Games are too expensive
- Thread starter Gindil
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I was actually just straight mocking him. Because he has the foolish idea that things don't require money. Games DO require money. That was my point, and i was making fun of his small minded comment.iLikeHippos said:
Your comment is imbecilic. You seem to feel people should spend millions of dollars and not expect a single thing in return. This isn't food water or shelter. They are not making games as a favor to you or to be nice to you. Its a business.Kair said:
First post, so please bear with me.
I've been lurking on this site for the last few months, reading the articles and getting a feel for the forums, and this topic seems to come up quite often. I'm old enough to remember the average used game costing between five and fifteen dollars, which also makes me old enough to remember something about the way games were priced back then; the price almost always dropped low enough that a new copy was competitive with a used one. Up until Gamestop bought out EB games, and gained a virtual monopoly over the used market, used games were cheap enough to make buying new right when they came out a bad idea unless you had the money and couldn't wait. However, I bought almost as many new games at the time as I did used, because publishers actually tried to compete with used prices.
Now, I don't mean that the prices for brand new games were significantly different -- actually, they've been pretty constant for at least twelve or thirteen years -- but even as recently as 2003 or so, games would be re-released in a heavily discounted form about a year after the initial release, assuming they did well enough to warrant it. I remember buying AAA PC games for $10 brand new, and PS1 and PS2 games for $15-20. Today, thanks to Gamestop's monopoly, and corporate greed on the whole, we no longer get these kinds of discounts. This is the real reason games are too expensive these days; there is no real competition from used games, and as a result, no reason to significantly cut the price over time.
TL;DR
Games are expensive now because without true competition from used games, the publishers no longer have any reason to cut prices.
I've been lurking on this site for the last few months, reading the articles and getting a feel for the forums, and this topic seems to come up quite often. I'm old enough to remember the average used game costing between five and fifteen dollars, which also makes me old enough to remember something about the way games were priced back then; the price almost always dropped low enough that a new copy was competitive with a used one. Up until Gamestop bought out EB games, and gained a virtual monopoly over the used market, used games were cheap enough to make buying new right when they came out a bad idea unless you had the money and couldn't wait. However, I bought almost as many new games at the time as I did used, because publishers actually tried to compete with used prices.
Now, I don't mean that the prices for brand new games were significantly different -- actually, they've been pretty constant for at least twelve or thirteen years -- but even as recently as 2003 or so, games would be re-released in a heavily discounted form about a year after the initial release, assuming they did well enough to warrant it. I remember buying AAA PC games for $10 brand new, and PS1 and PS2 games for $15-20. Today, thanks to Gamestop's monopoly, and corporate greed on the whole, we no longer get these kinds of discounts. This is the real reason games are too expensive these days; there is no real competition from used games, and as a result, no reason to significantly cut the price over time.
TL;DR
Games are expensive now because without true competition from used games, the publishers no longer have any reason to cut prices.
It's not really 'technically' more, it just is more since $50 is only £34 and £50 is $72 so Americans shouldn't be complaining about game prices. But then in the UK if you buy a game for £50 that's VAT included whereas in the US you have to pay VAT on top of the $50 which would probably bring the price closer to $60. Though I could be wrong.dogstile said:
But anyway, I don't really buy console games so I never have to pay too much unless I want to get the collectors/limited edition. For example Fallout 3 GOTY on Amazon.co.uk is £22.91, £22.39 and £9.21 for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC respectively.
To paraphrase an article a week or so ago on DRM, "It's your fault games are so expensive".
What I mean is, most (not every gamer so I don't mean anyone on here)gamers want cutting edge graphics so their avatar looks real-that costs more in terms of development. They want multiple online multiplayer modes that are supported 24/7 for an infinate amount of time-that costs the companies to keep up servers and do maintanance, not to mention to develop patches for peopole exploiting bugs. They want A list hollywood talent doing voicework-that costs a lot especially for the SAG union members.
All of the things people want (notice none of this ever makes a game better) bring up production costs and to recoup it, the prices of games go up. So everytime you see a game that is inordinately expensive then complain that the grapohics aren't shiny enough, that their isn't enough maps or that they should've gotten Patrick Stewart to do the voice of the Wizard King, remember all those reasons are why you are paying more and more every generation of games while the actual game part get's smaller and smaller.
What I mean is, most (not every gamer so I don't mean anyone on here)gamers want cutting edge graphics so their avatar looks real-that costs more in terms of development. They want multiple online multiplayer modes that are supported 24/7 for an infinate amount of time-that costs the companies to keep up servers and do maintanance, not to mention to develop patches for peopole exploiting bugs. They want A list hollywood talent doing voicework-that costs a lot especially for the SAG union members.
All of the things people want (notice none of this ever makes a game better) bring up production costs and to recoup it, the prices of games go up. So everytime you see a game that is inordinately expensive then complain that the grapohics aren't shiny enough, that their isn't enough maps or that they should've gotten Patrick Stewart to do the voice of the Wizard King, remember all those reasons are why you are paying more and more every generation of games while the actual game part get's smaller and smaller.
