Sony is doing some things right
Hardcore Casual Gamer highlights two decisions that suggest Sony is handling some PlayStation 3 issues correctly. First, the online PlayStation Store will not confuse or frustrate shoppers with a deceptive points system; and second, downloadable (original) PlayStation games will cost just $5.We're tired of shelling out for pre-paid Microsoft Points, and then doing a mental conversion every time we want to know how much a chunk of downloadable content really costs -- and we're not looking forward to doing the same on Wii. So we're thrilled Sony has cut that step out of the process; and in doing so, is making that straight-up-five-dollar PlayStation joint look a lot more tempting. Isn't Nintendo charging the same amount for NES games? Wait a minute ... gotta do the conversion ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ross Miller @ Nov 8th 2006 5:34PM
OMG JOYSTIQ BIAS. You guys are sooo pro-Sony!!!1!one!1
Kevin @ Nov 8th 2006 6:31PM
Can't wait to download Final Fantasy VII and watch Aeris die.
snapperdragon @ Nov 8th 2006 6:32PM
Bahh..oh toughie...each Wii point is what...1 cent? Not too tough to figure that one out friends.
TheFallen @ Nov 8th 2006 6:33PM
Hmm... deceptive? It clearly states how much each point package costs, what's so deceptive about that? The system works well to allow parents to order points so that their children can make purchases at will without interfering constantly by ordering every single game themselves.
Jeff @ Nov 8th 2006 6:33PM
If you can't do the simple conversion for Wii points you have bigger issues on your plate to worry about...
jp007 @ Nov 8th 2006 6:38PM
Uh, I don't exactly know how to submit a story to the editors here, but there is an article on Slate.com concerning the PS3 entitled "Is the PlayStation 3 Any Good?A few things I hate—and one thing I love—about Sony's next-gen console."
By Chris Suellentrop Just thought readers might be interested...
Ethan @ Nov 8th 2006 6:48PM
Wow, that is a much better price than nintendo is offering. See, now we know what sony wants to do this generation, and that is to bring the 21st century into everyones home. By charging more initially, they are allowing for future things to be cheaper. The downloadable games are $5.00 for Sony, and $10.00 for nintendo, from the same generation. And online play is completely free, whereas xbox is $50 a year. Its just going to be a lot cheaper in the long run.
courtney @ Nov 8th 2006 6:49PM
to me the points thing is better. Seeing points and not dollar signs makes it easier for me to buy since I am not sure what i am spending.
sony just sucks.
Fish @ Nov 8th 2006 6:49PM
Wait, conversion for the Wii points?
1 Wii point = 1 penny. You'd think even PS3 fanboys could figure that math out. Even though joystiq seems to think it is difficult.
BPM? @ Nov 8th 2006 6:50PM
Andrew, yeah, if anyone has problems converting real cash (well, Yen or US Dollars, anyways... May work differently for other regions) into Wii Points, then they fail at math.
However, Nintendo fails at pricing. Big time. When Sony is offering their entire PlayStation catalog (a fifth generation system) for $5 a game, the same price for an NES download (third genration system) and half the price of an N64 game (also fifth gen), then something is amiss with Virtual Console.
However, with such a competitive price tag, it may cause Nintendo to reconsider the pricing structure for Virtual Console. Here's hoping for 500 Point N64 games, 300 Point Super NES/Genesis/TG-16 games, and 100 Point NES games! :D
(Hey, I can dream, can't I?)
GamerZero @ Nov 8th 2006 6:51PM
I like the MS points system.
It's the best brain-train game I've ever played!
lordroba @ Nov 8th 2006 6:52PM
$5 for a PS1 Game! That's friggin awsome. I remember when Nintendo re-released some of the NES classics for the GBA, like zelda and stuff, and still charged 30$ for them. Anyways, for $5 I'll be downloading a bunch of these. Can't wait to play FFVII, FFVIII, FFIX, and FF Tactics on my PSP. :P
bill pullman @ Nov 8th 2006 6:54PM
joystiq + math = FAILURE.
mykie @ Nov 8th 2006 6:59PM
I don't know about you guys, but I haven't seen the 2000 point Wii points card for any less than $20, usually about $25.
To be honest, I don't think that it's going to be 1 point per penny.
quazz4life @ Nov 8th 2006 7:03PM
What most of you fail to realize, is no "official" PS1 list has come out. you don't know what games you'll be able to download, or if some publishers pull their games from the service altogether.
