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If Mass Effect 3 ends up being Origin exclusive -- and by that, I mean ALL versions of it on the PC -- I give up. I will rebuy 1 and 2 on consoles, I'll buy the third on consoles, and I'll never buy an EA PC game again.
Bingo. This is my #1 issue with digital distribution. The savings in packaging, manufacture, and purchasing shelf space should be passed along down the line or have some other tangible benefit for the consumer.
I would actually imagine that retailers have a hand in this situation as well, in the sense that, if online sales are undercutting disc sales by being, say, $20 lower in price, then retailers are going to see that as losses for themselves, pitch a fit, and refuse to distribute the product. Because publishers still DO rely on retail stores to move a lot of product, they keep them happy by keeping the prices artificially inflated so they're not perceived as trying to undercut retailers.
I would actually imagine that retailers have a hand in this situation as well, in the sense that, if online sales are undercutting disc sales by being, say, $20 lower in price, then retailers are going to see that as losses for themselves, pitch a fit, and refuse to distribute the product. Because publishers still DO rely on retail stores to move a lot of product, they keep them happy by keeping the prices artificially inflated so they're not perceived as trying to undercut retailers.
It's circular.
Gamers are a bunch of self-entitled pricks who feel data should be free or close to it despite that, on it's best day, digital distribution accounts for roughly 20% of a total units sales thus making a fully digital push economically unrealistic. (see how badly fucked the PC market)
Retailers are self-entitled pricks who, at the first sign of DD favoritism, will refuse to stock and distribute said titles and has even gone so far as to threaten not carrying the publishers entire lineup forcing companies to ultimately make the decision of which is more important, Dawn of War or the entire of THQs lineup?
Publishers are a bunch of self-entitled pricks because they want Digital Distribution to become a bigger factor so that they can turn a profit on fewer sales. (hint: Not every game is Call of Duty, most barely break even... EA as a greedy company hasn't turned a profit for the past 7 years yet we demand more and more free shit from them because they are greedy and actually want, GASP, to make a profit)
In essence, you have a holy trinity of selfish, self-entitled pricks who refuse to compromise or even negotiate a middle ground because ANYTIME things change in one directions favor or another, you get a reaction like this from one of the three camps.
Until we're willing to meet in the middle, much like the music industry did, (and seems to have forgotten why MP3s took off in the first place recently) progress will not be gained. And instead of painting one faction as unmovable villians, maybe give a little. Try and see things from their perspective. Your Mass Effect 3 $39.99 idea is fine... until gamestop, best buy, walmart, target, meijer, hmv, and countless others say, "You know what? Fuck you and all versions." You're expecting EA to save, at most, 30,000 people $20 at the cost of millions in lost sales as the console versions just cannot be purchased in the brick and mortars.
Gamers are a bunch of self-entitled pricks who feel data should be free or close to it despite that, on it's best day, digital distribution accounts for roughly 20% of a total units sales thus making a fully digital push economically unrealistic. (see how badly fucked the PC market)
Retailers are self-entitled pricks who, at the first sign of DD favoritism, will refuse to stock and distribute said titles and has even gone so far as to threaten not carrying the publishers entire lineup forcing companies to ultimately make the decision of which is more important, Dawn of War or the entire of THQs lineup?
Publishers are a bunch of self-entitled pricks because they want Digital Distribution to become a bigger factor so that they can turn a profit on fewer sales. (hint: Not every game is Call of Duty, most barely break even... EA as a greedy company hasn't turned a profit for the past 7 years yet we demand more and more free shit from them because they are greedy and actually want, GASP, to make a profit)
In essence, you have a holy trinity of selfish, self-entitled pricks who refuse to compromise or even negotiate a middle ground because ANYTIME things change in one directions favor or another, you get a reaction like this from one of the three camps.
