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RedBox Going to War With Xbox One (And Loading Ammo For PS4)

Orayn

Member
The day of reckoning approaches.

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Seriously, I'm excited by the idea of MS experiencing some real pushback that actually hurts their bottom line. They've gotten away with too much.
 

Klocker

Member
Or both. Restrict used and/or rentals during the release window, and take a cut of the proceeds afterwards.

yea I keep forgetting that 60 day? 90 day window ,,, what was it Jaffe said? is going to be key for publishers sounds like... for blocking rental and used, sounds like they want to draw that line in the sand.
 

urge26

Member
I agree, but I think you're understating how established these platforms are and how un-free these supposedly free markets are.

As an example, do you remember when, about two years ago now, Microsoft raised prices on XBL even as competition in the online gaming space grew more fierce, and services like PSN and Steam were catching up to or even exceeding XBL in provided services?

How could Microsoft do this? Even more importantly, how could they get away with it? The answer is that this free market isn't as free as we'd all like to believe. Microsoft is aware that many customers are stuck on their platform in a way that will be difficult to pull out from. If I wanted to switch from Xbox 360 to (for example) PC, that transition is not especially easy. If I want to keep playing the games I own, I will need to rebuy all of them over again. If I want to keep playing with the friends I've made, I'll need to convince all of them to move with me en masse over to the PC so we can stay together. I may even need to buy a whole new PC if my current one does not play the games I want.

Many of these same basic concepts still apply today. While this is an easier time to switch platforms than it is mid-generation, it is still true that most of my friends would likely be on XBL. It's true that my gamerscore (or trophy list) will be reduced to zero. This isn't a completely free market where consumers can readily and easily switch between producers at little or no cost to themselves.

Opiate, point taken.... But I'm missing where gaming is a right or something, like eating or shelter. It's entertainment.
 

Opiate

Member
Opiate, point taken.... But I'm missing where gaming is a right or something, like eating or shelter. It's entertainment.

Absolutely, also a possibility. You can just leave gaming altogether.

There are degrees of freedom, here. An absolutely un-free market would be one where you are forced to participate and forced to buy from some specific buyer. An absolutely free market would be one where any company can enter and produce and any buyer can freely choose who to buy from with no impediments.

This is a spectrum, and on that spectrum, console gaming is pretty ossified, where new entrants would face massive roadblocks (i.e. new companies would find it extremely difficult to create a real competitor to the Xbox or Playstation) and customers find it fairly difficult to switch brands.

If you just want to throw up your hands and say, "welp, that's the way it is," that's fine, and I mean that. You can't always have everything you want. I'm just pointing out it's a problem. Not all problems can be fixed or should necessarily be complained about.
 

Amir0x

Banned
Oh man, yes. Redbox and Gamefly coming down hard on Xbox One is great news. I hope this continues up to One's launch and beyond.
 

Salaadin

Member
Best PC DD price on Black Ops 2 = $59.99

Available at Kmart for 360/PS3 for $39.99

It's a convenience thing. Which is why I'm curious to see if Microsoft will allow 3rd parties to sell keys alone.

Love how you only list the PC DD price for Black Ops 2.

Besides, most of us know that games drop in price over time. Sometimes you have to wait for a sale. In this particular case, BLOPS 2 on consoles is on sale for less than PC DD. Picking and choosing titles like that means nothing really.

But what about on release day? Can you find prices that cheap? On PC, its pretty easy to find new release titles 10, 20, sometimes 30 dollars cheaper than the console version. Hell, sometimes you can even preorder games for 5-10 less than consoles. Thats where a lot of our savings on PC comes in.

Opiate, point taken.... But I'm missing where gaming is a right or something, like eating or shelter. It's entertainment.

It is. And MS can change it however they want. But we all have the right to not like it and the right to complain about it. They succeed, they set a standard, and a hobby that we all love is fucked.
 

urge26

Member
Absolutely, also a possibility. You can just leave gaming altogether.

