Biggest Dutch retailer boycotts PSPgo

By Robert Purchese Published 16 September, 2009

Spanish shops may follow suit.

Holland's largest specialised retail outlet, Nedgame, has decided not to sell the PSPgo this October. And, the shop explained to Eurogamer Holland, there are a handful of reasons why.

The hefty price-tag of €249.99 being one of them. That's €80 more than the PSP-3000 costs, a difference Nedgame believes the new handheld does not justify - the smaller screen is picked out as an example.

A more telling reason is the lack of a UMD drive. That means Nedgame cannot sell games for the PSPgo, which is where retailers make the most profit. And, as downloadable games will be tied to PSN accounts, trading and swapping will fast become a thing of the past.

Nedgame also mentioned its discomfort at Sony creating a monopoly on the software sold on PSPgo.

Eurogamer Holland goes on to point out that Nedgame are not the only Dutch outlet to boycott Sony's new handheld.

Eurogamer Spain has also heard rumblings that retailers there may do the same.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (74) 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Eraysor #1 2 years ago

    If I were a business owner I'd do the same. It makes sense.

  • GamerG #2 2 years ago

    Manufacturers will start selling direct online eventually and cut the bricks and morter stores out of the equation all together!

  • breedob #3 2 years ago

    Fair enough but I think Sony should be selling vouchers for specific games for download off PSN. This would mean retailers can bundle these with the psp go to make it more appealing to buy.

  • Whatsfor #4 2 years ago

    Surely they have seen the contactless game purchase stations for in store sales? They get a cut from that. Sony had them on display in Berlin...

  • kipper #5 2 years ago

    @ GamerG
    If you check prices on Steam or XBL, you wil see that prices are mostly higher than what you would pay in a normal shop.
    A monopoly on supply via download only would not a good thing for customers.
    Capitalism only works when there is true competion.

  • Arwin #6 2 years ago

    Nedgame may be the largest console game specialised reseller in the Netherlands, but I've never heard of them, and they're probably still very, very, very small compared to regular retailers like malls, media stores, toy stores and so on where the vast majority of these consoles are sold.

    That said, of course the objections they have against a device like this are understandable, particularly the not being able to sell games for it bit. ;)
    Edited by 1 at 16/09/09 @ 10:23

  • Ignatius_Cheese #7 2 years ago

    I understood that the majority of retailers were involved in discussions with Sony regarding the price point of PSPgo for this very reason.

    Obviously Nedgame feel that hiking up the price to offset the loss of software sales is still not enough to justify them giving PSPgo any shelf space.

    Interesting...

  • ademkermad #8 2 years ago

    If they decide that it makes sense then who are we to argue with them? I'm guessing they did the maths and figured out that it wouldn't make sense financially.

  • Hieronymus #9 2 years ago

    @ Arwin

    Luckily I'm not the only Dutch person who never heard of Nedgame the ''supposedly biggest dutch retailer''

  • schnide #10 2 years ago

    The future begins.

  • kipper #11 2 years ago

    @ Hieronymus

    They never said Nedgame was ''supposedly biggest dutch retailer''
    They said its "Holland's largest specialised retail outlet" ie a pure games store.
    Specialist shops are usually smaller in number than the mainstream chainstores.

    We had a Nedgame here in Enschede but it closed some time ago.
    Edited by 1 at 16/09/09 @ 10:34

  • kendoji #12 2 years ago

    Haha I live in Holland too, and have never heard of this company.

  • anomagnus #13 2 years ago

    Personally, i think we're seeing the pre-rumbles of an earthquake thats going to level the current games economic eco-system.

    If, as it appears likely, we're starting down a path that removes purchasing a physical product, and instead revolves around digital delivery and/or cloud storage and delivery, whats going to happen to traditional games stores?

    I don't think as consumers we need to worry, i beleive more and more channels will pop up for digital delivery, and we'll see true competition, but the next few years will be interesting to say the least!

