GameStop Wants You To Know More About DLC
See Full ImageIf you can't beat 'em, join 'me. Or, at the very least, acknowledge the threat and maybe even embrace it as a positive thing.
As we all know, downloadable digital content has rapidly become more and more popular this generation and many analysts are expecting that eventually, most all video games will be delivered in this fashion. Obviously, for the world's #1 game retailer, which of course thrives on selling the physical game software, this could pose a huge problem. But GameStop COO J. Paul Raines actually says the advent of DLC is a "good thing," and that consumers should be educated on the issue. In speaking on a panel at the Game Business Law conference at Southern Methodist University, Raines said DLC "enhances and extends games" and that customers should remember that GameStop "does offer retail releases of some high-profile DLC." Raines wants everyone to become a little more schooled on the subject, which for many casual gamers still remains a bit of a mystery. Therefore, as "customer acquisition continues to be a huge part of the spend in this business," you can expect GameStop employees to be well versed in the available content on the PSN and XBLA. They'll be able to tell you what is online that can "enhance and extend" the game you just bought.
Lastly, Raines says that despite the lower-than-anticipated holiday figures, nobody is panicking at GameStop. "Rumors of our demise have been greatly exaggerated," he said. "We'll release financials in a few weeks so you'll see if we're still in business." Well, yeah, I think they are.
2/1/2010 10:54:33 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (111 posts)
to_far_apart
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 11:21:04 AM
But you're right, you can do it from the comfort of your own home, but everyone wants a piece of the pie you know?
7 up, 0 down
Feregrin
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 11:49:29 AM
18 up, 0 down
jaybiv
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 1:00:05 PM
Digital downloading of full games is still some years off as a dominant model. Internet speeds and storage capacity are the two roadblocks.
5 up, 0 down
Hezzron
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 2:25:06 PM
5 up, 1 down
Jed
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 7:29:49 PM
0 up, 0 down
to_far_apart
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 11:19:09 AM
Reply
The only downside to this, however, is that they can tout their horn all they want, but this will only work if management decides to start hiring some more "qualified" and some more decent people who actually give a damn. I'm not saying every gamestop is like this, but there are 2 in the area where i live and they could care less. Just talking, doing there own thing, not caring about the customer at all. I mean to each their own, I don't need their help, but it would be nice to see some hospitality. Unfortunately all these young brats are starting to pollute everything. All they need is one good belt or one straight slap in the mouth, and that would set them straight, I know it helped me haha
But I do like the idea, if it were to work the way they mention, I find it a great commodity. But that's just me.
3 up, 1 down
Jed
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 7:35:39 PM
0 up, 0 down
inkme101
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 11:32:09 AM
Reply
21 up, 0 down
to_far_apart
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 11:33:37 AM
2 up, 0 down
Arvis
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 4:02:33 PM
I really thought WKC was a big deal. Is it really that far off everyone's radar? :(
-Arvis
0 up, 0 down
Jed
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 7:31:39 PM
0 up, 0 down
DragonSphere
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 8:10:00 PM
0 up, 0 down
Fane1024
Saturday, February 06, 2010 @ 5:26:08 PM
I know I have habits when I deal with "customers" that make me say things even when they don't suit the current situation.
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 11:40:11 AM
Reply
The biggest thing they need to do is get publishers to make premium versions of games that can only be purchased through a retail channel not directly through the PSN/XBL. When buying a game is as easy as a click on a controller, GameStop must do something to attract customers back to the store.
This is where GameStop and the other retailers can work together with publishers to create premium packaging, such as box art, printed game manual, bonus pack-ins and of course 'premium' content only available if the game is purchased at retail. I already see retailers selling codes you can redeem at the PlayStation Store. That's nice, but to thrive in the future retailers need something more.
