great post i hate those fuckin stickers. they always piss me off ;-) i agree 100%. ima have a KILLZOWN weekend! hope u have a good one jaffe see ya next week
What the management at Gamestop probably thinks is, "Why should we get rid of the stickers? It helps us stock, and no consumer is going to do anything about it. We make money either way."
As for the Watchmen, I'm going to check it out this afternoon. Never read the graphic novels but I haven't been to the movies in a while so I figure I'd check it out.
Agree with you 100% on the stickers. I am paying my money for the game and I want a fresh new case. Not something that everyone has touched with their ball sweaty hands.
I went in to Gamestop and bought Burnout used, just wanted to see if I would like it. I did so I went back and returned that and bought a new one for $3 more and the guy at the counter said, "you know it is the same game." I said "yea, I just want a new case." Then he just gives that little shrug like I am an idiot. Why the fuck does it matter to you. You are getting more money from me, who cares if I get a new case. I pay my money, I want a fresh new case. Simple.
Well I get why it matters to the workers there- I think they make more commision % off used games...I THINK...could be wrong.
What bugs me is that gamers really don't give a shit because if they did, Gamestop would be forced to change policies. As is, they get away with what they can get away with cause the consumer doesn't really care.
I care and I am in a very vocal minority who seem to care.
But beyond all that, there is a thing called pride in your work and if I ran Gamestop, no fucking way I would see those fucking yard sale/garage sale looking products.
But then again, they make billions of dollars and I do not...so they=smarter than me when it comes to biz decisions... :)
in the uk we have stickers on everything :P go into your local GAME store and there is stickers all over the games... not just one.. nonono, two or three! from bargain price to BUY TWO FOR £30! they aren't even small stickers, they are large ass round things and even when you get the sticker off, glue residue is left all over it!
its my biggest annoyance with buying games from the store, amazon or gameplay is where i get my games from these days, they are cheaper, they are ALWAYS in the wrap and with gameplay, they arrive a few days early from the release date!
It's bad enough that Gamestop charges full price on a game that is already opened to begin with, regardless if it's new or used, but they also put those nasty assed stickers on it. What's annoying about those stickers is the circular one's they put on the opening that fuck up the game case.
And as for trade in's do your business elsewhere. Sell the games you don't want on Ebay. You'll get full price for them, possibly a little more. Gamestop trade in's suck!
I work at a Game Crazy store (one of Gamestop's last competition). We don't make commission off used. We push it because the company makes more money, blah blah blah. We push our savings cards, system warranties, and pre-orders because they boost our numbers and help us keep our jobs.
Only the MVP (Edge card if you are a Gamestop shopper) card and system warranties make us actual commission.
Now, I personally own over 350 games. Each disc based game has a box, cover, instruction manual, with a disc in working condition. I won't buy a game unless it has all that.
My company pushes us to have 100% of the titles we have in stock to have cases on our sales floor. So if we misplace or someone steals the case we had for a new copy of Afro Samurai, we have to grab any kind of case we have leftover (whether it be green, black, or clear, whether it is clean or has stickers or gunk on it) and we put in some kind of cover letting you know what the game is so corporate doesn't hound us.
I think we could probably give out more shrink wrapped copies if we had glass cases to put them in so customers couldn't get to them. But, corporate would rather not shell out the money for it.
I completely agree with you, however unlike you I chose not to buy it. I told them straight up its not new even if you say its new and I'm not buying it. There are other vendors I can get it from. If I bought the game, tore the shrink wrap, decided not to play it, could I go return it and sell it as new! Screw gamestop!
I used to work at gamestop, I know exactly why they put the stickers on the spine. Gamestop always made us jump through hoops with store relays, constantly changing the look and the shelvings of our display cases and system cases. At times some games would be bookshelved meaning only the spine would be showing of the game. Alot of the managers started complaining that it was too much extra work to slide each indvidual game out in the rack and scan it for our category counts. So they came up with the idea of printing out a sticker to place on the spines of the games so the mangers doing the inventory counts every morning could easily scan each game with as little work as possible.
And you're right Dave, if enough people start making complaints about the stickers, the company would change their policy, I've seen this company bend over backwards for customers...I would use the term "shop worn merchandise" if you and others are going to complain about it
I've seen it a step further. There are some GameStops in my area that actually pull out the paper inserts and put the spine stickers on the paper instead of the case! No shit. At least if it's on the case you can replace the case or peal off the sticker with some effort. If it's on the paper insert, you'll rip the shit out of it if you try. There are five GameStops in a three mile radius of my work, and two of them do this for every game. I refuse to shop at those ones.
LOL! Thank GOD I'm not the only one that feels that way. Its rare for me to buy a used game, but I've been dooped before... I also hate the stickers too... David, You're a funny man! Rant all you want its funny as hell!
u wont c watcmen but youll c kingdom of the crystal skull more then once, to each his own i guess but i hope u c it atleast i bet there is nothing better this weekend anyways
Good point as to the fact that designers should be designing their product and should not be too concerned about outside speculation about their product. There is always going to be the Good, Bad, and The Ugly! It's best just to let it rest after its been put to the test.
As far as stickers are concerned...
I had the same experience purchasing my copy of Resistance 2 at Gamestop(I have to say that Resistance 2 was a terrible game). I don't know why it received such high reviews. I'm pretty sure after everyone gave it a 9 out of 10 they were left with no room when comparing it to Killzone 2.
So Killzone 2 was the easy 5 out of 5 stars. In my mind if Resistance 2 was a 9 out of 10 then Killzone 2 is like a 27 out of 30(it's easily 3 times better). I know that 27 out of 30 is actually 9 out of 10(just making fun).
I think Insomniac needs to think about what their designing(Goldeneye was better than Resistance 2 - not graphically but gameplay/design mechanics). I would say Resistance 2 didn't deserve over a 6.5 at best. Resistance was an original game and I enjoyed it much more then its sequel.
Ok, back to the sticker issue...
