it's not just change. it is change for the worse. there is not 1 thing out of this whole change that benefits the end user. if there is, i'd like to hear how you can spin it as a positive.
I'd like to change the focus here just a bit and ask a question regarding used games. I'm definitely not a fan of this announcement at all. But what I'm curious about is why the hate is so over the top for what MS is doing here but if you go to the PC forums it's (mostly) nothing but love for Valve and Steam.
Why is it different?
This is an easy question. Go check out Live and see their sales, especially for games on demand. Never a sale and games staying at full MSRP for months after release.
This is an easy question. Go check out Live and see their sales, especially for games on demand. Never a sale and games staying at full MSRP for months after release.
Steam, sales out the wazoo. PC gamers don't get mad about not being able to trade in their Steam games because they paid what a rental cost or less would be. When you are purchasing a new game 3 months after release for $17, you accept the trade off. Hell tons of people don't buy anything more expensive than maybe $10 tops for a game with many games being purchased at the $5 level or in bundles making an individual games cost below $2.
You show me any kind of real history of MS doing sales, let alone sales like that.
At least Sony with the PSN have weekly sales and have decent ones for a console (new Tomb Raider was like $25-$30 for a week like 3 weeks ago), they offer $5 off some day 1 digital games. Sony at least is showing they grasp the concept of deals and how to implement them. They offer their sales to non PS+ members (PS+ members simply get a larger discount), while MS has done a few sales and the few they have done they could only be purchased by Gold Live subscribers.
it's not just change. it is change for the worse. there is not 1 thing out of this whole change that benefits the end user. if there is, i'd like to hear how you can spin it as a positive.
they are basically saying 'this is the new way, and it sucks for you as an end user, but that is the way it is going to be so deal with it."
This is an easy question. Go check out Live and see their sales, especially for games on demand. Never a sale and games staying at full MSRP for months after release.
Steam, sales out the wazoo. PC gamers don't get mad about not being able to trade in their Steam games because they paid what a rental cost or less would be. When you are purchasing a new game 3 months after release for $17, you accept the trade off. Hell tons of people don't buy anything more expensive than maybe $10 tops for a game with many games being purchased at the $5 level or in bundles making an individual games cost below $2.
You show me any kind of real history of MS doing sales, let alone sales like that.
At least Sony with the PSN have weekly sales and have decent ones for a console (new Tomb Raider was like $25-$30 for a week like 3 weeks ago), they offer $5 off some day 1 digital games. Sony at least is showing they grasp the concept of deals and how to implement them. They offer their sales to non PS+ members (PS+ members simply get a larger discount), while MS has done a few sales and the few they have done they could only be purchased by Gold Live subscribers.
I love the pricing of Steam sales. Every time I see a great price on a newer game I get excited then realize it's a Steam sale. But I guess that also means if hell froze over, and MS started doing sales on par with Steam, then this change would be ok for you?
Dark Souls. $9.99 on Xbox Live. There was even a thread about it. There are deals and sales, but I understand it is hard to see when you hate something so much it hurts.
I'd like to change the focus here just a bit and ask a question regarding used games. I'm definitely not a fan of this announcement at all. But what I'm curious about is why the hate is so over the top for what MS is doing here but if you go to the PC forums it's (mostly) nothing but love for Valve and Steam.
Why is it different?
Wow one sale, maybe one once in awhile. How about multiple sales on a weekly scale.
How does it feel to be the MS white knight on these forums?
I don't disagree that the Sales on St. Steam are much much better than most of the online venues, but I would point out that the Xbox has sales every week. Not to the extent that they are on St. Steam, but they do have them. In fact Tomb Raider is currently cheaper on Live than on Amazon. (29.99 for the Live and 34.99 on Amazon)
Fair enough. I never see anyone speak of MS sales. What about the games on demand section though? The full retail games that are just digital and not arcade titles?
Microsoft : Solving problems no one has.
EDIT: The price of games must come down to $30-$40 because most of the people that trade in used games usually turn around and buy more games. If you stop that source of funding I doubt people will be willing to spend $60 every time a new games comes out.
Not sure what you mean about the Games on Demand section, I was just pointing out they exist.. they do have sales on it, in fact there should be a "tile" on your game tab that says sales.. though it moves sometimes. One day it's on the main game tab, the next under "browse games".
I agree no one really mentions it, and they're not the best sales in the world. I would also point out when was the last time someone mentioned anything MS has done right?
The problem is there are already millions of poeple willing to spend $60 every time a new game comes out. MS (and publishers really) figure the number of people who will suck it up and pay full price (without trade in) will at least equal those that will just wait until the game is in the bargain bin. Personally, I think they are right. It will even out and they (the publishers) will get more money.
Fair enough. I never see anyone speak of MS sales. What about the games on demand section though? The full retail games that are just digital and not arcade titles?
For end-users, one can't say this will have any positive effects. For developers and publishers, the positives are clear. I agree it could be change for the worse. But PC software went this way a long time ago. It was only a matter of time before consoles figured it out as well.
it still doesn't answer the fact as to why publishers think they deserve to double dip when NO other market works this way.
Because they have the choice to either "double dip" or just disallow it altogether. They could easily just say "all console games are now considered software licenses; and unless a specific floating license is purchased at a much higher price (for rentals, let's say), all licenses are non transferable." It would be exactly like PC software.
But, they are forgoing said "doom" and allowing you to sell your license to authorized dealers (who would then pay a fee to reactivate said license for resale) or transfer your license to a friend with some stipulation.
Yes, it is different than what we have now. Yes, it could create a system in which all likely sales are new. And yes, it could have the effect Steam has had on the market and move more units by having sales after the initial rush of early adopters.
Now, is it likely the new CoD won't drop in price until 6+ months after release? No, because it doesn't have to. It doesn't go on sale on Steam either. People are still willing to purchase it at the original price pretty much until the new installment is announced. Will other games likely go on sale? I would assume so. The games will only bare the price the market values them at. If you don't think a game is worth $60, don't buy it at $60. Don't buy it and then complain about it.