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Is STO really doing that badly?

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
I've been keeping an eye on how it's selling... mostly for fun, but i've noticed a disturbing trend. Whether it's online or it's in game stores, the price seems to be drastically dropping over the last few months since launch. In stores, it's gone from a basic copy costing $90 bucks to a basic copy costing $70... Steam has announced a price reduction again so the digital delux edition costs $65 bucks and the basic package costs $42.

4 of the various game stores in Australia are not stocking time cards anymore, EB and Game both state, "We only stock popular game titles" when i asked why.

It just seems like STO is on the downturn in the public eye.

Anyone else been noticing this? (And I dont mean this as a thread for people who complain about the game to just jump in and flame. Find your own thread to take potshots at the devs)
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    count23 wrote: »
    "We only stock popular game titles" when i asked why.

    I somehow doubt anyone really told you this. Since a gametime card is not a title. Also its just not professional and doesnt sound like something a manager of a retail store would say.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Price drops are common in MMO's. STO outsold ME2 for the month of February.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Um. This is strange. I remember reading this exact post from someone like a month ago.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    JamesH2010 wrote:
    I somehow doubt anyone really told you this. Since a gametime card is not a title. Also its just not professional and doesnt sound like something a manager of a retail store would say.

    Doubt it all you want, the EB clerk told me that to my face, EXACT QUOTE.

    As for Game, well they didnt say it exactly like that, the guy behind the counter rambled on about sales influencing decisions for a while, but it was the same gist.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    JamesH2010 wrote:
    I somehow doubt anyone really told you this. Since a gametime card is not a title. Also its just not professional and doesnt sound like something a manager of a retail store would say.

    Ive had the same reaction from a employee to a friend of mine, as he cant afford a lts. Gamestop in the mall by my house

    Him: Why dont you stock STO Time Cards?
    Them: We only stock time cards for "popular titles"

    I was kinda ****ed when he said that
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    count23 wrote: »
    I've been keeping an eye on how it's selling... mostly for fun, but i've noticed a disturbing trend. Whether it's online or it's in game stores, the price seems to be drastically dropping over the last few months since launch. In stores, it's gone from a basic copy costing $90 bucks to a basic copy costing $70... Steam has announced a price reduction again so the digital delux edition costs $65 bucks and the basic package costs $42.

    4 of the various game stores in Australia are not stocking time cards anymore, EB and Game both state, "We only stock popular game titles" when i asked why.

    It just seems like STO is on the downturn in the public eye.

    Anyone else been noticing this? (And I dont mean this as a thread for people who complain about the game to just jump in and flame. Find your own thread to take potshots at the devs)

    You're speaking Australian Dollars, of course...
    In the US the game has been selling very slowly after launch. Gamestop has shown that it is selling less than a copy per week (since there are 6457 stores though, its not like we're talking about a tiny number). Best Buy wouldn't comment on the sales, but agreed with the assessment Gamestop offered. As did a few other retailers in the local area. No comments from online retailers, however, nor Walmart.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Subscription-based games drop in price rapidly relative to other games to try and draw in the people that're still on the fence after the initial burst of subscriptions. As for actual numbers, nobody knows any exact number but as Jack has stated in the interview posted, they've (at the very least) reached their subscription goal so STO will be around for a while.

    Of course, this bit of logic will probably be drowned out by the cries of DOOM so meh.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Ive had the same reaction from a employee to a friend of mine, as he cant afford a lts. Gamestop in the mall by my house

    Him: Why dont you stock STO Time Cards?
    Them: We only stock time cards for "popular titles"

    I was kinda ****ed when he said that

    If I was you I would call gamestop corporate and tell them about it. File a formal complaint. I know the gamestop here has a great manager and the guy has not only gametime cards for pretty much everything you can imagine but they still had a couple collectors edition STO boxes. I didnt buy one cause they still want $80 for them tho heh.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Tcsola2003 wrote:
    Subscription-based games drop in price rapidly relative to other games to try and draw in the people that're still on the fence after the initial burst of subscriptions. As for actual numbers, nobody knows any exact number but as Jack has stated in the interview posted, they've (at the very least) reached their subscription goal so STO will be around for a while.

    Of course, this bit of logic will probably be drowned out by the cries of DOOM so meh.