Ethan @ Nov 8th 2006 7:03PM
Yeah, mykie is right, the wii points cards are $25.00 for 2000 points.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5272700
http://www.pricegrabber.com/p__Nintendo_Wii_Points_Card,__27910549/
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=342677&Pn=Wii_Points_Card
Nintendo fanboys + Math = FAILURE.
George Kitchen @ Nov 8th 2006 7:04PM
ninte'joystiq is teh bias as is ninten'gadget 'n nintendo'kotaku they're analogous to a mario/luigi thong
quazz4life @ Nov 8th 2006 7:07PM
"17. Yeah, mykie is right, the wii points cards are $25.00 for 2000 points.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5272700
http://www.pricegrabber.com/p__Nintendo_Wii_Points_Card,__27910549/
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=342677&Pn=Wii_Points_Card
Nintendo fanboys + Math = FAILURE.
Posted at 7:03PM on Nov 8th 2006 by Ethan "
And what you're not taking into account is how the brick and mortar retailer has to make money off of selling an item. $20 on the Wii. $25 from the store. it's the same thing with World of Warcraft subscription cards.
Kirby @ Nov 8th 2006 7:12PM
Apparently Joystiq thinks that simple math is too hard. No wonder all you do now is post articles about video games.
MetaHuman @ Nov 8th 2006 7:13PM
Either way I wouldn't feel right paying $1.00 for ANY game, NES and upwards. Videogames are not music or TV episodes, I think they deserve more than that. I guess for most people though, a legal avenue of emulation is respect enough. :)
$5.00 is a great price.
@ LORDROBA
Or you could get Animal Crossing and find handy passwords to unlock NES games (there were around 10) including LoZ and SMB. :P
------------------------
As for ETHAN's argument followed by a swipe at fanboys, of course it's going to be a little higher than the exact exchange rate. The retailer's gotta make some money too.
I'd expect it to be the same for PSpoints and XBLpoints through a normal retailer (vs. Online).
FrankTheCrank @ Nov 8th 2006 7:13PM
Man...
what's up with the Sony hatefest?
Everyone seems to have a problem with the PS3. Must be allot of angry 360 owners who got burned. Ouch.
Oh, I can already here it, "we got Halo..." wahhhh...
"we got Gears..." wahhhhh...
Great, have fun with your two games.
As far as I'm concerned, PS3 looks like an unbelievable system, and I'm looking forward to owning one and owning a crapload of kick ass games. I might not get one this Christmas, but the first chance I get, I'm buying one.
The Wii looks interesting as well, but I'm not shelling out close to a grand between the two. So PS3 will do for now.
Playstation Haters, GET OVER IT!! SONY is about to open up a can of whoop ass!
Miniboss @ Nov 8th 2006 7:15PM
"Yeah, mykie is right, the wii points cards are $25.00 for 2000 points.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5272700
http://www.pricegrabber.com/p__Nintendo_Wii_Points_Card,__27910549/
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=342677&Pn=Wii_Points_Card
Nintendo fanboys + Math = FAILURE."
Except that that's the actual physical card. If you bought Wii Points through the actual console, then $20 = 2000 Wii Points. And yes, it has been confirmed (on wii.com, no less) that you can purchase Wii Points through the console.
And yes, you're still buying points. But who cares? It's simple math, and you only have to do the conversion once, unless you suffer from long term memory loss and can't memorize what point values are equivalent to what. I'll give Sony props when all of this actually happens... AND when they don't charge more for more "popular" games.
Ethan @ Nov 8th 2006 7:18PM
What you guys dont realize, is that it is going to cost you more than $20.00 for 2000 points. case and point.
POOLSCLOSED @ Nov 8th 2006 7:18PM
They won't be $5... Trust me.
Rob @ Nov 8th 2006 7:19PM
In a way a points system makes a lot of sense, especially when you're dealing with multiple territories and currencies, because points give the appearance that they're charging the same for one thing in different countries. This won't always be the case though, since the cost of acquiring the points might not be an exact conversion.
$20 for 2000 Wii points should be about £10.50 (£12.34 if you include VAT), but it's expected to cost £14.99, which is nice and round.
Ryan @ Nov 8th 2006 7:20PM
Some people forget that not everyone deals in US Dollars so it isn't always a straight conversion. I hate sony, but I think that it is a very good idea to use the actual cost instead of a points system.
C. Grant @ Nov 8th 2006 7:21PM
Simple math for people living in the US. What about other countries/currencies?
