More shocking secrets of game store workers

Aug 21 2007

After our deep detailexposé of the lives of videogame shop workersin America, we all know that these guys don't have the easiest job on the planet. They're insulted and exploited on a near daily basis. Though bagging a wallet-friendly discount is still a pretty good deal.

But, we thought, what about this side of the pond? Are British game shop customers just as amusing, exasperating and irritating as those in America? Do UK staff have just as many hilarious or depressing tales to tell as their US brethren?

More importantly, with Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 now on sale what stories of faulty hardware, trade-in shocks or money-shedding madness can we uncover? To find out, we've hand-picked seven employees from across the country and grilled them for anecdotal evidence.

We've given each of our sevencontributors the security of anonymity, and the freedom to say whatever they like. After all, it's their territory. So, once more, prepare to enter a shadowy, secretive world - the world of the videogame shop employee...

Part one: The Store, The Job,The Management

Part two: The Customers, The Coworkers

Part three: Gaming - Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3

Part four: The Fanboys, The Games, The Fallout

Note: All identities are anonymous to protect the innocent, as well as the not-so-innocent. The assigned "employee numbers," however, are consistent to each interviewee throughout.

Ben Richardson is a former Staff Writer for Official PlayStation 2 magazine and a former Content Editor of GamesRadar+. In the years since Ben left GR, he has worked as a columnist, communications officer, charity coach, and podcast host – but we still look back to his news stories from time to time, they are a window into a different era of video games. 

Latest in Gaming
GDC The Game Developers logo
Biggest announcements from the Game Developers Conference 2025
FGS Spring 2025
How to watch The Future Game Show Spring Showcase 2025 – and what to expect
Image of the Death Stranding 2 On The Beach Collector's Edition on a purple GamesRadar background.
Death Stranding 2 collector's edition is a sight to behold and here's where to pre-order yours
GDC The Game Developers logo
When is the Game Developers Conference 2025 and why is it so interesting?
Pokemon Legends: Z-A screenshot
Everything announced at Pokemon Presents 2025
Saros screenshot featuring the main character and am imposing monster in the background with a swirling void in its chest and multiple arms with balls of fire
Everything announced at the PlayStation State of Play February 2025
Latest in News
Ezra Bridger in Ahsoka
A Star Wars actor just quietly confirmed that filming has begun on Ahsoka season 2
Mario
A surprise bonus Nintendo Direct is coming a week early: "There will be no updates about Nintendo Switch 2 during this presentation"
God of War
20 years later, God of War's original monster art has been revealed: behold this army of stick figures slapped on a whiteboard, no clue Kratos is coming for them
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe facing off against samurai warrior on red bridge
An Assassin's Creed Shadows fan is showing off some of the RPG's most impressive little details, and it's done more to get me interested than Ubisoft ever did
A woman chasing a shining butterfly with a leaping cat on her shoulder in InZOI
InZoi has a long way to go before it can actually rival The Sims as its director says EA's "spent decades perfecting" the formula
The T6 Power Armor
I'm about to spend over $400 on this iconic T60 Power Armor figurine because "Communism is the very definition of failure"