Game in administration (was Mass Effect 3 order cancelled)

[RealMikeBob]

First the Last Story was dumped, now it seems Game has been forced to cancel their Mass Effect 3 preorders as well. Given this and the other rumours about it's really not looking good for Game.

[Count Zero]

yes seems Game's time may be running short. I can appreciate it is very difficult to compete with the online retailers and super markets, especially on this type of product. You wonder how long HMV can survive.

[Killgore]

Good riddence to GAME.

Preventing games from being on Steam and stopping me from getting DLC that other countries enjoy.

Shame for the people who may loose jobs though

[Wintermute]

I found out about this via edge-online's daily newsletter which in addition to having the story here they also had a copy of an internal memo here.

I very quickly placed an order for the N7 Collectors' edition from Play.com and then checked my Game account to discover my order for ME3 had already been cancelled. The official email notification followed about ten minutes later.

As a result of this news Games share price crashed.

I've been aware of Games' financial problems for a few months now and I was almost expecting this to happen with ME3, but at the same time hoping it would not. However, I've made alternative arrangements to get the edition of ME3 I wanted so I'm not now too bothered. But saying this I am sad the company appears to sinking quickly and will disappear completely and I feel sorry for its staff.

I've sinced cancelled the order with play.com because the N7 Edition is now available from Amazon, and its cheaper

[Bombot]

I first heard news (rumours?) to this effect this on another forum a week and half ago. I instantly headed to their website to cash in my loyalty points and boy were they hard to spend. Stock levels are appalling. Alas, it's very much a company on its knees.

[The Highlander]

Unfortunately I can’t find anywhere that still has the N7 Collectors’ edition on PC available, I don’t know where I’m going to get it now.

[Voss]

Nuts. I thought this would be a thread about people being conscientious consumers and voluntarily canceling their orders in objection to EA ridiculous monetizing schemes.

[eldargal]

I'm glad it isn't, there is enough of that silliness elsewhere. I'm also glad my policy of pre-ordering two collectors editions from two seperate companies paid off again. The last time was when Game messed up my Age of Conan order in 2007 or 8.

Nuts. I thought this would be a thread about people being conscientious consumers and voluntarily canceling their orders in objection to EA ridiculous monetizing schemes.

[The Custodian]

Nuts. I thought this would be a thread about people being conscientious consumers and voluntarily canceling their orders in objection to EA ridiculous monetizing schemes.

And i thought it was someone coming here from bioware forums overreacting to the leaked endings for the game (Seriously, the drama on the ME3 spoiler sections is stunning. All because the endings are not what they thought they would be )

Sucks for those of you unable to get a CE version now seems like a real dumb thing to drop on customers a week before game release

[Wintermute]

Unfortunately I can’t find anywhere that still has the N7 Collectors’ edition on PC available, I don’t know where I’m going to get it now.

Direct from EA, ie the digital download version here

[The Highlander]

Direct from EA, ie the digital download version here

I spotted that yesterday, but I always prefer to have the physical version (especially when it comes to the books etc).

I think I’ll hang on a few days to see if anyone gets in N7 version in (not much chance but might as well try), and if not then I’ll just have to get the digital version.

[Voss]

I'm glad it isn't, there is enough of that silliness elsewhere. I'm also glad my policy of pre-ordering two collectors editions from two seperate companies paid off again. The last time was when Game messed up my Age of Conan order in 2007 or 8.

Perhaps. But had the thread title reflected the content of the post (bad regional game store is bad), rather than a game with significant issues, I wouldn't have clicked on the thread.

[Wintermute]

I spotted that yesterday, but I always prefer to have the physical version (especially when it comes to the books etc).

I know what you mean and agree with you.

[Grimmeth]

I didn't order the N7 edition, not sure if I should have done now but I'd be unlikely to get a (360) copy anyway at this point.
Things definitely don't look good for Game though - don't they own Gamestation too?

[Angelwing]

There has been some bad rumblings about Game (and I don't mean their pricing structure). Since they and Games station are one and the same I took the liberty of spending all my credit with games station this morning. I really didn't want any more games on the pile, but I didn't want to lose the substantial credit either.

[Grimmeth]

I've got a fiver for game I'll go and chop in later I think, probably won't get much but might be able to pick up something old that I missed out on or something.

[Bombot]

There's some views on t on the Guardian's Market Forces Blog.

From 'analyst Nick Bubb' there's this gem:

"So, had you heard of this new so-called blockbuster game Mass Effect 3 that comes out next week? Well, nor had we..."

What an expert!

Even if Game survives in the short term, they will be finished if the games industry successfully crushes the used game market.

[BorderKing]

I don't get this ? Why isn't Game stocking ME3 ?

[Wintermute]

I don't get this ? Why isn't Game stocking ME3 ?

Because the Game group is in severe financial trouble and their ability to get credit insurance has been limited as reported here a month ago.

Game group also had problems with some titles for the launch of the Sony Vita and have also lost the support of Nintendo.

[Yodhrin]

Oh godammit, I deliberately forced myself not to pay attention to Mass Effect until after the launch in order to stop myself getting pissed off at how ludicrously limited EA made the Collector's Edition(common, everybody knows that CE's aren't that rare, apart from EA it appears), and now I find that not only did I miss a massive blow to my personal nemesis(I *bleeping* hate GAME), but I miss out on a chance to order the N7 edition again? Gah, even worse, and typically; there are N7 editions available....on PS3....the one release platform I don't own

Still, the fact that GAME appear to be going down the toilet brings warm fuzzy feelings to my heart; they were a damn cancer on UK gamers, they treat their staff like crap, and it serves them right for overextending themselves trying to establish a monopoly. Of course, the gimps that put the company in this situation will walk away with golden parachutes and right into another job through their nepotistic social networks, while the counter-chumps will end up on the dole queue, but such is life.