It's not hyperbole at all. The margins on selling brand new games, consoles, peripherals, magazines, etc. are too slim for a brick and mortar store to survive on that aspect of retail alone. The only reason Gamestop was able to survive all this time, and grow into the industry force it is today (although it seems to be weakening atm), is on the strength of buying and reselling games. It's a bit disingenuous to suggest that its hyperbole when a business was able to form a 6,000+ store, multi-billion dollar empire by doing it.
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The Black Culture Thread |OT3| Lighten Up
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It's not hyperbole at all. The margins on selling brand new games, consoles, peripherals, magazines, etc. are too slim for a brick and mortar store to survive on that aspect of retail alone. The only reason Gamestop was able to survive all this time, and grow into the industry force it is today (although it seems to be weakening atm), is on the strength of buying and reselling games. It's a bit disingenuous to suggest that its hyperbole when a business was able to form a 6,000+ store, multi-billion dollar empire by doing it.
MorisUkunRasik
Member
I don't doubt that they'll be on Sony's machine but I could definitely see MS getting a more 'complete' version of games as publisher incentivize customers with DLC or something like that
Ex.
$60 for Assassin's Creed on Xbox, plus free future DLC
$60 for Assassin's Creed on PS3, future DLC available for $10
Dreams-Visions
Member
Let one more mothafucka question the authenticity of someone's blackness because they may or may not be mixed, or fair of skin, or speak Spanish or Portugese instead of English or ebonics.
Just one more. I'mma snap.
Just one more. I'mma snap.
Zoramon089
Banned
People asking me if I'm mixed because I'm light is by far the most annoying thing ever. Next to people saying I'm not very black because I don't speak jive/ebonics
Agreed. Gamestop is undoubtedly undercutting devs right now. It wasn't an issue before but with rising dev costs and less return on investment the industry is seeing diminishing returns.
Devs biggest problems are budgeting and expectations.
I don't think so, when the same big name titles you see are still making boatloads of profit for the publishers. It's not like with used games you're seeing games that normally should sell decently, sell like complete shit, it just doesn't happen. The big name companies try to frame it like the used games market is literally destroying the games industry which just isn't true. I see that the used games business is great for gamestop because of the bullshit they pull, but its existence really isn't the end all be all of the games industry.
For some perspective, peep how many companies closed their doors this generation. I'm sure bish could drop some insight. Their are hardly any small companies left.
Dreams-Visions
Member
I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry.
How did I miss this. Where did you find this shenanigans, Slay? DY get into producing?
Uno Venova
Banned
You'd think more studios would be closing down, I mean people buy everything gaming used.
Jackben
bitch I'm taking calls.
Despite what Moris might tell you, I'm no fan of GameStop. I don't know what this will mean for gaming if it becomes industry standard but I don't like it. If it sounds like punishing consumers by removing features, looks like pushing the costs onto consumers by upcharging them for shit and feels like fucking the consumers by nickel and diming them by forcing their hand then that's pretty much what they are doing, regardless of the reasoning.
We'll see how it goes. Maybe it won't be as bad as it seems. But I'm not going to sit here and pretend to like it nor am I going to nod in agreement with people trying to spin it as positive. If that's what they feel they need to do to cover their costs, that's probably what they'll do. We don't have much choice
We'll see how it goes. Maybe it won't be as bad as it seems. But I'm not going to sit here and pretend to like it nor am I going to nod in agreement with people trying to spin it as positive. If that's what they feel they need to do to cover their costs, that's probably what they'll do. We don't have much choice
Someone get this man a sandwich.
Jest Chillin
Member
Gamestop's rise to power had very little to do with Used Game Sales initially. They started as Babbage's and merged with a bunch of other retailers. But they actually flailed and filed Chapter 11. Their resurgence and subsequent massive takeover of the Gaming Market came from being bought by Barnes and Noble. B&N's money is what allowed them to takover Funcoland, EB Games, and eventually international markets. Funcoland gave them the Game Informer and which led to the whole Power Up card deals which made their Used Games sales popular and massively profitable.
Uno Venova
Banned
GS ain't all bad, the money they give customers for their old games go to new games most of the time.
Naw it isn't that black and white, but it's funny reading 3 million threads about it.
Also it's weird that GS stocks went down because of a rumor. That's not my field but for a rumor and a few threads to cause damage to stocks that's a little....interesting?
Jackben
bitch I'm taking calls.
It's the stock market. Shit is run based on speculations and rumours and people making bets with large amounts of money they don't really have.
