SOCOM: Confrontation announced

So.. Sony start their first major move down the path of their ultimate vision of the future: eliminating the retail middleman.

The first traces of a monopoly on pricing says I..

What can I say. You had my respect on these boards till that very moment. Why not get off your high horse and keep things civil? Just because you dont agree with me, doesn't necessitate an unfounded personal attack to be in order. Discussion forums are for just that: discussion. If you dont see eye to eye.. prove me wrong. Otherwise, take your snide remarks to a social environment like a tavern and see what sort of 'feedback' they will get you..

A Virtual Console game or Microtransaction is one thing, but distributing entire games online yourself (thereby effectively cutting out a retailer) is completely another and will be a problem for you and me. In this scenario, Sony can attach any asking price they choose - hence my monopoly statement.

So i'll end with this: Do you want to retract your inappropriate comment and start again, or do you wish to stick to your current practice of 'making friends'? The choice is yours.

I'm yet to buy a full game for the PS3, 360 or Wii online from the companies responsible for making the hardware themselves. Have you?

Im not talking about retailers getting stiffed either. The consumer will get stiffed. Making money from music took a downward spin the moment MP3 compression took on a mainstream appeal. Places like the RIAA knew this and that's why they so aggressively pursue people who illegally download music. Movies, etc.. take backseat to this discussion because quite frankly, my focus is on the effect it will have, should it (limiting purchase of console games online from a respective hardware company) become an accepted / forced norm for console gaming.

You can't honestly tell me that priced digital distribution for current generation console games is practiced in the industry at the moment, let alone what sort of benefits it will offer to the consumer (apart from being able to sit on your ass and let your fitness and health drop into the negatives - which is ideally no real benefit at all). Personally, the notion itself scares me. In the end, it means less choices for us and more power to hardware companies who are in it for profits. Let's face it.. it is obvious from incidents in the past that such companies arent apparently gallant in obtaining said profits either. That's the alarming thing. Whilst still employed at Sony, Kutaragi said himself that the PS4 is envisaged to be digital distribution only.. no hard media. Doesnt this scare you too?

Between you and me.. id rather have the choice to spend money on something physical that mere data. Call me old fashioned, but the choice should be there.


At no point in my prior posts in this thread, did I accuse any of the 'Big 3' of being "evil". I refuse to get drawn into the branding war companies enjoy inciting. As a consumer I have the freedom to enjoy any and all that each have to offer instead of falling into false rivalry with people that dont share the same interests as I.


I am just saying that it's bad news for people like you and me, and my first post entailing the matter was meant to be overboard interms of talking of a foreboding future to come (i would have liked Alec Guinness to have voiced it, Obi-Wan style). Its how I have fun..


Then its a shame Blizzard didnt conform to the same strategy. They'd be able to buy half the planet if they did that. Yet they didnt... makes you wonder why?

The answer is freedom and less restriction to the consumer. The result? Loyalty..


Apology accepted; but it wasnt the melodramatic part that insulted me.. it was being likened to an internet troll; ie.. one who posts rubbish to garner attention, that did it.

I hope you're right. I really do.