We’ve just had confirmation that GAME Australia has gone into administration.
Earlier this morning staff members informed Kotaku Australia that GAME wouldn’t be receiving copies of Diablo III due to payment issues with its shipping companies, and many reported issues with GAME’s website.
However, final confirmation came this morning when all GAME stores were sent an email stating GAME had gone into administration. GAME’s Marketing Manager also confirmed this to Kotaku Australia, but declined to give further details.
The UK arm of GAME went into administration in March this year closing 609 of its stores. Back then GAME Managing Director Paul Yardley stated he was looking for a buyer for the Australian division, but could not rule out the possibility of redundancies and store closures.
At the moment we’re not aware of the impact this news will have on stores locally. We will update this story as and when more information comes to light.
Lifehacker has some information on whether or not it’s safe to buy from GAME in its current state.
Omg so much senseless hate on EB, they are the largest game retailer in the world and make bulk $$$$ umad? U sew mad?
you should change your name to Joffrey, because thats who you sound like >.>
its funny how you think EB is the largest company in the world, when its actually Gamestop who owns EB Games Australia. fool. they deserve their hate
EB is simply Gamestop's Australian branch, same operating system, all the big decisions made by Gamestop are filtered through to EB. Different name same company, therefore, biggest company. fool. They deserve their hate? why? what has EB personally done to you? so much senseless hate on a good company. You hate them because they do their games at RRP? the reason why JB can do games for $79 is because its a non profit product, they lure you in with cheap games so you buy their TV's and computers and what not. Guess what? its called a price match? All the games i buy from EB cost me $79 Learn how the retail market works before hating you morons.
I'm surprised how many people pre-ordered games with them. The writings been on the wall for a long time - they had no business proposition, needed a buyer fast, and every potential buyer is all ready over committed in the Australian market.
I feel for the staff. GAME was pretty lousy - I've literally bought one game there - but that had nothing to do with the staff, one of whom even flirted with me at Eastgardens. Certainly better than the treatment I get at a lot of retail places.
If you are refering to the only girl at that store, you're probably talking about me - pretty damn sure i wasn't flirting with anyone :)
If it was one of the guys...well sorry on their behalf :P
It probably wasn't you. It was about 4.5 years ago - I was buying Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and the game guide. I'm 90% sure it was at Eastgardens BUT I did live quite close to Bondi Junction as well.
If I recall correctly, the sales assistant in question was a natural blonde with a pink streak, but I could be mistaken. She wrote her number in the jacket of the guide, but I had girlfriend at the time so I never called.
I sure hope that if they have a gigantic sale, it doesn't turn into another dick smith fiasco. I don't mind employees buying the stuff, it's just the greedy, ignorant people who expect everything to be theirs.
Well they just took payment for my Diablo III Collectors Edition... f*ckers
digital downloads Wins, flawless victory, fatality.....
All I can say is, don't be a jerk to these people who work in the stores right now, so many of Game employees have the possibility of loosing our jobs right now, and while you all make jobs and laugh at the company, just remember the people who really enjoyed being at Game and helping customers out no matter what.
Of course, if anyone comes into my store acting all high and mighty, i will slap you down a peg or two and call you a dick to your face :)
What does this mean to those of us that have pre order for other games like Ghost Recon, Assassin's Creed 3, Street Fighter vs Tekken for Vita etc??
I can't help but think that this is some type of horrible joke to somehow tie in the D3. I mean the DAY BEFORE it launches they announce they won't be getting any copies? Surely they already have a ton of copies for sale since my order page shows my CE shipped out.
Shame, I liked Game. I ordered all my CE games from there. Just hope they aren't BSing and that i'll actually get my copy tomorrow or i'll be so pissed. Better keep checking that tracking number for updates because if that moves I know they sent it really.
Damn. I love my local Game store. Awesome staff who always greet me by name & up for a chat, & boy do they know their games! I bought alot of stuff from them over the years just because of the great service. I was planning on pre-ordering a Wii U through them too.
