How Game Prices Are Shooting Higher Options

[Xbox-Scene]

How Game Prices Are Shooting Higher Posted by XanTium | July 25 12:11 EST | News Category: Xbox360

From next-gen.biz: [QUOTE] When Microsoft and Sony announced that $60 games would be common in the next generation, many wondered if this could be sustainable. Would consumers wear it? Next-Gen has the evidence that $60 is here to stay. Our conclusions are as follows... 1. Prior to 2007, the average prices for the top 20 games was around $40-$43. 2. During the first half of 2007, prices for the top 20 games has been around $46-$49, without including Guitar Hero II. With Guitar Hero II, included prices are measurably above $50. 3. As the Xbox 360 library expands, it will claim more and more high-priced games in the top 20 list. 4. As Wii games replace PlayStation 2 games in the charts, it will keep the floor of console game prices right at $50. 5. The last two points will together force the average price of top selling games well above $50 in the near future. 6. The only downward pressure on average game prices is coming from the Nintendo DS. So are consumers buying those $60 games? Yes, they are, and at an increasing pace. Here's the detailed evidence... [/QUOTE] Full Story: next-gen.biz

[Elemino]

Aren't these $60 games old news by now? I don't even think about it anymore. I just know/assume if I buy a new game I need to come up with $60 + tax.

[mlapaglia]

and m$ wonders why there are pirates in the gaming world.... lol

[Altima NEO]

What really sucks is that games are staying at that price point longer than before.
So even a year down the road, and theyre still $60 bucks.

[C_Ripper]

Considering my parents were paying $50 for an NES game back in 1985, I don't really think the price going up is that big of a deal. Adjusted for inflation, they were paying the equivalent of $94 back then. Obviously, the cost of production has gone down because discs cost far less than cartridges, but not enough to warrant a $44 difference in game price.

This post has been edited by C_Ripper: Jul 25 2007, 05:15 PM

[Boiker]

Is that $60 + tax? How much tax? I'm from the UK, I'm not sure how it works. All I know is thats cheaper than Europe

[highbomber]

And as prices increase, so will piracy. If they kept the games cheap but raised the price of peripherals they could make more money.

[DMAddict]

I think the saddest thing about $60 games is that there are companies that throw together games that are crap and sell them with that $60 price tag. If your gonna sell at that price, make it worth it.

[Elemino]

If your gonna sell at that price, make it worth it.

AGREED!!!

Taxes are different depending on where you are. Here in Dallas, TX taxes are generally 8.25% (except in a couple of surrounding cities without public transportation). So for a game that's $59.99 on the shelf, after taxes you have spent $64.94.

I remember in the Nintendo & S Nintendo days there was no set price. The games sold at all kinds of prices from $30 up to $80. My dad bought me Castlevania IV on SNES for $29.99 while there was some helicopter game at the same time that sold for $79.99.

[ThaCrip]

and m$ wonders why there are pirates in the gaming world.... lol

i strongly agree here... even though i dont do that stuff myself.

Considering my parents were paying $50 for an NES game back in 1985, I don't really think the price going up is that big of a deal. Adjusted for inflation, they were paying the equivalent of $94 back then. Obviously, the cost of production has gone down because discs cost far less than cartridges, but not enough to warrant a $44 difference in game price.

i remember those days to back in the upper 80's (or so) when i was young i remember seeing 50 dollar price tags for most games on the NES to i was probably like 10 years old tops in those days... so in that sence back in those days we took the shaft

I think the saddest thing about $60 games is that there are companies that throw together games that are crap and sell them with that $60 price tag. If your gonna sell at that price, make it worth it.

i strongly agree here to... cause the fact of the matter (atleast in my opinion) is "most games" (as in probably 60-75percent of games on the market) aint even worth 40 dollars AT MOST... theres very few games that would be worth 60 dollars.... me personally, i think the average game is probably worth 20-30 dollars.

[kaipi]

60$ sounds like a bargain to finnish gamer, common price for games here is 69euros, that makes ~95usd

[nha]

Thank god for the internet - I never ever pay above 25 quid for a game! - bargain hunter I am!

Bad points
- Yes this will increase piracy.
- The average kid won't be able to afford enough decent games and may grow tired of his limited collection and sell up
- Again agree on the point that cheaply made games shouldn't be allowed to hold the same price tag as lets say Gears of War.
- DVD's - I've always argued that if multi million film firms can sell dvds at 16 quid then an industry that has apparently over taken the film industry (yes the games industry) should be able to stick to similar prices! Plus the lasting effect of a dvd to a game is a key player in price too - anyone likely to be watching Star Wars in 10 years time - or an old playstation copy of resident evil - enough said.


Suggestions...

Well I'm waiting for cheaper full games via live download - and ones that run from the HD - faster loading

[Shonk]

i dont know what you are bitching about
the launch price of top games in the uk is £49.99 just over $100 us

now that should be moaned about nevermind $60

[soopahfly]

They've always been £30 ($60) here in the UK.
All the way from buying my old SMS games, to the 360. If anything, we pay about £45 ($80) a game atm.

[ThUgLoVe]

Considering my parents were paying $50 for an NES game back in 1985, I don't really think the price going up is that big of a deal. Adjusted for inflation, they were paying the equivalent of $94 back then. Obviously, the cost of production has gone down because discs cost far less than cartridges, but not enough to warrant a $44 difference in game price.

Thats the point that MS and sony want you to make and beleave in..the facts are in the 80s they had a smaller install base,carts,big old packaging and the games were much harder to make because of the lack of todays PC's..

Now they have an enormous install base,cds are something like $.01-$.10 to make,the packaging is just as cheap and everything is done with a click of a mouse and/or PC pen.and the fact that we have the internet means they have to spend next to nothing in marketing to get the word out compared to back then.(how many game ads do you see on the tube anymore?hardly any)

IF it were a fair game of them charging by how much they had put into a game.then why is it that sports games like madden,FPS's like COD(i would throw halo in here,but it doesn't come out every year) never go down in price?after all they really are just the same game dressed up a little bit and rehashed each and every year.yet even tho it is basically the same game for the past 3years they still charge $60 and call it "NEW" because it has a different number and some new rosters or guns.

i also dont buy into the whole "we lose money on every console sold"crap.

Plz don't try and compare the older systems to the ones of today.$200 for a SNES VS $300 for a 360 says the 360 is a killer deal,but go compare how much a PC use to cost in 1985 vs 2007 and you'll find the true greed that is killing video games and America in general ..