Are DS games slowly rising in price? [Mobile/Archive]

Roufuss

11-27-2005, 12:02 AM

I mean, I remember $29.99 being the standard on some launch titles, with the occasional $34.99... it seems that lately though Nintendo has been slowly creeping up the MSRP on it's games. First Metroid Pinball, then Mario Kart, now Mario and Luigi 2 and Animal Crossing both have MSRP's of $34.99.

Factor in the fact that games like Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble, Megaman Battle Network 5: Double Team, Lunar, and Tony Hawk's American Skateland are all $39.99, do you think DS games are slowly rising in cost, or will they level back down to a $29.99 price?

I mean, I've seen alot of people complain when PSP games are $40, yet DS games seem to be slowly going towards this number. Wonder why this is...

I hope the trend stops, for now I can get by with the $10 Best Buy coupon, but I hope Nintendo drops its own games back to $30 at least.

apokalipze2

11-27-2005, 12:20 AM

Weird, I got Mario Kart for 28 bucks

Ledhed

11-27-2005, 12:27 AM

Weird, I got Mario Kart for 28 bucks

We're talking about MSRP, not sale prices.

The same could be said of alot of GBA games. The simple fact is Nintendo is going to charge the highest amount they can, as long as enough people are willing to pay that price (which they are).

But to anyone on this site, MSRP is inconsequential. It doesn't really matter what MSRP is, because you shouldn't be paying it to begin with here. There's a deal for most everything, just keep your eyes peeled and you'll never have to pay MSRP.

botticus

11-27-2005, 12:27 AM

Weird, I got Mario Kart for 28 bucks
On sale from 34.99.

zionoverfire

11-27-2005, 12:33 AM

I noticed this yesterday also, I went to EB and a lot of the new games seemed to be $35 and a few were $40. Luckily most of the used copies I've seen have been complete so it's easy enough to save a few bucks that way.

62t

11-27-2005, 12:36 AM

We're talking about MSRP, not sale prices.

The same could be said of alot of GBA games. The simple fact is Nintendo is going to charge the highest amount they can, as long as enough people are willing to pay that price (which they are).

But to anyone on this site, MSRP is inconsequential. It doesn't really matter what MSRP is, because you shouldn't be paying it to begin with here. There's a deal for most everything, just keep your eyes peeled and you'll never have to pay MSRP.
Well if the MSRP is lower, than the sale price would also be lower.

Ledhed

11-27-2005, 12:39 AM

Well if the MSRP is lower, than the sale price would also be lower.

Granted, but you nor anyone else has any real say in MSRP pricing. So, when you see that number, just remember that there's no way in hell you're paying it, and try to be satisfied with that.

Chris in Cali

11-27-2005, 12:40 AM

Roufuss

11-27-2005, 12:48 AM

I paid $34.99 for Mario Kart, and $39.99 for Tony Hawk.... ouch. Fantastic games, but I hate paying that much for handheld stuff. I think it all should be $29.99, that seems to be the magic number for DS games, or at least it does in my mind.

It used to be, until Nintendo started testing the waters slightly with a $34.99 price. Nobody complained, Nintendo still had strong sales, so it seems like $34.99 is the new MSRP on any Nintendo produced title. I wonder how long it will be until Nintendo starts going for a $40 price? I mean, we will all buy Zelda or Mario Bros for the DS for $40, then Nintendo will slowly start pricing all of its games that high.

What I don't get is the 39.99 pricing... no reason for that, espically on games like Viewtiful Joe.

David85

11-27-2005, 01:08 AM

The $35 MSRP is nothing new with Nintendo. They have done that ffor many many GBA games too. It just seemed like no stores cared and they sold the games for $30.

But really $35 dollars isn't bad. It gives Nintendo some lean with the game price. Better than $40 or $50.

daroga

11-27-2005, 01:11 AM

My Target had Metroid Prime Pinball marked at $39.99 yesterday. I'm hoping that's just a mistake.

Machikunas

11-27-2005, 01:28 AM

I hope the trend stops, for now I can get by with the $10 Best Buy coupon, but I hope Nintendo drops its own games back to $30 at least.