When the employee at Gamestop attempted to sell me the last copy of Resistance 2, with plenty of residue, I asked him if he had another "New" copy and he replied to me "This is new and it's my last copy" as he was casually inserting the disc into the case(Hoping that I wouldn't start asking questions as to why he was putting the disc into the case).
[There was that moment as if the employee was wondering if I was just going to bite my lip like the other people have that have come before me day after day.]
I looked at him and decided that I wasn't going to play this game anymore(The "It's a new copy" as they put the disc into the case game). I told him I would find another copy somewhere else ... I figured I had to make a stand for the gamers.
I left the store and went to another Gamestop about 8 miles from the other location(without a prior call to see if the store had a copy - I was driven by my instinct).
I went into the Gamestop and found a factory shrunkwrap copy of Resitance 2 which I purchased(to my later disappointment).
I just picked up Persona 4 about 3 weeks ago from Gamestop(it was new and shrunkwrap).
I haven't even opened it yet but hear it's a great game. From what I understand it's a little slow to start. I have never played any of the other Personas and I'm actually glad because this way I will hopefully be treating myself to the Shin Megami Tensei experience.
I will have a fresh perspective on this gem and I hope it's as original as "Asteroids" was for me that first time I played it ever so long ago(not that I was such a critic back in the 80's or that I compared the quality of one product against another in those days).
It possibly could be a very fun and original console RPG.
There were too many situations where Gamestop did the samething to me. After the first few times I told them sorry I'll wait for a new copy as I wasn't in a hurry for the game.
But to get to the main story, there was this one time where I received a gift from my sister and the game was already opened with a sticker attached right onto it. I asked her if she opened it or if it came like that (knowing Gamestop) and she said it came like that. So I call the store and they told me it was their policy and there's nothing that could be done. They even tried to assure me it's still "NEW". Sorry but if it's not shrink wrapped it's not new to me.
Well I went to Gamestop website and got their customer support # and proceeded to go up the chain of command. Eventually they gave me the district managers cell # and I had to wait maybe a day or two for him to call me back. When he did he told me the samething about policy etc. So I brought the analogy of buying a new car and finding the exterior paint job scuffed/scratched (disc case/shrink wrap) but the interior/engine (disc/manual) is untouched doesn't make the car new and you sure wouldn't purchase that vehicle.
Now my analogy may have been extreme but was relevant in my eyes and he agreed with me. So he told me he was at the Gamestop store about 1-2hrs away from my local store and said he'll check there first for a sealed copy and he'll get back to me. Later on that same day he calls me back and says he found a sealed copy and will deliver it personally to my local store where I can pick it up.
Now was all that necessary? Probably not, but it was the principle of it.
@ Anonymous: Goldeneye better than Resistance 2? I don't think so, lol. The only reason Goldeneye was good back then was because that was before our standards got higher. That game is pretty crap today honestly. From what I've played of Resistance 2, I do have my issues, several things they changed from the first game to the second, but overall I really like it.
I hate GameSpot for that reason. I never shop there anymore. I've complained a couple of times about it as it is, and made it clear that they weren't getting my business because of this crap. My beautiful jewel-case copy of BioShock, tarnished by a fucking sticker I can't get off properly. (I think that might be also just me, I suck with stickers...but still, it shouldn't even have to be an issue.)
As for Watchmen, I actually take exception to what you said, Jaffe, I've never read the original graphic novel nor am I familiar with the characters, but general summaries and descriptions about why it's so good I've gotten from friend who are familiar as well as the fact that it's Zack Snyder at the helm (my favorite up and coming director...get him for God of War! =P ), I'm actually really intrigued and very much want to see it.
haha P4 is such an amazing game. It's very story driven game. Only made it to the 2nd boss =[ but it's a PS2 game and they don't need a PS3 to make an amazing game. If you do like it, I suggest playing Persona 3 and the upcoming Persona remake for the PSP.
But yes those stickers are annoying, just go very very slow when peeling it and you should do fine. The sticker on the back of the jewel case gives me a hard time, the spine isn't so bad.
Why the hell are you guys still buying games at Gamestop? They obivously piss everyone off, yet they are making record profits because they get a ton of business. If you don't like taking it in the ass, stop bending over: shop at Best Buy!
Man...I've never seen GameStop put a sticker on the inside of a case. Thankfully I haven't been stuck with a sticker copy of anything in quite some time. Last time I got one I kinda complained a bit about it not being "new" being covered in crap. Sadly they were the only store in town with it in stock so I was stuck with it.
you're right about watchmen jaffski but I'm going to go see it because of that one quote about the world asking for help and him whispering no or whatever. that is so badass. i love badass. thats why i love christian jaffski. funny that you fucked up so bad on that gamestop sticker but we all know what you're talking about.
HAHA I fuckin hate gamestop's stickers as well!! One time i went to go pick up dead rising for the xbox 360 for new/used for like $54.99 or something...and the back of the jewel case was all mangled up AND it had that god damn piece of shit price sticker on the front!!
I just quietly gave him the stink eye. And he's like do you want a new copy instead for $5.....fucking retards...
seems like every time I buy a game at gamestop they only have the display left. I hate it and absolutely won't buy it. I agree if it's opened up already and not discounted I won't buy it. then I end up over at best buy. screw gamestop.
No don't use acetone. Last time I tried that it royally fucked up my case. Always... always use a hair dryer to heat up the label if you cannot peel/scratch it off.
Jaffe, Gamestop does make more money on the used ones. They buy games for $55 from the devs and sell them for $60 to make profit. They buy new used games for like $20 and then sell them for $55, so they make a huge profit on used game sales.
In response to the following: "@ Anonymous: Goldeneye better than Resistance 2? I don't think so, lol. The only reason Goldeneye was good back then was because that was before our standards got higher. That game is pretty crap today honestly. From what I've played of Resistance 2, I do have my issues, several things they changed from the first game to the second, but overall I really like it."
So let me just make sure I understand you F1RESTORM...
You say that you have issues with Resitance 2 but overall that you really liked the game.