There are degrees of freedom, here. An absolutely un-free market would be one where you are forced to participate and forced to buy from some specific buyer. An absolutely free market would be one where any company can enter and produce and any buyer can freely choose who to buy from with no impediments.

This is a spectrum, and on that spectrum, console gaming is pretty ossified, where new entrants would face massive roadblocks (i.e. new companies would find it extremely difficult to create a real competitor to the Xbox or Playstation) and customers find it fairly difficult to switch brands.

If you just want to throw up your hands and say, "welp, that's the way it is," that's fine, and I mean that. You can't always have everything you want. I'm just pointing out it's a problem. Not all problems can be fixed or should necessarily be complained about.

No, thats not what I'd want to do..... I worked for a Yellow Pages company for a long time, the forces of the internet changed the way people searched, it's just how the market went (hell I immediately trash them myself). I realize how established the console market is, but people have options here. Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, PC, handhelds, IOS, Android, etc. That's kinda where I'm coming from free market wise.
 

Duxxy3

Member
I imagine the only way for RedBox to adapt would involve higher prices and less profit, if it's possible at all.
 
They already unveiled their counter-strategy: Enter the already crowded PC DD market!

I just got Bioshock Infinite for $28 from them, so I guess I can't complain too much.

This is a good thing more competition = better prices.

Gamefly has been great for sales, so has gmg and others.
 

watership

Member
This is rather weird. It's obvious that Gamestop has a deal with MS for reselling, and they must have known about it before hand. So Redbox hasn't' been approached by MS as a partner for reselling. Maybe mentioning PS4 was a way to cover all the bases in case they announced something. I have no idea what's going on.
 

foogles

Member
I think Redbox has the balls to do this because games are not the majority of their business. GameFly still relies primarily on game rentals, so I'm not sure that they'll be so quick to rile up their users against their current, and vital, business partners. I could be wrong, though, and honestly, I'd kind of like it - if only to get mainstream gamers (as in, people who don't post on the internet about video games all day like we do) into the discussion. After all, there's no risk to me to see them do this...
 

urge26

Member
This is rather weird. It's obvious that Gamestop has a deal with MS for reselling, and they must have known about it before hand. So Redbox hasn't' been approached by MS as a partner for reselling. Maybe mentioning PS4 was a way to cover all the bases in case they announced something. I have no idea what's going on.

But if Redbox were approached, there would no website questioning shit. Hence they could give two shits about the consumer.
 

link1201

Member
Renting games is what concerns me the most. I am a regular user of Redbox...I have marathon gaming sessions when my wife is out of town and I can get a game and finish it in a day or two. I will really miss this option if it is taken away...
 
Oh man, yes. Redbox and Gamefly coming down hard on Xbox One is great news. I hope this continues up to One's launch and beyond.

I personally wouldn't get too excited before they eventually come to mutual agreement over special terms and rental versions of next-gen games, similar to how the film & video industry created special conditions and versions of their content. I mean, it's not like they won't come to some agreement that benefits both in the end as the big publishers already deal directly with these guys.
 

Opiate

Member
But if Redbox were approached, there would no website questioning shit. Hence they could give two shits about the consumer.

I don't think people are saying Redbox are the good guys looking out for people. We are aware that Redbox happens to want something that consumers also want and which Microsoft is explicitly trying to prevent.
 

emb

Member
So we should all go to that website and complain about the Xbox?

Glad to see some corporate backlash, however small and insignificant.
 

lenovox1

Member
I personally wouldn't get too excited before they eventually come to mutual agreement over special terms and rental versions of next-gen games, similar to how the film & video industry created special conditions and versions of their content. I mean, it's not like they won't come to some agreement that benefits both in the end as the big publishers already deal directly with these guys.

Then, hopefully, you'll gave large public libraries willing to defend our lending rights in a court.
 
I don't think people are saying Redbox are the good guys looking out for people. We are aware that Redbox happens to want something that consumers also want and which Microsoft is explicitly trying to prevent.

Quoted again for super truth.

