PS3 Games to cost $59.99+?

[dimsumx]

From 1up (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3151823), in the latest PSM, Kaz Hirai has this to say regarding the price of PS3 software:

Yet SCEA president Kaz Hirai isn't promising a $59.99 price tag for PS3 games this fall. In an interview with PSM, the Sony leader explained. "So, what I can say now is, I think it would be a bit of a stretch to think that we could suddenly turn around and say 'PS3 games now $99.99'. I don't think the consumers expect the software pricing to suddenly be double," he told the magazine. "So, if it becomes a bit higher than fifty-nine bucks don't ding me, but, again, as I said, I don't expect it to be a hundred bucks."

In other words, consumers should expect PS3 games to cost somewhere between $59.99 and $99.99. He doesn't expect them to be a hundred dollars, but it's only a "stretch" to expect it. Have we moved back to the cartridge ages here? Wasn't disc-based media supposed to make everything cheaper? I don't want to remember how much my parent's paid for several of Square's older SNES releases during Christmas.
I really need to pick up this issue of PSM...this along with saying Microsoft copies Sony (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14421) is just a treasure trove of Sony Quotes.

[bapenguin]

$69.99 for 3rd party $64.99 for 1st party. You heard it here first.

[Deathbane27]

Have we moved back to the cartridge ages here? Wasn't disc-based media supposed to make everything cheaper?

Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray. Stupid fucking Sony.

[Zechs01]

why is third party more expensive then first?

[Kamalot]

it would be a bit of a stretch to think that we could suddenly turn around and say 'PS3 games now $99.99'. I don't think the consumers expect the software pricing to suddenly be doubleBut it is totally okay to double the price of the console itself from the original PS2's launch price of $299?

Sony is off its rocker.

[AgtFox]

Seriously...is Sony trying to lose this round of gaming? $600 for a system and now probably $65+ for games? The Blu-Ray discs must take quite a long time to make at high expense or something to jack the price up that much. It can't just be development amount because Xbox 360 games are selling for $60 and that was hard to swallow.

[bapenguin]

why is third party more expensive then first?

Because Sony charges for the license. It's just like 3rd party games being 10 bucks more on the 360.

[Goronmon]

W....t....f....

[AgtFox]

why is third party more expensive then first?
They probably have to pay a Blu-Ray licensing fee to Sony along with 3rd party license fees, so that in addition to the development amount makes it more expensive for a 3rd party company to make a game versus internal Sony. Same thing goes for Xbox 360. Most Microsoft produced games (except Limited Editions and, evidently, Gears of War) go for $49.99 versus the $59.99 price of 3rd party games.

[Siraris]

I assume he means that 3rd party games might be more as Sony doesn't have control over these companies. If EA wanted to charge 79$ for a new Madden game, Sony has no control.

Why would you post that bapenguin? You know first party games won't be 64.99, why even start the rumor?

[Plays4Pants]

sony is more controlling than microsoft in terms of developing. If the price is more than 360 it's sony's fault. The developers get there 15-30 bucks a sale either way.

[benig]

This is a dark day.

[TheEpicOfTyler]

If this is true, I will not buy a PS3. Even for MGS4.

[bapenguin]

I assume he means that 3rd party games might be more as Sony doesn't have control over these companies. If EA wanted to charge 79$ for a new Madden game, Sony has no control.

Why would you post that bapenguin? You know first party games won't be 64.99, why even start the rumor?

No...I don't know that. And neither do you. It's perfectly plausible though as Blu-Ray media is more expensive media. It's my speculation and I'm allowed to post it in the forums.

[Siraris]

This is such a ridiculous article. He says that people assume its going to be $59, but if it ends up being $99, don't ding him. He never said it would be more than $59, he said it COULD, which means he doesn't have control. He could have said "Well people assume its going to be $59, but if it ends up being $69 don't ding me". He just picked a number and said it. Why interpret it that he's saying "Watch out people, here come $100 games".

I highly doubt that anyone is planning on pricing a game more than $59.99 unless its some sort of special edition game.

[Kelegacy]

$69.99 for 3rd party $64.99 for 1st party. You heard it here first.
No way. If for some reason I am wrong, and you are right, I hope Sony crashes and burns so hard the effect is felt for ten times ten generations of consoles.

I hate Microsoft and the people behind the $60 price tags of current games. I will hate Sony for an even bigger increase.

Hubris was the downfall of many an empire. Outrageous fucking pride. OUTRAGEOUS FUCKING PRIDE.

/meltdown

[Siraris]

No...I don't know that. And neither do you. It's perfectly plausible though as Blu-Ray media is more expensive media. It's my speculation and I'm allowed to post it in the forums.

Then don't say "$65, you heard it here first". You're a MOD on this forum so people will take you seriously, and you don't even say "I bet games will be $65" you just say flat out thats the price. If someone follows a link here from a site like Gametab, they'll see your post without knowing its your "opinion"

[Mozgus]

Hell, I don't know why you people found $59.99 to be acceptable in the first place.

[dimsumx]

This is such a ridiculous article. He says that people assume its going to be $59, but if it ends up being $99, don't ding him. He never said it would be more than $59, he said it COULD, which means he doesn't have control. He could have said "Well people assume its going to be $59, but if it ends up being $69 don't ding me". He just picked a number and said it. Why interpret it that he's saying "Watch out people, here come $100 games".

I highly doubt that anyone is planning on pricing a game more than $59.99 unless its some sort of special edition game.

Did you even read the quote? He says that consumers should NOT expect $100 games, but don't 'ding' him if it is over $59.

Meaning: Games will probably cost more than $59, but under $100.

[bapenguin]

Then don't say "$65, you heard it here first". You're a MOD on this forum so people will take you seriously, and you don't even say "I bet games will be $65" you just say flat out thats the price. If someone follows a link here from a site like Gametab, they'll see your post without knowing its your "opinion"

It's a long standing "joke" on the site. Regardless of what anyone says on ANY forums you should NEVER take that as fact. Unless it comes direct from the horses mouth in a press release/magazine article/news article it's simply speculation.

[Sl1pstream]

$69.99 for 3rd party $64.99 for 1st party. You heard it here first.

$65 is only 51 euro. We still pay 5-10 euro more than that for last-gen titles and 10-15 more for Xbox 360 titles.

[Syrinx]

Then don't say "$65, you heard it here first". You're a MOD on this forum so people will take you seriously, and you don't even say "I bet games will be $65" you just say flat out thats the price. If someone follows a link here from a site like Gametab, they'll see your post without knowing its your "opinion"

I would hope they are intelligent enough to understand it's his opinion. Because someone on an internet forum says "You heard it here first" that makes it gospel?

[Serapth]

No way. If for some reason I am wrong, and you are right, I hope Sony crashes and burns so hard the effect is felt for ten times ten generations of consoles.

I hate Microsoft and the people behind the $60 price tags of current games. I will hate Sony for an even bigger increase.

Hubris was the downfall of many an empire. Outrageous fucking pride. OUTRAGEOUS FUCKING PRIDE.

/meltdown


Sorry to be a shit, but didnt you basically say the same thing about the PS3 for 600$ before the price was official?

Im not condeming you on this, I thought the price was outrageous too. But after Sony pulled that little pricing trick, are you really going to be shocked if PS3 games are 69$? I for one wont.

[RMan]

It's perfectly plausible though as Blu-Ray media is more expensive media.
I would also expect that shipping on blu-ray will not be required, since the vast majority of games wouldn't need more than DVD, I don't see the upside of Sony forcing the standard and thus a higher price on licensees (In effect, they'd be saying 'if you're not doing one of the three biggest games of the year, go to our competitors').

[AgtFox]

I don't think anyone here has said the price will be $100. If it was they might as well pack up and leave the videogaming world because they won't sell diddly. However he does say in the article:

"So, if it becomes a bit higher than fifty-nine bucks don't ding me, but, again, as I said, I don't expect it to be a hundred bucks."

You can interpret that however you want, but I interpret it as there is a chance it will be more expensive than $60, but that it pretty much 100% won't be priced at $100. That leaves a huge gap of a range, but I don't think bapenguin's thoughts are too far off if they do go beyond the $60 price point that 3rd party Xbox 360 developers are selling stuff for.

The fact is that Blu-Ray as a medium of data is expensive to use and manufacture. It's a new format and therefore takes time to bring down the cost of manufacturing. DVDs were far more expensive than they are toda when they first came out if you wanted to buy a movie. Sony will automatically take their royalty fee for Blu-Ray as a medium from developers/publishers along with the 3rd party fee, so I don't see how those publishers would sell games at the same price, much like with the Xbox 360.

[bapenguin]

I would also expect that shipping on blu-ray will not be required, since the vast majority of games wouldn't need more than DVD, I don't see the upside of Sony forcing the standard and thus a higher price on licensees (In effect, they'd be saying 'if you're not doing one of the three biggest games of the year, go to our competitors').

Good point. The games don't HAVE to be on a blu-ray disc.

[tombofsoldier]

Its Ridge Racer! RIIIIDGE RAACER!

[Siraris]

I would hope they are intelligent enough to understand it's his opinion. Because someone on an internet forum says "You heard it here first" that makes it gospel?

Um, do you know how many people on the internet are NOT intelligent, let alone in real life. Hell, there's still people in the US who think the sun revolves around the earth.

When Kotaku reported that the PS3 was being downgraded again, I saw people making posts all over the place saying "OH GOD THE PS3 IS BEING DOWNGRADED!!!". Or the whole PS3 can't play used games thing.

