Decreasing video game costs?
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They're cheaper than they used to be, I think. I remember when PC games used to be forty, fifty quid.
Heh. When I used to work for computer games companies in the 1980s we sold our cheapest ones for £1.99. (They were awful, but they were very cheap.)
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Nope, not Mastertronic. Argus Press Software, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, BugByte, TelecomSoft, Firebird, Quiksilva and others.
When I worked at TelecomSoft we published a compilation of the 100 worst games we had submitted. The copyright statement on that game was a work of art: it encouraged people to copy and distribute the thing for free, because paying for it was so wrong. I wish I could find it now. Herbie Wright (who was published a few years ago by Thames and Hudson, I think) wrote it. Clever, lovely man.
When I worked at TelecomSoft we published a compilation of the 100 worst games we had submitted. The copyright statement on that game was a work of art: it encouraged people to copy and distribute the thing for free, because paying for it was so wrong. I wish I could find it now. Herbie Wright (who was published a few years ago by Thames and Hudson, I think) wrote it. Clever, lovely man.
defcon6000
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That's what put me off from buying ME3: 60 bucks. To me, that seems a bit much. Forty, maaaaybe fifty, I'll be willing to part for a new game. Otherwise, I'd wait a few years when it drops down to twenty.
Oh, I like how EA was named "worst company" in America.
The whole "paying for more content" aka "we sold you an incomplete game" is ridiculous. That's why I won't buy The Sims 3, even though I enjoyed its predecessors, I have to pay for additional content because the game lacks it--and it's not just the expansion packs (which are pathetic now), but also their online sim store.
Oh, I like how EA was named "worst company" in America.
The whole "paying for more content" aka "we sold you an incomplete game" is ridiculous. That's why I won't buy The Sims 3, even though I enjoyed its predecessors, I have to pay for additional content because the game lacks it--and it's not just the expansion packs (which are pathetic now), but also their online sim store.
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While $60 for a new game makes me cringe, I'm willing to do it if it's something I really, REALLY want. (Anything Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Final Fantasy...)
What ticks me off is all this additional content you have to pay for after the fact. What happened to doing side-missions for extra weapons and outfits?? Final Fantasy XIII-2 is selling additional costumes, weapons, and side-stories between $1.99 to $5.00. Seriously? Buy all the DLC and you've paid nearly $100 for the game. Ugh.
If they would drop games down to $30-$40, I wouldn't grumble so much about paying for the extras.
What ticks me off is all this additional content you have to pay for after the fact. What happened to doing side-missions for extra weapons and outfits?? Final Fantasy XIII-2 is selling additional costumes, weapons, and side-stories between $1.99 to $5.00. Seriously? Buy all the DLC and you've paid nearly $100 for the game. Ugh.
If they would drop games down to $30-$40, I wouldn't grumble so much about paying for the extras.
I completely agree. If they are going to milk games for extra money using DLC, then the initial cost of the game should be lowered.
Actually, I'm finding games a lot cheaper these days. Mostly because I get them on-line now. The last game I bought cost me $40, which is the most expensive I've bought in quite a while, but still a lot cheaper than when I had to go to a store to buy them.
The games for my iPad have never cost me more than $10.
So games are a lot cheaper these days.
The games for my iPad have never cost me more than $10.
So games are a lot cheaper these days.
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Yes, there are games like for phones and the iPad that are cheaper. But I think that article is geared toward console games, like for the PS3 or xBox360.
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Games definitely need to be cheaper. I haven't been able to afford a full-price PC game in years. Most games now seem to hang around between £40 and £60, and that's without even taking into account the DLC, special edition packs and other extras they're charging for these days. I get those things are optional extras, but lately more and more DLC is being released that has a significant impact on gameplay - like that entire extra chapter of plot for ME3, which gave gamers their only ever view of a race that had been integral to the plot of the main games, or the exclusive special units available for some Total War games.
That and, with demos basically having gone extinct, and with returning PC games being pretty much impossible either due to DRM or digital copies, I'm not keen to risk half my monthly food budget on something I might not like.
That and, with demos basically having gone extinct, and with returning PC games being pretty much impossible either due to DRM or digital copies, I'm not keen to risk half my monthly food budget on something I might not like.
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^ THIS. FFXIII-2 ended on a total, complete cliffhanger with no mentions from the creators if they're making a third game or if there's going to be DLC to continue the story. If they end the game with DLC, fans are going to be extremely ticked that they paid $60 for an incomplete game.