AG @ Nov 8th 2006 7:25PM
I'm with you FrankTheCrank,
Whats with all the hate on Sony? So many of you guys are pathetic. The PS2 was by FAR the best system with the BEST games last generation, what makes you think this generation is gonna be any different. Wow, the Xbox 360 has just sold 6 million consoles(in one year)....
Sell over 100 million like Sony, then we can talk.
When enough PS3's are made and bought up, it will only be a matter of time before many of the exclusive games come back to Sony. That's what happens when you are the leader. I say Xbox 360 has about 1 good year left to make a run, but when the PS3 catches up to it as far as units made it will be lights out for Xbox 360.
The Rev @ Nov 8th 2006 7:33PM
100 ms points is $1.25 omg math is hard!!
thats like 4th grade math
MetaHuman @ Nov 8th 2006 7:35PM
AUGH YOU FANBOIS STOP CUMING UP WITH FAKE IDEAS
HEY HERS MY PERDICTION
Actually, AG, despite their success, they DO have flaws, just like everyone else.
Does it matter which console has the most games? Chances are if I had a different console instead of a GameCube I would still only be able to buy 50 games in the system's lifespan. 'Variety' is great too but obviously the 'variety/or in your view(lack thereof)' was good enough for me. Just because one console has the most variety doesn't mean it has the right thing for me.
@ RYAN and C. GRANT
They probably have local divisions there that would come up with a pricing system, seeing as that some of these will be sold in stores I don't see how they would charged some odd-numbered price.
Omer van Kloeten @ Nov 8th 2006 7:44PM
It's not as if we already have any of the console networks here in Israel (where the XBox 360 isn't out yet, the XBox was never imported and the PS2's network connection was disabled by the importer), but as far as my experience with importers goes, we'll have to make a conversion from points to US$ to NIS (New Israeli Shekel) every time we want to buy something for the Wii or the XBox 360 (and that's after assuming one of the importers will make a groundbreaking move and actually allow a console to go online (and that's after assuming the Wii will even be imported(!))).
I doubt Sony would ever do this (show amounts in NIS) for us, but yay for you guys abroad. -___-#
Sain @ Nov 8th 2006 7:45PM
You guys are missing the point. Joystick is basically saying that having points masking dollars isn't a good idea. Why can't MS/Nintendo do the same?
Are those points really required?
C. Grant @ Nov 8th 2006 7:46PM
THANKS Sain!
Watership @ Nov 8th 2006 8:02PM
Joystiq you don't know what the Sony is doing right yet with the PS3. It's not out yet, the TEST kits everyone has are not retail units, NONE of the store functionality has been shown yet.
Really. Lets see what you have to say a week after it launches.
Ryan @ Nov 8th 2006 8:07PM
@MetaHuman
Yes, here in Australia they say it will be about $30 for 2000 point, so 1.5 cents a point, not so hard, but in say NZ it will probably be something stupid like $35 for 2000 points, which I believe is getting silly.
Sain has got it right, why do we NEED points? ITunes doesn't need it and why is there a need now to balance out pricing so one region pays the same as another region? In Australia (and NZ even more) we always get 'Bent over' on pricing in comparison to USA/Japan, why now use a points system. For example (this is a rough example) the PS3 is going to be sold for around $US500 in the US which means it should be sold for around $AU700 - 800 yet we are stuck paying $AU1000 (not that I am getting a PS3).
Mabui @ Nov 8th 2006 8:11PM
If I recall correctly Wii points are just Yen.. renamed. I mean 1000 wii points costs what? 1000 Yen? If anything its more of a service to Japan than anything else. I don't know why anyone else doesn't seem to realize that..
Daniel @ Nov 8th 2006 8:16PM
yea, cause its so difficult to convert wii points. its so hard to say 500 points is $5.00. yep, thats a toughy. if you ask me, its microsoft. 1600 for $20? thats difficult.
Ryan @ Nov 8th 2006 8:28PM
@Daniel, did you read ANY of the other comments?
snapperdragon @ Nov 8th 2006 8:30PM
"28. Simple math for people living in the US. What about other countries/currencies?
Posted at 7:21PM on Nov 8th 2006 by C. Grant 0 stars"
Not sure...we don't use the complex metric system over here, so it's your problem to figure out what each point costs :)
Icicle0424 @ Nov 8th 2006 8:46PM
"28. Simple math for people living in the US. What about other countries/currencies?"
Who cares?
lol, ok, just kidding, please don't kill me, etc. etc. etc.
