220°

Army Of Two Producer: Retailers Hate Sony

Army Of Two: The 40th Day Producer, Matte Turner, in a recent interview with PLAY magazine, reckons that retailers must "hate them", after the recent release of its download-only PSPgo.

Turner also reckons the whole "download only thing is very cool", pointing to the fact that the end of discs is potentially far closer than we think, he goes on "It's all going that way and Sony is going that way early. I'm sure [retailers aren't] very impressed, but I think it's cool and we'll see how it does".

Read Full Story >>

nowgamer.com

jimmins - contributor
Published: 78 days 22 hours ago | News | PlayStation 3 | Xbox 360 | Sony PSP

Save | Email | Info | Report | Add Alt Source

Comment Settings

Showing: 1 - 47 of 47 Comments

N4G king - 78 days 22 hours ago

Track

Ignore

1 -

i cant see this guy's point

HEEEEELLLLLLOOOOOOO
the same games (new) are going out in UMD's too
and the old PSP's are still on sale

and PSPgo is not a replacement
its a new choice

Agree(5) | Disagree(6) |

Report | Reply

pphoenix - 78 days 21 hours ago

Track

Ignore

1.1 - Testing Customers Reaction

It's sony testing how stupid customers are & if they are ready to give up their right of ownership in favor of sony's preferred model of the end of the second hand market.

Bend over for sony & their anti consumer PSP Go as you are now:

NOT allowed to trade your games,

NOT allowed to lend your games,

NOT allowed to sell your games,

NOT even allowed to give your games away for free.

Not allowed to even give you games away when you sell your PSP Go as it is tied to your PSN account, when you sell your PSP Go you are ordered by sony to format the system or face legal proceedings.

Of course sony could be pro-consumer by allowing us all to trade, lend, give our games away for free & even sell them via a FREE transfer programme, but sony would rather sell everyone a new copy from their store that holds the monopoly over pricing.

the sony bloggers will argue that you still have a choice with the psp 3000, but this is only temporary, sony will no doubt switch to digital "stab us in the ***" distribution asap.

the other argument is steam, sorry sony the "they were anti consumer first" is not an excuse.

Agree(17) | Disagree(22) |

Report

Persistantthug - 78 days 20 hours ago

Track

Ignore

1.2 - @1.1, pphoenix.....Even though the tone of your post is clearly hostile....

I do think you have a point.

Digital only copies of games suck. The only game I have that's a DL'd copy is of FAT PRINCESS.

I hate the idea that I can't trade or sell MY own copy to someone on Craigslist or something. It's mine and I want to do with it what I want and it is true, Sony has always wanted this type of control over their products.

That said, Sony makes and has very good products.

Agree(8) | Disagree(6) |

Report

Motion - 78 days 20 hours ago

Track

Ignore

1.3 - I see your points

But the days of "owning" a piece of software are pretty much over. All consumers do now is purchase the rights to use it, and digital distribution basically keeping anyone but the original seller from being able to sell those rights. I know, semantics, but that's the way software companies look at it...just read any EULA's.

Agree(0) | Disagree(5) |

Report

Rhythmattic - 78 days 20 hours ago

Track

Ignore

1.4 -

You all above are right.

Lets put it in context, Sony or No Sony, MS, Google, the entire computing world is looking at Digital Downloads....

It wont happen overnight, but it will happen.

Just stand back and think for a moment, Cloud computing, its where it ends....

They will be no app on your local Machine, but run via the interweb.

Who the hell wants their personal documents stored on a server (and noobs are all ready doing this) while we all will eventually be paying for the use of an app per hour?

I dont like it.

Damn, i'm blabbing on, however, maybe you see my concern.

OT

Look at iPhone. Retailers sell the product, then users buy apps from the online iTunes store.... Who's complaining ?

Come to think of it, maybe its because EB Games cant trade a new game in and make a 250% mark up on it.

Agree(2) | Disagree(2) |

Report

MNicholas - 78 days 20 hours ago

Track

Ignore

1.5 - He's right

and, as a software developer, he likes sticking it to the retailers.

Agree(2) | Disagree(0) |

Report

SupaPlaya - 78 days 20 hours ago

Track

Ignore

1.6 - While this hate is blown out of proportion,

they don't hate the PSP Go. They just hate someone is starting the trend of digital downloads on something they previously profit off of.

IPODs and IPhone on the other hand didn't have any software or disk based content that they sold prior to their introduction. They do sell they ITunes store card which the stores profit off of I would assume. No retail store claims they hate the IPhone/IPods.