  • Widge #14 2 years ago

    They don't need to sell vouchers for games though do they? There are Euro PSN cards for that, bundle it with x amount of PSN cards.

    If someone wants to buy a PSPgo though, they'll find a way.

    I tell you one thing retailers won't like which is no physical copies = no 2nd hand game market. They make a mint off that.

  • Antaios #15 2 years ago

    Arwin and Hieronymous: I'm Dutch as well and I do know Nedgame, and yes, they are (at least one of the) largest retailer(s) in the gaming branche. Then again, we don't have so much gaming-only shops over here, so yeah, they're still bloody small, especially in comparison to Media Markt or Free Record Shop. ;)

  • menage #16 2 years ago

    @anomagnus

    I will never buy most of my games digitally. Nobody can guarantee I'll be able to play them in the future if somebody goes belly up or a new system is introduced.

  • Evolution #17 2 years ago

    @All Dutchies:

    Was going to say I've lived here for about 20 years and I've never heard of this retailer either.

  • JahB #18 2 years ago

    i live in the netherlands as well (hoi dutch people, good to see you all come out of the woodworks :), and afaik gamemania is the biggest specialised retailer - at least they claim to be. there's 2 of 'em here in amsterdam, and i've never heard of/seen a nedgame store.

    but i support this decision - if more retailers refused to sell overpriced products, i'm sure manufacturers would take a more reasonable approach to their pricing strategies.

  • b00n #19 2 years ago

    Why would Sony care about this boycot? People will buy the hardware online or in another store (it's only a one time purchase) and after that they'll just download. Sony doesn't need the support of the retailer for the PSP Go.

    What WOULD hurt Sony is if these retailers would also boycot the PS3, and/or the normal PSP + UMDs, but that is obviously not gonna happen any time soon.

  • JahB #20 2 years ago

    @Earl

    well, many of us who live here don't actually speak dutch ;)

  • b00n #21 2 years ago

    @EarlBasset, dunno why but I speak Dutch also and never check the eurogamer.nl/be site. This one is just better written and faster with the content.

  • El-Dev #22 2 years ago

    It would be interesting to know what the make up of profits of gaming shops in the UK is. I think that quite a bit of it would come from pre-owned games now as ever shop has a large selection of them. The Gamestop in Belfast is mostly Pre-owned games with a smaller portion of the store going for new games. The Game stores in Belfast, which there are quite a few of, are starting to go the same way.

    I'm getting a PSP3000 mainly so I can get pre-owned games to build up my collection.
    Edited by 1 at 16/09/09 @ 10:44

  • WinterSnowblind #23 2 years ago

    I applaud this, the price in Europe is just extortionate. It costs more than a Wii or 360, and only slightly less than a PS3, who in the right mind would ever buy one? I do actually like the design, and would have been interested in getting one, but the price killed any chance of that happening, along with the fact it's digital only just means they can charge more than Microsoft does for Games on Demand. £17.99 from a store.. £24.99 on the Go. Digital copies should not be more expensive!

    Instead, I bought a 3000 with the new Dissidia bundle.. I'm pretty sure I made the right choice.
    If anyone else is looking to buy a PSP, I'd highly recommend that, especially over the Go.

  • JahB #24 2 years ago

    so while the dutch eurogamers are showing themselves - if you're around amsterdam and into monster hunter, pm me.

  • Moogrose #25 2 years ago

    Also dutch, also never heard of nedgame.
    But honestly, they're fighting a loosing battle here.

  • Shinetop #26 2 years ago

    Why 4 people in this comments section when there is a Eurogamer.nl ???

    Because it's awful? Besides, I don't see this being eurogamer.co.uk.

    Anyway, chalk me up as another one who never heard of this "biggest Dutch retailer".

  • Dizzy #27 2 years ago

    I have never heard of this "Dutch" people you are speaking of?

    Anway... back to topic. Apple can do it.... so Sony just needs to sell game-point-cards.

