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UK's New Super Mario Bros. 2 pre-order bonus is a rad Mario coin case
New Super Mario Bros. 2 has more gold coins in it than the United States Bullion Depository and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York combined, but the only way to extract real, honest, actually completely fake gold from the game is to pre-order it from either GAME or Gamestation in the UK.The "gold" coin seen above is actually a small case for storing a single 3DS cartridge and is only available as a pre-order bonus from the aforementioned English retailers. By being so pretty and yet so impractical, the coin case satisfies the two most important bling requirements: Flashiness, and superfluousness.
OpCapita picks up GAME retail chain, plans to keep 333 stores open
The staff of UK video game retailer GAME's remaining 333 stores can breathe a collective sigh of relief today: investment firm OpCapita is buying the chain. "We are pleased to have reached agreement with the Administrator," declared managing partner Henry Jackson, "We strongly believe there is a place on the high street for a video gaming specialist and GAME is a leading brand in the £2.8bn market in the UK." The retailer's UK assets will be transferred to Baker Acquisitions Limited, an OpCapita funded company. The firm stated that it has "no plans for any further store closures," and that it hopes to safeguard the remaining 3,200 jobs the chain still has under its belt. Read on for the official press release.
UK retailer GAME goes into administration
Retailer Game, owner of the Game and Gamestation chains has entered administration. The chain has 1,270 outlets in Europe and Australia and rumors have circulated for months concerning unrest at the highest levels of the business. It was unable to agree deals with publishers Capcom and Electronic Arts for the latest titles, meaning it had to turn away customers looking to buy Mass Effect 3 during its blockbuster opening weekend. After the board informed shareholders that "it's uncertain any of the solutions [...] being explored by the board will be successful," the company's share price fell by 71 percent. A week later, the company withdrew its share listing from the London Stock Exchange as its share value collapsed to from 62p a year ago to 2.39p. A statement released today said that insufficient progress had been made in finding a rescue solution, but the company will continue to trade while talks continue: "Further to this morning's announcement of the suspension of trading in shares of GAME Group plc, the board has concluded that its discussions with all stakeholders and other parties have not made sufficient progress in the time available to offer a realistic prospect for a solvent solution for the business. The board has therefore today filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator. In the short term the Board's intention is that the business will continue to trade and discussions with lenders and third parties will continue under the protection of the interim moratorium."
GAME announces exclusive SWTOR CE contract, Walmart accidentally cancels 'nearly all' pre-orders
Whenever a major MMO nears launch, tensions and anxieties grow to a fever pitch among players -- particularly in regard to their pre-orders. There are worries that a game won't install right, ship on time, or allow proper access to one's account. Today, there are a few more issues to be concerned with in regard to Star Wars: The Old Republic if you've pre-ordered it. Over in the UK, GAME (and Gamestation) has announced that it will be the sole retailer for SWTOR's physical Collector's Edition in the region, even though EA previously said that companies such as Amazon, Play.com, Zavvi and ShopTo were going to be selling them as well. UK players can also purchase non-CE versions of the game through EA's Origin service. In other news, several players who secured their copy of SWTOR through Walmart found that their orders -- both regular and CEs -- were canceled over this past weekend. A Walmart customer service representative appeared on the SWTOR forums to say that this happened due to a "data error" that forced the company to nix most of the pre-orders. SWTOR's Stephen Reid said that BioWare is investigating the situation, but he confirms that any players who have already added their pre-order codes into their accounts will have locked in early access for the launch.
UK FIFA 12: Ultimate Edition pre-order bonuses are golden
For us here in America, soccer will never hold the same fascination as it does abroad. All across Europe, the sport of football is revered -- and in the UK, EA's FIFA franchise does gangbusters. If you happen to live in the United Kingdom, EA is looking to provide incentive for committing to this year's latest, FIFA 12, early. If you pre-order FIFA 12: Ultimate Edition on Xbox 360 or PS3 before September 30 at GAME or Gamestation, you'll get 24 FIFA 12 Ultimate Team gold packs (four a month over the course of six months). Pre-orders from other retailers will net you a reduced 18 gold packs (three a month over six months). Ultimate Team, the trading card game introduced in 2010, will debut in October as a separate download. FIFA 12 launches in North America on September 27. The rest of the world has to wait a few extra days until September 30.%Gallery-124663%
Battlefield 3 gets 'physical' in UK with Limited Edition
Like Battlefield: Bad Company 2 before it, Battlefield 3 will be arriving at retail in a regularly priced "Limited Edition," encouraging folks to pre-order the game before its planned fall launch. The UK will get the "Physical Warfare" version for the same price as the regular edition, which includes a small arsenal of weaponry, as well as access to the "Back to Karkand" multiplayer expansion -- four remade maps from Battlefield 2. As this edition has only been announced for the UK thus far, it can only be ordered from GAME and GameStation for now, running the standard £39.99 on 360/PS3 and £34.99 on PC. That said, when EA initially confirmed the "Back to Karkand" expansion, DICE community manager Daniel Matros noted that it would be available worldwide via an in-box code. In the meantime, peruse the full "Limited Edition" armory after the break.