It also is not stated as opinion, it is stated as fact. "I think that games will be $65." that is opinion.

[AgtFox]

Good point. The games don't HAVE to be on a blu-ray disc.
I would expect the type of thing like the early days of the PS2 when EA and some other places had most of their games on CD format instead of on DVD format (blue bottom vs. silver bottom, CD vs. DVD).

[The Continental]

Im not condeming you on this, I thought the price was outrageous too. But after Sony pulled that little pricing trick, are you really going to be shocked if PS3 games are 69$? I for one wont.

I just can't see this happening. Sony believed they truly were offering consumers a great deal on Blu Ray, seeing as how the stand alone players are in the $1000 range, thus they thought they were shoe horning their format into our homes at a price people would pay. Now with all of the post E3 backlash they are slowly coming to terms with the fact that they've fucked up right proper with the price.

If Sony somehow has the nerve to sell $69 games for their $600 machine, the PS3 will quickly go the way of the Neo-Geo or the 3DO.

[Goronmon]

Um, do you know how many people on the internet are NOT intelligent, let alone in real life. Hell, there's still people in the US who think the sun revolves around the earth.

When Kotaku reported that the PS3 was being downgraded again, I saw people making posts all over the place saying "OH GOD THE PS3 IS BEING DOWNGRADED!!!". Or the whole PS3 can't play used games thing.

It also is not stated as opinion, it is stated as fact. "I think that games will be $65." that is opinion.Quit complaining for the sake of complaining. Its not bap's job to make sure his message board posts are readable by the simple-minded, and its not your job to tell people whether than can post their opinions.

[Syrinx]

When Kotaku reported that the PS3 was being downgraded again, I saw people making posts all over the place saying "OH GOD THE PS3 IS BEING DOWNGRADED!!!". Or the whole PS3 can't play used games thing.

So you're comparing his comment to a story posted on a main page?

It also is not stated as opinion, it is stated as fact. "I think that games will be $65." that is opinion.

:rolleyes: So you just want to complain. Got it.. carry on.

[tombofsoldier]

Arent any of you listening? RIIDGE RAACER! Is obviously worth $69-$79, then there is Genji 2, who wouldn't want to pay up to $99 for massive damage?

[The Letter 3]

Then don't say "$65, you heard it here first". You're a MOD on this forum so people will take you seriously, and you don't even say "I bet games will be $65" you just say flat out thats the price. If someone follows a link here from a site like Gametab, they'll see your post without knowing its your "opinion"
Uh... what crawled up your butt? It's a long-time joke here to make random speculation about prices and specs. If someone does happen to come here from Gametab, maybe they will take his comment the wrong way, but so what? It won't be the end of the world. We're a community here at EvAv. Spend some more time here and you'll begin to learn about the people who post here regularly and the way we all interact with each other. :)

[CaptStu]

Arent any of you listening? RIIDGE RAACER! Is obviously worth $69-$79, then there is Genji 2, who wouldn't want to pay up to $99 for massive damage?
You gotta be fuckin' kidding me. This whole Ridge Racer thing, with the all caps and multiple single letters, has to be some kind of a joke I'm not understanding. The PS3 and all it has to offer or not offer isn't worth the price of attention.

[Syrinx]

You gotta be fuckin' kidding me. This whole Ridge Racer thing, with the all caps and multiple single letters, has to be some kind of a joke I'm not understanding. The PS3 and all it has to offer or not offer isn't worth the price of attention.

Check out the Sony E3 conference and it will all make sense :)

[Goronmon]

Arent any of you listening? RIIDGE RAACER! Is obviously worth $69-$79, then there is Genji 2, who wouldn't want to pay up to $99 for massive damage?Snakes on a Plane would definately be worth $99.

[King Chaos]

Its Ridge Racer! RIIIIDGE RAACER!

HAHAHAHA... it cracks me up every time :D

[Kelegacy]

Sorry to be a shit, but didnt you basically say the same thing about the PS3 for 600$ before the price was official?

Im not condeming you on this, I thought the price was outrageous too. But after Sony pulled that little pricing trick, are you really going to be shocked if PS3 games are 69$? I for one wont.
EXACTLY! I did say that. I said, "No way will it be more than 399-450." I was wrong. A 500 or 600 dollar machine will NOT get a purchase from me, as it was hard enough to decide on a 360. $70 games will be the guano on the cake, so to speak.

If it turns out that way, Sony just lost a really big Playstation fan, and they deserve to be manhandled. I won't even contemplate a purchase. Microsoft began the next-gen gloom for me, so if Sony ups to tempo I'm in dire need of a new hobby. I'll buy a Wii and that's fucking it. Back to reading, writing, and doing other stuff non-gaming related.

[CaptStu]

Check out the Sony E3 conference and it will all make sense :)
Oops. That's where I went wrong. I ignored the conference. It's one of those stupid Sony things. Gotcha, and thanks.

[Achilles]

Wow. Well at least we know for sure the games won’t cost $100+ each. Should be good news to all those gamers who’s last system was a Neo Geo.

[Kamalot]

Good point. The games don't HAVE to be on a blu-ray disc.
Well, Sony said all PS3 games will have to be on Bluray to protect against piracy.

[Kelegacy]

Good point. The games don't HAVE to be on a blu-ray disc.
Actually they DO have to be. That's the Sony standard already stated, both in the keynote and elsewhere. ALL games will be on BR, needless of the size of the game.

EDIT: Kamalot beat me by a minute.

[Returner]

That is Asstastic.

[NonSoft]

In typical EA fashion every negative PS3 article is taken as the absolute truth while any article written in a positive light (of which few and far between are posted here) is met with heavy skepticism.

Anyhow, while some people flipped out over the cost of the PS3 I didn't think it was that big of a deal. Yes, it is expensive, but the competition isn't exactly cheap either. I would rather have a console that I think will turn out the best games as opposed to whichever one is the cheapest. That isn't to say that the PS3 will have the best games, but I atleast kept it open as an option. However, if the average PS3 game does cost over $59 (which is already a bit tough to swallow) I will have a very hard time justifying a PS3 purchase regardless of how good the games are.

If the article does turn out to be true, I hope that all the games released for PS3 are completely terrible. Not out of spite, but just so I don't feel at all compelled to purchase one.

[divinechaos]

Ha. Every generation meets the end of a gaming system. Dreamcast, Genesis, Neo Geo, and the Next-Gen loser? PlayStation 3. You heard it here first.

[Kamalot]

You know what I just realized?

All those 360 ports will b e more expensive than the 360 versions.

Full Auto
Ridge Racer
Fight Night

Wheeeeee!

[Kamalot]

Actually they DO have to be. That's the Sony standard already stated, both in the keynote and elsewhere. ALL games will be on BR, needless of the size of the game.

EDIT: Kamalot beat me by a minute.
And I wanted to beat you with a wet noodle! ;-)

Great minds think alike!

[NonSoft]

Ha. Every generation meets the end of a gaming system. Dreamcast, Genesis, Neo Geo, and the Next-Gen loser? PlayStation 3. You heard it here first.

The Genesis wasn't a failure. I'm pretty sure it's sales were comparable to those of the SNES. The only failures even related to the Genesis were the complete abortion add-ons they made for it.


You know what I just realized?

All those 360 ports will b e more expensive than the 360 versions.

Full Auto
Ridge Racer
Fight Night

Wheeeeee!

Can't put anything by you. :rolleyes:

[Goronmon]

In typical EA fashion every negative PS3 article is taken as the absolute truth while any article written in a positive light (of which few and far between are posted here) is met with heavy skepticism.Well, in this case, its not like someone posted a rumor that they heard from a random source. This is Sony basically saying "Don't expect all the games to cost under $60."

[The Letter 3]

The Genesis wasn't a failure. I'm pretty sure it's sales were comparable to those of the SNES. The only failures even related to the Genesis were the complete abortion add-ons they made for it.
Hmm... the add-ons basically turned the Genesis into a PS3 in its own day, technology and price wise.

[Achilles]

In typical EA fashion every negative PS3 article is taken as the absolute truth while any article written in a positive light (of which few and far between are posted here) is met with heavy skepticism.Why do you think Kaz would lie about his games being priced higher than $59 but lower than $99? It's not going to help Sony any.

[NonSoft]

Hmm... the add-ons basically turned the Genesis into a PS3 in its own day, technology and price wise.

Yeah... something like that anyway...



Why do you think Kaz would lie about his games being priced higher than $59 but lower than $99? It's not going to help Sony any.

Who knows, it won't help them whether it is true or not.

It's Sony, who knows what the hell they are thinking, or whether they are thinking at all. I think they improvise all of their interviews and press conferences.

[The Letter 3]

In typical EA fashion every negative PS3 article is taken as the absolute truth while any article written in a positive light (of which few and far between are posted here) is met with heavy skepticism.

I would rather have a console that I think will turn out the best games as opposed to whichever one is the cheapest. That isn't to say that the PS3 will have the best games, but I atleast kept it open as an option.
This may be a negative article, but it comes from reliable sources and straight from the horse's mouth (or, increasingly, the jackass' mouth). Perhaps a poor choice of words were used to talk about PS3 game pricing.

No one (intelligent) is saying the PS3 won't necessarily turn out the best games, but so far there is little evidence of that. MGS4 has me and many other people excited, but aside from that

...

