If anyone on here from the UK is affected by this and still looking for a copy of the CE Grainger Gameshas some and apparently HMV are now taking preorders for it.

I'm slightly confused as to why EB took so long to close the stores it had near GAME stores after the merger. Seems like a huge cash hole to me. I'm also slightly confused at what point and why EB separated from its international operations, to form Game Group. I would have thought an international game sales conglomerate would have been a good idea, rather than spinning off into individual companies.

Things are tough everywhere.

@Y2Ken said:

This is pretty nuts. Be interested to see how this affects GameStation as they are owned by GAME. I've bought a few things from there for launch events but most games are just cheaper online now. Will have to make a point of going in and spending my reward points before they stop accepting them I guess.

My £8.52 still hasn't been refunded after they cancelled my pre-order. I sent them an e-mail, but I wonder if there's a clause somewhere in T&C's which says they have every right not to give it back to my Rewards Account.

UK fellas trying to secure a Mass Effect 3 N7 Edition should try amazon.de, the German Amazon branch. They still have plenty stock for consoles and as Chris Priestly (Community Manager at BioWare) personally assured me, the German version will have complete English language support.

I agree with all the remarks about the customer service, prices and trade-in policies with GAME stores. Can't wait for it to go under.

But then knowing its subsidiaries are Gamestation and the site Gameplay.com (which was taken down, literally, yesterday) I'm worried because I like them! Gameplay were always really well priced and delivered day of release, if no day before - been shopping and shipping with those guys for years. Contradictory to what some other people are saying the Gamestation near me is great and I think their beat any other trade-in price is incredible. Not to mention informed and friendly service - video game banter was had with the staff on numerous occasions!

I'm just hoping they kill off GAME and leave Gamestation in the knowledge that their more hardcore audience will trust them and keep spending. But then again that image will most likely change to replace the bright and colourful appeal of GAME stores... It's a tough call, but if it all goes down the pan, no way am I paying HMV prices! And (for me anyway) there is nowhere else on the high-street that I can really go for games, especially brand new ones. Apart from supermarkets I guess...

This is just effing wierd.. in Sweden Game is a lot cheaper and better then Gamestop.. frankly there is no competition even... At game you can buy pre-owned games for about 30-50% cheaper then Gamestop and we pay a lot more then you guys from the beginning 699kr = ~103,5$. I bought GTAIV pre owned at Game for ~25$ and the price for GTAIV pre owned at Gamestop was ~43$

I have never had a problem with GAME. The stores I use (Cwmbran, Cardiff and Newport mainly) I find are staffed by pleasant and helpful sorts and if I go to exchange a game, or get a refund its never an issue. I have mass effect 3 reserved with them so this is a bastard as far as I'm concerned.

I'm no fan of going through digital retailers. I much prefer to go to the nearest store and buy the game rather than cock about ordering it online or buying it digitally. If GAME goes then aside from HMV (which also stocks games) I have no clue where on the highstreet I can get games. I refrain from buying them in supermarkets to support the highstreet shops (same with DVD's) but I may end up having to. I did not know the company was having trouble as the nearest one to me (Cwmbran) is always pretty busy and when you get the big releases the bloody place is full to bursting.

Edit. I just remembered about Gamestation. Now for some reason I've never liked going in there. Maybe the small size of the nearest store to me is offputting, or something less tangible.

People who don't buy games online are crazy people.

Better go spend those GAME card points then I suppose

I'm less worried about the business itself as much as the people who work there.

My local Gamestation in particular have always had the best staff working there and it'll be a shame, a really big shame, to see those guys out of work.

Take out the middle man! Take him out back and TAKE HIM OUT.

Went by a blockbuster today and they had big signs up saying "preorder mass effect 3 now! Not available in GAME or Gamestation!!"

Hahahaahahah I didn't even know blockbuster actually sold things but clearly other companies are taking advantage of this.

Capcom games are not getting stocked either now, and I understand staff are being asked if they agree to waiver their contracted hours. I think the end might come sooner than we all thought.

I hope the company survives. Is it big electronic chains that are out competing them?

@Adrean89: they can't compete with online prices, there agenda is wrong and out of touch with any real 'gaming enthusiasts' needs and they don't have any stock.