US GAMES retailer Gamefly has opened a UK website. The site sells downloadable PC and Mac games, and follows the firm’s acquisition of Direct2Drive from IGN last year.
As well as a website, the company has also launched an iTunes-style download client, specifically for the UK. Gamefly is a big US online retailer of both digital and physical games. It also operates a LoveFilm-esque mail-order rental service. Although the firm has no plans to launch its rental business in the UK, it says it could sell boxed games. “Physical retail in the UK might make sense,” said Sean Spector. “If you can be a member of Gamefly and access discounts, and still sell games at a profit, I would be interested in that. “But our first goal is to get back to where
by James Batchelor
Our first goal is to get back to where Direct2Drive was. And to provide a viable
alternative to Steam.
Namco conjures up £500k The Witcher 2 campaign by Dominic Sacco
THE WITCHER 2 will launch on 360 with the help of a £500,000 marketing push. Ads will run in games magazines including double- page spreads and four-page inserts up to mid-May, as well as a flipper cover and first review in OXM. An online campaign will include homepage takeovers and banners running until the end of April.
There will also be Xbox Live promotions and pre-roll ads appearing on YouTube and video-on-demand channels. “More than a half million pounds is being invested on the campaign overall and we
6 March 30th 2012 We will be
everywhere online leading up to launch.
“ “
Lee Kirton, Namco Bandai
will have a very heavy focus at retail for this time of year,” Namco Bandai’s marketing and PR director Lee Kirton told MCV. “We will be everywhere online leading up to launch. It’s perfect timing for release with a brilliant window post Mass Effect 3and Skyrim.” The standard game, day- one Enhanced Edition and Dark Edition will arrive on Tuesday, April 17th.
“The pre-orders are doing really well – the Dark Edition has sold out,” added Kirton. “We have extremely high hopes for the future of this title and it’s a competitor for the best in its world.” Namco: 020 8222 9700
Direct2Drive was. And to give people a viable alternative to Steam.
SPECIALIST retail giant GameStop says the UK has already helped grow its worldwide digital empire. The company launched
“Digital is a small part of our business because it is still so new. But obviously we are real serious about it. Mobile and digital are big parts of our future, because that is where gamers are and to ignore that would be silly.
GameStop.co.uk in July, which included a games download service. The site quickly won over consumers with aggressive price cuts and temporary deals. GameStop is keen to build on the success it has seen in the UK market, which helped the retailer generate $70.6m in Europe during its last quarter.
“The UK is a new component of our global
digital strategy,” a GameStop spokesperson told MCV.
“Its unique offerings contributed to an increase in online transactions across our global e- commerce network.” Last week, GameStop International’s executive VP Mike Mauler stated in an investors’ briefing that the firm is “focused entirely on competing digitally in the UK”, having closed all UK and Ireland stores in the last nine months. However, reports suggest the firm is still interested in GAME Group.