GAME is doing well during hard times

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jun 16th 2009 at 8:10PM }

UK retailer GAME continues marching on in these tough times, opening 23 new stores since February, bringing the retailer up to 1,365 locations in ten countries. Much like Gamestop, GAME isn't hurting financially, having brought in £126.5 million ($185 million) in profit last year.

The company plans to spend £30-£35 million ($49-$57 million) integrating its latest acquisition, Gamestation, into the corporate family. Seems that the game retailers aren't hurting too bad.

Tags: business, england, game, retail, uk

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Frank @ Jun 16th 2009 8:20PM

People will still buy what they want despite the economy. Gotta keep your mind of the economy after all.

Squoze @ Jun 16th 2009 8:21PM

The UK really needs a remotely cheap high street game shop. Every shop seems to be about a third more expensive for games than supermarkets on new titles, which are the only time I buy games from shops.

MaliceMajorE15 @ Jun 16th 2009 8:21PM

GAME BOUGHT GAMESTATION!!!!? i hope the still let you do the 10 day return deal so i can rape the trophies outta shit games before commiting my funds to good ones

Premature ejaculation man @ Jun 16th 2009 8:32PM

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?

Maverick Saturn @ Jun 16th 2009 8:47PM

This is a sad day for gaming :(

aMac @ Jun 16th 2009 9:06PM

GAME has owned Gamestation for a long time now. It's just the 'latest' acquisition still.

It pisses me off to no end that there is basically no competition where I live.
The only game stores are GAME and Gamestation. Now with Woolworths gone too, the only other places left to buy games are HMV and Forbidden Planet (who charge ridiculous prices for everything inside)

The UK is screwed for brick-and-mortar game stores

Aero @ Jun 16th 2009 9:44PM

Game bought Gamestation in 2007.

deanb @ Jun 16th 2009 10:47PM

@aMac Boro has GAME, Gamestation, Chips, Granger games, HMV, CEX exchange and a closed Woolies n Zavvi. We have a super high concentration of game stores, don't get how none are out of business (bar Woolies n Zavvi, but that wasn't from games)

ugotamesij @ Jun 17th 2009 4:24AM

EB (USA) bought Game but changed all the UK EB's to Game as it was a stronger brand (compared to the US). EB/Game then bought Gamestation, although retained most of the GS stores as they were as there is a proportion of 'core' consumers who prefer it over Game, as they see Game as pandering to the mass crowd (hence why Wii is situated at the front of many Game stores, and why Game puts people on the shop floor to help customers with purchases and GS doesn't - they assume you know why you're there).

And the 10-day returns policy at Game was quietly dropped many moons ago. They realised that people were using them as a free rental service.

Foetoid @ Jun 16th 2009 8:22PM

At my local shopping center, we have a Game Traders, EB Games and GAME and it's a clear-cut winner that EB gets most of the business. Contrary to what i've heard about other EB Games stores, this one locally to me is fantastic. Every employee knows all their stuff on games, happy to not only match prices, but match special pre-order only prices from other stores, plus one time i had a Wiimote die only 3 weeks out of the 1yr warranty, so the manager felt sorry for me and sold me a brand new one for half price. Just goes to show a stores success really does lie with it's employees and their customer service skills.

sony boy @ Jun 16th 2009 8:34PM

wow, the name is more generic than gamestop.

GamerAsh @ Jun 16th 2009 8:38PM

Yeah I know I was sad when I heard Game took over GameStation. Although I still prefer GameStation out of the too.

GameXchange is good in the UK and you can do rentals from there.

Maverick Saturn @ Jun 16th 2009 8:46PM

Can't say im happy about the gamestation purchase, I shopped at gamestation over game because of none inflated prices and much more appealing preowned games as well as deals, Game is going to ruin it all :(

Damn that Game!

Arkle @ Jun 16th 2009 8:53PM

Game bought Gamestation out quite a while ago now. Nothing really new there. The "integration" may be somewhat new, but they've had it for quite some time.

udeity @ Jun 16th 2009 9:35PM

yup over 2 years ago

and here's another shock for the others, Game also own Gameplay

dave @ Jun 16th 2009 9:09PM

Didn't EB and GAME merge? Or one bought the other?

mr mobius @ Jun 16th 2009 9:22PM

I'm considering moving all my purchases to Amazon. Honestly, as nice as the staff in my local Game are, they can't compete with Amazon in terms of price. I have a backlog of games (and books - doesn't help get the backlog of games fixed) so be a while until I buy more games (especially when I just got more points for VC, so it'll be cheaper and great games from generations past).

CloudStrife @ Jun 16th 2009 9:39PM

They made £126.5 million profit last year? No surprises there, their trade-in prices suck balls

deanb @ Jun 16th 2009 10:44PM

I use GAME if I want a game on day one purchase n everyone has it at the same price, mainly cos of the point's card, I'm a fair way to getting FFXIII for free :D (My PS3 added a nice boost to my points)
However as a store I'm not so keen on GAME, Gamestation seem to be the more gamer friendly, though our local stores assistant manager is uber cool and knowledgeable, which is pretty rare for GAME stores.

Anonymouse @ Jun 17th 2009 12:09AM

Used physical media FTW!

Zut @ Jun 17th 2009 7:25AM

Surely you'd noticed that the price tags and special offer stickers in Gamestation are identical to those in EB and Game?!

Glad to see Game doing well. I always buy games on the high street and NOT from supermarkets. You cant beat the joy and anticipation of holding an unopened release day game in your hands. Screw downloads!