I see this argument fairly often, but I've never seen it backed up with statistics. Yes, games cost more money than ever to make, but gaming is also much more mainstream than it used to be, with sales figures that are higher than they were in the past. Shouldn't this at least partially offset the higher cost of games?RowdyRodimus said:
1. I would say that saying most games don't have 10 hours of play time is wrong. Most do, and the ones that don't on the first playthrough should be played through more than once. If you are buying games that only last 4 hours, and don't intend to re-play them, you should consider renting them instead of buying them.666Chaos said:
2. I live in Canada, where prices have gone as high a $70 per release, (this generation), when our dollar was below the American dollar by a fair bit. I agree that it isn't fair for other countries, but like you said, they can just import the game for less money. As far as collector's editions go, they aren't necessary purchases, and only those with the money to get them, should.
3. Do better research as to which games you are buying. Read up on the game, and the developer to see the developer's track record when it comes to games they make. If the developer only makes Shovelware, then chances are the next game they make will also be Shovelware.
4. I don't think that this was aimed at me, as I said absolutely nothing about PC games, but I'll field it anyway. You are right, you shouldn't be comparing a crappy independent game to a AAA release. That is where the research should come in. Find out about the company history and research the game you are planning to purchase.
Really if the games a masterpeice i could justify spending more. But i guess thats because gaming is a passion of me and my significent other (Guilty gear grude matches!She's a tier whore lol) I can understand what your saying thouhg games are just fun and a stress releiver for you nothing more so ya i'd do the same in your situation.Pararaptor said:
I feel your pain. Games down here in Costa Rica cost at least 80 dollars, and finding a store where they sell used games is practically impossible. They should seriously adjust prices according to the region they're being released in.Pararaptor said:
If games were $40 initially, I think I'd go bankrupt. I already have a habit of nabbing games when they drop down to $30-40 on Amazon.com, just because I'm like "I'm saving money for a game that has been untouched by filthy fatty disgusting hands!" And that's when I click the buy button.
Happens a lot.
Happens a lot.
Well I've always thought of it as a cycle. The games get more expensive, some people stop paying for them or pirate them, the gaming industry needs money for their fancy lawyers, and then the games get more expensive.
$60 bucks is too expensive for me. I don't really have a lot of income that I can afford to just toss around. I move to lower the price of new game to $50.
The only problem i really see is difference in price of games between PC and console. I never really understood why the same game costs twice as much on a console as it does on PC.
Other than that i dont really feel the games are too expensive. There is plenty of games i personally consider crappy, but i just dont buy nor play them. I have the choice. Personally i do feel a big decline in game sales is in part also fault of how good actually are the supposed triple A products. In some cases it seems the triple A is just developement/marketing costs and not really gameplay value.
I remember several years ago, in poland games were about 10-15$ more expensive actually yet i bought more per year on avarage than now even tho my salary went up by noticeable ammount since then. Why? Because less games appeal to me.
Might be im just getting old and cranky and its harder to catch my attention just by pretty graphics and constant explosions, but maybe from the ammount of games that come out each month, there is so few actually worth playing i havent decided to buy a single one since ME2 release.
Other than that i dont really feel the games are too expensive. There is plenty of games i personally consider crappy, but i just dont buy nor play them. I have the choice. Personally i do feel a big decline in game sales is in part also fault of how good actually are the supposed triple A products. In some cases it seems the triple A is just developement/marketing costs and not really gameplay value.
I remember several years ago, in poland games were about 10-15$ more expensive actually yet i bought more per year on avarage than now even tho my salary went up by noticeable ammount since then. Why? Because less games appeal to me.
Might be im just getting old and cranky and its harder to catch my attention just by pretty graphics and constant explosions, but maybe from the ammount of games that come out each month, there is so few actually worth playing i havent decided to buy a single one since ME2 release.
Yeah, everyone looks at the upfront cost of a game, but in dollars per hour, it's a lot more fair than a lot of other forms of entertainment. A movie ticket where I live is about ten bucks, figure another ten on snacks'n'shit (unless you bring your own) and you're paying about 20 bucks for an hour and a half to two hour flick. A PC Game only costs 50 bucks brand new and will give you about ten hours.marter said:
US game prices are very fair, the rest of the world gets completely punked though.
The other problem is that gamers seem to think they're entitled to play the new games. Guess what, you're not. Get a job you vagrants. Get two if all you can manage is being a retail/office slave.
In the UK games are creeping up in price.
PS3 Games that are newly released cost between £40 and £50
DS Games that are newly released usually cost between £25 and £35
but ive seen the odd DS game being retailed at 40 which to be honest if a big difference for someone of 14 with little income.
PS3 games will probabally creep up soon, and once they get to £60 im going to stop buying, because thats just rediculous.
MW2 was £50, plus the DLC was £12. So it all adds up
/rant
Hows everyone feeling today? Weather good?
PS3 Games that are newly released cost between £40 and £50
DS Games that are newly released usually cost between £25 and £35
but ive seen the odd DS game being retailed at 40 which to be honest if a big difference for someone of 14 with little income.
PS3 games will probabally creep up soon, and once they get to £60 im going to stop buying, because thats just rediculous.
MW2 was £50, plus the DLC was £12. So it all adds up
/rant
Hows everyone feeling today? Weather good?