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Manchu wrote:I also hate that they sell open games as new. They did this to me when I went to get 40k: Squad Command. I did not go back for a year or so.

You actually bought Squad Command? It was crap! I played it for five minutes at my friend's house, and decided it wasn't worth it.

And I think Gamestop opens the games and keeps the discs behind the counter as some sort of anti-theft security.

Then again, they could just print out an image of the cover and put it on a unused case and keep the new game behind the counter. I personally don't care about whether it's opened or sealed, except when the game requires and online code.

Manchu wrote:Irony meter exploded.

You know, Gamestop will buy that back and give you store credit towards a new one.

But only on Saturday.
From 9am to 3pm.
If the sun hits the register, just right.

Chowderhead wrote:And I think Gamestop opens the games and keeps the discs behind the counter as some sort of anti-theft security.

Then again, they could just print out an image of the cover and put it on a unused case and keep the new game behind the counter. I personally don't care about whether it's opened or sealed, except when the game requires and online code.

That's the claim, but they do it so that it's not readily apparent which games are "used" or "new".

It is also worth mentioning--again--that one thing they do as well is remove the "Origins" little voucher inside of EA's games.

Kanluwen wrote:It is also worth mentioning--again--that one thing they do as well is remove the "Origins" little voucher inside of EA's games.

Only EA cares about that, TBH.

I think we're all fine without a little voucher to a online purchasing network that's doomed to failure.

Kanluwen wrote:You know, Gamestop will buy that back and give you store credit towards a new one.

Sorry, Kan. Meter's broken. Didn't catch that comment.

Chowderhead wrote:I think we're all fine without a little voucher to a online purchasing network that's doomed to failure.

This statement receives the Hat of Approval

Chowderhead wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:It is also worth mentioning--again--that one thing they do as well is remove the "Origins" little voucher inside of EA's games.

Only EA cares about that, TBH.

I think we're all fine without a little voucher to a online purchasing network that's doomed to failure.

Is it really doomed to failure though? You got a crystal ball?

Gamestop was doing it not because "oh it's just crap in the box", but because they're in the process of creating their own version of Origins.

Kanluwen wrote:Gamestop was doing it not because "oh it's just crap in the box", but because they're in the process of creating their own version of Origins.

My explanation for why Origin will fail:

Yeah PC gamers really hate Origin. You can already break PC gamers down into "I hate steam" and "I love steam." The folk who hate steam are going to hate Origin just as much, and the people who love Steam are already really invested into the platform. So, EA pulls their big titles from the Steam store to try and force PC gamers to use Origin (thus pissing more of them off) and at this point Origin is surviving off the momentum of EA's titles which is a dubious way to survive long term. Add in the privacy controversy and the fact that EA is the spawn of Satan and you don't really have a formula to succeed.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/437479.page#4062703

Then again, EA is probably the only publisher with a chance in hell of pulling this off. Where else are people going to get their PC copies of Mass Effect, Battlefield, etc. A lot of stores don't even stock PC games anymore. Game Stop only keeps a game on shelf for a month or so.

Kanluwen wrote:

Chowderhead wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:It is also worth mentioning--again--that one thing they do as well is remove the "Origins" little voucher inside of EA's games.

Only EA cares about that, TBH.

I think we're all fine without a little voucher to a online purchasing network that's doomed to failure.

Is it really doomed to failure though? You got a crystal ball?

Gamestop was doing it not because "oh it's just crap in the box", but because they're in the process of creating their own version of Origins.

So what?

It's called business. It's not a Dog-Cuddle-Dog world, Kan.

LordofHats wrote:Then again, EA is probably the only publisher with a chance in hell of pulling this off. Where else are people going to get their PC copies of Mass Effect, Battlefield, etc. A lot of stores don't even stock PC games anymore.

Amazon. Or anywhere else they can get physical copies of games.

Anyone else remember when EA was going to have their own online service (for Playstation to compete with XBox Live!)? How'd that experiment in exclusive services work out?

Well to be honest I just don't like the idea of giving EA $60 for their own game (and frankly we're reaching the apex where a video game is going to start costing us $70). They complain about Game Stop's profit margin and I'm just glancing over at the Origin store thinking how much I hate them.

EA was going to have a kind of "exclusive" deal with PSN like Activision has with XBL. It means that content gets released there--first--and for an amount of time which is "exclusive" to the console/platform.

BF3 had that just happen, with Tuesday being a patch day for PS3's version of BF3 which fixed a HUGE bunch of content. They also got Back to Karkand something like a week before anyone else did. PC just got the patch yesterday, and 360 is "TBA".

Oh boo hoo. I'm so sad for the people who didn't get their DLC a week early.

At least Activision makes it about a goddamn month, not seven days.

