Console vs PC game pricing

[Hurlshort]

On another note, buying second hand could be considered to be worse than piracy, afterall, a pirate never intended to pay, but someone buying second hand has paid.

 

For awhile, I was also of this opinion, but after thinking on my personal habits and reading a few counterpoints from folks in the industry, I decided it isn't too bad. The fact that most folks take that trade-in money to turn around and buy new games is the big argument there. I personally probably wouldn't be able to buy as many full priced titles if I didn't turn in a few games here and there.

 

How many people take the trade in money and buy new games as opposed to buying the cheaper used copy? If you intend on trading it in later anyway, why spend the extra money on a new copy?

 

I read an article or two that made that claim. I understand it fully, many people want the latest and greatest software, including myself. Waiting for a price drop or used copies isn't something I am willing to do for the big releases.

 

Gamestop also offers more money when you use a trade-in towards a new game purchase, so that is one way that they stimulate new software sales.

[Deraldin]

On another note, buying second hand could be considered to be worse than piracy, afterall, a pirate never intended to pay, but someone buying second hand has paid.

 

For awhile, I was also of this opinion, but after thinking on my personal habits and reading a few counterpoints from folks in the industry, I decided it isn't too bad. The fact that most folks take that trade-in money to turn around and buy new games is the big argument there. I personally probably wouldn't be able to buy as many full priced titles if I didn't turn in a few games here and there.

 

How many people take the trade in money and buy new games as opposed to buying the cheaper used copy? If you intend on trading it in later anyway, why spend the extra money on a new copy?

 

I read an article or two that made that claim. I understand it fully, many people want the latest and greatest software, including myself. Waiting for a price drop or used copies isn't something I am willing to do for the big releases.

 

Gamestop also offers more money when you use a trade-in towards a new game purchase, so that is one way that they stimulate new software sales.

Not being willing to wait for a price drop I understand. Console games take forever to drop in price, at least compared to the PC games I'm used to buying and even when they do drop, you get those ugly greatest hits covers. Waiting for a used copy on the other hand really seems to depend on the game. There have been a few games that I've seen that have had used copies appear on the shelves late in the evening on release day.

 

I've only once had the urge to trade in a game, so I'm not sure just what the policies are. If they offer a large trade in towards new games that isn't so bad. The only deal that I ever remember are the "Trade 3 get ____ free/for $10" deals that pop up every now and then.

[Mamoulian War]

I love the way the price gap between PC and Console is spoken of as simply being a licencing cost. It's part of it but not the whole picture.

 

Console development is more expensive than PC development, you have Development kits (they don't come cheap), you also have something called TRC's, this is basically certain requirements which are required to be passed in order for a game to see release on console, good companies can usually do this in one or two passes, but it can take months.

 

PC development, theoretically, is only the cost of a PC and software, which are incurred by default by console development also.

 

This is before you take into account the actual cost of paying everyone who is developing said title, and potentially middleware any licence said software may require.

 

That's about all I feel safe to talk about to be honest. PC games are cheaper because development costs are cheaper, but as a result the product quality is often lower as anyone could release on the PC, open platform. Console as a closed platform are easier to develop higher quality software for, but on the flip side, the development cost itself is greater, this is obviously passed onto the user.

 

In an era of development budgets that run into millions, and can be considered to be somewhat high risk, a game costing

[Nightshape]

I was saying DON'T BUY SECOND HAND GAMES. Not, not to trade a game in to buy new.

[H]

I never understood why people sell their games. If you liked a game, you may want to replay it in the future. If you didn't, it's more satisfying to smash the disc with a hammer. You won't get any money back, sure, but you won't inflict any psychological damage upon poor customers who may actually buy the piece of **** you just sold, tempted by its lower price. Bad games should be purged from this world, not put back on store shelves.

[WILL THE ALMIGHTY]

I don't sell back bad games. I sell short games I've already played to death. Honestly, after going through FEAR 2 twice, I just want my 60$ back.

[Morgoth]

I only keep the best of the best games, usually those that get supported with additional (wothwhile) content or have an editor to mess around. Starcraft 2 (Battlenet), DA (editor) and Alpha Protocol (because of high replayability?) will be those that I keep. But the rest I sell back. What point is there to keep a game you have finished in 7 hours and already forgot the next day? It's precious money I get back for selling it. Like Divinity 2. Good game, but I'll never touch it again. Goes back to ebay. Through this, I save money for future purchases.

[GreasyDogMeat]

If you forget it the next day you could replay it the next day and it would be like a brand new experience every time!

[Hurlshort]

I'm not really that attached to my games, other than a few gems. I would much rather have something new to play, and the trade-in can often make the difference I need to justify the expense.

 

If I really want to play it again, I'll probably buy it out of the bargain bin down the line.

