And yet it's worth bothering to block. In other words, leaving a sleeping dog to lie is more of a bother than twating it with a stick.
No, blocking protects the high-value affluent large market from competition from emerging markets, and it preserves the blocked markets (mostly) for future exploitation.
I'm not saying it's right or good. I'm saying that, from their perspective, it's smart.
Except now they've lost a sale of a console and sales of PAL Games that would come with it. By twating the previously sleeping dog with a stick, they have been bitten. And you're calling this "Smart"?
Except now they've lost a sale of a console and sales of PAL Games that would come with it. By twating the previously sleeping dog with a stick, they have been bitten. And you're calling this "Smart"?
Except now they've lost a sale of a console and sales of PAL Games that would come with it. By twating the previously sleeping dog with a stick, they have been bitten. And you're calling this "Smart"?
Future exploitation.
Read.
Read, ignored because that future exploitation never happens.
Except now they've lost a sale of a console and sales of PAL Games that would come with it. By twating the previously sleeping dog with a stick, they have been bitten.
Even if you would have bought a few thousand dollars worth of games, it's so little money to them that they won't even bother.
It's kind of like how I don't bother to pick pennies up that are lying in the street. Sure, they're free money, but the bother to pick them up, carry them around, deposit them somewhere, or clean them if they're filthy is far more than the actual value.
Except now they've lost a sale of a console and sales of PAL Games that would come with it. By twating the previously sleeping dog with a stick, they have been bitten. And you're calling this "Smart"?
Future exploitation.
Read.
Read, ignored because that future exploitation never happens.
The DS section of the stores I went to certainly weren't empty.
Oh, so Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey and Etrian Odyssey 3 got UK releases?
Except now they've lost a sale of a console and sales of PAL Games that would come with it. By twating the previously sleeping dog with a stick, they have been bitten.
Even if you would have bought a few thousand dollars worth of games, it's so little money to them that they won't even bother.
It's kind of like how I don't bother to pick pennies up that are lying in the street. Sure, they're free money, but the bother to pick them up, carry them around, deposit them somewhere, or clean them if they're filthy is far more than the actual value.
So it's worth more to be a cunt, ok, back to the crossover talk, I'm done talking about how it's ok to be a total cunt.
Except now they've lost a sale of a console and sales of PAL Games that would come with it. By twating the previously sleeping dog with a stick, they have been bitten. And you're calling this "Smart"?
Future exploitation.
Read.
Read, ignored because that future exploitation never happens.
The DS section of the stores I went to certainly weren't empty.
So it's worth more to be a cunt, ok, back to the crossover talk, I'm done talking about the politics of assholism.
It's not politics. It's simple economics. Even when our E-Commerce comes online, I doubt we'll sell to anyone who doesn't have a credit card or Google Checkout account. Sure, there are likely people who want to use something else to buy from us, and sure, they might not buy if we don't support them, but it's far more effort to get those things working than any money we'd make.
There's no malice or stupidity here: that's my only point. It's simple economics.
So it's worth more to be a cunt, ok, back to the crossover talk, I'm done talking about the politics of assholism.
It's not politics. It's simple economics. Even when our E-Commerce comes online, I doubt we'll sell to anyone who doesn't have a credit card or Google Checkout account. Sure, there are likely people who want to use something else to buy from us, and sure, they might not buy if we don't support them, but it's far more effort to get those things working than any money we'd make.
There's no malice or stupidity here: that's my only point. It's simple economics.
Apples and Oranges, I'd buy stuff from your store (and deal with any extra levy Postage and Packages would entail) and use my Google account to pay for it. I ceratinly hope that you are not going to deny me the use of your product because of some misguided idea that someone else will pick up your slack and sell it over here when I can get it straight from you.
So it's worth more to be a cunt, ok, back to the crossover talk, I'm done talking about the politics of assholism.
It's not politics. It's simple economics. Even when our E-Commerce comes online, I doubt we'll sell to anyone who doesn't have a credit card or Google Checkout account. Sure, there are likely people who want to use something else to buy from us, and sure, they might not buy if we don't support them, but it's far more effort to get those things working than any money we'd make.
There's no malice or stupidity here: that's my only point. It's simple economics.
Apples and Oranges, I'd buy stuff from your store (and deal with any extra levy Postage and Packages would entail) and use my Google account to pay for it. You're not denying the use of your product because of some misguided idea that someone else will pick up your slack and sell it over here when I can get it straight from you.
For the last god damn time, you are not a representative of an entire demographic.
For the last god damn time, you are not a representative of an entire demographic.
So the Demographic of 20-something DS owner who owns a selection of games from all three major regions doesn't count for anything. OK thanks for clearing that up, I think I'll just steal all the games I want from now on.