*Shrug*

[RMan]

Actually they DO have to be. That's the Sony standard already stated, both in the keynote and elsewhere. ALL games will be on BR, needless of the size of the game.
Well, if that's true, then Sony will have to eat whatever costs BR has over DVD. If they were charging considerably more than their competitors for a benefit the publisher/developer can't use, then they will move to the competition. Sony's pretty egotistical, but I doubt they've crossed that line, they're just not going to send developers packing like that. Ultimately the physical reproduction costs are never that high (I doubt they’ll be significantly higher than DVD, especially if compared to DVD at it’s inception), and Sony is in complete control of licensing fees, I think what was suggested in the article is that publishers will take advantage of the higher system price and will raise game prices because they feel they can (not wise to bash your publishers/developers this way, so he’s not going to say that outright even if it’s true). In short, Sony’s game publishers will rail early adopters in the same way that Sony is with the system price.

[EternalGamer]

This is very bad news. There is no way Kaz would even hint at the possibility of games being over $59 if he wasn't pretty sure there would be some. That's bad PR and you want to avoid negative press anytime it is possible. This is preparing people for pricing over the $59, no doubt about it in my mind. How much over is anybody's guess. But it's horrendous news regardless.

[MSUStud911]

It's almost like Sony is trying to lose.

[NonSoft]

This is very bad news. There is no way Kaz would even hint at the possibility of games being over $59 if he wasn't pretty sure there would be some. That's bad PR and you want to avoid negative press anytime it is possible. This is preparing people for pricing over the $59, no doubt about it in my mind. How much over is anybody's guess. But it's horrendous news regardless.

That was my initial impression, but there is still something that doesn't make sense.
If you have to announce something as negative as that, you typically wait until the terms are finalized. Even if you are almost positive there is going to be an increase in price, you should wait until you know exactly what the increase will be.
Announcing that there "might" be an increase that would bring a game's total price to "between $59 and $99" is completely foolish. Wait until you know without a doubt there will be an increase, and know what that increase will be. Otherwise you just invite speculation about how bad the increase will be, potentially making a bad situation even worse.

For a company as large and successful as Sony I'm surprised that they have been nothing but a PR nightmare will almost all PS3 announcements.

[Snowmit]

I would hope they are intelligent enough to understand it's his opinion. Because someone on an internet forum says "You heard it here first" that makes it gospel?

...but ...but ...he's the PENGUIN IN CHIEF

[dimsumx]

I think the price difference you see between movie dvds discs and HDDVD/BR discs is a good indication of how much extra you would pay for PS3 games over Xbox360 games...which is approximately anywhere from $5 (on release day sales) to $15.

I'm not too disappointed MS didn't go with a higher capacity format now...As long as it stays under 3 dvds per game, I'm happy.

[dimsumx]

That was my initial impression, but there is still something that doesn't make sense.
If you have to announce something as negative as that, you typically wait until the terms are finalized. Even if you are almost positive there is going to be an increase in price, you should wait until you know exactly what the increase will be.
Announcing that there "might" be an increase that would bring a game's total price to "between $59 and $99" is completely foolish. Wait until you know without a doubt there will be an increase, and know what that increase will be. Otherwise you just invite speculation about how bad the increase will be, potentially making a bad situation even worse.

For a company as large and successful as Sony I'm surprised that they have been nothing but a PR nightmare will almost all PS3 announcements.


This is a case of Sony copying Nintendo. No really, follow me on this. Same reason/concept why Nintendo announced that the name of the console was 'Wii'. To take away the sticker-shock when they bring it out to store ads....much like how E3 was about the Nintendo games, not the name.

[Serapth]

I think the price difference you see between movie dvds discs and HDDVD/BR discs is a good indication of how much extra you would pay for PS3 games over Xbox360 games...which is approximately anywhere from $5 (on release day sales) to $15.

I'm not too disappointed MS didn't go with a higher capacity format now...As long as it stays under 3 dvds per game, I'm happy.


Well, part of the price difference is. Every time movies get put onto a new format, they stick a little extra cost in there above and beyond the new format cost. Thats part of the reason Sony is so gungho about getting bluray to suceed. Then they get to resell you all you shit on a new format with better profit margins.

[Wyrm]

Then don't say "$65, you heard it here first". You're a MOD on this forum so people will take you seriously, and you don't even say "I bet games will be $65" you just say flat out thats the price. If someone follows a link here from a site like Gametab, they'll see your post without knowing its your "opinion"

Dont be a moron. It's a prediction. That's all it is. Almost everyone here makes them all the time and people dont look at them and say "ZOMG! That's the truth becuz m0ds sez soz!". Have some common sense here.

[NonSoft]

This is a case of Sony copying Nintendo. No really, follow me on this. Same reason why Nintendo announced that the name of the console was 'Wii'. To take away the sticker-shock when they bring it out to store ads.

Sort of, only a name change isn't nearly a big a deal as increasing the cost of games (potentially by a significant amount). In addition to that Nintendo announced that they were definitely changing the console's name, they didn't tell anyone not to "ding them" if they did happen to change the name of the console prior to release.

[Kamalot]

This is a case of Sony copying Nintendo. No really, follow me on this. Same reason/concept why Nintendo announced that the name of the console was 'Wii'. To take away the sticker-shock when they bring it out to store ads....much like how E3 was about the Nintendo games, not the name.
Hmm. Nice theory.

The difference is that with Wii, I don't have to pay more. With the PS3 pgame price announcement, They are asking me to get ready to spend more money.

One means I have a console with a silly name.

The other means I can buy fewer games.

There's a bit of a difference, don'tcha think?

[SexualChoc]

Sony, do you want my fucking wallet? I'll give you it and call it that okay? My bank account now? Well here's the PIN.... My soul? Sheesh, that's a bit of a stretch....

[bapenguin]

What really sucks about all this is I know I'll buy it. I'm such a friggin gadget electronics whore it doesn't matter. As much as I talk down to and make fun of the PS3 right now as soon as I see the glossy black on the shelf with Heavenly Sword right there and a Playstation logo in the spiderman font I'll be dropping 600 beans. Then I'll bend over and take it like a prison boy as I buy each 70 dollar title.

But it's cool...at least I get free online.

[Kelegacy]

And I wanted to beat you with a wet noodle! ;-)

Great minds think alike!
As much as I attack you for being a troll, I am always astounded how nice you are to me. What ails you!? :confused:

[atariv8]

This has got to be a ploy to soften Microsoft. The plan must be to say a ton of stupid crap, over price everything and show substandard games then, BAM, in November release the PS3 for $250 with games for $49 and reveal a ton of games that were kept under wraps. Microsoft is hit square in the nose...right...right? Sony can't be that dumb, can they? CAN THEY!?!

You heard it here first.

[Zurik]

Ack, and I thought PC gaming was an expensive hobby. We'll this generation will be a great way to learn patience for price drops. Of course if they think they can make the same quality of games they used to at this price and still get decent sales, they're shooting themselves in the foot.

[Doctor Setebos]

What really sucks about all this is I know I'll buy it. I'm such a friggin gadget electronics whore it doesn't matter. As much as I talk down to and make fun of the PS3 right now as soon as I see the glossy black on the shelf with Heavenly Sword right there and a Playstation logo in the spiderman font I'll be dropping 600 beans. Then I'll bend over and take it like a prison boy as I buy each 70 dollar title.

But it's cool...at least I get free online.It's the Spider-man font that does it for me. That really says class. :D

[gspot]

I haven't posted one thing on any thread involving the console war because I have had nothing to say that others haven't. Sony is having trouble launching a console without beating itself with a hammer, the 360 is the most solid console out there right now (it's the only console really attempting to stick to basics, so those who don't want change want the 360, period.) and the Wii is doing something different and everyone wants to see what it can do, especially considering 3rd party titles. Basic stuff.
But what I want to know is why isn't *** dropping the price when the PS3 launches? Nintendo is making it so people don't have to pay buku bucks to try a new innovation, and since people have the choice between PS3 and 360 for vanilla console gaming, *** would wipe the floor with everyone and take the whole shabang easy with a $100 price drop before christmas. I don't quite understand the marketing strategy there. Common sense would say launch 360 a year early, then low ball the other consoles on their launch. But they aren't. Is it just typical *** stupidity/greed, or are their other forces at work here?

BTW The Wii is for me, Nintendo has the best track record for not fucking over consumers and there looks to be much better third party support than the GC. I'll catch a 360 on the 2nd price drop.

[Goronmon]

Maybe they are letting the rumor mill churn now, so that when the games come out and cost $65 people will be like "Hey, its better than $99!"

Hey, I did say maybe...

[SuperMonkeyFighter2]

Its Ridge Racer! RIIIIDGE RAACER!

That, for me, is the best post I've read all day :)

[CaptStu]

Why would MS announce a price cut now? What does it do for them? Nothing.

[dimsumx]

The plan must be to say a ton of stupid crap, over price everything and show substandard games then, BAM, in November release the PS3 for $250 with games for $49 and reveal a ton of games that were kept under wraps. Microsoft is hit square in the nose...right...right? Sony can't be that dumb, can they? CAN THEY!?!


Do you really want an answer to that? :D

[EternalGamer]

What really sucks about all this is I know I'll buy it. I'm such a friggin gadget electronics whore it doesn't matter. As much as I talk down to and make fun of the PS3 right now as soon as I see the glossy black on the shelf with Heavenly Sword right there and a Playstation logo in the spiderman font I'll be dropping 600 beans. Then I'll bend over and take it like a prison boy as I buy each 70 dollar title.

But it's cool...at least I get free online.


