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Further to the recent discussion about the GAME/EA/Mass Effect 3 fiasco, it seems GAME have put their stores up for sale in an attempt to raise capital to pay quarterly rent costs. Shares are now down to around 1p. Looks like the end of the road, I think...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17336697

Yeh, if they're having to sell stores to help pay rent they're sinking pretty fast. Not to mention the hit of big names pulling out has.

Sad really, GAME and gamestation are the only chains of dedicated game shops in the UK and they are owned by the same company.

Finally. Maybe their stores can be used for something useful now.

Seriously, they don't try to compete with online sales, don't give people a decent deal on trade-ins, have some awful promotions, and have some serious efficiency problems. There are three in my city, all are within two minutes of each other, it just astounds me that they could afford to keep them all open this long, especially considering it seems to be much the same in most areas of the UK; a surplus of stores in a small area.

There are 3 games and a gamestation on my local highsteet, still I'm sad to see dedicated videogame shops go even though I buy all my games online (mostly via steam).

Problem Game have, is there prices are never going to be as good as Amazon etc. They do some decent priced second hand games (in the 2 for £20 type deals especially), but thats not enough to keep the store going. With ebay, and even some independent second hand shops offering you better prices for getting rid of old games (i'm sure you can sell on Ebay for as much/more than you get cash trading in at Game). Its still a shame, as its quite nice to go in and look at the games, see if their is anything second hand worth buying, but essentially online is going to be a better option for general game buying...

Aye, we knew the writing was on the wall when EA pulled the catalogue from under them.

Then my brother tells me that about two weeks ago Gamestation are telling him about a new policy where they no longer stocking new games, and they'd only be available as pre-orders only, as if thats a good thing.

Stick a fork in em, they're done.

Well the sad but inevitable conclusion has occured, so the question is now. Will a new backer step forth, or for some period at least, are we potentially looking at no dedicated High Street Gaming stores in the UK.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17512143

HMV will probably fill the void for a brief time.
I heard a rumour that Gamestop would jump in...

Aye, I'd imagine HMV must be taking some solace from this, if they can focus that fact into footfall, it might help turn them around.

It would be pretty crazy if it also fell, and the only place to get Media on the High Street where independents and Tesco Extra stores.

Yeah i know Tesco and Asda tend to make a fair amount from games...
If HMV can take up the slack it could really help them...