Are Physical Copies a Reality? Nope
This will sound odd to most: Even though Sonic the Hedgehog 4 will be a download-only, episodic affair, some traditional retailers plan to promote the upcoming piecemeal releases.
Sega West head Mike Hayes told UK based CVG in an interview that two unnamed outlets plan to push Sonic 4 in stores–despite the current inability to offer a physical copy.
“It was interesting having the digital games on the stand as well for the first time,” Hayes said. “We’ve had two major retailers who are committing to Sonic 4, even though they can’t physically sell it.”
Confused? Hayes says they’re willing to promote in hopes it will lead to increased sales of digital currency in stores.
“They want to promote it so they can sell more points cards, which of course is income for them,” Hayes explained.
That retailers are willing to promote a download-only title they can’t directly share profits in may lower hopes that Sonic 4 could, upon its completion or otherwise, have a physical release. There’s risk on stores’ part as well; currency can just as easily be purchased directly through XBOX Live, PSN, and the Wii Shop Channel, and there’s been debate on the future of digital delivery for games–and whether it could cripple the retail model. Do you think it’s smart for traditional stores to support Sega’s current strategy on Sonic 4? Tell us in the comments area.
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If they have Sonic 4 points cards in America… I will buy them… of course it would just be M$ points cards since Sony and Nintendo don’t promote anything anymore.
So it’ll kinda be like those PSN cards you can buy that has a voucher for the full game? Much like the PSP ones.
Wait…wait…wait…
Promoting points cards?
*sigh*
If they are going to sell pre-order cards for Sonic 4 to enter in and get the game directly (much like we see with cards on other games on Xbox Live and the like) then I am all for that.
Holy shit that would be awesome to go to a release party for a Sonic game!
Can’t be too different from what Amazon.com does. You buy the game, they give you the code. You type it in, download and bingo!
Yay. it’s like buying Sonic 1 + 2 lazy mixed toghether.
We can still hope, I suppose.
I still say that once all the episodes of Sonic 4 are released online they’re going to rerelease them (plus any DLC) on a single disc, kinda like ‘Sonic 4 Special Edition’ or something.
shop support for a digital download title?
pratty lame.
Come on Sega, give us a physical release of Sonic 4.
@AJBSONIC
I think you’re right. In fact I would actually encourage SEGA to do something like that, and that’s mainly because I don’t think every single person has XBL or PSN.
Point cards are a joke, and I can’t believe there are actually retailers that consider them a viable source of revenue.
Sega always knows how to ruin it, a physical copy would make the game accessible to all fans (little kids would have an easier time picking up the box instead of downloading it.) It would help sales so much!
@Chaotic Fox
I for one, don’t use credit/debit cards, so I have to buy points cards at the local stores.
I wouldn’t think all hope is lost for a retail copy. Sure, all that is being said makes it seem like there wouldn’t be one, but remember, we’re only at Episode 1 right now. Who knows what could happen after all 3 Episodes are released. They’re not gonna have a retail copy for just ONE Episode. This isn’t that big a problem.
Though, when all Episodes are released, and if its confirmed then that there will be no retail copy, I REALLY wish that all 3 Episodes can merge into one full Sonic the Hedgehog 4 experience(people say it will happen, but so far no source has been given as proof, even though I believe it will happen anyways, proof would be nice).
@Ben: And a cheap game that sits on the shelf that no only costs money to produce (The box, the manual, etc) for something small like this (Episode 1) would be fucking stupid. How about doing some research about WHY they went with the download option before spewing off typical fanboy bullshit?