If we assume a completely digital future, let's imagine how it could work for retailers. A game like Gran Turismo would be an easy online purchase, so how do you get people into the store? How about a premium version with cars that are only available with the premium version of the game and are not even unlockable in the online version? How about a printed manual, a collectable box, or a die cast model of one of the special cars? I'd be happy to pay a little extra for all the additional stuff I could get, especially if I had a decent number of exclusive cars (or tracks) because I paid retail.
Trying to talk up being a great place to offer advice and knowledge about upcoming DLC is nice, but it doesn't replace revenue lost to online purchases.
Unless retailers do something people will think exactly as Hezzron73 suggests "I don't know why anyone would go out to a store, to basically buy a code to a game that you have to download on your console yourself. That whole process could be done directly from the comfort of your home.". Retailers have to have something extra to bring people back into their store to buy the game through them.
7 up, 1 down
to_far_apart
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 11:50:18 AM
You're right, if the consumer was enticed to purchase retail by means of additional content such as the ones you suggested, I would take that extra step in a retail purchase of the game.
I feel as we head further into the future, despite countless efforts by retailers, I think we will see the total shift into digital distribution. People love the idea of ease, and what's easier then clicking a button?
If this movement towards a digital future is how i see, I would even expect retailers, such as Gamestop to sell games digitally and even hardware (delivery). There are companies like this now, but as the future draws nearer, i think it will become inevitable.
Last edited by to_far_apart on 2/1/2010 11:51:16 AM
0 up, 0 down
jaybiv
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 1:10:30 PM
If/when full digital downloads arrive, Gamestop is toast. Companies will not produce hard copies in the numbers to make retail stores profitable. Sure, they may continue to survive, but they will have to close up a good number of store fronts.
Companies want digital downloads for one reason--cost savings. Posting games on PSN saves them from desgining and printing a manual, buying cases, shipping the product, etc. That money will now go into their pockets as opposed to several other suppliers.
I personally do not think digital downloads will be a major player for quite sometime. There are some technical obstacles that make full implementation cumbersome and frustrating for consumers.
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 1:28:00 PM
GameStop may go the way of most 'hobbyist' stores. If you have ever played a pencil/paper/dice role playing game you know that there are a small number of stores in the world that cater to this audience, they typically double up as comic stores, sell Warhammer and other figures, pieces for tabletop strategy & war games, science fiction/fantasy novels, posters and all manner of sci-fi/fantasy related memorabilia. When the big wave of digital distribution hits, this is where GameStop will go. The branches that are not closed will morph (or attempt to) into a Forbidden Planet style store. Not sure how successful they'll be. But the full arrival of digital download distribution is definitely an evolution moment for video game resellers.
1 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 2:18:26 PM
2 up, 1 down
sunspider13
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 3:02:19 PM
2 up, 0 down
to_far_apart
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 7:31:24 PM
1 up, 0 down
Jed
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 7:53:52 PM
I dont know what they will do when full games are downloadable. I imagine they will keep selling preset money cards, or someting like the cards they sell for PSP games.
0 up, 0 down
whooka
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 12:03:03 PM
Reply
They had Dragon Age used for $55 when i was in there this weekend and of course the card with the addon content code was gone from the package. the addon content is $15 so in that case the new game is a better deal as you get the code for the $15 addon for free. what a joke.
4 up, 2 down
Thrill Kill
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 1:46:16 PM
4 up, 8 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 2:20:33 PM
7 up, 1 down
Thrill Kill
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 2:58:28 PM
2 up, 6 down
Thrill Kill
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 3:00:45 PM
2 up, 7 down
Arvis
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 4:27:52 PM
-Arvis
4 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 6:53:05 PM
5 up, 0 down
to_far_apart
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 6:55:48 PM
2 up, 0 down
Jed
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 7:41:50 PM
0 up, 0 down
Orvisman
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 9:25:32 AM
Anyway, whether or not you think FOX is fair and balanced depends on your politics; so, in all fairness, you FOX bashers are clearly, for the most part, probably liberals. And the Fox supporters are probably Republican. Therefore, we are all biased to the network that represents our views better.
