Game prices

[Xard]

More than a good expansion - best crpg in long, long years.

[Deadly_Nightshade]

Why? Its a good expansion.

 

I just haven't gotten around to it, I'll definitely get it sometime soon...

[Azure79]

I've discovered that the backlog of old games that I haven't played is currently so large that I can pick up those games relatively cheap and by the time I get through playing those games I can pick up the newer games cheap too. I'll go to Best Buy or CompUSA from time to time and see if they have any good deals.

 

It works well.

 

The only games I'll buy at full retail price are single player CRPGs that I've wanted to play for a long time. KOTOR2, NWN2 and MoTB I purchased right away. Hmm..seems like the only games I've been really looking forward to for the past few years are all OEI games. Well and Starcraft 2.

[WITHTEETH]

I've discovered that the backlog of old games that I haven't played is currently so large that I can pick up those games relatively cheap and by the time I get through playing those games I can pick up the newer games cheap too. I'll go to Best Buy or CompUSA from time to time and see if they have any good deals.

 

It works well.

 

The only games I'll buy at full retail price are single player CRPGs that I've wanted to play for a long time. KOTOR2, NWN2 and MoTB I purchased right away. Hmm..seems like the only games I've been really looking forward to for the past few years are all OEI games. Well and Starcraft 2.

Same here, theres always an older adventure game that i can try out. And they always require little system requirements so i can even play them on my laptop.

[@\NightandtheShape/@]

Then what happens in services like Steam, then? Because the games on Steam cost the same as at a regular store. Even Valve games are priced the same.

 

I would imagine the developers see a larger cut, but I've generally found steam to be cheaper due to exchange rate etc...

[@\NightandtheShape/@]

How costly could it be for developers to start selling a their own games online? The biggest issue they would have to worry about would be piracy prevention right? I don't know what im really talking about but it seems they are letting themselves get raped by the big dogs that aren't really needed anymore.

 

The main problem with online distribution is funding the games initial development.

[Walsingham]

This is one of those things, where whole system logic doesn't remove personal accountability. Certainly if the industry raises prices it should expect piracy to increase. It's not as if this is news to anyone.

 

However, at a personal level

 

1. This does not mean that the individual has the right to just ignore the law, particularly in a democracy where that law is open for debate and alteration

2. Nor does it make it moral to contribute to hurting the industry

3. Nor does it make any sense to damage an industry which supports you in your hobby

 

If a protest is warranted, don't buy the games when they come out at full price. Wait until they come down in price, or don't buy at all. It won't kill you.

[Rhomal]

Volo, that's fair enough, but how would you explain games being 20-40% more expensive in Europe or Aus/NZ?

 

Because the dollar is almost worthless right now? Hence almost any other currency is worth more. You don't like that, then blame those that re-elected pres. shrub who thinks devaluing the dollar is a good thing with his C grade collage average in business.

 

Bottom line, the price difference is more a reflection of current geo-political/economic factors then 'greedy' game companies.

 

And props to V for having the courage to say what needed to be said!

 

If you can't afford this hobby of 'PC gaming' then find a hobby you can fit into your budget.

Edited November 26, 2007 by Rhomal

[mkreku]

Yeah, let the poor rabble play with their old bicycle wheels and pine cones (if they can afford it)! Let computer games be an exclusive pleasure for the rich! If you can't afford it, then **** you! Or get a second job, you bum!

[Musopticon?]

I understand the luxury goods-argument, but +50% price when across the pond does not help a hobby I've previously been able to afford very well.

[Deraldin]

Question: Just to clear up something for myself, has the price of games gone up in Europe or has it just not come down with the value of the dollar?

[Pidesco]

It hasn't come down.

 

And it also went up a bit before when we switched to the Euro.

[Rhomal]

Yeah, let the poor rabble play with their old bicycle wheels and pine cones (if they can afford it)! Let computer games be an exclusive pleasure for the rich! If you can't afford it, then **** you! Or get a second job, you bum!

 

pretty much, yes.

 

If one can't afford a $60. PC game then that person has bigger life issues then the cost of a PC game. They obviously need to pull themselves up by the bootstraps and get their financial life in order would be my suggestion before worrying about a hobby.

[Pidesco]

Not $60, $75 for a PC game. And in the country with the weakest economy in Western Europe, too.

[Gorth]

Yeah, a very bad thing with the price policy. Is localisation really such a large expense that it justifies such a price increase, or is it because somebody controls the gaming market?

 

I have had similar issues with some gfx applications (being a hobby of mine), which costs the same in Euro and US Dollars. Is the significantly higher European price caused by localisation cost, especially in english speaking countries? Even more suspicous that these programs were developed in Europe and exported to the US (at a lower sales price than what europeans could buy them for).

