Shadowrun has made its debut this week on both Xbox 360, and the PC.  However, despite both games being exactly the same - running on the same Live Anywhere network, having the same game in terms of gameplay and maps, and also using the same achievement system that 360 players are now accustomed to, there is one small thing that is different. The price of the game.

The 360 version of Shadowrun costs $59.99, while the PC version of the same game costs $49.99. (At the time of this article, the PC version of this game was on sale at Circuit City for only $37.99 and came with a free copy of Flight Simulator X). The difference in price in my mind makes no sense.

If I was Microsoft, and my goal was to sell more Xbox 360 systems, then I would have the 360 version either the same price, or less expensive. Either way, it doesn’t look like Microsoft or FASA Studios is going to budge on the price right away, which brings me to my next point.

As gamers, if you continually pay $60.00 for a bad game, then you are not helping the situation. You pay $60.00 because you let them. Many gamers explain how a game is more expensive, and then go on to explain that they are still going to purchase it. The statement alone shows that nothing will be changed, the developers make extra money, and the consumer only helps drive up the cost.

If we want to make a point to developers, then it should be this. We will pay $60.00 for quality games , but if they are going to give us crap for $60.00, then we won’t buy it! Simple econonics dictates that a lower price, helps drive up demand for any given product. If cost is low, and demand is high, it would only help the developers get more sales, and help consumers save more money in their wallet.

Same goes with the Xbox Marketplace. If you don’t think Solitaire or any other game is worth the price, then make a stand and a statement, don’t buy it!