That's a similar reason why people are upset at the Activison CEO for increasing the game price in one region. Because he is starting a trend we don't like.

pphoenix
---------
Can you share XBLA games on a 360?
Can you share a song legally on an IPOD?
Can you share a game or an app you downloaded off of the apple app store?
Can you sell your song on your IPOD?

Yes this is a trend that Sony is starting DD with their PSP but as stated they are not the first to do it. That's like saying screw music download now you can't share or sell your CDs! This is a trend/progression as the Internet speed increases. There are advantage in DD vs media too. For example:

No more lost or scratched disk problems
Lower manufacturing cost/distribution cost COULD mean lower game cost

"but this is only temporary, sony will no doubt switch to digital "stab us in the ***" distribution asap."

As long as the PSP3000 is still available I don't think your argument is valid. May be your post has more weight on the day Sony makes the PSP GO the only model available. As long as disk based media is still an option, people have the choice. If they are totally taking that away, then I would agree with you.

Agree(9) | Disagree(3) |

Report

Foliage - 78 days 19 hours ago

Track

Ignore

1.7 -

If it fails, everyone will jump all over Sony. If it succeeds, everyone will jump all over Sony, Microsoft will ripoff the idea and get the credit for the "innovation". Sony can't win either way.

Agree(7) | Disagree(4) |

Report

likedamaster - 78 days 19 hours ago

Track

Ignore

1.8 -

I'm all for digital download, just not for overpriced glorified iPods.

Agree(2) | Disagree(4) |

Report

Foliage - 78 days 19 hours ago

Track

Ignore

1.9 -

@ SupaPlaya

I see you managed to forget PSN, Sony Connect, etc.

Granted, Sony weren't the first to introduce Digital Downloads, but it would be foolish to think that the PSP Go was their first attempt.

Also, the cable company has been doing this for quite some time with Pay Per View. Which is sort of where this all began.

Agree(2) | Disagree(0) |

Report

SupaPlaya - 78 days 19 hours ago

Track

Ignore

1.10 - ^^

The reason I brought those up is to show Sony is not the first to try DD, and DD is not necessarily a bad thing for some people with the game sharing feature on PSN.

The only bad thing would be the lack of choice should DD be the only option in the future.

Agree(2) | Disagree(0) |

Report

BrianC6234 - 78 days 19 hours ago

Track

Ignore

1.11 -

Can't retailers just sell cards with download codes on them too? I think that would be the best way to keep them happy. I'm sure some people still don't want to use their credit card on a gaming system. Sell cards you can buy in the store. Parents can give them to their kids for Christmas or something.

Agree(1) | Disagree(0) |

Report

Foliage - 78 days 18 hours ago

Track

Ignore

1.12 -

@ SupaPlaya

That's what I figured. It's just the problem with N4G is that people tend to run off thinking almost anything is a fact. I didn't want people to see your comment and think that Microsoft started DD with XBLA or that Apple started it with itunes. They, much like Sony, didn't start it either. The market has been moving towards this direction for some time. It just seems drastic now, because customers are now starting to no longer have a choice. Iphone Apps and the PSPgo can only get content in one way, granted you could get a regular PSP.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report

ThanatosDMC - 78 days 18 hours ago

Track

Ignore

1.13 -

Eventually, small to medium sized games will go digital... by that i mean less than 10gb. I'm using PS3 games as a standard not those multiplat games either.

Cant wait for downloadable PS2 games and more classic PS1 games. Though they are releasing those remade PS2 games on bluray but they have been upgraded.

Agree(0) | Disagree(1) |

Report

infamous_27 - 78 days 14 hours ago

Track

Ignore

1.14 -

PSP 3000- PSP go

is like

disc walkmans- ipod

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report

Raz - 78 days 14 hours ago

Track

Ignore

1.15 - not another one

Another 'meh' article spiced up with a flamebait title.

We won't see the beginning of the cloud computing era until the Internet is connected, high-speed and dirt-cheap everywhere. And it isn't, yet.

Good for Sony jumping on early, but IMHO it's a little premature. All the more so because the PSP never really caught on either. I use my iTouch more often.

..iTouch? What am I saying - ok, cloud computing is here. But it's still premature, darn it!

Agree(1) | Disagree(0) |

Report

SuperM - 78 days 14 hours ago

Track

Ignore

1.16 -

People who agree with pphoenix are braindead. Every PSN game i buy i keep stored on my PS3 harddrive and i can copy over to any PSP i want. If i had 20 psp's i would only have to buy 1 game and not have to buy 20 different copies. If you dont want to keep it on your harddrive then you can still download it 5 more times.

