[Scarlett.]

Struggling video games retailer GAME Group will not be stocking the highly-anticipated Mass Effect 3 when it is released next week due to a "supply issue".

Eurogamer found that the retailer, which includes the GAME and Gamestation stores, will not offer any EA games in March beyond snowboarding title SSX.

Staff at the chain alerted the games website to the situation after a company-wide memo was sent this morning, revealing that FIFA Street 3, Tiger Woods 13 and Sims 3 Showtime will also not be stocked at GAME Group stores.

GAME said that anyone who pre-ordered Mass Effect 3 should place a fresh order for the game at another retailer, such as Amazon, Play, Zavvi and ShopTo. Those who placed a deposit for the pre-order at a GAME store should contact their local retailer.

in a statement issued following publication of Eurogamer's original report, GAME said that a "supply issue" was behind the decision not to stock Mass Effect 3.

"We currently have a supply issue with regards to Mass Effect 3, which means that GAME and gamestation will not be able to fulfil orders for Mass Effect 3 at this time," said the firm.

"We want to give customers as much notice about this as possible and provide them with a range of options ahead of launch.

"We appreciate that this is disappointing for our customers, and we apologise sincerely for the inconvenience that this will cause."

Anyone who pre-ordered Mass Effect 3 at a GAME store will be offered a "gesture of goodwill" - £5 worth of Rewards points to their card if they visit before March 16.

Customers who placed a deposit for the pre-order will be refunded in store credit, and also offered the £5 in points. Anyone who pre-ordered online will get an online voucher to the value of £5 that can used on any GAME websites.

HMV has confirmed that it will be stocking Mass Effect 3 as planned.

Digi Spy

[Shaun]

not Game AND Gamestation...

[Kate!]

They are the only two places to get games from in our town, oh apart from HMV, so I sincerely hope they don't go under. My son is games mad and goes there regularly.

[Kizzy]

I think most people order from amazon now, they never have anything in stock at game. My lad likes skylanders, they sold out and never got them back in.

[Scarlett.]

This isn't the first time they've done this, recently they didn't have Ubisoft Vita games on release.

I'm willing to bet American game store Gamestop will buy Game Group out, they've been itching to get into the UK for years, hell they even tried to buy Woolworths when it was going under.

[Locke.]

Only other game shop I know of around here is some newish one, think it's called Grainger Games

[Brother Leon]

I got my PS3 and my recent games from there

HMV are a rip off.

[Scarlett.]

They've been ****ing over publishers/developers waaay to long by selling preowned games

(In case you don't know, when you buy a pre-owned game, NO money goes to the creators, and all goes into Game's pocket)

[Scarlett.]

More news

The Last Story won't be sold at GAME, it has been revealed.

Pre-orders both in store and online have been cancelled one day before it was due to go on sale, according to Eurogamer.

"There is a lot activity going on in our stores and online this weekend including the releases of Syndicate: Executive Edition, Jak & Daxter Collection, Zumba Fitness Rush, Binary Domain, and Fallout New Vegas: Ultimate Edition," a GAME spokesperson told Digital Spy.

"The Last Story, for the Wii, is not in stock and we have apologised to any customers this has affected."

Customers are invited to return to stores to collect their refunded deposits, while the game's listing has been removed from GAME's website.

GAME had previously cancelled pre-orders for The Last Story's special edition, downgrading them to standard versions.

It is the latest in a series of problems for GAME. Earlier today, it announced 35 store closures and that it is going to shut sister website gameplay.co.uk.

GAME recently received lender support to alleviate financial troubles following apparent concern by publisher EA.

The high street retailer's shares plummeted by 90% in 2011, despite £1 billion in annual turnover.

The Last Story is a Wii exclusive role-playing game created by Mistwalker and Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Final Fantasy.

It has recently been confirmed for release in North America.

[Shaun]

-only buys preowned games -

No I did buy Assassins Creed and Mortal Kombat new.

[arista]

To many stores can not make the money they need.

A buyer could buy them , strim it down.

Amazon UK would be good, if they took over to Become Amazon stores
as then you could also collect Stock sent to you.

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by Shaun

-only buys preowned games -

No I did buy Assassins Creed and Mortal Kombat new.

I used to be preowned a lot, but when I found out that it basically rips off the original creator, I stopped.

[arista]

Originally Posted by King_Anton

I got my PS3 and my recent games from there

HMV are a rip off.

Yes Amazon and Play.com
are the best.


HMV stores are not able to match Online prices

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by arista

Yes Amazon and Play.com
are the best.


HMV stores are not able to match Online prices

Shopto are also decent, they promise to deliver for the release day, if they fail, they give your credit to spend on the site

[Scarlett.]

