Bravely Default is here!

HOORAY!

A picture of my cat, posed with my copy of Bravely Default. She's very photogenic.

Everyone at the store has been playing the Bravely Default demo for weeks, because we're those sorts of people. We've also been telling everyone to pre-order it, because both Nintendo handheld releases and JRPG* releases in general are usually a nightmare of underavailability.

I still have lingering trauma from the Fire Emblem: Awakening release.

Anyway, I wasn't working today, so I made a super special trip to the store to pick up my reserved copy. Sure enough, the store was already sold out, because we only got enough copies to cover our reserves. As I was standing in the store, a frumpy JRPG nerd stomped up to the register.

"DO YOU HAVE BRAVELY DEFAULT!?"

"No," said bossbro. "We can order it for you, or you can download it from the eShop."

Frumpy JRPG nerd stomped his way back out of the store.

What follows is an open message to my fellow JRPG people:

Hey, ladies and dudes. You know how every time a new JRPG comes out, none of the stores have it in stock? That's because demand for these games is super low.

STOP WHINING ABOUT IT AND DO SOMETHING INSTEAD.

The stock that stores order for low-demand games is directly based on the number of reserves they get for it. My store was the only one of my chain in the entire district that got any copies of the new Project Diva game, because we were the only store that had reserves on it.

We had one reserve. We got two copies. The second one sold to a walk-in on launch day, and I haven't seen another copy since.

And don't give me any of that crap about "WELL, I WASN'T PLANNING ON GETTING IT" or "WELL, I'M JUST MAKING AN IMPULSE BUY." If you went out to buy it on the release day, then it wasn't "an impulse buy," and you are a dirty, dirty liar.

If you want more Japanese games to come to the United States, and in greater numbers, you need to commit to buying them on launch day.

Now, I know not everyone can afford to buy launch-day games. This rant is not for you. This rant is for the swarm of people I see every launch day who refuse to commit even one day ahead of time to buying a game on day one, even though they were clearly planning on doing so anyway, and complain when we don't have a pile of extra copies waiting for them.

Every retailer does pre-orders now, as do the manufacturers, typically. It's not like you don't still have a choice of whom to give your money dollars to. Most places (Amazon, StameGop) don't charge extra for pre-orders, either.

PRE-ORDER YOUR SHIT instead of complaining to me about lack of availability, for a market the manufacturers didn't know existed. With the onset of downloadable games, manufacturers have basically no reason to print physical copies at all outside of consumer demand. It's still hard to find physical copies of Fire Emblem, a year after launch. Hakuoki: Memories of the Shinsengumi barely had a physical launch at all.

I'm sure Bravely Default will be the same way. 

*Today, someone asked me what "JRPG" stands for, and I said "Japanese RPG." Then Ladyboss stepped in and added "...role-playing game." I forgot to translate that part. Whoooops.

So, the Video Game Awards happened

Because I am sort of a video game maybe journalist, it is my sworn responsibility to write about Events in the Video Game Industry, or whatever. And it just so happened that last night was the formerly-known-as Spike TV Video Game Awards! It took me a weirdly long time to find a list of the winners, but they are here:

Hey, this is a link to the 2013 award winners

Very predictable- Grand Theft Auto V deserved to win Game of the Year. One thing I don't get is, though Link Between Worlds and Super Mario 3D World are both awesome and ambitious games that I own personally, they only came out on November 22nd. How are they eligible for "best of the year" awards when they've barely been out three weeks?

Of course, the VGAs are notoriously disorganized. I like to imagine that this is what the Oscars were like, Back In The Day.

I have mixed feelings about Ni no Kuni taking home Best RPG, too, because I feel like it's a nostalgia vote. The game is beautiful and amazing, but it's also aggressively traditional. The same game with less pretty visual and audio effects could easily have been made a decade ago, and the story structure is lifted right out of 90s classics like old Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. I love traditional RPGs as much as the next girl, but I also accept that the genre has moved on. I mean, I'd even put Skylanders in the RPG category over the "casual" category. You know, because it's an RPG, and a very well-made one, too.