Until we're willing to meet in the middle, much like the music industry did, (and seems to have forgotten why MP3s took off in the first place recently) progress will not be gained. And instead of painting one faction as unmovable villians, maybe give a little. Try and see things from their perspective. Your Mass Effect 3 $39.99 idea is fine... until gamestop, best buy, walmart, target, meijer, hmv, and countless others say, "You know what? Fuck you and all versions." You're expecting EA to save, at most, 30,000 people $20 at the cost of millions in lost sales as the console versions just cannot be purchased in the brick and mortars.
The Xbox Games on Demand problem was the first thing that came to mind when I saw this week's topic. Why give me the option to download my games when I can get them from the store for cheaper (new or used)? Convenience? Profit?
You took the point I was trying to make in my cblog, and completely put up a better cblog around it. Well done!
Yeah, the digital pricing definitely has to change to compete with the used market. I looked at buying Fable 3 and it was still $49.99 on XBL - and I know I can get a used copy much, much cheaper (in fact I'll be doing that today). If the game had been offered at something closer to $30.00 I wouldn't have even bothered to look at the retail options.
If they want the money from "new" sales on older games then they really do have to re-examine their pricing structure.
If they want the money from "new" sales on older games then they really do have to re-examine their pricing structure.
Awesome post!!!!
I feel exactly the same way. I wish publishers would see if from this point of view.
The last paragraph says it all..
I feel exactly the same way. I wish publishers would see if from this point of view.
The last paragraph says it all..
Great post and fantastically written.
I will point out however that you forget the tail end of it...Retails power hold.
Here's the concept. If I sell a game for $20 less online than I do at Best Buy, what is the incentive for Best Buy to stock 100,000 copies of the game to sell at MSRP. So Best Buy decides to cut the purchase down to 25,000 units to cover the preliminary sales and they don't plan on reordering unless demand is still high.
That's the reason why online pricing is so high from companies like EA and Activision. Because they toe a line between pissing off retailers and maximizing profits. Just because you are going to buy a game through Origin or whatever at that lowered price point, doesn't mean that 75,000 people are going to cover the loss from Best Buy.
In concept, this is what killed the PC gaming market at retail. Well, that and DRM.
You have to go to Steam to get the deal because no retailer will stock the game. I used to remember the giant displays for Everquest and other games at Best Buy. Now they get half an aisle that's split with software.
This is why the console push is so slow and doesn't fluctuate. Because they can't do it. It's why you see XBLA Deals of the Week, because they don't have to compete with anyone on the deals. It's why Games on Demand will always be higher than MSRP. Because retailers are only willing to compete directly. Once you start cutting in to margins, all bets are off.
I will point out however that you forget the tail end of it...Retails power hold.
Here's the concept. If I sell a game for $20 less online than I do at Best Buy, what is the incentive for Best Buy to stock 100,000 copies of the game to sell at MSRP. So Best Buy decides to cut the purchase down to 25,000 units to cover the preliminary sales and they don't plan on reordering unless demand is still high.
That's the reason why online pricing is so high from companies like EA and Activision. Because they toe a line between pissing off retailers and maximizing profits. Just because you are going to buy a game through Origin or whatever at that lowered price point, doesn't mean that 75,000 people are going to cover the loss from Best Buy.
In concept, this is what killed the PC gaming market at retail. Well, that and DRM.
You have to go to Steam to get the deal because no retailer will stock the game. I used to remember the giant displays for Everquest and other games at Best Buy. Now they get half an aisle that's split with software.
This is why the console push is so slow and doesn't fluctuate. Because they can't do it. It's why you see XBLA Deals of the Week, because they don't have to compete with anyone on the deals. It's why Games on Demand will always be higher than MSRP. Because retailers are only willing to compete directly. Once you start cutting in to margins, all bets are off.
You use the word "profit" incorrectly. It's not "profit" until the game has made its money back, after its initial investment. Many games today cost a lot of money to produce, often in the area of 20 million for a blockbuster. Taking in $30 a pop, assuming your numbers are correct because you don't source them, it still takes just shy of 700,000 units just break even, let alone make a profit. Let's not even get into the logistics of what the company might use that profit for (ie, R&D for future games) before the flow actually does hit the war chest.
