That’s right, questions. This week we’re going to mix it up and cover a few topics during our middle segment, and we want your input/thoughts/rants/mumblings about them. This week we’ll be covering three topics, courtesy of some of our listeners on Twitter:
What are your thoughts on the idea that Activision and EA have switched places, with Activision taking on the role of pariah amongst the more enthusiast gaming audience? Do you agree or disagree? Why?
How do you think shrinking budgets and industry cutbacks will affect games and gaming this year? How will finances affect you as a gamer in particular?
What are your thoughts on used games? How do you feel about Gamestop, Amazon, and Toys R’ Us and their respective used game strategies?
And we may or may not get to this one: Describe your sex lives in three Pokemon moves.
Hey, these were your ideas people. Anyway! Fire away. The cut-off for comments will be around 3:00 PM Pacific time Wednesday afternoon.
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On one hand it’s great to see Activision be on top, since they had a hand in some of my favorite games over the past 10 years (Quake/Doom series, Soldier of Fortune, Call of Duty, just to name a few). However it is disheartening to see them becoming such a sequel machine. Guitar Hero was great, and I don’t really know where I would take the franchise except what they’re doing with it (at least not now that Rock Band has forced them to actually progress the franchise).
I know this point is cliche, but EA really deserves a lot of praise for some of the innovations they’ve let out with Dead Space, Mirrors Edge, Boom Blox and the like. It’s nice to see Activision taking over as ‘the bad guy’ while EA is legitimately deserving a break. I hope to see more titles as unique as the three I mentioned coming out of both companies, but I fear my answer to the second question is going to illustrate the opposite.
I think the budget cutbacks will lead to fewer original IP’s. Companies are going to stick with their recognizable big-name titles that sell a million copies just because they’ve got the right name on the box. However, since everyone is going to be playing their Ace card, we’ll probably see some interesting twists on old franchises as developers try to make their game stand out of the crowd. Look for more ‘leveling up’ mechanisms (CoD, KZ2, etc) in games that will keep people playing, and (hopefully) more DLC ala Burnout Paradise to keep the game moving off store shelves, and the digital download content cash flowing in.
As far as used games go, I’m torn. Part of me loves the lower price tag for the same product, but another part of me hates that the developer/producers don’t see a dime of my purchase. I don’t know the specifics about sales from stores like GameStop but I’m pretty sure I’m right that the development houses don’t get a cut of a used game sale. It’s really not fair that a place like GameStop/Amazon/whoever can focus their business on such a profitable sector like used games, and not give a cut of that profit to the people responsible for all the hard work. I realize that this is kind of unprecedented, as Van Gogh’s family doesn’t see a dime when his paintings are sold, and Sony wouldn’t get any cut backs when I sell my old TV at a garage sale, but I don’t think any other market has a situation quite like this.
I’m assuming that the high game price this time around is pushing more and more gamers to buy used titles. That of course reduces sales on new games, which further reduces the profits the game studios see from commercial release. I think unless something is done to even the playing field, we’re going to start seeing a lot more games that focus heavily on the DLC since DLC typically can’t be resold or otherwise transferred.
1) Exciting!
2) While it could possibly lead to less experimental games from big publishers, it is likely going to be a boon for indy game developers, as their products are usually seen in a “bargain bin” kind of light (sadly).
Personally, not much will change. I never owned a PS2 so I bought one with the start of Backlog for Shadows of the Colossus, and ended up seeking out and buying all the good games I missed. They were really cheap and the pile of games I have to play is huge.
GO FIND OLD GAMES THAT YOU HAVEN’T PLAYED. They are cheap and still awesome.
3) I like shiny things, so I tend not to buy used games. I will, however, seek them out if I’m looking for something rare/out of print/etc that I cannot find anywhere else. I’m not for or against the used market, I just tend to prefer my stuff to be first used by me.
As you guys pointed out before, the used market exists and has existed for a long time with books, wherein the creator gets nothing from it, so why should the video game industry be any different?