Writings been on the walls and gs relies heavily on used games for sustenance. Par for the course, stock markets all about speculation.
Zeus Molecules
illegal immigrants are stealing our air
Man sony is being greedy but thats what you do in business. Its fucked up but its entertainment so you shouldn't get to mad. Its not like they are hurting people with their greed.
Folks have gone to jail for spreading rumors that fucks with stock prices. The stock market is just a really complicated form of gambling.
Black Twitter
Oldschoolgamer
The physical form of blasphemy
Lord this last act of "Flight". I know it was talked about earlier, but what in the actual fuck Denzel.
I feel like if Microsoft does this, then the people who game the used sales system in order to save money on games will just play fewer games overall. That's why you can consider every pirated or used copy a lost sale, because a lot of the time it's from someone who would never pay the full $60 in the first place.
The other thing this kills is the rental industry. Nearly every console game I play these days is a rental from GameFly. If I'm pumped-as-shit for a game I'll pay the full $60, but that happens probably less than 10 times a year. In most cases if I just kinda like a game I'll get it for sub-$20 on a Steam sale.
Most big games just aren't worth $60, and I'm afraid that just about everything but the top blockbusters will see sales plummet under this kind of system.
Bigger budgets are part of the problem too. Budgets for retail console games have exploded faster than the size of the audience willing to buy those games, so almost everything that doesn't sell 5 million copies is a failure. I also hate the current console environment where every game is either $15 or $60 with no middle-budget games like you had during the PS2 era.
I can't say this without sounding like Boener or somebody, but publishers that aren't EA and Activision need to reign in spending, and be realistic about sales projections.
I've had a Turkish barber and one that I think was from Mongolia (or probably just South Korea), and in my experience non-black barbers can maintain a skin fade on brothers but not much else.
The other thing this kills is the rental industry. Nearly every console game I play these days is a rental from GameFly. If I'm pumped-as-shit for a game I'll pay the full $60, but that happens probably less than 10 times a year. In most cases if I just kinda like a game I'll get it for sub-$20 on a Steam sale.
Most big games just aren't worth $60, and I'm afraid that just about everything but the top blockbusters will see sales plummet under this kind of system.
Bigger budgets are part of the problem too. Budgets for retail console games have exploded faster than the size of the audience willing to buy those games, so almost everything that doesn't sell 5 million copies is a failure. I also hate the current console environment where every game is either $15 or $60 with no middle-budget games like you had during the PS2 era.
I can't say this without sounding like Boener or somebody, but publishers that aren't EA and Activision need to reign in spending, and be realistic about sales projections.
I've had a Turkish barber and one that I think was from Mongolia (or probably just South Korea), and in my experience non-black barbers can maintain a skin fade on brothers but not much else.
Rastafarian42
Member
My brotha do not get your haircut from another race unless the barber has had experience with cutting black hair.
They actually give you higher trade-in values if you trade the games in toward new stuff most of the time.
Also the "why don't he want me man" episode of Fresh Prince is on ABC Family right now D:
soundscream
Member
Thank you.
I was trying to point this out in the other thread but half the people kept interpreting it as only on Xbox.
I would even say they might even go $10 cheaper on multiplats to encourage buying the Xbox version over the ps4.
And even compines like EA might do even crazier shit. They have a track record no Dreamcast games, and no Xbox live games for the first few years.
That's why I assume they are both doing it, because if only 1 does they will be the one to reap the benefits.
double jump
you haven't lived until a random little kid ask you "how do you make love".
I don't think specifically in the case of Sony that used games will be completely doa.
However I could see them taking the $10 online pass system and using that model on all used games in the future in order to run/play them.
Hell, while I hope not they could have $10 for a used game unlock code then another $10 for the online pass.
edit:I didn't even take into account the always online drm bullshit cause I cant afford to roll with any system that has this implemented.
However I could see them taking the $10 online pass system and using that model on all used games in the future in order to run/play them.
Hell, while I hope not they could have $10 for a used game unlock code then another $10 for the online pass.
edit:I didn't even take into account the always online drm bullshit cause I cant afford to roll with any system that has this implemented.
MR BLACKMAGIK
Member
Damn, isn't that the really sad one? Anyways looks like I'm fucked on the super convenient barber shop literally a block away. Ah well. Thanks for the advice everyone.
Jest Chillin
Member
I don't think that would be an immediate possibility. If the rumors are true then that would mean the new Xbox would be less developer friendly in addition to the always online DRM and CD Keys.