Sorry, I'm behind the times on DS deals as I just picked one up last night... What's is the $10 Best Buy coupon? I'm very very curious.

ericx

11-27-2005, 01:38 AM

Nintendo is raising the DS game's MSRP while the NDS' price drops, Target will be selling them for $100 in december...

botticus

11-27-2005, 01:43 AM

Nintendo is raising the DS game's MSRP while the NDS' price drops, Target will be selling them for $100 in december...
That's a misprint, and you can only take advantage of said misprint till 12/12.

SpottedNigel

11-27-2005, 01:44 AM

Im not too surprised, especially going into the holidays..but why do the prices vary so much? Viewtiful Joe and even Lunar ranged from a regular price of $29.99 to 39.99 depending on store...

Scobie

11-27-2005, 10:38 AM

Im not too surprised, especially going into the holidays..but why do the prices vary so much? Viewtiful Joe and even Lunar ranged from a regular price of $29.99 to 39.99 depending on store...

That's the store's prerogative. Some of it could be a corporate policy or it could be local errors. I've been in stores where they'll stock two copies of the same title, both brand new, but one will be stickered at $39.99 and the other will be $29.99.

If I see a suspicious price (i.e., $39.99 for Phoenix Wright), I'll take it to the counter and go "Objection!" and see if the UPC doesn't ring up at $29.99. Then I'll find a way to pay even less.

cletus

11-27-2005, 04:50 PM

"You're lying and I can prove it!" Althought the clerks might not appreciate being called a liar.

RedvsBlue

11-27-2005, 04:54 PM

This was actually part of the reason why I sold my DS on EBay a little bit ago. It seemed like the system was a nice "bargain" system to start with most games at $29.99 vs. the $49.99 I was paying for PSP games. Now, it seems like there's an increasing number of $39.99 games coming out for both systems. I remember reading somewhere that the justification behind Metroid Pinball being $34.99 is that there was the rumble pack in there but what's the excuse for all the games now?

asianxcore

11-27-2005, 05:00 PM

I thought Viewtiful Joe was 29.99 @ BB, when I went there the other day they were all marked 39.99.

GizmoGC

11-27-2005, 06:07 PM

Nintendo has almost always sold there games for $34.99...nothing new. But with a huge increase is Nintendo titles this past month it makes it seem like its 'new'.

Metroid Pinball included a Rumble pack, I can justify the extra $5. Mario Kart/Tony Hawk have online play, again, I can justify.

Spoon_si

11-27-2005, 06:44 PM

even at $34.99...

it's still hella lot cheaper than some $49.99 PSP games...

I have yet bought a DS game over $29.99... a true cag will wait for coupons & sales..

GizmoGC

11-27-2005, 07:11 PM

Yeah, nothing beats the $50 PSP prices...ugh. Glad I got rick of that hunk of junk

Genocidal

11-27-2005, 07:30 PM

If they are going up, I haven't noticed. Of my DS games that I own, a measly 5, 2 were obtained at GR during their Nintendo sale, 1 was free with trade-ins, 1 came bundled, and 1 I paid MSRP for (Mario Kart). Anything that's going to have strong online I can force myself to pay the extra $5 or so, and anything else I can wait for the price drop that seems to happen after a month or two on most games.

RAMSTORIA

11-27-2005, 07:38 PM

i thought nintendo said that their first party games would be 30. metroid pinball i understand because of the rumble pack... but mario kart was 35 (i paid 2 bucks, thanks best buy bucks) and if these other ones are too, then maybe they are raising them to compensate for the DS system drop. personally, i dont mind too much, especially if they are quality titles like mario kart is.

Redeema

11-27-2005, 08:22 PM

You guys are forgetting that with a game like Mario Kart DS they've got to pay for all the online components because you're not paying for it, at least cut them some slack for that. Animal Crossing will be the same way, Mario and Luigi , though, I don't know.

Also, and I can't prove this, but maybe they've gotten more expensive because the carts have increased in size?

Either way, since I don't pay full price for any of these games I don't complain too much, on the other hand if they were cheaper the sales would be cheaper too. I guess your only comfort is that it's not PSP expensive.