And digital games are simply not embraced in a way that makes that kind of investment (for the publisher) sustainable. You say they're too expensive, so you don't buy them. Meanwhile, shipments and shelf space still have to be paid for because you're still buying physical games (and likely will until they don't exist). What's a publisher to do? Make digital downloads cheaper just so you can still buy things from the store anyway? What kind of business sense does that make?
Games still cost a fuckton of money to make. Gamers demand bigger, more involving games, but get annoyed at the growing costs that go hand in hand with that. You can't have it both ways.
And digital games are simply not embraced in a way that makes that kind of investment (for the publisher) sustainable. You say they're too expensive, so you don't buy them. Meanwhile, shipments and shelf space still have to be paid for because you're still buying physical games (and likely will until they don't exist). What's a publisher to do? Make digital downloads cheaper just so you can still buy things from the store anyway? What kind of business sense does that make?
Games still cost a fuckton of money to make. Gamers demand bigger, more involving games, but get annoyed at the growing costs that go hand in hand with that. You can't have it both ways.
I agree with you, for the most part.
But, you know, I don't even care if digital copies cost the same as retail copies on Day One. I understand that publishers have to keep their retail partners somewhat happy. However, the idea that, after a few months, buying a boxed copy from Amazon will ALWAYS be cheaper than a non-sale digital copy is ridiculous. They should AT LEAST mimic the same path of depreciation we see with the retail version.
It is absolutely within the power of publishers to strike a major blow to the used game market. All they would have to do is undercut the price of a used copy with digital releases. Not only would they make just as much money, but they'd keep trade-ins off the market.
I think everyone is in a holding pattern right now. I think all the big publishers are waiting for a big name to go with a digital only release, so they can see how many copies it sells, and more importantly, what kind of profit it generates.
But, you know, I don't even care if digital copies cost the same as retail copies on Day One. I understand that publishers have to keep their retail partners somewhat happy. However, the idea that, after a few months, buying a boxed copy from Amazon will ALWAYS be cheaper than a non-sale digital copy is ridiculous. They should AT LEAST mimic the same path of depreciation we see with the retail version.
It is absolutely within the power of publishers to strike a major blow to the used game market. All they would have to do is undercut the price of a used copy with digital releases. Not only would they make just as much money, but they'd keep trade-ins off the market.
I think everyone is in a holding pattern right now. I think all the big publishers are waiting for a big name to go with a digital only release, so they can see how many copies it sells, and more importantly, what kind of profit it generates.
I personally wait for sales or don't buy at all. In my opinion, $60 is really hard to justify for either retail or digital. In the end, prices depend on what people are willing to pay. My own desire would be for buying habits to change to the extent that prices go down across the board, even if that means changes in budgets and how developers approach games. Just one reason I like Indie games so much.
Once again, look to Valve for this done right. Portal 2 was discounted from retail copies on launch day. It came out 6 hours early on Steam with the ARG. You can routinely get Valve's entire library of games for under 200 bucks. Not all publishers get it right, but once again it seems the people who do get it right gets left out in favor of argumentative posting.
Glad to see this one hit the front page as well. It's an important conversation, and it's hard to understand without looking at where retailers, publishers, developers, and consumers all stand in the picture.
Very well said article. I agree with everything said, but if developers were to lower the price. 50 dollars would be there first attempt.
My biggest issue with digital distribution is what happens in 5 years when Steam, Xbox Live, or whatever can no longer support what I buy today. Similarly to how Xbox Live can't support Halo anymore due to necessary upgrades. If I have the physical media and can plug in the old system and play it again. I mean there aren't a lot of games that I go back to, but I want to have the option. Especially if it costs the same either way.
While I'm not giving publishers clemency on their faults with digital pricing issues retail stores are part of the problem. They have to protect their interest and if EA sells Mass Effect 3 for $39.99 at launch and stores sell for $59.99 then at best they make less money. At worst they make less money and get all the fallout of angry customers who realize they were "duped" into spending more money.
