Looks like I'm not gonna buy a PS4

[SlicerITST]

The only weapon we have against those "habits" is our money... They won't have mine anymore... (talking about DLC and all...)
If we all do this, maybe "they" will realise this is not what video-games are supposed to be...

Capcom now talk about us as "consumers"... Before they were talking about us as "gamers"... Something went really wrong somewhere !...
Where is the time when devs were doing things with passion ?...
I'm disgusted...

The problem is that there is a whole generation growing up that is more then used to DLC or platforms like Steam where they have no more physical game they can hold in their hands. The main group buying games will still be there. We either have to follow or start spending more time with our wives/parents/work/kids. And who really wants the latter?

We have been eased into it. Payment platforms have been (and will be further) developed in perfection. No way back now.

Djarvik, prize cuts...really? You know better then that.

[Corbon]

Yeah on the contrary. Since there's no competition anymore from resales, they can charge even more for top titles because there's no other way to buy them.

[djarvik]

I just mentioned this as an example of "capture" strategy. I am not married to the idea.


I agree with Floris though, you basically said what I think about it. Us, we, don't matter. The gaming industry was and is making these moves for some time and they are still growing like crazy.

The new generation will think this is the "norm" and we are crazy for wanting anything different.

As for prices going up - highly doubt it. They will stay inline with inflation. Market penetration is key to success, the prices should be as high as the majority of the market is willing to pay. And I think right now - they kinda found the golden point. So they will likely stay the same, or slightly increase within a few years to accommodate inflation.

That is why I kinda mentioned price cuts. Because going to market with such consoles will not be an overnight deal. There are tons of consoles in peoples homes now. They need to make it appealing to change - upgrade. The fastest way in my eyes would be to market the portability and the lower price point, as the physical manufacturing will not be needed.

As as consumer, I would like to hear - "Buy this console because you never going to need to go out and buy physical games or deal with Discs. And the games will cost 10$ less because we are able to save money and make it more convenient for you!"

Me thinks this is a rather good pitch to the current parent.

[djarvik]

This is the strategy I had in mind:

http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/ps-vita-di ... 1-02-2012/

[SlicerITST]

I should have included you are not incorrect. In the beginning they will feature price cuts. This will soon stop when the market is used to it. You can already see it in the article you linked. Europe has not been included for the price cuts. Will it be announced later or are they just putting feelers out there to see if the European market is ready for it being price cut free?

As for the prize rising only due to inflation. I sincerely doubt that. They will bring it like this. Because we are no longer bound to the physical storage size we can now provide you with bigger games from the start. Its the oldest trick in the book really. Double the package, triple the prize. They did the same when dvd's entered the picture.

[Vieira151]

I may just stick to PC. There will always be lots of small dev and indie games released that are good, if not great, and it will greatly help young people wanting to develop games (such as meself).

While I like the PS2 and PS3, I'm not too keen on what I read for the next one. Backwards compatibility is something, I have always felt, was important for next gen consoles, especially for launch.

I guess this is a business move they have made, but I'm not sure it is a good one. I'm not sure if I will buy it, but we shall see.

[Corbon]

Well DVD's are much more convenient than tapes, like CD's offer so many advantages over vinyl records. Haven't jumped on the Blue Ray bandwagon yet because DVD's still work for what they do, at least for me.

Game companies are already saving money left and right (instruction manual? download it) or trying to exploit the crap out of other markets (merchandizing, DLC, game guides). But it's also the consumer's fault for buying it. When companies started to sell keys (not labeled as DLC either) to unlock stuff that was already on the disc, gamers were whining about not getting access to the "full" disc and making stupid car analogies and whatnot but then they bought it anyway.