Huge price slashing

[ThePlasmatizer]

I recently read this [http://www.edge-online.com/news/xbox-360-less-than-%C2%A3100] article by Edge Magazine, which talks about UK supermarkets considering selling games consoles and big games for a loss to entice customers to shop there.

You'd think obviously this is great for UK gamers as we consider the games we buy now as overpriced and the supermarket is the only one making a loss.

Wrong: supermarkets have a sales technique where if they intend to make a loss they beat down their supplier to a much lower deal, so not only are the supermarket making a loss but also the publishers are as well; effectively beggaring the publisher.

There are negative ramifications to aggresive sales tactics, but there is also positively huge benefits to the consumer (which may only be temporary).

So do you think it's a good idea or a threat to the game's industry?

 

[Galletea]

I'd say a threat, since the costs and demands on the gaming industry are so high now, causing them to lose money will only end up in more cost-cutting and games will be rushed out half finished. It's already a problem, how many times recently would a game have benefitted from just a little more time ironing out the bugs?

 

[curlycrouton]

Judging on what I've just read here, a major threat.

 

[xitel]

I would say that the cost cutting will likely lead to the game publishers refusing to sell their games in supermarkets, instead preferring to sell them in specialty stores like we have in America. I am usually surprised to walk into a Sears or K-Mart and find a large selection of games. I tend to go to my local Gamestop instead, just like I prefer to buy my books from a Borders, rather than my local Giant. If the game companies can still make a profit from providing games to supermarkets, then I think they probably will, although they may provide fewer titles and fewer copies than if they were being paid full price.

 

[klc0100]

internet downloads are the future, screw "publishers" it's only the game developing companies that really matter, and the internet lets them cut out the middle man (or choose a much much cheaper one like http://www.gog.com/ ) and is way better for the environment too than all these mountains of plastic boxes being shipped around in trucks

Ideal if we all had gaming pc's

threat or not I know if I see a 360 for £99 its coming home with me.

 

[Count_de_Monet]

After the last few years I'm of the opinion that the gaming industry needs a serious weeding out and that includes some of the big names.

Every game I buy needs a major patch right out of the box and people I know with 360's are still having to send them in for work left and right. There are bad games, poorly bug-tested games, half-finished games, crappy ports of games, and many more kinds of video game shenanigans going on these days so when I hear about the "poor ol' gaming companies" having trouble I really don't lose any sleep over it.

The only threat to gaming is gamers; we are the ones that keep spending money on crap. The ultimate cause of stupid gamers is fiscal unaccountability in the gaming community. I feel no fear in stating without backup statistics that the vast majority of gamers are kids spending their parent's money or teens/20's with a disposable income and neither of those scenarios breed a thoughtful consumer.

 

[Conqueror Kenny]

Ideal if we all had gaming pc's

go get a job! they aren't expensive really...

I would call a good one a damn sight more expensive than £99. If you want a top of the line one to play all of your favorite games you're looking at over £1000 there. Now, you could get 10 xbox 360s with that.

 

[Count_de_Monet]

If you want a top of the line PC that will play Crysis at top graphics sure, over $2,000 but if you just want to play it on medium it's probably like $1,000-1,600. Which is still more than an xbox but that is going to happen no matter what.

 

[The_Deleted]

If this all carries on, then surely it'll be bad for the trade in market if indies go out of business because of superstores. We'll be stuck with GAME/Station who will be able to take the piss even more when it comes to the trade in mark up.

 

[Aries_Split]

Ideal if we all had gaming pc's

go get a job! they aren't expensive really...

I would call a good one a damn sight more expensive than £99. If you want a top of the line one to play all of your favorite games you're looking at over £1000 there. Now, you could get 10 xbox 360s with that.

No, you fail.Go die in a fire.

Sorry, but I hate people that spout misconceptions about PC gaming when in reality a 500 dollar PC is going to run all your games now on medium to high, and will still perform better than a console in 5 years.

Also, Upgradablity.

 

[Conqueror Kenny]

No, you fail.Go die in a fire.

Sorry, but I hate people that spout misconceptions about PC gaming when in reality a 500 dollar PC is going to run all your games now on medium to high, and will still perform better than a console in 5 years.

Also, Upgradablity.

Alright, so £300 will get you one of these slashed price 360s and you won't need to upgrade for at least three years. Now computers at £200 more expensive will last only a year or so, depending on what happens in regard to latest games, and if you get a virus.

 

[haruvister]

internet downloads are the future, screw "publishers" it's only the game developing companies that really matter, and the internet lets them cut out the middle man (or choose a much much cheaper one like http://www.gog.com/ ) and is way better for the environment too than all these mountains of plastic boxes being shipped around in trucks

Ideal if we all had gaming pc's

threat or not I know if I see a 360 for £99 its coming home with me.

I already own one but I'd buy another for <£100 out of principle...

 

[Conqueror Kenny]

if you get a virus.

only retards get viruses because they are thickies too dumb to know how easy it is to avoid them.

That's not to say people don't get them. It is a fact that people get viruses.
Also only retards don't capitalise ;P