My reply:
1. If you like fighting the same dumb AI(either doesn't move if you move or moves if you don't) then Resistance 2 is a good game for you to play. Lets face it the Chimera's AI sucks ... Insomniacs response to dumb AI is to throw 50 on you at a time to make you think your playing a game. Boring!
Look at Killzone's layout and you'll see that someone actually used their brain, as far as level design, to make the player have to be a little more strategic about how they play(meaning the player has to think about some of their actions or suffer the consequences).
2. If you like the fact that the game's story mode doesn't really force the player into playing the game with any type of style. Pretty much a mess of straight chaos. If you like games that don't properly pull the player through the plot with surprises, rewards, and twists then I recommend Resitance 2.
Moving forward, or backward for this matter, back to Goldeneye. You said that the game is pretty much crap as far as today's standards are concerned.
My reply:
1. I think anyone who has been a gamer trough the years and who has seen the evolution of the 1st person shooter(Wolfenstein, Doom, Rise Of The Triad, etc) would disagree with your statement that the game is crap(even by today's standards but I'll reply to this later).
Let me explain why...
-Goldeneye's level designs are extremely superior given the limited space of the cartridge. Lets also not forget that the load time was nil.
-There were a lot of different types of enemies in Goldeneye.
-The enemy AI, for 1st person shooter games, is still some of the best that I have seen to date.
-The regional hit system was amazing.
-The game was finely tuned. Meaning that at the different difficulties the game was appropriately harder to play(Still was real tough in that last difficulty which you probably never played).
-The sound and music was also not that bad(once again with the limitation of cartridge space).
Next...
2. Do you think I'm going to be giving Resistance 2 another review in the next 10 years... I think not.
That game has made little or no impact, in my mind, on the game industry or the 1st person shooter genre. Don't care what you think on that point and the reason being is:
I compared those games for a reason. You say that our standards have become higher so the game is crap. I totally disagree and the reason for that is:
The game mechanics in Goldeneye are far superior. The way the designers intended you, the player, to have to play through the levels(especially on the hardest difficulty). You couldn't just go blast your way to the end of the game(remember the Facility, Train, & Silo levels on the hardest difficulty?). You, the player, were literally chucking explosives or running throug the level.
Moving was key on the harder difficulties and was a must to unlock certain items(had to pass the level in a short time along with the objectives).
Wow, great thinking Rareware!
Back to the previous point...
So when you were reading my comment did you notice how I didn't say grapically just gameplay/ design mechanics. That's because that is still true(obviously not graphics).
If you know anything about game design then you would have to see what they, Rareware, has accomplished in that game. It also was a groundbreaker in setting the standard for 1st person shooter games like Resistance 2 to at least live up to if not surpass. Not just Goldeneye but all the 1st person shooters to date(like I said the evolution of 1st person shooters).
I still gave it a semi-decent rating, 6.5, that I figure is "Fair" and not over inflated by the "Critic.com" reviewer.
If were going to say that Resistance 2 is a 9 and Killzone 2 is a 5 out of 5(or lets just say 10). Then what is the degree of separation in that 1 point between 9 and 10.
I think that a majority of the critics/reviwers gave Resistance 2 way too much credit.
Well that's my take on Goldeneye and why it was used as a comparison in my previous comment.
Bottom line is that Goldeneye rocked at the time it came out! Resistance 2 does not rock. It was good to play it once and now to never think about it again.
i agree with that gamestop annoyance. i've rejected enough games due to that same thing. not sure why they think charging full price for an opened and often mutilated case is sensible.
I don't buy used games. Period. I almost never trade in games either, but I do on occasion. (Did $100 worth last weekend.) So when I go in and ask for a game, if it's not in the full original wrapping I don't buy it. I don't want any of that "We'll shrink wrap it and spray it with 'new car smell'" BS. I want a never before touched game in a case that hasn't been destroyed, and doesn't require a Saturday night to peel the random stickers off of. I hate it on Blu-Rays too.
And I think people are so used to the used game scheme that they just roll with it. As a consumer we have to take the word, of an employee that is required to push used games, that the game is new and the box was just used for display. I've had too many problems with GameStop employees to believe that line.
Honestly if not for pre-orders and pre-order bonuses I wouldn't go in there again.
To Anonymous # 2 before the one above me. Sounds like you've never played RFOM... Now I won't call you an ignorant prick but Insomniac DID sort of screw up R2's campaign. Now I think the amount of bashing you did towards it was just so fuking lame... I want to convince you to play RFOM, unfortunately it seems, TO ME... that you've been sold that Insomniac sucks of Resistance itself. & coming from an old school gamer who played the original Wolfenstein 3D, two of the best FPS's on PS3 this gen have been Killzone 2 & RFOM.
Haha Jaffe. You remind me so much of myself in these videos. I'm so anal when it comes to this shit and my games. I sometimes buy used games because well the economy sucks and I want to save money.
Of course when I go home two things seriously piss me off...
1. On used games they sometimes have up to 3 stickers on one case. Why the f**k do they need 3 stickers? One isnt enough?
2. How can some gamers treat their game cases like shit? I get some cases that the previous owner destroyed.
Basically if this happens I go online and print a new cover, and get a DVD case to swap with the game case
Yea totally agree, I hate those fucking stickers. I like having all my game cases in good condition. They could at least use some stickers that peel off easily and don't leave that sticky residue on the case.
Personally I loved the watchmen. I saw it on imax yesterday. I haven't read the book yet, I'm actually going to do that either this weekend or next weekend.
as far as the stickers those annoy me, especially when they put them on the actual insert and then you go to take them off and they tear your shit up >.<
Order from Amazon, and you won't have the sticker problem. They seem to appreciate that someone's designed box art for a reason. Or maybe they're just too lazy to put stickers on in the first place. Anyway, at least that's the case for the UK rendition of Amazon.
Be the sticker inside or outside the transparant plastic, woe betide those who place it there.
