XB360 suicide software prices

[Powderkeg]

I'll just never buy new games. I think part of the reason used games are so popular now is because even now they're overcharging for most games.

I can tell you now I have my list of requirements that have to be met before I'll drop $60+ down on a video game. I don't think the price will hurt overall sales, but I do think it will seperate the good from the bad more than ever. Bad games will flop harder than they ever have before, and people will stick to buying "proven" games.

And I imagine there will be an increase in rentals as well. Something I always suggest doing when considering buying a relatively unknown game. There have been a few games that I bought because of the rental, and many games I never bought because of the rental. In both cases the rental money was well spent IMO.

 

[lefizz]

Fair enough mate, if you are really into the whole culture of importing that fair enough. All I meant about live is that if a modchip comes out for the 360 allowing you for example to play u.k.games you wouldnt have to turn it off to use live as in the current generation. If you will buy all your software from canada it of course makes no difference but i personally get a buzz actually going to buy a game every once in a while.

No idea about the external switched mode power supplies they are now using. You are correct that they are often multi-voltage but not all are just check before you smoke your new system.

Best Regards,

Phil

 

[seismologist]

These new prices make PC gaming alot more attractive to me.

I just picked up COD2 for $35 where the same game on 360 will be $60.

 

[pc999]

Maybe at first, but the new price structure will be something people eventually accept just like higher gas prices or $7 movie tickets.

Many times is not if people accept or not, but if they even can accept (ie afford) or not.

I think that if the industry put the prices at half every people would buy 2-3X (some even more) the #of games (3games would be less the 2 games at the current price) I think it would be good for all (gamers how get more game, devs how will have more chances to get in the industry and the big boss how will get money from the third game), in a new thing like Rev it could be particular sussefull, but I dont have many hope on that.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

These new prices make PC gaming alot more attractive to me.

I just picked up COD2 for $35 where the same game on 360 will be $60.

Though the hardware to run the games as well costs more, so overall it's no cheaper.

 

[Powderkeg]

Many times is not if people accept or not, but if they even can accept (ie afford) or not.

If someone can afford a $50 game, they can afford to spend $10 more. If they can't, then they have some serious financial problems they need to resolve before worrying about gaming.

[/quote]I think that if the industry put the prices at half every people would buy 2-3X (some even more) the #of games (3games would be less the 2 games at the current price) I think it would be good for all (gamers how get more game, devs how will have more chances to get in the industry and the big boss how will get money from the third game), in a new thing like Rev it could be particular sussefull, but I dont have many hope on that.[/QUOTE]

That's a nice theory, but first you have to realize that console developers pay $10-$15 per game in royalties, plus an additional $5-$10 per game goes to the retailer. If you started with a $50 game and cut the price in half, the developer and publisher would be virtually giving the game away for free, and I doubt very many developers would last long at that rate.

Even at $60 per copy the developer and publisher are splitting only about $40. If you assume a 50/50 split, the developer is only making $20 per copy.

Now there are claims that next-gen games can cost as much as $20 million to produce. Such a game would require the developer to sell 1 million copies at $60 per copy just to break even on development costs. Since very few games break the million copy sold mark, it is unlikely that developers or publishers would want to reduce the price, requiring even higher sales just to break even.

 

[seismologist]

I'm hoping on PS3 they'll be able to justify the high cost by packing the disks full of extra content.

 

[Powderkeg]

I'm hoping on PS3 they'll be able to justify the high cost by packing the disks full of extra content.

Be careful what you wish for. You may just find that extra content is nothing more than commercials and game trailers.

 

[seismologist]

Be careful what you wish for. You may just find that extra content is nothing more than commercials and game trailers.

I dont think people would want to pay a premium for a disk full of commercials.
I was thinking more along the lines of DVD extras.

 

[Powderkeg]

I dont think people would want to pay a premium for a disk full of commercials.
I was thinking more along the lines of DVD extras.

I wouldn't either, but people buy OXM magazine which is nothing but one big paperback commercial.

 

[jvd]

Devs have been testing the water for 60$ usd games all this gen .

People have shown they will buy 60$ collector editions of current gen games . They sell very well compared to the 50$ price points and now publishers and devs want to take advantage of this .


The break down used to normaly be 49.99$ and then a drop to 29.99$ or strait down to 19.99$

This gen we will see 59.99 then a drop to 39.99 . Customers will still be saving 20$ and sales will most likely be as good as the old 29.99$ price point. Then we will have 19.99 price point again .

