Competition and choice in the UK gaming retail sector took a hit today as news broke that Blockbuster has sold its Game Station chain to Game Group PLC (who run the Game stores, Game Station’s biggest rivals) in a $150m deal.
Game and Game Station are the two main high-street options for gamers looking to trade-in their wares. Savvy shoppers are known to visit both stores looking the best deals when trading games. Surely Game will not allow its new subsidiary to undercut its prices and better its trade-ins?
With the UK gaming retail market worth hundreds of millions of pounds, surely the Monopolies Commission should be investigating this development?* What’s the point of capitalism if you don’t have choice?
*Obviously there are many high-street retailers that sell games, but how many operate in the lucrative trade-in market? Many cash-strapped gamers rely on the second-hand games.
Sphere: Related Content
{ 4 } Comments
I’ve never been into gaming (I tried Space Invaders and gave up!)How much of the market will the two companies have? It is never god (well duh!) when cartels replace competition
I play a bit of Nintendo. Not a huge gamer, though.
I do like to game a bit (seeing as you’ve verbified game to create gaming and gamer).
There are already 2 Game stores in our town, and one Gamestation. I can’t see them keeping all three open. It’s a shame, as Gamestation often undercut Game.
Hi Danivon
To game has been a verb for a while. At least in the ‘gaming’ parlance.
Post a Comment