Not liking the way game pricing is heading.

[stilla-killa]

Back when the first Xbox was near the end of its life game companies were coming out with collector editions of some of their regular games, which then were usually $10 more. And from my understanding they were using this to test to see if consumers were willing to shell out 60 dollars for a game before the next generation consoles came out. Obviously consumers didn't mind and now we have to pay $60 dollars for a game.

And now with COD:MW2 being $60 for the pc it makes me wonder if they are doing the same thing as above and testing the pc game consumers to see if they are willing to pay $60 for a pc game. And we all know COD:MW2 is going to sell like hot cakes for the pc. So therefore I wouldn't be surprised if other game companies followed suit and charged $60 dollars for their games as well.

I am going to make a prediction and say that BF:BC2 and BF3 are going to cost $60 as well for the pc. I also wouldn't be surprised that when the next generation of consoles hit, Xbox and PS4, the games will cost as much as $70.

I mean where do we as consumers drawn the line on how much we are willing to pay for a game.

[Vreki]

Re: Not liking the way game pricing is heading.

2 points:
A) The last two generations of console hardware has been sold below cost, at least initially. To make up for that publishers have to pay a fee for each game they sell to the consoles. With that in mind I expect PC games to remain $10 (or whatever) cheaper than console games.
B) Inflation. the Xbox was launched in 2001. Run $50 in 2001 money through this inflation calculator, and you get $61 in 2008 money.

Besides that, us poor europeans still suffer from the poor US education system, since most publishers still believe that $1 = €1.

Arma II cost me €48 = $68

[Rambo]

Re: Not liking the way game pricing is heading.

the same applies to a $15 dollar flash game,if that sells and all the "kids" get thier rich parents to buy it,thats all they will sell in the future.

its a balance of a decent game vs price:salute:.

[MrKLM]

Re: Not liking the way game pricing is heading.

[MrChris_CJ]

Re: Not liking the way game pricing is heading.

lol that part of Monkey island is priceless

here in the UK COD4 was sold for £35, the normal version for months, and I mean months I would struggle to find it at a cheaper price

other PC games, its harder to find them reaching that price, I got the Special Edition of Stalker in Game for £30, online all this stuff would be even cheaper (except for COD4)

Tbh the game is just overpriced, they know it will do well, or are being cocky about it and charge max price for the longest period of time, its to be expected from these types of game makers

but I don't think for a second its going to be a growing trend, not with digital downloads etc. I remember when I bought Crysis Warhead on release day, it was £17.99 while COD4 was still at 35, I ****ing laughed my *** off.

[imported_Will]

Re: Not liking the way game pricing is heading.

I'd stop at 60 dollars for a video game. I hate how much i have to save (i don't have a job, allowence etcetc. Don't ask me how i get money. ) to get a game these days.

[Eagle101]

Re: Not liking the way game pricing is heading.

Neither am i, every time i step into GAME for some browsing some games are still at the same price it was for when they were released. When Company of Heroes Tales of Valor came out it was 30 UK pounds but get this when i checked Play.com it was only 17.99 pounds :P

Now i am a bit terrified at the pricing for MW2 :s

[TGL|FalseLion]

Re: Not liking the way game pricing is heading.

I don't remember the collectors editions your talking about. I remember the platinum editions that were $20 bucks and normally well worth buying. Alot of games are released with collectors editions that normally were $10 - $20 more than the standard edition, and came with a different case or book or just something for video game collectors.

I agree that the video game companies are becoming a bit to much about the money which I think has alot more to do with the price mark ups than anything else.

I never have been much impressed with the Call of Duty series because it seems like they've taken a release a game give it a year or two and then drop support for a game only to release a new version of the old game with better graphics, which also is raising the bar on computer hardware forcing you to have to upgrade the PC long before its really ran its life. I don't have a problem paying $60 for a game if its worth it. Honestly, I don't think MW2 is. Wasn't that entirely impressed with COD4.