MorPhiend

11-27-2005, 08:30 PM

I have 14 DS games and have not paid $35 for any of them (and I bought my DS after I got Nintendogs, so most of my games are recent "expensive" games) . The most I paid is $29.99 for Lunar through Ubi's website (MSRP is $40). Both Mario Kart and Animal Crossing were pre-ordered through Outpost for $24 each, but since I ordered them together, the $9+ shipping was a one time fee and the games totaled $28.51 each. Like Ledhead said, you shouldn't be paying retail for any game. There is almost always a way.

I hope this is not the new trend, but just a blip on the radar. Even though I don't pay retail, I would be paying even less (and buying more) if the prices were $5-$10 cheaper (especially with this BB coupon that I need to go take advantage of soon (Mario & Luigi, among many others).

Roufuss

11-27-2005, 08:34 PM

I hope this is not the new trend, but just a blip on the radar. Even though I don't pay retail, I would be paying even less (and buying more) if the prices were $5-$10 cheaper (especially with this BB coupon that I need to go take advantage of soon (Mario & Luigi, among many others).

This is the point of the whole thread. I mean, I have never paid retail for any of my games, but coupons and sales can only take off so much, espically when MSRP rises. I would have loved to get Mario And Luigi 2 for $20... now I have to settle for $25.

lurknomore

11-27-2005, 08:40 PM

Although I am a CAG, I'll pay to support great games and hardworking developers...the DS's recent boon of great games has been a great thing.

whoknows

11-27-2005, 08:56 PM

MorPhiend

11-27-2005, 09:15 PM

I have noticed the prices going up too. I was out to buy Sonic a few days ago and when $35 was the cheapest I could find it for I said forget it and bought Infected instead from CC when it was on sale for $30. I'd rather have an awesome online 3D game than some 2D sonic game for $35. If I need my 2D sonic fix I'll just pull out the sega genesis.

Your loss. Many say it is better than even Sonic CD (I haven't gotten it yet, but plan on it).

But at least we can still get games for $25, thanks to BB's coupon. That's still not a bad price.

alongx

11-27-2005, 09:53 PM

MSRP of DS games has always been:
$30 for Nintendo brands, except top-tier titles (Advance Wars, Mario Kart, Wario Ware)
$35 for top-tier Nintendo titles
$40 for 3rd party titles

PSP pricing is:
$40 for Sony and other 1st/2nd party titles
$50 for 3rd party titles.

You mention Viewtiful Joe as a $39.99 game...it's MSRP is $29.99, FYI.

62t

11-27-2005, 10:30 PM

Viewtiful Joe DT's MSRP is $39.99, which just happens to be the MSRP of the Viewtiful Joe on PSP and gamcube.

Also games like Legends of Heroes is only $39.99, so the gap

apokalipze2

11-28-2005, 01:47 AM

I have noticed the prices going up too. I was out to buy Sonic a few days ago and when $35 was the cheapest I could find it for I said forget it and bought Infected instead from CC when it was on sale for $30. I'd rather have an awesome online 3D game than some 2D sonic game for $35. If I need my 2D sonic fix I'll just pull out the sega genesis.
lol, have you even played Sonic Rush:roll: plus the boss battles are 3D

GizmoGC

11-28-2005, 03:40 AM

You mention Viewtiful Joe as a $39.99 game...it's MSRP is $29.99, FYI.

Its $39.99. This is the same price at Target, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, EB, GameStop, Game Crazy, Game Rush etc. Best Buy is the ONLY place where it is $29.99, JUST like Lunar. We don't know WHY, but it is. MSRP is $39.99

Machikunas

11-28-2005, 04:52 AM

But at least we can still get games for $25, thanks to BB's coupon. That's still not a bad price.

Please guys, let me know about this coupon. Or are you all still talking about the GGC? Someone said it was a 10 dollar coupon earlier. I gots to know!

ArthurDigbySellers

11-28-2005, 12:03 PM

Please guys, let me know about this coupon. Or are you all still talking about the GGC? Someone said it was a 10 dollar coupon earlier. I gots to know!

Here

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74470