None of that really matters though, because WHY THE HELL DID WILLEM DAFOE NOT WIN BEST  MALE VOICE ACTOR?

Willem Dafoe at the Beyond: Two Souls release. From zimbio.com

THERE IS NO "SECOND BEST."

THERE IS NO "OTHER FAVORITE."

THERE IS ONLY DAFOE.

Watch out for NERD RAGE!

So, I finished Xenoblade Chronicles, but I haven't written about it yet because I haven't been able to write anything very good. But while I've been trying to do that, a controversy appeared!

Seems that Team Nerd Rage is upset that GameStop (ok, yeah, I'll just say GameStop again) acquired some copies of Xenoblade, and is selling them for $90 a pop. Thus launched a bunch of Wacky Internet Conspiracy Theories about how the top secret GameStop cabal is printing up bootleg copies of Xenoblade in their basement to sell for a million dollars, all while cackling maniacally and twirling their mustaches, or something.

Honestly, I think this is another instance of The Interwebs being enraged by a process they don't understand.

GameStop buys old overstock from publishers and sells it as used all the time. It's really no different from the way they buy old games from the public to resell in the stores, just on a larger scale. The only reason this bothers people is that this time, the "used" price is higher- quite a bit higher- than the old MSRP. Of course, "manufacturer's suggested retail price" doesn't really apply here, because Xenoblade is no longer being manufactured. That said, $90 is not an unfair price.

$90 is what the game costs now.

Everyone saying that GameStop is ridiculous for charging $90 for "old Wii games" is just being disingenuous. Xenoblade is not "some old Wii game"- it's a very specific product, an import with a limited run that's hard to get now. My own copy was only $60 because of layers of employee discounts, and it's a busted old disc that some moron sold to my store that didn't come with a case. If GameStop had dropped the selling price back to $50 after buying up new stock, all the copies they have would have all been bought up by scalpers in a heartbeat, because the established market value of the game is much higher than that. And then everyone would be whining about how GameStop sells to scalpers. (A common complaint with Skylanders figurines.)

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: GameStop (and other video game stores) are not some sort of gamer charity. They're a business, specifically in the business of selling video games for profit. If you, Angry Internet Nerd, were to go try to sell your copy of Xenoblade online, it's unlikely that you would ask less than $100 for it, unless you're stupid, or you need it to sell really fast. Why do people always expect corporations to be more altruistic than they themselves would be? If anything, you should expect the opposite.

Low supply and high demand means it's a seller's market, and GameStop can charge whatever they want to. (Of course, their ability to negotiate bulk purchases with publishers is a direct result of their size and buying power. If that's your issue, then buy from local shops. But then you'd probably complain that they charge more than GameStop, because you're an ass.) If you don't like it, don't buy the game from them. If no one buys it, the price will drop. Surprise! Also, since for now at least you can buy Xenoblade for $90 at an actual store, the eBay prices may drop somewhat.

Of course, that doesn't address the Wacky Conspiracy Theory issue, so let's do that, too. A subset of particularly intense Angry Gamer Nerds seem to have decided that GameStop has begun ZOMG reprinting Xenoblade Chronicles, an idea so stupid I'm embarrassed to write it on my blog.

GameStop is not printing up new copies of Xenoblade Chronicles.

First of all, they don't have the infrastructure for that, they're a retailer. Secondly, the Angry Gamer Nerds are correct in their assertion that doing that is illegal. Like, super mega illegal. Nintendo and The Law would be all up in GameStop's business in a heartbeat. I think these people assume that since GameStop had exclusive rights to sell retail copies of Xenoblade Chronicles in the United States, they're also a publisher? Because, no.

Now, Nintendo can do a reprint. But if Nintendo were doing a reprint, they would have made way more than a couple thousand copies, and they would be selling it themselves through their online store again. After all, everyone knows the game is in high demand. It's just not in high enough demand among a wide enough array of people for Nintendo to justify doing a re-release at this time. "Angry JRPG nerds" were barely enough of a market to get the game released in the US in the first place.

