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Pre-order pre-owned games at GAME

  • 04-03-2011 3:08pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,405 ✭✭✭


    Right, as I've probably made quite clear in various posts in the past, I'm not a big fan of second hand sales by the major retailers. I feel the reasons for this are pretty straightforward and the topic itself has been debated to death on the forum already so I won't do so again.

    This....this is something else though.
    The GAME website has begun taking pre-orders for pre-owned games.

    Do so and you'll save £16, paying £33.99 for a week-old game.

    Eurogamer understands that GAME is currently trialling this new initiative. The shop was reluctant to comment.

    Eight games are currently available for pre-owned pre-order: Fight Night Champion, WWE All-Stars, Virtua Tennis 4, Crysis 2, Homefront, Dragon Age II, Shift II: Unleashed and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12.

    Should go down well with publishers.
    To be honest I'm torn between being utterly bemused at the fact that people think this is a good idea and being flat out amused because, as that last line states, publishers will not be happy, at all. It's moves like this which will hasten the shift to games which cannot be traded-in at all in the future so they're essentially shooting themselves in the foot...with a bazooka.


«1

Comments

  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 52,388 CMod ✭✭✭✭Retr0gamer


    Scum


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,630 ✭✭✭folan


    cant really blame developers for investing heavily in DLCs and the like with this ****e going on. I dont often buy in Game or GameStop becasue they are just pawn shops.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,080 ✭✭✭Grumpypants


    Surely the best solution for developers is to start making games that are not deemed useless within a week of their purchase.By offering good quality free DLC within the first two-four weeks of release. Building a good solid story mode with a good solid online mode to compliment it.


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 28,633 Mod ✭✭✭✭Shiminay


    I'd like your "online pass" to entitle you to all future DLC. So when I buy the game new (and I'm willing to shell out an extra €5, maybe even €10 at initial purchase for this), I know that I'm going to have all the DLC as and when it's available (if I want it).

    Following from that, if I buy the game second hand, hit me up for a €20/€25 charge to receive online functionality and DLC.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,578 ✭✭✭WarZoneBrother


    Tell me why again would people pay 40pound when they can get it for much less a week after launch??... I do not understand that part to be honest!... Makes little to no sense!


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  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 30,014 CMod ✭✭✭✭johnny_ultimate


    Tell me why again would people pay 40pound when they can get it for much less a week after launch??... I do not understand that part to be honest!... Makes little to no sense!

    You see that's the thing. With pre-owned copies of new (or newish) releases the prices are so absurd that the only people benefiting from it are Game themselves. As you say, games drop in price almost instantly these days - I personally saved 15-20 euro on Dead Space 2 by waiting less than two weeks when it was quickly discounted everywhere. The alternative would be to buy it second hand, save a fiver max and then have to shell out for an online pass or whatever. It's crazy stuff.

    While I disagree with pre-owned sales in general (barring for rare, out of print releases) I can see the benefit of picking up an older game pre-owned for peanuts. But for new releases, customers are getting shafted, and developers are losing out on valuable income. I hope publishers react against this "pre-ordering" malarky, as it really is ridiculous. Especially when you can probably shop around online and get the games even cheaper than the pre-order pre-owned "offer" (Game horrifically overprice in most cases). Hopefully consumer's will see sense and give this the cold shoulder.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    funny that most of the games in the list are ea titles that require online pass isnt it

    no savings to be had there folks, since youve to pay a tenner to use them online


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,499 ✭✭✭Sabre0001


    Helix wrote: »
    funny that most of the games in the list are ea titles that require online pass isnt it

    no savings to be had there folks, since youve to pay a tenner to use them online

    My immediate thought when I saw the list!

    🤪



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,608 ✭✭✭irish_stevo815


    Helix wrote: »
    funny that most of the games in the list are ea titles that require online pass isnt it

    no savings to be had there folks, since youve to pay a tenner to use them online
    Fight Night Champion, WWE All-Stars, Virtua Tennis 4, Crysis 2, Homefront, Dragon Age II, Shift II: Unleashed and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12.