In response to the following: "To Anonymous # 2 before the one above me. Sounds like you've never played RFOM... Now I won't call you an ignorant prick but Insomniac DID sort of screw up R2's campaign. Now I think the amount of bashing you did towards it was just so fuking lame... I want to convince you to play RFOM, unfortunately it seems, TO ME... that you've been sold that Insomniac sucks of Resistance itself. & coming from an old school gamer who played the original Wolfenstein 3D, two of the best FPS's on PS3 this gen have been Killzone 2 & RFOM."
For the record I do believe that there is talent at Insomniac and that it can be seen in the design of Resistance 2.
I didn't give the game a 1 out of 10. I think there is some thought to the level art, audio, and game design. But it doesn't matter how great the art and audio are if the game has other issues.
Also, I think that Resistance was a great launch title on the PS3. I enjoyed the first one a little more than the second as far as gameplay(That could be because it was a new series). Yes, I also agree that the game has come along way since launch.
Unfortunately, I don't think the story was working with the game mechanics. I just wasn't feeling the gears turning(the harmony between the story and gameplay).
I think that Killzone 2 is the #1 FPS on the PS3. Obviously, because the lack of any other original contenders, Resistance 2 would most likely have to be #2(I'm sure sales figures would probably also support that theory).
Though I still stand with what I said earlier and that being...
Killzone 2, from what I have played(not quite finished), is definitely a 4 out of 5 star game(maybe even a bit higher).
I also have been following the development of Killzone 2. I would say that over the last 2.5 years the game has taken a lot of pre-release bashing. I fully believed that Sony/Guerilla could learn from the mistakes that were made in Killzone.
Alot of people thought Killzone 2 was going to be a total flop and also projected that opinion in news or by voice.
Now we could all get the microscope out and find things to complain about, as far as Killzone 2 is concerned, but that stuff is tiny talk.
Well, I'm pleased to say that I think Guerilla/Sony has put together a near perfect product as far as Killzone 2 is concerned. The game's a beast! It's definitely an impression maker. The game also utilizes more of the PS3's CPU and graphic power.
Why couldn't Insomniac/Sony make Resistance 2 in 1080p? They have the sickest console on the market and their not using it's graphic power?! What are they thinking?
Now I know that it takes some time to see games look better on a new system. Were talking about Resistance 2 not Resistance.
I'm not as pleased with Insomniac/Sony. I hope they take a step back then take a look at the Resistance series and really step up their game on the next product.
I'll take a look into RFOM just to keep an open mind.
Please understand that I didn't totally hate Resistance 2 but just thought it was alright and could have been better from a designer's point-of-view.
OMG! Why the hell don't they put them inside the case up here in Canada! Ebgames puts stickers both on the front AND in the back! Pisses me off to get those things off, and if and when I do there is always residue left!
LMAO...yea...the sticker was inside LOL. But if it really was a sticker...god I would understand your pain...since I am a bit...you know on the side where I like to see a nice clean case for my game and stuff. So yea, oh yea as for Watchmen people keep telling me it's so awesome, people were so hyped up about it and stuff, and I had no idea what it was. I watched the trailer and was like "........ok.....it looks......decent." And yea...let's see I'll go watch it to see how it goes, but the reviews tell me it's just decent.
What's even stopping them from pawning off used shit as new? When I spend my hard-earned $60 for my game I want to unwrap it, crack it open myself, and smell that new game smell, all the while knowing some fucking opinionated gamestore clerk didn't put his sweaty bitch hands all over it and take it home for a preview. I'd rather head down the road to a Best Buy where they understand the meaning of "new"
So the other night I was organizing my games/movies shelf and I noticed something glaringly different from the rest of the items: a fucking bright yellow gamestop stick on the spine of one "Forza Motorsports" for XBOX. Now I bought the game used at least 3 years ago but somehow never noticed the sticker. I pulled the game off the shelf and to my disgust noticed the sticker was under the plastic case cover on the actual DVD artwork. There was also one on the back (the front had been removed by me when I first got the game presumably).
Being the anal person I am about my video game collection I scraped and scraped at that fucker only to leave behind a torn plastic cover with fucking sticker residue everywhere.
I refuse to buy games from Gamestop anymore because I know that my local Gamestops all open their "new" games and put the discs in slip-sleeves until they sell them and that the cases have fucking stickers all over them. My case for DMC4 has cuts in it from a razor blade I used in trying to get those damn stickers off. When I went to buy RE5, they did the same thing. I asked if they had any that were shrink-wrapped. They said no and gave me a funny look. I told them I didn't want it and that I would buy it somewhere else.
Dammit, don't go see Watchmen, go see The Wrestler. Watchmen=the sticker on the back of your Persona box.
ReplyDeleteI went to GameStop and bought God of War, and they couldn't even find the case on the shelf, new or pre-owned. Lame.
ReplyDeletegreat post i hate those fuckin stickers. they always piss me off ;-)
ReplyDeletei agree 100%. ima have a KILLZOWN weekend! hope u have a good one jaffe see ya next week
What the management at Gamestop probably thinks is, "Why should we get rid of the stickers? It helps us stock, and no consumer is going to do anything about it. We make money either way."
ReplyDeleteAs for the Watchmen, I'm going to check it out this afternoon. Never read the graphic novels but I haven't been to the movies in a while so I figure I'd check it out.
Agree with you 100% on the stickers. I am paying my money for the game and I want a fresh new case. Not something that everyone has touched with their ball sweaty hands.
ReplyDeleteI went in to Gamestop and bought Burnout used, just wanted to see if I would like it. I did so I went back and returned that and bought a new one for $3 more and the guy at the counter said, "you know it is the same game." I said "yea, I just want a new case." Then he just gives that little shrug like I am an idiot. Why the fuck does it matter to you. You are getting more money from me, who cares if I get a new case. I pay my money, I want a fresh new case. Simple.
Well I get why it matters to the workers there- I think they make more commision % off used games...I THINK...could be wrong.
ReplyDeleteWhat bugs me is that gamers really don't give a shit because if they did, Gamestop would be forced to change policies. As is, they get away with what they can get away with cause the consumer doesn't really care.
I care and I am in a very vocal minority who seem to care.