Furthermore, can you really sit there with a straight face and tell me the other news outlets -- CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, CBS, including Rachel Maddow and Keith Olberman, etc... -- are really any more fair and balanced than FOX?
When Bush was in office, it was bash Bush time... all the time. Now that Obama is in the White House, those same news outlets fawn over Obama, essentially pushing the agenda that he can do no wrong.
Anyway, can we please avoid politics on this site.
xxxxxxx
On topic! Great, now GameStopers can falsely claim this great new DLC is only available on the 360 so buy the 360 version.
1 up, 0 down
Vell
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 12:05:55 PM
Reply
But question for you all: If the future hottest games are downloadable a week in advance or at midnight and you don't have to stand in a 2 hour line or in the cold @ midnight, would you really go that route instead of chilling @ home, download and play? I say: DLC full games the sooner the better!!!!
do you really like calling stores to see if they have enough copies?
do you really like hunting for a NEW game from store to store?
0 up, 5 down
mexgeo86
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 12:09:50 PM
5 up, 0 down
SvenMD
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 2:12:54 PM
If you know that there is a game coming out in 3 weeks that you want, then pre-order it. And if you don't like going to the store then you can have it shipped - just find a place with free shipping.
Mexgeo has a point of waiting for a download. But my problem is storage. My original PS3 would be filled up with just one game, and if you put all my PS3 games and my BluRays on MyBooks or the like then at 25-50 GB a pop we're going to need a couple TB in about 3 weeks.
I'm not a big fan of DLC, but I am a huge antagonist of downloading whole games.
physical media forever!
2 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 2:22:12 PM
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 2/1/2010 2:23:23 PM
2 up, 1 down
mexgeo86
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 12:06:40 PM
Reply
Also, given that games, or at least ps3 exclusives are making use of the Blu-Ray space, most people who want full digital titles will have to install additional hard drive space for the data and the backup.
Sure there's a change happening, but I don't think physical will ever go away.
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 12:18:14 PM
As much as I have (and will continue) to deride GameStop, they do provide a service that isn't matched by other big store retailers.
4 up, 0 down
mexgeo86
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 12:35:31 PM
2 up, 0 down
jaybiv
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 1:14:59 PM
0 up, 0 down
Vell
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 12:25:22 PM
Reply
0 up, 6 down
Alienange
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 1:43:44 PM
5 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 2:24:52 PM
5 up, 1 down
Thrill Kill
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 3:02:52 PM
3 up, 9 down
Alienange
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 3:45:19 PM
Does anyone know what this guy's talking about?
10 up, 0 down
bigrailer19
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 3:52:32 PM
5 up, 0 down
to_far_apart
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 7:39:53 PM
It's one of those bogus 4 world replies that Ben mentioned earlier.
1 up, 0 down
Vell
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 12:28:35 PM
Reply
is that better than download from comfort of your home while the rest of your life continues?
0 up, 0 down
jaybiv
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 1:16:33 PM
7 up, 1 down
to_far_apart
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 7:19:01 PM
The problem with most people, is that they feel the necessity to be the first to get the game. Understandably because of the long wait for that desired production, but does it really matter? All these kids want to do is get it, play for a minute, and start bragging how they already got their copy standing in line for hours like bimbos. Granted, there are those who have been waiting for the game for months, or really are fond of a particular game, etc. I know not everyone is like that, but i know i wouldn't care waiting an additional week, in the end i'll be playing it like everyone else. Any way, it's a personal experience, i don't care what everyone else does.
It's just like people who watch movies the day it comes out, or the midnight showing. Look, I'm not going to start writing here and say i haven't gone to a midnight showing of a movie before and sound all hypocritical, because i have and I'm one of the least hypocritical people you'll meet. My point is that these young kids now go out to these midnight showing to just brag the next day. Granted, their are those people who go to watch movies that late because they are avid movie lovers, fanatics of a certain series, fanatics of a certain actor/actress/etc.