But at the same time, I like to see creators get their due.
4)
-Take Down
-Sleep Powder
-Vine Whip
Pokemon sex life: Can’t catch any…
I never thought I`d say this, but I`m glad EA is being seeing as an underdog. Because they are no longer in the “lime light” it seems they have become more willing to launch new franchises. Activison is open with their opinions regarding “milking” their established franchises. I won`t lie and say I`m not a fan of Call of Duty of Guitar Hero, it`s just that I`m beginning to feel tired of playing them. Even if you weren`t a fan of Mirror`s Edge, you have to give EA credit for publishing a first-person parkour title, in a time when Star Power and Nazis are the norm.
I use “Withdraw”!
I use “Hydro Pump”!
I fall asleep!
Hmmm…
Last year, EA took a step in what we all thought would be the right direction by getting a few new IPs out. The problem is that it was also announced that these IPs (Dead Space, Mirror’s Edge, ect.) were going to be franchises. So while not as annually rehashable as Guitar Hero/Rockband, EA is still following the “if we can’t keep selling it, it’s not worth the investment” that they’re very well known for. Skate/Skate 2 is a perfect example. While the amendments and additions to Skate 2 were welcome and provided an overall better play experience, they were so minor that the game was essentially the same with a new coat of paint. I mean, come on, some of the levels were literally old levels with a new coat of paint.
I think that shrinking budgets will not affect too many games this year, but next year. It would seem reckless for a company to cut funding and cancel a game, even a game halfway through development. Of course, larger games like God of War 3 and Heavy Rain will likely not be affected, as games such as these are Sony’s bread and butter for marketing the PS3. At worst, these games could receive delays, but I doubt it. I think next year we’ll see a flood of indie games on both XBLA and PSN, fewer exclusive titles, and much more crap on the Wii.
I personally avoid purchasing used games. Unless there are no new copies to be found anywhere, I always buy new. Then I trade them back to EBgames and buy more new games. I’m very pro-developer.
I’m not against used games, because people have been trading/borrowing games to their friends for years. But when a company like GameStop/EBgames thinks it’s appropriate to sell a used game for five dollars less than the new version, then I start thinking that yeah, maybe some companies should just shrivel-up and die, thank you recession. Best example, launch games for the Wii such as Twilight Princess and Exite Truck still sell for $54.99 CAN used. New copies of said games, $59.99 CAN. I’ve got no idea why these games after being out for over two years still retain a full price value, maybe it’s because they’re some of the best games, maybe it’s because they’re Nintendo games.
The only time I think anyone should buy a used game is when it’s impossible to find new, or is seriously discounted…like…at least $15.
In a way I like the used games when im selling them, sure they sometimes dont give you a lot but if I dont play the game anymore why should I care?
altough when they buy the game 30$ in store credit and sell them at 54.99, I think there is a problem, Yes they need to make some profit but why only 5$ down from the newer version, I only buy used game that are on last gen, there is no point to buying a used next gen game for 55$ when I can get one for 60$
I can’t think of anything interesting to say that hasn’t already been said. Thus:
Harden
Pound
String Shot
Though I rarely join in the dance of buying and selling used games, I’ve formed some strong opinions on it nonetheless. While I feel that such innocent practices as buying/selling a used (particularly older) game on Amazon, ebay, or the like can be beneficial to both involved parties (that was the only way I was able to procure the PS2 version of Beyond Good & Evil for Backlog a ways back), once you have retailers like Gamestop and EB actively pressuring the customer to buy and sell used games, thereby taking a chunk out of the sales the games’ developers and publishers worked to garner, a line has been crossed.
As I see it, buying used games seems, on average, to save only a few dollars off of the retail price. I for one, would much rather pay the few extra dollars for a brand-new out-of-the-box copy and know that I’m helping to support those who worked so long and hard to create it.
