While consumers are less than thrilled with EA's "Online Pass" plans, GameStop seems almost giddy about the prospect. During its quarterly investor conference call, the country's biggest games retailer said that it has not seen an impact from EA's "pay-wall," or "Project $10" initiatives.
The company also said that initiatives like "Project $10" can serve as a way to educate consumers on the existence of DLC that they might not know about. He also added that most used game buyers don't play online, which is absolute rubbish (do you really think people that play Madden don't play online?). Here's some more from GameStop CEO Dan DeMatteo:
"There have been some questions concerning first user only content and the effect on our used business," said DeMatteo. "We have not seen an impact thus far and as a matter of fact, we will turn this into a positive with our ability to sell DLC through our investments made in technology to market and sell this content in our stores."
GameStop added that it is "looking forward to the launch of EA's Online Pass," - which will charge used game buyers $10 for access to play sports games online - and that second hand game consumers are not "regular online players."
As GameStop says, "power to the players." Do you feel the power now?
Source: GI.biz
Comments
Re: GameStop 'Looking Forward to Online Pass'
He also added that most used game buyers don't play online
Absolute bull***. I am a regular buyer of used games and me and my brother usually play online at least once a day (barring single-player games). I want to know where they're getting their statistics from, even though I except the answer to be their own asses.
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Breathing Sucks: Not evil, not misunderstood, just angry
Re: GameStop 'Looking Forward to Online Pass'
i know i'm late to the party (just found my user/pw now), but i ran a story on this a couple of weeks back (here). GameStop is blustering. in reality, screwed. this is the beginning of the end for used game sales - specfically on used sports games for starters, because those things have little resale value after a few months already, and if GameStop has to lower the pre-played price by $10 so the buyer will pony up another $10 before taking it home, then they're going to lower the trade in value (to what, $1?) rather than lower the margins, which will dissuade trade-ins in the first place, no?
GamePolitics more recent "Indie Game Store Owner Anti-Online Pass" story offers the same idear.
after everyone settles in to the $10 model on sports games, it's only a matter of time before $10 "activation pass" becomes the norm. then the $30 pass, with new games costing, what, $30 new, no reason to trade in because you're just going to buy a new pass for it next year, which includes roster updates, tweaks, etc. like an expansion pack for consoles, or like MMO subscription revenues but with annual fees as a "pass" (as opposed to monthly feed a la mmo), and poof, GameStop has to go back to being a retailer, not a pawn shop.
my two cents.
Shaun Conlin, Editor, Evergeek Media Inc. www.evergeekmedia.com | Live at www.evergeek.com
Re: GameStop 'Looking Forward to Online Pass'
I'm not into sports games so I don't have to worry about it. :)
"It's better to be hated for who you are, then be loved for who you are not." - Montgomery Gentry
Re: GameStop 'Looking Forward to Online Pass'
Look to ebay to fill the need of cheap online passes, they have legit keys for tons of stuff.
I have a dream, break the chains of copy right oppression! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/2010/05/21/cigital-disobedience/
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Let's renegotiate them.
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http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/
Re: GameStop 'Looking Forward to Online Pass'
I love how before the system even goes into effect and we see how it effects the pricing structure your solution is to cheat it as much as humanly possible.
Re: GameStop 'Looking Forward to Online Pass'
this means every game you buy is (instantly day one brand new) worth $10 less the moment you buy it youll never be able to sell/trade it as a full game despite buying it new. game stop gets to pay you less for your games.
Re: GameStop 'Looking Forward to Online Pass'
I think the whole extra codes thing may actually help expand XBL Marketplace awareness. It is really surprising how many people don't know about Xbox Live Aracade and all the other marketplace items that are on the dashboard. A lot of people never use the dashboard at all, and I'm sure the percentage of people aware of the online marketplace is significantly lower for people that primarily buy used games.
They are a hell of a lot less likely to play online multiplayer getting the game used.
Pwnage of Empires
Re: GameStop 'Looking Forward to Online Pass'
They know they can get people to buy ms points for the these $10 dlc when they get use games because they don't get the free dlc. Thats why Gamestop is excited for this.
http://www.magicinkgaming.com/
Re: GameStop 'Looking Forward to Online Pass'
They will also probably lower their used game prices to keep the used games being more valuable to price conscious consumers. This whole thing will probably end up with a net difference of zip to the customer, slight profit loss to retailors and a profit boost to developers and publishers.
Re: GameStop 'Looking Forward to Online Pass'
He also added that most used game buyers don't play online, which is absolute rubbish (do you really think people that play Madden don't play online?).
Am I missing some obscure American connection between 'play Madden' and 'buy used games' here, that makes this sentence make sense?
Re: GameStop 'Looking Forward to Online Pass'
Project $10 has most recently been announced for Madden NFL. People who buy a used copy will have to pay EA $10 to play online while those who buy it new get a free one time use code.
E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
Re: GameStop 'Looking Forward to Online Pass'
I've read through that whole "copyright infringement is stealing" discussion you and primarily Andrew E. engaged in from yesterday's story, and neither of you come off as very professional or nuanced. For shame.
Re: GameStop 'Looking Forward to Online Pass'
I feel the power leaving me if that's what it means now.