Tag Archives: video games

There’s nothing wrong with independent retailers buying games from supermarkets and selling them at a premium, say UK distributors. Indies told MCV last month that stocking new games will be extremely difficult when the VAT rise comes into effect next year. And with some grocers lowering prices to below cost, …

Despite the growing popularity of digital games retail – and the clear desire of platform holders to sell their games direct to consumers – US analyst Michael Pachter thinks traditional bricks and mortar retail will be safe for some time yet. In fact, ahead of GameStop’s financial report tomorrow Pachter …

It was by all accounts a Black Tuesday for games development yesterday as job cuts were confirmed at two studios and one of the industry’s most respected developers faced up to a very uncertain future. Though the numbers are yet to be reported, LucasArts has confirmed a minor adjustment in …

Publishers and retailers must get together and figure out a way of working together to tackle the dual problem of pre-owned and digital retail, Codemasters CEO Rod Cousens has stated. Pre-owned is regarded by a threat by publishers as they don’t see any returns from sales of used games – …

The UK market won’t recapture the Wii heyday of 2008 for some time, according to Screen Digest. During last week’s London Games Conference senior analyst Ben Keen revealed that even as digital sales grow, and reach parity with boxed products, a spending gap in year-on-year comparisons will emerge. In the …

Retail’s defence of pre-owned is a simple one. Consumers trade in their games so they can buy new ones. It helps inflate sales of newly released titles, and the specialist retailers all have stats to back up this claim, too. But unfortunately that argument has broken down now the likes …

Andrew Thompson, the head of games at supermarket Asda, has told MCV that increasing competition in the games sector forced it to adopt a pre-owned games strategy. Tesco, Argos and Best Buy all let customers trade in against anything in store. And he adds that publisher’s do understand the retailer’s …

The recent trend for including DLC codes in new copies of games and charging those who buy the game pre-owned is poorly targeted, according to Take-Two chairman (and in a few weeks CEO) Strauss Zelnick. Speaking in New York, Zelnick explained that US law clearly allows for the sale of …

The standard $59.99/49.99 RRP for console software is keeping people out” of the console market at retail. That’s according to THQ president Brian Farrell, who reiterated his stance at the BMO Capital markets Conference in New York this week. Farrell previously made similar comments in September at the Goldman Sachs …

Supermarket behemoth Tesco has now rolled out its pre-owned games service to all of its Extra stores.That’s nearly 200 shops across the UK. However, although all Extras will be accepting trade-ins, pre-owned games will only be available to buy in 150 of the firm’s larger outlets. We are continuing to …