Sony's downloadable games are cheaper than Nintendo's VC games by comparison... I guess Sony had a good idea with that one... Can't the PS3 already play PS1 games that are still on cd? Cuz I'm sure one could find a whole box of PS1 games at a yard sale or flea market for less than 5 us dolla...
Sure, I'd like to pay $5 for a N64 game, but I can live with $10, haven't really seen any VCN64 games announced yet that I've really wanted, NES and SNES is another story... Honestly I think that these games should be a lot cheaper (possibly even free!), as a lot of us have already bought these games at full price when they were new.. but I suppose that would be bad for business (though oh-so-good for the gamer)
Sean @ Nov 8th 2006 8:46PM
Bookmans in Arizona sells used PS1 games for 99 cents (used n64 games are considerably more expensive.. even used NES games are more expensive. There doesn't seem to be much of a market for PS1 games.)
My question is, do they keep a record of what you buy? If I buy a PS1 game on the PS3 or a N64 game on the wii.. and then delete it to make room for something else, do I have to pay again or can I just download it?
Ryan @ Nov 8th 2006 9:01PM
@Sean,
I don't know about Sony but Nintendo said it would keep track of you purchases but tehy will be locked to the Wii you bought it on.
potato @ Nov 8th 2006 9:20PM
wow lol, look at all the nintendo fanboys bashing James and downplaying his math skills.
Revo @ Nov 8th 2006 9:28PM
"24. What you guys dont realize, is that it is going to cost you more than $20.00 for 2000 points. case and point."
I take it you posted without seeing what Miniboss wrote, but I can't stand the smug little "case and point" at the end of your post. So let me just reiterate:
"23. Except that that's the actual physical card. If you bought Wii Points through the actual console, then $20 = 2000 Wii Points. And yes, it has been confirmed (on wii.com, no less) that you can purchase Wii Points through the console."
Ian @ Nov 8th 2006 9:48PM
Its a good idea, but would you rather be reminded your spending "points" or real money? I'm not saying Sony is doing something stupid, but you'd rather not remind people their spending real money versus points. What sounds better, "Buy this new picture pack from Sony for .99 cents!" or "Spend 80 points for this awesome picture pack!".
Andrew @ Nov 8th 2006 9:52PM
If you can't handle converting Wii Points to Dollars, you need to reconsider what you spent 1st grade doing.
2000 Wii Points = $20
2000/20 = 100 Wii Points per Dollar
To make it even easier on you, Nintendo is selling games in 100 point intervals
What's a 500 point NES game cost? Oh yeah, $5.00
How about that nifty Super Mario 64? 1000 Wii Points? $10.00
It's easy.
Ryan @ Nov 8th 2006 10:00PM
@Andrew
How about using something that you learned in 1st grade, it is called reading. What about people who don't deal in US Dollars?
Jacob Striegel @ Nov 8th 2006 10:25PM
"Isn't Nintendo charging the same amount for NES games? Wait a minute ... gotta do the conversion ..."
Because 3rd grade math is hard. 100=$1
OMFG!!!1!!1!! Uber Difficult!!!111!!1
Deckardb @ Nov 8th 2006 10:43PM
Since you get to choose your country when you configure the PS3, I'd imagine that any conversion could easily be done for you and we could easily see product prices displayed in the Playstation Store as local currency.
As for using real money values as opposed to points... well.. thank you Sony. I find this to be extremely positive. In fact, I cannot believe some of the comments I've read here where people are actually defending and rationalizing the use of a points system. I don't care how easy of a conversion it is from real money to points. A conversion needs to take place and from a marketing perspective, this is all they are going for. The desire to impulse buy something is greater if you don't immediately see a real dollar value. Points are less tangible than real money, and although, there are lots of people who do the conversion to real money, there are just as many who do not. It's pure marketing and I cannot believe how many people are blind to that fact. When you go to the store and see something priced at $4.99, do you think it's four dollars, or five dollars? You know it's practically 5 dollars, so why do they do this? Simple psychology, that's why.
Frankly, the I like the fact that Sony feels they are providing enough actual value to their downloads where they can be confident enough to display the real price in real dollars right out front. Heck, who wouldn't pay $5 for Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. (I would, if I didn't already own it)
Llenlleawg @ Nov 8th 2006 11:05PM
@Ryan
"How about using something that you learned in 1st grade, it is called reading. What about people who don't deal in US Dollars?"
Of course once you start talking about other curencies, sony's price changes too, thereby defeating the purpose.