Hardcore Gamers Sticking to Retail
- Thread starter Andy Chalk
- Start date
^That for starters. Probably the other reason why the "hardcore console gamers" aren't flocking to digital downloads is since for those that can be downloaded from the live/sen(whatever the psn is called now? I have it and still don't know...) tend to retail at the same price or higher than the physical copy of the game which should put off the majority of people.Pyrian said:
Maybe if Sony and Microsoft's online stores for their consoles weren't so sub-par, you'd see the market picking up a little more.
There is a reason that PC gaming went from slowly dying to being a major force in the market again, and it's due to strong digital distribution services.
There is a reason that PC gaming went from slowly dying to being a major force in the market again, and it's due to strong digital distribution services.
My PS3 is pretty picky about codecs, but I can get some pretty hardcore stuff on there.Jahandar said:Well we know this isn't true because GameStop and the like don't sell PC games anymore, just softcore console stuff.
Wait, what were we talking about again?
Its better than blind customers giving support to publishers who would screw up not only the game industry but ALL industries in the name of their profits.TheKasp said:
Perhaps that is a noble goal, But you live for a future that would see media centric companies reach unmitigated levels of greed and basically obliterate entire industries and cripple the entire economic structure. So unless your suggesting you live for a future devoid of money and commerce, then your living for a future of economic annihilation.Azuaron said:
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This is not about gamestop, despite their picture being on the front of the article. Its about All retailers physical who sale games, Walmart, Kmart, Best buy, Target, Sears, ect ect ect, and thats just in the US alone. However, Gamestop has its place in the market because basically the used market is the only thing that regulates the market. Without it, prices inflate due to less people buying new. Prices stagnate, because there is no direct competition or any reason to lower the price. Do you REALLY need proof? Simply compare a PC exclusive whereas it is not subject to used markets in the same way that consoles are. Look at the MSRP of say, Starcraft 2 as a PC exclusive, versus Halo Reach. In 2012, MSRP for SC2 is STILL 49.99, whereas Halo Reach is 25.99. Both equally large fan bases supporting the games, Both well made games, but because there is no active competition to drive the price down, Star craft 2 still 2 years later sells at the same price of a brand new release.
But I digress, the point is physical retail. With physical retail we still hold rights of ownership with the freedom to sell or trade what we have bought instead of being a license to use. The rise of digital distribution is also the reason why we keep seeing Generation 8 consoles will not allow used games rumors repeatedly coming up, because it is plausible.
TL;DR
This isnt done to ensure those starving artists who make between 40-80k a year are getting fed. Its to maximize the profits to the corporation behind it by cutting out the middle men and putting tens to hundreds of thousands of people out of work in the process. Remember that. When you try to get behind the noble intention of artists getting paid, what your really doing is being blinded at all the peoples lives you would potentially ruin for no other reason than to allow the rich get richer.
Where the hell are you shopping because it sure aint gamestop? They're always the last to drop new prices and their used prices are $2-3 short of new. I occasionally see better prices than amazon in some stores but not gamestop.Das Boot said:
Yea, I like physical copies too but I wont even walk into a Gamestop unless I have a giftcard or something. That place is such a ripoff.
About the article:
I find it interesting that the console that moved the most units is selling the least amount of software. The industry is definitely not healthy. Unfortunately it seems that the most interesting games are on the consoles that have not saturated the market as well so the best games have the smaller market to sell to.
Blizzard game are not good for such example, until recently the Diablo 2 battlechest was still selling for $49.99 and the Starcraft battlechest didn't start to go down in price until a few months before Starcraft 2 release. They kind of have an history for keeping price high for extremely long time.viranimus said:
Seems like a bunch of bullcrap.
I think they stick to brick and mortar retailers, because that's pretty much the only option they have, yes, digital distribution exists on the 360 and PS3, but they're obscenely expensive.
I still think that a Steam-like model could do wonders if the next consoles are to embrace digital distribution.
I think they stick to brick and mortar retailers, because that's pretty much the only option they have, yes, digital distribution exists on the 360 and PS3, but they're obscenely expensive.
I still think that a Steam-like model could do wonders if the next consoles are to embrace digital distribution.
Of course we like retail. We always will. Digital is being showed down our throats. We didn't ask for this!
People are probably sticking to retail because:
1) They don't have a reliable enough Internet to access digital content. YES, PUBLISHERS. THESE PEOPLE STILL EXIST.
2) They realize the inherent problems with Origin and Steam, namely that if these respective servers go down, then so do all of the games you are purchasing only the 'right' to play through said respective server, as in you have no right to complain if they suspend your privileges or they go under and you're left with no money or no game.
3) They're like me, and they don't want to fill up their Hard Drive with games and would rather have the actual damn game with them.
1) They don't have a reliable enough Internet to access digital content. YES, PUBLISHERS. THESE PEOPLE STILL EXIST.
2) They realize the inherent problems with Origin and Steam, namely that if these respective servers go down, then so do all of the games you are purchasing only the 'right' to play through said respective server, as in you have no right to complain if they suspend your privileges or they go under and you're left with no money or no game.
3) They're like me, and they don't want to fill up their Hard Drive with games and would rather have the actual damn game with them.
I buy most of my games via retail, does that make me a hardcore gamer?
Seriously, though, I think retail is far from dead for a simple reason. Sometimes we appreciate the simple pleasure of tearing off that plastic sleeve to get to the sweet smell of a new game. Sometimes we like having extra stuff in a physical copy: maps, art books, CDs, or even... gasp a manual! Not to mention the messy business of not accessing your games when a server's down, or your ISP dropping the ball.
I'll buy the games that *matter* to me in retail. Collector's Editions, mostly, and games I'll get on launch day. For the rest, well... There's Steam and its irresistible sales.
Seriously, though, I think retail is far from dead for a simple reason. Sometimes we appreciate the simple pleasure of tearing off that plastic sleeve to get to the sweet smell of a new game. Sometimes we like having extra stuff in a physical copy: maps, art books, CDs, or even... gasp a manual! Not to mention the messy business of not accessing your games when a server's down, or your ISP dropping the ball.
I'll buy the games that *matter* to me in retail. Collector's Editions, mostly, and games I'll get on launch day. For the rest, well... There's Steam and its irresistible sales.