  • MrChuckles #28 2 years ago

    Personally i can't wait for the big chain second hand selling high street stores to go bust. When everything is digital download it will get cheaper as you'll buy direct from the publisher which means the costs will come down. All the money will go to the people who make the games, not whoever happens to own a brick and mortar store in your town meaning we'll get more choice, better games, not the same rubbish GAME in every town.

  • ocmerius #29 2 years ago

    And here's another one popping up who's never heard of Nedgame.

    @anomagnus
    I sure hope digital distribution isn't the only distribution channel of the future, because I fear there will be NO competition at all and prices will only get higher (B. Kotick anyone?).
    Prices aren't exactly going down in the music bussiness either, are they?

  • WrongShui #30 2 years ago

    That will not happen chief, they will charge what you are willing to pay and you have been willing to pay store prices for a long time.

  • Beige_Alert #31 2 years ago

    Sony is just recognizing where things are heading for portable gaming (not so sure it will go full out non-physical for stationay though). Retailers are porbably nervously eyeing what happened to record stores the last couple of years, but after having shafted consumers with ridiculous prices on used games I feel little sympathy to be honest.

  • Penguinzoot #32 2 years ago

    Personally i can't wait for the big chain second hand selling high street stores to go bust. When everything is digital download it will get cheaper as you'll buy direct from the publisher which means the costs will come down

    Anyone who still believes platform holder and publisher hype that the upcoming direct download-only era will cause prices to come down are seriously fooling themselves.

  • KDR_11k #33 2 years ago

    If the margins on the consoles are really as bad as rumored I'm sure they don't care about the lost sales from not stocking that thing.

  • kendoji #34 2 years ago

    I live in Holland and have to face Dutch people in real life all the time. This is my sanctuary away from them! :-)

  • mingster #35 2 years ago

    I thought the high price point was because it included a higher percentage for the retailer as there is no other benefit to them selling them as there will be no physical software sales.

  • dr_faulk #36 2 years ago

    Have owned PSP for years, and only bought four games. Video playback requirements are too specific, and it's too clunky as an MP3 player. Don't get me wrong - it's a lovely piece of hardware, but it just never out-did anything else on the market to be the one-stop media solution.

    PSPGo sounds great for people who really hate their money.

  • No1_Dave #37 2 years ago

    this is why ppl saying "Digital DL is the future" is wrong, or at least far from certain, retailers won't be happy being cut out of the deal (e.g. as this article already pointed out), and also it's bad for consumers as Sony/MS can charge whatever they like online for DLs due to lack of competition, prices staying high for a long time, instead of the now norm of games coming down in price after a few month & we can pick up bargains, & then there is the "resale" value once you've finfished the game etc, all the advantages over DDL.

  • Freek #38 2 years ago

    I'm going to add my name to the "Who the f%ck are Ned game" list.

    Are they some sort of suplier?? Because I've never seen them in the highstreet over here.

    /is Dutch, also doesn't care about EG.nl

  • Flightrisker #39 2 years ago

    I once knew a guy who was studying to work in the fashion retail market. He explained to me that 95% of all purchases are made based on the inward opportunity that the consumer recognises in potential growth. Each season the industry would notice a pattern - for every sale made profit would increase, loss sales and profit would decrease. This marketing phenomenon is called "The Verswayze Effect". Many insiders have challenge the theory however. The general consensus among all retailer experts aged 18-21 is that marketing is just a layman's way of saying "Who am I?", in other words we are all in the same ship, but each ship is it's own captain.

  • nuanimal #40 2 years ago

    This a really interesting development. Ok so it's a Dutch company not stocking the PSPGo, but it makes you wonder...

    The entertainment retail stores in the UK (and most other places) generate their core revenue from selling new and preowned games. Little is made on hardware and accessories. The management of such firms must've worked out by now that (at least for the PSPGo) this is not going to be profitable, and in fact is going to start obliterating money from all PSP sales (games, hardware, accs). Logically it would make sense not to push a product too heavily that is going to damage your retail business. Instead we might see more generic stores cashing in on the short term - such as supermarkets (hmm... actually the Tescos & Sainsburys around Bedfordshire don't push PSP stuff anyway...), and general retailers likes Argos, Toy's R'Us and onlines store cashing in. Something like am iPhone business model...? Not really.

