I was pleasantly surprised when it was announced that Mass Effect 2 PS3 would be launching simultaneously on the PSN and at retail.
A surprise of a different nature followed shortly after when the near £50 price tag was revealed. It seems that despite this, and the initial 24GB download (reduced to 12GB post-install) the PSN version did well. EA CEO, John Riccitiello, had the following to say:
“Sony had never done a day and day release. They were very cautious about their infrastructure so it was mostly a technology test. This was really more about proving it can be done than it was proving what the opportunity would be, so an unmarketed game one year after the original was done on the Xbox and the PC, we released the PS3 and managed to do very, very well with it.”
He then added that even though EA did “absolutely nothing” to market the PS3 version, the total sales on the PSN reached a double-digit percentage of the overall sales. Did any of you take the plunge?
Source: IGN
tonycawley
A lot of people will have game shared it, myself included, and personally I was very chuffed to get it for 24 quid. Secondly there are a lot of places in Europe where retail games are around 60 quid, so 48 represents a bargain.
Pete_UK
Wow, it sold that few physical copies?
Pete_UK
My comment should not have been a reply to Tonys.. :/
Sympozium
lol gamesharing
Soild_Nat
10% would be double digit… interesting that it was more an experiment on Sony’s side then EA’s. I would hate to see the future of gaming going this way, digital downloads enable the price to be fixed at a higher amount and rarely discounted. I have just picked this up from Game for £22 a month after its release… the PSN version is still sat at £47. For me this is the reason we need to support and keep our local game shops so that discounts and promotions can continue and we can pick up great games for a more reasonable price!
I guess some people just like the ease of not getting up and putting a disk in and are willing to pay extra for the privilege.
dirtyhabit
Where he says Sony have never done a day and day release does he mean the similtanious release at retail and digital. I seem to remember them making a right balls up of the GT5 prologue release. Didn’t the PSN version end up 2 or 3 days late?
Bodachi
I can’t see why you would buy it from the store. It is so much cheap buying online.
dammspi
i did not take the plunge. But i will soon. Waiting for it to go second hand
maneorix
I’d pick up a cheap mint copy instead. If you get it second hand, you’ll miss out on some awesome (free) DLC. You won’t save much now on a second hand copy anyway..
Sympozium
apprantly its £25 somewhere…
TheDeathAvenger
ShopTo have it for £24.85, next day delivery.
mrfodder
I’d say a lot of the sales were in the US where the retail price of €60 and psn store price matched. As always price doesn’t come down on psn store. It is now half the price in my local Gamestop even less online.
mugsybalone
I was quite prepared to pick it up off PSN until I saw the price, and the fact that it wasn’t on the store. Completely negated any bonus of not having to get it delivered or not having to go in to the city (I’m just simple country folk) to get a copy. I could’ve had it on launch for less than the PSN price, considerably so when taking into account the lack of the Cerberus Pack DLC (an additional £12). The only way I can think of to advocate that expense would’ve gamesharing – and I thought Sony took a dim view of that?
Trupl0
Gameshared between me and 3 friends. It was 59.99$ and my share was 10.75 €.
Deal of the month :D
blackredyellow
I’m amazed it did so well! Can’t see why people would not only pay more, but also have it using up all that HDD space. The only positive would be having the convenience of just click ‘x’ and play.
aphex187
“Did any of you take the plunge?”……….did i ****!