    The ones i've bolded above are from EA & THQ which have already used the Online Pass in these series of games, so if you pay €35 for the game second hand, you still have to pay €10 to get to use any online features. So at the most you will be saving 5 quid...........it's daft when you look at it that way!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 956 ✭✭✭steve_


    I dont understand this at all. Why would they do this as it would surely lead to a big decrease in people buying new titles, and leading to a quicker shift to digital distribution. Hopefully the "trial" will make them realize how stupid the idea is. Dont get me wrong as a consumer i like knowing my games can be traded as funding towards new games, but this stunt is trying to just cut developers out of the equation altogether.

    Has there ever been a store that provides a return to developers on traded games? Like say for each preowned copy of bulletstorm that sells the developer get a small percentage, up to two or three months after launch. I know that when GAME take in a trade in its 100% profit for them, but surely something small like this will at least keep things peaceful and allow brick and mortar stores to stay around a while longer.


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  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 30,014 CMod ✭✭✭✭johnny_ultimate


    The ones i've bolded above are from EA & THQ which have already used the Online Pass in these series of games, so if you pay €35 for the game second hand, you still have to pay €10 to get to use any online features. So at the most you will be saving 5 quid...........it's daft when you look at it that way!

    Dragon Age and Crysis I'm fairly sure are EA published too, so wouldn't be surprised with online passes there too. It's all a bit ludicrous!


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 52,388 CMod ✭✭✭✭Retr0gamer


    Surely the best solution for developers is to start making games that are not deemed useless within a week of their purchase.By offering good quality free DLC within the first two-four weeks of release. Building a good solid story mode with a good solid online mode to compliment it.

    With todays development costs it's very difficult to do this. I really enjoy a good solid single player experience that is tightly designed and is 8-12 hours long. This is something that will kill those types of games off.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    The ones i've bolded above are from EA & THQ which have already used the Online Pass in these series of games, so if you pay €35 for the game second hand, you still have to pay €10 to get to use any online features. So at the most you will be saving 5 quid...........it's daft when you look at it that way!

    expect crysis 2 to feature it too. possibly homefront - and im not sure what extent dragon age is online since im not an rpg lover so no idea there

    basically everything on the list bar virtua tennis is highly likely to be an additional fee to play online


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    steve_ wrote: »
    I dont understand this at all. Why would they do this as it would surely lead to a big decrease in people buying new titles, and leading to a quicker shift to digital distribution. Hopefully the "trial" will make them realize how stupid the idea is.

    its not a stupid idea, its a very clever way of making online pass based games cheaper without admitting to joe public that its because theyve to pay a tenner for online use

    the stupid ones are the ones who fall for it


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 956 ✭✭✭steve_


    Iv never paid for online access, but is it per title? So i buy preowned and its a tenner play that game online ontop of my annual subscription?


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 30,014 CMod ✭✭✭✭johnny_ultimate


    steve_ wrote: »
    Iv never paid for online access, but is it per title? So i buy preowned and its a tenner play that game online ontop of my annual subscription?

    New games from EA and a few other companies come with a one time activation code. With this, you're allowed play online. In the case of some single player games - Mass Effect 2 is one example - it allows access to some free DLC for weeks and months after release. Any other user wanting to play online with the same copy of the game needs to purchase this pass.

    While it seems restrictive - and is a problem for households where two or more people will play the game - I also think it's a surprisingly good idea. It is a way of countering the second hand market by providing an incentive for new purchases, and some income for the developer from second hand purchases. It's not perfect, but a clever system IMO. Don't know how widely it would be known about outside 'core' gamers though!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    While it seems restrictive - and is a problem for households where two or more people will play the game

    its not

    the first console that "unlocks" the online side using the code can have all gamertags/psn ids on that machine play it i believe, and the code is also locked to the initial player's id - meaning that if you have 2 ps3s, unlock it on the first one using the psn id of the player who owns the second one, itll work just fine on both consoles. so just one code needed per household