    An interesting anolgy would be with the apps for the iPhone - but that doesn't fit, and it annoys me when people make the comparison. Apple only uses O2 and it's own stores. PSPs are available to various retailers. Apple made its app store a key starting area for buying software and didn't change its software medium a few years into its product lifecycle, and risk alienting retailers (it didn't have any to upset in the first place). Maybe Sony is willing to take this path if it believes it will better for itself in the long run?

    Blah... I'm off.




  • Bazfrag #41 2 years ago

    It happened last gen in a way: most retailers supported systems that played dvd's more than the cube that didnt, so they could flog extra stuff.

  • GamesConnoisseur #42 2 years ago

    Gonna be interesting!

    1) Sony's business model with PSPgo being digital download only

    2) Consumers concerns re Digitial Download being the future or is it?

    At the end of the day, wallets talk.... so if I was Sony I would just carry on as Apple pioneered as to how iTune had been a global success to an extent. Games are growing but difficult to sort wheat from chaff as we know, but with more and more games being DLC this gen in proportion compared to last gen.

    So the trend seem pretty clear that this is a direction we would be going, and partly the fault of the second hand sales for cutting the publishers out of the finance transactions.

    Now is it evil that DLC would be non-optical copy? I got plenty and plenty of old gens games stocked up, most of them will fail to work anyway! Magnetic and all that, so IF I was able to get my account to be eternally associated with the purchased copies of those games, I WOULD have been easily able to download them again and play them?

    The question of ownership IS very vital to the debate of how DLC would work, so if consumers can be assured we wont be paying again and again for the same product we owned then I can see this potentially works well.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #43 2 years ago

    Holland's largest specialised retail outlet, Nedgame

    They should open one of them in Glasgow.

  • sneetch #44 2 years ago

    @Penguinzoot
    Anyone who still believes platform holder and publisher hype that the upcoming direct download-only era will cause prices to come down are seriously fooling themselves.

    Indeed, current digital stores like Steam on PC and Games on Demand on 360 show that they're not really interested in lowering their prices, particularly not just because a game is "old" (i.e. out for about a year or so).

    Now it is conceivable that they have some kind of agreement with the retailers that they won't sell below a certain margin (that would be a great reason not to wouldn't it) but I can't see them deciding to reduce prices just because they can.

    Lets see, if currently the publishers get about 10 bucks profit, soon they'll get 30 bucks profit: cha-ching!

  • mezzomorto #45 2 years ago

    To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if most Spanish retailers don't stock them since they're a staid bunch (especially Corte Ingles who NEVER discount their prices) when compared to UK retailers, which is why I buy most of my games online (Niponia.net)

    BTW, re the "local versions" of Eurogamer debate, I've just visited the Spanish site for the first time now when following the link provided here. I just always presumed that news items reached the Eurogamer.net site first then was "farmed out" to the regional sites.

  • kipper #46 2 years ago

    [link url=http://www.nedgame.nl
    ]http://www.nedgame.nl
    [/link]

    They have 8 shops.

    Not exactly large, but then size isn't everything ;-)

  • moggsy #47 2 years ago

    @ nuanimal

    'An interesting anolgy would be with the apps for the iPhone - but that doesn't fit, and it annoys me when people make the comparison. Apple only uses O2 and it's own stores.'

    You can buy an iPod Touch from just about anywhere.

  • moggsy #48 2 years ago

    @Penguinzoot
    'Anyone who still believes platform holder and publisher hype that the upcoming direct download-only era will cause prices to come down are seriously fooling themselves.'

    But it already has for download only games. You can pick up some cracking games on XBLA or PSN for around a tenner - far more affordable than the 40 quid the shops want to sell you games for.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #49 2 years ago

    You can buy an iPod Touch from just about anywhere.

    But not from GAME.

