Patapon 2 - Disc-less media question

[maxlords]

Ok....apparently Patapon 2 is only being released as a disc-less media in the US...and I assume Canada. That being said...is there any way to get a UMD of it in English? I REALLY REALLY hate downloadable media. Can you burn a UMD at all? Are blanks even available?

Does the Euro release have a physical disc maybe?

[namzep]

That's just stupid. I wish they'd give us the option of both since I really don't like downloadable games all that much.

[PapaStu]

Just import it from Europe. The menus will be in english there. Most likely the Japanese version has english menus too.

[josekortez]

How is this possible when Gamestop was doing pre-orders on Patapon 2?

[Damaniel]

How is this possible when Gamestop was doing pre-orders on Patapon 2?

There's still going to be a retail release, but it's just an activation/download code in an otherwise empty box.

Add me to the list of people who prefer having physical copies of their games. If I actually end up buying the game, I guess I can put the box for this on my shelf, but to me it's only one step above grabbing some of those pre-order box mockups from Gamestop and filling my shelves with them.

[misfits859]

This really pisses me off. I hate the idea of DL'able games. I guess I'll pick this up, only because I'm a huge fan of the original and have been waiting for this for awile but the DL issues rakes me the wrong way,

Come to think of it, I guess that kills the chances of this game showing up in the used bins as well. Shit.

[Bojay1997]

Ok....apparently Patapon 2 is only being released as a disc-less media in the US...and I assume Canada. That being said...is there any way to get a UMD of it in English? I REALLY REALLY hate downloadable media. Can you burn a UMD at all? Are blanks even available?

Does the Euro release have a physical disc maybe?

Yes, the UK/Euro release is a physical UMD. It goes for around $25 new plus shipping which is more than the US release, but not crazy. It only came out over a few months ago, so the price will probably decrease over time.

[Damaramu]

UK or JPN version it is then.

[maxlords]

Thanks for the confirmation, Bojay! I'm in the process of getting a Euro copy now

Anyone that gets the chance....tell Sony reps how crappy this is! My local game store is going to communicate that to their Sony rep. Corporations don't like cancelled preorders

[Diosoth]

Thanks for the confirmation, Bojay! I'm in the process of getting a Euro copy now

Anyone that gets the chance....tell Sony reps how crappy this is! My local game store is going to communicate that to their Sony rep. Corporations don't like cancelled preorders

This is how the game industry is "fighting" used game sales. They don't want us to be able to sell of physical goods we paid for.

[ProgrammingAce]

Thanks for the confirmation, Bojay! I'm in the process of getting a Euro copy now

Anyone that gets the chance....tell Sony reps how crappy this is! My local game store is going to communicate that to their Sony rep. Corporations don't like cancelled preorders

Tell them Pon - Pon - Patta - Pon, too (damn, that's still stuck in my head?).

Sony could care less if pre-orders get canceled, by that point Gamestop has already put their order in. Though, if you want to screw gamestop, that's a good way to do it. An organized group of people going in and pre-ordering a ton of games only to cancel the preorders a month later...

[maxlords]

Feh...I preordered Patapon 2 well before they made the press release on this. If I'd known I wouldn't have preordered it.

[scooterb23]

How is this different than buying a game for PS Network / XBLA / Wiiware? I don't see a big difference.

/me shrugs

[Kitsune Sniper]

Tell them Pon - Pon - Patta - Pon, too (damn, that's still stuck in my head?).

Sony could care less if pre-orders get canceled, by that point Gamestop has already put their order in. Though, if you want to screw gamestop, that's a good way to do it. An organized group of people going in and pre-ordering a ton of games only to cancel the preorders a month later...

They'll still hold onto your money for that entire month, and they don't give refunds on preorders. They force you to spend the money at their store.

They still win.

[heybtbm]

Buying the download-only version only encourages Sony to do more of this stupid shit. Just saying.

[ProgrammingAce]

They'll still hold onto your money for that entire month, and they don't give refunds on preorders. They force you to spend the money at their store.

They still win.

Not here. You cancel a pre-order, they have to give you cash back. I used to do it all the time to get pre-order goodies.

And if they didn't, i'd be filing a charge back on my credit card and/or filing a complaint with the FTC.

I would imagine organizing to do that would be illegal anyway. I can't see how that wouldn't constitute fraud. Gamestop would be taking on financial risk because of a verbal contract you have no intention of honoring...

[Bojay1997]

They'll still hold onto your money for that entire month, and they don't give refunds on preorders. They force you to spend the money at their store.

They still win.

What are you talking about? You typically don't put the full amount down and Gamestop will refund a pre-order if you cancel it or move it to another game if you so choose.

[tubeway]

Not here. You cancel a pre-order, they have to give you cash back. I used to do it all the time to get pre-order goodies.

And if they didn't, i'd be filing a charge back on my credit card and/or filing a complaint with the FTC.

I would imagine organizing to do that would be illegal anyway. I can't see how that wouldn't constitute fraud. Gamestop would be taking on financial risk because of a verbal contract you have no intention of honoring...

They require a full payment as a pre order? Last time I checked, game stores here required a five buck deposit. Hrmmm

[chrisbid]

not everyone has wireless internet access, when i worked at a game store, i got questions all the time from yahoos that couldnt get online with their psp/ds/wii because they didnt have wireless internet

[Flashback2012]

A much smarter approach to this situation would have been to offer two different versions at retail. There should be a standard version with the UMD media and the digital download version. I can't speak for everyone but I wouldn't mind paying $5 more just to have the physical UMD to go with the case and instructions. At least when Sony loses their shirt from the rampant piracy of the digital version, I'd be one less person they can point their finger at.

Seriously though, going this route would have given them a better indication of what their buying consumers would do rather than just put NA PSP owners in a lurch and be forced into download only unlike their EU and JPN counterparts.

I'll be looking for the EU/AUS release of this game down the road as I don't care for not owning physical copies of my media. I almost anticipate the release of the PSP Go! as it'll free up future money for more DS releases.