    Yes, I gues when yer this close to a game like this, it skews the perception, but I dont remember any other MMO Ive ever played drop in price as fast as this game has
    JamesH2010 wrote:
    If I was you I would call gamestop corporate and tell them about it. File a formal complaint. I know the gamestop here has a great manager and the guy has not only gametime cards for pretty much everything you can imagine but they still had a couple collectors edition STO boxes. I didnt buy one cause they still want $80 for them tho heh.

    Yeah, im not too happy with this store anyways as it has a qwhole half a shelf of PC titles, and half of that is used, but its the only one in my area withing non rediculous driving distance so its the one im stuck with. My friend said he fired off an angry email to Gamestop HQ but he hasnt gotten a reply yet.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Yes, I gues when yer this close to a game like this, it skews the perception, but I dont remember any other MMO Ive ever played drop in price as fast as this game has

    I bought the entire Guild Wars pack - all three campaigns, plus the expansion - for twenty bucks, three weeks after the expansion was released.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    JamesH2010 wrote:
    I somehow doubt anyone really told you this. Since a gametime card is not a title. Also its just not professional and doesnt sound like something a manager of a retail store would say.

    Hell if I worked at a game store I so would..:p
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    JamesH2010 wrote:
    If I was you I would call gamestop corporate and tell them about it. File a formal complaint. I know the gamestop here has a great manager and the guy has not only gametime cards for pretty much everything you can imagine but they still had a couple collectors edition STO boxes. I didnt buy one cause they still want $80 for them tho heh.

    As of last week, Gamestop did not have STO cards on sale nor did they have an impending SKU for it. Which is why I wrote to Cryptic and asked if the Champions Online cards could be used for STO...but they never responded. A fact, use it as you wish.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Yes, I gues when yer this close to a game like this, it skews the perception, but I dont remember any other MMO Ive ever played drop in price as fast as this game has

    True here heh. I wonder sometimes about whats going on when a game less than 2 months from release is practically being given away. Hope your investment pays off heh. I know you are familiar with hellgate:london from another post.

    I worry because it seems this is a long line of bad decisions from Cryptic. While well meaning they keep shooting themselves in the foot at EVERY turn. Giving away the game for half price with 60 days free less than a month after release while seems like a good idea ended up costing them subscribers. Then they add all these lifer perks and while I have no problem with it to me its way too soon.

    I know the marketing guys are well meaning but someone needs to sit them down and explain what happened and how to avoid this in the future. Some people were on the fence and this pushed them off. Not everyone just accepts things like this. Also this game is not THAT great where they can continue to make these poorly timed "promos" and keep making money.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Tcsola2003 wrote:
    Subscription-based games drop in price rapidly relative to other games to try and draw in the people that're still on the fence after the initial burst of subscriptions. As for actual numbers, nobody knows any exact number but as Jack has stated in the interview posted, they've (at the very least) reached their subscription goal so STO will be around for a while.

    Of course, this bit of logic will probably be drowned out by the cries of DOOM so meh.

    It's word of mouth, not initial advertising, that sells MMOs anyway.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    yes, read what I said:
    Yes, I guess when yer this close to a game like this, it skews the perception, but I dont remember any other MMO Ive ever played drop in price as fast as this game has

    So, unless you want me to list every single MMO Ive ever dabbled in, listing games IVE never played doesnt help.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    yes, read what I said:



    So, unless you want me to list every single MMO Ive ever dabbled in, listing games IVE never played doesnt help.

    Hey, I'm not saying you're wrong. I was just saying.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    nixboox wrote: »
    As of last week, Gamestop did not have STO cards on sale nor did they have an impending SKU for it. Which is why I wrote to Cryptic and asked if the Champions Online cards could be used for STO...but they never responded. A fact, use it as you wish.

    I didnt specifically ask if they had STO gametime cards. They have a whole wall of them for pretty much every other game you can imagine (some I didnt even know existed). I did notice 2 STO collectors editions but with a price of $80 they arent going to sell. I can buy from Atari for what $20-30 less?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    It's word of mouth, not initial advertising, that sells MMOs anyway.

    If this is the case we are doomed for sure.


    (kiddin hehe)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    The gamestop by my house doesn't even stock PC games at all "because PC games don't sell" the manager says. Once the units have been sold from Atari to Retailers - they have control over the price they want to sell the game at (thus the whole MSuggestedRP thing).
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    JamesH2010 wrote:
    True here heh. I wonder sometimes about whats going on when a game less than 2 months from release is practically being given away. Hope your investment pays off heh. I know you are familiar with hellgate:london from another post.