  • Arwin #50 2 years ago

    Oh and by the way, as should be clear by now, the title of this piece is an outright, libelous lie.

  • kipper #51 2 years ago

    @ Moggsy
    You are not comparing like with like.
    XBL Games On Demand ie. full retail games usually cost more to download than to buy the dvd version, in most shops.

  • ChaK #52 2 years ago

    agree with them.

  • IP #53 2 years ago

    "You can buy an iPod Touch from just about anywhere.
    But not from GAME."

    That's because GAME can't sell overpriced second-hand games for iPods. However, you can buy an iPod touch in Argos and HMV, to name just two chains that have a fair few stores knocking about the place - it's a tad more widespread than "go into O2 and give them all your money".

    As for Sony, surprising to see the lack of a means of playing physical media. By all means ape Apple - the online distribution model and App Store work nicely - but don't screw over your existing market and customers for no discernible reason.

  • Sunyavadin #54 2 years ago

    And so it begins...

  • ronuds #55 2 years ago

    Sony's on a roll this generation.

  • Penguinzoot #56 2 years ago

    But it already has for download only games. You can pick up some cracking games on XBLA or PSN for around a tenner - far more affordable than the 40 quid the shops want to sell you games for.

    ?
    I know there are many cracking games available for PSN/XBLA/PC for around a tenner. I know, I have downloaded many of them myself. But for a brand new, AAA quality, high production value blockbuster? Good luck finding the next Bioshock, COD:MW3, FFV, Resi6 or whatever being offered new by DD for around a tenner.

  • Scribble #57 2 years ago

    I was in Gamestop in Belfast a few weeks ago buying Batman Arkham Asylum and was getting asked about preordering a PS3 Slim, I explained I didn't want one but would want a PSP Go.

    "Don't think we'll be selling those I'm afraid."

    Again the lack of trade-ins and the lack of ability to sell me games seems to be a deal breaker.

  • Fodder #58 2 years ago

    "You can buy an iPod Touch from just about anywhere.

    But not from GAME."

    http://ww w.game.co.uk/CoolStuff/Miscella...

  • Vergis69 #59 2 years ago

    Although it seems a bit of a shite thing to do, it does make business sense. Maybe sony should have thought twice about ditching the UMD drive for it.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #60 2 years ago

    @Fodder

    Actually, I tried searching Game's website for ipod touches to make sure that was right before I posted.

    Obviously their search function is just shite.

  • YourMessageHere #61 2 years ago

    This makes a certain amount of economic sense, I suppose. Now Sony need to simply stop selling PSPgos to shops and just sell them direct. They don't want, they don't get. Monopoly concerns are hardly relevant - it's not like anyone else makes PSPs.

    Given a choice of buying a boxed PC game in a shop or on Steam, I prefer Steam; sometimes they are cheaper (got Fallout 3 for $15 recently on a half-price weekend), sometimes not, but they are an order of magnitude more convenient. However, if Sony owned Steam, I'd buy from shops - I don't hate Sony, I just don't trust them an inch to be consistent, whereas Valve have proved themselves many times (lost credit card details incidents notwithstanding, but luckily that didn't involve me).

  • davisorle #62 2 years ago

    Finally ppl doing something against Sony's unreasonable pricngs and dominant with no reason moves. Im with them on this one. I really cant wait till someone f**ks Sony over and make them learn next gen around to be a bit comsumer friendly in more than just roumors and promises. And whats pathetic is that ppl do go along with the strategyof Sony "If i sell you a brick you will still go buy it". Either quit bitching since you keep paying their expensive products or do something about it. Boycott them while a Sega or someone ese gets back in the console game for more low prices and more advancements through more competition cause right now being interested only into a 360 and a ZuneHD ( for music and handheld reasons ) is too weird. Till a few years ago not only I didn't wanna pay shit for MS ( like i dont still for Sony ) but also was not of the console gaming.. Shit change huh?

