While the announcement of the PSP Go, with its notable lack of a UMD slot, might have rung great big alarm bells for bricks and mortar retailers, Sony claims that it wishes to involve the High Street (or more probably the Strip Mall) in the handheld's software sales.
Acknowledging that retailers can't directly sell downloadable games, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's new president and CEO, Andrew House, said, "There are other ways in which retailers can participate in the model. I'm a firm believer in things like vouchers and cards at retail – other ways in which you can turn essentially a relationship with a network into a sold good at retail. We'll explore all of those options."
He went on to point at Sony Online Entertainment, saying "that has for years pursued a by and large network only (game sales) model, (but it also) does an enormous business in network access cards available at retail." No figures are made available for how big that business is.
House still reckons that there's room for the PSP-3000, however. "The decision to push this alongside PSP 3000 is absolutely the right one because there's still a very large, untapped market there for a traditional, package media based portable gaming", he said.
House also uttered some words that don't offer much hope for a PSP-3000 price cut alongside Go's launch. "I think we're comfortable with where the prices are sitting right now. There's still a lot of growth in the market that we can see, just based on the existing pricing model".
Source: GI.biz
Acknowledging that retailers can't directly sell downloadable games, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's new president and CEO, Andrew House, said, "There are other ways in which retailers can participate in the model. I'm a firm believer in things like vouchers and cards at retail – other ways in which you can turn essentially a relationship with a network into a sold good at retail. We'll explore all of those options."
He went on to point at Sony Online Entertainment, saying "that has for years pursued a by and large network only (game sales) model, (but it also) does an enormous business in network access cards available at retail." No figures are made available for how big that business is.
House still reckons that there's room for the PSP-3000, however. "The decision to push this alongside PSP 3000 is absolutely the right one because there's still a very large, untapped market there for a traditional, package media based portable gaming", he said.
House also uttered some words that don't offer much hope for a PSP-3000 price cut alongside Go's launch. "I think we're comfortable with where the prices are sitting right now. There's still a lot of growth in the market that we can see, just based on the existing pricing model".
Source: GI.biz
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Comments
deleted 9 Jun 2009 11:09
1/5
I have a freind who owns indie stores and doing quite well i think he has 6 stores now, so a little less indie, but his business is based vastly upon pre-owned titles, i see this as the first nail in the coffin of such indies that remain, sure maybe the Likes of GAME and Gamestation can ride the voucher and Giftcard route, but smaller businesses are going to lose out big time in this the start of Digital Delivery
DoctorDee 9 Jun 2009 14:51
2/5
@haritori This is a big problem for retailers large and small. It's not just, independents that will be hurt by digital downloads - chains like GameStation/Game and CEX rely greatly on pre-owned sales. And they are going to go. Sure, the platform holders can try and keep retail on-side for new game sales with cards and vouchers - but only for so long. The reality is digital download is death for retail, and death for "ownership" of content. Users "rent" content from publishers under the terms of a licence. If they wish, they will be able to implement subscription based systems, whereby if you stop paying and you lose the right to use the content. And without any real competition, the free market will go too, and they will be able to price however they like.
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PSPNo 9 Jun 2009 15:10
3/5
All exciting on the PSP Go front, I mean cheaper games for consumers is fantastic....
:) 9 Jun 2009 16:10
4/5
Iphone, I touch?
Joji 9 Jun 2009 18:45
5/5
I can't give up my UMD PSP games, especially my imports. PSP Go is growing on me, but that price is still far too steep.
So like how about a PSP 3000 price cut, Sony?
I agree with Doc Dee. I've always feared this DLC future, because while they say its to stop second hand sales, its also going to be taking away freedom from gamers. Frankly, prices will be kept high. See those discounted 360 games you saw today, those will end and we'll all be forced to pay top dollar, just like back in the cartridge days. I remember those days well, and I purchased a lot less games back then, and missed some gems too.
Co-existence of formats is the key. A DLC only future will crumble if we want more control and physical stuff.
So like how about a PSP 3000 price cut, Sony?
I agree with Doc Dee. I've always feared this DLC future, because while they say its to stop second hand sales, its also going to be taking away freedom from gamers. Frankly, prices will be kept high. See those discounted 360 games you saw today, those will end and we'll all be forced to pay top dollar, just like back in the cartridge days. I remember those days well, and I purchased a lot less games back then, and missed some gems too.
Co-existence of formats is the key. A DLC only future will crumble if we want more control and physical stuff.