Like much in the gaming industry at present, the retail sector is facing continual challenges and a state of flux. For retailers there's the challenge of boosting online sales while keeping bricks-and-mortar stores in business, while the shadow of Amazon looms over gaming-specific brands.
UK retailer GAME is picking up on a staple of the Amazon service, however, opening up a 'Marketplace' section where third-parties - notably only of the Indie variety at present, it seems - are able to sell a range of wares. Listings are based on the best prices, so GAME's in the odd position of being undercut on games by a number of these smaller businesses - GAME will nevertheless pocket a commission, surely, so doesn't entirely lose out.
The Marketplace branding, though, is all about gaming culture goods - T-Shirts, comics, and general extras that fill shelves and decorate rooms.
Options are relatively slim right now, but we're particularly interested in the Product Index page, with some notable ranges 'coming soon'. These include Wii games, GameCube consoles and accessories, in addition to Retro consoles, handhelds, games and accessories. There's a healthy range of small businesses that sell retro gaming systems and games in the UK, and it'll be worth seeing which get involved in this GAME Marketplace, especially as the retailer is the most recognisable video game specialist in the country.
Let us know what you think of this, and whether you'd like to see game retailers prominent in other territories - such as GameStop, EB Games and more - pursuing similar ideas.
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Comments 18
I need that pc gaming master race shirt.
@A01 Welcome to modern storefronts .... I know it dosn't seem right but this seems to be the reality here in Germany (at least where I life) too ..
@A01 Welcome to to 2015.
I remember when going into video game stores was an experience. And there were many different shops around. Of course I also remember when it was known as Electronics Boutique and before that, Future Zone. They had the best logo - a 3D lit cyborg type head popping out of the shop sign.
Oh how I miss the simpler times.
Game is a horrendous place to go. . . I prefer going to CEX to see what DS games I can pick up in the Bargain bin!
I always buy from anywhere else other than Game given the option. (Even rather pay slightly more than give them anything).
Only time I would buy from them is as a last resort. (I got my Smash Wii U code from them because cdkeys.com went out of stock about 5mins before I was going to order it - literally went to make a cup of tea and when I got back it was out of stock).
It seems retail game stores have taken a considerable dive in quality over the last decade or so. Makes me happy Amazon exists!
@FeedingTheWheel I pretty much buy all my video games from Amazon, but I don't think even Amazon is that great.
When it comes to 2nd hand games, I hope they list the condition like other sites do. While I'm not so bothered about missing manuals, games without the case/inlay drive me barmy. I may check it out just to see what's what. Not so interested in apparel.
As with any marketplace why would I want it? I suppose in the case of this GAME one it might be easier to browse gaming merchandise or something. But as for it supplementing their goods well...I do find it a bit sickening they Chinese counterfeits for sale such as these:
http://www.game.co.uk/en/zedlabz-gamecube-controllers-usb-gamecube-adapter-value-bundle-for-wii-u-370533
The controllers are highly likely to be junk tier and as simple as a USB hub is that could also easily fail.
@Starwolf_UK "Gameware" is the same junk tier.
For retro I shop at my local retro game shop in Cardiff. Theres something so nostalgic about actually browsing a load of nes games on a shelf...
@FragRed Ah Future Zone! The Future Zone near me had a snes set up so you could play Starwing on it. Me and my friends used to use it as a free arcade. Until the shop staff got so annoyed with us that they switched it off one day at least.
@A01 The last time I went was when Captain Toad released early and my local GAME in the UK was a similar case except it was 40% Playstation dominating the right side of the store, 40% Xbox dominating the left side, 10% Skylanders + Disney Infinity, two sides of one shelf for Nintendo in the corner and amiibo on the small shelves leading to the tills.
They might as well have had a mirror on the left or right wall of the store since they're dedicating both sides of the store to two extremely similar brands with literally the same games taking most shelf space on both sides.
I received an email last week from EB Games in AUS about how they're opening a new chain of stores called Zing Pop Culture, very similar by the sounds of it.
@A01 Both of my local GAME, each have equal space for all three companies.
The first has Sony on the left, Nintendo in the middle(complete with Amiibo,) and Microsoft on the right. The second has Nintendo and a bit of Sony on the left and the rest of Sony and Microsoft on the right and they also had a few New 3DS boxes at the counter.
Either both of my local GAME are awesome, or your local GAME sucks...
I just hate the fact the Game took over Gamestation and killed them off. Gamestation weren't that great either, but Game needed the competition on the high street.
Still, I might see how Game market place works out.
To be honest I very rarely go in Game anymore, they have a terrible amount of space devoted to Nintendo games/Hardware and when I do manage to find something good, well... They use eShop prices. In terms of Nintendo games, and games in general, CeX will usually have a much better selection at (usually) fair prices and have stock from the XBOX/PS2/GCN era of consoles, unlike Game.
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