As for the fourth question:
Role Play
Horn Drill
Amnesia
The answer to stopping the flood of used games is to lower the pice of new games to $30 to $40 dollars, with the $60 price point being reserved for truly big budget games like MGS, Gears, Halo, Killzone.
The problem with the strategy is that all developers and publishers want to believe that their product is a top of the line product when it simply is not. (Legendary should have never come out at $60, and it’s move to $30 within a month did nothing other than confirm that early purchasers had their wallets raped!)
$60 is simply not a mass market price… it is as simple as that. If we do not get the price lowered over time than we will see the market for games stop rising.
At $30 or $40 I think we would also see a lot more people hold onto their games as a collection, rather than trading them in just so they can afford new games.
Is there any TV shows that you have been watching recently, and like to talk about? I have been mainly watching Spaced, thanks Netflix, and have finally given up on Heroes.
This Pokemon moveset has always worked wonders for me.
The first two moves are an old combo that’s been around since the first pokemon games, followed up by one of the newer moves:
1)Hypnosis
2)Dream Eater
3)Wood Hammer
Usually followed up by Seed Bomb, but that’d break the 3 move rule.
Kind regards,
Ron
Alex
Patrick
Ivan
Sam
Thomas
…Dinkelburg
Activision/EA:
To answer this lets look back at what each company CEO had said recently
to get a mind set of how they think:
Bobby Kotick
“With respect to the franchises that don’t have the potential to be exploited every year across every platform
with clear sequel potential that can meet our objectives of over time becoming $100 million plus franchises,
that’s a strategy that has worked very well for us.”
This was his answer why they tossed out franchises like brutal legends and Ghostbusters
John Riccitiello:
“When something’s not meeting expectations… you can course correct by giving it more time, more money,
changing the concept or killing the game.
If you’re committed to quality, you take one of those paths,”
he adds. “If you preclude any one of those paths, quality will suffer.”
This is from interview from Gamasutra about why EA canceled the C&C Tiberium FPS.
Basically both are talking about canceling games or not releasing them.
While one does it because he think they wont make 100 millions on it back by ” exploiting ” it better,
and the other does it cause they expect a level of quality out of their own products/games…
Shrinking Budgets:
Since I recently have gotten fired, So now I try not to buy too many games since
my backlog is getting big enough as it is with games I purchased but have not gotten around to finish..
mostly because getting to distracted by the next new shiny game coming out that week…
but I doubt I’ll be buying fewer games than last year… kinda same reasoning you don’t see smoker quit just because
the economy is in recession.
Used Games:
Good for them I would say…
We already have used cars, books, music and all other assortment of stuff so why not Games ?
If the gaming industry has such a problem with it then why don’t they buy their own games
back and destroy them or resell them as new ?
Pokemon:
I was gonna write something but it would pale in comparison by all the other great comments people have made…
so I’ll pass this time.
I’ll tell you what, the economic situation will affect my gaming lifestyle approximately zero percent. It’s my most cherished hobby, and I doubt I spend more than $200 a year (excluding console release years) on gaming. I used to drink myself stupid and smoke a pack a day of cigarettes, but with age I’ve found those “hobbies” less appealing, but gaming still brings me a great deal of enjoyment for ~$20 a month.
TOYS ARE US, TOYS ARE US… TOYS ARE US TOYS ARE US!… if that helps?
In the hardcore gamer culture tightened budgets will probably contribute to the already increasing in cheap or free indy games on the net like Gravity Bone. With the goading of voices like John Davison, some players may even finally try out those free MMO’s popping up everywhere.
Many gamers, though, are bound to keep buying $60 titles. They were always willing to forego soap in favor of the newest releases anyway. That hobby drive will continue selling top titles, but will probably increase the number of trade-ins as cash-strapped gamers have to figure out how to slot in all the games they want.
