Credit goes to ncxcstud
Of Sony vs MS/Used/etc..
Before I get into this subject, I need to lay a few ground rules.
This console launch is the most unique in the business? history. Even last time when we did have the internet it wasn?t as vocal or amplified as it is now. Giant Enemy Crab, anyone? (Sony?s terrible showing at that e3 proved to not really matter as the PS3 went on to do well in the long run.) What bothers me is the internet pitchfork mob who can only see 6 inches in front of their face without thoughtfully analyzing a situation. Any ***** can go to quickmeme.com. Try writing a fully thought out article on a subject, like the folks at Polygon, Giantbomb, Rock Paper Shotgun, or Kotaku do. (Sorry Gamespot, back of the bus.)
Microsoft tried to and ultimately couldn?t have it both ways. You can?t still have discs and then expect everyone to embrace digital. And, fundamentally, if you take something away that a consumer has been used to without some seriously smooth handling they?re naturally going to get upset.
I love community. I always have, going back to the Unreal/UT days. (Remember Ownage?) I used to love hanging out in the UT chatrooms late at night. My interest did wane a bit in the Gears days as I was frustrated with our mistakes that were made in that era and the negativity that came out of it. But now I see the positive aspects of places like Reddit and GAF (not the negative) and I recognize that community is the backbone of any entertainment experience in 2013 and beyond.
What I hate is the knee jerk dog-pile mob mentality that hit. I realized that not all Internet Memes are truthful or make full sense when I saw this one.
Ha ha, **** the airlines, right? I mean how obvious is this. The plane can carry a ****ING SPACE SHUTTLE and the mean anti-consumer airline wants to bill me on luggage fees?
Anyone who actually stops and thinks about this situation would realize that it?s about fuel costs. With Americans weighing more than ever and with fuel costs skyrocketing the airlines were forced to charge fees on overweight luggage so when you?re transporting your dumbells for vacation on muscle beach the cost is passed onto you. This is a business decision, albeit one that wasn?t handled the smoothly when it came to messaging, but my gut is telling me that running an airline is probably as hard as running a game development studio. Richard Branson, the ninja entrepreneur responsible for Virgin Airlines is famous for saying:
?If you want to be a Millionaire, start with a billion dollars and launch a new airline.?
Now, the other day I tweeted ?I mean, I want developers to get money on every copy of their game over Gamestop **** me right??
There?s a story behind this. For years Gamestop was a good partner for retail and console games. And then they started looking at their numbers. (And don?t believe what they say about what % of their profit is new to used, believe how they ACT at every single store. Basic life lesson there folks.) And they realized that ****, we keep all of the money from giving someone five bucks on a game that they paid $60 for and we can then go and undercut NEW by reselling the used copy for $55 or so.
Profit. I?d then wager that an executive order came down to rewire every manager to push used whenever possible. And that?s part of the problem. They claim to developers and publishers to want to come to the store for new but when you?re there what is the staff taught to preach? Buy it used!
I?ve said it before, when I was younger and had $42 to my name I traded games all the time and would have bought the **** out of used. Just because I?m successful now doesn?t mean I?ll ever forget that feeling of not knowing how I was going to pay my bills or how wonderful Ramen tasted.
A few years ago Microsoft asked me to go to the Gamestop Manager?s show in Las Vegas. I was knee deep in development of Gears 3 and had already had a ton of press related travel, plus, I ****ing hate Las Vegas. (You want to see anti consumer, hoo boy.) But my Microsoft marketing guy told me it would go a long way. He reminded me that it?s a big fun event for the managers who would love to press the flesh. So I flew out there, came on stage, shot a T-shirt gun at the crowd (so fun) met the managers, and did my best to not remind myself that I was in a city that I really don?t like.
Next up was the big exciting midnight launch for Gears 3. Exciting stuff; Big Sean played the event in NYC, the fans were stoked (sent over a few dozen pizzas to the fans in line as a goodwill and fun PR stunt!) and I got to show my future in-laws how amazing this business can be. Cut to flying home and people start sending me pictures of the extremely well put together finely printed leaflets at the Gears 3 launch that said ?Trade in this game by November 6th and get more than you normally would on your trade in!?
Mother****er. We had done a lot of work to keep the disc in tray, but those retail practices are deliberately set up to create a revolving door of game trade in. Folks say ?Yeah, but Gamestop helps out a lot of games by pushing them!? to which I quote Chris Rock ?Yeah, they?re like the uncle who paid for your college?but molested you.?
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