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,405 ✭✭✭gizmo


    As a sidenote, Crytek have said Crysis 2 won't come with the online pass.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 956 ✭✭✭steve_


    Its a good idea alright but i think its too expensive. But again maybe thats just to encourage new title sales. The only solution really is to offer preowned at a much cheaper rate, whihc obviously means you get less for your trade ins


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    gizmo wrote: »
    As a sidenote, Crytek have said Crysis 2 won't come with the online pass.

    interesting one there - though i assume coz its the console debut they didnt want to limit their audience i suppose

    not like ea not to force their hand there all the same


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    steve_ wrote: »
    Its a good idea alright but i think its too expensive. But again maybe thats just to encourage new title sales. Can codes only be bought through the console or could you buy from the EA site and enter the code later

    through the console as far as i know


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,405 ✭✭✭gizmo


    Helix wrote: »
    interesting one there - though i assume coz its the console debut they didnt want to limit their audience i suppose

    not like ea not to force their hand there all the same
    Bang on I'd say. New franchise so they want to get as many people playing it as possible in order to build on it for future iterations. Whether it works or not, well I guess we'll have to wait and see.

    As for the Online pass purchase, that has to be done through your console. More info here.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,080 ✭✭✭Grumpypants


    Retr0gamer wrote: »
    With todays development costs it's very difficult to do this. I really enjoy a good solid single player experience that is tightly designed and is 8-12 hours long. This is something that will kill those types of games off.

    I don't know, looking at RUSE that had a solid solo campaign and really good solid online side to it, and they followed it up with some free DLC a few weeks after release. They then went on to release DLC you had to pay for but i think that's fair as the player got a lot of use out of it.

    I hate to see a game like Mafia which i really enjoyed but it was very short and almost felt like they pulled stuff to use as DLC and low-and-behold the game was barely out a day and they announced DLC you had to pay for which really should have been part of the game.

    It is a problem that needs to be addressed as all 3 parties need each other, i think a moratorium on selling used games for say 3-4 weeks after release would do a lot. It would give time for the sales to take hold.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,678 ✭✭✭TrustedApple


    Really i am not a fan of 2nd hand games the only games i buy 2nd hand are games i cant find anywhere online or instore or if there is over 15 euro extra for the game

    But i do say this is funny because if you where dealing in videos games you would be doing the same because you will need to make the must money you can to stay open

    But if your not happy with what the games stores are doing just stop buying games of them !!!

    Also i will add that GAME are the best of the games stores because they know how to look after people in there shop not like GAMESTOP who in kilkenny have the rudeist staff i have ever seen in my life who told me that where the only place in town that takes trades ins when HMV is 10 mins away from them

    And alos i seen the manger from gamestop kilkenny going to the game area of HMV and takeing down how much every game cost and still HMV are 10 euros cheaper for new games


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 52,388 CMod ✭✭✭✭Retr0gamer


    I don't know, looking at RUSE that had a solid solo campaign and really good solid online side to it, and they followed it up with some free DLC a few weeks after release. They then went on to release DLC you had to pay for but i think that's fair as the player got a lot of use out of it.

    Ruse is an RTS though and not the type of game you'd expect to only last 8 hours and have no multiplayer.

    I'm talking about games like Bayonetta, Vanquish, Silent hill 2 etc. I don't want those type of games to last 40 hours or more and have tacked on multiplayer I'll never use. It would be detrimental to making the game.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 10,088 Mod ✭✭✭✭marco_polo


    Retr0gamer wrote: »
    With todays development costs it's very difficult to do this. I really enjoy a good solid single player experience that is tightly designed and is 8-12 hours long. This is something that will kill those types of games off.

    What reinforces this point is the increasing number of studios offloading the entire multiplayer development to a second studio, MOH and Crysis 2 being the best recent examples (I imagine the likes of Valve, Dice and Treyarch cope only because they are in the nice position of having existing tech to build upon, I would wager starting from scratch would be a different story.). But few studios have the rsoources to build from scrath.

