Console games will be getting more expensive..

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

MSNBC Article

 

A really interesting article looking at the prices of console games. And I love how they take the small little cheap shot at Nintendo for noting that the game prices for the N64 were on average $65 initially. I bought about 25 N64 games and I didn't pay more than $54.99 once.

 

I also tend to wait on most of the non MUST HAVE games (I still haven't bought Super Mario Sunshine, but Im going to jump on EBgames.com $20 rebate off $29.99 at some point this summer while the offer is valid) for the price to drop from $50 to $40 or less as it is. Asking for $60 for games is only going to hurt sales, in my opinion. It might not hurt the big named games that peeople preorder months in advance for, but a higher price tag is really going to hurt the third party games that are generally crap, and the ones that generally don't have the higher associated costs of making.

 

I also think that at $60, people will start to consider whether they will be getting their money's worth out of a game. Some games you can beat in 20 hours or so and they have very little replay value.

 

I've even got to the point where after I've bought a game and played it for a while, I list them on Ebay and try to get some of the money back.

[Agent_Bond34 0]

Asking for $60 for games is only going to hurt sales, in my opinion.

 

Hurt sales? It IS gonna hurt sales, no doubt about it.

 

If this happens, it's gonna piss a LOT of people off, myself included.

 

I am NOT about to go down to Wal-Mart, Target, GameCrazy, or where the hell ever and pay $60 for a game. No way.

 

If this price increase occurs, I probably won't buy very many brand-new games, unless they're greatest hits titles, or whatever. Or I'll buy used games, since they're generally cheaper.

[Guest wwF1587]

all console games should be 40 IMO, GBA 25-20 dollars... I think 50 is pretty outrageous which is why I rarely buy games and just rent.... if its going up to 60 later this year then I am going to be getting ALOT of video store gift cards

[Agent_Bond34 0]

IMO, the best games to buy, are used games.

 

They're cheaper, and you can get more games, depending on how you spent your money.

[Guest AndrewTS]

I rarely spend over 20 these days, because I usually go used.

 

Won't really affect me.

[Guest Sakura]

N64 games were like 80-90 dollars at launch. It was insane.

 

 

I think 20 hours for a single player adventure game is just fine.

 

 

And I'd pay 60 for a new game.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Wait a minute...

 

that's not how it works!!!!!

 

When you have three companies trying to outsell the each other prices go DOWN not UP!!!

 

AAAHHH!!!

[Rendclaw 0]

N64 games were like 80-90 dollars at launch. It was insane.

 

 

I think 20 hours for a single player adventure game is just fine.

 

 

And I'd pay 60 for a new game.

I was working Best Buy when the N64 first came out.... one or two games were $100, and still people were buying them in DROVES.

 

It was pathetic... I used to tell people who were smart enough to ask which system was better to go with the PS1, even though the first games for that system were not all that great either, though by 96 there were a few gems amidst the dung.

 

::gets a flashback of having to sort out the game section every day::

 

 

I feel better now... I think.

[Guest Lightning Flik]

Wait a minute...

 

that's not how it works!!!!!

 

When you have three companies trying to outsell the each other prices go DOWN not UP!!!

 

AAAHHH!!!

Well, the Anti-Corporate movement is about to grow in strength via the gamers.

 

Ain't no fucking WAY I'd pay that much. And I ain't shopping at those bastard corporate owned stores.

 

I prefer my little Microplay store.

[Guest Sakura]

I used to tell people who were smart enough to ask which system was better to go with the PS1, even though the first games for that system were not all that great either, though by 96 there were a few gems amidst the dung.

I liked several early PSX games.

 

Tekken, Toshiden, Street Fighter Alpha, Mortal Kombat 3, Ridge Racer....

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Madden yes.

 

Just about everything is either used or a rental...

[The Dames 0]

My mom paid $100 bucks for an advance copy of Super Mario 3 for my birthday. Same with Street Fighter II for SNES.

 

Dames

[Guest mach7]

I love how they take the small little cheap shot at Nintendo for noting that the game prices for the N64 were on average $65 initially. I bought about 25 N64 games and I didn't pay more than $54.99 once.

a] It depends where you buy the games, and how much the store marks it up.

 

b] This article is based on stats and is speculation at best. No where does it say that this price increase is a fact.

 

c] ..and if people want the games bad enough, they'll be willing to pay the extra $10. All of this "I'll never buy a game that costs $60!" crap is just talk.

[Guest Karnage]

And how much does it cost to manufacture a video game disc?

[Guest AndrewTS]

I used to tell people who were smart enough to ask which system was better to go with the PS1, even though the first games for that system were not all that great either, though by 96 there were a few gems amidst the dung.

I liked several early PSX games.

 

Tekken, Toshiden, Street Fighter Alpha, Mortal Kombat 3, Ridge Racer....

The PS at first had the best launch titles and was the best bang for the buck. The title that actually sold me on the system was Wrestlemania the Arcade Game--another early title. At that time they were also working on an nearly arcade-perfect NBA Jam TE.