Personally, I’ve just gone cheaper. I got World of Goo for five bucks last weekend and am enjoying that at a leisurely pace. When FEAR 2 and Dawn of War 2 drop substantially (which they will, likely by the run up to Christmas), I’ll pick them up. The games I get at launch, like Resident Evil 5 on Friday, will be fewer and further between. Replay has always been a big issue to me, but now it’s even bigger. I’ll want games that either have a lot of replay value in unlockables (RE4′s costumes) and dynamics (Left 4 Dead’s AI director changing enemy distribution). As it is, I might buy three games in the rest of the year and replay my collection in my spare time. Measuring months between replays of games like Okami, Portal, Final Fantasy 10 and the Silent Hill franchise served me well in years past. It’ll do so again.
As far as the re-selling of games is concerned, I think the problem lies with the developers. If more companies were serious about supporting their games with downloadable content. Criterion has certainly been the best, providing ample free DLC, but most developers barely provide anything. Game trading is NOT going away, and is in fact becoming more prevalent every year.
In a nutshell, bitching and moaning about how it hurts the developers isn’t going to change anything, while companies like Criterion, Bethesda, and, to a lesser extent, Valve are prospering from their post-launch content.
Either 2 things are going to happen with the cutbacks.
1. Quality control with take effect with Games that are not meeting expectations early on in development will be scrapped before they are even announced.
2. Big Brand Whoring. We have seen what EA plan to do with the Need For Speed Franchise with 50 titles coming out. I expect the Same thing with Sim 3. I would expect 3 expansion over the 3 months following release.
Either way it will not be good for small developer trying to fund the next ground breaking title.
Whether EA or Activision is the pariah of choice is inconsequential. Core gamers will bitch and moan about how a publisher does business, and what they do to the studios they fund/own, but will still buy games published by them. Core gamers (myself included) have a weakness for the high polish and production values of Triple A titles and will always buy them, needing their next fix of something new.
I don’t see shrinking budgets greatly affecting new or interesting mechanics being worked into games. New games nearly always have a gimmick or hook, otherwise why play them if they are exactly like a game before them? I could see less manhours/budget being devoted to visuals in games. Less pretty pictures aren’t going to diminish enjoyability in overall gameplay or narrative.
I have no problems with used game sales. All businesses exist to make money, whether a retailer or publisher. Businesses look out for their financial interests, and I look out for mine. A 10% EDGE card discount on used games would not sway me to buy a $55 used copy over new, but a 20% off coupon that is emailed to me and stacks on top of my card discount, and that is a major price difference between new and used. Those coupons were 25% off before the economic pants-shitting; I got particularly spendy when GStop had buy 2 get 1 free deals. Even with those discounts, I buy more games new than used. I bought nine brand-new videogames just in the last quarter of 2008 during the usual holiday crunch. My used purchases are reserved for older and average-or-worse games. I bought so many games last year my resolution was to purchase no games this year for any platform and to work through my pile of shame.
Struggle
Dig
DragonRage
1)I think the companies exchanging roles is the natural cycle of things for major industry players. Make a ton of cash-ins, discover your audience no longer puts up with your shit, try something different, receive praise and money. Sell soul. Return.
2) I think we’ll see fewer experimental games (original IP, sure, but unique concepts?) or high-risk projects. My personal budget won’t be affected, but I also don’t impulse buy and read reviews or wait for sales.
3)I agree with Denis Dyack on this one. Not our problem. Every other industry has to find a way to make new more valuable or face customers going to cheaper alternatives (CDs or DVDs anyone?). I don’t buy used games, but that’s primarily because saving a couple bucks (in many cases, literally) isn’t worth supporting GameStop’s customer gouging machine. Supporting the developer’s also a plus. I realize I sound contradictory, but I didn’t say I didn’t think about the issue, just that the consumer should be thinking about value per dollar.
Also.. My Pokeman, let me show you it!
