Retailers don't want to stock PSP Go?
Trouble for Sony as store kick-back at digital handheld
The PSP Go's move to a digital distribution model may be a step-forward, but traditional games retailers are less than impressed with Sony's attempts to drop the physical UMD media format.
Retailers are of course concerned that they are being cut out of the loop by the hardware giant, with one Dutch outlet - Nedgame - refusing to stock the new handheld device, due out in October.
According to reports, the firm publicly is less than enamored of the device's 250 Euro price point, with a number of French retailers also said to be kicking up a fuss, presumably because they too would really like to sell games on the format. The PSP-3000, which used UMD discs, will still be stocked.
In related news, another retailer found struggling is Blockbuster, the giant US rentals chain also coming under pressure from the digital world. Apparently, the company will close over 800 stores by the end of 2010.
We'll have more on the rise of digital as we get it. Thanks CNET and Engadget.
Comments
From a business standpoint, especially, I really, really hope that we don't carry the PSP Go. It completely defeats our entire business cycle - beyond that, also moves us into an era of buying things that "aren't really ours." We can't use digital downloads like real live things, by selling, trading, renting, borrowing, etc etc. Its retarded.
Retarted indeed.
Digital distribution is coming and not stocking the platform isn't going to stop it. Stupid move in an attempt to save an outmoded business model.
Heh.. Funny thing is, the usual way digital rights are worded is that you're only "renting" the media anyway. But what do they expect? Big companies are pushing digital distribution which means physical distribution stores are going to be left out.
Although, there's several reasons digital is not yet up to scratch.
1: They're usually the same price online as in stores. That's lame.. If stores are out of the loop, then the price should go down.
2: This relies on digital distribution being available to all. Here in Aus, we pay for both the speed of our internet and also data, and speeds aren't even that great. Which means going digital is a long way off yet.
I agree with you on pricing. That will need to be sorted out.
Australia and other outlying territories (such as South Africa) with poor broadband provision aren't very big markets so won't halt the march to digital distribution. That said this problem will be solved in the coming years too, as governments force private business to sort out the infrastructure (which is already happening down under).