Not everyone in PC Retail sales is clueless...just those who have been doing it for more than a few years. Usually the only real talent in retail are college students just doing the retail stuff on the side while going to school. Once they have the piece of paper or otherwise get a job more befitting of their skills, they are gone.
Exactly. It was more about attach rates than anything else. I remember seeing people getting grilled by managers if they didn't have every single little accessory go out the door with a desktop or laptop computer, even if the person buying was replacing a computer and already had most of what they needed, or someone buying a 27" TV for their kids room and not getting a power center and surround sound system with it.
The way it works at BBY (worked there years back so I have some insight) is that they have goals to meet as a department, but they are not on commission. The goals generally have to do with straight up sales, attach rates (accessories), and service/repair plan attach rates. Generally speaking there's not anything in the way of monetary rewards for meeting these goals, for the line employees, but if your numbers are high your chances of promoting up are very good, and if not, well you will forever be stuck in the purgatory of being the bum who gets stuck with the short stick when hours are handed out.
The only problem I see is that as game makers realize that this is occuring, they aren't following your logic (which I deem valid by the way) and decreasing the price of games to make them more competitive, but instead are increasing the price of games (especially collectors editions, which are topping 80-90 bucks now) to counter what they perceive as a lost source of revenue (that being the late purchases after discounts are marked on standing shelf product). So I guess the real problem is that the publishers are not following logic.
I don't disagree, and as far as PC gaming being fine, I think it is as well, but there is no denying that it has changed quite a bit over the last decade. Gone are the days where there is a whole store devoted to PC games (anyone remember Software Etc. before EB Bought them out, and they didn't even have console games but just PC Games and Software) and gone are the days where all the absolute best games were only on the PC because game systems just couldn't handle that level of graphics and gameplay. I remember getting Wing Commander boxed set that had 1-5, man that was a kick ass game set. Those sort of days, IMO, are long gone. I think in the near future, you will see even the big retailers abandon the big PC Game Isles and go to more of a tiny section like Gamestop, since I have a strong feeling it won't be too long before most PC games are distributed via services like Steam and Direct2Drive (which by the way is a big steaming pile of dog doo, but just used as an example, I do however love Steam as it makes it very easy to uninstall and reinstall games when I start running out of HDD space).
Can you honestly say that Gamestop hasn't completely fucked up the game market, both PC and Console. PC, by basically saying fuck PC games because we can't make free money off of them (they used to but they were so restrictive on what PC games could be traded in and they couldn't charge big bucks for the used pc games that they stopped taking them) and the console games by decreasing 1st sales from the game makers that they decided to raise the prices on the current gen games to compensate (because I honestly do think that if Gamestop had been barred from dealing in used games back when they went to court over it, we'd still be paying 49.99 for new console games).
I do love the current rise of the indie game scene, because it has really reshaped the PC Game market, but don't expect it to make a huge dent in the console market, since the big three still control the hardware and you can't legally market a retail console game without basically paying what amounts to a bribe to the console maker (they refer to it as licensing fees).
I'm saying it's an argument beaten to death and who really gives a fuck? There is DRM, and no amount of nerds bitching is going to make it go away. Boycotting products that use it will make it go away, but honestly 90% of the DRM out there doesn't compromise systems the way people make it out to be, and most (but not all) of the people who hate DRM are the ones who go through the trouble of hacking it so they can pirate (steal) software. I'm against DRM, but honestly I have bigger issues in my life to complain about than DRM and to be quite honest, I don't sit up at night saying to myself "God damn those fucking companies and their DRM, what the fuck?" It sucks but it doesn't stop me from playing my games (only once have I had a problem where changing hardware locked me out of a game, and a call to their customer service fixed the problem).
Hello, my name good SIR is Butrous Butrous Gali IV and it pleases me much to tell you of my great uncles passing.
Perhaps I can be of nice assistance to you and your cause. You see, my great uncle has left me $150,000,000.00 from his business ventures. However, his will has indicated that it must all be given away to good causes and this little pleases me, as I have 9 children and three wives, and they must all eat.
We can help each other. I can send this money to you, and in return I just ask for a small bit of money so that I can send the money to you finely and have enough to feed my chidren. Please email me at butrousbotrousbiggrls69@hotmail.nz with the account number and routing number of the account you wish these funds to be distributed to and I will send it out much quickly.
