A simple idea. « VG247 Forum

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A simple idea.

(8 posts)

Started 5 months ago by OlderGamer
Latest reply from OlderGamer

OlderGamer
Moderator

PSN+ is brillant.

But it seems like it could and maybe even should be just the tip of the iceburg, seems like the other guys are missing an opertunity for cash flow on stuff that doesn't sell anymore. Stuff that might move dlc if suddenly a lot of consumers bought a cheap copies. Disclaimer: yes I know PSN+ offers new titles too.

What I think would work is to have a system in place where once a game reaches two or three years old it becomes part of a PSN+ style subscription(20usd/month) and allows the older games to be downloaded, even if only for a limited time, while being roatated on near monthly bases.

Second hand game sales hurt the industry, I don't how gamers or Game stores(I mean Hello??) try and spin second hand games sales. They are bad, second hand sales are M'kay(sorry love South Park :) ) However if said games were bundled together say 20 games in a month on a services such as I described, would that help combat that problem? I think it would and because a volume of players would be getting the games a slight discount could also be given to DLC. And I think that the sales in DLC would help offset the discount to the game.

There is no denying it, a lot of gamers feel that most console games are simply not worth the 60usd price tag, often with another 30usd to 60usd in DLC. I think something has to give. Sales are down, have been down, and I believe it is the extreme high cost of games vs the economy. Instead of buying 30 games a year now maybe said gamer buys 5 games. I know the amount of console retail store bought games has sharply droped. Now I prefer to buy on Steam and even PSN/XBLa&i/eShop/mobile.

I know the console market doesn't revolve around consumer value. It is driven by being able to continualy create new revenue streams. Stream dries up, move to the next one. Yearly releases and their DLC is a big part of that.

But I think Sony has proven there is a large market for subscription based services. It isn't much different then renting. Maybe such a service can provide a "buy it now" option for 10usdish on titles that are on their service. So gamers that like a certian game can continue to play it even after the month is up. Yes I know PSN+ lets you keep the game indefenetly, I was a PSN+ member. But I think that model needs tweaking. If a gamer pays 10usd digitaly for a three year old title, that is prolly more money that can be made from the game then if Gamestop sells the same game for 30usd, used(where the pubs/platform holder sees nothing).

I am not claiming it is perfect, but I think a plan along those lines makes a lot of sense. I would use a service like that. Anyone have any ideas on how to make such a service better(other then being "free), becase it has to make sense for both the consumer AND the pubs/platform holders.

Posted 5 months ago #
DrDamn
Member

PS+ is fantastic value as it is. NextGen I think we will see MS offering something similar as part of a subs model. The problem they will both have is an offering they can make money because current PS+ has set a very high benchmark for value.

I'm getting my sub at £30 a year. That's working out at 50-60p a game even before I add in the benefits of Vita ownership. Whilst I'm loving that I can't see it being so sustainable long term. I think they will want to be looking at £6-£10+ a month sub and incorporate some other features into that. Maybe joining up with NetFlix/LoveFilm and offering that access too? Or access to a more extensive back catalog - via emulation or Gaikai. Obviously a hardware subsidy would be helpful too.

Posted 5 months ago #
Anonymous
Unregistered

So basically you wished other services like XBOX LIVE and STEAM would do something like this and that SONY are geniuses to have create the perfect balance for consumer happiness and great value while generating money for their online service......

...AHAHAHAHAHAHA! Never in a million years would I see the day OlderGamer (of all people) admit PSN+ (SONY) is "brilliant" :D Today is 12/21/12 the end of the world is here LMAO! Well O.G. I'm glad you realize the brilliance of SONY. They are quite a magnificent company (gaming wise). And you're right PSN+ is just the tip of the iceberg and when PS4 launches it will be even better.

I don't think XBOX LIVE will have something similar to PSN+ because they don't want to be considered copy cats and if they did copy it would show that LIVE is inferior to PSN and you know where that would lead to. N4G would become the 4th of July!

