MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
The blending of the High Street and digital market continues with news that GAME is offering specific trade-in deals on a number of digital products. 10 of PSN credit can be had for just 99p when one of a number of back-catalogue titles including Batman: Arkham Asylum, LA Noire, Heavy …
Read More »Blizzard moves to help disappointed GAME customers Down Under
As the world this morning wakes up to Diablo III, gamers in Australia have been saved from disappointment by Blizzard. Having entered administration over the weekend, GAME Australia yesterday announced that it would not only be unable to honour Diablo III pre-orders, but would also not be able to refund …
Read More »Australian Minister comments on GAME situation
Bill Shorten MP has expressed his concern over the potential loss of 500 jobs from GAME Australia, but says he is ‘hopeful’ a buyer can be found. Shorten is the Minister forthe Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Financial Services and Superannuation. He issued a statement today via the department’s …
Read More »Diablo III stocked at some GAME Australia stores only
GAME’s administration has cast a blemish on what should’ve been one of the most exciting days of the year for Aussie PC gamers. It was revealed early today (after rumours emerged yesterday), that customers who pre-ordered the highly anticipated dungeon crawler were receiving emails saying they wouldn’t be able to …
Read More »GAME Oxford Street could close its doors
While Game Retail Limited, the new owner of retailer GAME, appears in good health, the future looks less certain for its flagship Oxford Street Store in London. The Telegraph reports that the outlet could be forced to close its doors after the landlord, Lazari GP, won a court order last …
Read More »Diablo fans already queuing for HMV launch
Blizzard’s long-awaited RPG doesn’t even go on sale for another 16 hours but fans have been queuing for three days now. Eager consumers have set up camp outside HMV’s flagship store on Oxford Street ahead of tonight’s official launch party. They have been there since Saturday. The first person in …
Read More »GameStop sales fall but chain ‘outperforms market’
Same-store sales at US retailer GameStop dropped 12.5 per cent year-on-year. These include sales at stores which have been open for at least one year, and exclude revenue generated at newer shops. The games chain blamed the decline on a lower demand for new games, but said it had outperformed …
Read More »Dixons reports 3% like-for-like sales dip
Dixons Retail says its like-for-like sales fell three per cent for the 52 weeks ending April 28th, while overall sales remained flat. The group – which owns PC World, Currys, Dixons and other retail chains worldwide – ‘enjoyed good performances in the UK and Ireland and Northern Europe, trading ahead …
Read More »Rumour: GameStop to start selling Steam vouchers
Claims emerging from the US suggest that retailer GameStop is to start selling gift vouchers for Valve’s digital PC games portal Steam. Kotaku claims to have word of the move from a GameStop source”. It also claims that the decision to stock such cards is a direct result of its …
Read More »Blockbuster: Games retail would not survive without pre-owned
Specialist games retailers cannot survive without second-hand, says Blockbuster. The firm’s UK commercial director Gerry Butler has hit back at trade-in critics, and told MCV that the current new release business model is broken and in need of a radical overhaul. If you’re a specialist you need certain margins to …
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