234 réponses à ce sujet

[Fixers0]

 It's geting worse and worse, now DLC thats is worth $15  suddenly equals  €15.

[Brovikk Rasputin]

If they're going to raise the price like that, it better be absolutely perfect in every way. I don't give a crap about developement costs, 80 bucks is A LOT for a videogame.

[InterrogationBear]

This is UK only and applies to all publishers.

The British Pound lost almost a third of its value compared to the Euro since 2007. They are adjusting the UK-price to european levels.

[tanisha__unknown]

@David

If I shall buy a game, I expect developers to actually make it worth it. A significant part of it is replayability. Personally, I expect a game to be replayable at least 5-8 times to be worth a buy. There are games that are well made and which I will readily keep. Others are going away and neither consuming disc space nor draining on my budget.

At times like these, with games being bound to accounts you actually have to sell the entire account if you want to get rid of a game, which is most likely something developers had in mind when they created this system. However it is not impossible.
People do it and it is unlikely that publishers can actually put an end to it. When I sold my battlenet account because I found heart of the swarm severly lacking, it was a bit tedious because the one I sold it too also needed my name, the answer to the secret question and access to some kind of shared email account to reset everything properly, but after all it was possible. For me that was an option because there was a single game on it, which I did not want to play anymore. In such cases developers will have a hard time in the future stopping selling used games.

As far as the rachni mission is concerned: making the mission with the rachni queen including the respective war assets available to players who saved her and cutting it out for those who did not would have been a very cost efficient way of implementing it and be much better than what they chose to do.

[JoltDealer]

The article says £54.99, which is actually $72.23 when converted to US dollars. That's a big difference from a full $80. If I had to guess, they'll likely round down and sell at $69.99 here in the states. That's about what I expected considering that we had a similar price increase when PS3 and Xbox 360 games came out later. Or this could mean a price change solely overseas. Games in Australia are expensive as ****.

[InterrogationBear]

Crimson Sound wrote...

The article says £54.99, which is actually $72.23 when converted to US dollars.

Remember. the UK price includes 20% VAT. Without the tax, it's exactly $60.

[Bleachrude]

Mr. Gogeta34 wrote...

Something tells me that game development needs to get more efficient... You'd think that working in a higher fidelity would make for easier workflows (less tricks required to get the desired result) and consequently, lighter production costs.

Ah well, I remember when N64 games were $70 a pop. If they charge 80... that game better be darn good, lol.

Actually, the switch to HD caused a massive increase in production costs....Pretty much every studio had to up the development costs for games EXCEPT for Nintendo...of course NOW, Nintendo is feeling the burn as just this month, Nintendo's CEO had to explain to investors why Wii-U development has become so expensive compared to earlier.

And yeah, I remember Killer Instinct 64 and Turok costing $70.....

[ME859]

$80 for unfinished games with COD features jammed in their to appeal to a demographic that purchases one game a year? The whole point of making the PS4 and Xbone easy to develop for was to keep developing cost down and we've seen the new gen of games. They're not THAT much more impressive then the current gen.

[MrFob]

I wouldn't mind games getting a little more expensive IF they go back to selling us a full game that is made with the heart and soul of the developers in it and not because it has to appeal to such and such an audiance, sell DLC down the road, etc.
If the extra money were used to support the developers and give them the time and the environment to create great games, than I am all for it. Hell, game prices haven't significantly increased since 1999. I was in Germany at the time and I remember a new pc game would cost about DM80. Now it's about €40. That doesn't even account for inflation during the last 14 years, not to mention that production costs have gone up tremendously (of course, sale quantities have increased as well).
So, yes to higher prices but only if the money flows directly into production and we get an equivalent increase in quality and polish of games. Somehow I doubt that'll be the case.

As for MEnot4, I'll wait and see what kind of player reviews it'll get and what the DLC policy is going to be. That will determine my decision whether to get it fairly soon after release, for a budget price 1-2 years later or not at all.

[David7204]

I'm not sure I would call the demand for these kinds of video games elastic.

It's certainly not for me. I would gladly pay hundreds of dollars for a Mass Effect game.

Modifié par David7204, 22 juillet 2013 - 02:10 .

