[360] Gamestop Threatening not to Sell Next Xbox

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Can't recall the last time I used Gamestop to purchase anything video game related.

Used games -> Interwebz
New shit -> Best Buy (rewards FTW) or Amazon (cheapness FTW).

However, I don't like the idea of an all digital platform either.

Great as an OPTION but as a platform...no bueno.

 

[spiker]

Narrowminded, cynical, realistic. Whatever you want to call it, that's me.

 

[spiker]

Great as an OPTION but as a platform...no bueno.

Yes good as an option. Give the consumer an option and let them decide. What a concept.

 

[SethMode]

Yes good as an option. Give the consumer an option and let them decide. What a concept.

Just like you'll always have the option to buy or not buy. If this turns out to be as gross as your doom and gloom outlook thinks it will, just buy a different system. Options! You'll always have Nintendo, because I'm not sure they know what the Internet is.

 

[BrntO4Life]

Narrowminded, cynical, realistic. Whatever you want to call it, that's me.

I certainly wouldn't label you "realistic" on this subject.

Steam has driven the price of games down quite a bit, at least when sales come around.

 

[SethMode]

You can currently get 18 games, along with every piece of DLC for each game that has DLC, on Steam, for 75 bucks. My how digital gaming is gross.

 

[spiker]

Yeah? How much is Skyrim?

 

[spiker]

I was hoping someone would indulge me because I can't check the price of Skyrim on Steam right now because Steam.com is blocked for me at work. I'm just going to guess it's more than $27. Probably close to double that. Am I right?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Elder-Scrol...8022?pt=Video_Games_Games&hash=item3a722c21c6

 

[jms493]

I was hoping someone would indulge me because I can't check the price of Skyrim on Steam right now because Steam.com is blocked for me at work. I'm just going to guess it's more than $27. Probably close to double that. Am I right?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Elder-Scrol...8022?pt=Video_Games_Games&hash=item3a722c21c6

Skyrim is $59.99 on steam....there is an app for that:motte:

 

[BrntO4Life]

I was hoping someone would indulge me because I can't check the price of Skyrim on Steam right now because Steam.com is blocked for me at work. I'm just going to guess it's more than $27. Probably close to double that. Am I right?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Elder-Scrol...8022?pt=Video_Games_Games&hash=item3a722c21c6

Currently $59.99.

BUT

What were your chances of finding a console copy of Skyrim for $40 on Christmas Eve?

http://gamecrunch.co/2011/12/24/skyrim-receives-33-off-on-steam-for-christmas-daily-deals/

 

[SethMode]

Used game sales are going to die regardless, that point is moot. Publishers and developers are finally starting to realize that with the internet, they hold all the cards.

 

[spiker]

Retailers have one-day sales all the time. What's your point?

It's so plain to see that having the option to buy used games in a free market gives the consumer the best price possible. Why are game companies so afraid of that market? Oh yeah, because they can't gouge us for every copy that is purchased at the artificially inflated retail price.

I mean, if you can't realize that is a benefit to the consumer, I don't know what to tell you.

 

[spiker]

Used game sales are going to die regardless, that point is moot. Publishers and developers are finally starting to realize that with the internet, they hold all the cards.

By 100% digital distribution methods? Or just going to die because....

 

[BrntO4Life]

Retailers have one-day sales all the time. What's your point?

It's so plain to see that having the option to buy used games in a free market gives the consumer the best price possible. Why are game companies so afraid of that market? Oh yeah, because they can't gouge us for every copy that is purchased at the artificially inflated retail price.

I mean, if you can't realize that is a benefit to the consumer, I don't know what to tell you.

The steam sale lasted more than one day. Plus, they've had the sale multiple times. Sure, retailers have one day sales, but how many had them (outside of Black Friday) for Skyrim within a month of release?

I realize used sales are a benefit to the consumer, but I realize the business world's #1 priority isn't consumer happiness, as all proponents of the free market would have you believe. Profits are 1, 2, & 3 in the business world and there's not much downside for publishers.

I don't buy used games anyways. If I don't purchase a game at $60, it's because I don't feel it is worth it and wait for the market to force a price drop. Pretty simple.

 

[SethMode]

Retailers have one-day sales all the time. What's your point?

It's so plain to see that having the option to buy used games in a free market gives the consumer the best price possible. Why are game companies so afraid of that market? Oh yeah, because they can't gouge us for every copy that is purchased at the artificially inflated retail price.

I mean, if you can't realize that is a benefit to the consumer, I don't know what to tell you.

It's also a benefit to me to know that what I'm getting is a fully functional product that I can get instantly, right on my PC or console, without potential inflation due to scarcity of a physical item. I can get a game like Final Fantasy 7, that will work perfectly, digitally on PSN for $15. Or, I can try to get a physical copy new in the range of $250, or used in the range of $30 that might not even work. Why do you refuse to see the benefits of digital downloads to consumers?