    What I really can't stand is multiplayer for the sake of it, not that the single player was great by any stretch, but I present Bioshock 2 multiplayer into evidence and rest my case. It is clear that take two just did not have the resources to doeven a half decent job of it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,080 ✭✭✭Grumpypants


    Retr0gamer wrote: »
    Ruse is an RTS though and not the type of game you'd expect to only last 8 hours and have no multiplayer.

    I'm talking about games like Bayonetta, Vanquish, Silent hill 2 etc. I don't want those type of games to last 40 hours or more and have tacked on multiplayer I'll never use. It would be detrimental to making the game.


    Ah i get you, we're actually talking about the same thing :D, those games are games I would play finish and play again, I've a stack of games on the shelf that are only around 6-8 hours long that ive kept and play more than once and will never trade them in.

    I was talking about developers that make games that you would barely want to get to the end of the game never mind play it for a second time & tack on a crap multiplayer and then release costed DLC, titles like Kane and Lynch 2 for example.

    I don't really have a problem with games that just have a single player aspect as long as it is good. I just used RUSE as a good example of a developer being fair giving the solo campaign, plus a good online aspect plus some free DLC before they started charging, rather than giving players a half arsed solo campaign and charging straight away for DLC that should have been in the game.

    And if you look at what this is offering the store is pretty sure of getting enough copies of all those games returned within 1 week of release to make this venture worthwhile. Usually you only see stacks of rubbish games appearing on the 2nd hand shelf after the first week.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 956 ✭✭✭steve_


    And alos i seen the manger from gamestop kilkenny going to the game area of HMV and takeing down how much every game cost and still HMV are 10 euros cheaper for new games

    Thats common practice in game stores, you can expect to see staff from other stores checking out prices every friday for new titles.

    As for this whole ordeal i read an article and gamestop said that this idea of paying for EA online access will actually strengthen sales:

    http://bit.ly/egVGHd


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,896 ✭✭✭penev10


    If the publishers and platform owners want to tackle the second hand market then they should get serious with their digital distribution.

    I'm sick to death of hearing (from the industry) that digital distribution is such a black art and they are still getting their heads around it.

    The hard-drive space is there, the bandwidth is there just offer consumers a reason not to buy a physical copy! (eg dont release a download of Mass effect 2 on PSN for 59.99euro when it's 35 in the shops!) With all the manufacturing and distribution costs nullified (not to mention the retailers 20%!) why can't they offer digital downloads at prices less than the high street???


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,405 ✭✭✭gizmo


    penev10 wrote: »
    If the publishers and platform owners want to tackle the second hand market then they should get serious with their digital distribution.

    I'm sick to death of hearing (from the industry) that digital distribution is such a black art and they are still getting their heads around it.

    The hard-drive space is there, the bandwidth is there just offer consumers a reason not to buy a physical copy! (eg dont release a download of Mass effect 2 on PSN for 59.99euro when it's 35 in the shops!) With all the manufacturing and distribution costs nullified (not to mention the retailers 20%!) why can't they offer digital downloads at prices less than the high street???
    This is the console market though penev10, one which isn't as willing to accept digital distribution as readily as the PC market just yet. The inroads the publishers have made thus far are decent, at least with regards to those games which are available. The prices, as you've pointed out though, could do with a little work. :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,929 ✭✭✭✭ShadowHearth


    Stupid idea. I dont mind all this used ges thing, i love to go gamestop amd browse abit. You newer know, you cam find some old jewel for few quid.

    I personally newer trade in games, as i love to have collection. Later on i will show my kids, what was theyr daddy in to. Still hate myself for selling psone with all those games back in the day.... Parasite eve 2 now alone costs 200 quid... And i whan play it, not resell it :(.

    I newer understood when second hand game costed 5 eu less then brand new one... I loled at that, do people really bothered about 5 quid? I better have it brand new for 5 or 10 extra them with someones filty prints all over it.

