LBP doesn't have nearly the amount of hype and recognition as a title like Gears 2. Of course it looks amazing, and yeah, it will probably get awesome critical acclaim: but for the average Joe, GOW or titles like it simply make more sense. Why do you think Madden sells so well every year? Not because it's a better title than LBP or MGS4, but because of brand recognition and a broader appeal to consumers.
I don't like the idea of digital distribution at all for the moment. I work at GameStop, and yes, like has been said we do make most of our profits off of used games. However, I believe used game sales, or at least trade-ins influence customers to make more new game purchases. When a customer is done playing a game and decides to trade it in at our store, we offer both trade-in credit and cash. GameStop gives 20% more value for in-store credit, so customers often opt to go that route and then use the credit to either reserve or purchase more games. With DD, consumers would not have the option to sell or trade games, and thus would be limited in the amount of funds available to purchase new content. At GameStop, we are basically paying people for their games and that exchange of money or credit often results in further business that benefits both game companies and our stores. DD would eliminate this option for consumers.
Chris Dahlen meets the director of interactive fiction documentary Get Lamp and remembers how rich a world that only costs the time it takes to write it can be.
Perdix's Comments
In the 3rd to last paragraph, the author said "GameSpot" instead of "GameStop." May want to fix that.
About time someone figured this out. Grats.
LBP doesn't have nearly the amount of hype and recognition as a title like Gears 2. Of course it looks amazing, and yeah, it will probably get awesome critical acclaim: but for the average Joe, GOW or titles like it simply make more sense. Why do you think Madden sells so well every year? Not because it's a better title than LBP or MGS4, but because of brand recognition and a broader appeal to consumers.
I don't like the idea of digital distribution at all for the moment. I work at GameStop, and yes, like has been said we do make most of our profits off of used games. However, I believe used game sales, or at least trade-ins influence customers to make more new game purchases. When a customer is done playing a game and decides to trade it in at our store, we offer both trade-in credit and cash. GameStop gives 20% more value for in-store credit, so customers often opt to go that route and then use the credit to either reserve or purchase more games. With DD, consumers would not have the option to sell or trade games, and thus would be limited in the amount of funds available to purchase new content. At GameStop, we are basically paying people for their games and that exchange of money or credit often results in further business that benefits both game companies and our stores. DD would eliminate this option for consumers.
This is a cool idea. Too bad I don't have DTV anymore though...
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