UK Mortal Kombat tourney has a sweet arcade-size grand prize
The latest Mortal Kombat may be for consoles only, but that hasn't kept its publisher, Warner Bros. Interactive, from creating an arcade cabinet for the game ... which can only be had if you're the UK's best at MK. WBIE is teaming with GAME and GameStation to hold a tournament that runs from March 14 through April 11, culminating in a final round at the Gadget Show Live in Birmingham. The winner will take lug home the custom coin-op cabinet, which houses a PS3, meaning it can technically be used to play Super Street Fighter IV, the upcoming Tekken Tag Tournament 2, or any number of fighters on the platform. The cabinet's artwork depicts Scorpion on one side and Sub-Zero on the other -- and looks pretty amazing, if you ask us. Check it out for yourself in high-res via the gallery below.%Gallery-118808%
GAME to close 85 UK stores
For the second time this year, UK retailer GAME announced the closure of stores following further financial losses. MCV reports the company plans to close 85 stores over the next three years, slimming down to 550 shops. The closures are designed to reduce overlap between the company's two brands (GAME and Gamestation) and "drive for greater cost efficiency" (i.e., cut general overhead). GAME's chairman Peter Lewis noted that 70 percent of customers from stores closed earlier this year shifted to another GAME store. The other 30 percent went to another game store.
UK game retailer claims 7,500 souls with a legal agreement prank
Don't think about it, just answer: Do you really read all of those agreements and legal texts that you need to scroll through when installing a game, signing up for a service or buying something online? Really? 7,500 people either don't, or they don't care about their eternal salvation, because UK video game retailer Gamestation could now legally own 7,500 souls if it wanted to. On April 1, it added a clause to its legal purchase agreement that granted the company "a non transferable option to claim, for now and for ever more, your immortal soul," and 7,500 game buyers happily clicked to agree. The company was just April Fooling -- the claims have been legally renounced, and worried patrons can click through to the website to get their soul back (and a special discount code for their trouble). But next time, you should probably read the fine print a little more closely.
UK retailer Game closing many of its stores
With all the layoffs and financial hits game publishers and developers have absorbed over the past year, it should come as no surprise that the retail branch of the industry is hurting too. In a statement to Edge today, UK retailer Game said it would close 12 of its stores, six Gamestations and all 25 of its outlets in the Debenhams chain of department stores. Though Game qualified it as a small percentage of its 682 stores, it still translates to 247 lost jobs. Here's hoping that those affected will land on their feet.
Euro retailers point to Feb. 26 release for Heavy Rain
European retailers have updated their pages for Heavy Rain, predicting the game will fall on European store shelves on February 26. For those of you keeping score at home, Famitsu said the game is releasing to Japan in February as well, lending some credibility to the proposed February 26 release in Europe. We contacted SCEE -- who gave us the cold shoulder -- but we also sent word to SCEA, who said: "We haven't announced a release date for North America ... but stay tuned as we will have a release date soon." Source - GAME Source - Gamestation Source - Play.com
UK man finds ecstasy tablets in used copy of GTA
A UK father of two said he found four tablets, which police say is likely ecstasy, within a used Grand Theft Auto game that he purchased at a Gamestation in the county of Gloucestershire. Richard Thornhill, 34, found the pills wrapped in plastic and hidden inside the instruction manual of one of two unspecified GTA games when he returned home from the store, reports the Telegraph. While still shocked at the incident, Thornhill was thankful the pills were discovered by him, dreading to think "what the consequences" would be, had his children found it. In the wake of the strange discovery, Gamestation reps maintain the company's policy is for staff to follow "rigorous procedures" when accepting trades. Perhaps the new company policy would add a four-legged employee into the mix to sniff out any future issues. Both Gamestation and the Gloucestershire Police are investigating the incident. [Via GamePolitics]
What ho, Brits! Fifty Boxing Day deals to savor
Didn't think we'd forget about our lovable Brit readers, did you? No way, Jose! Numerous UK outlets have kicked off their post-holiday sales, and there are some worthwhile bargains to be had for those with gift money to burn.We've scoured the 'net for the best deals we could find on everything from new games (Disaster, Sonic Unleashed, Animal Crossing: Let's Go to the City) to older games (Zack & Wiki, No More Heroes) to not-games (Wii Wheels, Nunchuks, Wii Points). Make the jump for the best fifty (and links to each!).