    Good spoting wad on EA games. Moust of them meed activisation. Friemd bought bc2 recently, and i bought new on of zavvi fod same money. Now he got owned by needing to reactivate it...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    do you have very large fingers?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,405 ✭✭✭gizmo


    And so it begins...

    jVTbV.png


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 662 ✭✭✭Liber8or


    Simple solution: Give Xbox360 and PS3 games a serial number, just like on PC. Serial number bound to your Xbox/PS3 User Account.

    Lo and behold, consoles becoming more and more like PCs.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17,661 ✭✭✭✭Helix


    gizmo wrote: »
    And so it begins...

    jVTbV.png

    a €4 saving over the original

    ahahaha

    im setting my stall out here, anyone who buys from this scheme is a moron


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,590 ✭✭✭✭o1s1n
    Master of the Universe


    Parasite eve 2 now alone costs 200 quid... And i whan play it, not resell it :(.

    Sure you're not thinking about something else? Parasite eve 2 isn't expensive at all -

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Parasite-Eve-PS1-PS2-GAME-VERY-GOOD-CONDITION-COMPLETE-/320666348783?pt=UK_VintageComputing_RL&hash=item4aa9342cef

    I never trade in games, ever. The rapid depreciation is a waste of money. Might as well just build up a collection.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,804 ✭✭✭Benzino


    What annoys me is that Publishers and Developers are trying various methods of making second-hand games less attractive in an attempt to stop such sales, yet have no problems doing exclusive deals with the likes of Gamestop and Game such as "Pre-order today with Gamestop and get beta access to Gears of War 3".

    Bunch of hypocrites if you ask me (yes I'm talking about you Epic :P )*.

    *I may be slightly annoyed at the fact that I want beta access but don't want to buy from Gamestop :mad:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,729 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    Liber8or wrote: »
    Simple solution: Give Xbox360 and PS3 games a serial number, just like on PC. Serial number bound to your Xbox/PS3 User Account.

    Lo and behold, consoles becoming more and more like PCs.
    it would be nice if that worked each way but thats very impractical still.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,929 ✭✭✭✭ShadowHearth


    o1s1n wrote: »
    Sure you're not thinking about something else? Parasite eve 2 isn't expensive at all -

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Parasite-Eve-PS1-PS2-GAME-VERY-GOOD-CONDITION-COMPLETE-/320666348783?pt=UK_VintageComputing_RL&hash=item4aa9342cef

    I never trade in games, ever. The rapid depreciation is a waste of money. Might as well just build up a collection.

    That is a great find, it's really hard to find these. I really hate eBay thought, it's like a scammer heaven.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 662 ✭✭✭Liber8or


    Overheal wrote: »
    it would be nice if that worked each way but thats very impractical still.

    How so? It has worked on PCs for over a decade now. The only drawback I can see is for the people who don't have their consoles hooked up to the internet. However, multiplayer games are the only games which are given CD-Keys, (except in the rare case of games which need online content, e.g Dragon Age), so only those seeking to play online would be asked for a CD-Key. Considering the amount of shovelware which has multiplayer thrown in (or in some cases, a single-player thrown in), this would account for almost half of the games out there to requiring a CD-Key.

    A problem halved...

    Perhaps not this generation, but I reckon the next generation of consoles will require an internet connection at all times. Then, publishers will supply CD-Keys.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,126 ✭✭✭✭calex71


    I don't like to hold on to many of my games, simply because I know I will never play them again. So they are worth nothing to me sitting on a shelf gathering dust.

    What is laughable is the price of 2nd hand games in some of the shops, only on friday I was looking for a couple I played for maybe an hour or 2 at a friends place and wanted to pick up for the sake of completion, 19.99 for a 3 year old and 16.99 for a 4 year old game that wasn't even a AAA title when it came out is hilarious :D

    I've been stung more than once since xmas by price cuts a week or 2 after launch on new games. Not only am I losing money by buying it on launch day , i lose more when I go to resell it only a few weeks later, whether I trade it in or sell on adverts/ebay.

    So theres 2 things going on here, one is a push by the companies to get people to buy new games the other is a push by the shops to sell pre-owned.

