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Microsoft shrugs when asked about Games on Demand price/release date problems

I know there will always be stupid people who buy games on day 1 or for full price but not me. The last game i payed full price for though was Rage and i don't regret it, other then that in the last 5 years i have waited until most of the games i own now have dropped below 20 dollars.
 
Could it be argued that they price it this way to do retail stores a favour?

Either way, I don't fucking care. I find it baffling that any one cares that the games are overpriced. I wouldn't even buy them if they were underpriced. I love XBLA games as much as the next guy, and DLC too, so I'm not shy of digital content. But these are games in which you can buy the retail disc version whenever you want... I'll go for the disc every time, even if the digital version is cheaper.

To me, this is a TOTAL non issue. It's objectively a poorly run and overpriced service, but it doesn't affect me in the slightest.
 
In some instances I can understand people buying games digitally at full price 6 or more months after release.

I'm brazilian, and it's common here to find 1 or even 2 years old games costing 60 dollars or even more.

I buy a lot of games, and many times if I buy then digitally from US sites or services I'll end up paying less than half the price I would pay here.

The only thing stopping me from going all digital is HD space (and I have a 500GB PS3) and the lack of confidence on both MS Live and Sony PSN.

I don't know about you guys, but I bought Mass Effect 2 on PSN at launch and I can't find it anymore on my Download list. Cerberus pack is there, and the terminus armor and other stuff too, but I can't find the full game download.

Speaking of this, it would be nice if someone who has bought the game on PSN too could check this for me.
 
Montresor said:
Could it be argued that they price it this way to do retail stores a favour?

Either way, I don't fucking care. I find it baffling that any one cares that the games are overpriced. I wouldn't even buy them if they were underpriced. I love XBLA games as much as the next guy, and DLC too, so I'm not shy of digital content. But these are games in which you can buy the retail disc version whenever you want... I'll go for the disc every time, even if the digital version is cheaper.
Click to expand...

Can i have your money too?
 
And Microsoft actually wants retailers to carry their product on the shelf and not undercut them online. That's the real reason.
 
Montresor said:
Could it be argued that they price it this way to do retail stores a favour?

Either way, I don't fucking care. I find it baffling that any one cares that the games are overpriced. I wouldn't even buy them if they were underpriced. I love XBLA games as much as the next guy, and DLC too, so I'm not shy of digital content. But these are games in which you can buy the retail disc version whenever you want... I'll go for the disc every time, even if the digital version is cheaper.
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I would wager alot of people care.

If not, at least I do. Unless it's a game I really want to collect I would take a digital copy that I can download and delete any time I want over a physical copy almost everytime.

I own 3 PC retail games and over 100 on Steam and have zero desire to reverse those numbers.
 
Syphon Filter said:
Wouldn't the games be on your gamertag so in theory you just use your same gamertag on the next xbox and redownload the games.
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Unless something major happens that's how I assume it'd play out. Still, anything could happen and I'd rather have the insurance of physically owning the game instead of having that power be with Microsoft.
 
Vitet said:
Valve-CEO-Gabe-Newell.jpg
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I have a feeling MS is ok for money.
 
NullPointer said:
Bring on the Steam console. The world is ready Gabe.
Click to expand...

Even I, who have a tag for thinking that Steam has spoiled people, am ready to say that there needs to be a Steambox.

The console DD ecosystems need competition, and if they won't open up their platforms to other stores, then I am probably going to look elsewhere for my video gaming next generation.
 
The consumers who buy them at full price are to blame, really. Sadly, there are probably tons of people who just bought NHL 12 at $59.99

I did buy Rock Band 3 for $20, but that's probably one of the few decent values on the service.
 
This should give everyone a perfectly good indication of where things are headed once games become Digital Distribution-only. And if you're not absolutely terrified by it, then you've got one hell of a serious problem. Or too much money, in which case, give it to me!
 
The prices drop over time on GoD just like at retail. So if you're already waiting, wait longer.

Reach, Mass Effect, crackdown and fable 3 were all $15-$20au for over a week or so a couple of weeks ago.
 
I don't think Microsoft really care at the moment, the service is only there because it has to be. They also have to do right by retailers, you can't download an xbox.
 
From their point of view they are absolutely right. From the customer's point of view there is no reason to buy a full priced 360 game months down the line, given that most of the time the physical copies will have dropped in price. The only reason to use it right now is get a game that you can't find at retail anymore.

I won't touch the service until they allow us to buy games with microsoft points.
 
Barakov said:
From their point of view they are absolutely right. From the customer's point of view there is no reason to buy a full priced 360 game months down the line, given that most of the time the physical copies will have dropped in price. The only reason to use it right now is get a game that you can't find at retail anymore.

I won't touch the service until they allow us to buy games with microsoft points.
Click to expand...

You can.
 
So tell me GAF, if the consoles go all DD in the future (they will but not with the next gen), who do you trust more with your DD purchase? Nintendo? Sony? Microsoft?


Or Valve.
 
Let's be realistic.