So i don't want to here anyone giving me a hard time, I'm eliminating variables and just speaking in an overall general sense. If you disagree, please feel free to disagree, but i don't want to here any rambling and whining, because honestly...it gets old.
Thanks for your time guys, i know i tend to write a lot haha
Last edited by to_far_apart on 2/1/2010 7:22:31 PM
2 up, 0 down
jami
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 12:28:41 PM
Reply
1 up, 1 down
bridgera
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 12:31:19 PM
Reply
What did Gamestop have to say about downloadable PSP games on the PS3?
I believe the ver-betum quote was:
"You CAN'T download PSP via the PS3 and you CAN'T put the PSone classics on the PSP."
Interesting piece of education, I discussed this with the employee for about 2 minutes, and then when I got home, confirmed that employee was completely backwards.
Seems like Gamestop needs to educate their employees about DLC before trying to "educate" their customers about it.
4 up, 0 down
SvenMD
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 2:20:25 PM
Everything about games, as far as I've seen, is just their own personal bias....which is unfortunate.
5 up, 0 down
sunspider13
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 3:16:24 PM
1 up, 0 down
bridgera
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 11:32:03 AM
0 up, 0 down
Jian2069
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 5:51:22 PM
THE PS3 HAS NO GAMES!!!!!
while im standing in front of the "new releases" rack which coincidentally has no 360 games on it
1 up, 0 down
rogers71
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 1:10:40 PM
Reply
Yeah, I am that confident.
5 up, 0 down
Scarecrow
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 1:17:19 PM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
Imagi
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 1:25:56 PM
Reply
6 up, 0 down
Alienange
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 1:46:05 PM
Reply
So even GameStop wants to sell discs with half the content on them?
4 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 2:15:34 PM
Reply
Edumacate the register biscuits! Yes. Actually I could care less, if you are too dumb to understand DLC you don't belong in my house.
1 up, 3 down
Alienange
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 6:10:19 PM
Why don't you say what you want to say about the article instead of demeaning other people?
5 up, 0 down
to_far_apart
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 7:02:13 PM
Since when can a person write to much? If anything, the more a person writes, the more they present their opinion/argument/statement/etc and the more insight a reader gets to give an opposing opinion/argument/statement/etc. To me, the more you write, the more substance you provide to that certain point you are trying to make, in my opinion.
Yes, Highlander is among the few that constantly provide such great posts, i really respect him, among the others like LimitedVertigo, World, Alienage, and others i can't think off the top of my head. If it's not for those readers, along with Ben and the PSXE staff, and the general atmosphere of this site (brought by the many great readers/contributors) i wouldn't be here right now.
1 up, 0 down
bridgera
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 11:34:23 AM
Well there is this thing called spam, but Highlander ISN'T doing it.
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 2:34:59 PM
13 up, 0 down
sunspider13
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 3:18:13 PM
6 up, 2 down
bigrailer19
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 3:56:41 PM
Reading what you have to write has tought me more in this industry (and some others) than I learned in all my years and classes of school. Guess school just wasn't as interesting as what you have to write and say.
He's just lazy and doesnt want to read, but if he did he may not be able to comprehend anyways. ;) More so he would be in for an elightenment. Keep writing as you wish (not that you need my approval) ;)!
Last edited by bigrailer19 on 2/1/2010 3:57:40 PM
7 up, 2 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 6:54:37 PM
The day random words and silly Internet abbreviations dominates the comment section is the day I go sledding in hell.
8 up, 0 down
to_far_apart
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 7:00:22 PM
Since when can a person write to much? If anything, the more a person writes, the more they present their opinion/argument/statement/etc and the more insight a reader gets to give an opposing opinion/argument/statement/etc. To me, the more you write, the more substance you provide to that certain point you are trying to make, in my opinion.