MORE news

It's emerged today that UK retailer GAME will not be stocking Mario Party 9 when it's released this coming Friday. In a Nintendo statement GAME and Gamestation, which are both part of GAME Group plc., were omitted from a list of retailers where the title will be available.

At the current time the retail group doesn't have a running supply agreement with Nintendo, meaning that distribution is being negotiated on a game-by-game basis. The retailer's websites aren't currently listing the game either, meaning that this issue applies to the high street and online stores. Recent titles distributed by Nintendo, The Last Story and Tekken 3D Prime Edition, were also excluded from GAME stores.

GAME's supply problems stem from its recent credit troubles, which forced the chain to purchase stock with cash rather than credit. This has understandably curtailed its usual buying power, and recent talks with suppliers and distributors haven't been able to secure positive agreements: GAME is not stocking Mass Effect 3 or any other EA titles for March.

With all future Nintendo titles being negotiated on an individual basis it remains to be seen whether key upcoming titles such as Kid Icarus: Uprising will find their way to GAME shelves.

Nintendo Life

[Tom4784]

It'll be the end of GAME I think but I can see Gamestation being bought by somebody. I just buy most of my stuff online though nowadays, can't think of the last time I bought a game from a shop.

[Scarlett.]

I reckon Gamestop will buy Gamestation

[Scarlett.]

Shares have hit an all time low it seems

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

Youtube video

[Scarlett.]

More graphs, because bitches love graphs. Total share history

[michael21]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...ulls-plug.html

GAME GROUP plunged into crisis today as one of the biggest video game makers in the world stopped supplying the high street chain.

A memo revealed Game and Electronic Arts had fallen out over "credit terms".

It means Game will no longer receive Mass Effect 3, the largest game of the year so far, or other March releases.

The row means Game may also miss out on Mario Party 9, and FIFA 13.

Game earlier this month struck a deal with banks to avoid breaching the terms of its loans.

But today's blow will send thousands of customers into the open arms of rivals such as Amazon and the supermarkets.

Shares crashed 12 per cent to just 5p.

The memo, written by Tom Devine, group channel director, shows EA refused to amend its credit terms to give Game a big enough profits margin.

It says: "Last week we held an industry event for our partners in the industry and explained the challenges we are facing in the short-term — and we asked for their support.

"We asked them to trade with us using manageable credit terms, and for them to continue to do that whilst we work through the strategic review and re-financing our business.

"We gave the industry commitments — we committed to integrity and openness in our dealings, and working with everyone equally.

"We committed to only stocking products on which we could get the right credit terms, regardless of the title or the supplier.

"We will not stock products if their terms are not right for our business — we will not sacrifice long-term credit requirements for short-term sales opportunities.

"As a result of us taking this position — a position that we believe is critical to our long-term health as a business — we have taken the very difficult decision not to stock EA's March releases."

Game insisted it was confident the dispute would be "short-term".

In an official statement, Game said those who had paid a deposit for Mass Effect would get a refund — as well as £5-worth of reward points.

[Scarlett.]

GAME share prices have fallen by 15% following the withdrawal of future Electronic Arts releases.

Shares for the retail group, which includes GAME and gamestation, opened at 5.57p this morning, climbed to 5.98p, before plunging to as little as 4.89p, reports MCV.

Currently valued at 5p per share, the prices plummeted after it was revealed that future EA titles would not be stocked beyond this week's SSX release.

US retailer GameStop, meanwhile, has expressed interest in purchasing GAME, but does not want to take over its Australian stores.

Following a $3bn Christmas trading period, the retail giant is reportedly interested in moving into UK and Spanish regions, despite recently closing stores in Portugal and Northern Ireland.

It was previously linked with a move to take over the now defunct high street chain Woolworths in 2008.

Earlier this month, GAME announced 35 store closures and said that it is going to shut sister website gameplay.co.uk.

GAME recently received lender support to alleviate financial troubles following apparent concern by publisher EA.

The high street retailer's shares plummeted by 90% in 2011, despite £1 billion in annual turnover.

[Niall]

Game overcharge most of the time anyways. It's terrible the way they jack up their prices.

Quite shocked to hear they're in such a state tho.

[Samuel.]

This is awful I love Gamestation, that's where practically every game I've bought in like the last 3 years has been from.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Niall

Game overcharge most of the time anyways. It's terribkenthe way they jack up their prices.

Quite shocked to hear they're in such a state tho.

They have been on the Edge
for some years.

But New games are soon Out
and if they can not Fund the Supply
then they are the Alone Dead Store
its their own fault.