Seems like that would favor the PS3 in terms of early adoption, wouldn't it? Also, there is a good amount of DLC sales that go to used game purchasers. So if the new Xbox had a smaller install base and no possibility of DLC revenue increasing revenue beyond that install base.. wouldn't it stand to reason that even without the protection the new PS versions could generate more revenue?
Seems like that would favor the PS3 in terms of early adoption, wouldn't it? Also, there is a good amount of DLC sales that go to used game purchasers. So if the new Xbox had a smaller install base and no possibility of DLC revenue increasing revenue beyond that install base.. wouldn't it stand to reason that even without the protection the new PS versions could generate more revenue?
MorisUkunRasik
Member
I don't borrow as much as I used to, my younger brother does it tons and I use redbox occasionally.
Gamefly would be fucked too.
Dreams-Visions
Member
Totally depends on implementation, really. Kindle, for example, has a book "loaning" system. Perhaps a system could be implemented where a friend comes over with his controller and the license is "lent" (some sort of temporary file saved on a memory module built into the controller) and taken home, allowing them to download the game and play for a limited time.
There are lots of options, really. It's a matter of what they can get developers and publishers to be okay with that somehow doesn't hurt the gamers.
People would learn to love MS if they could manage to do sales like Steam does.
FreeMufasa
Junior Member
Dreams-Visions
Member
Can do.
Dreams-Visions
Member
FreeMufasa
Junior Member
YES! Good shit. Thanks man. I'm gonna be using this here.
The Faceless Master
Member
fuck developers.
i mean, not really, but they're a distant #2 behind consumers.
dat VITA piracy...
Devolution
Member
Not that I don't agree with the sentiment but where did this come from.
Dreams-Visions
Member
Just something said in the black superhero thread. He probably meant nothing by it, but I just wasn't in the mood. He said, "that's a hispanic last name...is he black? mixed?" or something like that. It just wasn't the right time. I had to leave and eat a sammich.
Devolution
Member
Oh yeah. Reminds me of someone who was talking about Saldana or whatever being solely latina. As if latinos don't have a hierarchy of skin color.
Dreams-Visions
Member
Yea. I just...I felt the subtle insinuation like his authenticity was being challenged because he had a hispanic last name. Like, yes, the majority of people of african descent in this hemisphere went to South and Central America...so yes, it's actually more likely that a black person is going to have a Hispanic last name on this side of the planet than not. And even if he's mixed, it certainly doesn't disqualify him somehow from being in the "black superhero" thread. As if! Most of us are mixed with lots of things. That's part of who we are. It just...you get tired of explaining these elementary concepts, you know? idk.
Devolution
Member
Many latinos are mixed with black, especially those from the caribbean or Brazil. And most black people in America are mixed as well. But you know all this. It's amazing how many people don't or refuse to though. Watching the PBS documentary about the DR and Haiti was pretty fucked up. Slave populations were basically brought into so many countries and then when they were freed you had all kinds of people mixing.
soundscream
Member
If that were the case developers wouldn't have asked for a way to curb used games. They are not doing it for shits and giggles, hence why the publishers would put more effort into the platform that blocks used games. Which is why they are most likely going to be the same route. If one does it the other kind of has to do the same, so either both will kill used or things will stay the same.
PartTimeWarrior
Banned
Dat hair
GungHo
Single-handedly caused Exxon-Mobil to sue FOX, start World War 3
Do they also believe if your last name is Washington that you must be English?
Jest Chillin
Member
If the information this dude pulled for his marketing thesis is reliable (which it seems likely to be considering how well it's sourced), than companies very much did enjoy a solid revenue stream from DLC purchased by used owners.
Do we even know that Publishers asked for it? We know plenty have complained about it publicly but I take that with a grain of salt as businesses rarely ever admit their own faults and would much rather put the blame on outside sources. It's also more important overall to go where the customers are. Between always online and no used games that could seriously swing a lot of users over to Sony if Sony chooses not to go that route. I don't think exclusive DLC or any other minor bells and whistles would be enough to keep people loyal.
BlackGhost
Banned
No way he can safely pilot with that thing
Jest Chillin
Member
I don't disagree with you but I've run across quite a few Hispanics who would insist that the Latin heritage is the greater identifier than the African lineage. Sort of like a "You don't have Indian in you" argument but more extreme. That's anecdotal of course but I'd be interested in knowing if that thought process was prevalent or not among people from Latin countries.
soundscream
Member
Come on man why would Microsoft care if you buy used they don't have a first part lineup like Sony does. They really on third party games.
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