EB Games powering down

EVAN TUCHINSKY

After a quarter century in NZ and two decades in Marlborough, EB Games is transitioning out of brick-and-mortar retail.

The videogame chain announced a complete pullout effective 31 January and began liquidating in-store inventory 15 January via half-off sales.

Gamers lined up last Thursday afternoon in Blenheim Town Centre to get an early jump on the heavy discounts. Despite steady rain, the queue extended down Maxwell Road and curled toward Scott Street.

“It’s been here my whole life,” one customer, Matt, said as he waited for a turn inside the store. “It’s the end of an era for sure.”

EB Games launched in 1977 in the U.S. and expanded to NZ in 2000. As videogame sales migrated away from physical copies to online platforms, the business model for retailers faced existential challenges. EB announced it would shift its NZ operations to an Australia-based website.

“I’ve probably taken some part in the downturn of it,” Matt noted. He has enjoyed “the ease of online” to purchase games, although he still finds “some things are easier to get physically”.

He showed up “not looking for anything in particular,” he added, “just to check the sale.” Signs on the window touted 50% off. “You can’t beat this deal.”

Several metres down the line, Quinn Schroder reflected on his history with EB Games. He patronized the local store for five years before leaving Blenheim. He recently returned to town – and, as the closing-down sale opened, to the special place from his childhood.

Quinn still owns two consoles he bought there: a 3DS and a Switch, both made by Nintendo. Some of his first purchases, with money earned from a paper route, came at Blenheim’s EB Games. He recalls friendly staff members steering him to the less-expensive pre-owned games.

An “old soul” with an affinity for retro games, Quinn wasn’t sure what he’d find on the shelves once he got into the store – “I’ll see what’s there.”

Rawiri Hawker was another loyal customer who sought out the sale. Noting their father designed games, Rawiri has frequented the shop for 15 years.

They’d intended to preorder “007 James Bond”; that wasn’t in the cards given the impending closure. Instead, Rawiri just hoped to pick up “something so I’m not playing ‘Fortnite’ all the time.”

Rebecca Montgomery likewise felt “not too hopeful” she’d scoop something amazing but came regardless. She took to gaming around five years ago, coinciding with when she started going to EB Games. Rebecca tends to cycle through titles: “Buy them, play them, move on.”

Closer to the corner, standing in front of Mango Restaurant & Bar, Jessica Schmidt patiently waited for the line to move; it did slowly but surely. Her origin story in gaming is relatively short, dating roughly three years, with “Animal Crossing” a particular favorite.

Jessica, an actress who performs in local theatre productions, knows about curtain calls. “I’m going for a look,” she said, “to see it before it closes.”