For the last god damn time, you are not a representative of an entire demographic.
So the Demographic of 20-something DS owner who owns a selection of games from all three major regions doesn't count for anything. OK thanks for clearing that up, I think I'll just steal all the games I want from now on.
I'm talking about the fact that you somehow believe that your actions show what everyone would do, as if the demographic are just clones of you.
Region-locking allows publishers to get away much more easily with having higher prices for games in some places than others, Australia being the prime example.
Nonetheless, some people can choose to import the 3DS itself from another region (which I might do). After all, if these people would otherwise import games, why wouldn't they import the console itself?
Nonetheless, some people can choose to import the 3DS itself from another region (which I might do). After all, if these people would otherwise import games, why wouldn't they import the console itself?
Because that doesn't magicly remove the block on their own region.
Oh sure, region locks are definitely undesirable to the consumer. However, unless in the face of region locks too many people pirate or buy from another region, region locks tend to be profitable overall.
# of people in country X who will buy game Y: hundreds. Price of game y: $30. Revenue, a few thousands for retailers, much less for developer/publisher.
Cost to print copies of game for country y: many thousands. Cost to market game in country y: many thousands. Cost to translate game for country y: many thousands. Cost to distribute game in country y: many more thousands.
Profits on selling game in country y: negative. Will lose money because country is too small. Profits of selling game in big country like the USA: millions.
It's not even worth their time to pay attention to you because you are so small. If all of Europe became one country with the same laws and everyone spoke the same language, then you might get something. Until then, stick with the PC.
Scott, that argument justifies not bothering to sell a game outside the U.S. and Japan, but it doesn't justify region locking, which is what the argument is about.
Scott, that argument justifies not bothering to sell a game outside the U.S. and Japan, but it doesn't justify region locking, which is what the argument is about.
The region locking has already been discussed. It's mostly to block against re-importation. If they sell a game in the US for less money than they sell it for in Australia, they don't want Australians just ordering from the US. If they have the rights to release a movie on DVD in the US, but someone else has those rights in Europe, then the person with the rights in Europe definitely wants a region lock on that shit so the Europeans buy from them. It's a technological mechanism to preserve an obsolete business model.
If you don't live in a place where console gaming is rocking, then just pirate everything. You are fully justified in doing so. It's the same as when we fansubbed everything before the anime boom.
Scott, that argument justifies not bothering to sell a game outside the U.S. and Japan, but it doesn't justify region locking, which is what the argument is about.
The region locking has already been discussed. It's mostly to block against re-importation. If they sell a game in the US for less money than they sell it for in Australia, they don't want Australians just ordering from the US. If they have the rights to release a movie on DVD in the US, but someone else has those rights in Europe, then the person with the rights in Europe definitely wants a region lock on that shit so the Europeans buy from them. It's a technological mechanism to preserve an obsolete business model.
If you don't live in a place where console gaming is rocking, then just pirate everything. You are fully justified in doing so. It's the same as when we fansubbed everything before the anime boom.
But It wasn't ever obsoleted with the Gameboy/DS line untill the DSi (and that was only for the DSI Ware service), they're not refusing to obsolete, they're threatening to solete something!
I live in New Zealand and am 99% sure I will buy a US 3DS (assuming they are region locked).
Pros: Way cheaper games, able to order games and get them shipped over very close to actual release date, more game selection overall.
Cons: The initial 3DS purchase could be a risk - what if its faulty? Need to buy from somewhere that supports international customers.
The poster above had it right - the ONE freaken game I wanted to play ASAP was Kirby on the Wii and we currently have 2011 as our release date. Its an ENGLISH game! WTF.
I was going to ask if Nintendo had even announced region locks but it turns out the DSi is already region lock capable as Pokemon B/W are region locked on DSi.
Seriously, piracy, you were going to do it anyway.
It's not even worth their time to pay attention to you because you are so small. If all of Europe became one country with the same laws and everyone spoke the same language, then you might get something. Until then, stick with the PC.
All I see is someone making trouble where there was no trouble previously. No money was lost when I could go down to the store and buy Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey and Dragon Quest IX in the one go and still play them on my DS (SMT: SJ being US only and DQ IX getting a rather big release campaign here).
If I couldn't buy Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey because of a region lock, I would have just bought DQ IX, that's a sale lost to the stockiest which in turn limits the stock that they can buy which then goes in a chain up to Atlus. Or, hell, I would have just pirated the translated PS2 Dragon Quest V and left it at that, leaving the whole endeavour nuked from space.