Gamestation cutting prices daily in December
Have you noticed? Games are pretty expensive. Especially when they all drop at once like they do around this time of year. UK retailer Gamestation is doing its best to allow you to experience as many games as possible, for the lowest price. Every day in December it will be running a different deal on a specific game as part of its "Advent Calendar" promotion. Each deal lasts only 24 hours, so keep checking the site each morning for some cheap gaming gems. Plus, the company has recently announced that it has dropped delivery charges, keeping its prices even more competitive in line with Play.com and GAME. Today's deal is for Bethesda's post-apocalyptic wonderland title, Fallout 3, which you can pick up for just south of £20. Pretty good deal if you ask us, but like we say it'll only be that price for today, so don't hesitate. We'll do our best to update you with any other must-buy deals as they happen.
Tallyho, guv'na -- UK Smash Showdown at Gamestation
If you like Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and you happen to live in the UK, then this announcement might have some kind of connection with you. Twenty Gamestation stores across the nation will each be hosting a 64-person Super Smash Bros. Showdown on June 28. This is no slouchy, bored-marketing-guy tournament either. Every winner from every store will take home a 40" Samsung LCD TV and a Samsung Home Theater System, with all the DVD and surround sound trimmings.Tournaments are great and all, but this one is really something else. The prizes are actually extremely good, and you only need to win six matches to take home the grand prize. Only one Fanboy blogger lives in the UK, but fortunately he is awful at Brawl. In fact, he doesn't even own the game. Or pants.Register for your local tournament at the official website -- it's probably going to fill up fast, so make like a tree and hurry.%Gallery-3347%[Via press release]
Euro retailer Game buys Gamestation for $150 million
The European game retail space just got a little less competitive. American movie rental giant Blockbuster announced today that it is selling its British Gamestation subsidiary to European mega-retailer Game Group PLC for $150 million (approx. £74 million). The move will increase Game's British footprint by over 200 stores and leave the chain as the largest games retailer in Europe by a sizable margin.The consolidation is reminiscent of the merger between Gamestop and EBGames a few years back that created a virtual monopoly on U.S. game retailers. There had been some speculation that GameStop would scoop up GameStation next, getting a larger toehold in the British market in the process, but that now seems to be a missed opportunity. "Instead of gaining traction in the market through an acquisition of Gamestation, GameStop allowed its key rival in the UK, Game Group, to create a greater barrier to entry in that market," analyst Michael Pachter said. "We are not optimistic that GameStop will be able to grow a grass roots presence in the UK for at least three years."
Gamestation becomes 360 mecca
Alex Donaldson (AKA APZonerunner), writer for RPGSite in the UK, sends us news that the GameStation in Birmingham (again, UK) has been completely remodeled ... by Microsoft. GameStation is a multiplatform gaming store akin to GameStop here in the US, and apparently the one in Birmingham is huge -- are there game stores in the US with more than one floor? Alex was walking in to purchase a DS game when he noticed that there was green everywhere. Downstairs, there were twelve 360 demo kiosks on the bottom floor. What's more, the demo kiosks were all networked, allowing customers to play matches of Perfect Dark: Zero. The kiosks are all hooked up to high definition televisions, and some of them have bean bags or green and white couches in from of them. In the future there are plans to hold tournaments at the store (don't forget to bring your Live account on a memory card). Truly a 360 gamers paradise. Of course, there was one PS2 demo kiosk, but it was broken. Even though GameStation is a multiplatform store, it looks like Microsoft is hoping to make an impression on potential Wii buyers this holiday. Follow the read link for lots of pictures. Any of our UK readers been to this store yet? For that matter, can we get something like that in the US, please?