The sad part is Redbox is going to loose this one. Unless more mainstream media gets involved with how MS is trying to run things, to many uniformed people are going to be putting this console in their house.
 

jaypah

Member
Mainly because they just do not know.
Until they have solid word they have to treat it as a business decision, they can not go on faith.

Exactly, they're not some fucking fanboys this is a part of their business. If it was my company and Sony didn't tell me what's up I'd put them on blast too. For the fear factor if nothing else. MS has drawn a line in the sand and though I hope Sony leaves it old school I can't hate on RedBox for tossing the PS4 in there too.
 
Then, hopefully, you'll gave large public libraries willing to defend our lending rights in a court.

Well, I expect some kind of legal mess to be thrown at courts, but I wouldn't be so confident to rely upon corporations to look out for any consumer even if they're simply trying to leverage some public support to get more of their ass on their seat at the bargaining table.
 

watership

Member
So we should all go to that website and complain about the Xbox?

Glad to see some corporate backlash, however small and insignificant.

It's so not backlash. It's posturing to get MS to play with them. If Redbox work something out with with MS they can both can come out and say "Renting is available at launch" and look good in the process.
 

MrMephistoX

Member
It would be interesting if MS were to learn from the redbox model and allow a monthly subscription to rent a subset of games or allow Gamefly to purchase a rental license and distribute games digitally or on disc.
 

Mindlog

Member
I don't rent enough for Gamefly. Renting is just when people are over and we want to try something new.
That said RedBox sold me on 3 full price games this gen.
Publishers are really goddamn stupid.
Schbönne, needs to figure that shit out.
 
I left a comment on their page.

David H.
June 8, 2013 at 8:25 pm
Not being able to rent Xbox One games would be unfortunate but lucky for me, my GameFly subscription still gives me access to over 8,000 existing console games, and I’ll be able to play all the best current next generation games right on my personal computer.

And the best part is GameFly memberships start as low as $5.95 a month.

I meant to write current and next generation. Oh well. I hope they don't think I'm a corporate shill.
 

Cartman86

Banned
Does Microsoft allowing for trade-ins of their games make the argument for legal action useless? I mean anti-competitive behavior would require that they colluded with another renting company no?
 
So, I tried posting on that site.

But I just got the following error message each time I tried: "You are posting comments too quickly. Slow down."

Well then, if they can't get their shit together I'm not going to help them.

This is what I wanted to post:

I likely won't support a console that doesn't allow you to lend, borrow and sell pre-owned games. If you want to influence Playstation into not following the terrible example set by Xbox, you could join the #PS4NoDRM Twitter movement. I will post here my personal story about borrowing and lending games, and how doing so has caused me to buy MORE games new. It was originally posted on the #PS4NoDRM tumblr page

The main reason I support #PS4noDRM is because I think this industry benefits from gamers lending games to each other. By lending and borrowing games, gamers get to try new experiences and learn of new franchises which makes them that much more likely to buy sequels in the future. I will illustrate here with a few examples from my own gaming life.

When I was eleven years old I discovered Final Fantasy VII. It blew my mind. Now that I had seen the light I wanted to convert others. I wrote essays about it in school, I discussed it with friends on the schoolyard and, yes, I lent it out to a friend. He became a convert, like me, and proceeded to buy several sequels and even try some other games in the genre.

Much later, in 2008, I somehow got into a discussion about Metal Gear Solid with a friend at Uni. I remembered playing it at a friend’s house way back in the day, but never got to finish it. My mate offered to lend me the game as the game hadn’t been released on EU PSN yet. And when I got this chance to play it again I fell in love. Since then I have been slowly working my way through the series, buying all the sequels. I am currently playing Peace Walker on the PSP and when V releases this fall it will be mine.

My final example is Nier. With endless nagging I convinced my friend to play the game and lent it to him and his brother who loved it. Sadly, it doesn’t look like the game will get a sequel, so in this case it didn’t lead to more games being sold in the future. But two more people got to experience Nier. I would say that is a worthy cause in its own right. Now I just need to get my friend to return the game.
 
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