Retailers have absolutely nothing to gain right now from digital distribution and as long as publishers need them things won't change pleasantly. Unless publishers started cooperating with retailers this is their compromise: everyone on the business side stays happy, consumers are pissed but not enough to stop buying things, eventually satellite internet will put online connectivity everywhere and retailers will get shut out so hard I almost feel sorry for them and reasonably priced digital distribution for consoles will never exist and Steam will be pecked away at by greedy publishers.
Retailers have absolutely nothing to gain right now from digital distribution and as long as publishers need them things won't change pleasantly. Unless publishers started cooperating with retailers this is their compromise: everyone on the business side stays happy, consumers are pissed but not enough to stop buying things, eventually satellite internet will put online connectivity everywhere and retailers will get shut out so hard I almost feel sorry for them and reasonably priced digital distribution for consoles will never exist and Steam will be pecked away at by greedy publishers.
Publishers are afraid of getting locked out by retail, which is still the majority of business. Online prices are the way they are because retailers have the power to make or break a game if they choose not to stock it because the publisher is selling it cheaper online and is potentially threatening future brick and mortar business.
Don't hate the publishers, hate the greedy retailers.
Don't hate the publishers, hate the greedy retailers.
The lack of disparity between download and physical copies is one of my biggest problems with digital downloads. The big conceit with regards to games costing $60 was that a big portion had to go towards logistics and greasing the palms of retailers, yet publishers still maintain their products should cost the same regardless of how they're delivered. They're overreaching in their efforts to get their hands into the wallets of the consumer.
Grats on your FP. When DD was just coming into the fold, I honestly expected prices for it to be lower. Yes, the retailers have muscle, but if they started to not sell games...then that would drive more people to DD, wouldn't it? Let's cook up a situation. Activision decides MW3 is going to be digital-only, and as a result, Walmart pulls and refuses to stock any and all games by Activision. This puts Walmart in a precarious position: Activision's online service/Steam would then be the only place to go in town for MW and other Acti-offerings. Walmart gets no cut. But really, all things considered, manasteel is right. If prices were lower on DD, and prices remained the same in stores, then stores would either stock much less or none at all, tying the hands of just about everyone involved.
One thing I think we can all agree on is that games should have a grace period whereupon the game would drop in price. I mean...some stores do that already (bargain bin/get this off our shelves) and we've stuff like Platinum Hits and Greatest Hits, but I dunno, it's wrong to say "it's not fast enough" because I know I'm a huge cheapass.
It's a problem (the pricing, the DD versus retail, etc) but I've no idea what a good solution would be.
One thing I think we can all agree on is that games should have a grace period whereupon the game would drop in price. I mean...some stores do that already (bargain bin/get this off our shelves) and we've stuff like Platinum Hits and Greatest Hits, but I dunno, it's wrong to say "it's not fast enough" because I know I'm a huge cheapass.
It's a problem (the pricing, the DD versus retail, etc) but I've no idea what a good solution would be.
I think everyone is in a holding pattern right now. I think all the big publishers are waiting for a big name to go with a digital only release, so they can see how many copies it sells, and more importantly, what kind of profit it generates.
That thought right there frightens me, and I often wonder how long before one does. Well written article. Congrats on front page!
That thought right there frightens me, and I often wonder how long before one does. Well written article. Congrats on front page!
If retailers are such a large portion of sales, why should they care so much about losing apparently 'few' sales to cheaper digital? It's pretty strange to have such an us vs them mentality in the first place though I think, it's all just typical competition.
It gets even worse here in Australia, where after shipping and the likes a game can cost the sum of $90(120 if it's in a fancy box), yet on steam, You'll find a number of publishers insist on tieing their "Australian Region" pricing to that $90 number, and others tie it to a rough after-conversion US pricing, which while somewhat expensive still, is significantly LESS gouging given the AU-to-US conversion rate
What makes this a worse situation is that 24 months ago it wasn't half as bad. Unfortunately I can't pull citeable sources, but Call of Duty 4 used to be one of the "US-price" level games, just Modern Warfare 2 launched, it went to the $90 mark, to be dropped down to $49 again.
