EB Games Australia to Boycott PSPgo Too?

[Quaidis]

There was no hardware conflicts, no red ring of death, games plugged in and worked, end of story.

Bullshit.

You had to blow on your cartridges first.

Have to admit that blowing into the cartridges worked. I never had to send in my snes and hand in my week's pay for repairs to fix some system fault that should not have been there in the first place. That and the games worked for the most part.

 

[TechNoFear]

Escapists on the bottom of the world ....

Next time you refer to Australia as the 'bottom' of the world I will send a hungry dingo round for your baby...

 

[Don't taze me bro]

EBgames is definitely the largest games retailer in Australia. More recently they have even begun competing against their own stores by opening small stores in smaller shopping centers. I worked for EB for 5 years, yet haven't bought a game there since I left. And why? Because they always sell things for RRP, meaning you can ALWAYS get it cheaper somewhere else. I refuse to have to 'ask to price match'. Also, any savvy Aussie imports their handheld and PS3 games, and downloads PC games via digital distribution. It is often so much cheaper than buying locally. Example. Aion Collectors Edition. $59 US via Steam (which is $68 Aus), compared to $119 AUS locally. Yeah that's right. I save $60 getting it online.

I expected that EB would boycott the PSPgo. I'm now just hoping that Sony does something subtle in return that might bite EB back. They could delay their restocks of PS3 consoles, so that all their competitors have stock, but they don't, or provide discounts to their competitors so they can do things like bundle games with the consoles.

 

[AWC Viper]

I won't be buying one purely for the facts
A.I like my PSP games thank you very much
B.I want to be able to trade IN a game from my PSP (in case the games SUCKS)
C. I have a perfectly good PSP that I have no desire to give up.


There's just something fishy about buying a downloadable game...

Same Here.

 

[FROGGEman2]

See, I don't see what the PSP can't do that the PSPgo! CAN do.

PSPgo! just looks the same, only shinier.

 

[Radelaide]

I can't say I blame them. I'm sure the PSPgo will be a nice handheld, but you can't fault EB Games for not wanting to sell something that won't bring them any money.

The CONSOLE makes them money. Selling PSN Point cards or whatever makes them money. Refusing to sell the console just because they can't sell used games for it is a strong arming scam to get their way. They are a retailer, they have no business making decisions about the product, their job is to SELL it.

They do have business picking and choosing which console will make them money. If they decided to stock 500 PSPGO consoles and no DSi consoles, they'd be losing money. No one wants the bloody things because of a bunch of reasons already said through the thread. And it isn't as if the whole country is boycotting them. Go to Game or JB, you'd probably get them cheaper than you would at EB anyway.

 

[PaleKnight09]

Is it me or is all this PSPgo hate coming out of nowhere?

This is exactly what i feel like. I don't see why the PSPgo is being hated, I think it's quite a nifty idea, being able to have all your games in one place without having to faff around discs or cartridges. That's why I like using Steam, because I can finish a round of UT3, and then switch over to Saint's Row 2 instantly.

I have a feeling that everyone hating on the PSPgo currently has a PSP and are more than a little upset that they can't play their games on it.

PSPgo
* more expensive
* screen is smaller
* no UMD old collection is worthless
* DD only
digital distribution works on other platforms because it enhances them (adding features) rather than replacing everything else (removing features)
Steam and direct2drive or XBL arcade don't cause the disc drive to stop working nor have Sony released a new PS3 model lacking the drive and supporting downloads only which would gain the same reaction.

on the more expensive/screen is smaller arguement; It's just the next model of the PSP, you don't have to buy it if you don't want to. I can still see people using the DS fat when we have the DSi, I still have a PSP 1000 when we have the PSP 3000. You don't have to upgrade to the new model.
No one has even thought of the possibility of Sony maybe "crediting" gamers with digital copies of games they already own a physical copy, of course theres a higher chance that I will win the lottery than Sony doing that.

