand, though revenues from increased unit sales of these formats have not offset the overall fall in hardware revenues.
There have been a number of major software releases including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and FIFA 10, which both broke records in their first week of launch. However, the exceptionally strong performance of these titles was in part offset by softer than expected sales of some other releases.
It’s interesting that Lewis picks out these titles, as both games were heavily discounted by the supermarkets, and GAME probably lost quite a few sales to the likes of Sainsburys and Tesco.
Following the announcement, Reuters reported a 15% fall in the company’s share price, but GAME chief executive Lisa Morgan told them she was confident sales would improve in the run up to Christmas:
We’ve got 25 percent of our key annual sales to come and as we move towards the Christmas selling period we’ve seen some of the market trends improve.
I’d like to know how many Negative Gamer readers shop at GAME, because I’ve certainly never bought anything from them. Brick-and-mortar shops just can’t compete with online prices, so is it any surprise their sales are falling?
Via: gamesindustry.biz
News Tags: GAME, retail, Sales
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I actually id used to buy stuff from proper shops. Basically just for the experience. Game had/have a good second hand section, though I generally prefer Gamestation.
Yeah I used to frequent the shops quite a bit. Mainly for the banter between the fat dirty nerds. Game do seem to be over pricing their used games though, I tend to stay away these days.
Generally Gamestation, though there is a more niche(expensive) shop in Glasgow called G-Force. One of those shops that never drops it’s prices yet you may be able to find the odd rare title. As well as game soundtracks and figurines, it’s just a shame they act like elitist dickheads towards to the public.
I’ve spent a few quid at Game before. They used to have a good selection of GBA games. Since I discovered online shopping, though, I’ve not stepped foot in one.
Good stereotyping there. I like that you missed the irony of calling them nerds in a post on a video game website.
I personally can’t wait till gaming’s image has completely moved beyond the current trope of the ‘fat, dirty nerd’, but the sneering better-than-thou attitude that’s popular amongst some gamers at the moment is not furthering that aim. It’s a sign of someone who is ashamed of their hobby, who has allowed themselves to believe the nonsense cliches non-gamers put on it, and who is desparately trying to disidentify themselves from gaming – “yeah I play games but I’m not a fat dirty nerd like those other gamers! Please like me!” – and that’s truly pathetic.
I don’t shop in Game any more but when I did all the non-managerial staff were knowledgeable, pleasant and friendly, and none of them were fat. They were just normal people. Nearly all gamers are.
I tend to avoid GAME, since the sister outlet Gamestation seems to do better trade-in deals, offers, etc. And occasionally you can find cool “game stuff” for fairly cheap prices. There’s also an independent shop near me called Solid Gold, which, although it makes me feel like a daylight-shy nerd (well, more so that usual) when I go in there, it does have better deals on most ised games.
@Sup3rT3d You have to watch the interview with the people at G-force makes me smile every time.
I read the wrond bloody post I actually ment to address @superd I’m sorry for any confusion this may have caused.
@James_El
I thought that chap never spoke to people out of arrogance. I guess it’s just because he’s not the most well spoken of gents. That and he’s a retard(internet colloquialism).
@Sup3rT3d: not too sure who you’re talking about. James_el is the only one to use the phrase “nerds” and did so in an endearing way, implying he only went there specially because there were nerdy people there (not that all people in there are nerds). Which is something I can relate to myself.
On occasion there might be a good deal in the used section, otherwise you can almost always find a better price elsewhere, usually online. And while Gamestation used to get my business from trade-in credit anyone sensible stopped going there when CEX started offering better deals in cash.
Also I’m still a big PC gamer and that section has been marginalised to non-exsistance in some stores *sadface*
@superd1984
Does he still work there? He does come across as slightly retarded.
I buy from their online store from time to time. £5 for a used copy of No More Heroes was a pretty good bargain.
James_El
Yeah he stared at me blankly when i asked for The World Ends With You, then one of his co-workers came across and laughed at me.
They have a decent swap system in place but apart from that it’s too expensive and snooty.
Imagine us game nerds(yeah i said it!) looking down our noses at folk ;P
If I’m looking for a brand-new title I’ll go to a retail game store because the prices are pretty close and I don’t have to wait for shipping and all that. For used games, though, buying online is a much better option. I’d imagine it’s the same for you fellows across the pond, but retail store price cuts on used games are almost negligible unless it’s years old.
Cocks. Yeah gone are the days when us the gaming (elite) reside at the bottom of the pile.
Just don’t let to many people know what you do in your spare time and you could even be considered cool.
I’m pretty sure, depending of the condition of the disc they slap a full price sticker back on it. Pretty obvious when the fellow before has wrote all over the manuals notes page. Or when i bought a memory card as new with numerous save files on it.
SuperD is cool. Just to clarify that ;)