I was just wondering what all of you guys thought about the retail industry's hold on the development and publishing industries as a whole. I was thinking about this today as I checked the PSStore repeatedly for Patapon 2, which I intend to purchase digitally (not through GameStop). The release date is May 5th. Where is the game? Ask GameStop.
One of the reasons Digital Distribution hasn't been embraced as heavily by the publishing industry (who would have the ability to much more directly control their own profits) is because retailers are still 94% to 99% of the games market, depending on who you ask. The fear that the idea of them being a dying link instills in these man-child companies makes them whine like 3 year olds when DD shows its face in areas that would normally be entirely retail territory. In the market of PC gaming they don't care that much because there's nothing they can do to stop it, and besides, nobody buys PC games from stores anymore. Anyway.
The most annoying thing about Retail hampering DD comes from release dates and pricing. They have the industry by the balls in this area, and they will for a few more years. Sony and other online services (excluding Valve, who has incredible balls) are afraid to release games on their fucking *street dates* and give price cuts of even $5, which is what you would get the game used for in a retail store anyway. Granted I would gladly pay more than $20 for Patapon, but the fact that it's not available on its release date simply to stroke the ego (funny thing about GameStop's ego... it's located on its cock) of a company/industry that, more than any other, could afford to have some pressure placed on it to reform its outdated and slowly dying methods of ripping off consumers rubs me the wrong way (not on my cock).
I have no idea what I just wrote, because I can hardly keep my eyes open, so I think I'll post it against my better judgement and go to sleep.
Yeah.
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