afty
27th February 2001, 10:38
EB buys Barrysworld assets Online gaming service Barryworld has been saved from extinction, after the
assets of the troubled online gaming service were acquired by Electronics
Boutique. BarrysWorld entered into voluntary liquidation earlier this year after
failing to secure the further funding it needed to keep its free online
gaming service going. It is thought that EB paid around £400,000 for the
deal. EB will use the assets to operate an online gaming service which be promoted
in-store through its 300 strong retail chain, through its database of
loyalty card holders and also via its existing websites. The new service will operate under the EB Media umbrella and will be run by
former Barrysworld staff who have been rehired by the firm. John Steinbrecher, Chief Executive, said: "This latest announcement further
strengthens our position as the UK's No 1 specialist for computer software
and video games. On-line gaming compliments our existing business and we are
delighted to be able to bring this additional service to our customers. Up
until now customers who purchased products in our stores with on-line gaming
capabilities had to go elsewhere to experience this element of play.
Electronics Boutique will now be able to provide an all encompassing
experience. "The problem that online gaming companies have is generating traffic. We
have the ability to drive our customer base through to the Barrysworld
service * thatıs a million customers gong through our stores every week that
we can promote the online gaming service to. We have 2.5 million loyalty
card holders who we can educate about online gaming. It is a very exciting
move."
£400,000? Distinctly less than the amount of money put in so far I would imagine, assuming they own as opposed to lease all the kit.
Bought at value? Only time will tell.
assets of the troubled online gaming service were acquired by Electronics
Boutique. BarrysWorld entered into voluntary liquidation earlier this year after
failing to secure the further funding it needed to keep its free online
gaming service going. It is thought that EB paid around £400,000 for the
deal. EB will use the assets to operate an online gaming service which be promoted
in-store through its 300 strong retail chain, through its database of
loyalty card holders and also via its existing websites. The new service will operate under the EB Media umbrella and will be run by
former Barrysworld staff who have been rehired by the firm. John Steinbrecher, Chief Executive, said: "This latest announcement further
strengthens our position as the UK's No 1 specialist for computer software
and video games. On-line gaming compliments our existing business and we are
delighted to be able to bring this additional service to our customers. Up
until now customers who purchased products in our stores with on-line gaming
capabilities had to go elsewhere to experience this element of play.
Electronics Boutique will now be able to provide an all encompassing
experience. "The problem that online gaming companies have is generating traffic. We
have the ability to drive our customer base through to the Barrysworld
service * thatıs a million customers gong through our stores every week that
we can promote the online gaming service to. We have 2.5 million loyalty
card holders who we can educate about online gaming. It is a very exciting
move."
£400,000? Distinctly less than the amount of money put in so far I would imagine, assuming they own as opposed to lease all the kit.
Bought at value? Only time will tell.