[AresKeith]

David7204 wrote...

I'm not sure I would call the demand for these kinds of video games elastic.

It's certainly not for me. I would gladly pay hundreds of dollars for a Mass Effect game.

Lol

[David7204]

Is that funny for some reason? Both of us have spent a considerable amount of time on this forum. Probably well over a thousand dollars if we consider wages as opportunity cost.

Do you know what demand elasticity is?

Modifié par David7204, 22 juillet 2013 - 02:16 .

[FlamingBoy]

David7204 wrote...

Is that funny for some reason? Both of us have spent a considerable amount of time on this forum. Probably well over a thousand dollars if we consider wages as opportunity cost.

Do you know what demand elasticity is?

Yeah, but demand elasticity ususally applies to the "people" as a whole not the whims and desires of david7204


Edit: I a good image on davids vision on "mass effect" demand

Modifié par FlamingBoy, 22 juillet 2013 - 02:55 .

[JoltDealer]

Rubios wrote...

Let's see how that proven extremely elastic demand react to this.

To me it feels like they actually wanna die to mobile gaming, indies and handhelds.

WittingEight65 wrote...

Blame the people that buys used games.

I would if they were no companies who can completely ignore that problem by making quality games, Nintendo for example.

So I rather blame ridiculous budgets, bad management, shortsightedness and unrealistic expectations.

Nintendo's best games have been their best games for years now.  There aren't a lot of new, quality games.  Just more installments of the same few hit series.

Here are the facts.  Companies like EA hire a developer like Bioware to make a game and give it a budget.  Regardless of what happens, the game developers get paid because EA pays this money out of pocket.  Mind you, EA pays the developers better than most and also provide actual benefits like healthcare, dental insurance, sick leave, and the like.  A common practice in most jobs, but rare for game developers.  EA then relies on the money made from selling the games to cover the cost of development and advertising.  They always hope to break even, but a profit means they then have capital with which they can fund the development of new games.  This means, that unless they break even, every video game EA develops is a huge risk.  In fact, sometimes publishers depend on the financial success of one game to cover the failure of another.

Now everyone here is sick of games like Call of Duty, right?  You want more unique games and less of the same?  See here's the problem:  CoD clones sell.  They are the safe bet since people buy them.  Even if 50% of players bought the title used, if several million people buy it new on launchday, they still make enough to ensure they at least break even.  This is also why they still sell games at $60 a piece.  If 50% of people buy used, prices have to account for that.  If not for used games, they could afford to sell copies at $30 a piece at launch.  Games that are different or unique are considered financial risks because there's no data suggesting how well it will sell.  So to recap, CoD clones are safer than artistic or unique titles.  Used game sales, where none of the money goes back to the publisher, makes CoD clones the even safer option.

I'm pretty sure that everyone here can piece together what I am implying, but even if you can't, it's okay.  The point is that used games are bad for the video game industry.  Now I'm not knocking those who buy used games.  Times are tough and games are expensive.  We all do what we have to survive.  In fact, I just bought "The Last of Us" used because I wanted to be able to play the game, buy groceries, and pay my bills this month.  However, we all need to stop fooling ourselves and pretending like this has no effect on the gaming industry.  Yes, there will always be corporate big wigs who take more money than they need, but the business model remains the same.  You want less of the same?  Put more money into the industry by buying your games new, even if you have to wait a few months for the price to drop.

Games are expensive to make.  Benefits for employees and their families aren't cheap.  If they used their knowledge and skills for anything else, they'd likely have them without any problems.  But since they chose to make games, they had to give up things like that in most situations.  I have no idea how much they get paid, but they usually work on one project day in and day out for a few years.  The union rate for video game voice acting usually starts at $120 per hour.  If you think of how many characters they need to cast and hours of dialogue they need to record it adds up.  Then you add in the people who wrote the script, who cast the actors, who directed the actors, and the sound engineer who makes us voice actors sound awesome, and it's even more expenisve.  That still doesn't cover everyone.  It's not the big budgets that kill us, it's just that games are expenisve to make.

As for bad management, I cannot speak as I have no idea what the typical sort of management is like.  If I said anything it would either be pure speculation, or I be talking completely out of my ass.  As for shortsightedness and unrealistic expectations?  Both of those points seem like your personal opinion, so I can't really say anything to change that.