Modern Warfare 2 itself is STILL 90 large.
That gouge that the article is talking about, it's even worse down under.
What makes this a worse situation is that 24 months ago it wasn't half as bad. Unfortunately I can't pull citeable sources, but Call of Duty 4 used to be one of the "US-price" level games, just Modern Warfare 2 launched, it went to the $90 mark, to be dropped down to $49 again.
Modern Warfare 2 itself is STILL 90 large.
That gouge that the article is talking about, it's even worse down under.
Hey, hey, don't hate on bungie. They have no control over they're game's pricing anymore, they're even losing rights to the series. They're not even allowed to prophet from halo merchandise on their own site store.
Honestly if they keep the PC prices at $60, they need to give us a physical copy of the game and get rid of all DRM. I know it's the industry trend to try to get rid of used games sales, but the reason I never (personally) grumbled about not having a use for my games on the PC after I'm done with them is that they were cheaper than I would usually pay for a console version. The poster makes a very valid point: Digital Distribution costs about 70% less than retail (no discs, no manuals, no packaging, etc, etc), so why the hell are we being charged out the ass for it?
Oh, and I'm really starting to dislike EA Origins. I'm sorry EA, I'ma let you finish, but Valve has the best software distribution in the world.
They're just cutting off their own legs by keeping their titles from being cross-platform selling. Why can't we have it on both Steam and on Origins, or have it work in tandem between the two?
Oh, and I'm really starting to dislike EA Origins. I'm sorry EA, I'ma let you finish, but Valve has the best software distribution in the world.
They're just cutting off their own legs by keeping their titles from being cross-platform selling. Why can't we have it on both Steam and on Origins, or have it work in tandem between the two?
Honestly if they keep the PC prices at $60, they need to give us a physical copy of the game and get rid of all DRM. I know it's the industry trend to try to get rid of used games sales, but the reason I never (personally) grumbled about not having a use for my games on the PC after I'm done with them is that they were cheaper than I would usually pay for a console version. The poster makes a very valid point: Digital Distribution costs about 70% less than retail (no discs, no manuals, no packaging, etc, etc), so why the hell are we being charged out the ass for it?
Oh, and I'm really starting to dislike EA Origins. I'm sorry EA, I'ma let you finish, but Valve has the best software distribution in the world.
They're just cutting off their own legs by keeping their titles from being cross-platform selling. Why can't we have it on both Steam and on Origins, or have it work in tandem between the two?
Oh, and I'm really starting to dislike EA Origins. I'm sorry EA, I'ma let you finish, but Valve has the best software distribution in the world.
They're just cutting off their own legs by keeping their titles from being cross-platform selling. Why can't we have it on both Steam and on Origins, or have it work in tandem between the two?
Whoops, sorry for double post, server was being slow (took a minute or so to submit the comment) and I clicked twice ^^;
Heck I'm not even looking for a $20 savings. I'm looking for a $10 savings, no less. It would still be worth it to go to the store and pick it up for $5 if all they are giving me is $5 savings, but $10 is the sweet spot.
I agree with absolutely everything you have written here. They know damn well that they are making a ton more profit on digital distribution, yet are not giving is a break at all. Some of the prices on Xbox's Games on Demand are absolutely hysterical. Why am I going to pay you when I can go to the store and buy it used for $10 or $20 less? Even buying it new at the store would be cheaper.
They seem to want us to hate digital distribution. I don't know a single person who is buys any digital games that are more expensive or the same price than their retail brothers. You publishers have to give me a reason to buy from you. Make me your friend. Asking me to pay the same or more than the cost of the retail product makes me your enemy.
And I will just end up buying it used. This all or nothing approach you guys have is costing you sales. Charge us $10 less. You still make a much better profit, and we save some $$. Otherwise, used games is where i'll stay.