This allows devs to make more money at 2 diffrent price points than last generation . and even put in the 69.99 collector edition on the map .

This way we can get even more crap released that sells less copies than last gen but still makes moeny and then the great gems that make crazy money.

 

[pc999]

That's a nice theory, but first you have to realize that console developers pay $10-$15 per game in royalties, plus an additional $5-$10 per game goes to the retailer. If you started with a $50 game and cut the price in half, the developer and publisher would be virtually giving the game away for free, and I doubt very many developers would last long at that rate.

Even at $60 per copy the developer and publisher are splitting only about $40. If you assume a 50/50 split, the developer is only making $20 per copy.

Now there are claims that next-gen games can cost as much as $20 million to produce. Such a game would require the developer to sell 1 million copies at $60 per copy just to break even on development costs. Since very few games break the million copy sold mark, it is unlikely that developers or publishers would want to reduce the price, requiring even higher sales just to break even.

Well if you put this way:

This gen we will see 59.99 then a drop to 39.99.

You can see that is bad, plus think in studants, kids and that kind how dont work (or if they work/work more too they would not have time to play) they save their mony or spend all of it in the games those still a big percentage which may not be able to buy/buy as many as they are used.

Plus I put industry so the (eg) "$10-$15 per game in royalties" if it as half, from my "theory", instead of pay 10/15 they would pay 2x5/2x7,5 do the same for the others things in the end gamers and dev (specialy and this is the biggest problem) but publishers too if they really get more 3 games buyer instead of 1 game old buyer. The problem is that publishers do not take risks and this would need a big agreement betwen all of them I think that only one of the 3 (MS,S,N) could do that but even then very hardly and those like the EA could make live even harder. But as I said and dont have much hope.

 

[MoeStooge]

With each successive generation of game technology (hardware & software) it seems like everything goes up but the fun factor.

 

[L233]

MS tried the price hike thing back when they first released the Xbox in EURO-land. The first games went into retail for €69... more expensive than anywhere else in the world. PS2 games were €59 and that price was already a 50% increase compared to the previous generation.

Xbox game prices came down fast as the console crashed and burned in continental Europe because of pricing (it retailed for €469 initially vs. $299 in the US IIRC). Deservedly so.

Looks like MS are now back again at their old shenanigans, i.e. the attempt to drive up game prices significantly. For this alone they deserve to fail.

 

[TrungGap]

Shuck, I'll have to refrain from buying multiple titles at luanch. I'll probably just pick up one title and finish it first before buying a second title...hopefully the price should be reduced by then. I would hate to send a message to them that they got me by the balls.

 

[Powderkeg]

Looks like MS are now back again at their old shenanigans, i.e. the attempt to drive up game prices significantly. For this alone they deserve to fail.

Well, good to see you completely failed to read the thread.

Sicne you missed it, I'll repeat it.

1st party games are unchanged in price. It's only the 3rd party games that have increased, and they will do the same on the PS3 and Revolution. It's an industry change, not one companies decision.

 

[winstonsmith1978]

The biggest problem with selling games at $60 is that less casual gamers will buy these games and people will be less willing to take a chance on an un-proven title.

So in other words, people will be less willing to buy innovative games like Ico, Shadow of the Colossus and Katamari Damaci and developers will be less willing to create such games because it will be to risky. Then, we will have more and more sequels and the gaming industry will turn into Hollywood.

Or some smart developers will chose to sell their games at $50 or less and everyone will buy those games forcing the market to follow. Microsoft will make a killing with their games at $50.

No way I’m paying $60, I’ll just buy old used games for 30 and less. Hopefully some of those games will actually be fresh and innovative.

 

[winstonsmith1978]

Sorry Powderkeg, i just repeated alot of what you said earlier.

The funny thing is, if people keep buying used games it might get these publishers and developers to wake up because non of that money makes it to their pocket.

 

[jvd]

Actually the amount of people that would hold off on buying games would be very small .


You will actually get more people buying at the 40$ price mark instead of the old 50$ as they would have to wait even longer to see a 20$ price point .

Remember its now 3 steps before it was only 2 steps . 50 then 20$

 

[Kanyamagufa]

Is this a completely new pricing model, or is it only supposed to take effect for the launch of the 360? Is there any reason to think this might be because of initial demand and that after the holiday season the prices will drop back to where they are now?