    Either way it's me losing out in the end :mad:


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 30,014 CMod ✭✭✭✭johnny_ultimate


    One thing to note is that publishers and format owners are purposefully overcharging for digital downloads in some regards to placate retailers. If you look at the Xbox Games on Demand service, for example, not only is there a delay in putting games up but they also tend to be quite expensive. While you can find a few year old releases for 19.99, Halo Reach - for example - is only being put up now and I'd wager it will be 49.99 (some other titles like Crackdown 2 are). Mass Effect 2 for 59.99 on PSN is particularly absurd, was the same with Dragon Age Awakening I believe (a ludicrous 40 euro on XBL to match the retail price). I'd be very curious to see the sales figures for these, as I'd imagine they can't possibly be high since all these games are available much cheaper in retail stores, boxed and all. Steam is similar, although don't know if that's just Valve and co. being greedy. But it's clear to everyone that digital downloads should be much, much cheaper since it's only the developer> publisher > platform holder costs, as opposed to the developer > publisher > platform holder > manufacture > shipping > retailer model currently in place.

    If they really want to challenge pre-owned sales, a more attractive digital download pricing is a necessity IMO!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 956 ✭✭✭steve_


    Just curious if GAME and Gamestop have bought out any digital distribution companies? The fact they have hundreds of stores worldwide surely they will do everything in their power to slow the progress of digital distribution


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,845 ✭✭✭Jet Black


    gizmo wrote: »
    And so it begins...

    jVTbV.png

    Its 37.99 for that game new on amazon?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,140 ✭✭✭✭TheDoc


    One thing to note is that publishers and format owners are purposefully overcharging for digital downloads in some regards to placate retailers. If you look at the Xbox Games on Demand service, for example, not only is there a delay in putting games up but they also tend to be quite expensive. While you can find a few year old releases for 19.99, Halo Reach - for example - is only being put up now and I'd wager it will be 49.99 (some other titles like Crackdown 2 are). Mass Effect 2 for 59.99 on PSN is particularly absurd, was the same with Dragon Age Awakening I believe (a ludicrous 40 euro on XBL to match the retail price). I'd be very curious to see the sales figures for these, as I'd imagine they can't possibly be high since all these games are available much cheaper in retail stores, boxed and all. Steam is similar, although don't know if that's just Valve and co. being greedy. But it's clear to everyone that digital downloads should be much, much cheaper since it's only the developer> publisher > platform holder costs, as opposed to the developer > publisher > platform holder > manufacture > shipping > retailer model currently in place.

    If they really want to challenge pre-owned sales, a more attractive digital download pricing is a necessity IMO!

    Simple economics really.

    Digital content is relatively new. Those providing the service are probably testing the water.

    If they drop thier price too low, increasing would be a pretty bad step.
    however if they start high and marginally lower, it reflects well from consumers.

    Studies released in the U.S over the last 12 months along with sales figures sees a steady shift towards digital distribution with the like sof iTunes and Steam and D2D being pretty succesful, but its not a drastic shift, its a gradual one.

    As more and more people move to Digital Dist. we will then start to see drops in price. Digital Dist is risky, its a big change, your asking people to stop the habit and process they have used for over 20 years, to do something entirely new, not everyone will jump ship straight away.

    Sure there are still people clinging onto " I love the box" which is by all means fine.


    Again its just simple economics.
    If they start at bricks n mortar price and see sales increasing, they know they are onto a winner and can drop prices in the future safely.
    If they start lower and the idea flops, price hikes will be backlashed and the whole thing caves.


    I've moved pretty much solely to Digital Distribution, I don't play alot of PC Games outside of WoW and a couple of shooters. But when Blizzard moved to Digital Dist they have been cheaper then retail stores, and Steam Sale drop enough bargains to keep me interested on downtime.

    Picked up Crysis and the expansion for €19.99 , at 11pm on Friday night, and was playing it within 30 minutes of purchase. You just dont get that freedom with retail stores.

    Plus the whole second hand market stuff disgusts me .