No one is saying that being able to sell or buy used games is bad for the consumer, all anyone is saying is that digital ALSO has its benefits for the consumer, and isn't this bogeyman that you're making it out to be. Will it be? I don't know, but I doubt it with the way that indie developers are thriving. And again, the used game market is dying because game companies feel that they are losing money on sales when people resell their product to someone else. Which is arguably true. But even if it weren't, used games are still going to die because the developers and publishers have all the power to do what they want because THEY ARE CREATING THE PRODUCT. I choose to embrace the future and hope that services will take a page from Steam, which is hugely profitable for Valve AND beloved by its users.

 

[spiker]

I don't mind having both options available. More options is great. I'm not some grandpa that doesn't realize that some consumers like having the convenience to buy now with a system like Steam. I'm saying taking away age old method and only giving you the one option that is most beneficial to the producer is definitely not good. Not even for the people who fully support 100% digital distribution. The reason prices stay down on the digital distribution methods is because there are alternatives! If there's no alternatives and you can only buy your game from one place, what do you think happens? Be honest.

 

[SethMode]

I don't mind having both options available. More options is great. I'm not some grandpa that doesn't realize that some consumers like having the convenience to buy now with a system like Steam. I'm saying taking away age old method and only giving you the one option that is most beneficial to the producer is definitely not good. Not even for the people who fully support 100% digital distribution. The reason prices stay down on the digital distribution methods is because there are alternatives! If there's no alternatives and you can only buy your game from one place, what do you think happens? Be honest.

In my area, Comcast is the only available cable option. Their prices were outrageous, to the point where nearly everyone on my block, at my advice, dropped their cable and went with an internet alternative (Roku FTW!). Comcast's prices here have since plummeted and specials have been offered out the ass. The point is, the market fixes itself, and will continue to do so even if physical discs go away. That, and you act like there will be one service that provides all digital copies. There will always be a TON of places to get even digital things from, and with customer service focused companies like Steam and Amazon, I would bet willing to be some "renting" service like KOF alluded to will also come with digital distribution. Even still, I don't think that used games sales have the influence on the cost of digital sales as much as you think they do.

Regardless though, there is no point is worrying over something you can't control. At the end of the day, you still have the ultimate choice as the consumer, no matter how the media is provided: you can buy or not buy. We're not talking about food and water here, we're talking about a luxury. If they try to go crazy with digital prices, I just won't buy video games anymore. Problem solved.

 

[Twigg4075]

If I'm M$, I toss out my middle finger and give a great big belly-laugh.

Except that GS is the biggest games retailer in the country and it's not even close. Not a company that you want to piss off when you sell a game console.

 

[spiker]

In my area, Comcast is the only available cable option. Their prices were outrageous, to the point where nearly everyone on my block, at my advice, dropped their cable and went with an internet alternative (Roku FTW!). Comcast's prices here have since plummeted and specials have been offered out the ass.

Thanks for helping prove my point :webgem:

The point is, the market fixes itself, and will continue to do so even if physical discs go away. That, and you act like there will be one service that provides all digital copies. There will always be a TON of places to get even digital things from, and with customer service focused companies like Steam and Amazon, I would bet willing to be some "renting" service like KOF alluded to will also come with digital distribution.

You realize that if the new XBox goes full digital distribution, Microsoft has 100% control over the distribution right? Rental service, purchases, your library - Microsoft will control it. Now, outside of the new XBox, there may be other console options sure but that's not what I'm talking about.

Even still, I don't think that used games sales have the influence on the cost of digital sales as much as you think they do.

We're talking about two homogenous products here. Skyrim downloaded from Steam and Skyrim bought on eBay are the exact same product. Digital distribution absolutely has to keep up with what is going on in the physical realm. They must stay competitive unless they want their customers going elsewhere.

Regardless though, there is no point is worrying over something you can't control. At the end of the day, you still have the ultimate choice as the consumer, no matter how the media is provided: you can buy or not buy. We're not talking about food and water here, we're talking about a luxury. If they try to go crazy with digital prices, I just won't buy video games anymore. Problem solved.

Well, good for you then.

 

[SethMode]

Thanks for helping prove my point :webgem:



You realize that if the new XBox goes full digital distribution, Microsoft has 100% control over the distribution right? Rental service, purchases, your library - Microsoft will control it. Now, outside of the new XBox, there may be other console options sure but that's not what I'm talking about.



We're talking about two homogenous products here. Skyrim downloaded from Steam and Skyrim bought on eBay are the exact same product. Digital distribution absolutely has to keep up with what is going on in the physical realm. They must stay competitive unless they want their customers going elsewhere.



Well, good for you then.

Well, I'm not going to repeat points already made by Brnt regarding Skyrim. I doubt you could find it used for 40 bucks for a week around Christmas.

And the POINT that I'm proving that you seem to keep missing, or at least ignoring, is that you don't HAVE to buy ANYTHING from Microsoft. If they go full digital and jack their prices up to some obnoxious level, you simply don't have to purchase their products. What are you missing here? Having physical discs that you can sell is irrelevant. If the prices are too high, people won't buy. It's not a hard concept. I would argue that is why the prices thus far HAVEN'T been too high on something like Steam, much more so than Steam trying to compete with the used game market.