But beyond all that, there is a thing called pride in your work and if I ran Gamestop, no fucking way I would see those fucking yard sale/garage sale looking products.
But then again, they make billions of dollars and I do not...so they=smarter than me when it comes to biz decisions... :)
in the uk we have stickers on everything :P go into your local GAME store and there is stickers all over the games... not just one.. nonono, two or three! from bargain price to BUY TWO FOR £30! they aren't even small stickers, they are large ass round things and even when you get the sticker off, glue residue is left all over it!
ReplyDeleteits my biggest annoyance with buying games from the store, amazon or gameplay is where i get my games from these days, they are cheaper, they are ALWAYS in the wrap and with gameplay, they arrive a few days early from the release date!
It's bad enough that Gamestop charges full price on a game that is already opened to begin with, regardless if it's new or used, but they also put those nasty assed stickers on it. What's annoying about those stickers is the circular one's they put on the opening that fuck up the game case.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for trade in's do your business elsewhere. Sell the games you don't want on Ebay. You'll get full price for them, possibly a little more. Gamestop trade in's suck!
I work at a Game Crazy store (one of Gamestop's last competition). We don't make commission off used. We push it because the company makes more money, blah blah blah. We push our savings cards, system warranties, and pre-orders because they boost our numbers and help us keep our jobs.
ReplyDeleteOnly the MVP (Edge card if you are a Gamestop shopper) card and system warranties make us actual commission.
Now, I personally own over 350 games. Each disc based game has a box, cover, instruction manual, with a disc in working condition. I won't buy a game unless it has all that.
My company pushes us to have 100% of the titles we have in stock to have cases on our sales floor.
So if we misplace or someone steals the case we had for a new copy of Afro Samurai, we have to grab any kind of case we have leftover (whether it be green, black, or clear, whether it is clean or has stickers or gunk on it) and we put in some kind of cover letting you know what the game is so corporate doesn't hound us.
I think we could probably give out more shrink wrapped copies if we had glass cases to put them in so customers couldn't get to them. But, corporate would rather not shell out the money for it.
*giant rambling rant over*
Ive never posted before but I am this time because I completly agree with you.It also annoys the heck out of me
ReplyDeleteto Reale
ReplyDeleteone of the reasons why I won't fuckin buy a game in a store anymore.
They are NEVER sealed
i went through phase in life at oen point thinking UK stock was never sealed at retail.
I'll stick with Amazon, Play.com or even fuckin Ebay!
David,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you, however unlike you I chose not to buy it. I told them straight up its not new even if you say its new and I'm not buying it. There are other vendors I can get it from. If I bought the game, tore the shrink wrap, decided not to play it, could I go return it and sell it as new! Screw gamestop!
I used to work at gamestop, I know exactly why they put the stickers on the spine. Gamestop always made us jump through hoops with store relays, constantly changing the look and the shelvings of our display cases and system cases. At times some games would be bookshelved meaning only the spine would be showing of the game. Alot of the managers started complaining that it was too much extra work to slide each indvidual game out in the rack and scan it for our category counts. So they came up with the idea of printing out a sticker to place on the spines of the games so the mangers doing the inventory counts every morning could easily scan each game with as little work as possible.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're right Dave, if enough people start making complaints about the stickers, the company would change their policy, I've seen this company bend over backwards for customers...I would use the term "shop worn merchandise" if you and others are going to complain about it
David,
ReplyDeleteI've seen it a step further. There are some GameStops in my area that actually pull out the paper inserts and put the spine stickers on the paper instead of the case! No shit. At least if it's on the case you can replace the case or peal off the sticker with some effort. If it's on the paper insert, you'll rip the shit out of it if you try. There are five GameStops in a three mile radius of my work, and two of them do this for every game. I refuse to shop at those ones.
LOL! Thank GOD I'm not the only one that feels that way. Its rare for me to buy a used game, but I've been dooped before... I also hate the stickers too...
ReplyDeleteDavid, You're a funny man! Rant all you want its funny as hell!
u wont c watcmen but youll c kingdom of the crystal skull more then once, to each his own i guess but i hope u c it atleast i bet there is nothing better this weekend anyways
ReplyDeleteDave,
ReplyDeleteGood point as to the fact that designers should be designing their product and should not be too concerned about outside speculation about their product. There is always going to be the Good, Bad, and The Ugly! It's best just to let it rest after its been put to the test.
As far as stickers are concerned...
I had the same experience purchasing my copy of Resistance 2 at Gamestop(I have to say that Resistance 2 was a terrible game).
I don't know why it received such high reviews. I'm pretty sure after everyone gave it a 9 out of 10 they were left with no room when comparing it to Killzone 2.
So Killzone 2 was the easy 5 out of 5 stars. In my mind if Resistance 2 was a 9 out of 10 then Killzone 2 is like a 27 out of 30(it's easily 3 times better). I know that 27 out of 30 is actually 9 out of 10(just making fun).
I think Insomniac needs to think about what their designing(Goldeneye was better than Resistance 2 - not graphically but gameplay/design mechanics). I would say Resistance 2 didn't deserve over a 6.5 at best. Resistance was an original game and I enjoyed it much more then its sequel.
Ok, back to the sticker issue...
When the employee at Gamestop attempted to sell me the last copy of Resistance 2, with plenty of residue, I asked him if he had another "New" copy and he replied to me "This is new and it's my last copy" as he was casually inserting the disc into the case(Hoping that I wouldn't start asking questions as to why he was putting the disc into the case).
[There was that moment as if the employee was wondering if I was just going to bite my lip like the other people have that have come before me day after day.]
I looked at him and decided that I wasn't going to play this game anymore(The "It's a new copy" as they put the disc into the case game). I told him I would find another copy somewhere else ... I figured I had to make a stand for the gamers.
I left the store and went to another Gamestop about 8 miles from the other location(without a prior call to see if the store had a copy - I was driven by my instinct).
I went into the Gamestop and found a factory shrunkwrap copy of Resitance 2 which I purchased(to my later disappointment).
