I think he--and a lot of people--aren't objecting to GameStop making money--I mean, they're in business to be profitable--but it's HOW they make their money that people often find aggravating.
It's not uncommon for them to give $15 for a new game, barely days old, and then resell it for almost full price. I could see them giving smaller amounts for crappy games--a bad game is less likely to resell--but when they're giving $15 for new copies of CoD4 and Uncharted (as they have a...
Those of us in North America get the royal screw job from them, too...and we don't like it either. Sorry that they're now exporting their lousy business model.
Over the years, about a third of the games I've bought for various systems have been used and second-hand, and many times I've found a few gems stashed away in some forgotten corner (snagged a few good PS1 games that way).
Recently, I managed to get both Assassins' Creed AND Mass Effect from a used game store...and I didn't pay a dime for either one. I had enough accumulated store credit (from reselling games, CDs, and movies) to pay for them.
Point is, the 3rd p...
Why do I keep coming back?
Well, I'm either a glutton for punishment (LOL), or I have some very good reasons why I've stuck with 360 through multiple failed consoles:
Games.
Xbox Live.
The crack-like addiction commonly referred to as "achievements."
Plus, I've invested a lot in my system, so starting over at this point would be expensive...and honestly, there's not that much on the PS3 that appeals to me. No,...
10% would be MUCH better than the 30% (or so) failure rate it has experienced so far. Could the Jasper model get it under 10%?
I hope we have seen the beginning of the end of the dreaded RRoD:I mean, I'm on my fifth 360 since Oct. 2006...anything that makes the hardware more reliable is certainly welcome.
Blu-Ray add-on for the 360?
I'd buy it.
I've wanted HD movies for a while now, but I decided to wait until the format war was decided before choosing a format. It looks like BR will come out on top.
And, for the record, I DO NOT regret my console choice one bit. Some would say I could have bought the PS3 and had a gaming/BR package all in one. True. But I couldn't have played BioShock, or Mass Effect, or Halo 3, or many other games that I enjoy.
...
Best gaming year ever?
Good point. Forgot about that one.
Own/have played all of them...except CoD4 (haven't bought it yet).
A couple of honorable mentions:
--Overlord (seriously, try it)
--PGR 4 (sadly overlooked in last fall's killer lineup)
There's one good thing to all those delays:
2007's lineup was so crowded with major titles, that if MGS4, Alan Wake, etc. had made their debut before the end of the year, there's a chance that they--or other quality games--might have gotten lost in the shuffle.
Besides, it gives us gamers something to look forward to over the next year.
We have reps from each company who come in and maintain our demos and kiosks every few weeks (plus they often have sweet schwag to give out). If a system malfunctions, we have retailer support numbers we can call and get the system fixed or replaced, usually within a few days.
And that's an option for ALL retailers, not just Best Buy. Sounds like people at some stores don't care, or just don't know.
So far, we've been through just two 360s (believe it or not), tw...
--On the technical side, they need to fix the framerate and graphical pop-in.
--Also, please eliminate the elevators...just a quick load screen and be done with it.
--Maybe have some combat involving the Normandy itself. Good space-based flight shooters are few and far-between.
--No more of this "finish the majority of the game with X squad member BS." You should be able to rotate members as needed w/o screwing yourself on achievement p...
"This one is aroused...yes, this one likes that, don't you, b*tch."
It's like the screen comparisons for Beowulf on PS3 and 360...does it matter when the game's this bad?
"8: Singing is awesome:"
I love the idiots who try to emulate their favorite rapper/metal band.
Or worse, create a rap of their own.
"10: Team members who score are kill stealers:"
Once, while playing CTF on Halo 2, I had a guy on my team blow up at me because I scored the final point before he could get his 20th kill.
"2: Noobs are scum:"
Especially potty-mouthed 12-year-o...
Gotta love that mute button...
Many times when I've played Halo 3, I've left my headset off. I let my actions speak for themselves.
"Also for sale...nice CD player, will play CDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs...also compatible with something called SACD. Free Newton with purchase."
Sorry, Toshiba, but it's over. I'm not a Sony fan, to be sure, but I think that WB's move to Blu-Ray effectively ends the format war.
Maybe this is a way to move soon-to-be-obsolete inventory, or just a last, desperate attempt to go down swinging.
I said I'd wait until the format war was decided one way or another before choosing one...
...after all, one friend's father got stuck with a ton of Betamax tapes, and another friend owns a lot of SACDs...
Thank God. I though we were going to have another Jack Thompson on our hands.
Anyone who's seen the "sex scene" in Mass Effect knows that it's far less graphic than the infamous Hot Coffee...mostly just soft lighting and bodies in motion. Wouldn't even qualify as softcore, to be honest.