Is it kinda douchey to negotiate a large purchase of a product and then price the stock so high? Yes. But the moral of the story, I guess, is that I hate uninformed internet nerd rage more than I hate GameStop, and working in retail has given me little to no patience for people who willfully don't understand how retail works. I also have no patience for people who think they're entitled to rare, luxury items for cheap. When I can't afford something, I don't make up conspiracy theories about how the seller is out to get me.

I just don't buy that thing.

And yet somehow, despite this terrible hardship, I manage to carry on.

Let me tell you how selling a product works

Once again, a game developer has stumbled out into the internet, trash talking used video game resellers, and generally sounding like a clueless buffoon. Naturally, he's mad at GameStop, because it's the biggest and sexiest target. Everything here applies to other big corporate re-sale stores, like Best Buy and Amazon.

And yes, I'm using GameStop's real name this time, at risk of being attacked by internet trolls, because all this anti-consumer blathering needs to be called out.

Read the comments if you feel like taking in a healthy dose of neckbeard fury.

Now, Ru Weerasuriya, let me, a low-level retail employee with no economics degree, explain to you how your business works.

1. Make a product worth buying.

Ready at Dawn, Mr.Weerasuriya's development studio, does not make bad games, so this isn't really an issue. They're responsible for the God of War titles on the PSP, and the Wii port of Okami. (Remember that their highest rated title is a port for later.) 

I mention up front that making a product worth buying is a vital part of the process because the other guy famous for complaining that GameStop is "cannibalizing" the industry is Denis Dyack of Silicon Knights. Sweetie, the reason your company is struggling is that the only games you've put out in the past decade are Too Human and X-Men Destiny, and you got your pants sued off by Epic Games for copyright infringement.

2. Find someone willing to publish your product.

Ready at Dawn is a second-party developer published by Sony Computer Entertainment. They pay Sony to package and advertise their product, and release it on their consoles. Keep in mind that if the game isn't selling, your publisher isn't going to be willing to keep paying to print more copies. (SEE #1: "Make a product worth buying.") Ready at Dawn is fortunate in that their two God of War games have been re-released several times on PSP and PS3, both physically and digitally, so there's still a stream of revenue coming in. You know, because the games are good, and people want to buy them.

You can, of course, skip this step and the following steps by self-publishing, but I'm pretty sure Mr. Weerasuriya doesn't want to give up the money and recognition he gets for making A-list titles like God of War. More on that later.

3. Find someone willing to buy your product.

Did you know, Mr. Weerasuriya, that everything sitting on the shelves at GameStop, or Best Buy, or Target, or God forbid Wal-Mart, is owned by that store? Stores don't "lease" products, consignment style, and send a check to the publisher each time one sells. They buy in bulk.

People who play video games are not your customers. Retailers are your customers.

GameStop buys loads and loads of physical copies of your game from your publisher, and then keeps the meager profit they make from selling them again, to A Video Game Fan. Your continuing sales profits come from retailers ordering more copies of the game.

It should also be noted that GameStop (though Best Buy and Amazon and even Wal-Mart are getting into it now, too) is notorious for pushing pre-sales of new releases. You know, day one sales. The ones that make developers money.

Mr. Weerasuriya tells a charming story about freaking out on some poor GameStop employee who tried to sell him a used copy of a game. I mean, first off, if you hate GameStop so much, why are you shopping there? The developer sees no profit from the sale either way. The money all goes to GameStop regardless, because GameStop already paid for the game. And secondly, I guarantee you that that poor register jockey schmuck was being forced to try to pre-sell full-price copies of that game to everyone who came in the store for months.

Because:

4. Selling new video games is not profitable for retailers.

There's a reason GameStop is the only major video game specialty chain in most parts of the US, and there's a reason they push day one sales of their new stock. The instant that game goes on sale, even $10 off, the retailer is selling it at a loss. Other retailers, like Target or Best Buy, can subsidize their somewhat-less-than-profitable video game department with high margins in other areas, like clothes or food or pretty much anything else. GameStop only sells video games, and video game paraphenalia.