I just picked up Persona 4 about 3 weeks ago from Gamestop(it was new and shrunkwrap).
I haven't even opened it yet but hear it's a great game. From what I understand it's a little slow to start. I have never played any of the other Personas and I'm actually glad because this way I will hopefully be treating myself to the Shin Megami Tensei experience.
I will have a fresh perspective on this gem and I hope it's as original as "Asteroids" was for me that first time I played it ever so long ago(not that I was such a critic back in the 80's or that I compared the quality of one product against another in those days).
It possibly could be a very fun and original console RPG.
Stand for something or fall for anything!
Cheers!
There were too many situations where Gamestop did the samething to me. After the first few times I told them sorry I'll wait for a new copy as I wasn't in a hurry for the game.
ReplyDeleteBut to get to the main story, there was this one time where I received a gift from my sister and the game was already opened with a sticker attached right onto it. I asked her if she opened it or if it came like that (knowing Gamestop) and she said it came like that. So I call the store and they told me it was their policy and there's nothing that could be done. They even tried to assure me it's still "NEW". Sorry but if it's not shrink wrapped it's not new to me.
Well I went to Gamestop website and got their customer support # and proceeded to go up the chain of command. Eventually they gave me the district managers cell # and I had to wait maybe a day or two for him to call me back. When he did he told me the samething about policy etc. So I brought the analogy of buying a new car and finding the exterior paint job scuffed/scratched (disc case/shrink wrap) but the interior/engine (disc/manual) is untouched doesn't make the car new and you sure wouldn't purchase that vehicle.
Now my analogy may have been extreme but was relevant in my eyes and he agreed with me. So he told me he was at the Gamestop store about 1-2hrs away from my local store and said he'll check there first for a sealed copy and he'll get back to me. Later on that same day he calls me back and says he found a sealed copy and will deliver it personally to my local store where I can pick it up.
Now was all that necessary? Probably not, but it was the principle of it.
@ Anonymous: Goldeneye better than Resistance 2? I don't think so, lol. The only reason Goldeneye was good back then was because that was before our standards got higher. That game is pretty crap today honestly. From what I've played of Resistance 2, I do have my issues, several things they changed from the first game to the second, but overall I really like it.
ReplyDeleteI hate GameSpot for that reason. I never shop there anymore. I've complained a couple of times about it as it is, and made it clear that they weren't getting my business because of this crap. My beautiful jewel-case copy of BioShock, tarnished by a fucking sticker I can't get off properly. (I think that might be also just me, I suck with stickers...but still, it shouldn't even have to be an issue.)
As for Watchmen, I actually take exception to what you said, Jaffe, I've never read the original graphic novel nor am I familiar with the characters, but general summaries and descriptions about why it's so good I've gotten from friend who are familiar as well as the fact that it's Zack Snyder at the helm (my favorite up and coming director...get him for God of War! =P ), I'm actually really intrigued and very much want to see it.
No matter what you bitch about, you always make a point. It doesn matter what the topic is. And THATS the reason i love your blog and random rants.
ReplyDeletehaha P4 is such an amazing game. It's very story driven game. Only made it to the 2nd boss =[ but it's a PS2 game and they don't need a PS3 to make an amazing game. If you do like it, I suggest playing Persona 3 and the upcoming Persona remake for the PSP.
ReplyDeleteBut yes those stickers are annoying, just go very very slow when peeling it and you should do fine. The sticker on the back of the jewel case gives me a hard time, the spine isn't so bad.
HAHAHAHAHA at the update.
ReplyDeleteWhy the hell are you guys still buying games at Gamestop? They obivously piss everyone off, yet they are making record profits because they get a ton of business. If you don't like taking it in the ass, stop bending over: shop at Best Buy!
ReplyDeleteThe update..... :D I really want to laugh at you but the fact that I have done the same damn thing prevents me from doing so.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the book recommendation. I will definitely check it out.
Man...I've never seen GameStop put a sticker on the inside of a case. Thankfully I haven't been stuck with a sticker copy of anything in quite some time. Last time I got one I kinda complained a bit about it not being "new" being covered in crap. Sadly they were the only store in town with it in stock so I was stuck with it.
ReplyDeleteLMAO about the sticker.. HA
ReplyDeleteyou're right about watchmen jaffski but I'm going to go see it because of that one quote about the world asking for help and him whispering no or whatever. that is so badass. i love badass. thats why i love christian jaffski. funny that you fucked up so bad on that gamestop sticker but we all know what you're talking about.
ReplyDeleterub the sticker in baby oil. Then just scratch the shit out if it. It should get most of it off. Will smell like baby oil though but whatever.
ReplyDeleteuse acetone,
ReplyDeletevery quick.
HAHA I fuckin hate gamestop's stickers as well!! One time i went to go pick up dead rising for the xbox 360 for new/used for like $54.99 or something...and the back of the jewel case was all mangled up AND it had that god damn piece of shit price sticker on the front!!
ReplyDeleteI just quietly gave him the stink eye. And he's like do you want a new copy instead for $5.....fucking retards...
seems like every time I buy a game at gamestop they only have the display left. I hate it and absolutely won't buy it. I agree if it's opened up already and not discounted I won't buy it. then I end up over at best buy. screw gamestop.
ReplyDeleteNo don't use acetone. Last time I tried that it royally fucked up my case. Always... always use a hair dryer to heat up the label if you cannot peel/scratch it off.
ReplyDeleteJaffe, Gamestop does make more money on the used ones. They buy games for $55 from the devs and sell them for $60 to make profit. They buy new used games for like $20 and then sell them for $55, so they make a huge profit on used game sales.
ReplyDeleteTo F1REST0RM via Dave Jaffe's Blog-
ReplyDeleteIn response to the following:
"@ Anonymous: Goldeneye better than Resistance 2? I don't think so, lol. The only reason Goldeneye was good back then was because that was before our standards got higher. That game is pretty crap today honestly. From what I've played of Resistance 2, I do have my issues, several things they changed from the first game to the second, but overall I really like it."
