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360Sync.com > Xbox 360 > Editorial: Video Game Pricing

Editorial: Video Game Pricing

By | June 3, 2007 | Xbox 360 |

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!

 

  • http://www.360voice.com Trapper Markelz

    My thoughts:

    Only the high-profile games should be $59.99
    New releases should be $49.99
    1-2 months on the shelf drop to $39.99
    After that, $29.99 (i will buy ANYTHING for this price).
    Platinum hits $19.99

    All publisher/licensing fees should be percentage based with higher percentage up front, with lower percentage the longer it sits on the shelf.

  • Nagol

    problem
    how do u know if its a quality game if u cant play it?
    demos/betas? they take up resources that dev’s surely dont want to waste before a game is ready
    some make that choice and well, they arent all bungie so…
    nobody bought psychonauts and that was one of the best games on xbox
    king i know u didnt buy it

  • http://www.x360a.org Krazie

    You make some very good points, King. I understand the need to have games priced at $60, but for Microsoft to price the PC version for less is kind of a head scratcher to me. I understand developers and publishers need money, as making a video game is NOT cheap, and its only increasing in cost as technology is advancing. Don’t forget, we used to pay $60 for games back in the day, and they decreased to $50. I dont mind the price tag myself, I’d rather pay $60 for a game than to pay $20 (or even $30 with Blu-Ray/HD-DVD) for a movie..

    I do think they can do better with price cuts the longer a game has been out, though.. It’ll increase sales a lot quicker if the price goes down faster..

  • http://www.trappermarkelz.com Trapper Markelz

    I fully understand the costs involved in making a game… but there is a balance between price and volume… and I personally know that if the games were a little less, I would buy more of them… which yields more sales. I don’t even mind if most games are $59.99 but I think there needs to be more price flexibility. That take the actual production costs and sales targets into account instead of just blanket pricing everything at 59.99

  • Nagol

    i think the reason pc shadowrun is cheaper is generally and im just guessing here, but its just cuz all pc games are cheap by nature. i walk into EB, Bestbuy i see pc games for CHEEP!, cnc pc is $50 but cnc 360 is $70 apparantly cheeves are worth $20
    its not a headscratcher, nobody who plays PC pays more then $50 a game so why would shadowrun be any different

  • http://www.andymerrill.com/rantreview/ Jigsaw hc

    Personally I almost never buy a game at full price. I rent most of the games I play. The few I do buy I almost always get on sale. Other than Halo 2 I can’t remember the last time I payed full price for a game. Even if you want a game the day it comes out there is almost always a store that has it on sale that first week or that will bundle some other items in for free.

  • Nagol

    i think the reason pc shadowrun is cheaper is generally and im just guessing here, but its just cuz all pc games are cheap by nature. i walk into EB, Bestbuy i see pc games for CHEEP!, cnc pc is $50 but cnc 360 is $70 apparantly cheeves are worth $20its not a headscratcher, nobody who plays PC pays more then $50 a game so why would shadowrun be any different

  • http://www.trappermarkelz.com Trapper Markelz

    I fully understand the costs involved in making a game… but there is a balance between price and volume… and I personally know that if the games were a little less, I would buy more of them… which yields more sales. I don't even mind if most games are $59.99 but I think there needs to be more price flexibility. That take the actual production costs and sales targets into account instead of just blanket pricing everything at 59.99

  • http://www.x360a.org Krazie

    You make some very good points, King. I understand the need to have games priced at $60, but for Microsoft to price the PC version for less is kind of a head scratcher to me. I understand developers and publishers need money, as making a video game is NOT cheap, and its only increasing in cost as technology is advancing. Don't forget, we used to pay $60 for games back in the day, and they decreased to $50. I dont mind the price tag myself, I'd rather pay $60 for a game than to pay $20 (or even $30 with Blu-Ray/HD-DVD) for a movie..I do think they can do better with price cuts the longer a game has been out, though.. It'll increase sales a lot quicker if the price goes down faster..

  • Nagol

    problemhow do u know if its a quality game if u cant play it?demos/betas? they take up resources that dev's surely dont want to waste before a game is readysome make that choice and well, they arent all bungie so…nobody bought psychonauts and that was one of the best games on xboxking i know u didnt buy it

  • http://www.360voice.com Trapper Markelz

    My thoughts:Only the high-profile games should be $59.99New releases should be $49.991-2 months on the shelf drop to $39.99After that, $29.99 (i will buy ANYTHING for this price).Platinum hits $19.99All publisher/licensing fees should be percentage based with higher percentage up front, with lower percentage the longer it sits on the shelf.

  • http://www.andymerrill.com/rantreview/ Jigsaw hc

    Personally I almost never buy a game at full price. I rent most of the games I play. The few I do buy I almost always get on sale. Other than Halo 2 I can't remember the last time I payed full price for a game. Even if you want a game the day it comes out there is almost always a store that has it on sale that first week or that will bundle some other items in for free.

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