E Play

This review is based specifically on the brach in Milton Keynes but I think most of it should apply to the chain as a whole. <P> ePlay is a small chain of game/DVD shops spanning the south, similar to GAME on a smaller scale. <P> The main advantage of shopping at ePlay as opposed to GAME is that by joining the free reward scheme, you can often get money off your purchases, something that is becoming increasingly rare at GAME. For example, a few months ago the new Harry Potter game was getting old and dropping in price. At ePlay, non-member could buy it for Â&pound;25-30 whereas members only paid Â&pound;5! This is an extreme example but this practice is quite common on a smaller scale and can save you money over the bigger retailers. There is usually a reasonable selction of games and DVDs, including retro gaming equipment. A significant portion of their selection is of second-hand games and these can provide a good bargin if you look around a bit. The PS2 selection is large, the XBox selection is quite big, but the PC and particularly the Gamecube selections are quite disappointing. However, they are still worth a look. The service is usually fine, except for one occasion when I returned a game that was supposed to be new but had badly damaged discs. I was given new discs and told that they had been checked and were unmarked but when I got home I found that they were in somewhat poor condition also. However, this time, the game worked so I did not pursue the issue. Finally, the website is currently disappointing, only showing the location and contact details of each branch, though improvements have been promised. <P> Overall, ePlay is definitely worth a look if you're buying a game and it's a good idea to join the reward scheme (I've never found a catch or downside to it) as bargins can be found fairly frequently. <P> In a nutshell: <P> + Sometimes cheaper than larger chains, especially with reward card. <P> - Poor selection of PC and Gamecube games. <P>

10

James B.