Why would you buy off PS Network?

[Smudger]

Just got an e-mail through from Playstation, they want £50 for Bioshock Infinite and Tomb Raider - each, not for the pair. Given you can get either from Amazon for £35 for a physical disk, why would you go for the download?

[Ferral]

PSN Digital Downloads of new games have always been stupidly priced, there have even been instances where new releases have been £60

I get all the big name titles on disc and use PSN for the classics and offers they have on all the time. The Hitman HD Collection for example (Hitman 2, Contracts & Blood Money) is currently priced at £8 for plus members.

I would also recommend getting Playstation Plus if you don't have it already. You get at least 2 free games every month, once you have gone through the checkout with them they are added to your account and available as long as you keep your plus membership. So even if there is something there you don't want to play yet just go through the process to add it to your account and it is there for a later date.

[Smudger]

Yeah, I've still got a backlog of games that I've already bought and not played to get through...

Maybe once the PS4 is out, and they stop releasing stuff for the PS3 that I want to play, I'll get through the backlog and sign up...

[PawPaw]

Its why i dont use it...so over priced.. makes no sense to me

[Spud1]

It's there for the convenience really, for when you are desperate for a game and can't wait the 2 days or so it will take to get it online (or the day to go into town). Same as with Steam/Origin - typically the games are overpriced compared to their retail equivalent (especially with Origin), but you pay the extra to have it "now".

I have never used it for anything other than DLC - mostly because I simply don't have the disk space..my PS3 is only an 80gb one and its full, mostly of game installs .

[zombieFrog]

Why do people use Steam? In most cases the software is priced higher than places like Amazon, as mentioned above, its for convenience. What you have to keep in mind though is that PSN is based on RRP, supermarkets and the like are far below the RRP. For example where I live, games just released are all at RRP, so PSN is actually a viable option for me. If it wasn't for poor internet speeds and the rapidly decreasing 'free space' on my PS3 I would use it more. It also means that I can purchase games that may not be released in the Middle East for various reasons and sometimes I just don't want to wait until the next UK visit to acquire them.

Don't forget Plus though, also being a Vita owner it has been an absolute bargain over the last 2 years.

[JollyJoe]

Never bought new off PS Network. You'd think that production costs would be less for digital distribution. When digital distribution is the same price as retail then a few companies are going to lose out. There must be some people who are paying the ridiculous prices though. Maybe its so that when they reduce it to normal price they can call it a "sale".

Saying that PS+ is good though.

[rtk_13]

I just use it for PlayStation Plus, Sony never really had a network they added to the network over time so it can feel mismatched in some places. I have a feeling the next generation of consoles will have a more developed network and focus on delivering acceptable prices!

[NitrousX]

I just use PS+ for the free games to, on occasion there are some decent games on sale. Sony and M$ need adjust their prices that are in line with online retail websites so they are more reasonably priced for consumers. Hopefully they get it right next gen

[flearider]

why would you use a ps or xbox ?? the games are overpriced compared to a pc and you can do less on them ..
was talking to a couple of lads at work both love one or the other and they where talking on price of the new ones .. £450-700 ?
you can build a decent pc for that I told em games are cheaper and you can upgrade ..

[gogoyippy]

Definitely would say the buyers are the people who "couldn't wait", and value convenience way over price.
If money wasn't an issue, then instead of travelling to a store or waiting for an order, they could download it right there and then.
Would definitely recommend subscribing to playstation plus by the way, absolutely worth it.

[kyippee]

Only ever bought games that are on sale, and having a PS+ account means you get more savings towards the sale, albeit usually only 10%, but a discount nonetheless. Would highly recommend people to get a PS+ account since the amount of free games you get is great value for only £40 a year, and with the PS4 requiring PS+ for online play, I don't see a reason why not to start an account now if you haven't got one.

[Scozo]

Yeah I too get a laugh off of these £50 for a month old game!

[SuperJag86]

Third party games do stick too close to the RRP set by publishers but Sony first party stuff can be very reasonably priced.
Sly Cooper 4 was 19.99 at launch and that was for both PS3 and Vita versions together. At the time the cheapest price online was around £25.
Vita games aren't normally overpriced either on PSN.

[Distincthd]

The only use for the PSN store for me is buying arcade games and DLC for games aha. I imagine their pricing strategy will be much different next gen though

[s_kinton]

PSN games purchases have always been and as far as I can tell, will remain overpriced. The additional price is all about convenience.

I don't agree with it, but just don't see them changing it going forwards. If it were reasonable or just a small premium over I would probably use it.