Yes, Highlander is among the few that constantly provide such great posts, i really respect him, among the others like LimitedVertigo, World, Alienage, and others i can't think off the top of my head. If it's not for those readers, along with Ben and the PSXE staff, and the general atmosphere of this site (brought by the many great readers/contributors) i wouldn't be here right now.
Last edited by to_far_apart on 2/1/2010 7:02:46 PM
2 up, 0 down
to_far_apart
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 12:13:45 PM
i knew there was another name on the tip of my tongue! forgot to include you in there!
Last edited by to_far_apart on 2/2/2010 12:14:29 PM
0 up, 0 down
Lemon_Saint
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 2:49:26 PM
Reply
I'm surprised no one caught the Mark Twain reference ... I thought it was pretty funny ... in an inflated ego kind-of way ...
0 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 4:03:23 PM
4 up, 1 down
Arvis
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 4:28:52 PM
-Arvis
0 up, 0 down
Fane1024
Saturday, February 06, 2010 @ 5:40:28 PM
0 up, 0 down
Oyashiro
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 4:41:51 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
Dancemachine55
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 5:44:52 PM
Reply
We have the Wii and DS to thank for that.
As for DLC or full game downloads, it is a looooong way off before physical disc goes the way of the dodo. I'm thinking around the PS6 generation of consoles. PS4 has already been confirmed to continue blu-ray and dvd support.
Also, I along with millions of others out there do not have the internet capacity or download limit to support a 48GB download of something like MGS4 or Gran Turismo 5. It'll be at least another 10-20 years before most developed nations have the technology to support full unlimited downloads to all citizens, particularly here in Australia.
@ Highlander, you are spot-on and so incredibly correct I feel you might just be a psychic or fortune-teller.
So long as there are developers who dream big, collectors and special editions of major releases and the old-school niche market of video game collectors like myself, places like EB Games, Gamestop, Gametraders, Game, etc will never fully go under. They may have to close some chains, but there will always be some stores around in major towns and cities.
EB here has a store in every shopping centre, big or small. I reckon that in 10-20 years time, we will see less of them, maybe about half of what is around now.
If retail figures from Modern Warfare 2 are anything to go by, these gaming stores don't have too much to worry about for now.
As for Gamestop, they are deluding themselves thinking they can sell DLC codes at retail. If these customers already have access to the net to use these DLC codes, why not just download them directly from the comfort of your own home? The only people using these retail codes are kids with no access to credit cards or PSN/XBLA cards.
2 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 5:45:56 PM
Reply
But, I could see some DLC for others, but only if it intends to enhance & farther that game with extra story's.
But there are more & more shady developer's that have realized how to scam us by stealing back some of their game's original content, & then trying to sell it back to us later on(AC2, etc).
sooooo now, sadly enough, even the word "DLC" alone, is beginning to mean just one thing... "SCAMAPALOOZA"!
0 up, 0 down
Nlayer
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 5:51:15 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
fuk u
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 6:54:12 PM
Reply
0 up, 4 down
Robochic
Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 11:53:42 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Arvis
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 9:33:04 AM
Well, most of the people on this site could sell games like crazy, they just wouldn't pay us what we're worth. ;)
-Arvis
0 up, 0 down
___________
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 1:39:12 AM
Reply
as ive said many times EB should thank their whatever they worship that they are the only ones who offer the 7 day money back otherwise i would never shop there.
i went in there today to trade in a few US games i have got and they said im sorry but we are not allowed to sell US games EVEN THOUGH I TRADED IN DMC4 YESTERDAY WHICH WAS A US GAME!
i told her that and it was like talking to a brick wall, in one ear and out the other.
while i was down their i asked if they were allowed to sell dantes inferno yet because they had the copies on the desk and she said no.
so i leave and i get home, 5 minutes later i get a call saying my pre order of dantes inferno is ready to be picked up.