Kanluwen wrote:EA was going to have a kind of "exclusive" deal with PSN like Activision has with XBL. It means that content gets released there--first--and for an amount of time which is "exclusive" to the console/platform.

That's actually a problem with XBL. Its not just Activision they try to weasel into all the contracts that content be XBL exclusive for 3 months. You can probably guess I'm not a fan of such practices.

LordofHats wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:EA was going to have a kind of "exclusive" deal with PSN like Activision has with XBL. It means that content gets released there--first--and for an amount of time which is "exclusive" to the console/platform.

That's actually a problem with XBL. Its not just Activision they try to weasel into all the contracts that content be XBL exclusive for 3 months. You can probably guess I'm not a fan of such practices.

Guessing you have a PS3?

LordofHats wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:EA was going to have a kind of "exclusive" deal with PSN like Activision has with XBL. It means that content gets released there--first--and for an amount of time which is "exclusive" to the console/platform.

That's actually a problem with XBL. Its not just Activision they try to weasel into all the contracts that content be XBL exclusive for 3 months. You can probably guess I'm not a fan of such practices.

Where have you heard that?

The only thing I've ever heard about "3 months" is that they require content be submitted to them for testing "3 months in advance".

That said...I don't mind the XBL/PSN exclusivity thing. For XBL, it justifies the subscription fee a bit more--alongside of things like Netflix, etc.

EA was kinda stupid in signing an exclusivity agreement with PSN though.

Chowderhead wrote:Guessing you have a PS3?

No. I just hate watching game makers play their little tug of war games while screwing us. Piracy, used games, dlc, exclusivity. None of it is really done to provide a quality product its done to hose competitors so we get to reap the benefits, or lack there of. EDIT: I hate sony, but as most of you have guessed I am a very hate filled Hat Duke

Kanluwen wrote:Where have you heard that?

Its fairly well know. XBL usually doesn't get it, but they are successful in often winning first release rights among other things.

That said...I don't mind the XBL/PSN exclusivity thing. For XBL, it justifies the subscription fee a bit more--alongside of things like Netflix, etc.

Ironically its been reported that the #1 use of Xbox's on XBL last year was streaming Netflix. More people watched TV on their console than played games

Makes a strange kind of sense though, the Xbox has kind of become the "family console" with the introduction of Kinect and a lot more family friendly titles.

Kanluwen wrote:Makes a strange kind of sense though, the Xbox has kind of become the "family console" with the introduction of Kinect and a lot more family friendly titles.

Its also, conveniently, cheaper than cable in come cases. Netflix has been building up a mighty strong line up of shows the past year too. I'm actually curious if they'll ever delve into making their own.

Chowderhead wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:It is also worth mentioning--again--that one thing they do as well is remove the "Origins" little voucher inside of EA's games.

Only EA cares about that, TBH.

I think we're all fine without a little voucher to a online purchasing network that's doomed to failure.

Not really, if you've got a voucher that means that you can install a game on a machine if the original breaks, or you have to re-install it, I'd say that thats fairly useful.

Goliath wrote:

Chowderhead wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:It is also worth mentioning--again--that one thing they do as well is remove the "Origins" little voucher inside of EA's games.

Only EA cares about that, TBH.

I think we're all fine without a little voucher to a online purchasing network that's doomed to failure.

Not really, if you've got a voucher that means that you can install a game on a machine if the original breaks, or you have to re-install it, I'd say that thats fairly useful.

I have a Mac. That voucher is fething useless. A lot of other people have Macs as well.

What I'm saying is you need to fill a certain criteria to use the code. And those that do fill it are in the minority. And I'm in the majority. So I don't care.

/1%er

Chowderhead wrote:

Goliath wrote:

Chowderhead wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:It is also worth mentioning--again--that one thing they do as well is remove the "Origins" little voucher inside of EA's games.

Only EA cares about that, TBH.

I think we're all fine without a little voucher to a online purchasing network that's doomed to failure.

Not really, if you've got a voucher that means that you can install a game on a machine if the original breaks, or you have to re-install it, I'd say that thats fairly useful.

I have a Mac. That voucher is fething useless. A lot of other people have Macs as well.

What I'm saying is you need to fill a certain criteria to use the code. And those that do fill it are in the minority. And I'm in the majority. So I don't care.

/1%er

Wait, You're saying that you're in the majority, but also in the 1%?

Just because the voucher doesn't matter to you, doesn't mean that it doesn't matter to those who can use it.

A lot of people have Macs; but more have "traditional" PCs which aren't silly.

Goliath wrote:Wait, You're saying that you're in the majority, but also in the 1%?

Occupy wall street joke. Don't worry.

Ah Macs.

"I saved up to buy a mac. Then bought an equivalent PC and a car instead."

Chowderhead wrote:
Occupy wall street joke.

No need to be redundant.