I'm pretty sure if, as things work out as planned and I have a stable teaching job in November, I wll be doing the same. Videogames are the one area where my consumerism tends to run wild. I am wearing the same pair of Sketchers I bought nearly five years ago (though they are beginning to look a little rough). I buy my clothes post-season clearance for the next year (which means $2.00 shirts and shorts and $5 Dockers). And I have never owned a car newer than four years old. But I'll be damned if I wasn't in line for a $400 Saturn on day of release. The very fact that I am still even considering a PS3 on launch after all the ridiculious information Sony has thrown at me should be proof of my insanity. But regardless, I'll probably we walking home with one on Nov. 17th.

And I don't even have broadband, so I don't even get the benefit of free online play.

[Montolio]

What really sucks about all this is I know I'll buy it. I'm such a friggin gadget electronics whore it doesn't matter. As much as I talk down to and make fun of the PS3 right now as soon as I see the glossy black on the shelf with Heavenly Sword right there and a Playstation logo in the spiderman font I'll be dropping 600 beans. Then I'll bend over and take it like a prison boy as I buy each 70 dollar title.

But it's cool...at least I get free online.Really?

So what would be your line in the sand?

I'm lucky. As much as I want to own everything for those exact same reasons, I'm limited by a budget and time. I've had to make a choice each generation and this one is 360 all the way. Who knows, as time goes by and prices change, maybe I'll be able to swing it. I'm already pushing my gaming time to the limits ... I usually don't get to bed until at least 1:30 AM each night now! With my job and family, I normally can't get started until after 8 PM. I can't even imagine what it'll be like when there are what I think of as AAA titles available for me to enjoy.

As usual, I'll live through all you people and the single friends I have that can do those things :)

[Heretic Machine]

I won't pay any more than $60 for a game that doesn't include something special. By this I mean, Guitar Hero-special, or Steel Battalion-special. So this pretty much confirms that I won't be buying a PS3 no matter how cheap the console gets: I'm just not going to buy a console when to buy a new game I'd have to go over my price limit.

[Kamalot]

As much as I attack you for being a troll, I am always astounded how nice you are to me. What ails you!? :confused:
I'm actually a nice person. We are a rare breed on the Internet. :D

You heard it here first!

[Montolio]

And I don't even have broadband, so I don't even get the benefit of free online play.Jesus. I couldn't live. Well, I could but I wouldn't enjoy it as much. You're a rare breed these days. That shit is like a basic food group to me now.

[agentgray]

What really sucks about all this is I know I'll buy it. I'm such a friggin gadget electronics whore it doesn't matter. As much as I talk down to and make fun of the PS3 right now as soon as I see the glossy black on the shelf with Heavenly Sword right there and a Playstation logo in the spiderman font I'll be dropping 600 beans. Then I'll bend over and take it like a prison boy as I buy each 70 dollar title.

But it's cool...at least I get free online.
...and that's why they can charge these prices. We've become such a society founded on popularity, fads, and materialism. Always have to have the latest and greatest and any expense. We've all been suckered...well, not really. I'd like to assume we're all educated enough to know better.

"Look at me I got a PS3...!"

We've all been guilty of it. When are we ever going to wise up and realy vote with our dollars? However, it seems to most PS3 early adopters that $600 and $70+ games are the new penny.

I for one have responsibilities, a good paying job, no DEBT, and I don't intend to die with debt. Money can always go towards better things.

[Kamalot]

What really sucks about all this is I know I'll buy it. I'm such a friggin gadget electronics whore it doesn't matter. As much as I talk down to and make fun of the PS3 right now as soon as I see the glossy black on the shelf with Heavenly Sword right there and a Playstation logo in the spiderman font I'll be dropping 600 beans. Then I'll bend over and take it like a prison boy as I buy each 70 dollar title.

But it's cool...at least I get free online.I am a total gadget whore, but I have a brain installed between my wallet and the real world. It has saved me from buying a LOT of useless/dead-end gadgets.

I still burn with desire for a Tapwave Zodiac, but my brain tells me it was a great decision to sit that one out.

[gspot]

Why would MS announce a price cut now? What does it do for them? Nothing.
Not to be rude, but do you care to expain, or just tell me that a price drop doesn't do anything and I'll believe you because CaptStu is my personal Jesus Christ?

Seriously, why doesn't it do anything for them? A lot of gamers pissed off because best buy was promised 25 full PS3's and got 2 core systems and a 3rd thats like put together with glue stick and packing tape can buy a brand new full version 360 for a $100 less. They already came with $600 to blow, whats $300 for a better system with more games? Plus it takes some focus away form PS3. Wouldn't that just devastate Sony?
The way I see it, it sells more consoles (a lot more considering christmas), hurts the competetion, and people have a better attitude about *** because of a generous price drop so early. What does it not do?

[phantomhitman]

my hate for sony has increased so much its in the negative now.
let me know if makes sense to, cause i canot figure that out either.

i cannot afford a ps3, but even if i could there is nothing announced that i want. not even the hardcore racer in me (that forced me to buy ps1 and ps2) is not even budging for this one.

[dimsumx]

I am a total gadget whore, but I have a brain installed between my wallet and the real world. It has saved me from buying a LOT of useless/dead-end gadgets.

I still burn with desire for a Tapwave Zodiac, but my brain tells me it was a great decision to sit that one out.

I'm not as strong as you, Kamalot. I just switched mobile phone services and ended up getting the T-Mobile MDA as a new phone. :(

[Goronmon]

Not to be rude, but do you care to expain, or just tell me that a price drop doesn't do anything and I'll believe you because CaptStu is my personal Jesus Christ?He means what good does it do for them to announce the price drop now. Unless they are going to drop the price today, it can only hurt them to announce if they will later.

[geckokidd]

Unless it comes direct from the horses mouth in a press release/magazine article/news article it's simply speculation.

Amen. I wish more people that read this site understood that.

[EternalGamer]

...and that's why they can charge these prices. We've become such a society founded on popularity, fads, and materialism. Always have to have the latest and greatest and any expense. We've all been suckered...well, not really. I'd like to assume we're all educated enough to know better.

"Look at me I got a PS3...!"

We've all been guilty of it. When are we ever going to wise up and realy vote with our dollars? However, it seems to most PS3 early adopters that $600 and $70+ games are the new penny.

I for one have responsibilities, a good paying job, no DEBT, and I don't intend to die with debt. Money can always go towards better things.


I don't think the "fad" compairison is necessarily fair when talking about hobbyist. Certainly there will be a lot of people bragging about their new PS3 and it becomes just the latest piece of bling, but people like baps and myself are not buying the system to gain some type of lame social status. If anything, we are completely embarrased by our consumer whoredom.

But the bottomline is, we will buy it because we are pretty damn certain the PS3 will have good videogames and we like good videogames. Regardless of how well the PS3 may or may not do in competition with MS, it's pretty certain it is not going to be a dead platform, the odds are completely against it being a total flop. There will be quality software on the platform and probably a lot of it. We know this. So we are not just talking about something like the Gizmondo that is all about tech and nothing about game.

Yes, to an extent it is definitely still a consumeristic appeal. It is the fruit in the other guys orchard which looks luscious compaired to what you currently have access to simply because it is on the other side of the fence and therefore currently unattainable. But even if it can't hold up to the visions of granduer the allure of "the new" ellicits, it's pretty damn good fruit regardless and that's worth something. Maybe not worth $600 to most, but worth it to those of use that want to explore and taste every possible variation of fruit available including the subtle differences between the grapes grown on the west side and the east side of the vineyard, yes. Sadly consumerism seems to be the only venue left for us Magellans of the modern world...

[CaptStu]

Not to be rude, but do you care to expain, or just tell me that a price drop doesn't do anything and I'll believe you because CaptStu is my personal Jesus Christ?
Great. I like to be worshipped. Would you like wine with your bread? Maybe some fish too?

Microsoft doesn't need to do anything with the 360's price or even announce a price drop until they're ready to do just that ... drop the price. Announcing it today does nothing but convice those wanting a 360 to wait until the console is cheaper. Simple as that.

[Citizen Philip]

Let me know when I can walk into an EB and see the price of a PS3 Game. Until then, enjoy the rumours.

Remeber folks!

audacter calumnaire semper aliquid haeret

"slander boldly, something always sticks"

Adieu

[agentgray]

I don't think the "fad" compairison is necessarily fair when talking about hobbyist. Certainly there will be a lot of people bragging about their new PS3 and it becomes just the latest piece of bling, but people like baps and myself are not buying the system to gain some type of lame social status. If anything, we are completely embarrased by our consumer whoredom.

But the bottomline is, we will buy it because we are pretty damn certain the PS3 will have good videogames and we like good videogames. Regardless of how well the PS3 may or may not do in competition with MS, it's pretty certain it is not going to be a dead platform, the odds are completely against it being a total flop. There will be quality software on the platform and probably a lot of it. We know this. So we are not just talking about something like the Gizmondo that is all about tech and nothing about game.

Yes, to an extent it is definitely still a consumeristic appeal. It is the fruit in the other guys orchard which looks luscious compaired to what you currently have access to simply because it is on the other side of the fence and therefore currently unattainable. But even if it can't hold up to the visions of granduer the allure of "the new" ellicits, it's pretty damn good fruit regardless and that's worth something.

Ok, if you know it's going to have good games, then why not wait until there are and possibly get them and the console cheaper? IMO, your wasting your money. Notice, that's my opinion. Some people, such as yourself have that expendable income. I choose to spend mine on ale and whores.

Just for the record, I did the same thing with the 360 and I'm learning/learned from it.