I agree with absolutely everything you have written here. They know damn well that they are making a ton more profit on digital distribution, yet are not giving is a break at all. Some of the prices on Xbox's Games on Demand are absolutely hysterical. Why am I going to pay you when I can go to the store and buy it used for $10 or $20 less? Even buying it new at the store would be cheaper.
They seem to want us to hate digital distribution. I don't know a single person who is buys any digital games that are more expensive or the same price than their retail brothers. You publishers have to give me a reason to buy from you. Make me your friend. Asking me to pay the same or more than the cost of the retail product makes me your enemy.
And I will just end up buying it used. This all or nothing approach you guys have is costing you sales. Charge us $10 less. You still make a much better profit, and we save some $$. Otherwise, used games is where i'll stay.
@ George Booth
Apology NOT accepted. You think you can just come in here, double post your way onto my **** list, and expect me to forgive you? Does this look like a damned day care center to you? Am I supposed to hold your hand, wipe your ass and make you a sandwich too? All because you don't have the damn patience to wait one god damn minute for the server to catch up?
You can go kiss a tree. Your evil doings will not go unpunished sir.
Nah, just kidding. You're forgiven. I'm watching you though....closely...
Apology NOT accepted. You think you can just come in here, double post your way onto my **** list, and expect me to forgive you? Does this look like a damned day care center to you? Am I supposed to hold your hand, wipe your ass and make you a sandwich too? All because you don't have the damn patience to wait one god damn minute for the server to catch up?
You can go kiss a tree. Your evil doings will not go unpunished sir.
Nah, just kidding. You're forgiven. I'm watching you though....closely...
$60 PC games are ridiculous, we're literally paying more the the publisher for no reason. There are still some publishers out there that only charge the normal 50 bucks that they SHOULD be at, I blame EA/Activision cause now ZeniMax is following.
I agree with your point entirely and have always really felt this way. All the games I currently own on Steam are either 1). tied to the steam account when I install the game from the disc or 2). bought while it was on sell. I will never pay full price for a digital copy of something.
This has been my one major issue with DD for about idk how long. As good of a way of buying games as it is, the price gauging is just fucking stupid. Lost Planet 2 is still $40 on Steam, while the console versions are $20.
This has been my one major issue with DD for about idk how long. As good of a way of buying games as it is, the price gauging is just fucking stupid. Lost Planet 2 is still $40 on Steam, while the console versions are $20.
This is why I wait for sales and whatnot. The writer hits the nail on the head with the loss of the ability to trade the game in to recoup some of the loss later on. I've become increasingly aware of how much I spend on games, and often choose to wait for them to come down in price before buying, with the exception of a few games a year, usually franchises I'm highly interested in (Zelda, for example).
This is being exacerbated by retail copies of most PC games simply being the digital copy sans the download requirement. I picked up Civilization V from Amazon over the week leading up to Black Friday for $30, which was my "buy in" point. I loved the demo and knew I'd play it tons, just not all the time, so $50 from the start wasn't going to sit well with me. Thing is, even though I bought a retail copy, my license is tied to Steam, so I can't trade the game or even give it away if I wanted to.
I like the idea of digital distribution just like the author, but agree that the price points need to incentivize giving up actual rights of ownership in favor of convenience.
This is being exacerbated by retail copies of most PC games simply being the digital copy sans the download requirement. I picked up Civilization V from Amazon over the week leading up to Black Friday for $30, which was my "buy in" point. I loved the demo and knew I'd play it tons, just not all the time, so $50 from the start wasn't going to sit well with me. Thing is, even though I bought a retail copy, my license is tied to Steam, so I can't trade the game or even give it away if I wanted to.
I like the idea of digital distribution just like the author, but agree that the price points need to incentivize giving up actual rights of ownership in favor of convenience.
A lot of people here misunderstand the retail market. If you "undercut" retail there's not shit they can do. They can't refuse to carry a product because that's their livelihood. If Activision suddenly charges $40 for Modern Warfare 3 while keeping a $60 cost at retail, no retailer is going to suddenly stop stocking the highest selling title in history.