^^%#%@!$@#%^$&%#@$!@$##@%^$&^@%@$$!#%$^&%#@$!!#@
honestly i feel like ripping their skin off to see if there human or not.
the amount of lies that comes out of their mouth o my bloody god!
not to mention that time my psp would not read memory sticks so i rang sony they said take it back to the store you bought it from and they will give you a new one.
so i did so and they refused to give me a new one even though sony told them to.
im about 0.00000000001 mm away from saying fu*k it and not buy any more games from them.
i would loose money if i did but so what at least i wont have the stress to deal with!
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 3:17:26 AM
0 up, 0 down
___________
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 5:58:09 AM
biggest mistake of my life.
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 10:37:10 AM
Those new slims are really inexpensive, do you still have your PS2 games? It might still be worth getting a PS2 slim.
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 10:37:10 AM
Those new slims are really inexpensive, do you still have your PS2 games? It might still be worth getting a PS2 slim.
0 up, 0 down
bridgera
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 11:39:34 AM
Just buy games off of amazon. If they don't want to get their act together, they don't deserve your money.
0 up, 0 down
___________
Wednesday, February 03, 2010 @ 6:01:31 AM
R&C 3.
now that i dont have the luxury i want to play ps2 games every freaking day.
i want to get a ps2 since ive got like 100+ ps2 games laughing at me but i just blew 400+ bucks on this months preorders.
kinda off topic but has to be said.
DANTES INFERNO IS FU**ING INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
if GOW3 is half as good as this were in for a treat!
0 up, 0 down
rogers71
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 6:44:30 AM
Reply
Before digital distribution becomes mainstream, the ISP's will start charging for downloading over a set limit. Some have already started.
So, how much sense does it make to pay not only the amount to buy the game but also have to pay your ISP for going over the set limit?
I can pretty much guarantee that it will not be cheap if you reach the MB cap.
0 up, 0 down
rogers71
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 7:14:17 AM
Imagine their are two games coming out in April that you really want. You have the money for both of them but you can only buy one because the second one would put you over your ISP's cap. So you have to wait until May to buy the second one.
That scenario is assuming the ISP's cap will be in Gigabytes per month. Just a thought.
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 11:02:19 AM
With services like Netflix and other online services all requiring various bandwidth for access, it's well beyond a consumer to determine ahead of time how much download capacity they will need in a month. Forcing this burden on consumers is anti-consumer.
From the point of view of net neutrality, enforcing hard caps on net access seems to me to utterly ignore the concept of net neutrality. If ISPs are having problems with some users hogging capacity because of their use of torrent sites, then the ISPs need to consider how they charge for bandwidth, not download capacity.
Personally, I think that the biggest abuse of bandwidth around today is the use of bit torrent sites for warez. ISPs need to get together and maintain a reference list of torrent sites. Then they can specifically throttle the bandwidth available to torrent sites in order to maintain service for other users.
It was like this back in the day when Usenet was all the rage. Towards the end of usenet's usefulness, many users had discovered the use of binary newgroups, where people would post binary files, usually hacked games or images of CDs or DVDs. The amount of bandwitdth that took prompted many ISPs to stop carrying Usenet all together, most simply blocked binary groups. I'd hope that ISPs were smart enough to target the problem, instead of the innocent consumers. Realistically, they'll hammer innocent consumers because they don't want to put the effort into the real target.
1 up, 0 down
rogers71
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 11:12:10 AM
You hit the nail on the head. I agree that the ISP could probably find a way to charge for bandwidth coming from particular sites but that would be too much work. If the cap doesn't come before Digital Distribution becomes mainstream, I could definitely see them doing something when everyone starts hitting the PSN for their games.
0 up, 0 down
bridgera
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 11:55:41 AM
Setting a usage limit on the number of GB that are downloaded/month per service plan is not a violation of net neutrality. No website is getting treated any differently.
Blocking access, or limiting download speeds to any given site, such as blocking Warez and Torrent sites, THAT violates Net Neutrality.
I understand your point though, people illegally downloading movies and games is why some companies had to start enforcing download caps.
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 12:22:05 PM
How can there be net neutrality as long as the troll under the bridge can effectively hold particular services hostage for more money?
