Is it just me or is anyone else getting sick of having to pay top draw for a computer game? Here in Limey land (England) we pay an average of £30-£35 ($45-$50) for something that costs barely anything to produce. I'm even starting to visit GameCopyWorld.com for the cracks, which sucks as I like to own the original CD. Anyone think there's any chance of games coming down in price over the next few years, or, like with everything else (music etc.), are we doomed to Ripoffs-ville.
THE GREAT GAMES RIP-OFF!!!!
- Thread starter Richdog
- Start date
Queasy
Moderator<br>Console Gaming
- Aug 24, 2001
- 31,796
- 2
- 0
If you mean the cost of producing and boxing up CDs, then yes, games cost next to nothing to produce. But, add in the costs of development, advertising, etc and that is why games cost so much.
Solution to your problem: you don't have to buy games when they immediately come out. They do drop in price and specials are run on games eventually.
Solution to your problem: you don't have to buy games when they immediately come out. They do drop in price and specials are run on games eventually.
You are a damn fool if you believe that games (and software in general, music, etc - Anything distributed on disc basically) costs "barely anything to produce."
Yes, the cost to produce 1000 more copies is negligible, but that's just the method of delivery. The product itself is data, & it costs a lot to produce.
Viper GTS
Yes, the cost to produce 1000 more copies is negligible, but that's just the method of delivery. The product itself is data, & it costs a lot to produce.
Viper GTS
HomeBrewerDude
Lifer
- Jan 18, 2001
- 14,465
- 1
- 0
how can you call music a ripoff, when a music cd goes for like 1/2 to a 1/3 of the price of games?? if games came down to the price of music cd's i'd probably buy a lot more of them.
you forgot the marketing stuff.
the disk itself costs cents to produce, but then you have labeling, label design, case art work, manuals, boxes, marketing channels.
BUT that still doesn't justify charging 2 to 3 times MORE for a game cd vs a music cd.
Programmers arent cheap, and development time isnt in the hours.
Games are expensive to make.
Granted, they break the bank if they are popular, but thats why so much is spent trying to make them good.
Games are expensive to make.
Granted, they break the bank if they are popular, but thats why so much is spent trying to make them good.
Games and Music are two different kettles of fish... but they're still rip-offs, look at a few websites on the subject, theyre's even a campaign going to lower prices. And maybe it's just me being a "damn fool" but I can't resist getting a top new game when it comes out instead of waiting 6 months. And even then if it's a best-selling game theres no guarantee the price will be reduced!
prices aren't bad I don't think... considering what is put into making the average new game in 2003. it's not exactly a 5 minute job to make a good game like Unreal 2 or something of the like. I gladly pay the price ($60,$70 CAD)
lol it amazes me how people like you mwilding can sit there and slag people off just for voicing their opinion. I suppose "whiney self-righteousness" applies more to you than me since you're the one sitting there taking the high-stand. To be honest, you dont bother me in the slightest, and I work in marketing too so I have a fair idea of how much these things cost.
Why do you pay that much? I buy most games for around £25, new releases. Try amazon.co.uk, or even dabs.com... They both have much better prices, and shipping is not too bad (bumps £1-2).
Honestly, I barely have enough time playing those games as it is, so I do feel like I get a good value out of it.
if your going to complain, however, why not complain at the top??
the way i see it, a Music CD, a Game CD, an OS cd, all cost aproximately the same amount to produce and yet the OS CD (MS Win XP Pro to be precise) goes for what?? $150 to $200 retail??
Game CD (when it first comes out) $50.00
Music CD (when it is first released) $30.00.
so, which is the bargain and which is the ripoff?
I got dissilussioned with e-buying after I placed an order with dabs.com and there was a massive cock-up which resulted in me not getting my good for 3 weeks, not to mention having to fight like hell to get them.
Good question LeeTJ, the only reason I started this thread was because I know loads of people that think the same as me when it comes to pricing. Maybe it's because Britain is more expensive than the U.S. that I feel the need to say something, as the comments here may suggest. It's not often I complain about anything to be honest, it's just that I buy a lot of games, which don't take too long to complete either. I guess it's just a question of what the product you buy means to you in terms of value...
GasX
Lifer
- Feb 8, 2001
- 29,033
- 6
- 81
Explain to me how a job in marketing qualifies you to know anything about software development costs?
And to be a little more specific about my "slagging you off" - People bust their asses to put out a game or music release. They create something unique and entertaining. It is delivered to you via a digital medium. The fact that the delivery system is not expensive, does not mean that the "proper" price should be in line with the media costs. In the case of software, development costs are substantial. So is the risk that noone buys the game. Factoring that in, it makes sense (to anyone with rudimentary knowledge of economic theory) that a premium price is charge on new releases.
Let's suppose, you still feel the price is too high. We live in an essentially free market system. If enough people think the same way as you, then sales will be lower than anticipated and the price will come down to stimulate demand. This is why when you see a game in the $10 bargain bin, it is either complete crap or it is several years old.
Now, to the point as to why I jumped on your post. Instead of saying anything to the effect that you are not willing to pay market price, you simply state that prices are too high and you are obligated to pirate the software. That's just not a position that I can hold any respect for.
exactly and there is your answer. it's a matter of supply and demand. as long as demand for games are high, prices will be high. you contribute to it by buying the games early, so i don't think you have anything to complain about.
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