Gamestation Takes A Dump On Game

[Adverse_Camber]

According to senior sources at Blockbuster-owned Gamestation, 41% of all UK bound Xbox 360's have been allocated to the retailer; twice as many as rival GAME, which is receiving only 19%.

The deal is one that follows a close relationship between the retailer and Microsoft. The allocation should mean Gamestation receives 82,000 to distribute to its 200 stores. However, not all allocated consoles will be available on launch day as the 200,000 figure refers to all consoles shipped before the end of 2005.

What is the thinking behind this? Surely Game are going to be a little pissed by this news. A retailer not to get on the wrong side of.

[nips]

Yeah, but MS are pissed becuase GAME were demanding too much from them.

[Adverse_Camber]

How so?

[Sng]

They wanted a bigger cut of the pie, basically. If it's true anyway.

[Adverse_Camber]

But surely, as the UK's biggest videogame retailer, Microsoft would be all to eager to give them a bigger slice? I'm somewhat out of the loop here.

[Mr Spew]

Looks like it turned out true then (from the rumblings a few weeks ago).

[Chris303]

Microsoft know they will sell so it wont matter to them where people get the units from.

[Adverse_Camber]

I'm not so sure. It's a bit of a risk. Piss off Game, and you may find the software hidden at the back of the store.

[GinzaUK]

Fair play to them. MS don't really care who they sell to. The 360 is going to sell. If GS ask for less money but sell more units then everyone is a winner. The only loser in this equation is GAME. Watch the shares fall I bet.

[mackemansj1]

piss of game or eb as it was helped in the downfall of the dreamcast. eb i think it was at the time didnt push the dreamcast as much for reasons unknown. But when ps2 hit dreamcast was very much dumped to the back at my two local stores. Ms wouldnt be so stupid as to piss of the biggest game store chain in the uk would they. If so i think game could have a hand in winning this round of console wars. And we all know where johnny casual goes for his games game.

[Mr Spew]

They didn't push it because no one wanted it - advertising wasn't there and people who had Dreamcasts knew where to look.

The GameCube's in the back of stores now and has been for quite a while too.

GAME need the 360 as well. Gamestation are becoming bigger sellers in some towns, so GAME are going to have to work for Microsoft a little it seems.

Where does Johnny Casual go for his games? Woolies?

[RIKT]

Fair play to them. MS don't really care who they sell to. The 360 is going to sell.

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That might be true at first, but once the initial launch hype has died down by earlier next year Microsoft are going to be needing all the exposure they can get. If they end up with with all their software tucked away at the back next to the Nintendo stuff in the biggest games retailer in the country then they're gonna be in a bit of trouble i reckon.

I'd be pretty worried now if i was someone who'd ordered from Game though.

[mackemansj1]

I preorded with game myself and did so the second day of them takeing them. In my local store i was put 22nd that was after only one day of takeing preorders.We have a gamestation in town but its tucked away, where as game is slap bang in the middle of the main shopping center. Im not saying this is what its like in other citys, but in sunderland game must account for 80% if not more of games sold.

[outspaced]

They didn't push it because no one wanted it - advertising wasn't there and people who had Dreamcasts knew where to look.

The GameCube's in the back of stores now and has been for quite a while too.

GAME need the 360 as well.  Gamestation are becoming bigger sellers in some towns, so GAME are going to have to work for Microsoft a little it seems.

Where does Johnny Casual go for his games?  Woolies?

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Hey! woolies does some good bargains. Probably becasue they don't really know what they're doing and they want to clear the shelf space.

[Hello Goaty ♥]

In Birmingham, Game play second fiddle to Gamestation.

Game are truely terrible around these parts.

[Alex W.]

If Game did limit its support for the 360 because of a row, it would be really bad for Microsoft. However, if Game don't support the 360, it's going to be a really bad Christmas season for them. I think Microsoft called their bluff.

[roskelld]

someone needs to. They're trying to take and dictate the market, and they shouldn't be allowed. They are, or were almost in a position to control what consoles sold. No one should have that power.

To us it's very obvious what their actions are, the way they 'push' a particular product, but to the layman off the street, they believe they're getting high class advice.

This may give Gamestation the push they need to bring them up, giving game some proper competition and allowing the market to flourish. I think we could do with a few more chains that come in on the picture though.

Next stop, 2nd hand gaming.

[RIKT]

If Game did limit its support for the 360 because of a row, it would be really bad for Microsoft. However, if Game don't support the 360, it's going to be a really bad Christmas season for them. I think Microsoft called their bluff.

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I know nothing (and care much less) about the money and the business side of gaming, so please forgive me if i'm completely wrong here. But considering the limited release and therefore the relatively smallish amount of Xbox360's that are going to be sold before Christmas here, is having their allocation cut back really going to affect Game that much at all?

It's not like Sony have blocked them from selling PS2 consoles or games is it?

I certainly think it'll affect Microsoft much more in the long run that it will Game.

[Rev]

I know nothing (and care much less) about the money and the business side of gaming, so please forgive me if i'm completely wrong here. But considering the limited release and therefore the relatively smallish amount of Xbox360's that are going to be sold before Christmas here, is having their allocation cut back really going to affect Game that much at all?

It's not like Sony have blocked them from selling PS2 consoles or games is it?

I certainly think it'll affect Microsoft much more in the long run that it will Game.

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It's not so much the money, as the appearance. If Game sell out instantly and Gamestation (and Blockbuster, remember) have some in stock Game are going to look bad. If that happened, and they didn't have any for the 360 - are as many people going to pay £20 for the pleasure of ordering a PS3 from them?

It's a house of cards type thing, once people start losing faith it could all fall down. While it almost certainly won't - at least not anytime soon - it is a big deal.

[El Pibe]

Next stop, 2nd hand gaming.

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In what way?

We don't even have a GameStation in this city.

[JPickford (retired mod)]

On a global (well US & Europe combined) level I'm sure Blockbuster have more muscle than Game.

[MikeF]

I still fully expect my 360 (ordered from Game's website on day 1) to arrive on launch day

[JPickford (retired mod)]

I still fully expect my 360 (ordered from Game's website on day 1) to arrive on launch day

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[Eighthours]

Happily I ordered from Gamestation, simply because their staff in Bristol are far more savvy than their GAME equivalents. The store is far smaller, so I didn't know GS were bigger in some areas!

Feel sorry for all you other guys though, hope you get your 360s.

[mackemansj1]

lol, yeah i will be po if i dont get a launch day unit. Having preorded within 2 days of them opening them up. I really dont like game and only ever buy games from there which im not sure of to take them up on there 10 day rental. But i thought i was playing it safe with pre ordering from them seen as there one of the biggest game store chains in the uk. I will be on the hunt for a 360 on the 2nd of dec if i get shafted by game.

[The Liberal Elite]

let's be honest, as gamers, who gives a shitting fuck which bloody retailer gets most?

mm?

[Hello Goaty ♥]

I will be on the hunt for a 360 on the 2nd of dec if i get shafted by game.

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[mackemansj1]

hehe i might have to resort to them tactics

[RIKT]

let's be honest, as gamers, who gives a shitting fuck which bloody retailer gets most?

mm?

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I imagine those unluckly enough not to get a 360 on December 2nd because they are too far down the Game pre-order list, while people who ordered much later at Gamestation get theirs will give a shitting fuck don't you?

[The Liberal Elite]

I imagine those unluckly enough not to get a 360 on December 2nd because they are too far down the Game pre-order list, while people who ordered much later at Gamestation get theirs will give a shitting fuck don't you?

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oh, the woes of being an early adoptor.