So why are they able to stay in business?

Used game sales.

Used products, accessories, and strategy guides are really the only things GameStop sells that they actually make money on. The figures for game consoles are even worse than the games themselves.

Let me spell this out for you, Mr. Weerasuriya.

The reason GameStop is able to buy your product- to the tune of nearly 50% of the market share for new 360 and PS3 software- is because they make money off of selling your product used. You remove GameStop from the equation, because "wah wah they're profiting from selling our product used wah," developers on the 360 and PS3 immediately lose half of their sales.

That's why, even though these developers whine and moan about used game sales, they're completely unwilling to stop dealing with GameStop.

"Waaahh! GameStop made money off a used sale of my game and I hate them and they're ruining the industry wah wah wah! Here, GameStop, have some awesome preorder bonuses. Please sell our stuff. Please."

There is absolutely no reason to take any of these people seriously.

Now, if you don't want to have to go through a physical retailer to sell your product, there are plenty of ways to do so. Digital distribution through PCs and consoles is on the up, though your product wouldn't be accessible to people without reliable internet. You could throw your support behind the Ouya, a console designed specifically to allow programmers to publish their own games with no licensing fees, or even self-publish on Android and iOS. 

Of course, if it did any of these things, then Ready at Dawn would lose its valuable contract with Sony, and no longer be able to make fancy-pants bro games.

The way the industry is set up now, if you want to make big, A-list titles, you have to play nice with GameStop. They are the ones buying your product, and advocating its value to consumers.

Speaking of whom!

I've only been talking about the business side of things, of course, and completely ignoring the most important factor: the people who play the video games. Like me. I am the most important factor.

Which brings us to:

5. Gaming is a really expensive hobby.

Your average person, self included, simply can't afford to pay cash for a ton of new releases every year. Assuming we want to own the game instead of borrowing or renting it, that leaves us with two options: wait to buy the game until it's used or on mega-sale, or magic up some money from somewhere.

GameStop is that magical money generator. GameStop and other corporate resellers provide a service that consumers want.

As my disapproving parents will tell you, I buy a lot of new release video games each year. How can I afford to do that on my meager retail hourly wage?  

I use trades.

I trade in the stuff I've already played to get a discount on the new stuff I want. I've traded in stuff to get mega expensive collector's editions. I've traded in stuff to get Steam money and network cards, to buy digital content that doesn't have to share profits with a retailer.

Sure, I could sell my crap myself on Craigslist or eBay, and I have done so, but that's an amount of time and effort that doesn't really seem necessary if I'm not selling something fancy and expensive. GameStop is quick and easy, and you can get the product you're looking to buy all at the same time. GameStop's CEO even went on record saying that 70% of resell credit given out by GameStop is used to buy new products.

More importantly, consumers have the right to resell a physical product that they buy. They don't have the right to copy the content, but the physical game is theirs to do with as they please. The first-sale doctrine is a vital pillar of consumer protections. To make an awesome nerd analogy, these developers are like the Harry Potter goblins who believe that everything belongs to the original creator, no matter how many times it's been gifted or sold.

"Nope, the sword of Godric Gryffindor is definitely still mine, even though one of my ancestors made it specifically to give to Godric Gryffindor a million years ago and we haven't had it since."
        
Of course, the goblins didn't expect to be given money every time the sword changed hands. Which means that what some of these developers are proposing is even more ridiculous than a fake goblin culture that was designed to seem nonsensical to modern readers. 

"You can't make a living at the expense of everybody else," says Mr. Weerasuriya. Remember when I said to remember that Ready at Dawn's highest-rated title is a Wii port of Clover Studio's Okami? Now is the time to remember that, and either giggle, or roll your eyes, or both. 

Mr. Weerasuriya, your ideas are bad and you should feel bad.

#dealwithit