Not to be on any fanboy crap I see what you're talking about above. I know you would like this type of service on many other platforms of your choice but I don't think it will happen and to be frank I'm glad SONY did it first before anyone else because it gives the PS3 the much needed respect as a game console it deserves. Its amazing how far SONY has taken the PlayStation 3 and PSN from what it was in 2006 to what it has become in 2012. One thing everyone can agree on who post in this thread is that PSN+ is brilliant though ;)

Posted 5 months ago #
DSB
Member

I think there should be a term called "Too smart for corporate". Right, using legacy games to pad your catalogue and add value to your service would make it more attractive, and would make people spend more time with it.

That's exactly why it won't be done.

It adds longterm value instead of immediate value. You can't attach a dollar amount to every game, so that must mean it's worthless right? This is how a corporate retard thinks. It's like babies playing peekaboo. The moment your face disappears, it ceases to exist in their world.

Reference EA on sales "It devalues our properties to sell them for cheap. As long as we stay expensive we win".

Corporations are fundamentally blind and stupid, because the leadership primarily consists of people who are very far from the average consumer. What's logical and good to the consumer doesn't resonate with them.

A truly radical new business model comes along maybe once every 10 years. That's about as long as it takes to find a corporate leader that isn't retarded.

Posted 5 months ago #
Dragon246
Member

I don't know about this. Plus is a subscription service, that will not change, and I hope it doesn't because it forces sony to continue to provide good games otherwise people will stop paying.
Also I don't think plus is a easy service to copy. Simple reason- NO one has done it for years now. I frankly expected steam to come up with something like this, but the fact that they didn't proves that its not something easy to copy.
Next year will be very important in many ways. Subscriptions are the future, that's why it will be a interesting battle between psn,xbl and steam(if they start a similar service). Ninty days may well be over if they don't embrace this change fast.

@theevilaires
Sony has really done a magnificent job this gen to bounce back. They provide the best value to gamers and threat their premium customers excellently. MS, being apple envy as they are, would never even think of "free" things.
Plus has really set the bar really high. Also I strongly believe that plus will enjoy the strongest retention rate out of all subs as people already have 10s to 100s of games attached to their account.

Posted 5 months ago #
viralshag
Member

Firstly I think MS proved the market for a subscription based service truly exists on the consoles as their entire online service requires a sub and has been hugely successful for them.

Secondly, I don't really see how selling an old game for a large reduction in price, a long time after completion, would actually be that beneficial to a company. They might make some money from it but 1-3 years after release I'm not sure how much that would solve the "problem" of pre-owned games.

Posted 5 months ago #
Deacon
Member

Yeah, I'm not convinced that it would have a huge affect on the second-hand market. Maybe over time, if other companies adopted a similar kind of service.

People here have bet their name that Sony will charge for online next gen, and if they offer no 'free' service like basic PSN now, then at least subscribers should in theory ALL be part of PS+ and the added value it offers. I don't see them not carrying the service through to the PS4.

Posted 5 months ago #
OlderGamer
Moderator

I promise I will get back to this thread, but I need to run. Interesting thoughts.

For what it is worth I think the future of games is going to be something more akin to a service where you subscribe to a company and then get to play their games. Think Cable TV. Subscribe to HBO, watch their sutff. Subscribe to Activision, play CoD, Skylanders, etc. You also pay the cable company for basic acsess, much the way you will pay a platform holder for basic service from PSN/XBL/Nintendo Network/Apple/Steam/whatever.

As for admiting PSN+ is awesome, TEA, I have been called a fanboy by pretty much all of the dedicated platform fans. I only recently let go of my own PSN+ membership. Due mostly because I am shifting to WiiU and of course PC. I had to redo my Gold Family plan because it was a xmass present to my two sons(one in the USAF) and he uses it exclusivity. You should ask my wife how much I was sputtering and swearing at the thing(xb360) last nite. 100usd for freaken nothing. Pisses me off. I don't even like to play consoles online much anymore.

You might also find it interesting, Tea, that I have sold three PS3s(by recomendation this holiday season). I get asked all of the time by family, because they know I game. But I said PS3 with PSN+ = way to go. I sold my thrird one last weekend. One was for a teenage boy(bought by his dad) and the other two will be family gifts on xmass.

I also agree tho, that PSN+ as it currently is will have trouble maintaning itself long term. There is such a thing as too much value. It has to make money too. Maybe it does, I don't know about the financial stuff or inside info.

Posted 5 months ago #

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