Next-Gen Games Spark Price Hike

[Switch]

Of course, they also can't risk raising the prices too high, for if they did, it would only encourage people to turn to software piracy. If your average person can't afford the new titles then they're just going to download them for free from the net.

Or not. Not when multiplayer is such an important part of most games, and pirated versions don't work online.

With PC games maybe. But console games don't have internet options, except with XBox. This will probably change on the next gen consoles, but I doubt your average RPG will have multiplayer as an important part. It all depends if most of the games are action , FPS, RTS etc I suppose that would be most fulfilling in an online environment (I hope not!). Either way you'd still have the option to play them offline.

[CrazyGilbert]

yeah, all games exept for the full multiplayer games like dark age of camelot

[raggidman]

As long as games don't start costing £45+, that's when I'd start to think that things are getting ridiculous.

 

I remember the days when new releases for the Nintendo 64 costed £60, and average price was £50. I still don't see why they needed to charge so much. I just hope that doesn't happen again with these next gen consoles/games.

 

Uhh ohh :( , since you posted this I have seen XB360 games on the shelves at £45 to £49...guess this is one o' them times you wish you were wrong.

 

But don't worry, if I win the lottery one of my projects will be to start a Developement company that will make games at a sensible price, and if I have to start my own distribution network and OS to keep it so I will do. As far as I am concerned the rat race only lasts until I get control of enough finance to set up my own operations. On an even more optimistic note: hopefully that will happen before I am due to die... :P

[Switch]

As long as games don't start costing £45+, that's when I'd start to think that things are getting ridiculous.

 

I remember the days when new releases for the Nintendo 64 costed £60, and average price was £50. I still don't see why they needed to charge so much. I just hope that doesn't happen again with these next gen consoles/games.

Uhh ohh :( , since you posted this I have seen XB360 games on the shelves at £45 to £49...guess this is one o' them times you wish you were wrong.

Damn! Definitely wish I was wrong there. :P Then again, I'm not getting a 360 so it's no skin off my nose. However, the shops you saw those in were selling at around retail price... Amazon has the 360 games up for £40. Still pricey though. Perhaps games for the PS3 will be a little more modestly priced? Probably not, though.

[wraithguard01]

I would imagine that in the next generation, all games (PC, Xbox, Nintendo, and Sony) will rise in price.

 

On a lighter note: for the xbox 1, old games cost 20 USD. It is speculated that old 360 games will be 10 USD.

[Nofoa]

 

The game industry has been due for a price hike, as its been stated; inflation, production cost, and other factors have been at a all-time high. Increasing the price of "Big Ticket" games seems an obvious moves. Not many people would disagree that the game wouldn't be worth it. When i say "Big Ticket" im meaning ground breaking games like Halo, HL2, KOTOR. Obviously games such Big City Trucker or Aquaman will never approach such a price tag.

 

Another factor will soon increase revenue to game companies, piracy provention.

 

I do admit that the recent advent of Starforce Protection has ensured that the casual pirate won't be able to install this game. Starforce Protection which as i can tell you in damn near impossible to get around. Boycott Starforce explains just how it works. Its easy to see that any new game comming out will see this protected added to it.

 

So while i admit to pirating quite a few things i do buy games that are worth owning. My perspective on this matter allows me point out the fact many people/pirates :ph34r: will be forced to purchase the game instead of stealing it.

[modernlegend]

Speaking as a business student covering marketing at the moment it is in someways easy to state where money goes, things like development costs, advertising and the subscription of development companies to use the software for x box 360, ps 3 etcetera etcetera, but difficult to see as someone not involved in the industry just how much goes on these areas. I had to have a look at the games industry as part of this course and just the advertising figures alone are astronomical!

 

It is irefutable that there is a large slice of profit margin on what we pay for games, but then again gaming companies aren't charities to be in business for no gain, and you have to bear in mind that much of that profit ends up being re-invested in the companies games development idea sourcing etcetera, not all of it goes to expansion and megolamania, well not all of it anyway...

 

The only way prices are going to come down is if people actively refuse to purchase a game at the price and wait untill the price drops, but can any of you honestly see that happening, theres always a high portion of gamers happy to pay whatever price a game or console is set at to get their hands on it, lets be honest, we've all of us probably done it at least once before, I can say I have, GTA San Andreas for PS2 I admit (hangs head in shame) I brought at an early store opening literaly the day it was released in the UK.

[dlsaint]

I can't afford games that high and I wait to play the better games a year off sometimes. Inflation is not the only reason prices go up, they go up because there will always be enough people to pay the price. Just like movie stars, pro athletes, singers salary. Ticket prices, gas, there is inflation but for the most part there are enough people out there that will pay any price to the allow the exorbidant salaries and prices. We've all known someone who has stood in line for three days to be the first to get concert tickets/game consoles/ playoff tickets, pay scalpers, there are just too many people willing to spend, plus inflation that prices will not go down.