Wiiware and the like present something for someone to point at, but actually it's a tiny exception, and not the rule. Compared to the future things like the DSI and PSPgo represent, where consumers lose all the rights they currently have, and EVERY title is digital, well honestly all I can say is tough cookies for them.

Again you reference the DSi as an all dd system, it isn't. The DSi is just like any of system, so long as we're speaking in terms of its download service. And the WiiWare is just the same as any other system(Not to mention Nintendo's policy would be the same, on both systems, for all of its digital services.)

Heck, in the majority of cases DLC is used as an excuse to basically get people to activate content that was already on their disc, or pay for things like multiplayer modes that should have been part of the package to begin with.

There is an easy solution, if the DLC is only 100 or so kilabytes, then its something that is already on the disc, so don't get then if you are going to complain.
As for things that should have been a part of the retail game. Yes, often times something should have been a part of the final product, however, people often forget that creating a game can be hard work. Sometimes your deadline comes up faster than you realize and you aren't able to add it to the game, or space restrictions on the disc prevent you from adding it as well.

Don't be so quick to jump down a developers throat, there is a lot that goes on that we as gamers don't get to see.

 

[LeonLethality]

I really like the concept of the psp go I mean have you ever tried carrying multiple UMDs around with it, its pretty annoying but this thing would let you play multiple things no UMD but maybe thats the problem they want money and not to let gamers have it easy, shame either way I'm not getting one due to the position of its controls

 

[D0WNT0WN]

Not stocking the PSP GO for not being able to sell games is stupid. If they stock items by that principle then they might aswell not bother stocking the Ipod.

 

[PaleKnight09]

Originally the arguement that this would benefit small, independant developers was compelling, and was made right along the idea of games in general having their prices lower. In the end however even services like Steam and Gamersgate failed to deliver lower prices on retail products. What's more all it did was make it easier for idependant developers to flood the market with shovelware that wouldn't even be able to hold up a $9.99 package at Wal*Mart.

Doesn't matter what platform or service you are using, there is *always* going to be piles of random, crappy games. Claiming that XBL allows independant Dev's to do what has been going on for some time now is really a weak arguement. Look at the Xbox's catalogue of games, the amount of random "shovelware", as you called it, exceeds that of the Arcade. Hell, look at the Wii and the DSi, those systems have more "shovelware" games than the PS3 has games, period.

Rave about Shadow Complex, but look at it this way, for roughly half the price you could buy an older game like Sacred WITH it's expansion packs, and have it on a DVD in your hand. Viewed that way your getting gouged.

While many will defend it as "worth it", look aqain at the price trends. The cost of old games like Marvel Vs. Capcom II, The Watchmen Beat 'Em Up games ($40 for the whole thing), ans Siren (PSN) as a package. When the XBL Arcade got started it was like "hey look what youc an get for $5". Then things expanded to like $10 becoming the big price, and now your looking at more and more games going for double that. Quality titles? Well considering that in many cases you can buy a 2-3 year old AAA title for the same bloody price (maybe even less used) it's pretty obvious how they gradually snuck up on us. People comparing more expensive XBL titles to the older anc cheaper ones (as time progressed) oftentimes use tunnelvision and don't look outside of the Arcade for what else they could get with that same amount of money to keep things comparitive overall.

You're comparing buying a brand new game, with a pretty damn good production value, to buying a 5 year old PC game. That just doesn't work of course it's going to be dirt cheap, who wants a 5 year old game? And while we are on the subject, I've been looking around FilePlanets
D2D games(and their prices are actually fair) and Sacred with all the updates and additions for 19.95. Where as Shadow Complex, a game published by on of those veteral AAA developers, is $15.00 or 1200 Xbox live points. And Marvel Vs. Capcom 2(which does have some additional content) is also 1200($15.00) which makes it rather unlikely that "The Watchman: The End is Nigh" is worth 2000($25.00). $10 is more than a fair price for an *Arcade* game, hence why you are not paying 69.99 or more for it.