Because Nintendo are, just now, deciding to add a draconian measure to their handheld for the fist time in the 20 years of the Gameboy/DS range for reasons that are utterly beyond me. Are Nintendo that adamant from stopping people picking up (of all games) japanese language Pokemon B/W and RPG Maker DS? Does it bankrupt them to stop people from playing these games that they purchased? It certainly didn't when I bought Golden Sun six months ahead of it's UK release.
But yeah, we've established it's worth more to be an utter cunt than to leave shit well alone.
I live in New Zealand and am 99% sure I will buy a US 3DS (assuming they are region locked).
Pros: Way cheaper games, able to order games and get them shipped over very close to actual release date, more game selection overall.
Cons: The initial 3DS purchase could be a risk - what if its faulty? Need to buy from somewhere that supports international customers.
The poster above had it right - the ONE freaken game I wanted to play ASAP was Kirby on the Wii and we currently have 2011 as our release date. Its an ENGLISH game! WTF.
I'm joining you guys. What am I missing? Why not?
On that note, I recently found this store: http://www.ozgameshop.com/ It seems that it's a UK store (365games) with free delivery to Australia, and rather cheap prices. They might also ship to NZ, though I'm not sure.
Because Nintendo are, just now, deciding to add a draconian measure to their handheld for the fist time in the 20 years of the Gameboy/DS range for reasons that are utterly beyond me.
It means they're likely going to start exploiting disparate markets more aggressively. It's in their best interest to have a segmented market where different regions have different price points, and it costs them almost nothing to implement this in their new hardware. I don't agree that they should, but it's a smart move.
It certainly didn't when I bought Golden Sun six months ahead of it's UK release.
So you bought it early from another market. That meant one fewer sale in the local market, decreasing the value of the local market to the seller. They'd rather you buy it in the local market at the local market price than on the global market. Or, they would only cater to the global market and ignore regionalization beyond the big two (English and Japanese).
But yeah, we've established it's worth more to be an utter cunt than to leave shit well alone.
Comments
By twating the previously sleeping dog with a stick, they have been bitten.
And you're calling this "Smart"?
It's kind of like how I don't bother to pick pennies up that are lying in the street. Sure, they're free money, but the bother to pick them up, carry them around, deposit them somewhere, or clean them if they're filthy is far more than the actual value.
There's no malice or stupidity here: that's my only point. It's simple economics.
Nonetheless, some people can choose to import the 3DS itself from another region (which I might do). After all, if these people would otherwise import games, why wouldn't they import the console itself?
Any lock is unacceptable.
# of people in country X who will buy game Y: hundreds.
Price of game y: $30.
Revenue, a few thousands for retailers, much less for developer/publisher.
Cost to print copies of game for country y: many thousands.
Cost to market game in country y: many thousands.
Cost to translate game for country y: many thousands.
Cost to distribute game in country y: many more thousands.
Profits on selling game in country y: negative. Will lose money because country is too small.
Profits of selling game in big country like the USA: millions.
It's not even worth their time to pay attention to you because you are so small. If all of Europe became one country with the same laws and everyone spoke the same language, then you might get something. Until then, stick with the PC.
Besides, your numbers are poor.
If you don't live in a place where console gaming is rocking, then just pirate everything. You are fully justified in doing so. It's the same as when we fansubbed everything before the anime boom.
Pros: Way cheaper games, able to order games and get them shipped over very close to actual release date, more game selection overall.
Cons: The initial 3DS purchase could be a risk - what if its faulty? Need to buy from somewhere that supports international customers.
The poster above had it right - the ONE freaken game I wanted to play ASAP was Kirby on the Wii and we currently have 2011 as our release date. Its an ENGLISH game! WTF.
I'm joining you guys. What am I missing? Why not?
Seriously, piracy, you were going to do it anyway.
If I couldn't buy Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey because of a region lock, I would have just bought DQ IX, that's a sale lost to the stockiest which in turn limits the stock that they can buy which then goes in a chain up to Atlus.
Or, hell, I would have just pirated the translated PS2 Dragon Quest V and left it at that, leaving the whole endeavour nuked from space.
Because Nintendo are, just now, deciding to add a draconian measure to their handheld for the fist time in the 20 years of the Gameboy/DS range for reasons that are utterly beyond me. Are Nintendo that adamant from stopping people picking up (of all games) japanese language Pokemon B/W and RPG Maker DS?
Does it bankrupt them to stop people from playing these games that they purchased? It certainly didn't when I bought Golden Sun six months ahead of it's UK release.
But yeah, we've established it's worth more to be an utter cunt than to leave shit well alone.
http://www.ozgameshop.com/
It seems that it's a UK store (365games) with free delivery to Australia, and rather cheap prices. They might also ship to NZ, though I'm not sure.