0 up, 0 down
rogers71
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 1:19:22 PM
Are you running for office anytime in the near future?
You got my vote.
0 up, 1 down
bridgera
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 2:51:27 PM
Couple of things:
1st) It costs an ISP money to bring you internet access. Do you consider it a violation of net neutrality that you have to pay for internet access? Do you consider people with dial up access, who don't have anywhere near the bandwidth to use Netflix's Watch Instantly to be victims of companies violating net neutrality?
Does it make sense to you to charge someone who only checks their e-mail and uses 50 MB/month as much as someone who watches Netflix all of the time and uses 50 GB/month?
2nd) If you had a crappy ISP that limited you to as low as 5 GB/month, you could still use netflix and all your other services. I do know you can watch netflix pretty decently at 100 KB/s, which gives you about 14 hrs of video if your limit is 5 GB/month and all you do is watch netflix. At 15 GB/month (more of a realistic cap), that means you can watch 42 hrs Netflix/month.
Finally, what you are getting at, really is not at all what is meant by net neutrality. Some company isn't paying off your ISP so that they limit bandwidth to certain websites and give you higher bandwidth to other sites.
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Highlander
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 9:54:01 PM
I see what you're saying, and I know that the classic sense of net neutrality is simply preventing ISPs from treating traffic from one source differently from another, for example throttling traffic from a competitor while allowing traffic from allied organizations to flow with ease.
However since most ISPs are associated with either telephone companies or cable companies, there is an interesting wrinkle in Net neutrality. If Comcast were to set lowish caps on their base 'net service that could affect the ability of consumers using their service to use bandwidth hungry services from companies such as Netflix, or even You Tube or Hulu. Since Comcast is a cable company there is a clear conflict of interest there. I think that is a problem with respect to net neutrality.
I have no problem with the concept of ISPs having to pay for the infrastructure to bring Internet service and passing that cost on to consumers. There's no other way. But, it's possible to do that by offering tiers service based on the bandwith (speed) of service offered. Hard caps are a way to squeeze more money out of consumers who didn't reckon on that extra movie download and get hammered $0.10 (or whatever surcharge the ISP has) per extra MB by their ISP. That has nothing to do with paying for infrastructure, it's simply taking advantage of consumers.
I still stand by my saying that hard caps are not compatible with net neutrality because they have a cooling effect on that neutrality.
Last edited by Highlander on 2/2/2010 9:54:41 PM
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Darwin1967
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 9:48:41 AM
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bridgera
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 11:42:30 AM
I almost walked in and asked, "why the hell don't you guys have any PS3 games? What's up with having 2x the number of 360 games on hand?"...
... but I decided not to, obviously it was 360 fanboy run at that point.
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Highlander
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 12:25:41 PM
Indeed!
This kind of 'squeeze' on the PS3's shelf space is part of the problem for the PS3. Because less shelf space is available, a smaller number of titles can be stocked, so unless your title is oe of the select few chosen, good luck getting sales through Amazon. I also notice that more and more GameStop devoted as much or more space to used games compared to new games, so again the variety and availability of new games is affected.
That's one of the reasons I seldom visit GameStop anymore.
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bridgera
Tuesday, February 02, 2010 @ 3:11:37 PM
I rarely buy anything from them anymore with their high prices for 2-3 year old games, misinformation, and fanboyism.
I actually got my PS3 from a Gamestop, but that's only because PS3s are the same price pretty much anywhere you go.
Last edited by bridgera on 2/2/2010 3:13:58 PM
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fuk u
Wednesday, February 03, 2010 @ 1:33:25 PM
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Hezzron
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Monday, February 01, 2010 @ 11:15:23 AM
I don't know why anyone would go out to a store, to basically buy a code to a game that you have to download on your console yourself. That whole process could be done directly from the comfort of your home.
Last edited by Hezzron on 2/1/2010 11:17:28 AM