[benig]

I am also of the opinion that mods here should show some professionalism compared to regular posters.

[bapenguin]

Really?

So what would be your line in the sand?


I really don't know honestly. I've been better lately. But when I get my mind set on some gadget or device it takes a while for that want to really fade. And 9 times out of 10 I end up obtaining it someway or another. (See the DS Lite and Creative Zen Vision: M, both which I got in the last month).

It's not about saying, "I have this" or whatever. It's not about trying to be cool. I just get pleasure by purchasing these devices and using them. It's what makes me happy.

[agentgray]

It's what makes me happy.
To each his own. I probably spend that ($600 a year) in books.

[Kelegacy]

I suddenly feel weird. I think I switched sides suddenly. As much as I think the Wii60 saying is stupid and the people who bark it are morons, that reality is starting to look more like the one I'm being drawn into.

I hope Samsung or some other company tries to challenge MS in 5 or 6 years.

[Kelegacy]

I just get pleasure by purchasing these devices and using them. It's what makes me happy.

We need to sit down and have a serious talk.

!!!INTERVENTION TIME!!!

[Goronmon]

I am also of the opinion that mods here should show some professionalism compared to regular posters.Why?

Fuck you minimum character requirement.

[miah]

Wow. Well at least we know for sure the games won’t cost $100+ each. Should be good news to all those gamers who’s last system was a Neo Geo.

Heh, whats funny is NeoGeo games *still* run for $100+. Sadly, I only have a NeoGeo CD, all the cool stuff is on the AES.

[Kamalot]

I suddenly feel weird. I think I switched sides suddenly. As much as I think the Wii60 saying is stupid and the people who bark it are morons, that reality is starting to look more like the one I'm being drawn into.

I hope Samsung or some other company tries to challenge MS in 5 or 6 years.
You know, I've never thought of Samsung as a console maker before, but why not? Over the last 10 years they have really turned around their consumer electronics into something special. I'm sure they could give the console biz a good run. Their PR probably won't be as exciting as Sony's but it also won't be as terrible either. :D

[fitbabits]

It's my speculation and I'm allowed to post it in the forums.
But only if it doesn't put Sony in a negative light, though. You know the rules. :rolleyes:

[Montolio]

I really don't know honestly. I've been better lately. But when I get my mind set on some gadget or device it takes a while for that want to really fade. And 9 times out of 10 I end up obtaining it someway or another. (See the DS Lite and Creative Zen Vision: M, both which I got in the last month).

It's not about saying, "I have this" or whatever. It's not about trying to be cool. I just get pleasure by purchasing these devices and using them. It's what makes me happy.Fair enough for sure. I'm an envious SOB.

[Syrinx]

I am also of the opinion that mods here should show some professionalism compared to regular posters.

The only thing I've seen in this thread is a mod saying he believes the games will be $60 and $65. How is that unprofessional?

[CaptStu]

You know, I've never thought of Samsung as a console maker before, but why not? Over the last 10 years they have really turned around their consumer electronics into something special. I'm sure they could give the console biz a good run. Their PR probably won't be as exciting as Sony's but it also won't be as terrible either. :D
I actually see MS getting out of the console business by their own admission. They'll license the OS, technology, services, etc. or whatever to true electrocics companies. Why do they want the financial burden of console creation and production? It generally tends to be a money-loser ... I think.

[Kamalot]

I suddenly feel weird. I think I switched sides suddenly. As much as I think the Wii60 saying is stupid and the people who bark it are morons, that reality is starting to look more like the one I'm being drawn into.Hey, I'm proud of you. Not for switching sides, but for admitting it to yourself.

You remind me of Johannes Kepler
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/history/kepler.html
...after a long struggle, in which he tried mightily to avoid his eventual conclusion, Kepler was forced finally to the realization that the orbits of the planets were not the circles demanded by Aristotle and assumed implicitly by Copernicus, but were instead the "flattened circles" that geometers call ellipses

It was devastating to a man of faith since it basically proved that the universe was not a giant clock made by the hand of an allmighty clockmaker. Rather than uphold this silly doctrine, he threw out his faith of the universe's clockwork design and followed the facts before his eyes. It was a great day for science and rational thought.

[Goronmon]

The only thing I've seen in this thread is a mod saying he believes the games will be $60 and $65. How is that unprofessional?Having opinions is unprofessional. Duh!

[Montolio]

I actually see MS getting out of the console business by their own admission. They'll license the OS, technology, services, etc. or whatever to true electrocics companies. Why do they want the financial burden of console creation and production? It generally tends to be a money-loser ... I think.I hope not. Look what everyone is getting WITH Sony being checked. Can you imagine?!

[Salesmunn]

I wonder how much some of these games will cost after all the $15 map packs too. Geez.

[EternalGamer]

Ok, if you know it's going to have good games, then why not wait until there are and possibly get them and the console cheaper? IMO, your wasting your money. Notice, that's my opinion. Some people, such as yourself have that expendable income. I choose to spend mine on ale and whores.

Just for the record, I did the same thing with the 360 and I'm learning/learned from it.

I certainly don't think I have more expendable income than most. I am just extremely uninterested in other things that cost money--all my other hobbies are ones that don't involve cash expenditure (books are really cheap and so is watching films if you have a Netflix subscription). When I go to visit friends back in St. Louis I am amazed at how much they blow when we got out to to bars or to eat. They easily drop $50 a night. I very very rarely do that and I"m not generally into the bar scene.

And I think the idea that the early adopter gets less value out of their purchases is somewhat of a fallacy. Yeah, I bitch about the 360's lack of software titles but what I am really bitching about is a lack of the type of games I am interested in playing. We can generally expect to wait at least a year for system price drops and even then it is rarely over $50. So, I get to use the system for an extra year in its lifespan for only $50? In the end, I'd say early adopters come out way ahead (with the big assumption that their system doesn't break). If I spend $400 on a 360 and get 5 years of play out of it before a new system comes out, I'm getting a lot more value than someone that waits till it's $99 and gets it at the end of the console generation. Of course this is only true as long as consoles are "throw away" technologically based entertainment that are only as good as the latest release. And I bitch about this being the case, but currently, the industry is infact geared towards this end and as long as it is, the early adopters always end up with the better bargain.

[Syrinx]

Having opinions is unprofessional. Duh!

Damn! My bad... move along.. nothing to see here.

[CaptStu]

I hope not. Look what everyone is getting WITH Sony being checked. Can you imagine?!
Why wouldn't they?

[Kelegacy]

Hey, I'm proud of you. Not for switching sides, but for admitting it to yourself.

You remind me of Johannes Kepler
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/history/kepler.html


It was devastating to a man of faith since it basically proved that the universe was not a giant clock made by the hand of an allmighty clockmaker. Rather than uphold this silly doctrine, he threw out his faith of the universe's clockwork design and followed the facts before his eyes. It was a great day for science and rational thought.
Let me say this: If Microsoft can secure more Japanese developers and make the 360 as fun and diverse a platform as the PS2 is, I'll be happy to embrace them as my keepers. More "feeling" games like SotC and ICO are examples, but I suppose games like Katamari are included as well. I don't necessarily mean JRPGs, because that genre is starting to show serious over-salinity, but more games besides the Xbox-norm action titles would really rub my chubbah into a firm flagpole happily bearing the green standard.

[phantomhitman]

are you going to let that guy call you an asshole bap?!

[fitbabits]

are you going to let that guy call you an asshole bap?!
Which guy? Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, gets to call bap an asshole without hearing from me. :mad: :rolleyes:

[Kamalot]

Let me say this: If Microsoft can secure more Japanese developers and make the 360 as fun and diverse a platform as the PS2 is, I'll be happy to embrace them as my keepers. More "feeling" games like SotC and ICO are examples, but I suppose games like Katamari are included as well. I don't necessarily mean JRPGs, because that genre is starting to show serious over-salinity, but more games besides just western actiony titles would really rub my chubbah into a firm flagpole happily bearing the green standard.
I love the Japanese-feeling games. Dreamcast had a lot of fun, arcadey Japanese titles if I remember corectly. I'd expect Wii to deliver on the different/wacky titles this generation with having an innovative control scheme and an inexpensive dev environment.

What about that Chopin game from Japan. Japanese feel yet moody. Sound good? Bullet Witch also has an atmospheric look about it, although I don't know much about the game.

There is hope that we find more of the games you are looking for. Personally, I loved Eternal Darkness for the Cube. It oozed atmosphere and the writing was truly top-notch. Characters were believable as well. Skies of Arcadia made me cry, nay, weep at the end. Also, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time is totally a heartwhenching tale of love and loss. It fits into my top 5 titles ever.

[Siraris]

Having opinions is unprofessional. Duh!

So isn't thinking the mod is being unprofessional, just an opinion?

[phantomhitman]

Which guy?

deeezzzz nuuutzzzzz bitch.
awe that was great, havent done that since the days of middle school.
(insert comment about how that was last year)

[dimsumx]

I wonder how much some of these games will cost after all the $15 map packs too. Geez.

Very true, $15 on top of $65-$99 games, what is Sony thinking?

What, you expected that the GRAW pack on the other system as something you won't see happening on the PS3?

[Montolio]

Why wouldn't they?How could I answer that question? I can't. As long as I have choices when it comes to this hobby I'll stay happy.

[dimsumx]

So isn't thinking the mod is being unprofessional, just an opinion?

It's an opinion, but mistaking what a mod says for fact and then telling him he's wrong for making an opinion is just dumb.

