Here's something i don't understand. The way game retailing works, at least, how i think it works is that a retailer buys games in bulk for a low cost that they sell to the consumer for profit. I can understand that. However, here's what i don't get...
In some instances choosing to buy from the publisher and even the developer themselves will be more expensive than buying a new hard copy from the retailer. To make an example i will use The Sims Medieval. I thought to myself "Hey, i don't want to wait until i go into town to pick this up. I'd rather just buy it straight from EA and download it right now, then i can play it straight away." So i go on the EA store.
http://eastore.ea.com/store/eaemea/en_GB/pd/productID.207039300/sac.true
"£40?!" i tell myself, "That's a little steep, don't you think? Especially for something that's being distributed digitally, for PC, and without a disc or manual or anything". So i go on a website of a major game retailer to check the price of the game in-store.
http://www.game.co.uk/Games/PC-Games-and-Downloads/Simulation-Life/The-Sims-Medieval-Limited-Edition/~r353488/?s=The+Sims+Medieval
"£30?!" I'm pretty mortified at this point. "You're telling me the retailer is selling the game for less than the publisher themselves, and it's a limited edition copy as opposed to a standard edition download?"
Not only that, but the £40 EA are asking for can be used to purchase the Collector's Edition hard copy from the retailer, should you be so inclined. And i looked at more stores. Amazon, Play.com, etc all sell this title for £30.
Now, if you buy from a retailer, doesn't the developer get less money than if you just bought it directly from them? Where the hell do they get off charging more than full price for something that's digitally distributed through a first party?
I'm not advocating it, but it's moments like these that make you realise why piracy is so rampant. Maybe if they lowered the cost of purchasing a game from the developer more money would go directly back to them and there'd be more of a revenue from just selling in bulk to retailers as well as dissuading potential pirates. It just feels like a slap in the face to charge so much when they must be aware that major retailers are going to sell the game for less than they're asking for directly from them. Or am i wrong here? I'd love to hear people's thoughts on this.
( Not that this is a big deal, mind. I know not waiting a few days for delivery is petty, but it still irks me to see how greedy developers / publishers can be, even if it is EA. )
Edit: Having looked at "Game.com"'s direct download service, it seems they sell the game cheaper than EA but more expensive than if you just bought a hard copy. Why is this? Wouldn't it be cheaper for the retailer to just sell it as a download?
http://game.gamesplanet.com/buy-download-pc-games/The-Sims-Medieval-2353-39.html
In some instances choosing to buy from the publisher and even the developer themselves will be more expensive than buying a new hard copy from the retailer. To make an example i will use The Sims Medieval. I thought to myself "Hey, i don't want to wait until i go into town to pick this up. I'd rather just buy it straight from EA and download it right now, then i can play it straight away." So i go on the EA store.
http://eastore.ea.com/store/eaemea/en_GB/pd/productID.207039300/sac.true
"£40?!" i tell myself, "That's a little steep, don't you think? Especially for something that's being distributed digitally, for PC, and without a disc or manual or anything". So i go on a website of a major game retailer to check the price of the game in-store.
http://www.game.co.uk/Games/PC-Games-and-Downloads/Simulation-Life/The-Sims-Medieval-Limited-Edition/~r353488/?s=The+Sims+Medieval
"£30?!" I'm pretty mortified at this point. "You're telling me the retailer is selling the game for less than the publisher themselves, and it's a limited edition copy as opposed to a standard edition download?"
Not only that, but the £40 EA are asking for can be used to purchase the Collector's Edition hard copy from the retailer, should you be so inclined. And i looked at more stores. Amazon, Play.com, etc all sell this title for £30.
Now, if you buy from a retailer, doesn't the developer get less money than if you just bought it directly from them? Where the hell do they get off charging more than full price for something that's digitally distributed through a first party?
I'm not advocating it, but it's moments like these that make you realise why piracy is so rampant. Maybe if they lowered the cost of purchasing a game from the developer more money would go directly back to them and there'd be more of a revenue from just selling in bulk to retailers as well as dissuading potential pirates. It just feels like a slap in the face to charge so much when they must be aware that major retailers are going to sell the game for less than they're asking for directly from them. Or am i wrong here? I'd love to hear people's thoughts on this.
( Not that this is a big deal, mind. I know not waiting a few days for delivery is petty, but it still irks me to see how greedy developers / publishers can be, even if it is EA. )
Edit: Having looked at "Game.com"'s direct download service, it seems they sell the game cheaper than EA but more expensive than if you just bought a hard copy. Why is this? Wouldn't it be cheaper for the retailer to just sell it as a download?
http://game.gamesplanet.com/buy-download-pc-games/The-Sims-Medieval-2353-39.html