So let me just make sure I understand you F1RESTORM...
You say that you have issues with Resitance 2 but overall that you really liked the game.
My reply:
1. If you like fighting the same dumb AI(either doesn't move if you move or moves if you don't) then Resistance 2 is a good game for you to play. Lets face it the Chimera's AI sucks ... Insomniacs response to dumb AI is to throw 50 on you at a time to make you think your playing a game. Boring!
Look at Killzone's layout and you'll see that someone actually used their brain, as far as level design, to make the player have to be a little more strategic about how they play(meaning the player has to think about some of their actions or suffer the consequences).
2. If you like the fact that the game's story mode doesn't really force the player into playing the game with any type of style. Pretty much a mess of straight chaos. If you like games that don't properly pull the player through the plot with surprises, rewards, and twists then I recommend Resitance 2.
Moving forward, or backward for this matter, back to Goldeneye. You said that the game is pretty much crap as far as today's standards are concerned.
My reply:
1. I think anyone who has been a gamer trough the years and who has seen the evolution of the 1st person shooter(Wolfenstein, Doom, Rise Of The Triad, etc) would disagree with your statement that the game is crap(even by today's standards but I'll reply to this later).
Let me explain why...
-Goldeneye's level designs are extremely superior given the limited space of the cartridge. Lets also not forget that the load time was nil.
-There were a lot of different types of enemies in Goldeneye.
-The enemy AI, for 1st person shooter games, is still some of the best that I have seen to date.
-The regional hit system was amazing.
-The game was finely tuned. Meaning that at the different difficulties the game was appropriately harder to play(Still was real tough in that last difficulty which you probably never played).
-The sound and music was also not that bad(once again with the limitation of cartridge space).
Next...
2. Do you think I'm going to be giving Resistance 2 another review in the next 10 years... I think not.
That game has made little or no impact, in my mind, on the game industry or the 1st person shooter genre. Don't care what you think on that point and the reason being is:
I compared those games for a reason. You say that our standards have become higher so the game is crap. I totally disagree and the reason for that is:
The game mechanics in Goldeneye are far superior. The way the designers intended you, the player, to have to play through the levels(especially on the hardest difficulty). You couldn't just go blast your way to the end of the game(remember the Facility, Train, & Silo levels on the hardest difficulty?). You, the player, were literally chucking explosives or running throug the level.
Moving was key on the harder difficulties and was a must to unlock certain items(had to pass the level in a short time along with the objectives).
Wow, great thinking Rareware!
Back to the previous point...
So when you were reading my comment did you notice how I didn't say grapically just gameplay/ design mechanics. That's because that is still true(obviously not graphics).
If you know anything about game design then you would have to see what they, Rareware, has accomplished in that game. It also was a groundbreaker in setting the standard for 1st person shooter games like Resistance 2 to at least live up to if not surpass. Not just Goldeneye but all the 1st person shooters to date(like I said the evolution of 1st person shooters).
I still gave it a semi-decent rating, 6.5, that I figure is "Fair" and not over inflated by the "Critic.com" reviewer.
If were going to say that Resistance 2 is a 9 and Killzone 2 is a 5 out of 5(or lets just say 10). Then what is the degree of separation in that 1 point between 9 and 10.
I think that a majority of the critics/reviwers gave Resistance 2 way too much credit.
Well that's my take on Goldeneye and why it was used as a comparison in my previous comment.
Bottom line is that Goldeneye rocked at the time it came out! Resistance 2 does not rock. It was good to play it once and now to never think about it again.
Anyone else ... any thoughts?
Cheers!
i agree with that gamestop annoyance. i've rejected enough games due to that same thing. not sure why they think charging full price for an opened and often mutilated case is sensible.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update video. It put a smile on my face while at work.
ReplyDeleteI don't buy used games. Period. I almost never trade in games either, but I do on occasion. (Did $100 worth last weekend.) So when I go in and ask for a game, if it's not in the full original wrapping I don't buy it. I don't want any of that "We'll shrink wrap it and spray it with 'new car smell'" BS. I want a never before touched game in a case that hasn't been destroyed, and doesn't require a Saturday night to peel the random stickers off of. I hate it on Blu-Rays too.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think people are so used to the used game scheme that they just roll with it. As a consumer we have to take the word, of an employee that is required to push used games, that the game is new and the box was just used for display. I've had too many problems with GameStop employees to believe that line.
Honestly if not for pre-orders and pre-order bonuses I wouldn't go in there again.
To Anonymous # 2 before the one above me. Sounds like you've never played RFOM... Now I won't call you an ignorant prick but Insomniac DID sort of screw up R2's campaign. Now I think the amount of bashing you did towards it was just so fuking lame... I want to convince you to play RFOM, unfortunately it seems, TO ME... that you've been sold that Insomniac sucks of Resistance itself. & coming from an old school gamer who played the original Wolfenstein 3D, two of the best FPS's on PS3 this gen have been Killzone 2 & RFOM.
ReplyDeleteI'm a collector.
ReplyDeleteI buy a sealed copy (and keep it that way)
have done with all my TM's
I then get a used copy off Ebay for a few quid.
OMG, you have insulted Mr. Moore's Masterpiece...lol
ReplyDeleteHaha Jaffe. You remind me so much of myself in these videos. I'm so anal when it comes to this shit and my games. I sometimes buy used games because well the economy sucks and I want to save money.
ReplyDeleteOf course when I go home two things seriously piss me off...
1. On used games they sometimes have up to 3 stickers on one case. Why the f**k do they need 3 stickers? One isnt enough?
2. How can some gamers treat their game cases like shit? I get some cases that the previous owner destroyed.
Basically if this happens I go online and print a new cover, and get a DVD case to swap with the game case
a blow torch
ReplyDeleteeven quicker..
hahaha I just had to laugh at you with the sticker....
ReplyDeleteOh you're right on about the stickers... they are annoying, even more on used older games, since the glue gets older and worse to tear off!
ReplyDeleteThe movie ROCKS HARD david! you should definitely see it!