[CaptStu]

How could I answer that question? I can't. As long as I have choices when it comes to this hobby I'll stay happy.
True, true. From a consumer's outlook, I agree with you. From a corporate view, I see more money and less hassle with licensing the stuff.

[Goronmon]

So isn't thinking the mod is being unprofessional, just an opinion?Nope

dfghdfhdfg

[Johan]

I just want to thank all of the early adopters/purchasers out there for subsidizing the technology which I buy so cheaply much later on...I don't mind being late to a party when I get the same product for less (sometimes even better, when a game is re-released with additional content).

$60 for a game is ridiculous, so $60+ is obviously MORE ridiculous. Of course, this is my opinion, but I'm enjoying my 100+ catalog of titles, bought at an average price of $10-20 each (80% new)...

[Kamalot]

Let me say this: If Microsoft can secure more Japanese developers and make the 360 as fun and diverse a platform as the PS2 is...
You know what will get more Japanese developers making games for a console is market penetration. Developers will write for whatever console on which they believe they can make the most profit.

Playstation had a HUGE install base from a few key titles that drove developers to it in throngs. Prior to Playstation, Nintendo and Super Nintendo had a massive share of the market.

Whatever company ends up with the largest install base will have the greatest diversity of games.

[Planetbuster]

A diehard PC gamer is shown why his hobby is numba 1 yet again. My jaw was wide open reading some of that.

Thank you sony for convincing me not to buy a console for like the 3rd time in 3 months ROFL. I must admit I prolly will buy a 360 when its in the current xbox stage of life though. Thats when the tech will be what its worth not what you can get drilled anally for............WEEEEEEEEEEEEE for SODOMY!

PB

[Kamalot]

Moderators should only be forced to be professional if they are being paid for it. If the moderators make their living out of moderating, then they are professional moderators. If they do this for a hobby, then they are amateur or hobbyist moderators and have no need to be professional, unless they wish to one day be professional moderators.

[benig]

I'm not saying there should be a policy, but I would think those who represent the site should attempt to show more objectivism and less fanboy baiting, is all. Maybe others disagree with me, and being a moderator does not give your opinion a little boost. I think it is pretty easy to misinterpret what Bap said as fact.

[Kamalot]

I think it is pretty easy to misinterpret what Bap said as fact.I don't think anything anyone here can be taken as fact.

[dimsumx]

Let me say this: If Microsoft can secure more Japanese developers and make the 360 as fun and diverse a platform as the PS2 is, I'll be happy to embrace them as my keepers. More "feeling" games like SotC and ICO are examples, but I suppose games like Katamari are included as well. I don't necessarily mean JRPGs, because that genre is starting to show serious over-salinity, but more games besides the Xbox-norm action titles would really rub my chubbah into a firm flagpole happily bearing the green standard.

I think more Japanese develpment is inevitable. It's already known that the US & European markets combined is more important as far as revenue goes. Once the hardware numbers are more decent, Japanese developers will have way more incentive to make Xbox360 games. That said, I believe that the upcoming showing of games are going to open them up to it as well (Dead Rising, Lost Oddysee, Enchant Arms, Blue Dragon, Ninety-Nine Nights, Bomberman, Lumines, etc).

In fact, looking at that list, it's not like there aren't ANY Japanese support...that's seven already, and I'm sure I'm missing naming more titles from Japan.

[agentgray]

I'm not saying there should be a policy, but I would think those who represent the site should attempt to show more objectivism and less fanboy baiting, is all. Maybe others disagree with me, and being a moderator does not give your opinion a little boost. I think it is pretty easy to misinterpret what Bap said as fact.
You haven't been here long, have you?

[Goronmon]

I'm not saying there should be a policy, but I would think those who represent the site should attempt to show more objectivism and less fanboy baiting, is all. Maybe others disagree with me, and being a moderator does not give your opinion a little boost. I think it is pretty easy to misinterpret what Bap said as fact.You can think that all you want. Maybe I'm biased since I mod on another site, but given the relaxed posting atmosphere of EA why it would be beneficial in anyway to have "professional" mods? They are really just regular posters with a little more control over the content of the site.

[Doctor Setebos]

You can think that all you want. Maybe I'm biased since I mod on another site, but given the relaxed posting atmosphere of EA why it would be beneficial in anyway to have "professional" mods? They are really just regular posters with a little more control over the content of the site.QFT.

LMNOP. BBQ. WTF.

[antoniogaud]

I think most people here are totally missing the real reason that PS3 games might cost more than $60... mainly that they have to host their own network hosting costs for online games. That means that while online play for Madden 360 is 'free' to EA, Madden PS3 won't be - not by a longshot as bandwidth costs are very expensive.

There are two main ways then for EA to recoup these (very real) costs, 1 Charge more for PS3 games alone or - GASP! - 2) distribute the PS3 hosting costs throughout all versions of Madden (PS3, X360 and Wii)

Its one or the other.

In my business broadband hosting costs are a key issue and there simply is no way, utilizing Sony's 'free to play' online hub that publishers can get around it without charging more.

[Siraris]

What should the price of a game be? I've always wondered this. I bought Minish Cap recently, and I was thinking about the price of the game. I waited for a while to get it because 1. I didn't own a GBA, and 2. I wanted to wait to hear what other people thought. It was $30 when I found it at Fry's, and I wondered if that was too much.

I've been playing it for a couple days, and I think i'm a good ways through. The game is fun, and I love the music, but I don't know if it is worth $50. Then I started thinking, is a game that I play once for 10 hours and then put down and never play again, really worth it? I guess no one can answer that question, because everything is worth a different amount to every person.

I can use Tetris DS as an example too. I've played Tetris on various consoles for the past 20 years or so, and yet I get a ton of pleasure from playing Tetris DS over Wifi with friends. Granted, the single player isn't that great, but I have played countless hours of Tetris over the past month, and I think I paid $20 bucks for it.

I guess this is all hypothetical, since no one can really give an answer. I saw a game on EBay, some NES game the other day, and it was at $3000 and there were 10 legitimate bids! $3000 FOR A NES GAME?!?!?! I mean I could understand for something really hard to find, but couldn't the guy download the ROM?

We're all used to paying $49 for games, but things change, just like the price of movie tickets. How do you measure an experience in monetary value?

[Morangie]

We're all used to paying $49 for games, but things change, just like the price of movie tickets. How do you measure an experience in monetary value?

And the Sony Apologist of the Thread award goes to..... Siraris!

When the same game is $60 on the 360 and $70 on the PS3, we'll see how many people suddenly find a way to measure an experience in monetary value.

[NonSoft]

I think more Japanese develpment is inevitable. It's already known that the US & European markets combined is more important as far as revenue goes. Once the hardware numbers are more decent, Japanese developers will have way more incentive to make Xbox360 games. That said, I believe that the upcoming showing of games are going to open them up to it as well (Dead Rising, Lost Oddysee, Enchant Arms, Blue Dragon, Ninety-Nine Nights, Bomberman, Lumines, etc).

In fact, looking at that list, it's not like there aren't ANY Japanese support...that's seven already, and I'm sure I'm missing naming more titles from Japan.

It is something of a catch-22. They won't get a lot of Japanese developers until they have a decent market share in Japan, but they won't have a decent market share in Japan until they have a lot of Japenese developers.

If they had managed to push a bunch of these Japanesed developed games out before the Wii and PS3 hit, I think they would have been a lot better off. Once those two consoles hit I can't imagine any other scenario than things going from extremely bad to complete fucking nightmare for Microsoft in Japan.

People are quick to write off the importance of Japan, remeber that it is the 2nd largest videogame market in the world. Ofcourse, if the 360 can dominate the US it won't be an issue, it would certainly be easier if they had a decent chuck of the Japanese market though.

I tend to prefer Japanese influenced games, so you can bet I will be paying close attention to which console has which developer and franchises before I make a decision on which console to purchase.

[Bumbuliuz]

I get the feeling sometimes that Sony may be a bit loony? Anyone agree with me?

[Siraris]

And the Sony Apologist of the Thread award goes to..... Siraris!

When the same game is $60 on the 360 and $70 on the PS3, we'll see how many people suddenly find a way to measure an experience in monetary value.

I'm not apologizing for Sony, I'm asking a question. If the game is $60 on 360 and $70 on PS3 and there is no difference, then PS3 will fail. I doubt that will happen because anyone with half a brain would know it would fail.

And I'm saying in general. Nothing stays the same price forever, so at what point is it ok for games to cost more? I paid $80 for Final Fantasy 3 for SNES. I loved FF3, and it was a long game, but does that mean it should be ok to charge money depending on length of the game, how much you play it, what replay value it has?

[Kamalot]

I like to think of the value I get in $/hour.

I like to keep my games in the $2-3/hour range.

In this range, a 10-hour game is worth around $20-$30.

A 17-25 hour game could be worth $50.

Now this also depends on how much fun I have in the game. I've played some LONG games that simply were not fun. Likewise I've played some short games that are amazing. I only use my $/hour formula as a guide. When I am done with a game, I look at the 'hours played' on the same game and judge for myself if the game was worth the price paid.

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time is a 7-12 hour title depending on how quickly you play and, in my opinion, it is totally worth $50. If you aren’t as in love with the title as I am, you may want to fall back on the formula above and consider the title when it approaches the $20 price point.

Some longer games like RPGs can provide a lot of play time for a low $/hour rate. The Pokemon series has provided me with so much play time that the games are practically free at less than $0.25 an hour.

This isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, but it keeps me thinking about where my money goes. Figure a movie at the theater is in the neighborhood of $2-$3 an hour anyway and games don’t seem too unreasonably priced.

