Digital Licenses

[consolegamer]

Almost every game I've bought in the last few years has been from a digital provider (Steam, D2D, Gamersgate, Impulse, Origin, GOG, Microsoft, Amazon, etc). Has anyone ever purchased multiple games from such providers to use in a LAN center? It seems like it would be an easier license management system versus using CD/DVD images for boxed games. Plus, I've gotten some wicked deals on games in the past. I just wondered if you can even have multiple copies per login at a digital provider or if you'd need to have one account per system. I'll look into it more with the individual companies but wondered if anyone has had personal experience with a center.

[Deeds]

I have.  I just made seperate accounts for each game I bought (Steam) so that all my licenses wouldn't be tied to one account and they could be used independently of each other.

-deeds

[Alomax]

What Deeds said.  Just buy one copy of one game per account.  With Steam, the easiest way is to buy it on one account and gift the copies to the others, that way you don't have to re-enter the creditcard info over and over.  You can also lockout your own CC if you use it too many times.

[tornfaith07]

Is there software like this for the xbox

[Deeds]

Unfortunately not.

-deeds

[tornfaith07]

So then I will need a hard copy of every game...how do you determine how many copies to get of each game?

[RsteeleAUG]

Well a game like MW3 that has a huge following you want to be able to have it played on all your systems so if you have 10 Xbox 360's 10 copies would be ideal.

But a game like Skyrim that's single player but very easy to get hooked on the other hand it might not be everyone's cup of tea, so you might only need 1-3 copies.

I don't go buy 10 copies of every new release because most of them will collect dust if we did. Now if several customers request a game we'll grab a copy or 2 and see it if plays well here. If not we sell those copies and focus on the next game.

We pick and choose our games based on what our customers want. I tend to keep track of most big game release reviews and while they aren't always 100% correct they will give you some very general ideas of how a game will do at least it has here.

Homefront is a prime example. 1 week after release the reviews tanked it. Price dropped to $44 at most retailers and the game was a wash. It did some things well but not well enough to pull people off Black Ops which was extremely popular at that time.

[johnlarson]

So then I will need a hard copy of every game...how do you determine how many copies to get of each game?

Each center is different.  The easiest answer I can think of is you get as many copies as you need, which is not helpful.

For sports and driving games we get two copies (we do not get all sports).

For RPG games we start with one and then go from there.  We try not to get too many of these as the interest will run out.  For GTA and RDR we started with two and stayed at two.

For shooters we get them in groups of four.

We do not buy every new game that comes out and I do not let the employees influence me too much.  For example, when Dead Island came out I got four copies.  All the employees felt we needed at least four more.  I told them wait, there are too many new games coming out, this will die down.  I have no clue the last time that game was played.  Gears 3 and BF3 both had the same type of situation.  I feel I over purchased BF3, I did the same for BFBC2.  The game is too good (hard) for our customers.  I knew it would be.  So sometimes even I over purchase.

[tornfaith07]

Thank you.

I was wondering also, I thought I read somewhere that you guys base your decision on where to purchase copies just based on where you can get it cheapest, for example if there are coupons or sales at like Kmart or Gamestop?

[RsteeleAUG]

I absolutely get my games where ever has them cheapest. Kmart usually has $15 to $30 coupons per every new copy I buy.

I've also had a guy that runs a local pawn shop selling me new games for $45. Until I get arrested I'm going to say it's legit.

[johnlarson]

I absolutely get my games where ever has them cheapest. Kmart usually has $15 to $30 coupons per every new copy I buy.

I've also had a guy that runs a local pawn shop selling me new games for $45. Until I get arrested I'm going to say it's legit.

[RsteeleAUG]

Like I said until I get arrested...

[Deeds]

I sent in my application but all I had was two bums that tried to rape me...

-deeds

[RsteeleAUG]

Did they at least offer you Pizza first?

[xenli]

Regarding Skyrim, can we get commercial licensing for bethesda ?   This game is too good to not have at LAN centers!