How is that anti consumer? If i bought a game i wanted to play with my brother on UMD id have to buy 2 umds. instead i can buy 1 digital copy. Also gamers are usually cheaper on the PSN because you dont have to pay the dudes in the retail stores. That is also good for consumers.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report

f789790 - 78 days 14 hours ago

Track

Ignore

1.17 - LONG LIVE THE PHYSICAL FORMAT!

Physical is always better. :D

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report

spacetattoo82 - 78 days 8 hours ago

Track

Ignore

1.18 - THE FUTURE IS COMING.

DOWNLOADS ARE COMING. 5 YEARS TOPS..

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report

heroicjanitor - 78 days 22 hours ago

Track

Ignore

2 - Well digital distribution(for handhelds anyway) is going to take over eventually

Are they going to cry at everybody when that happens? And why aren't they b*tching at apple for giving download only games? It's not like sony is only selling psp gos, they are still selling psp 3000s

Agree(2) | Disagree(3) |

Report | Reply

Ju - 78 days 20 hours ago

Track

Ignore

2.1 -

Actually, retail sells PSN coupon cards. I don't understand what's the big deal. You can go out an buy a game coupon (and download the game from PSN with the coupon - code) or you buy an UMD. How is retail loosing here ?

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report

Darkeyes - 78 days 20 hours ago

Track

Ignore

2.2 -

@hero... The only reason there is no backlash for Apple is cause it never had any physical form of medium for it's games/apps. Even if the distributors backlashed, Apple doesn't give sh!t, since it's never going to resort to physical medium to sell it's apps/games.

This backlash is not cause of PSPgo... It's cause the retailers fear that this could ignite the so called 'Digital distribution' future rendering middle party useless and jobless....

I usually support Sony for it's consoles, but they should have given a UMD slot in the Go as well along with the choice to buy digital games..

But one thing this proves is that M$ so called dream of ditching DVDs and going entirely digital for the next Xbox is really going to be protested against..... Guess they eventually WILL have to fall on to Blu-Ray.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report

Milo Garret - 78 days 15 hours ago

Track

Ignore

2.3 - @Ju

Because they don't get the same amount of profit from selling coupons as they do from selling umd's, maybe? (I'm asking, I don't actually know)

OR, more likely: because not all pspgo-owners are 14 year old kids and have their own credit card? hence making coupons, and retailers, unnecessary...

EDIT: I don't mean Sony's behaviour is wrong though, I actually think its quite clever, they're eliminating the middle-hand, more power to Sony. Too bad for consumers though.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report

Ju - 78 days 12 hours ago

Track

Ignore

2.4 -

Retail certainly looses a portion to people directly buying from the PSN. But the coupons should make it much easier for retail. Nothing to worry about (can't break), reduces shelf space (=cheaper in on the floor), etc. So, yeah, the loose a bit there, and win a bit otho. Also, I would expect Sony to give them a somewhat higher margin on the cards (less costs compared to disks - but here I am the optimist. Its hard business, maybe not). All in all, retail has nothing to complain about. If so, I can understand second hand stores. They are hit hard.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report

McLuvn - 78 days 21 hours ago

Track

Ignore

3 - Retailers

Have no problem selling Ipods or other Mp3 players though.

Agree(2) | Disagree(0) |

Report | Reply

Persistantthug - 78 days 20 hours ago

Track

Ignore

3.1 - The next generation of gaming will still have some form of disk based media

Because the majority of the world is not set up for ultra fast broadband yet and that won't happen for some time to come.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report

Sarcasm - 78 days 20 hours ago

Track

Ignore

3.2 -

True that.

This whole PSPgo thing is so overblown it's ridiculous.

Agree(3) | Disagree(0) |

Report

jerocarson - 78 days 20 hours ago

Track

Ignore

4 -

no comment!

Agree(0) | Disagree(1) |

Report | Reply

lamerzard - 78 days 20 hours ago

Track

Ignore

5 - Um. What is this author talking about?

What's this? Secondhand games are unethical? Since when?

