Joystiq

UK FIFA 12: Ultimate Edition pre-order bonuses are golden

David Hinkle — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 03:00:00 EST

For us here in America, soccer will never hold the same fascination as it does abroad. All across Europe, the sport of football is revered -- and in the UK, EA's FIFA franchise does gangbusters. If you happen to live in the United Kingdom, EA is looking to provide incentive for committing to this year's latest, FIFA 12, early.

If you pre-order FIFA 12: Ultimate Edition on Xbox 360 or PS3 before September 30 at GAME or Gamestation, you'll get 24 FIFA 12 Ultimate Team gold packs (four a month over the course of six months). Pre-orders from other retailers will net you a reduced 18 gold packs (three a month over six months). Ultimate Team, the trading card game introduced in 2010, will debut in October as a separate download.

FIFA 12 launches in North America on September 27. The rest of the world has to wait a few extra days until September 30.

Gallery: FIFA Soccer 12 (360/PS3)

Continue reading UK FIFA 12: Ultimate Edition pre-order bonuses are golden

UK FIFA 12: Ultimate Edition pre-order bonuses are golden originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 02 Jul 2011 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Battlefield 3 gets 'physical' in UK with Limited Edition

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 23 May 2011 11:25:00 EST

Like Battlefield: Bad Company 2 before it, Battlefield 3 will be arriving at retail in a regularly priced "Limited Edition," encouraging folks to pre-order the game before its planned fall launch. The UK will get the "Physical Warfare" version for the same price as the regular edition, which includes a small arsenal of weaponry, as well as access to the "Back to Karkand" multiplayer expansion -- four remade maps from Battlefield 2.

As this edition has only been announced for the UK thus far, it can only be ordered from GAME and GameStation for now, running the standard £39.99 on 360/PS3 and £34.99 on PC. That said, when EA initially confirmed the "Back to Karkand" expansion, DICE community manager Daniel Matros noted that it would be available worldwide via an in-box code.

In the meantime, peruse the full "Limited Edition" armory after the break.

Continue reading Battlefield 3 gets 'physical' in UK with Limited Edition

Battlefield 3 gets 'physical' in UK with Limited Edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 May 2011 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK Mortal Kombat tourney has a sweet arcade-size grand prize

Randy Nelson — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST

The latest Mortal Kombat may be for consoles only, but that hasn't kept its publisher, Warner Bros. Interactive, from creating an arcade cabinet for the game ... which can only be had if you're the UK's best at MK. WBIE is teaming with GAME and GameStation to hold a tournament that runs from March 14 through April 11, culminating in a final round at the Gadget Show Live in Birmingham.

The winner will ~~take~~ lug home the custom coin-op cabinet, which houses a PS3, meaning it can technically be used to play Super Street Fighter IV, the upcoming Tekken Tag Tournament 2, or any number of fighters on the platform. The cabinet's artwork depicts Scorpion on one side and Sub-Zero on the other -- and looks pretty amazing, if you ask us. Check it out for yourself in high-res via the gallery below.

Gallery: Mortal Kombat (arcade cabinets)

Continue reading UK Mortal Kombat tourney has a sweet arcade-size grand prize

UK Mortal Kombat tourney has a sweet arcade-size grand prize originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GAME to close 85 UK stores

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

For the second time this year, UK retailer GAME announced the closure of stores following further financial losses. MCV reports the company plans to close 85 stores over the next three years, slimming down to 550 shops.

The closures are designed to reduce overlap between the company's two brands (GAME and Gamestation) and "drive for greater cost efficiency" (i.e., cut general overhead). GAME's chairman Peter Lewis noted that 70 percent of customers from stores closed earlier this year shifted to another GAME store. The other 30 percent went to another game store.

GAME to close 85 UK stores originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK game retailer claims 7,500 souls with a legal agreement prank

Mike Schramm — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:15:00 EST

Don't think about it, just answer: Do you really read all of those agreements and legal texts that you need to scroll through when installing a game, signing up for a service or buying something online? Really? 7,500 people either don't, or they don't care about their eternal salvation, because UK video game retailer Gamestation could now legally own 7,500 souls if it wanted to. On April 1, it added a clause to its legal purchase agreement that granted the company "a non transferable option to claim, for now and for ever more, your immortal soul," and 7,500 game buyers happily clicked to agree.

The company was just April Fooling -- the claims have been legally renounced, and worried patrons can click through to the website to get their soul back (and a special discount code for their trouble). But next time, you should probably read the fine print a little more closely.

UK game retailer claims 7,500 souls with a legal agreement prank originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK retailer Game closing many of its stores

Justin McElroy — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:02:00 EST

With all the layoffs and financial hits game publishers and developers have absorbed over the past year, it should come as no surprise that the retail branch of the industry is hurting too. In a statement to Edge today, UK retailer Game said it would close 12 of its stores, six Gamestations and all 25 of its outlets in the Debenhams chain of department stores.

Though Game qualified it as a small percentage of its 682 stores, it still translates to 247 lost jobs. Here's hoping that those affected will land on their feet.

UK retailer Game closing many of its stores originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Euro retailers point to Feb. 26 release for Heavy Rain

David Hinkle — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:15:00 EST

European retailers have updated their pages for Heavy Rain, predicting the game will fall on European store shelves on February 26. For those of you keeping score at home, Famitsu said the game is releasing to Japan in February as well, lending some credibility to the proposed February 26 release in Europe.

We contacted SCEE -- who gave us the cold shoulder -- but we also sent word to SCEA, who said: "We haven't announced a release date for North America ... but stay tuned as we will have a release date soon."

