Dear Microsoft, Make Games on Demand Better

Golgotron writes:

"Dear Microsoft,
Games on Demand... it needs to be better. Stop wasting everybody's time but releasing games that are more than a year old. Valve changed PC gaming with Steam and it is time you changed the entire gaming world with Games on Demand. Let me tell you how you can do it."

[blue7xx7]

I have to agree I would love to see new games being released on GOD sooner rather than a year or many many months after it's initial release. Maybe $5 cheaper than it is in retail or the same price. As for offering free DLC as an incentive to get it in the first week over the retail that would definitely be great.

But to be fair they are just starting this service so maybe in time they will do things like this.

[captain-obvious]

"Valve changed PC gaming with Steam and it is time ((you changed the entire gaming world with Games on Demand.)) Let me tell you how you can do it"

wow hes shooting waaaaay to high

[ReservoirDog316]

I don't think that would really be possible. By doing that, they'd get every major retailer mad at them. And you don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Kinda like a few retailers were not too excited about the PSP Go. So I doubt they'd change it to games being on there day 1.

[spacetattoo]

I totally agree, good article.

[Cueil]

If microsoft did these things their retail partners would loose their effing minds... it's a very careful balance... you have to make Walmart happy to

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

I agree new games would be great

[edhe]

GOD will not be as successful as steam because:
- the retail market for consoles is far far stronger than for PCs

The end.

[evrfighter]

for pc games I can't see how retailers would retaliate. Most bix box stores have half a shelf of decent pc games nowadays.

Retailers need to somehow integrate themselves into the DD market themselves. Using a middleman like D2D, Steam, Impulse, GFW, EADL much like they would work with different vendors for material goods.

[Chris399]

I ordered Oblivion: GOTY edition for $25 off of Amazon (.ca). The same bundle on Live costs over $80. That makes absolutely no sense for a game and content that is about 4 years old now.

They get the pricing on some of the content right, but most of it needs an adjustment.

@Xiphos. Agreed 100%. Sony led the charge with Siren and R&C, but did fumble the ball by slowing down their DD momentum. In comparison, MS seems to be releasing more and more games through their GOD service. The prices are ludicrous, but they have the concept right. Personally, I don't mind DD at all. I have a PSPGo, which I prefer to any other portable, on account of having 15 or so titles on me at all times. I also like the option of being able to play a little Fable 2 or ME on my 360 whenever I want, at the touch of a button - no disc swapping involved. I'm not too lazy to swap a disc, but it reduces clutter and lends itself well to fickle gamers (like me).

[Megaton]

Same day releases with $20 price reductions on the DD copies would be a huge leap forward for DD on consoles, and a kick in the balls to retailers.

I've always been pretty impressed with how well Microsoft managed to pick up Sony's dropped DD ball. Sony had full current-gen titles in their store first, but for whatever reason they totally blew it and stopped releasing them after only a handful, enabling Microsoft to pickup and charge that sucker home. The library on XBL is very respectable, though games are added pretty late after release and often carry some pretty wonky prices. Fine tuning is certainly needed, but they've laid an impressive foundation.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

PS3GodLike you mean like the PS2 disc read problems, PS3 GPU or Sony's exploding batteries http://www.youtube.com/watc... or how about laser disc, beta max or OLED TV?

GOD is a great service that has taken off on consoles, maybe Sony should jump in.

[CBaoth]

off PSN before MS wowed you with a dedicated channel filled with 2 yr old games. Yes, yes Sony should jump in.

Let me guess. The next thing you'll tell us is Sony should focus on original content on the PSN and not release a bunch of 10 yr old letterboxed updates w/ trophies?

[ThanatosDMC]

Sony needs to flood more PSX games on the PSN and also add all those PSP games. PSN also needs to have some sort of way to browse those games by genre categories instead of just alphabetical order. PS3 games have it but not PSP and PSX games.

PS2 games would be a welcome addition too.

Also for those who havent bought Burnout Paradise, the complete edition is on PSN for $29.99!! I think, it ends sometime this March.

They should also price their games like Steam.

[-MD-]

I don't think I would purchase a new 60 dollar game through games on demand unless I was guaranteed that it would carry over to the next xbox.

Same goes for PSN. I already cringe when I think about how all my current psn and xbla games go in the trash when the next generation comes around.

[NamelessTed]

You bring up a really good point. I guess I just always assumed that PSN and XBLA titles would work on the next generation of hardware. That would totally suck if they didn't. Same goes for the full games. It would be reassuring to know that any game on GoD would work on whatever next generation of hardware comes out.

[ReservoirDog316]

I never thought of that. I've spent at least $100 on just downloadable games. And that's cause I only just recently realized debit cards work instead of PSN cards and such. So that can double or triple by the time the generation's over. All gone if there's no support on the PS4 or 720 or whatever.