[Kamalot]

It is something of a catch-22. They won't get a lot of Japanese developers until they have a decent market share in Japan, but they won't have a decent market share in Japan until they have a lot of Japenese developers.
Not exactly. Remember that a Japanese developer will want to sell their games all over the world. They will look at making games for the platforms that are prolific, not only in their home country, but abroad as well.

[Kamalot]

does that mean it should be ok to charge money depending on length of the game, how much you play it, what replay value it has?

YES!

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=17848

"We believe that each software should have its own price point depending on its volume, theme, contents or energies and time spent for the development, namely, the development costs," he commented, continuing by saying that "once the suggested retail price is announced, we should stick to it."

"If the suggested retail price of any and all software is marked down in 6 months or 9 months, the customers will learn the cycle and wait for the discounting," he explained, "which will simply aggravate the decreasing sales of new software."

[Siraris]

YES!

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=17848

Yea but how the HELL do you do that? If someone can work out a pricing scheme that could work, I'd be all for it. But theres so many extraneous factors. How much time was really spent, if a team is really good and spends a year on a game, or a team is slower and spends 2 years, should the team that took 2 get more than the team that is better? Who is going to judge if a game is good or not, especially before its out? How much profit should a company make off a game? If I spend $10 million developing a game, and I project selling 1 million copies, should I only charge $10? $15? If I spend $10 million developing a REALLY fun game that gives me hours of playtime, should I charge $50 and make $40 million in profits for the projected 1 million copies?

It just seems wayyyy too complicated.

[NonSoft]

Not exactly. Remember that a Japanese developer will want to sell their games all over the world. They will look at making games for the platforms that are prolific, not only in their home country, but abroad as well.

I was refering more to what would be considered "Japanese style" games rather then just being developed by a Japanese company.

Ofcourse developers are going to aim for a console with a large installation base, but they also have a target audience in mind. Look at the type of games that were best-sellers for xbox and compare it to PS2 best-sellers.

Is there a large market for Japanese influenced games in the US from 360 owners? The best selling games for 360 so far have been primarily PC style games, a far cry from JRPGs and the quirky games we are accustomed to seeing become popular on the PS2. Would Katamari Damacy have been as big of a hit had it been an xbox exclusive?

[Kamalot]

Yea but how the HELL do you do that? If someone can work out a pricing scheme that could work, I'd be all for it. But theres so many extraneous factors. How much time was really spent, if a team is really good and spends a year on a game, or a team is slower and spends 2 years, should the team that took 2 get more than the team that is better? Who is going to judge if a game is good or not, especially before its out? How much profit should a company make off a game? If I spend $10 million developing a game, and I project selling 1 million copies, should I only charge $10? $15? If I spend $10 million developing a REALLY fun game that gives me hours of playtime, should I charge $50 and make $40 million in profits for the projected 1 million copies?

It just seems wayyyy too complicated.
It will be difficult at first, but the market will sort itself out. If people buy $70 games that weren't worth it, they won't buy games from that developer again. Word-of-mouth would be very important as good game references are passed on through friends. Downloadable demos will also be of extreme importance to let people try games first. Given time and some trial-and-error, the new pricing scheme would work itself out.

As it stands now, I spend a LOT on games, but I wait until they drop in price. This isn't good for the industry.

[lost]

I've not usually been much of a PC gamer but all this price crap is starting to make me think I don't need consoles more and more.

I got my new PC a couple of weeks back and I've been playing FEAR and Oblivion, two games that are pretty "next-gen". My graphics card wasnt the best choice but I had limited funds, a 7300 GS but its running everything pretty good at the moment. So as I try and work out how the fuck I'm going to afford to have anything to do with any of the next gen consoles I just start to think £200 and I can beef up my PC to a pretty future proof state for a while. All the consoles cost more than that and I don't see PC games rising up to £50-£60.

I used to be a complete console bitch but now I'm not so sure....the power of Oblivion hah.

[Bad_Buddha]

Arent any of you listening? RIIDGE RAACER! Is obviously worth $69-$79, then there is Genji 2, who wouldn't want to pay up to $99 for massive damage?

Ridge Racer is going to be priced at $119.

You heard it here first!
:p

[Siraris]

It will be difficult at first, but the market will sort itself out. If people buy $70 games that weren't worth it, they won't buy games from that developer again. Word-of-mouth would be very important as good game references are passed on through friends. Downloadable demos will also be of extreme importance to let people try games first. Given time and some trial-and-error, the new pricing scheme would work itself out.

As it stands now, I spend a LOT on games, but I wait until they drop in price. This isn't good for the industry.

But is that the way you want it to work? You spend $70 on a game that isn't great and you just never buy from the developer again? What if it was a bad egg? There's many games that developers put out that are poor and that then get better.

I dunno it seems like it would cause a lot more problems than it would solve.

[NonSoft]

It will be difficult at first, but the market will sort itself out. If people buy $70 games that weren't worth it, they won't buy games from that developer again. Word-of-mouth would be very important as good game references are passed on through friends. Downloadable demos will also be of extreme importance to let people try games first. Given time and some trial-and-error, the new pricing scheme would work itself out.

As it stands now, I spend a LOT on games, but I wait until they drop in price. This isn't good for the industry.

I think what you are suggesting would be even worse for the industry than the current structure.

If price drops were not normal, people would buy fewer games or drop video games as a hobby altogether. Even if people buy fewer games but spend roughly the same amount of money that means less developers are going to get support. In addition to that you would see even more sequels or "safe bet" games that feature little to no originality.

The industry has grown almost every year since the mid 80's which is often considered to be the modern gaming era. There may be some ways left to maxmize their profits, but I don't think this is one of them.

[Kamalot]

Would Katamari Damacy have been as big of a hit had it been an xbox exclusive?If the original Xbox had the install base of the PS2, then yes.

And that is my point exactly. The very different types of games will show up on the system with the largest install base. If there are 60 million of your consoles in the wild, and only 1% of them pick up your wacky-Japanese game, then you will have sold many more than if the console had an install base of only 20 million.

[Kamalot]

But is that the way you want it to work? You spend $70 on a game that isn't great and you just never buy from the developer again? What if it was a bad egg? There's many games that developers put out that are poor and that then get better.

I dunno it seems like it would cause a lot more problems than it would solve.

Who on earth would price thair game at $70?

With a more reasonable price scheme, all prices would come down.

Think of it this way, if a game launches at $50 and ends up in the bargain bin a year later for $15, then why was the game ever $50? Why not just make the game $35 and keep it there longer?

Overall, prices would come down and early adopters would be screwed less. Casual buyers would be screwed less. In fact, the only people who would be screwed are the ones who wait for $15 bargain bin games.

[Citizen Philip]

I think the very fact that the 360 has not caught on in Japan at all is working magically as a great contrast to this desire to have more Japanese-like games. Which is to say, MS may have paided some developers for J-Style titles, but the Japanese public and developers in general aren't showing a quarter the enthusiam. FTL

[NonSoft]

If the original Xbox had the install base of the PS2, then yes.
And that is my point exactly. The very different types of games will show up on the system with the largest install base. If there are 60 million of your consoles in the wild, and only 1% of them pick up your wacky-Japanese game, then you will have sold many more than if the console had an install base of only 20 million.



I disagree. Ofcourse there is no way to prove it directly, but there were quite a few great Japanese style games released for xbox that never sold well. Not because there wasn't a large enough installation base, but because that type of game doesn't appeal to a large enough percentage of the xbox demographic. It isn't as if the xbox had a user base of 2 million people or some terribly low amount. They had no problem selling millions of copies of other games, the majority of which happened to be closer to what you would see on a PC and appealed more to a western audience.

[Kamalot]

I think what you are suggesting would be even worse for the industry than the current structure.

If price drops were not normal, people would buy fewer games or drop video games as a hobby altogether. Even if people buy fewer games but spend roughly the same amount of money that means less developers are going to get support.Price drops would come far less often but the overall price would be lower as well. It is a win/win for everyone but the bargain-bin hunters.

[OldBrownShoe]

Who on earth would price thair game at $70?

With a more reasonable price scheme, all prices would come down.

Think of it this way, if a game launches at $50 and ends up in the bargain bin a year later for $15, then why was the game ever $50? Why not just make the game $35 and keep it there longer?

Overall, prices would come down and early adopters would be screwed less. Casual buyers would be screwed less. In fact, the only people who would be screwed are the ones who wait for $15 bargain bin games.

I think there's too much of a pirate mentality in modern corporations (get the booty as quick as possible and run away) and not enough long term planning. The emphasis on quarterly reports and stock prices is all fine and good for making the suits some more money, but it doesn't really help with the creative process. Where's post-modern capitalism when you need it?

And Sony and Microsoft seem to be playing this weird reactionary ping-pong match, almost like their politicians trying to be elected and not console makers.

[Kamalot]

there were quite a few great Japanese style games released for xbox that never sold well. Not because there wasn't a large enough installation base, but because that type of game doesn't appeal to a large enough percentage of the xbox demographic.If the original xbox install base was larger, it would encompass people with more varied tastes. Instead, with only 20-million people worldwide, it fit a very tight demographic. With an install base 2-3 times as big, the types of games the Xbox would be able to support would grow.

[Kamalot]

I think there's too much of a pirate mentality in modern corporations (get the booty as quick as possible and run away) and not enough long term planning. The emphasis on quarterly reports and stock prices is all fine and good for making the suits some more money, but it doesn't really help with the creative process. Where's post-modern capitalism when you need it?Short-term gains at the expense of a long-term relationship? I agree. Some companies lie to get customers to buy a device without thinking of the long-term implications of having a customer that’s pissed about being lied to.

