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The Market For Computer & Video Games
EVERY BUYER l EVERY BRANCH l EVERY WEEK
HMV and Asda veterans to take Grainger nationwide
Emerging retail chain finalises senior exec team l New website on the way
by Christopher Dring
GRAINGER GAMES has hired two retail experts in its bid to become a national brand. The fast-rising independent chain has filled two key commercial and finance roles. Mark Blundell has been hired as finance and logistics director. Blundell boasts some 20 years experience at Asda, including a stint as finance director. More recently, he worked as finance director at Home Delivery Network. Meanwhile, Simon Peck has signed up as commercial director. Peck used to be commercial director at HMV. The pair join Grainger’s senior management team, which also includes MD Stephen Bowyer, chairman Jonathan Fellows and sales director Phil Moore. “I believe the team that now runs Grainger Games is one of the best and most experienced out there,” said Bowyer. “We now see this as
IN THIS ISSUE
07 GAMES MEDIA AWARDS The shortlist for the upcoming 2011 Games Media Awards is announced
16 RENAISSANCE MAN An interview with GameStop’s general manager of digital distribution Steve Nix
21 BATMAN RETURNS We speak to Warner Bros’ Martin Tremblay about Arkham Cityand more
51 A HORROR STORY MCVlooks back at 15 years of Resident Eviland talks to the series’ creators
59 RETAIL BIZ We preview the biggest upcoming games, including Driver: San Francisco
“
This is the spring board onto the next level for our business. Stephen Bowyer, Grainger
the spring board onto the next level for our business.” Peck added: “I spent 20 years at HMV, and I am delighted now to have found a group of people at Grainger that I know can deliver exceptional results.” Most Grainger Games stores are in the North of England, but the retailer says the new team will realise its dreams of becoming a national brand. The firm has doubled in size in 12 months with 64 stores and opened a second distribution facility. And it’s not slowing down. “We have no shortage of locations and opportunities
Issue 650 Friday August 12th 2011 £3.25
OnLive UK: September 22nd launch
by Dave Roberts
Grainger’s 64–strong chain has plenty of room for expansion in the UK
CLOUD GAMING comes to the UK in a serious way on September 22nd.
OnLive launches that day,
MCVcan reveal, with some 125 titles available.
to consider,” added sales director Phil Moore. “We have a proven store opening process. Once we know a location will work for us we are quick to open that
unit –we opened seven stores over 10 days in March. “We will be opening more stores this year and will increase our market share as a result.”
The firm also has deals in place with retailers to stock the micro console as well as agreements with consumer electronics manufacturers to bundle the technology with Blu-ray players and TVs. Pricing models have yet to be announced for Britain’s first cloud gaming service, but CEO Steve Perlman told MCVthat early adopters will benefit from an array of promotions with partners including BT, HTC and other brands yet to be disclosed. In the US, the micro console is available from the OnLive website for $99. Perlman said the unit will also be sold in games shops – but not straight away. “The issue is whether or not we will have enough units,” he told MCV. “Every time we increase the number of units we’re manufacturing, someone else says they’d like to give it away with their product. But yes, we have agreements in place with retailers.”
Mark Blundell and Simon Peck (above left) join Stephen Bowyer and Phil Moore (above right) on Grainger’s senior management team
Turn to page 4 for more from Perlman about Onlive’s UK launch.
EVENT GUIDE page 27 GAMESCOM SPECIAL
MCVpresents a bumper-sized 84-page issue to coincide with this year’s Gamescom in Cologne, featuring a full exhibitor list and guide to Koelnmesse
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