For some people, credit cards are not an option, particularly when it comes to the Internet. Lack of credit worthiness, age, technological backwardness or simple scepticism can all combine to shut people out of the world of online gaming – where, it must be said, many of them are quite happy to be.
But this presents a problem for gaming companies who want to move services online and cut out the rather expensive middleman that is the high street gaming shop by establishing a direct relationship with the customer. In theory, this will eventually result in the consumer getting a better deal.
But how can the likes of Playstation, Nintendo and Microsoft get console gamers – for many of whom the sheer simplicity of the console experience is among the key attractions - to use online services without crossing the credit card Rubicon? Playstation are having a go with a 'half-way house' strategy in which gamers will be able to purchase mobile phone credit style vouchers for €20 or €50. After that it’s a fairly simple process of log on, enter code and buy.
The vouchers can be used to get new games, expansion packs, Singstar tracks and Playstation Home… stuff. They will also be redeemable for movies when the PlayStation Network video delivery service comes onstream in early 2010.
Will it work? Perhaps, though the giddy experience of buying a shiny new game in town, bringing it home on the bus and finally getting to put it in the console may stick around a while longer.
The other angle here is that the vendors of the vouchers will be the very middlemen – highstreet gaming stores - who ultimately have most to fear from a large scale online migration.
The vouchers are out there (from October 1)… if you can’t see them they may just be hidden behind the popcorn.
Brendan Cole