Have they been to a library lately? Full of games.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report | Reply

Blaster_Master - 78 days 20 hours ago

Track

Ignore

6 -

There will always be a physical copy of games. Even if it means just using flash and SD cards. All thats gonna change is the used game market. Which is great from a publishers point of view. Screw retailers, I could always go to Walmart, bestbuy, and Toys R Us instead of Gamestop for games.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report | Reply

cliffbo - 78 days 20 hours ago

Track

Ignore

7 -

yesus, so the PSPgo is the new kid to kick. can't people see that the PSPgo is not intended to replace the PSP3000, it is meant to supplement it and help spur sales and awareness of PSN

Agree(1) | Disagree(0) |

Report | Reply

Kushan - 78 days 20 hours ago

Track

Ignore

8 -

"potentially cheaper games with greater profits"

Sorry, but that hasn't and wont happen. The digital games are the same price, or more expensive, than retail games. Same for DLC.
After all, why should they bother making games cheaper when they can just fatten their profit margins a bit more?

Agree(1) | Disagree(3) |

Report | Reply

ginsunuva - 78 days 19 hours ago

Track

Ignore

9 -

According to David Cage, Sony takes pride in quality games.

I bet that's why these guys hate Sony.

Agree(1) | Disagree(2) |

Report | Reply

Deee187 - 78 days 19 hours ago

Track

Ignore

10 -

bring on all the digital crap, easier to pirate for me. this way I wont even have to buy dual layered DVDs in the future haha.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report | Reply

Lucreto - 78 days 19 hours ago

Track

Ignore

11 -

I thought Sony changed they way they sell these games. I am sure some people don't have Credit Card and Sony knows this so I read somewhere today that retailers will get a code to sell the game.

It is like Amazon selling PSN codes.

Agree(2) | Disagree(0) |

Report | Reply

KYU2130 - 78 days 19 hours ago

Track

Ignore

12 - i really find these Funny

These negative PSPGo articles are so damn funny. The majority of the content that these retailers are complaining over not getting as hard product sales in there stores was always available as download on the PS store. Sony wanted to give game creators another venue to distribute so called pocket games and increase store traffic. This would help to increase spur of the moment purchases.

The only people hating on sony over this system are those that didn't hear that this was not a replacement for the current PSP but and expansion "thats why is comes with 16gb of storage + expansion"

everyone i know that has one loves it.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report | Reply

FwanK - 78 days 19 hours ago

Track

Ignore

13 -

Digital distribution? I´ll pass

i mean... you cant replace that smell of a brand new game XD

Agree(0) | Disagree(1) |

Report | Reply

sikbeta - 78 days 19 hours ago

Track

Ignore

14 -

Step by step, Sony is introducing DD as a new format, with the Go are testing the best format, DS uses cartridges and can be hacked and so the UMD's and flash sticks

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report | Reply

Midgard228 - 78 days 18 hours ago

Track

Ignore

15 - well

dunno if u guys know but if u download a game on ps3 u can distribute it to as many people as u like, whether u make ur friends pay to come to ur house and download it or give it for free is up to u. this works for psp games easily and i have done it pretty often, with patapon, undead knights and fate/ unlimited codes.

it makes sense that they try to eleminate trades, u know how many sales they lose to trades? sales numbers wud double or triple if it wasnt for used sales which devs get no royaly for.

wat does this mean? less money for devs means less quality games, or lower quality games. trades r double edged swords, good and very bad at same time.

while i wouldnt download games i understand what sony is trying to do

Agree(0) | Disagree(1) |

Report | Reply

Briefcase Joe - 78 days 18 hours ago

Track

Ignore

16 -

If I go to the theater and spend $10 to see a movie, do I get a copy when I leave? No. So where are all the people complaining about that. If I pay $10 for a DD game, and play it for a few hours, I feel I got the same amount of enjoyment for my money, but at least I could play that game more than once, if I want. No so with a movie. I like DD for smaller games. I wouldn't pay more than $20 for a single game though. I like to have the physical copy for more expensive games.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report | Reply

Kyur4ThePain - 78 days 18 hours ago

Track

Ignore

17 - Wow

It's amazing to see how opinions have changed from the anti-Blu-Ray "DD are the futures" to the now "Sony am evil for doing DD".

Make a choice and stick with it.

Agree(2) | Disagree(0) |

Report | Reply

Bobby Kotex - 78 days 17 hours ago

Track

Ignore

18 -

From the article - "The debate over whether second hand games are ethical or not will no doubt rage on..."

What exactly do ethics have to do with business?