You seem to have changed your arguement from "the PSPgo is the anti-christ for not using discs" to "XBL is over-priced compared to old, used games."

 

[IDBash]

Who cares about second hand games

Every single games retailer ever?

That was a statement of proportion. It was referring to the fact that used games represent a very small percentage of the gaming community. If you had left it in context that is.

Who cares about second hand games, that is such a small portion that it doesn't really make a difference.

 

[Megacherv]

Is it me or is all this PSPgo hate coming out of nowhere?

This is exactly what i feel like. I don't see why the PSPgo is being hated, I think it's quite a nifty idea, being able to have all your games in one place without having to faff around discs or cartridges. That's why I like using Steam, because I can finish a round of UT3, and then switch over to Saint's Row 2 instantly.

I have a feeling that everyone hating on the PSPgo currently has a PSP and are more than a little upset that they can't play their games on it.

But they can, because the 3000 supports PS Store games, and UMDs will continue to be produced. Also, Sony are gonna have a system for PSPgo owners where they can replace their UMDs for free game downloads from the PS Store.

 

[Therumancer]

Originally the arguement that this would benefit small, independant developers was compelling, and was made right along the idea of games in general having their prices lower. In the end however even services like Steam and Gamersgate failed to deliver lower prices on retail products. What's more all it did was make it easier for idependant developers to flood the market with shovelware that wouldn't even be able to hold up a $9.99 package at Wal*Mart.

Doesn't matter what platform or service you are using, there is *always* going to be piles of random, crappy games. Claiming that XBL allows independant Dev's to do what has been going on for some time now is really a weak arguement. Look at the Xbox's catalogue of games, the amount of random "shovelware", as you called it, exceeds that of the Arcade. Hell, look at the Wii and the DSi, those systems have more "shovelware" games than the PS3 has games, period.

Rave about Shadow Complex, but look at it this way, for roughly half the price you could buy an older game like Sacred WITH it's expansion packs, and have it on a DVD in your hand. Viewed that way your getting gouged.

While many will defend it as "worth it", look aqain at the price trends. The cost of old games like Marvel Vs. Capcom II, The Watchmen Beat 'Em Up games ($40 for the whole thing), ans Siren (PSN) as a package. When the XBL Arcade got started it was like "hey look what youc an get for $5". Then things expanded to like $10 becoming the big price, and now your looking at more and more games going for double that. Quality titles? Well considering that in many cases you can buy a 2-3 year old AAA title for the same bloody price (maybe even less used) it's pretty obvious how they gradually snuck up on us. People comparing more expensive XBL titles to the older anc cheaper ones (as time progressed) oftentimes use tunnelvision and don't look outside of the Arcade for what else they could get with that same amount of money to keep things comparitive overall.

You're comparing buying a brand new game, with a pretty damn good production value, to buying a 5 year old PC game. That just doesn't work of course it's going to be dirt cheap, who wants a 5 year old game? And while we are on the subject, I've been looking around FilePlanets
D2D games(and their prices are actually fair) and Sacred with all the updates and additions for 19.95. Where as Shadow Complex, a game published by on of those veteral AAA developers, is $15.00 or 1200 Xbox live points. And Marvel Vs. Capcom 2(which does have some additional content) is also 1200($15.00) which makes it rather unlikely that "The Watchman: The End is Nigh" is worth 2000($25.00). $10 is more than a fair price for an *Arcade* game, hence why you are not paying 69.99 or more for it.


You seem to have changed your arguement from "the PSPgo is the anti-christ for not using discs" to "XBL is over-priced compared to old, used games."

Actually I didn't change the arguement.

My comments are mostly along the lines of DD not saving consumers money, and indeed being a way to strip away your ownership (disk in hand) rights, while minimizing their costs which despite claims to the contrary they plan to pocket rather than passing along to you. There being no benefit to the consumer from DD at all.