If I know that Microsoft are continuing to allow this to happen (ie. Staggered release, same price as RRP) then, well, why would I wait to pay the SAME PRICE to get something LATER with LESS "RIGHTS" (ie. I'd get a box, a re-sellable disc and Microsoft couldn't wipe the content off my disc whenever they feel it shouldn't be available anymore).

That's really what it boils down to.

I hate the idea of going completely digital, but I would not be so impartial to it if it were done fucking right amongst console makers.
 
Stuff like this really doesn't matter. If they can't put out a competitive product then people will go elsewhere and they'll be forced to change or lose all their business.

XBLA shows me that they get how to do dd only games, so I feel pretty good that they'll get it right next gen when more and more stuff goes DD only.
 
Sho_Nuff82 said:
1. Bitch about used games.
2. Puff up chest about poor timing and noncompetitive pricing for digital games.
3. Release new Halo/Gears/Forza game
4. Profit?
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Fixed.


I H8 Memes said:
So tell me GAF, if the consoles go all DD in the future (they will but not with the next gen), who do you trust more with your DD purchase? Nintendo? Sony? Microsoft?


Or Valve.
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Right now.....Valve, by a wide margin. Sony second, as they have shown more flexibility in terms of pricing and what not.

If I wasn't a total idiot, and lazy to boot, I would start building a pc. I just went and looked at the pc thread and couldn't even get past picking out a pc case. :(
 
I did buy Rock Band 3 for $20, but that's probably one of the few decent values on the service.
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I have got 40+ hours out of all these GoD games so they were all good value to me. And I was able to pay with MS points bought at a discount or gotten free thru Bing Rewards.

Midnight Club LA - $20
Resident Evil 4 HD - $20
Resonance of Fate - $25
Just Cause 2 - $30
 
On demand games are $100 on the AUS marketplace. That's rrp here, but even more farcical given exchange rates and the actual product.
 
Might be successful for Microsoft and retail vendors. But surely not for their digital marketplace or consumers.

Metalmurphy said:
People need to stop buying overpriced games.


Seriously though I have a hard time believe this is actually successful... How low are MS expectations?
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Well, there is always the chance that the DD full price games are bought by XBL hackers getting accounts from other people. Though I would think, that M$ has to return the money to the victims (if they notice it). On the other hand, that money is coming perhaps from a different division and hence the DD marketplace still can book it as income.
 
I've always defended game prices/dlc ect. But the price of XboxLive on Demand games are fucking nuts. And it works yea, I'm sure it does -- but if you just dropped it 5 more bucks from a box copy it'd do even better.
 
Curufinwe said:
I have got 40+ hours out of all these GoD games so they were all good value to me. And I was able to pay with MS points bought at a discount or gotten free thru Bing Rewards.
Click to expand...

The thing is do we know if they track where the points used to buy the games come from? If not, whether you paid for a card yourself or found a points card lying on the street, all they see is that they sold it for the asking price. In their evaluation of this service's success, I kinda doubt they care if a customer used 400 points from bing rewards, and are more interested in the simple fact that they made a sale at a given price point because those points could be used for anything.

There are certainly reasonable games on the service, (like say $20 Bayonetta) that are worth owning digitally for convenience, but that's not until after they've been out a year or more.
 
JJD said:
In some instances I can understand people buying games digitally at full price 6 or more months after release.

I'm brazilian, and it's common here to find 1 or even 2 years old games costing 60 dollars or even more.

I buy a lot of games, and many times if I buy then digitally from US sites or services I'll end up paying less than half the price I would pay here.

The only thing stopping me from going all digital is HD space (and I have a 500GB PS3) and the lack of confidence on both MS Live and Sony PSN.

I don't know about you guys, but I bought Mass Effect 2 on PSN at launch and I can't find it anymore on my Download list. Cerberus pack is there, and the terminus armor and other stuff too, but I can't find the full game download.

Speaking of this, it would be nice if someone who has bought the game on PSN too could check this for me.
Click to expand...

I bought ME2 on PSN and just checked my download list and it is in the list right before the DLC, I did not buy it at launch though. I double dipped with it after I got all achievements in the 360 version. I am in the US
 
It is what it is. I've only bought a few games from there because of immediate gratification or they're really hard to find otherwise. I'd buy a lot more if their prices were reasonable.
 
entrement said:
Who says that? I just want day and date retail games. But MS is clueless as ever.
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Meh, this is a whole nother issue probably about pissing off retail.

I wouldn't mind seeing some movement in that direction, maybe cut the window from 6 months to 5 and maybe 4 or 3. But I dont expect day and date yet, though eventually it'll probably happen.

Are people in here acting like PSN is superior because it had one game (Mass Effect 3) day and date? Even though AFAIK PSN library is like 1/100 the size of of GoD? LOL. Figures.
 
milsorgen said:
Yes, convenience is a big part of it. Not having to swap discs has got to be worth something.
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DD pluses:

Convenience. No going to store. Can buy at 3AM if you like. No discs switching (pretty big there actually imo). Some games that arent widely available at brick and mortar.

Minuses:

No physical ownership. No ability to sell used.

Overall, the negs kinda outweigh the pluses imo. But just because lately I have this thing for owning physical discs.

PC gamers already accept DD for almost all their needs on steam.
 
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