what is it with PC and retail?

[Vault101]

From what I hear the retail situation for PC games in America its quite pathetic, as in stores dont have very big sections for PC games

why is that? is the market just not big enough? do the befits of Digital distribution outweigh going ot the store?

I hear its alot better in europe, over here in Australia EB games and JB HI FI still have quite a decent selection, however I did go into a GAME store and it was pathetic,

I buy all my games retail since Digital distribution is simply not an option, I dont know if this trend will continure/become worse here but it is slightly worrying as I like to have a hard copy and the internet here isnt great for downloading 12gb worth of data

I get tired of being overlooked

 

[thom_cat_]

Go internode and get steam downloads unmetered.

 

[Ganthrinor]

Likely because there's just SO MANY PC game out there. You would need a massive store to keep only a few copies of every game released for the PC in just the last several years. It's just unrealistic for a retailer to keep a full stock, from both an economic and storage standpoint.

I'd reccomend using an online store for some of your more obscure purchases, like Amazon or GameStop. Manty retailers are more than happy to take special orders for games that are not in stock as well.

 

[Vault101]

Go internode and get steam downloads unmetered.

I actually looked into that yesterday...basically from what I understand there is no gaurentee that steam will use those servers

 

[Vault101]

Likely because there's just SO MANY PC game out there. You would need a massive store to keep only a few copies of every game released for the PC in just the last several years. It's just unrealistic for a retailer to keep a full stock, from both an economic and storage standpoint.

I'd reccomend using an online store for some of your more obscure purchases, like Amazon or GameStop. Manty retailers are more than happy to take special orders for games that are not in stock as well.

really? I dont know though, I hear people complaining that that the PC section is tiny, if that were true then it would at least be as big as the console sections, From what I understand its only the basic AAA titles and world of warcraft

 

[faselei]

It's no better in Europe, or at least not in the UK.

In the average store there will be 4X4 shelves for P32 and Xbox, 2 or 3X4 for Wii, and then one for PC, of course the majority of that will be 'two for £5' and other offers. And of course being the PC the premium price shelf will be dominated by 'farming simulator', 'crane simulator' etc etc.

Retailers obviously see no margin in PC games. Which is fine, and tbh there are very few AAA titles for the PC. Its mainly games for people who have to have a computer anyway and also like some games, but would never buy a console.

And people like me who actually like niche Paradox crap.

 

[thom_cat_]

Go internode and get steam downloads unmetered.

I actually looked into that yesterday...basically from what I understand there is no gaurentee that steam will use those servers

I use Frey's Steam Filter
http://members.iinet.net.au/~chapman.j/
and add all the ip's on the list http://www.internode.on.net/residential/entertainment/unmetered_content/ip_address_list/
Although I can't seem to get steam to download AC2 from an Aussie server...

 

[Bearjing]

Go internode and get steam downloads unmetered.

I actually looked into that yesterday...basically from what I understand there is no gaurentee that steam will use those servers

I'm not quite sure what you mean by that.

Personally I just don't like retail versions of games in general. I mean you have to keep track of the cds and key codes and if you happen to lose any of those you have to buy it again (happend with fallout 3 for me ).

While digital distribution like steam is just so convenient. They have such a vast array of games that I can download at any time while having huge sales to the point where i only bought like 5 games that were over 10-15 dollars within the past year.

I just don't see any reason to go out in the cold to get an inferior copy (of course that is my opinion).

 

[Catchy Slogan]

Most of the shops I go to in the UK have pretty small PC sections, but that could be because I live in a sort of semi rural part of Britain. They mostly just do the popular ones, WoW: Cataclysm, Starcraft 2, and AC 2 and a few others.

 

[The Madman]

The vast majority of profit for companies like Gamestop is actually derived from used game sales, something they can't do with PC games and as a result since the inception of the used games market as a major source of income, the companies have stocked PC games less and less. PC gaming as a result migrated to the point where while the retail sales still count for a fair amount of money, online distribution and shopping has grown to ridiculous proportions within the PC market. That's why there are so many online distributors, Gamersgate, Greenman, STEAM, Impulse, Direct2Drive, Good Old Games, and countless others.

Many gamers will say that these other company are just trying to get a piece of the STEAM pie, but they're incorrect in that the online distribution market is growing at such a rate there's more than enough room for everyone. STEAM no doubt makes the majority of the money, but the other companies are doing well enough for themselves to be growing and expanding as time goes on as well. And as online sales continue to become more prolific, online distribution will continue to branch out.

Hell, we've now got online exclusive games not even appearing on store shelves and selling hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions of copies all without the added costs of packaging and distribution they'd have were the game being sold retail. Cha-Ching for the games developers!