Actually you only have to report gifts once they reach a certain value. Not sure of the exact amount off the top of my head but I know it increases somewhat every year.
I guess it is tough to expect fellow geeks to understand this, but they are just games. If you don't like DRM, don't play games with DRM. If all games end up having DRM and you still don't like it, guess what? You can survive without playing video games. I went a whole two weeks one time without playing and had no permanent side effects. Honest.
I have to admit, I'd love it if used game sales via a retailer was outlawed, and only individual resale was allowed (such as garage sales, etc). Gamestop is the spawn of satan as far as I am concerned, not to mention a pawn shop.
You didn't even touch on the casual game market for the PC, which is really booming and creating tons of revenue for game makers like Pop Cap. I haven't seen the sales numbers for Plants vs. Zombies, but I'm sure it'd make us all salivate, and the budget to make that game obviously wasn't astronomical. The PC Gaming market isn't dead, it has just evolved into more of a focus on less hardcore games and more digital distribution. There are still hardcore games (Starcraft 2, Diablo 3, etc) and still retail distribution, but both are the minority.
Sanderson is not the one who decided to split the book into three books; Jordan's wife is the one who made that call, and the one who is the editor and final decision maker on everything related to the final book(s). Get your facts straight.
How can people who never read it know that it's garbage, either. How about you take a dose of your own medicine. If you don't like it, that's your perogotive, but don't start slamming anyone who calls out people who are basically talking shit about someone's books without actually having read them.
Thank you for that, agree 100%. Some people just seem intent on kicking Jordan when in fact his writing is pretty damn good. The story does drag a bit in the middle novels, but overall about 90% of the rest of fantasy writing is drivel compared to Jordan's stuff.
You forget about the gateway to hell that will open up eventually. So need to send at least one space marine to clean the shit up once it hits the fan.
Slashdot Mirror
Not everyone in PC Retail sales is clueless...just those who have been doing it for more than a few years. Usually the only real talent in retail are college students just doing the retail stuff on the side while going to school. Once they have the piece of paper or otherwise get a job more befitting of their skills, they are gone.
And on the left, we have the dummy who didn't get the joke. See what I did there?
Exactly. It was more about attach rates than anything else. I remember seeing people getting grilled by managers if they didn't have every single little accessory go out the door with a desktop or laptop computer, even if the person buying was replacing a computer and already had most of what they needed, or someone buying a 27" TV for their kids room and not getting a power center and surround sound system with it.
The way it works at BBY (worked there years back so I have some insight) is that they have goals to meet as a department, but they are not on commission. The goals generally have to do with straight up sales, attach rates (accessories), and service/repair plan attach rates. Generally speaking there's not anything in the way of monetary rewards for meeting these goals, for the line employees, but if your numbers are high your chances of promoting up are very good, and if not, well you will forever be stuck in the purgatory of being the bum who gets stuck with the short stick when hours are handed out.
The only problem I see is that as game makers realize that this is occuring, they aren't following your logic (which I deem valid by the way) and decreasing the price of games to make them more competitive, but instead are increasing the price of games (especially collectors editions, which are topping 80-90 bucks now) to counter what they perceive as a lost source of revenue (that being the late purchases after discounts are marked on standing shelf product). So I guess the real problem is that the publishers are not following logic.
for the movie, starring Jeff Goldblum and Sam Neill
I don't disagree, and as far as PC gaming being fine, I think it is as well, but there is no denying that it has changed quite a bit over the last decade. Gone are the days where there is a whole store devoted to PC games (anyone remember Software Etc. before EB Bought them out, and they didn't even have console games but just PC Games and Software) and gone are the days where all the absolute best games were only on the PC because game systems just couldn't handle that level of graphics and gameplay. I remember getting Wing Commander boxed set that had 1-5, man that was a kick ass game set. Those sort of days, IMO, are long gone. I think in the near future, you will see even the big retailers abandon the big PC Game Isles and go to more of a tiny section like Gamestop, since I have a strong feeling it won't be too long before most PC games are distributed via services like Steam and Direct2Drive (which by the way is a big steaming pile of dog doo, but just used as an example, I do however love Steam as it makes it very easy to uninstall and reinstall games when I start running out of HDD space).