I appreciate that development costs for major games are now much, much larger than before (not many big titles from two guys programming in their bedrooms for a few months), I don't mind paying the money if it is going to be something worthwhile. What I despise is the dishonesty and the 'I've just been ripped off' feeling. The last few big games I've played include ME3, DA:2 and FF13/2. All rushed games, not quite delivering what they said and all trying to make up for it byt getting you shell out more money, often on things that frankly should have already been in the game or at least certainly shouldn't be paying for. I loved the ME series but basically felt that every single piece of DLC wasn't worth the price. Paid £40 for a game that I spent 60+ hours playing, that's not too bad, £8 for a mission that lasts 10 minutes and a couple of extra conversations? That's practically fraud.
Unlike most consumer tech I don't expect the costs of computer games to go down, development costs are just too big. What I would hope though is that they are worth what we spend.
Unlike most consumer tech I don't expect the costs of computer games to go down, development costs are just too big. What I would hope though is that they are worth what we spend.
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But blimey, the ME3 multiplayer is worth the price of admission. I am mildly addicted.
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Can't play multiplayer due to terrible connection (I live out in the sticks), not to mention I had it on xbox so would have to pay to play anyway (xbox live).
Good multiplayer would be a great bonus, but it's a single player game so I want that experience to match the cost. Good luck with the addiction though!
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My biggest complaint about games is not so much the cost as the lies about what the game can do on your system. Don't list mimimum requirements when you know the game won't play at those minimum requirements. Being only able to turn the game on and watch the intro is not being able to play the game. If the game requires unlimited download capacity, state that plainly. Don't just say that it requires an internet connection. If the controls are not customizable, say so, because amputees and people with disablities need to know, because the stock controls don't work when your arms don't work the way everyone elses' do.
It's to the point that I simply won't consider buying a game unless there's a free demo because I simply can not trust what the box says about whether the game will even play on my computer or if my arms can work the configured controls.
It's to the point that I simply won't consider buying a game unless there's a free demo because I simply can not trust what the box says about whether the game will even play on my computer or if my arms can work the configured controls.
Well, getting games these days isn't absurdly bad. If you only go to stores and get new releases, it's tough, but you can get a ton of content for little cost if you use networks like PSN. I just cracked down and got Playstation Plus for $50, and it's well worth it, especially with their free game library (you get to keep each title for a year). With titles like Infamous 2, Ratchet and Clank All 4 One, Just Cause 2, and Little Big Planet 2 all on there, which are usually $40 a pop, it's easy to get your money's worth. The only downside is not getting a permanent copy and the amount of hard drive space downloading full games can take (up to 15gb).
Aside from that, online networks have tons of cheaper games to grab. $20 for Walking Dead, $25 for Resident Evil Chronicles (2 rail shooter games)...it's not bad at all if you don't need to play the newest release.
Aside from that, online networks have tons of cheaper games to grab. $20 for Walking Dead, $25 for Resident Evil Chronicles (2 rail shooter games)...it's not bad at all if you don't need to play the newest release.
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Sadly, that's where my problem lies. If I'm going to play a game, chances are I'm going to play it as soon as it comes out. I bought Resident Evil 5 on release day, and have RE6 on pre-order. Ditto for Operation: Raccoon City and Final Fantasy XIII and XIII-2 when they released. I waited a long while to buy Tales of Vesperia, but still paid about $40 for it.
Big-name games like that can take a long while to come down in priced. NOW you can find RE5 for like $15 at GameStop, but it's been several years since release.
Guess it all depends on how patient you can be.
I buy the vast majority of my games used, so the prices aren't that bad. There's only one game that I'll buy on release day (Assassin's Creed) and pay full price for. I don't buy all the DLC because I'm not into MP.
The only thing that really upsets me is that the "big packages" in the UK and the US are not the same--usually the UK gets the better deals--and us Yanks are stuck buying DLC that the Brits get in a one-cost package.
The only thing that really upsets me is that the "big packages" in the UK and the US are not the same--usually the UK gets the better deals--and us Yanks are stuck buying DLC that the Brits get in a one-cost package.
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No kidding. Not to mention, some of the "pre-order" deals places like GameStop give out are a joke. For Operation Raccoon City, you received a code for a weapons pack if you pre-ordered, which we did. The weapons in that pack were all useless and were never used, so it was a waste for the effort we put in to order it ahead of time.
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