Personally I think it's for the better. When a game is good enough I *really* want to own a physical, in-my-hands copy of it I tend to now order it online from the developers themselves if possible so that they get the majority of my money rather than some distribution chain taking their cut. Don't even visit the places anymore, just seems so... quaint.

 

[mrF00bar]

2 words: Digital downloads.

Its been a looooong time since I last bought a PC game at a store. I have bouth dozens of PC games over the past couple of years, and almost all of them were bought from digital stores like STEAM, GoG and Impulse. Its easier, simpler, and WAY less expensive in my country where games cost a shitload (sometimes like 40-50% more, I shit you not) when you buy them in the stores.

I almost always buy my console games since you can't barrow or play other peoples console games if you buy them digitally, but when it comes to PC games: Digital all the way.

Steam is very helpful although I don't like how it works. Downloading the game is fine but not letting me open it unless I use the client? Also what would happen if Steam went down the pan?

 

[Vault101]

The vast majority of profit for companies like Gamestop is actually derived from used game sales, something they can't do with PC games and as a result since the inception of the used games market as a major source of income, the companies have stocked PC games less and less. PC gaming as a result migrated to the point where while the retail sales still count for a fair amount of money, online distribution and shopping has grown to ridiculous proportions within the PC market. That's why there are so many online distributors, Gamersgate, Greenman, STEAM, Impulse, Direct2Drive, Good Old Games, and countless others.

Many gamers will say that these other company are just trying to get a piece of the STEAM pie, but they're incorrect in that the online distribution market is growing at such a rate there's more than enough room for everyone. STEAM no doubt makes the majority of the money, but the other companies are doing well enough for themselves to be growing and expanding as time goes on as well. And as online sales continue to become more prolific, online distribution will continue to branch out.

Hell, we've now got online exclusive games not even appearing on store shelves and selling hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions of copies all without the added costs of packaging and distribution they'd have were the game being sold retail. Cha-Ching for the games developers!

Personally I think it's for the better. When a game is good enough I *really* want to own a physical, in-my-hands copy of it I tend to now order it online from the developers themselves if possible so that they get the majority of my money rather than some distribution chain taking their cut. Don't even visit the places anymore, just seems so... quaint.

thankyou! you have answered my question

though for those us without the means its very annoying

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

2 words: Digital downloads.

Its been a looooong time since I last bought a PC game at a store. I have bouth dozens of PC games over the past couple of years, and almost all of them were bought from digital stores like STEAM, GoG and Impulse. Its easier, simpler, and WAY less expensive in my country where games cost a shitload (sometimes like 40-50% more, I shit you not) when you buy them in the stores.

I almost always buy my console games since you can't barrow or play other peoples console games if you buy them digitally, but when it comes to PC games: Digital all the way.

Steam is very helpful although I don't like how it works. Downloading the game is fine but not letting me open it unless I use the client? Also what would happen if Steam went down the pan?

hm suprised no one told you already.

valve already has a patch ready if steam does go down, which will give you all your games drm free and not require steam in any form.

but like people have said, steam is a freaking monopoly almost with how much of the digital download market it holds.

OT: for pc games..i hardly EVER buy in store, maybe one or two games, if that, most of the time they are on sale or something online (via steam/gog/d2d) or through amazon, so wasting my time at the store for pc games is not worth it one bit.

 

[Wolfram23]

It's really bad most places here in Canada. Best Buy and Future Shop probably have the best selections I've seen in a while and it's still pretty poor. Console games take up all the room now.

 

[hutchy27]

Around where I live it's mainly about:
75% of the shop is filled with xbox, ps3 and wii games.
5% for xbox, ps3 and wii extras like headphones etc
10% for ds and psp games
3% for magzines and stuff.
7% for pc games

 

[GotMalkAvian]

PC gaming just isn't as huge as it used to be. Up until a few years ago, PCs had a clear technological edge over consoles, so a lot of developers favored PCs. Now, though, consoles are basically specialized computers with most- if not all- of the functionality of their desktop counterparts. Not to mention the one problem that PC gamers have always faced; constant upgrades. If I buy an XBox 360 on release day, I know I won't need to upgrade my console for at least five years. However, if I buy a computer (even if I build a top of the line rig from scratch), I may be replacing parts within months just to keep up with the curve (Crysis, anyone?) Nowadays, PC gaming is mostly the domain of MMOs and hardcore strategy games.

And, yeah, I definitely think that digital distribution is taking a large bite out of PC shelf space, too. With bigger hard drives and greater internet capability, PCs are far more ready for digital distribution than consoles. Plus, with a complete removal of manufacturing costs, find me a game publisher that wouldn't want to go completely digital.