Unlike music and movies, video games still aren't mainstream enough to fully survive in digital form. Movies and music are permanently ingrained into popular culture. While video games are referenced sometimes, we still don't have dedicated media outings to video games. They're still considered by the mass majority to be childish toys that people grow out of while music and film are cheap, disposable, and "sophisticated". Retailers target the casual audience who like to pick up a physical box, read the contents, flip through the manual, and ask people questions. Nintendo "won" the console war because they targeted that audience who wanted a cheap toy, not an expensive media station: it worked for them but bombed for third parties trying to release a legitimate product.
We have to understand the place of video games. Digital is still in its infancy and retailers are still killing all digital outlets. If you're posting on this website, you're savvy enough to know better. The other hundreds of millions can't imagine anything other than a brick and mortar store to walk into.
Unlike music and movies, video games still aren't mainstream enough to fully survive in digital form. Movies and music are permanently ingrained into popular culture. While video games are referenced sometimes, we still don't have dedicated media outings to video games. They're still considered by the mass majority to be childish toys that people grow out of while music and film are cheap, disposable, and "sophisticated". Retailers target the casual audience who like to pick up a physical box, read the contents, flip through the manual, and ask people questions. Nintendo "won" the console war because they targeted that audience who wanted a cheap toy, not an expensive media station: it worked for them but bombed for third parties trying to release a legitimate product.
We have to understand the place of video games. Digital is still in its infancy and retailers are still killing all digital outlets. If you're posting on this website, you're savvy enough to know better. The other hundreds of millions can't imagine anything other than a brick and mortar store to walk into.
I agree with you for the most part, but I'm pretty sure your retail numbers are complete bullshit. And on the digital side, you're forgetting a lot of costs to the publisher (e.g. Steam's cut if the sale is made on Steam, or the R&D cost of building their own digital distribution service, plus the upkeep costs of running a data center, if they've gone down that route.)
This was a good write up. Origin and others like it have no idea what they're doing. Steam is successful and people like it because they offer ludicrous sales on games. Older games especially, but new games often get crazy deals as well. $50 for every Valve game ever?
Well fuck.
Well fuck.
If a digital release is not $30 or less I'm getting a physical copy from Amazon or (take this EA) I'm buying it used from now on. Just browse Games on Demand for a few mins and I dare you to tell me you are not frustrated as hell. The days of publishers passing their savings onto the customers are over.(if it ever was) I absolutely refuse to use EA's Origin service after the bullshit they been pulling. Casual gamers do not use services such as Steam and certainly not Origins. So, for once the core gamers can make a statement by refusing to pay full retail price for a digital copy. Tell your friends, gaming buddies, family members, whoever to stay away from digital and show these publishers we are not the morons they take us for. If you go to EA and pay the price they are asking on Origins you are part of the problem.
The locked out by retail argument is moronic! Yeah...retailers are going to refuse to sale games because the publishers are selling it for less. You understand how counter-productive that is? Then the retailer makes nothing! What retailer made such a statement? I'll answer for you...none. Where did such an excuse come from? Oh, that's right, the Publishers. There latest excuse was bandwidth related. I guess some are foolish enough to believe that well. I suppose the publishers has those people right where they want them. In the end, Gaming is still a privilaged hobby not a birth right. Nobody is entitled to anying...including the publishers. It's about personal choice, and I already made my choice.
The locked out by retail argument is moronic! Yeah...retailers are going to refuse to sale games because the publishers are selling it for less. You understand how counter-productive that is? Then the retailer makes nothing! What retailer made such a statement? I'll answer for you...none. Where did such an excuse come from? Oh, that's right, the Publishers. There latest excuse was bandwidth related. I guess some are foolish enough to believe that as well. I suppose the publishers has those people right where they want them. In the end, Gaming is still a privilaged hobby not a birth right. Nobody is entitled to anying...including the publishers. It's about personal choice, and I already made my choice.
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