Why don't most PSP / DS games lower in price?

[Roufuss]

I've been thinking alot about it, and I'm just not sure why they don't lower.

If a console game gets poor reviews, dosen't sell to expectations, a retailer needs shelf space, etc etc, a console game will generally start to lower in price, maybe by $10, sometimes by $20, sometimes even more drastically.

I'm not sure why most DS / PSP games don't follow this formula? I mean, you can't tell me that titles like Death Jr. or Coded Arms sold well enough to still be $39.99, months later? I would have expected both to drop to $20 by now (the price I'm waiting for), but it seems like its never going to happen. Why is Trace Memory still $29.99 at most retailers..? (I know it clearanced at Target, took forever for it to happen)

Is there a reason why we, 90% of the time, never see a drop on handheld games, barring the every once in awhile drop we sometimes see. Metal Gear Acid never dropped at all!

[neocisco]

I think a big part of it is that a lot of the games are first-party titles and you know how slow Nintendo is to drop prices.

[YoshiFan1]

I think it's because they are newer systems and there is less incentive to drop prices until the systems have been out for a while (1 1/2 - 2 years)

[botticus]

Also, I think in general a lot of the titles have smaller production runs, or at least distributions. Consider how many different titles are squeezed into the DS/GBA section compared to the other console larger sections.

With the DS, you can see it with all these niche titles going out of print so quickly... hardly enough copies to have lying around needing a price drop. Definitely sucks though. I've filled out most of my GC library with $10-$20 games, but I've had to spend a minimum of $20 for the vast majority of my GBA/DS games.

[Reality's Fringe]

I think it's in the lower total units shipped. I hate it. I know that if I don't pick up the games at retail/near retail they'll just vanish (Phoenix Wright). I managed to snag Lost in Blue amd Advamce Wars at tRU for $20 each, and when I get my damn return I'll go back for Trace Memory because I'm sure that's another one that will just be gone and $50 on ebay.

[Roufuss]

I think a big part of it is that a lot of the games are first-party titles and you know how slow Nintendo is to drop prices.

Not true... I'm talking more on the lines of:

- Lunar: Dragon Song (this game absolutely bombed... yet its still $30 - $40?? Should be $20 by now)
- Trace Memory
- Battles of Prince of Persia ($40 for this? Give me a break)
- Nanostray (still plenty of copies at EB / GS, but still at $30?)
- Viewtiful Joe DS (another retail flop)

I'm sure others can add some more... no reason for most of these titles to still be fetching $30 - $40 (though smart CAG's got most of them alot cheaper, I'm talking general MSRP).

[WebScud]

I really don't think we'll ever see mass drops like we do for consoles. The worthwhile GBA games dont' seem to drop quickly either. (Is there any turth to the GBA Player's Choice titles?)

Once Sony decides to start doing The Best (Greatest Hits) in the US Nintendo will be pressured to do the same for the DS. I think Sony has to make the first move though. I can't see Nintendo needing a Player's Choice line since the DS is raping the PSP.

[Roufuss]

I really don't think we'll ever see mass drops like we do for consoles. The worthwhile GBA games dont' seem to drop quickly either. (Is there any turth to the GBA Player's Choice titles?)

Once Sony decides to start doing The Best (Greatest Hits) in the US Nintendo will be pressured to do the same for the DS. I think Sony has to make the first move though. I can't see Nintendo needing a Player's Choice line since the DS is raping the PSP.

Yea, but I don't mind paying top dollar for Nintendo or Sony's best... its when stuff like Lunar: Dragon Song NEVER drops in price that really gets to me. I know it's medicore, but if I can get it for $20 ($15 after GGC) I'm tempted to try it out.

[WebScud]

Yea, but I don't mind paying top dollar for Nintendo or Sony's best... its when stuff like Lunar: Dragon Song NEVER drops in price that really gets to me. I know it's medicore, but if I can get it for $20 ($15 after GGC) I'm tempted to try it out.

I know. But once Greatest Hits and Player's Choice lines make their apperance $19.99 suddenly becomes and acceptable price rather than the "budget" or "flop" that is usually associated with anyything sub-$40.

[Gameboy415]

I really don't think we'll ever see mass drops like we do for consoles. The worthwhile GBA games dont' seem to drop quickly either. (Is there any turth to the GBA Player's Choice titles?)

Once Sony decides to start doing The Best (Greatest Hits) in the US Nintendo will be pressured to do the same for the DS. I think Sony has to make the first move though. I can't see Nintendo needing a Player's Choice line since the DS is raping the PSP.

Nintendo actually just started a GH system for GBA games over here in Japan. Off the top of my head, the first batch of games includes:

Magical Vacation
Mother 1&2
Kingdom Hearts
and a handful more I can't think of.

Now if I could just find the original versions of Magical Vaction and Mother 1&2 at a GEO (big Used game store), I'll be a happy gaijin. :D

[zionoverfire]

Because there are few enough DS and PSP games out that enough people are willing to pay full price for even the crappy ones. Although a number of DS games have seen price drops are certain stores (Polarium, Nanostray).

[62t]

viewtiful joe and sonic rush drop from $39.99 to $29.99

here are some other reasons.
The profit from a portable game is a lot less than console games. Notice a store like TRU never have portable games with their B2G1 free.
The cost of making the actual cart is more than the cost of making a DVD. (At this point it proably cost more to print a UMD than a DVD)

[nikkai]

Like above stated.

All about profit margins. It's like people complaining about the cost of drugs.

Freakin, the drug stores barely make 3 bucks / script dispensed. And then there's the billions of dollars to resesarch a drug that eventually just ends up killing someone with its side effect... =P