MARKETPLACE
SHELF LIFE
MCV catches up with Bill Stephens of Abbey Video Games to find out why he is focusing on second hand games, how his retro stock has been performing and how pre-orders have fallen How has business been for you recently? Quiet. I think it’s down to economics at the moment. People are tightening their belts, or at least I think they are. What has been selling well lately? Well, not Call of Duty. Let’s put it this way, a few years ago we had 48 pre-orders to Call of Duty. The next year, we had 24. The following one, 12. This
PRE-ORDER CHARTS
Most people are going online and are checking whoever buys it on YouTube and getting a low-down of the gameplay. They’re judging if it’s worth buying there. Then they’ll come in and ask if we have a copy.
year; none. We only buy in copies that have been preordered – we don’t buy spares. Honestly, we make more money off second hand games than we do off brand new. If we get a brand new game in, we’re selling it at £49 having bought it in at £42.85. Take valueadded tax off that and we’re making £2.
What are you selling on the hardware side of things? How are consoles performing? We can’t even compete on the console. You have Black
Why do you think pre-orders have softened?
PRICE CHECK: MANCHESTER
TOP 10 PRE-ORDERS 1. FINAL FANTASY XV DAY 1 EDITION Square Enix, PS4
2. The Last Guardian - Exclusive Launch Edition Sony.........................................................................PS4
BATTLEFIELD 1 CALL OF DUTY: INFINITE WARFARE
3. Horizon Zero Dawn Sony.........................................................................PS4 4. Persona 5: Collectors Deep Silver...........................................................PS4
7. Mass Effect Andromeda EA .............................................................................PS4
9. Hitman Square Enix..........................................................PS4 10. Ghost Recon Wildlands Inc. The Peru Ubisoft ................................................................. PS4
EA, XO
£54.99
£49.99
£49.99
£49.99
£48.99
£44.99
£44.99
£45.99
£45
£48
£48
£35
£44
£42
£42
£36.95
£50.96
£47.56
£47.56
£46.97
SPACE RIFT
EAGLE FLIGHT
THE VOICE
BitComposer’s episodic sci-fi adventure is out on PS4 and Steam
Ubisoft’s VR flying title comes to HTC Vive later next month
ITV’s The Voice is coming to PS4, Xbox, Wii and Wii U today
OUT: NOW
26 27 MCV902 Retail_FINAL.indd 1
Blizzard, PS4
IN STORE
8. The Last Guardian: Collectors Edition Sony.........................................................................PS4
November 25th 2016
TITANFALL 2
ONLINE
6. Final Fantasy VII Square Enix..........................................................PS4
The latest digital releases coming to market
OVERWATCH
Activision Blizzard, PS4
5. Nintendo Switch Console Nintendo.................................................................N/A
UPLOADING
EA, XO
OUT: DECEMBER 20TH
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OUT: NOVEMBER 25TH
www.mcvuk.com
22/11/2016 17:46