 

On a related note, I never understood how the movie industry could get away with region encoding from a legislation point of view. It is nothing but market control and price fixing

 

I can't be the only one who noticed that some movies and video games have the text "not to be sold outside xyz country" on them. So much for free market economy... Somebody start pestering local law makers please?

[Deadly_Nightshade]

Sure, The Orange Box can only be played in the country it was bought in, or at least from an ISP address originating from that nation, and what's next? Games that can only be played within the state or city is was purchased in?

[Tale]

I can't be the only one who noticed that some movies and video games have the text "not to be sold outside xyz country" on them. So much for free market economy... Somebody start pestering local law makers please?

How could you possibly have any problem with this? As an example, the Orange Box was released with a much lower SRP in two countries that have significantly above normal piracy because they wanted to get into the market in a way that could help encourage purchasing over pirating. However, they limited these copies to those regions. Them selling cheaper in these countries doesn't hurt you. If they were prevented from doing this they would either:

A) Sell in these countries at full SRP.

B) Not sell in these countries at all.

 

Why in the world would you want either of these outcomes?

[SteveThaiBinh]

From my point of view, that's a very worrying development if it continues. I play very few games that I bought in the country/region where I'm currently based. I suppose I'm lucky I'm not into on-line gaming in a big way, but what's the principle here? Am I supposed to re-purchase my entire catalogue of games every time I move house?

[Deadly_Nightshade]

I would think limiting the lower priced Orange Boxes would be acceptable -with maybe the option of buying more regions if one did buy a cheaper copy and wanted to take it elsewhere-, but it was my understanding that even full-priced copies from places like the U.S. and he U.K. had the same regional protection - although I could be mistaken. Also, I agree with Steve, there should be limitations to how far this can go, or else the consumer will only be punished for buying legal copies of games...

Edited November 27, 2007 by Deadly_Nightshade

[Junai]

So what if people who can't afford to dish out $75 for a game download it? It's not like they'd buy it anyway, so the end total for the publisher/developer would be the same anyway.

Btw, poor people get bored too. Fscking rich snobs.

 

J.

[Tale]

From my point of view, that's a very worrying development if it continues. I play very few games that I bought in the country/region where I'm currently based. I suppose I'm lucky I'm not into on-line gaming in a big way, but what's the principle here? Am I supposed to re-purchase my entire catalogue of games every time I move house?

It happens only because some regions are anticipated as selling less due to economic or piracy issues (which can often be related). If you're moving from a particularly poor country that gets special low prices on some non-limited supply luxury goods to a more affluent country that gets more standard pricing, you may have to deal with some of that, but not entire catalogues. It's certainly better than expecting everyone who either won't or can't pay the full prices to pay that, including you. It's unfair to some, but the alternative seems less fair to more.

 

it was my understanding that even full-priced copies from places like the U.S. and he U.K. had the same regional protection

You were mistaken. It's limited to Russia and Thailand only.

Edited November 27, 2007 by Tale

[SteveThaiBinh]

Despite its (potential) ramifications for me, I broadly support the idea of selling games at reduced prices in developing countries, so that they are (slightly more) affordable for people who have computers and wish to game. I remember living in Vietnam where a legal copy of a typical game at the US price (had legal games been sold at all, which they weren't) would have cost three times a schoolteacher's monthly salary.

[Gorth]

I don't think it's a problem for people to accept, that the price is lowered somewhat in low income countries. It doesn't explain though, why the price sometimes appears artificially high in some areas (e.g. Pidescos Portugal), especially if you desire an original language (often English) version.

[Meshugger]

Well, there was a time when the dollar was stronger than the euro. Back in 2002-2003 i think, it was 1 dollar equaled 1.10 euro or so, or something similar. But the prices where still the same, i.e. 49$ and 49

[mkreku]

No, that's actually my beef. When the dollar is strong, our retailers raise the prices using the motivation "the dollar is expensive which means higher world prices". But when the dollar is weak, they don't go the other way. They just silently keep the old prices intact while in the background THEIR costs are diminishing and their profits skyrocket. So they will keep this price until the dollar becomes strong again, at which point they'll blame their even higher prices on the dollar and raise it again. There's never a reduction, only a constant cyclical price raise.

 

It's no wonder one PC game costs $80 in Sweden. If you want a PS3 or Xbox 360 game, some games costs around 699SEK/$111 (Assassin's Creed, Mass Effect etc.).. You don't even want to know how much Guitar Hero 3 costs.