[quote name='Stanger31']Actually, I was aiming at the other point - how games have ALWAYS been over priced and still are. They may not be as overpriced as they used to be, but they still are. And I was showing their historical greed at the cost of the consumer. $60 for Tommy Lasorda baseball on Sega Master System...
As for costs.... They are able to mass produce CD/DVD's MUCH cheaper than making a game cartridge.
So their programming costs weren't as high before, but their production of the actual product was more expensive. Now their programming costs are up and their production costs are down.
Games have been and are still overpriced. Many people are arguing that you get 80-120 hours of gameplay from a game - not the case with most games, that is very rare. 20-30 is more reasonable. Heck, I'd be ok if they based the price off of game play hours.
Why is Skyrim the same price as a game like Legendary when they are released? Please explain that to me... It's pure greed and they know they can sucker enough people in to buying it. I am very aware that we as consumers do it to ourselves too, buying things that aren't worth it reinforces the video game producers to charge higher prices for things.
I also agree video games are a better bang for your buck (entertainment wise) when compared to other forms of entertainment, but those other forms of entertainment are also overpriced. I don't play PC games, but they seem to have come down in price to a more reasonable level, based on what I've seen from Steam and other sites (let me know if I'm mistaken though).
Just a note for those of you arguing about what people make in the video game industry. I attended the Bioware Christmas party this year, there is a mixture of people making average $40,000 salaries and up into the 6 figures, there is a mixture, I'm sure the majority is in there somewhere. But also consider the benefits you get that aren't money (games, or in Bioware's case: EA points to spend on products).[/QUOTE]
The increased costs in development and marketing are not comparable to price of a disc vs a cartridge, IMO.
I would disagree with video games, or other forms of entertainment, being overpriced, generally speaking. If I go to watch a film in its theatrical release, I pay somewhere between $8-$16 (regular, IMAX and 3D considered). Let's say the average price is $12. A AAA video game costs $60 at release. $60/$12=5. The average movie is 2 hours long, 5x2=10. By this reasoning, a video game is adequately priced.
I understand that you think both video games and other entertainment mediums are also overpriced, but what price would you consider to be reasonable? With the price of development/production and marketing, I believe most forms of entertainment are reasonably priced. If you look at the massive successes, you may disagree, but most entertainment (especially movies and game) barely earn back the money spent on making them.
Additionally, entertainment is not crucial in life, so there is no reason for it to be "reasonably priced", it is a luxury, and really made for the rich who have to much money on their hands (which certainly doesn't describe most gamers, it certainly doesn't describe me). Remember the people who bought PS3s for $600?
Thank you for having real numbers on the salaries which devs make (which support my prior argument).
It's great that their EA gaming needs are taken care of by the company, but honestly I don't believe a couple hundred dollars in games makes up for all the negatives mentioned earlier (low salary, long hours, abusive bosses, etc.).
to the store.
60 bucks a pop, 40 some back after a week, and it ends there for you does it...sadly, for them it doesn't. Thanks for contributing to bringing about the impending digital age, by the way, that should be real swell until most people realize they're out their fickle conveniences.
