Menzies cuts games plan

Menzies has pared back its software departments to just 22 outlets after planning a 60-store strong presence, and is focusing on video instead.

The chain's buyer for multimedia and video, Chris Elvery, told CRN Menzies was discounting its stock of games to make way for video.

"We're keeping software for the moment, but I can't say for sure in the long-term," said Elvery. "Our major push is on video and it eats into software."

Menzies moved into multimedia software in 1995 and had plans to roll out a full range to around 60 of its 200 stores by last Christmas. The chain, which owns distributor THE, stocked software for CD-i, 3DO, PC CD-ROM and Macintosh.

"They should have gone for family entertainment software and competed with chains like WH Smith instead of HMV and Virgin Our Price," said a computer retail analyst.