[Synergizer]

If games cost less, I think people would be less inclined to trade old games. I am no expert though, perhaps economists believe that if the price was lower they wouldn't sell more. If "Mass Effect: Untitled" was cheaper at release time, would they sell more copies, enough to cover the cost, and the risk?

Anyway, I'm becoming a supporter of the "chapter" based model, like telltale games uses. You get the first chapter free, if the game isn't your thing you won't buy more. If you like it you buy the next chapter and so on.

[Marick58]

The way games are made these days it's hardly a surprise, Hollywood actors as VAs, or even as Game character actors, incredible realistic graphics, although the story sucks, and a very big budget.
Games are not games anymore...

[WARMACHINE9]

This is funny as both console developers have stated at E3 that games will continue to be $60 a pop or whatever thy currently are elsewhere(I think its 40 pounds for new in England). So moot point and silly post. I didn't include PC as they seem to get a break on some games and get them for cheaper than console.

[shingara]

Im gonna wait till real prices are shown before any reaction cos as it stands there is normally more then one version, you have your standard, limited ( by shop) and collectors all of which vary in price according to edition.

[Cainhurst Crow]

InterrogationBear wrote...

Crimson Sound wrote...

The article says £54.99, which is actually $72.23 when converted to US dollars.

Remember. the UK price includes 20% VAT. Without the tax, it's exactly $60.

Is this accurate? Can someone verify that this is accurate?

[Bleachrude]

Darth Brotarian wrote...

InterrogationBear wrote...

Crimson Sound wrote...

The article says £54.99, which is actually $72.23 when converted to US dollars.

Remember. the UK price includes 20% VAT. Without the tax, it's exactly $60.

Is this accurate? Can someone verify that this is accurate?

Well yeah...by law in UK (and the rest of the EU I believe), prices displayed/advertised HAVE to include the taxes....Personally, I would love to see that law instituted on this side of the pond...

[Cainhurst Crow]

Bleachrude wrote...

Darth Brotarian wrote...

InterrogationBear wrote...

Crimson Sound wrote...

The article says £54.99, which is actually $72.23 when converted to US dollars.

Remember. the UK price includes 20% VAT. Without the tax, it's exactly $60.

Is this accurate? Can someone verify that this is accurate?

Well yeah...by law in UK (and the rest of the EU I believe), prices displayed/advertised HAVE to include the taxes....Personally, I would love to see that law instituted on this side of the pond...

This makes me feel like the entire stink being raised it over nothing.

[TheProtheans]

Darth Brotarian wrote...

Bleachrude wrote...

Darth Brotarian wrote...

InterrogationBear wrote...

Crimson Sound wrote...

The article says £54.99, which is actually $72.23 when converted to US dollars.

Remember. the UK price includes 20% VAT. Without the tax, it's exactly $60.

Is this accurate? Can someone verify that this is accurate?

Well yeah...by law in UK (and the rest of the EU I believe), prices displayed/advertised HAVE to include the taxes....Personally, I would love to see that law instituted on this side of the pond...

This makes me feel like the entire stink being raised it over nothing.

Raised over what and in what way?

[Cainhurst Crow]

TheProtheans wrote...

Darth Brotarian wrote...

Bleachrude wrote...

Darth Brotarian wrote...

InterrogationBear wrote...

Crimson Sound wrote...

The article says £54.99, which is actually $72.23 when converted to US dollars.

Remember. the UK price includes 20% VAT. Without the tax, it's exactly $60.

Is this accurate? Can someone verify that this is accurate?

Well yeah...by law in UK (and the rest of the EU I believe), prices displayed/advertised HAVE to include the taxes....Personally, I would love to see that law instituted on this side of the pond...

This makes me feel like the entire stink being raised it over nothing.

Raised over what and in what way?

That "games will cost 80 dollars from now on" stink that's been reeking up the forums lately with constant whining post being made to complain about it.

[ZeCollectorDestroya]

If you wanted to buy ME3 new in NZ, the price was $120 NZD (normal edition, I kid you not.) Which is $95 USD.

So stop crying you babies.