Because I'm a lousy writer and don't have the patience to outline my thoughts ahead of time I'm going to do this in the style of a dialogue. With myself. A less informed and more sensitive to change alternate personality.
Is this just a money grab?
No. This is an attempt to stabilize pricing closer to Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price.
So, no more online discounting?
Hopefully, yes.
Which means I'm going to be paying more to play.
No... okay, yes. There won't be as many crazy online deals to be had but it's good for the industry!
I don't see how paying more to play is good for the industry. Won't this just drive players away?
Not at all. By reducing the amount of product sold online (and below MSRP) it allows more brick and mortar shops to satisfy demand for the product at or near MSRP. If shops can satisfy demand at a higher profit level then they make more money and are incentivized to:
1. Carry more product
2. Support the community with regular play nights, leagues, tournaments
3. Improve infrastructure: better tables, better chairs, cleaner bathrooms
4. Hire better staff
Not only are they incentivized to do these things - they now have money in their pocket to do these things!
But I don't have any game stores in my area!
That's probably because it's not profitable to run a game shop in your area. Maybe it's low population density, or high cost of rent, or something else. By allowing shop-owners to make more money off the product maybe someone will do the math and find that it has become profitable to do business in your area where online sales made it impossible before!
Well, I think my local game store sucks - I don't want to support them.
Good, then don't. That's why the internet exists. Vote with your wallet and go somewhere else. Either they'll learn their lesson or they won't and they'll go out of business.
Also consider that it might just be you. Do you have a tendency of alienating people? Probably your fault.
Okay, so maybe this'll mean my local store will get better... and I guess I don't have to wait for my stuff anymore but I'll still end up paying more, won't I?
Yes, you will. And that's just the nature of things. If the game is good then it has value to you, to shops, and to everyone else involved in the business. If the game has value then it'll be priced accordingly. If it's too expensive for you, then you need to reconsider your priorities or get a better job. This is non-negotiable.
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I work in the outdoor industry and we've been navigating the transition from an online wild-west to a system that balances the playing field between online and brick and mortar for several years now. There have been rocky points but in the long run we believe it'll improve the larger outdoor community. A rising tide lifts all boats, or whatever.
I believe we'll see the same improvements in the gaming community once more publishers take a hard line approach to online sales. The community should benefit from seeing more profits stay with local businesses.
Lastly, I'd like to point to the camera and book industry. Does anyone remember what a good camera shop looked like? I'm not talking about Ritz or Wolf. I'm talking about when every major city had their own miniature B&H. There used to be options other than Amazon where you could buy, sell, and trade used equipment and chat about your favorite glass. That's all gone now because of the internet. Some never knew what it was like to have that type of community but for those of us who saw it disappear should be able to appreciate the efforts being taken to save the gaming community.