Things turned into an arguement about XBL Arcade and such from there on, I was simply using older games and the like as a "fair" comparison to the limited scope games being discussed. I used Sacred as an example because while by no means the world's best game, it works just fine, and was successful enough to develop enough of a cult following to not only see a sequel but to have Blind Guardian compose and perform a song just for the sequel (Blind Guardian not being the biggest band out there, but one that is known in certain circles).

If your going to pull out like Shadow Complex, I was simply pointing out that for the same price you could get a game that arguably cost more to develop, will give you more hours of playtime, and most importantly to this discussion is giving you a disk in hand.

Granted no comparison is going to be perfect.

See, I'm of the belief that as more people do DDs they are raising the prices. A couple year ago Shadow Complex probably would have set you back $5. But as time has been going on the prices have gradually been rising, and any excuse that can be found to charge more than $5 will be used. Braid being the first one that got attention for this, and after it got away with it, price raises ensued accross the board for the most part.

Right now things are somewhat mitigated by the fact that the 360 also plays Discs (indeed that is it's primary purpose). But just imagine if something like the PSPgo succeeds, it will spearhead the industry initiative to do away with discs and such entirely. Then everything will be online DD, there will be no discs. I can pretty much guarantee at that point you'll see games akin to Shadow Complex demanding yet even higher prices. Also, despite the distribition cut out your STILL going to see the "regular" release type games demanding the same price, just as they do over services like Gamersgate and other D2D services.

 

[culade]

It's a lot different with a console. Most MP3 players allow you to purchase your music from whatever digital download service you want (Yes, even with an iPod.)

I think you missed my point. A retailer doesn't want to sell the game player (PSPgo) because they're not able to sell the games for it, but there are plenty of retailers that sell a music player that aren't able to/ choose not to sell the music for it.

If tomorrow all music companies decided to stop selling music in disc form and made it all download only, would these retailers retaliate by not selling MP3/ CD players anymore?

But if tomorrow all game companies stopped selling physical copies of games, retailers that mostly just sell games (like EB Games) would suffer. their business of selling games would dry out and die. then our only choice for getting consoles would be Walmart or electronics stores as the tiny profit for selling gaming hardware alone isn't enough to carry a business.

those retailers selling MP3/CD players obviously make a profit on those items as well as everything else they sell. they dont rely on one thing to keep their business afloat like EB and Gamestop do.

 

[Megacherv]

Also, Sony are gonna have a system for PSPgo owners where they can replace their UMDs for free game downloads from the PS Store.

Not any more... [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.145766]

Buy it on disc, it stays on disc. There is no free digital copy available to disc owners.

Sony, what the fuck are you thinking? WHAT THE FUCK?! Have you not learned?

 

[tsolless]

Good. This is not a product that will benefit consumers.

Downloading games is a problem because you do not ever truly fully own the game. You are merely loaning it for a very long time. What happens if you need to make space on your hard drive? If you erase the game then you lose it, unless the distributor has allowed for you to download it again, but even still, to prevent piracy, you can only do this a certain amount of times until you are forced to pay for the game again.

Also because in the digital format it is much easier to pirate there is often servers created that the game must check with when it launches. If, after a long time, these servers are no longer used (company goes under, support it dropped for the game) you are SOL. Same goes for downloading, whenever the game is no longer supported and you can't re download an owned copy, you are SOL.

Another thing is price. Because there is essentially no overhead with digitally distributing games (no manufacturing fees, no long chain of workers that need to be paid (transporters, manufactures, distributors, retailers, cashiers, etc.) , etc.) almost every cent you pay is pure profit to the company. Do you get the game cheaper because of this? No.

Buying digital products is very lose/lose.

 

[Nouw]

"PSP go is now the worst selling hand-held of all time" T.V

"WTF?" Sony developer.

"Oh Yes!" Microsoft

"Sucess!"Ra's Al ghul (League Of Shadows)

"Time to defeat Microsoft" Nintendo

"I knew we should I focused more on the PS3." Sony

" Show me the money then! I win mah bet!" Sony other dude.

"I dont even care" Me