    PSPGo is a total ripoff though from every aspect. +1 :p

  • dudefella #63 2 years ago

    Haha, NEdgame is in no way Holland's biggest games retailer. Biggest game-SPECIFIC one, maybe. Big different. Like 90% of all games sales here probably go through non-specialized chains though.

  • MeBrains #64 2 years ago

    davidorle: And whats pathetic is that ppl do go along with the strategyof Sony "If i sell you a brick you will still go buy it".

    for a moment I thought you wer referring to another company... must be me...

  • FromTheLandUnknown #65 2 years ago

    We are all moving in a next stage of capitalism, which will be called "Barbarism of money". All such attempts, be it from Sony with PSP GO or Steam deserve total boycot and condemnation.

    As some of you are pointing out, capitalism works where there is competition. But trying to cancel out competition brought us financial crysis and recession, of which some are saying it is not crysis, but beginning of an end of Capitalism.

    Indeed, anybody who still believes platform holder and publisher hype, that direct download will cause prices to come down are seriously fooling themselves.

    I am thinking not too far back, when in my country at least, last generation of consoles PS2 had a total monopol, and games were priced 20 to 30 % over PC ones. And this is not all. Even games more than four years old retained full price.

    Some of this "tradition" (games for consoles much higher price) persists, even now with platform competition. This price difference is reflected in tributes to platform holder, we all know that. Now, imagine really, what would mean if there were no shop competition and second hand trade?

    I have been in almost similar situation, we had no second hand trade (specialist game shops emerged few years ago) and I can tell you, it is not good. The importer could just hold the price for old games even, for years, and prices were almost the same in different shops.

    Your desire for new toys, (which in case of PSP GO are new only in limiting you further) makes you blind to see some simple facts:
    1.) Games on steam generally are not cheaper, or cheap enough, even when they are, in comparison to games on disc, when you think just how many costs fall off.
    2.) Digital ownership is, at least as it is known to me, allways much more limiting in simply playing rights of a given game, even when you payed for it allready. This is justified with antipirate measures.

    And seriously, to make a clear example, does anybody, who knows how Gabe Newell, founder of Steam, looks like, really thinks he is a good example of a man, who can set limits to himself in favor of other people?

    I think not.

  • kipper #66 2 years ago

    @ FromTheLandUnknown
    "As some of you are pointing out, capitalism works where there is competition. But trying to cancel out competition brought us financial crysis and recession, of which some are saying it is not crysis, but beginning of an end of Capitalism."

    Sorry, I thought imprudent loans made by greedy banks to people who knew they couldn't afford them caused the financial crysis.

    "And seriously, to make a clear example, does anybody, who knows how Gabe Newell, founder of Steam, looks like, really thinks he is a good example of a man, who can set limits to himself in favor of other people?"

    Okaaay, so you mean "Very Rich Man Indulges Himself And Gets a Bit Fat SHOCK".

  • Alkeno #67 2 years ago

    I'm not into boycotts, but game retailers have a good point at not liking the PSPGo. We'll have to see if pressure from Sony doesn't make them change their minds... As a consumer it seems pretty clear that choosing between the PSP3000 and the PSPGo is a no-brainer.

    Regarding the international EG sites, I visited the Spanish ones a couple of times, its mostly a translated and delayed copy of this... and here I get to practice English and take revenge on those who come here on holidays just to get drunk ;-)

    And by the way, what's the point attacking Gabe Newell? Why not Cliff Bleszinski? Oh forgot, Gabe is fat... c'mon isn't it time we stopped this sort of mocking? And on top of that, from all game companies, Valve is one of the most considerate towards their users regarding support and value...

  • notorious_roy #68 2 years ago

    They are no where near the biggest retailer. Not in total, not in entertainment and not in games. They suck, are way to expensive and they are big cry babies. I've never bought something at Nedgame and never will.

    If someone wants a PSP Go (and the audiance for this thing is a hardcore gamer) he or she'll go to another store that does sell it. Nedgame is only going to hurt themselves with this decision, just like Gameshop (Den Haag) who doesn't sell any Wii stuff :')

    If you are specialised in gaming, you should sell everything. Even if that means you are going to sell a PSP Go and people can't buy UMD games at your store. You should focus on the PSN cards then, and give support and explain how everything works.

