Microsoft Defends Games on Demand Pricing

[Treblaine]

bullshit! Steam offers the same service for at least half the price

and on multiple systems as well; Windows, Mac and soon Playstation 3.

Steam on PS3 is going to be VERY interesting as it may very well compete with Xbox 360's games service (though not real competition, only real competition with those who own both systems or have bought neither and are trying to decide which to get).

I wonder how much autonomy Sony will offer on PS3 for Steam. Sony already host many third parties though they are mainly media retailers (movies, music, shows, etc) will they tolerate competition in their own ecosystem and if they go at what cut?

Ultimately Microsoft will try to deny there is any competition, that is bullshit they don't like, Microsoft are not true Capitalists they are Fuedalists akin more to running medieval fiefdoms; they want monopoly and control rather than winning the quality/value war.

MS will continue to lock people deeper and deeper into their network, I predict a "platinum membership" even more expensive than gold membership with perks like with playstation-plus.

 

[whtkid6969]

wow, i think the people could wait till morning instead of spending that much at midnight for something so stupid

 

[babinro]

Microsoft either misunderstands the digital distribution market or just has a vested interest in not pushing it over the brick and mortar market, which sounds weird, but is actually plausible.

I mean, for them pushing digital turns them into a PC-like market that has no holiday season and is driven by very low priced sales, like Steam. By keeping downloads at the same cost as new disc based copies or above they ensure that disc is the main point of delivery for games while retaining a secondary window that gives them some money and perhaps helps move the back catalog a bit.

It's either that or they're not paying attention. Which is also possible. Sometimes these decisions are driven by a single guy in an office that doesn't really know what he's talking about all that well because his focus is elsewhere.

I agree completely. Microsoft didn't declare they were trying to compete with companies like Steam...they are simply giving people a convenient option to purchase at or above the cost of a store.

I look at it like a vending machine..I can buy a $2.00 pop, or I could buy a dozen pops for $4.00 if I went to the store. There will be a market for both without alienating one another.

 

[Maquette]

I wish they'd put Tales of Vesperia in the Games on Demand section. Even £50 is cheaper than the £80 - 100 it would cost to buy a physical copy online. ;A;

 

[Wintermoot]

bullshit! Steam offers the same service for at least half the price

and on multiple systems as well; Windows, Mac and soon Playstation 3.

Steam on PS3 is going to be VERY interesting as it may very well compete with Xbox 360's games service (though not real competition, only real competition with those who own both systems or have bought neither and are trying to decide which to get).

I wonder how much autonomy Sony will offer on PS3 for Steam. Sony already host many third parties though they are mainly media retailers (movies, music, shows, etc) will they tolerate competition in their own ecosystem and if they go at what cut?

Ultimately Microsoft will try to deny there is any competition, that is bullshit they don't like, Microsoft are not true Capitalists they are Fuedalists akin more to running medieval fiefdoms; they want monopoly and control rather than winning the quality/value war.

MS will continue to lock people deeper and deeper into their network, I predict a "platinum membership" even more expensive than gold membership with perks like with playstation-plus.

does that mean that if you bought a game on the PC it would be automatically unlocked on the PS3? (like HL2,L4D etc.)?

 

[Spawny0908]

And that's why Amazon and gamestop will have my game business 99.9% of the time.

 

[Nurb]

When it takes work to offer a service = Service surcharge

When it takes absolutely no effort on their part to deliver the service = Convenience fee

FUCK. YOU. MICROSOFT.

This is why it's so easy for pirates in general to justify themselves, and why paying customers decide not to pay when being treated like this more and more. Being a paying customer means being treated like a theif, then grabbed and shaken upside down for every nickle and dime. This is why I shed no tears for large companies who are targets of piracy.

 

[Nurb]

EDIT: Double posted for some reason

 

[Tharwen]

Isn't that right, Gabe?

Gabe?

What are you doing making cheeseburgers out of money? This is serious!

 

[Lenriak]

Micro$oft - "If your stupid enough to buy digitally from us, your stupid enough to pay THESE prices "

 

[Dr. Pepper Unlimited]

I think I'll just keep holding out for Steam sales, thanks.

Took the words right out of my mouth. After a while, paying for a "convenience factor" becomes an inconvenience in of itself via your wallet. Gas prices still aren't high enough to merit dropping that much change on a single title to avoid getting dressed and going tot he store to buy a physical copy. Now where did I leave my shoes...?

 

[Kouryuu]

And they wonder why people pirate games?
May be because a lot of them feel ripped of by the companies?
any other thoughts?

 

[cornmancer]

Steam gives better service at a lower price. ESPECIALLY on the PC.
Seriously, fuck Games For Windows Live. Fuck it with a knife.

 

[The Artificially Prolonged]

Charging for convenience, what the hell microsoft. I dunno about you but I find not paying double retail price for games more continent. This is why I get all my games from steam and amazon now.

 

[drbarno]

actually you could go shopping in your underwear.

probably just the one time, though.

 

[GotMalkAvian]

Dear Microsoft,

I'd like you to consider the following situations very carefully and tell me which works better for you:

1. Provide the lowest retail price for a virtual game, thus making, let's say, $20 US per download of pure proft off of old games that just don't sell anymore.

2. Assume that most gamers are lazy bastards who'd plunk down new release prices for downloads of old games while in fact most of us will just head down to the local store for a dirt cheap used copy, thereby robbing you of all potential profit.

You don't have to answer right away, Microsoft, but I want you to consider the options very carefully.

 

[Something Amyss]

Who cares, if it's too high in the UK (it is) don't buy it on demand

It's that simple, if people are willing to pay that much you can't blame them for pricing it there, just stop complaining and buy physical copies instead, if enough people do that prices will go down.

Oh Lassaiz-Faire, you're the greatest asset in stamping out good consumers.

Errr...Sorry, I mean, "Who cares? Even though this has the potential to impact retail pricing and counts as price gouging, caring is bad and you're a bad person for caring."

This isn't localised to just the UK, so if you think that you're safe because you're elsewhere, you're wrong. This is actually "old news" in the states.

If you want games to remain reasonably priced at retail, you should care.

 

[Treblaine]

does that mean that if you bought a game on the PC it would be automatically unlocked on the PS3? (like HL2,L4D etc.)?

From what i hear it's the other way around. Buy a Steam supported game for PS3 then the PC version is unlocked for PC and Mac.

 

[mjc0961]

It's not quite so bad in the U.S., where the Games on Demand release lists for $49.99, but it's still a substantial premium for being able to buy a videogame without first having to wipe the nacho cheese off your fingers.

It gets better: It's only $50 for the first week, after which it's going up to $60 for us in the US.

Spoiler: big images inside

So yeah, pass Microsoft. If I want this game, I can buy it in my underwear from Amazon. Getting it for almost half of what you want is worth waiting for shipping.

 

[Motakikurushi]

This can't be real. Microsoft must be trolling everybody. They can't think that's a valid defense for overpriced digital content. My god, first the hideous Xbox Live price tag, and now the hideous price tag for the games. Do they think raising the price of every service they offer is going to increase sales? I mean, the negatives outweigh the positives by such a massive degree it's almost sad. You get a physical copy of the game to play on any console, you don't need to occupy extra space with additional files, you can trade-in the game when finished, and it costs 1/2 as much. Most £20 Games on Demand I can buy brand new for £10.