[Purkake]

Apparently Arma II only has 5 Securom activations. At least that developer didn't learn anything from Spore...

[GreasyDogMeat]

I guess I'm just a pack rat. I keep every game, even if its a total pile of ****. This can pan out sometimes. While I completely hated Brothers in Arms, some cool mods came out that made the game bareable.

[Deadly_Nightshade]

Apparently Arma II only has 5 Securom activations. At least that developer didn't learn anything from Spore...

 

Really?! Wow... I thought people had learned that those only harm paying customers and turn off those who dislike activation limits...

[Kaftan Barlast]

Arma 2 is a textbook example of how not to do DRM. Not only do they have that securom crap, but they also have some sort of homebrewed drm-from-hell that literally destroys your game if its triggered, and thats not hard to do either, make a mistake when installing a mod and "Boom!" your game is gone. It doesnt tell you its triggered and it takes a few days for it to completely wreck the game so you never know what made it go off. Its not confirmed, but reportedly it writes crap into the windows registry that ensures it will destroy it again if you attempt to reinstall the game.

 

 

The pirated cracked version on the other hand is smooth sailing. So they shot both themselves AND their customers in the foot(feet?)

[Purkake]

Arma 2 is a textbook example of how not to do DRM. Not only do they have that securom crap, but they also have some sort of homebrewed drm-from-hell that literally destroys your game if its triggered, and thats not hard to do either, make a mistake when installing a mod and "Boom!" your game is gone. It doesnt tell you its triggered and it takes a few days for it to completely wreck the game so you never know what made it go off. Its not confirmed, but reportedly it writes crap into the windows registry that ensures it will destroy it again if you attempt to reinstall the game.

 

 

The pirated cracked version on the other hand is smooth sailing. So they shot both themselves AND their customers in the foot(feet?)

 

Yeah, I tried to download the demo three times and each time it had some error while installing. I finally got the Steam demo and it work nicely.

 

The really sad part is that the game seems to be pretty awesome. I didn't see any extra DRM on the Steam page, can anyone confirm that the Steam version has the same 5 activation limit + evil homebrew DRM?

[Deadly_Nightshade]

The really sad part is that the game seems to be pretty awesome. I didn't see any extra DRM on the Steam page, can anyone confirm that the Steam version has the same 5 activation limit + evil homebrew DRM?

 

I belive that the FADE DRM requires a disc to work as it opperates based on fake "scratches" on the DVD. I do not, however, know if the Steam version has another form of this DRM or if it shipped with only Steam's own DRM (id est Steam).

[Purkake]

The really sad part is that the game seems to be pretty awesome. I didn't see any extra DRM on the Steam page, can anyone confirm that the Steam version has the same 5 activation limit + evil homebrew DRM?

 

I belive that the FADE DRM requires a disc to work as it opperates based on fake "scratches" on the DVD. I do not, however, know if the Steam version has another form of this DRM or if it shipped with only Steam's own DRM (id est Steam).

 

According to Steam's forum the Steam version doesn't have securom(and presumably the FADE). Great if the demo continues to be awesome, I might get Arma 2.

[Kaftan Barlast]

I tried asking on the Steam forums if that version also has Securom+Fade and I couldnt get a straight answer other than that a developer claimed that fade isnt a DRM and closed the thread. So the Steam version probably does come with fade, unfortunantly.

[Purkake]

I tried asking on the Steam forums if that version also has Securom+Fade and I couldnt get a straight answer other than that a developer claimed that fade isnt a DRM and closed the thread. So the Steam version probably does come with fade, unfortunantly.

 

That's pretty weird since FADE is supposed to work by having certain sectors on the DVD marked. You don't get a DVD with Steam, so one would think that FADE would be useless.

 

Damn developers not being upfront about their crappy DRM, they own the customers at least that.

[Mamoulian War]

I tried asking on the Steam forums if that version also has Securom+Fade and I couldnt get a straight answer other than that a developer claimed that fade isnt a DRM and closed the thread. So the Steam version probably does come with fade, unfortunantly.

 

That's pretty weird since FADE is supposed to work by having certain sectors on the DVD marked. You don't get a DVD with Steam, so one would think that FADE would be useless.

 

Damn developers not being upfront about their crappy DRM, they own the customers at least that.

 

it might look for modified original files... which might happen that if you are unlucky and get some virus before you notice it, your game is gone aswell...

[Kaftan Barlast]

Yeah, it looks at checksums for the installed files aswell. Which is why you will trigger it if you install a mod that overwrites an original file. And Im still puzzled by the reply I got from that dev

 

 

"Fade is not a DRM or anything like it."

 

 

Thats like going 'This is not a car. It might have four wheels, an engine, seats, windowipers and work exactly like a car.. but its not a car.'