There was also a little title in the works called Resident Evil.

 

The Saturn was 100 bucks more, and had really poor translations of Daytona and Virtua Fighter. Plus Sega never really exploited and stressed the 2D strengths of the Saturn.

 

Sony made a killing based on the PS's superior 3D power, good launch titles, and cheaper cost. Although their early marketing campaigns were absolutely terrible (Polygon Man and Sofia Says).

 

N64's launch titles were Mario and Pilotwings. Besides that, all the of the early titles for it sucked. Cruisin' USA anyone? Of course, they were so starved for games the early titles sold well no matter how bad.

 

And the N64 never did get that promised Killer Instinct translation, although it did get KI2.

[Guest razazteca]

My mom paid $100 bucks for an advance copy of Super Mario 3 for my birthday. Same with Street Fighter II for SNES.

 

Dames

Most I ever payed was $65 + tax for Final Fight on SNES, and that was at the mall.

 

I'm patient now with games as the last new game I brought was Fire Pro Wrestling 2 on GBA for $11 but it is what a year after the orginal launch. Now its all about buying used of cheap games on clearance at $30 or below.

 

That is my limit.

[Guest Ripper]

I haven't cracked 20 bucks on a game yet for my gamecube and I have a respectable collection.

 

Blockbuster pre-played games..9-10 times they are having a additional off preowned games and movies. I usually end up paying 9-15 dollars for games a few months after launch. I can live with that.

[Guest Sakura]

And the N64 never did get that promised Killer Instinct translation, although it did get KI2.

Yeah, funny how Nintendo claimed KI ran on "Ultra 64" hardware.

 

KI Gold is not even nearly as good as KI 2.

[Guest goodhelmet]

hell the only games i have ever payed more than $50 for are a couple of dreamcast imports (giant gram and firepro d). both were worth it so i can't complain.

[Guest Flyboy]

So very not cool. I buy shitload of sporting games (basketball -- college/pro, football -- college/pro) and that would be a ton of money spent on my part. Gheyness abound, damnit. I should use affirmative action.

[Guest MrRant]

Buy sports games after the season. :-)

[Guest teke184]

The only games I remember paying above $55 for are Star Control on the Genesis (about $70) and Suikoden 2 ($75+ through the resale market because it's super rare and I missed out on it when I had the chance).

 

These days, I tend to pay about $10-20 for most of my games because I raid the Blockbusters, especially when they run specials like 25% off or Buy 2 Get 1 Free. That lets me take chances on games I wouldn't otherwise get, like Mario Part 4, Outlaw Golf, etc.

[Guest Flyboy]

Buy sports games after the season. :-)

That ruins the whole point of it!

[Guest Retro Rob]

I've had PS2 for two years now and I own 8 games. I think I actually paid for 5 of them, the other 3 were gifts. Quite frankly, I think $50 is too much for a game, not to mention the fact that I really don't get into video games as much as other people. I have a low level of patience.

[Guest Edwin MacPhisto]

I remember when premier SNES games went for more than $60 consistently. As already mentioned, Street Fighter II was going for $70 or more on its launch, and let's not even *talk* about Chrono Trigger. One of my favorite games ever, but during the first month or two after its release, I remember seeing it for $84.95 at some stores and 79.99 at others. Thankfully I got it on a special sale at Walmart for...55, I think? Good god that was a long time ago.

 

Bottom line, the media they're using these days is so cheap that there's no excuse for costs to go up, even if development is high. They're going to isolate the market--young kids'll still pay anything because their parents buy, and people with regular jobs and life in the real world will pay because they make thousands on thousands a year, but that key market of teenagers and early 20somethings will step back.

[Guest justsoyouknow]

I'll just stick to the kid at school who steals them from his work and sells them to us for $20, thank you.

[Guest Lethargic]

To me it seems like game prices have been going down lately. I look around at games now and a LOT of games are under 50 with only the BRAND NEW games or VERY POPULAR games still being 50. It seems like most are 40 or 30 or 20. Hell, I just bought Evil Dead today on the day it was released and it was 19.99 brand new. Raising games to 60 would be stupid. Look at PC games. Most PC versions of console games are 10, 20, 30 dollars cheaper. If they raised the price for console games I'd just buy more of them on PC or even just download bootlegs for free and then they wouldn't get a dime either way.

[Agent_Bond34 0]

but that key market of teenagers and early 20somethings will step back.

That's exactly where I fit in.

 

I'm in my early 20s, turned 20 this year, for that matter.

 

I'm one of those who likes to get the most out of the amount of money I've got, and when purchasing games, that's what I try and do.

 

I don't want to go and spend $50 or $60 on just one game, I want to spend that much, on multiple games, if it comes to that.

[Guest RenegadeX28]

I hated the N64 for that. Some games really shouldn't have been priced at $60.

 

SNES had that problem for some games as well. Dear god....I remember Chrono Trigger. At release....it was $80.

 

About 3-4 years later....it was STILL that price!!!

[Guest Youth N Asia]

I never buy retail on games anyway. They just aren't worth it.