Source - GAME
Source - Gamestation
Source - Play.com

Euro retailers point to Feb. 26 release for Heavy Rain originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK man finds ecstasy tablets in used copy of GTA

Xav de Matos — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:45:00 EST

A UK father of two said he found four tablets, which police say is likely ecstasy, within a used Grand Theft Auto game that he purchased at a Gamestation in the county of Gloucestershire. Richard Thornhill, 34, found the pills wrapped in plastic and hidden inside the instruction manual of one of two unspecified GTA games when he returned home from the store, reports the Telegraph. While still shocked at the incident, Thornhill was thankful the pills were discovered by him, dreading to think "what the consequences" would be, had his children found it.

In the wake of the strange discovery, Gamestation reps maintain the company's policy is for staff to follow "rigorous procedures" when accepting trades. Perhaps the new company policy would add a four-legged employee into the mix to sniff out any future issues. Both Gamestation and the Gloucestershire Police are investigating the incident.

[Via GamePolitics]

UK man finds ecstasy tablets in used copy of GTA originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What ho, Brits! Fifty Boxing Day deals to savor

Chris Greenhough — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: Sales

Didn't think we'd forget about our lovable Brit readers, did you? No way, Jose! Numerous UK outlets have kicked off their post-holiday sales, and there are some worthwhile bargains to be had for those with gift money to burn.

We've scoured the 'net for the best deals we could find on everything from new games (Disaster, Sonic Unleashed, Animal Crossing: Let's Go to the City) to older games (Zack & Wiki, No More Heroes) to not-games (Wii Wheels, Nunchuks, Wii Points). Make the jump for the best fifty (and links to each!).

Continue reading What ho, Brits! Fifty Boxing Day deals to savor

What ho, Brits! Fifty Boxing Day deals to savor originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gamestation cutting prices daily in December

Jem Alexander — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Deals and Bargains

Have you noticed? Games are pretty expensive. Especially when they all drop at once like they do around this time of year. UK retailer Gamestation is doing its best to allow you to experience as many games as possible, for the lowest price. Every day in December it will be running a different deal on a specific game as part of its "Advent Calendar" promotion.

Each deal lasts only 24 hours, so keep checking the site each morning for some cheap gaming gems. Plus, the company has recently announced that it has dropped delivery charges, keeping its prices even more competitive in line with Play.com and GAME. Today's deal is for Bethesda's post-apocalyptic wonderland title, Fallout 3, which you can pick up for just south of £20. Pretty good deal if you ask us, but like we say it'll only be that price for today, so don't hesitate. We'll do our best to update you with any other must-buy deals as they happen.

Gamestation cutting prices daily in December originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tallyho, guv'na -- UK Smash Showdown at Gamestation

Phil Larsen — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

If you like Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and you happen to live in the UK, then this announcement might have some kind of connection with you. Twenty Gamestation stores across the nation will each be hosting a 64-person Super Smash Bros. Showdown on June 28. This is no slouchy, bored-marketing-guy tournament either. Every winner from every store will take home a 40" Samsung LCD TV and a Samsung Home Theater System, with all the DVD and surround sound trimmings.

Tournaments are great and all, but this one is really something else. The prizes are actually extremely good, and you only need to win six matches to take home the grand prize. Only one Fanboy blogger lives in the UK, but fortunately he is awful at Brawl. In fact, he doesn't even own the game. Or pants.

Register for your local tournament at the official website -- it's probably going to fill up fast, so make like a tree and hurry.

[Via press release]

Tallyho, guv'na -- UK Smash Showdown at Gamestation originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Euro retailer Game buys Gamestation for $150 million

Kyle Orland — Wed, 02 May 2007 11:59:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Business

The European game retail space just got a little less competitive. American movie rental giant Blockbuster announced today that it is selling its British Gamestation subsidiary to European mega-retailer Game Group PLC for $150 million (approx. £74 million). The move will increase Game's British footprint by over 200 stores and leave the chain as the largest games retailer in Europe by a sizable margin.

The consolidation is reminiscent of the merger between Gamestop and EBGames a few years back that created a virtual monopoly on U.S. game retailers. There had been some speculation that GameStop would scoop up GameStation next, getting a larger toehold in the British market in the process, but that now seems to be a missed opportunity. "Instead of gaining traction in the market through an acquisition of Gamestation, GameStop allowed its key rival in the UK, Game Group, to create a greater barrier to entry in that market," analyst Michael Pachter said. "We are not optimistic that GameStop will be able to grow a grass roots presence in the UK for at least three years."

Euro retailer Game buys Gamestation for $150 million originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 May 2007 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gamestation becomes 360 mecca

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: News, Fan stuff

Alex Donaldson (AKA APZonerunner), writer for RPGSite in the UK, sends us news that the GameStation in Birmingham (again, UK) has been completely remodeled ... by Microsoft. GameStation is a multiplatform gaming store akin to GameStop here in the US, and apparently the one in Birmingham is huge -- are there game stores in the US with more than one floor? Alex was walking in to purchase a DS game when he noticed that there was green everywhere. Downstairs, there were twelve 360 demo kiosks on the bottom floor. What's more, the demo kiosks were all networked, allowing customers to play matches of Perfect Dark: Zero. The kiosks are all hooked up to high definition televisions, and some of them have bean bags or green and white couches in from of them. In the future there are plans to hold tournaments at the store (don't forget to bring your Live account on a memory card). Truly a 360 gamers paradise. Of course, there was one PS2 demo kiosk, but it was broken.

Even though GameStation is a multiplatform store, it looks like Microsoft is hoping to make an impression on potential Wii buyers this holiday. Follow the read link for lots of pictures. Any of our UK readers been to this store yet? For that matter, can we get something like that in the US, please?

Gamestation becomes 360 mecca originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Oct 2006 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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