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report | Reply

MajestieBeast - 78 days 17 hours ago

Track

Ignore

19 -

Lets all torch valve for steam... I dont see anyone flaming them for it. But when sony introduces it they are the biggest evil in the world.
Gaming journalism sure has improved since microsoft entered the business.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report | Reply

loslonelyman - 78 days 16 hours ago

Track

Ignore

20 - Well I will never Download over Disc given the choice

I give all my old games to a local childrens hospital,so kids can game while they recover their health. Sure I get a tax write-off,but seeing them playing Little Big Planet and R2 when i volunteer makes me feel good. Gave them W@W and had to transfer my PSN and setup the three map packs on only ONE of their PS3's for them to play zombies,very irritating :-(.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report | Reply

infamous_27 - 78 days 14 hours ago

Track

Ignore

20.1 -

sick children playing Resistance 2? What has the world come to.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report

tuaamin13 - 78 days 12 hours ago

Track

Ignore

20.2 - What has the world come to?

Not all children in the hospital are under the age of 10

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report

Figboy - 78 days 12 hours ago

Track

Ignore

21 - i find it hilarious that when Microsoft

touts DD, everyone loves it: "I can download games and movies and music to my 360! yay!"

but the moment Sony does it, it's bad: "PSPGo is anti-consumer! you can't keep, give away, sell, or trade in what you download! boo!"

hypocrites.

like i've been saying since this generation began, Digital Distribution will certainly find a place, but it will NEVER replace hard copies. there are too many factors that make it becoming the standard form of shipping a product.

personally, i prefer to have a hard copy of my movies/games, etc. i like to look at my shelf and see my growing collection.

i'm not against DD, of course, and i've certainly bought my fair share of PSN and XBLA games, but when given the option, i'll ALWAYS buy the disc version.

i really wish i could burn all my PSN games onto one Blu Ray disc, to be honest.

the PSP Go was NEVER a replacement for the current UMD based PSPs. Sony even SAID THAT at E3 this year. it is simply an option for gamers that don't want to lug around their PSP and plethora of UMDs.

i don't understand a gamer's compulsive need to own EVERY iteration of a product regardless of if they actually NEED it, and then they turn around and b*tch about it.

i don't own a PSP Go, because i don't need or want one at the moment. will i ever get one? i don't know, but it's not like i'm hindered from enjoying all the new games releasing since they pretty much still ship on UMDs.

if i recall, i remember a very vocal segment of gamers complaining about how lame and worthless UMDs are, and that Sony should have axed them. now, people want to argue the format's virtue. make up your goddamned minds people!

i'm telling you, Sony can't win for trying this generation. not when ANYTHING they do is reacted to with such scorn and vitriol.

Agree(0) | Disagree(0) |

Report | Reply

Showing: 1 - 47 of 47 Comments

Add Comment (Gamer Zone)

Gamer Zone Posting Guidelines
The Gamer Zone is for members who want a more friendly and civilized discussion. This section is heavily moderated by the N4G staff, so leave your fanboyism at the door please. Members who are unable to behave in a mature and respectful manner will be temporarily or permanently restricted from posting in the Gamer Zone. Using words such as Xbots and Sony droids, or other words from the console war vocabulary, is strictly prohibited in this Zone.
Read More...

You must log in to post comments.

Username:

Password:

Remember

Join N4G

About N4G

N4G is a social game news site that covers the game industry 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
More Info... | Submit News

- Site Menu
  
  Game Index
  Help & Info
  
  RSS Feed
  Feedback
  
  Full Menu...
  Webmaster Tools

10° Gamestyle: Army of Two: The 40th Day (360) Preview 1d 17h ago \| Xbox 360 \| Com(1)	30° New Army of Two: The 40th Day Trailer 5d 12h ago \| Multi \| Com(5)
10° PlayDevil: Army Of Two: The 40th Day Preview 2d 9h ago \| Multi \| Com(0)	10° Army of Two: The 40th Day London visit Announced 7d 18h ago \| Gaming \| Com(1)
10° Army of Two: The 40th Day Map Preview: Ground Zero 3d 14h ago \| Multi \| Com(2)	40° Army of Two Create your mask now 8d 22h ago \| Multi \| Com(1)
30° Army of Two: The 40th Day Comic Book Preview #1 3d 14h ago \| Multi \| Com(3)	10° Army Of Two: The 40th Day Visits The Zoo 11d 11h ago \| Multi \| Com(0)
30° Army of Two's Salem & Rios Coming to the UK 5d 8h ago \| Multi \| Com(2)	20° Army Of Two: The 40th Day Demo Impressions [AnalogHype] 12d 13h ago \| Multi \| Com(1)