John-ShepardThere's a ton of content available on the PlayStation Network, so isn't it nice that we have multiple ways to access it?
Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) and video game retailer GameStop have teamed up "to sell select downloadable content (DLC) offerings for the PlayStation 3 system in-store and online." You can nab it with a simple Network account but if you'd rather, you can visit GameStop.com or one of their 4,400 retail stores around the world. Everything from full PSN games to add-on content, along with PlayStation Plus subscriptions can be purchased at select GameStop locations. Over 1.25 billion pieces of content have been downloaded worldwide and there are currently 60 million registered PSN users, so you probably want to be a member of the ongoing party. Said Tim Bender, senior vice president of sales for Sony Computer Entertainment America:
"We are always looking for new ways PlayStation Network users can expand, extend and enhance their overall entertainment experience. Being able to purchase downloadable digital content at retail provides yet another convenient purchasing option for gamers."
Well, there's no excuse now for getting extra content for your favorite games, or opting to check out some of the PSN-exclusive productions like Qore, Pulse and The Tester.
Oh, ok? whatever.
It is perfectly understandable what Sony are doing… they are fighting the good fight as best they can. Their market is increasingly under threat (competition is good) with the quick rise of Apple and continued strength of their "traditional" competitors. However, as I have said many time before, Apple and iOS devices pose the greatest threat now, and in the future, thanks to its cultist religious following the world over.
Sony has no choice really but to branch out and extend the PSN web by making it as easy and convenient as possible for gamers to consume content when they want it. Having it at GameStop makes it just that much more convenient for people who want to purchase something there and then. The iTunes store is a powerful repository of software now, and it is so convenient for people to pop on and DL whatever they want, with quite a bit of that content being free. They have really incubated a very slick system for their loyal followers.
Sony wants to retain as many customers as possible – which business doesn't, but they have to make sure that they can stay ahead of the curve by making PSN as accessible as possible in order to have the widest breadth of users stay within their ecosystem. No doubts though with the large amounts of PS3 and PSP users about, Sony should still command a healthy following for the foreseeable future.
But markets and technologies are changing so fast, the playing field will look quite different in 5 years time… that is for sure…
Also, come to think about it; whilst 60 million PSN user accounts may sound impressive, how many of these users (in total) are purchasing software through the store regularly. I think there are peaks and troughs depending on what is releasing. iTunes, on the other hand, is accessible to pretty much all Apple product users off the bat and very accessible price wise, so in the end content and pricing model will make or break the ecosystem – we'll see how the quality vs quantity vs price game plays out in the end… so far it is looking good for Sony… time will tell though!
Q!
"please don't hack me… I'm innocent"
Last edited by Qubex on 11/9/2010 9:53:37 PM
But, can you download the game to a USB stick for later activation at home, or are they only selling the access codes?
Yhea, will be interesting to understand how it will work actually…
Q!
"please don't hack me… I'm innocent"
My guess is it'll be the access code, like how Amazon does it
….. Thats cool i guess
FYI,
I'm not sure how Sony's implementing this, but Gamestop's been doing this DLC thing with M$, for a couple of months now.
They have DLC cards that you purchase & then you just input the code onto your XBL account at home. I'm guessing that GS has to activate your purchase or the card itself, otherwise I could see tons of them already being stolen.
GS has a wall display with just the 360 DLC cards, plus they're also sticking some of those cards between the clear plastic window & the cover art on used 360 game boxes in order to get you to buy it too(the 2 extra episodes for "GTA4" is a good example, some used boxes are carrying both episodes on one card, & others are carrying just either "The Ballad Of Gay Tony", or "The Lost & The Damned" cards separately.
If you don't bite on buying the additional DLC cards with the game, then GS just takes the card out of the sleeve.
If it's just the code that they sell, I can't see any advantage to buying through GameStop.
The advantage would be if one gains GS gift cards or GameStop future game credit for pre-orders, etc. Also, I wonder if people can use their discount for these DLC purchases.
Also for people that don't have credit cards
I'm sorry, what is the point of this?
Last edited by NonProphet on 11/9/2010 11:29:10 PM
I guess the the main point of it would be for the same reason someone would go buy PSN cards.
Some people who don't have credit cards, or don't want to use their debit card.
Plus seeing how there's an added cost associated with using credit or debit cards.
Last edited by BikerSaint on 11/9/2010 11:57:36 PM
let me get this straight.
you can either download DLC from the PSN store, or you can go to gamestops website and download it from there?
whats the point of that?
o, wait this is a massive mistake by sony!
if you have a jailbroken ps3 at the moment its impossible to download DLC, well i think sony just opened up a unwanted door…….
No, you can't download it from GameStop. All you buy is the code to activate the content. Everything is still downloaded through PSN and your PSNID.
so then its almost the same as buying PSN cards.
not a bad idea though, this way you can trade in some stuff for DLC instead of having to pay full price for them.
Yep, that would work. Like you say, Gamestop's various discounts ought to apply too.
I'm struggling to see the purpose of this, I'm not going to lie.
haven't they been doing this a while with the psp game vouchers?
"Tim Bender"?
XD
Another reason some will get the DLC from Gamestop is that every purchase made there, adds to your GS Powerup or PowerUp-Pro account, earning you more points towards their free Rewards gifts.