Left 4 Dead is doing the same thing though. They sold it for $50 when it was released which I still haven't bought it because its still $40 and not worth that price tag. It's a Halflife 2 mod and needs to reflect that price. I'd pay $30 for the thing but really it should still probably have a $20 price tag.

Games are just becoming to much about the money and less about the joy of a great game, which are far and few between these days.

[Eagle101]

Re: Not liking the way game pricing is heading.

^ pretty much right lol hopefully some change will come.

[Scinto]

Re: Not liking the way game pricing is heading.

*snip* I remember when I bought Crysis Warhead on release day, it was £17.99 while COD4 was still at 35, I ****ing laughed my *** off.

Crysis Warhead was more of an Expansion hence the low price, it didnt take long to complete.


The higher cost of games now a days is getting stupid and its probably increasing the amount of piracy that goes on.

This would be a nice time for companys like Direct2Drive and now even GAME to feed upon the ease and less waste* of Direct Downloads, if they can get lower prices on their products. :)

*less waste meaning; no pointless Steelbooks, extra packaging etc which would probably contribute to the extra costs, Im sure there are people who like that kind of stuff but id prefer not to have it.

[KillerStickMan]

Re: Not liking the way game pricing is heading.

Crysis Warhead was more of an Expansion hence the low price, it didnt take long to complete.


The higher cost of games now a days is getting stupid and its probably increasing the amount of piracy that goes on.

I seem to remember EA announcing that it would be priced at $50 but then they got enough angry emails and threads on their forums so they dropped the release price to $30. Although I could be wrong and be making this all up...

[Boreas]

Re: Not liking the way game pricing is heading.

(i don't have a job, allowence etcetc. Don't ask me how i get money. )

How do you get money?

I am in the same case, no job yet, no allowance, just the cash i get from B-days and Christmas and spare lawns cut. I will never in my life pay more than $50 for a game unless its A. Diablo 3 B. HL2:EP3. Thats it. Besides, i havent bought a $50 game in about a year. Ive gotten most of mine from Christmas

[imported_Will]

Re: Not liking the way game pricing is heading.

How do you get money?

I am in the same case, no job yet, no allowance, just the cash i get from B-days and Christmas and spare lawns cut. I will never in my life pay more than $50 for a game unless its A. Diablo 3 B. HL2:EP3. Thats it. Besides, i havent bought a $50 game in about a year. Ive gotten most of mine from Christmas

Basically, when my mom gives me money for lunch at school, i don't eat and pocket the money. 5 USD / day = a game every 2 weeks.

That and birthday, christmas.


I usually get games when i feel like and gotten so many this year that I could probably open a blog and rant on how bad some of these games were. I'm a critic.

[MrChris_CJ]

Re: Not liking the way game pricing is heading.

Crysis Warhead was more of an Expansion hence the low price, it didnt take long to complete.


The higher cost of games now a days is getting stupid and its probably increasing the amount of piracy that goes on.

This would be a nice time for companys like Direct2Drive and now even GAME to feed upon the ease and less waste* of Direct Downloads, if they can get lower prices on their products. :)

*less waste meaning; no pointless Steelbooks, extra packaging etc which would probably contribute to the extra costs, Im sure there are people who like that kind of stuff but id prefer not to have it.

an expansion pack that was the same length as COD4 SP lol, not to mention it had the Crysis Wars MP added in

this was also about a year after COD4s release, keeping a game at an inflated price is just stupid imo

Warhead was one of the besr value PC games I have ever bought tbh

I just think its money grabbing tbh, and for once it isn't EA doing it

[Boreas]

Re: Not liking the way game pricing is heading.

I usually get games when i feel like and gotten so many this year that I could probably open a blog and rant on how bad some of these games were. I'm a critic.

I felt like this for awhile, but now i have a very wide range of games. I dont have a absolute huge amount, but enough to keep me entertained. Now, i dont have any need to buy games, mostly cause they've sucked lately. Now, im just waiting for Diablo 3