Can you honestly say that Gamestop hasn't completely fucked up the game market, both PC and Console. PC, by basically saying fuck PC games because we can't make free money off of them (they used to but they were so restrictive on what PC games could be traded in and they couldn't charge big bucks for the used pc games that they stopped taking them) and the console games by decreasing 1st sales from the game makers that they decided to raise the prices on the current gen games to compensate (because I honestly do think that if Gamestop had been barred from dealing in used games back when they went to court over it, we'd still be paying 49.99 for new console games).
I do love the current rise of the indie game scene, because it has really reshaped the PC Game market, but don't expect it to make a huge dent in the console market, since the big three still control the hardware and you can't legally market a retail console game without basically paying what amounts to a bribe to the console maker (they refer to it as licensing fees).
I'm saying it's an argument beaten to death and who really gives a fuck? There is DRM, and no amount of nerds bitching is going to make it go away. Boycotting products that use it will make it go away, but honestly 90% of the DRM out there doesn't compromise systems the way people make it out to be, and most (but not all) of the people who hate DRM are the ones who go through the trouble of hacking it so they can pirate (steal) software. I'm against DRM, but honestly I have bigger issues in my life to complain about than DRM and to be quite honest, I don't sit up at night saying to myself "God damn those fucking companies and their DRM, what the fuck?" It sucks but it doesn't stop me from playing my games (only once have I had a problem where changing hardware locked me out of a game, and a call to their customer service fixed the problem).
Hello, my name good SIR is Butrous Butrous Gali IV and it pleases me much to tell you of my great uncles passing.
Perhaps I can be of nice assistance to you and your cause. You see, my great uncle has left me $150,000,000.00 from his business ventures. However, his will has indicated that it must all be given away to good causes and this little pleases me, as I have 9 children and three wives, and they must all eat.
We can help each other. I can send this money to you, and in return I just ask for a small bit of money so that I can send the money to you finely and have enough to feed my chidren. Please email me at butrousbotrousbiggrls69@hotmail.nz with the account number and routing number of the account you wish these funds to be distributed to and I will send it out much quickly.
You don't have to be smart and logical to get into Congress. Just ask anyone who lives in Minnesota.
Fucking sweet, I've been waiting for Flashy Graphics Sequel 9 to come out. Do you know the release date?
You are an atheist? God damnit. I'm sorry, what did you say again?
Actually you only have to report gifts once they reach a certain value. Not sure of the exact amount off the top of my head but I know it increases somewhat every year.
I realize I'm dreaming here, but maybe someday, people will learn to mistrust what they see and hear in the 'media'.
Hi, welcome to the 21st Century, you must be new here, let me show you around...
I guess it is tough to expect fellow geeks to understand this, but they are just games. If you don't like DRM, don't play games with DRM. If all games end up having DRM and you still don't like it, guess what? You can survive without playing video games. I went a whole two weeks one time without playing and had no permanent side effects. Honest.
Do you realize that PunkBuster is a multiplayer anti-cheating system, not DRM, you stupid fuck.
I have to admit, I'd love it if used game sales via a retailer was outlawed, and only individual resale was allowed (such as garage sales, etc). Gamestop is the spawn of satan as far as I am concerned, not to mention a pawn shop.
You didn't even touch on the casual game market for the PC, which is really booming and creating tons of revenue for game makers like Pop Cap. I haven't seen the sales numbers for Plants vs. Zombies, but I'm sure it'd make us all salivate, and the budget to make that game obviously wasn't astronomical. The PC Gaming market isn't dead, it has just evolved into more of a focus on less hardcore games and more digital distribution. There are still hardcore games (Starcraft 2, Diablo 3, etc) and still retail distribution, but both are the minority.
Your mom
She was also the editor of all of Jordan's books. Google is a fucking wonder, eh?
Sanderson is not the one who decided to split the book into three books; Jordan's wife is the one who made that call, and the one who is the editor and final decision maker on everything related to the final book(s). Get your facts straight.
How can people who never read it know that it's garbage, either. How about you take a dose of your own medicine. If you don't like it, that's your perogotive, but don't start slamming anyone who calls out people who are basically talking shit about someone's books without actually having read them.
Thank you for that, agree 100%. Some people just seem intent on kicking Jordan when in fact his writing is pretty damn good. The story does drag a bit in the middle novels, but overall about 90% of the rest of fantasy writing is drivel compared to Jordan's stuff.
You forget about the gateway to hell that will open up eventually. So need to send at least one space marine to clean the shit up once it hits the fan.