[likedamaster]

You bring up a good point Murder. Bubbles.

Microsoft being masters of their craft, I wouldn't doubt the next console from Microsoft could play current Live titles. Lets hope for our wallets sake I'm not wrong.

[caffman]

having games at even near to current market prices? £15 for perfect dark zero? Your having a laugh! I do like the fact you can buy in points though because you can bring the price down that way but not enough that I would purchase one.

[XDF]

How about PSN not charging $40 for a GT5 Demo. LOL

[Cueil]

Microsoft can't undercut retailers or they will forget to order stuff from Microsoft... with PC and Steam it was already going downhill so the stores could care less

[FreeFalling]

Who never buys Xbox 360 games or PS3 game as a download? I just prefer it on a disc in a box with the cover art and everything than just having it stored "in my hard drive" Idk, that's just me. XBLA games I buy though :]

[Noob]

I prefer having the disc for most of my games too. Some PC games like UT3 and Half-Life 2 give you the best of both worlds. You install the game with the disc and you can play it off the HDD without the disc once it's installed.

[Cueil]

if it isn't on Steam eff that game

[NamelessTed]

When it comes to the PC world, I don't buy a game if it isn't on steam (with the exception of a couple games on Good Old Games). I also don't buy games that have any additional DRM outside having the game tied to my Steam account.

Having a disc in my computer to play a game is just a nuisance. And proving that I can play the game with some ridiculous 24 character string when i reinstall a game, or reformatted my computer, or get a new computer. It just isn't worth it when you look at games from Valve and you install a game with a couple of clicks and you can start playing the game relatively quickly (depending on your internet speed)

[trgz]

oddly I always thought it'd be better for console owners - how many of your mates console discs look like they've been used as mug mats?

[likedamaster]

Having bought so many games in my lifetime, I could go without their cases. At this point, it's just more clutter.

[Brasi82]

You just can't compete with the feeling of physically owning something. Its something to call your own, if you want to sell it then sell it, if you want to keep it in its wrapper for 20 years until it reaches godly amounts of money its up to you. No one in there right mind would buy something virtual unless they eventually wanted to just trash the thing. My $0.02

[-MD-]

Well something like Steam is just as good as physical property because it's always there, it's not going to go away and take your games with it.

Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo should follow Valve's lead and create their own platform on which to download games. Or for example your gamertag is your "steam" and any games you download with that gamercard are forever tied to it from console to console.

Something like that.

[Cartesian3D]

Microsoft doesnt want to mess with retailers.. I think all retailers will kich MS a$$ if they do that..

anyway its a good Idea but 5$(or whatever) cheaper will get MS into trouble.
EDIT :

Just imagine How many stupid people in US or UK come to retailers and say:"which one is better PS3 or 360?"

guess what will be the answer :"P S 3" because in the future they will make more money out of it ..

[champ21]

agreed.

niether microsoft or sony would like to piss of the retail.

though i am sure if any of them was gauranteed the same lvl of sales via DD, they would drop retail in a heart beat. Much more profits in DD.

[champ21]

Consoles going DD wouldnt be a good thing for the console users. First retail sales would plummet(would take time but eventually it would take its toll).

Later on Xbox games will only be sold on GOD while sony games only on PSN (this places the control of prices only in the hands of 2 companies which is a bad thing). With the PC what happens is there is competition you got Steam, d2d, EA, gamestop many more, they all compete against each other to give good deals etc.

If Sony and Microsoft were soley incharge of the DD for consoles there wouldnt be much competition (unlike what we see retailers comepeting with each other), both of these companies might as well charge 59usd for a DD copy (once the retail sales are down), with no one to stop them.

IMO retail dieing on PC has been good for the PC user(DD is convineint for us and there still is competition to ensure we get good deals). Samething seems hard on consoles, IMO retail needs to live on consoles.

[mcgrawgamer]

while I do like using GFWL to keep in contact with some of my buddies who game on the 360. Games On Demand pales in comparison to any other digital service i.e Steam, Impulse, and D2D

I have only 1 game from games on demand - Batman AA for 13 bucks

while on the other hand I have 72 steam games......

MSFT never should have entered this business IMO they are far more vested in console gaming which is the reason why they stopped releasing games for 360/pc to quiet fanboys and hopefully move more console units. Honestly this piss poor tacked on attempt is nothing more than knee jerk reaction to Steams success and the success of other digital services.

[edoman20]

Why? we have steam and dozens of awesome quality services

If they dont want to make a decent service they could go to hell like i care

[maxcer]

what good is GoD when we can't find any 120GB drives in stores and withholding the 250GB for some dumb reason.

[jy_mrnd]

why? Just get games from steam like i do. Last time i went to gamestop was about 3 years ago.PC GAMING FOR LIFE!