    Funny thing: Best Buy near my house is still trying to sell HGL at full box price. I keep telling them that the game is dead and theres no multiplayer anymore but they keep telling me that thats what the publishers last told them to price it at. I keep then, telling them that Flagship no longer exists, and I get essentially told "If you dont want it, dont buy it".
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    dstahl wrote: »
    The gamestop by my house doesn't even stock PC games at all "because PC games don't sell" the manager says. Once the units have been sold from Atari to Retailers - they have control over the price they want to sell the game at (thus the whole MSuggestedRP thing).

    Sure seem to sell at my gamestop. The manager is an avid PC gamer. I love the guy because he plays MMOs like I do. I guess I am extremely lucky.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    dstahl wrote: »
    The gamestop by my house doesn't even stock PC games at all "because PC games don't sell" the manager says. Once the units have been sold from Atari to Retailers - they have control over the price they want to sell the game at (thus the whole MSuggestedRP thing).

    I'd so love to say something, but I'd probably get the banhammer, and don't feel like bringing up a dead horse, anyway.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Funny thing: Best Buy near my house is still trying to sell HGL at full box price. I keep telling them that the game is dead and theres no multiplayer anymore but they keep telling me that thats what the publishers last told them to price it at. I keep then, telling them that Flagship no longer exists, and I get essentially told "If you dont want it, dont buy it".

    Ya dont get me started about Best Buy. Id rather buy games from Wal-Mart.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    dstahl wrote: »
    The gamestop by my house doesn't even stock PC games at all "because PC games don't sell" the manager says. Once the units have been sold from Atari to Retailers - they have control over the price they want to sell the game at (thus the whole MSuggestedRP thing).

    lol according to guy back there, we shouldnt believe this as its unprofessional etc
    j/k
    Maybe so, but this is truth. Its why my local GS doesnt get much business from me.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    dstahl wrote: »
    The gamestop by my house doesn't even stock PC games at all "because PC games don't sell" the manager says. Once the units have been sold from Atari to Retailers - they have control over the price they want to sell the game at (thus the whole MSuggestedRP thing).

    That's okay, one by my house (there are 5 by my house though) is politely called the "Wii store" because the entire front of it and one whole wall is devoted to Wii and its games. The back two walls are for Xbox and PS3 with one half of one free-standing rack devoted to PC games. And the rest is PS2 games...go figure.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    I bought the entire Guild Wars pack - all three campaigns, plus the expansion - for twenty bucks, three weeks after the expansion was released.

    Wasn't Eyes of the North released at $20? It kinda makes sense for them to bundle the original GW and Factions/etc along with it as sales for those two games have probably dried up at that point and it'll sorta kinda entice more people to buy the expansion.
    dstahl wrote: »
    The gamestop by my house doesn't even stock PC games at all "because PC games don't sell" the manager says. Once the units have been sold from Atari to Retailers - they have control over the price they want to sell the game at (thus the whole MSuggestedRP thing).

    My GameStop has one shelf in the corner that has a bunch of old dented/broken PC game boxes still on sale. To be honest, I don't blame them.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Tcsola2003 wrote:
    Wasn't Eyes of the North released at $20? It kinda makes sense for them to bundle the original GW and Factions/etc along with it as sales for those two games have probably dried up at that point and it'll sorta kinda entice more people to buy the explanation.

    EOTN was 30 bucks by where I live, IIRC. Either way, the whole freaking game for the price of expansion is still a hell of a deal.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    I think in most cases, individual stores in large chains don't really have a clue. Case in point, my local bestbuy was selling Tabula Rasa for full price three months after the servers shut down. I wonder if they gave refunds to any poor sucker that bought it only to realize he couldn't play it.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Price drops are common in MMO's. STO outsold ME2 for the month of February.

    On PC*

    Failing to add that is misleading.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited March 2010
    Gamestop is an inconsistent chain of stores. What is considered immutable in one store another store will happily carry out.

    Most Gamestops that have a smaller footprint (such as an in-line mall store or strip mall location barely larger than an average household living room) will refuse to carry PC products. Some larger ones may do the same in an area that sells more consoles than PC titles.

    Or it could be the manager/regional manager just not wanting to sell any MMO item except Cult of Blizzard related swag. Hard to argue the demand of a multi-million sub game compared to games that run less than 200K subscribers... which is almost all of them. There's a lot more profit selling client discs and game cards for Blizzard than games with a more diluted player base.

    I don't care... I still hate World of Warcraft. Always have.
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