ReplyDeletedont see watchmen david it is to long and to boring. i walked out like 45 minutes in the movie, its bad, go see underworld that is a good movie
ReplyDeleteYea totally agree, I hate those fucking stickers. I like having all my game cases in good condition. They could at least use some stickers that peel off easily and don't leave that sticky residue on the case.
ReplyDeletePersonally I loved the watchmen. I saw it on imax yesterday. I haven't read the book yet, I'm actually going to do that either this weekend or next weekend.
ReplyDeleteas far as the stickers those annoy me, especially when they put them on the actual insert and then you go to take them off and they tear your shit up >.<
people who think watchmen is a boring movie have the iq of the most intelligent termite..
ReplyDeleteOrder from Amazon, and you won't have the sticker problem. They seem to appreciate that someone's designed box art for a reason. Or maybe they're just too lazy to put stickers on in the first place. Anyway, at least that's the case for the UK rendition of Amazon.
ReplyDeleteBe the sticker inside or outside the transparant plastic, woe betide those who place it there.
To CleanNJerk101 via Dave Jaffe's Blog-
ReplyDeleteIn response to the following:
"To Anonymous # 2 before the one above me. Sounds like you've never played RFOM... Now I won't call you an ignorant prick but Insomniac DID sort of screw up R2's campaign. Now I think the amount of bashing you did towards it was just so fuking lame... I want to convince you to play RFOM, unfortunately it seems, TO ME... that you've been sold that Insomniac sucks of Resistance itself. & coming from an old school gamer who played the original Wolfenstein 3D, two of the best FPS's on PS3 this gen have been Killzone 2 & RFOM."
For the record I do believe that there is talent at Insomniac and that it can be seen in the design of Resistance 2.
I didn't give the game a 1 out of 10. I think there is some thought to the level art, audio, and game design. But it doesn't matter how great the art and audio are if the game has other issues.
Also, I think that Resistance was a great launch title on the PS3. I enjoyed the first one a little more than the second as far as gameplay(That could be because it was a new series). Yes, I also agree that the game has come along way since launch.
Unfortunately, I don't think the story was working with the game mechanics. I just wasn't feeling the gears turning(the harmony between the story and gameplay).
I think that Killzone 2 is the #1 FPS on the PS3. Obviously, because the lack of any other original contenders, Resistance 2 would most likely have to be #2(I'm sure sales figures would probably also support that theory).
Though I still stand with what I said earlier and that being...
Killzone 2, from what I have played(not quite finished), is definitely a 4 out of 5 star game(maybe even a bit higher).
I also have been following the development of Killzone 2. I would say that over the last 2.5 years the game has taken a lot of pre-release bashing. I fully believed that Sony/Guerilla could learn from the mistakes that were made in Killzone.
Alot of people thought Killzone 2 was going to be a total flop and also projected that opinion in news or by voice.
Now we could all get the microscope out and find things to complain about, as far as Killzone 2 is concerned, but that stuff is tiny talk.
Well, I'm pleased to say that I think Guerilla/Sony has put together a near perfect product as far as Killzone 2 is concerned. The game's a beast! It's definitely an impression maker. The game also utilizes more of the PS3's CPU and graphic power.
Why couldn't Insomniac/Sony make Resistance 2 in 1080p? They have the sickest console on the market and their not using it's graphic power?! What are they thinking?
Now I know that it takes some time to see games look better on a new system. Were talking about Resistance 2 not Resistance.
I'm not as pleased with Insomniac/Sony. I hope they take a step back then take a look at the Resistance series and really step up their game on the next product.
I'll take a look into RFOM just to keep an open mind.
Please understand that I didn't totally hate Resistance 2 but just thought it was alright and could have been better from a designer's point-of-view.
I'm done with this thread.
Cheers!
OMG!
ReplyDeleteWhy the hell don't they put them inside the case up here in Canada!
Ebgames puts stickers both on the front AND in the back! Pisses me off to get those things off, and if and when I do there is always residue left!
DAVID, SLOW THE FUCK DOWN
ReplyDeleteIt's not good for you to be so excitable.
LMAO...yea...the sticker was inside LOL. But if it really was a sticker...god I would understand your pain...since I am a bit...you know on the side where I like to see a nice clean case for my game and stuff. So yea, oh yea as for Watchmen people keep telling me it's so awesome, people were so hyped up about it and stuff, and I had no idea what it was. I watched the trailer and was like "........ok.....it looks......decent." And yea...let's see I'll go watch it to see how it goes, but the reviews tell me it's just decent.
ReplyDeleteDon't shop at Gamestop.
ReplyDeleteWhat's even stopping them from pawning off used shit as new? When I spend my hard-earned $60 for my game I want to unwrap it, crack it open myself, and smell that new game smell, all the while knowing some fucking opinionated gamestore clerk didn't put his sweaty bitch hands all over it and take it home for a preview. I'd rather head down the road to a Best Buy where they understand the meaning of "new"
ReplyDeleteSo the other night I was organizing my games/movies shelf and I noticed something glaringly different from the rest of the items: a fucking bright yellow gamestop stick on the spine of one "Forza Motorsports" for XBOX. Now I bought the game used at least 3 years ago but somehow never noticed the sticker. I pulled the game off the shelf and to my disgust noticed the sticker was under the plastic case cover on the actual DVD artwork. There was also one on the back (the front had been removed by me when I first got the game presumably).
ReplyDeleteBeing the anal person I am about my video game collection I scraped and scraped at that fucker only to leave behind a torn plastic cover with fucking sticker residue everywhere.
Hope you're enjoying P4.
I refuse to buy games from Gamestop anymore because I know that my local Gamestops all open their "new" games and put the discs in slip-sleeves until they sell them and that the cases have fucking stickers all over them. My case for DMC4 has cuts in it from a razor blade I used in trying to get those damn stickers off. When I went to buy RE5, they did the same thing. I asked if they had any that were shrink-wrapped. They said no and gave me a funny look. I told them I didn't want it and that I would buy it somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteI'll never use them again. Period.
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