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 10,088 Mod ✭✭✭✭marco_polo


    TheDoc wrote: »
    Simple economics really.

    Digital content is relatively new. Those providing the service are probably testing the water.

    If they drop thier price too low, increasing would be a pretty bad step.
    however if they start high and marginally lower, it reflects well from consumers.

    Studies released in the U.S over the last 12 months along with sales figures sees a steady shift towards digital distribution with the like sof iTunes and Steam and D2D being pretty succesful, but its not a drastic shift, its a gradual one.

    As more and more people move to Digital Dist. we will then start to see drops in price. Digital Dist is risky, its a big change, your asking people to stop the habit and process they have used for over 20 years, to do something entirely new, not everyone will jump ship straight away.

    Sure there are still people clinging onto " I love the box" which is by all means fine.


    Again its just simple economics.
    If they start at bricks n mortar price and see sales increasing, they know they are onto a winner and can drop prices in the future safely.
    If they start lower and the idea flops, price hikes will be backlashed and the whole thing caves.


    I've moved pretty much solely to Digital Distribution, I don't play alot of PC Games outside of WoW and a couple of shooters. But when Blizzard moved to Digital Dist they have been cheaper then retail stores, and Steam Sale drop enough bargains to keep me interested on downtime.

    Picked up Crysis and the expansion for €19.99 , at 11pm on Friday night, and was playing it within 30 minutes of purchase. You just dont get that freedom with retail stores.

    Plus the whole second hand market stuff disgusts me .

    If publishers started at Bricks and Mortar prices or even undercutting them on digital downloads, there is a good chance stores would simply not stock their games, and because Digital retail is not all well established currently, especially in the console gaming market, if your game is not in HMV, Gamestop etc it may as well not exist for the vast majority of consumers.

    I actually suspect that the large online retailers such as amazon currently hold at least as much if more influence than high street stores on the pricing of digital downloads.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,080 ✭✭✭Grumpypants


    People underestimate the power of Gamestop at the moment, they are so big having them pull you game would have dire consequences. Its similar to the way Wall Mart can get bands to change album covers so that they will stock it.

    If gamestop makes a billion euro from selling new games that means the publishers and developers made 4 billion from the same games they sold. They are not in a position to piss them off just yet.

    I still love to have a box, ive often found games ive downloaded i just dont have the same attachment compared to a game i bought. Silly i know as its the same game you play in the end.

    for example ive Beyond good and evil and Stacking downloaded and ive only played the first 10 mins of each same for COD HD and Battlefield 1943. No idea why i dont play them its a weird association i guess.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,929 ✭✭✭✭ShadowHearth


    Hmm it goes a bit of topic, but you know what I love? To buy a pc game on a disc which supports steam. Dow2, cod, fear, etc.

    Thay are way more cheaper then steam prices, and you get digital copy and hard copy of the game. In my opinion it's the biggest win.

    I love my hard copies too, I love to look at my shelf now and then to see what I was into few years ago.... I love to dig out from bottom of the shelf some old game and fire it up for oneore ass kicking...

    So as you see I don't like trading in games. Atleast the ones I really do liked.

    As for preordering second hand games, it's just a piss taking amd a good spit in to the faces of developers.

    I do buy second hand games sometimes, but I buy only the very old classics I missed on, like for example I grabbed nfs shift and split second yesterday. Happy enought... Those games are oldish now, and you can get brand new ones for pennies online too, but gamestop is not fast to drop theyr prices...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,080 ✭✭✭Grumpypants


    Is it really any different than asking the guy behind the counter to hold one for you if he gets it in ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 956 ✭✭✭steve_


    Is it really any different than asking the guy behind the counter to hold one for you if he gets it in ?

    Ha yeah its very different. They are putting particular emphasis on the fact you can preorder preowned, getting the lad behind the desk to hold it was one thing but reserving a copy before its even in store and having them ring you or whatever is a different situation.

    The only way id switch to digital distribution is if i was giving something physical to show i owned that game. Custom cards and figures or whatever just something to compensate the fact i dont own a physical copy of the game.


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