Its gonna be sad when I go to collect my Max Payne 3 pre-order this week from Game. Gonna miss you guys
I know the game store I work out had over 150 pre orders 60 of them CE of diablo 3 and we have been told we are getting none of them. I know I had paid my copy in full like so many months ago. And know we have been told we are to call them and say no diablo and you don't get your money back. Such bull shit we even got emails saying to push pre orders over the weekend. Only to walk in today to be told they lost there money wtf is that about. Even last week when we had 259 empty boxes turn up at the store head office would not even replay to emails from there stores.
Your store too? Well its nice knowing my store wasn't the only one to recieve empty boxes and bubblewrap...
so you got the blue bubble wrap goodbye too huh? :-/
We received our boxes bubble wrap and tape today. Ive called up some of the other store managers who my store is close with and theyve all gotten them aswell.
I was told my my AM that everyone is getting them as a precaution.
I am on the verge of a breakdown. I have pushed myself and team so hard for the past 3 months to get to where we are and we will all prob close.
Its honestly really sad.
Us too. We got boxes, tape, markers - HO wouldn't tell us the deal. Assholes.
I must be one of the lucky ones. They took out the rest of the money on thursday and shipped it friday to me. So i'm guessing it's not a total 100% thing that no one is getting D3 from them.
that took waaaaay too long to be announced
insiders told us last Christmas that they'd be closing before Financial Year end and we tapped our fingers and said "Good....Good..." in our best Emperor voices.
Will system shows the warehouse got 59 copy's of CE. Email did say they are only sending them to a few stores
Used to shop at my local store frequently, it was a rare occurrance where i would NOT walk out with something after walking in. In part this was due to their competitive prices (my store always had a cheaper price than JB Hifi or EB) but also EXCELLENT customer service. Something happened in 2010, the store was replaced with not so friendly staff, which stripped away my enthusiasm in wanting to support the store, support the company and reward the staff for their friendly service. Thus i voted with my feet and stopped shopping at the store and said hello to the world of importing.
While I do feel sorry for those who will lose their jobs to this coming of events, there's something I just have to say.
Ha. Moving on.
Feel pretty bad for game, as a former eb employee I attended their vender shows and eb used to celebrate the fact game was closing stores and mocking them infront of 400 plus people, they used to have it on a massive screen and have a go at them............i must say i will never shop at eb games and i will just use ozgameshop..........one other thing when game where closing stores the 1st time the regional directer of eb games went down to the store with a bottle of champange and drank it infront of the staff that had just lost their jobs........pretty poor if you ask me eb games.
No, as an unemployed person I don't like the sound of all that competition coming on to the job market. These people may just go after jobs I am going for!
Well, Guess I wont get my Pre-order of Prototype 2 (PC)
Called the head office and they told me all diablo orders will be fine but max payne might have problems.
Probably bs, who know's for sure.
Im still getting my CE of D3
Is a shame; JB people were disinterested in selling me anything, EB hires ditzy blondes with huge tits, but the guys and girls in GAME seemed to be legitimate gamers and actually enthusiastic about their product. RIP>
Which EB games do you shop at?
The mongrels owe me about $4000 in unpaid wages. That said, I loved working in my store a few years ago. Good staff, Jeff and Adam in particular and we where all passionate about gamin and had a lot of regular customers who came back because of our service. Thoughts go out to the employees here in Townsville.
STEAL ALL THE GAMES!
Hi all
Just got my confirmation that my D3 CE has shipped from GAME. I ordered through their website last thursday and It says shipped on the 11th. Hopefully this isn't BS
I feel sorry for those people who are going to lose their job but Game deserves this. Their prices were never competitive and every time I went there to price match they would say its way below their margins and the store manager won't approve it. I will never support retailers like EB or Game who just rip off customers with their criminal RRPs. I would either buy it from JB if I have to have the game on release day or get it online.
so your ideal business model is to sell product at below cost price? good luck with that!
I don't think I've ever bought anything from Game. I only know of like 2 in Melbourne, and when I wander in, I wander out emptyhanded. This news bothers me none.