lapal_fan Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 Chindie, one for you. My PS3 works, but only reads discs after it's been on for 5 minutes. If I turn it on, and you put a disc in, it wont read. However, after the 5 minutes it works fine, perfectly normally. Would I be able to trade it in, given that 5 minutes of broken-ness and buy a similar one in its place?? The problem with it seems to be that it has to 'warm up' so to speak.. ??? Might be the disc reader according to google, but that doesn't explain why it works after the 5-10 minute period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chindie Posted March 9, 2012 VT Supporter Share Posted March 9, 2012 No. The testing on it would see them spark it up and try to play a game, after checking warranty seals and the like, and the hard drive size. If it wouldn't play it immediately, they wouldn't take it in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapal_fan Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Cheers mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogso Posted March 12, 2012 Author Share Posted March 12, 2012 GAME admits end may be near as reports say company is up for sale Rumours suggest that GAME and Gamestation may have just two weeks to turn themselves around, as the company acknowledges that its share value may soon fall to nothing. future is looking increasingly grim for GAME Group, as rumours suggest the company is currently up for sale and that it may only have two weeks left as a going concern. Over the weekend multiple sources suggested that a two-week deadline to pay the rent on GAME and Gamestation's shops could prove the end of the company, if it hasn't sorted out its finances by then. The group, which has 600 stores across the UK and employs around 10,000 people, admitted today it is facing difficulties after several suppliers refused to provide new stock. As a result the stores have been unable to sell several long-awaited new games including Mass Effect 3 and Street Fighter X Tekken. According to The Sunday Times, financial group Rothschild has been hired to find a buyer, with American chain GameStop reportedly already interested in GAME's Spanish subsidiary. Acquiring the main British business though wouldn't be as easy, and would involve a pernickety pre-pack administration procedure that may put off some buyers. All these problems arose straight after Christmas when GAME's lenders change their terms and the only way GAME could carry on was wangling a cheaper deal from publishers for their stock. Increasingly though they've decided not to help out, with EA, Nintendo, and Capcom in particular refusing to supply big name games such as Mass Effect 3, Mario Party 9, and Street Fighter X Tekken. As a result GAME's share price has plummeted so far that the company is now worth little more than £15 million. This has forced GAME to issue the following statement, where it admits the share price could potentially fall to zero: 'Further to GAME's announcement of 29th February 2012 and recent press speculation, the Group confirms that it remains in discussions with its suppliers and lenders in relation to terms of trade that allow the business to operate within the facility provided by its banking syndicate, as announced on 3 February 2012, and to meet its revised strategic plan. While these discussions are ongoing, it has not been possible to source new products from a number of suppliers. The Board of GAME is working actively to resolve these issues as quickly as possible. This includes ongoing discussions with suppliers, seeking access to the original facility or alternative sources of funding, and reviewing the position of all of its assets in the UK and international territories. It is uncertain whether any of the solutions currently being explored by the Board will be successful or will result in any value being attributed to the shares of the Company.' Even EA's boss John Riccitiello has weighed in, describing the two week deadline as 'all but a certainty', and according to trade paper MCV he's 'praying for the lenders to get rational and keep them in business'. Although he was careful not to name GAME by name (the reporter speaking to him used the phrase 'a UK retailer in distress') he added that serious trouble, 'now looks like all but a certainty. It was a risk a month ago. Now it looks like a fact.' sauce Looks like the Game and Gamestation in my town, along with countless thousands of others, will become yet more empty stores on the high street... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 not looking good at all 10k jobs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapal_fan Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Feel for the employees, don't feel for the top dogs.. They had a good thing and shot themselves in the foot with greed. It certainly opens up a few doors for some smaller companies to get their foot in the high street stores, hopefully they learn from Game/Gamestations mistakes. Not good though. Wonder if they'll be selling cheap hardware to get rid of stock? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon_c Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 The games industry makes the film industry look like paupers. How are they not making bucket loads? I've never been in my local GAME and it wasn't ram packed. There must be some unbelievable mis-managment at the higher levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chindie Posted March 13, 2012 VT Supporter Share Posted March 13, 2012 Theres numerous problems that lead to this. Competition the company simply cannot compete with. Being behind the curve (or, in the case of Gameplay, which used to be the UK online game store, failing to keep up with it) with online. Over expansion. Economic climate. Long hardware generation. Suppliers squeezing more in the economic climate for various reasons. Etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgyknees Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Selling pre-owned for a massive profit too. Pisses me off that, considering the local indie game store (well, in Ryde..) will trade in for £20-22 on a brand new game and retail is back at about £25-27. (drops for older games of course). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chindie Posted March 13, 2012 VT Supporter Share Posted March 13, 2012 It isn't as simple as saying 'They sell preowned for massive profit'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapal_fan Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 How are you Chindie? Any news on your current situation bud? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgyknees Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 It isn't as simple as saying 'They sell preowned for massive profit'. Its the reason both myself and other gamers here, shop elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Risso Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 It isn't as simple as saying 'They sell preowned for massive profit'. Its the reason both myself and other gamers here, shop elsewhere. That and the miserable customer service experience for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demitri_C Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 the customer service there i have experienced have to say is absymal takes a ridiculous length of time to get a game as the line in shop is usually massive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donnie Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 Gamestation is much, much better then Game in my opinion. The staff there are way more knowledgable and helpful then the guys in Game from my experience. Be a great loss if the massive gamestation shop in Birmingham city centre closes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxjackle Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 I used to work in Gamestation part time ( the one in Pallasades) many years ago. Was a fun job and I loved having a laugh with customers and talking about games all day. It will be a shame if they go. Theres lots I dont like about Game but I hope they pull through and stay on high streets. With them and hmv on the ropes things look bleak for going into town and just picking up games on impulse. I live in St Albans and the Game here is shutting down anyway, leaving just a CEX, which is ok for trades but those stores always have a cold empty vibe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaGoMarching Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 Gamestation is much, much better then Game in my opinion. The staff there are way more knowledgable and helpful then the guys in Game from my experience. Be a great loss if the massive gamestation shop in Birmingham city centre closes. I'd have agree'd with you before the Game takerover, Regardless of the Name above the door, i find there's very little difference between the staff of each company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chindie Posted March 14, 2012 VT Supporter Share Posted March 14, 2012 It isn't as simple as saying 'They sell preowned for massive profit'. Its the reason both myself and other gamers here, shop elsewhere. Really? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethRDR Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 An aside, have you been told what your job situation is Chindie? Are they keeping the staff informed, or just hoping nobody asks any questions (as has been my past experience with HR; the second most useless business function after Marketing)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chindie Posted March 14, 2012 VT Supporter Share Posted March 14, 2012 Business as usual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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