  • FromTheLandUnknown #69 2 years ago

    @kipper
    Sorry, but you thought wrong. Imprudent loans made by greedy banks were just a consequence of a continuous financial downfall of a middle class, caused by globalization and monopolization, and moving factories abroad for cheaper working force.
    As a consequence of that, banks had to adapt by offering new products (risky loans) to a people, which sometimes were forced to take them, even when they knew, they couldn't afford them.
    In capitalism, when spending stops, we have crysis. So, you must have strong middle class, or with other words, you should strive to a good living standard of all citizens.

    Companies on the oher hand, look for profit only, and they reach to it with all means, and work force all over the world is losing already acquired rights. Today even education is not allways enough to get work (and student loans in America, which could not be returned also, because of that, were big part of this "loans baloon";). As a consequence people lost houses, but banks could not sell them at expected prices, because there were suddenly too much on market and in a time when demand fell drastically.

    So in this fast changing world, not all of the people knew, that they could not afford to take loans.

    It was industrialisation in the past, which brought us a similar situation, it is globalisation and information technology now.

  • MeBrains #70 2 years ago

    brombeer: I agree there. I even tend to agree with the Dutch retailer... I was just well... referring to things which sounded like "de pot verwijt de ketel", see what I mean? ;)

  • moggsy #71 2 years ago

    @ Penguinzoot

    How much would these games that are a tenner on download have been if they were full retail copies? At least £20 I suspect. The last time you could buy a newly released sealed game for a tenner in a shop was probably the eighties (Speccy and C64 games).

    Download only games are cheaper. I suspect when AAA titles are download only that they will also be cheaper - probably around the £25 mark.
    Edited by 1 at 17/09/09 @ 13:10

  • Grayvern #72 2 years ago

    Actually the credit crunch happened because banks believed they had eliminated risk with their business plans. The real crisis came because the banks wouldn't lend to each other because of fear. Which meant companies couldnt get the regualr finance they needed to trade.

    The banks chose to persue high profit while believing that risk could be eliminated by spreading investments and selling some on.

    The banking crisis was set off by sub prime but if that had been avoided it would have been caused another way.

    The real crisis for capitalism is the proof that there is no way that it can be made safe. Because we have had both more and less regulation and both have led to crisis.

    Also the idea that direct download will make games more expensive ignores the fact that if all games were sold that way there would still be competition between microsoft sony etc.

  • YourMessageHere #73 2 years ago

    /realises the monopoly concern is over games not hardware. Oops.

    @FromTheLandUnknown
    1.) Games on steam generally are not cheaper, or cheap enough, even when they are, in comparison to games on disc, when you think just how many costs fall off.

    Not true. Apart from the fact that, usually, the price is competitive when set against the same game boxed, you are also buying the right to download the game as many times as you want, forever. I prefer that to a disc, and I think it's worth the investment.

    2.) Digital ownership is, at least as it is known to me, allways much more limiting in simply playing rights of a given game, even when you payed for it allready. This is justified with antipirate measures.

    Not sure what you mean here. When you buy a disc copy of a game, you also only buy the right to play it, just like any license agreement says - in practical terms, it's identical. I only buy games on Steam or shops that work the same way, i.e. unlimited number of DLs; I'll never pay only for 'a download' and not the right of repeated access, that IS more limiting and also the reason I disapprove of iTunes. Antipiracy measures are nicely out of the way with Steam games too; no disc checking, so no need to hunt out a nodisc crack (which I tend to do as a matter of course).

    And really, waist size has no relationship to business sense or ethical leanings. Stop that crap.

  • grussbarbar #74 2 years ago

    I stop by at Nedgame regularly. The Nedgame I shop at has a great assortment of import titles to browse through. Those can be a bit pricy sometimes, but that's to be expected of a specialist store.