-Wait
-Wait
-Scratch
The price of games is what stifles innovation and progress and is also the reason why the used game market threatens the games industry as much as it does. When you start dropping sixty dollars on something, not only do you want a sure-fire hit, you start to cut a few corners and start to pinch pennies. So to me the difference between $20 and $10 is smaller than the difference between $60 and $50. Video games, because of their price, are a noteworthy investment for people, and because of that they are less willing to take any risks with that investment. Video games are a special industry because the consumer must weigh the same pros and cons as the publisher. A movie studio can make a high-risk high-concept film but the movie-goer can afford to see a bad movie or four for the same price of a single new game. If you want people to become more willing to try new things with video games, you must lower the cost. Why buy these new games like Mirror’s Edge and Dead Space for $60 when you can buy a “new” copy of a household name like Call of Duty for the same price? For video games to begin to flourish and become more innovative, the first thing that must be changed is price.
I don’t care who is on top. I never minded that EA was on top. I hold no stupid grudge with them or Gamestop for that matter. Amazon, Toys R’ Us, and such will not be able to be as profitable and penentrate the used market as Gamestop has. Many people who sale used games games, by used games and they do it by being a member with the card that they use. I myself will continue to buy new games which has already cost me nearly 700 dollars with pre-orders and such.
Obviously not everyone can buy new games so selling used games is the only way for some. I don’t like it much but it does help video game stores who might feel the pinch in the pocket book with a recession. If that is true, I don’t know but just thinking, it does help them be able to maintain the new games at the price point they currently go for. Im sure they could go for cheaper retail prices and if they did people would likely buy many more games and buy earlier than waiting for some price drop. True or not, that is me throwing something out there for an open discussion.
I’d like to know how well Activision is doing if you take Blizzard out of the equation. How do Activision’s “sequelized” games compare to EA’s new IPs when put head-to-head?
As for used games: I’ve got no problem paying $60 for a new game, but with so many games to play it often takes me 6-12 months before I get through my current backlog and actually play one of those “new” games (I’ll make exceptions of course, I’m planning on getting RE5 even though I’m still playing Fallout 3). And while I’ll pay $60 for a new game, I feel that’s a bit too high for a year old game, so I’ll buy it used without any hesitation. With that said however, I never buy anything used from Gamestop because it’s rarely a good deal; used games from Amazon are always cheaper. But I think digital distribution of games could stop me from buying used, that is if Burnout Paradise is a sign of things to come. I bought it on PSN the day it was released even though I was still anxious about the open-world structure. For $30, how could I not give it a shot? And I’m glad I bought it because I love it.
My thoughts on used games are somewhat mixed, personally I don’t trade in my games, and I don’t buy used games, well I have one but my friend picked it up for me and it was all they had. I think that trading in games hurts the gaming industry since less copies are sold if people keep trading them in and buying used. This is also my general feeling towards renting games as well, since renting games, in most cases, involves you not buying the game. So both trading in games and renting games can hurt the industry, however my opinion towards renting games might be somewhat biased since I cannot rent games where I live.
Now you may be wondering why I said that my thoughts on this subject are mixed, I said that because I think that you should also consider another point of view. What if your hard up for cash (as some of you are), if that’s the case then buying used games and trading in old games are a great way to play more games, and even become fans of new games and maybe even buy the sequel to that game when it comes out. Also many game stores make lots of profit off of trading games and selling used games, which is far from a bad thing, Also going back to renting games some people would rather rent a game and then buy it if they really liked it, which isn’t all that bad for the gaming industry.
So as you can see there two points of view towards that subject, but personally I’d rather buy my games so that I can play them again in the future. I used to rent lots of games, but since my town never got in PS3 games to rent I was forced to buy more games. Now I realize how much better it is to own more games, and how it helps support the gaming industry.
I hope you guys read my comment (whether on the podcast or not), also I would like to add that after writing all of this I just realized that you guys posted a comment cut-off, which I missed. Anyway keep up the good work guys.
I know this is not related but do you guys think virtual reality will ever make a comeback
In my opinion really good blog. Thank you for your effort for manage it.
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