Of course, this isn’t a problem if you only think of your customers like disposable sheep. :D

[NonSoft]

Price drops would come far less often but the overall price would be lower as well. It is a win/win for everyone but the bargain-bin hunters.

Yes, that is a good idea. However, that didn't seem to be the intention of Iwata from the interview that you linked. Maybe I just got the wrong impression, but he never made mention of lowering the starting price of games.

[Kamalot]

Yes, that is a good idea. However, that didn't seem to be the intention of Iwata from the interview that you linked. Maybe I just got the wrong impression, but he never made mention of lowering the starting price of games.
I'm sorry I don't have the link here, but he did in the full interview. The idea is that a Tetris-like game shouldn't be expensive. Think of the brain-training games. They are simple, fun and have a lot of replay value for only $19.

The idea isn't to rape consumers, but to keep them used to paying reasonable prices for longer stretches of time. Everyone wins (except CheapAssGamers.com :))

[NonSoft]

If the original xbox install base was larger, it would encompass people with more varied tastes. Instead, with only 20-million people worldwide, it fit a very tight demographic. With an install base 2-3 times as big, the types of games the Xbox would be able to support would grow.

I believe it is the other way around. The Xbox sold to the demographic that it's games( Halo, Splinter Cell, KotOR, etc.) appealed to. In order to appeal to a diverse demographic you need to have a diverse library, not the other way around.

[NonSoft]

I'm sorry I don't have the link here, but he did in the full interview. The idea is that a Tetris-like game shouldn't be expensive. Think of the brain-training games. They are simple, fun and have a lot of replay value for only $19.

The idea isn't to rape consumers, but to keep them used to paying reasonable prices for longer stretches of time. Everyone wins (except CheapAssGamers.com :))

I see. Well that is a much better idea then, and one that I would fully support. ;)

[pacman]

To be fair, this is another nail in the PS3 coffin for me if it's true. It's not that I don't still want a PS3, although it's getting mighty hard to keep a positive mindset, but simply that I won't be able to afford it...as it is, I just got a 360 last month, and with help of a late graduation present from my parents.

I hardly have any games for my 360 because they are too goddamned expensive. I really want a FIFA game with the World Cup going on, but I'm not shelling out 60 bucks WC06 when '07 will be out in 3-4 months...that shit is ridiculous.

You know, when I was a lot younger (SNES days) I was much more willing to shell out 75 bucks for Street Fighter II Turbo because a) it wasn't my money and b) I already had bought the system, and only for 150...so if I want a PS3 and a game when it comes out, I'm out 700 bucks easily...that's almost twice what I pay per month for rent

ugh :(

[Wyrm]

Thing is, when a game launches, everyone that made it would like to believe that they can get their 50 bucks. 90% of the games that are released these days are not worth your 50 dollars. That is not to say they are worthless, but lets take a company like Blizzard into consideration. Blizzard releases their games at 50 and their expansions at 30-35, knowing full well that they can get every penny, and they can keep relatively close to those price points. But, their games are worth the money.

Companies like EA see this, and while their thinking is the same, so is the result. They rehash and repackage each title with some new uniforms, new players, a few new textures, and charge 60 bucks for a special edition that people will buy because they think they have to. No one has to buy the new Madden game, but everyone will anyway, because they all want to be able to play together. It's a cycle that will not cease to repeat itself until it is, as a standard, thrown away and forgotten.

I'm a believer that games should come out priced based on development time, interest in the title, and company history. If the company has a shitty track record, they dont need to keep flinging crappy games at us for 50 bucks. Wow the industry by making a decent game, charge 30 bucks for it, and people will start to place more faith in your company. The guys who made Galactic Civilizations are awesome developers. Their game is priced in such a way that it is worth buying, and they are giving away patches with content for free.

Really though, the change originates with us. The industry will continue to churn as long as we help it to do so. I think that as one voice, we should let those companies release their games and not buy a single one. I think the price can be forced down, but it rests on our shoulders. Don't be an early adopter of the PS3. That's telling Sony they can charge highway robbery and get away with it. I refuse to buy a 360 right now because of the price, and I sure as hell wont be picking up a PS3 until it's 200 bucks.

At the end of the day, things will only change if we allow them to. As long as we as a society subscribe to that need for the quick fix (IE, buying a PS3 at launch, or even a game the day it comes out), things will not change. I'm certainly guilty of buying games right when they come out, but something has to change or the price of games will continue to climb.

I've never bought a single console the day it was released. I also think that anyone who does, is a complete and total moron. But, that's my opinion. You are certainly allowed to spend your money however you like, because you earned it. I just think that blowing 600 dollars(which might not be a one time deal; see Sony's track record with the PS2) is such a waste for something that will go down in price in a year or two.

The thing that hits on an even deeper issue here, is that if these games are upwards of 60 bucks (which is fucking rediculous), I simply cannot afford to buy them. 50 is my limit for any game. Usually, I dont spend more than 50 bucks on SEVERAL games when I go to a gamestore. If/when I get a 360, I will not pay 60 bucks to play a game on release, except maybe Halo, because it's just too much money. And I dont know about some of you, but I dont have 600 bucks lying around that I can throw at a PS3 whenever it debues. If I did that, I'd have the console, no games, and no food for a month and a half. I work a job that pays an average amount and I work 40 hours a week, but it's not realistic to think that the average consumer will pay this mark up so that it can play movies I dont have the TV for because I cant afford to buy either fucking device. I also can't afford to re-buy all my DVDs on Blu-Ray or even HD-DVD.

Edit - I realized I never really ended the damned post. Got too carried away.

It will be interesting to see if Sony turns the gun it has had on its foot to its head, or if they'll pull their collective heads out of their asses and try to get the attention on the great titles they could be putting out. I'm interested in one PS3 title right now, and I wont buy the system for it.

/ultra rant

[AversionFX]

Consumers will buy it anyway, even if it is one hundred dollars.

Seriously, that is like comparing eating at McDonalds, in comparison to a fine restaurant. Customers want quality and they will buy it, even if it is expensive.

/crazy

[Johan]

There are two main ways then for EA to recoup these (very real) costs, 1 Charge more for PS3 games alone or - GASP! - 2) distribute the PS3 hosting costs throughout all versions of Madden (PS3, X360 and Wii)...Its one or the other.

&**&%$# (and many other unprintable verbal reactions)...if I have to pay more for my 360 games to subsidize PS3 online play, since Sony won't develop a central Live-like hub for games, I'll freaking...I'll....I'll....have an aneurysm. :mad:

[Morangie]

I believe it is the other way around. The Xbox sold to the demographic that it's games( Halo, Splinter Cell, KotOR, etc.) appealed to. In order to appeal to a diverse demographic you need to have a diverse library, not the other way around.

The weirder games come out on the PS2 because its install base has the people who may want to play those games, but those people have a PS2 because thats the platform those games usually come out on. If sony keep on track to screw everything up and the 360 gets a larger marketshare, it will start seeing some more kinds of games like Katamari Damacy, which will sell more consoles to the types of people who want those games, which leads to more titles on the 360 and so on.

[dimsumx]

Consumers will buy it anyway, even if it is one hundred dollars.

Seriously, that is like comparing eating at McDonalds, in comparison to a fine restaurant. Customers want quality and they will buy it, even if it is expensive.

/crazy

The case is more like Burger King (Sony) is trying to rebrand themselves as Ruth Cris, and you're paying the premium even tho you get the same if not better quality at Jack in the Box 360, at a cheaper price. All the meanwhile good ol' McDonalds (Nintendo) is gonna be packaging those happy meal toys (form of WiiMote) in all of their menu items, and selling them on the budget menu.

[Tempest261]

I think I'll enter this generation when games are a good solid $39.99. I can wait.

[Zanzibar]

(About EternalGamer's lack of broadband: )
That shit is like a basic food group to me now.
Quote of the Day!

[Achilles]

I think I'll enter this generation when games are a good solid $39.99. I can wait.New? There's a bunch of 360 games that have already dropped to $39, and Rockstar Table Tennis started at that. Not to mention XBLA. If you want a cheap system as well you'll probably be waiting a while.

[dragntyr]

This makes me want to buy a PS3 even less now. Btw, where is Reanimated you'd think he would post something asinine by now.

[Sl1pstream]

He probably got too excited, had a heart attack and died.

On the other hand, he's not human so he can't really die anyway.

[Jack B]

Um, do you know how many people on the internet are NOT intelligent, let alone in real life. Hell, there's still people in the US who think the sun revolves around the earth.


I'd agree.

Why every day I worry that one of those people will be reading Evil Avatar and actually believe one of your Sony Fanboy posts... :D

[Jack B]

I think this type of comment is similar to the ones made in the weeks and months prior to the PS3 price announcement at E3 by Sony executives. They were trying to prepare us mentatlly for what was to come.

Sony kept telling us it was going to be really expensive. There were estimates from analysts, mags etc, from $400 to $900 for the PS3 price. There was a lot of discussion, but in many people's minds they reallly didn't believe they'd see a $500 & $600 price point. There were a lot of gasps during the Sony E3 conference when the price was actually announced. :eek:

I think Sony may be once again getting us mentally prepared for price of games to be above $60. The $100 number may have been used to help when they are announced at more than $60, but a hell of a lot less than $100...

Many of us won't really believe it until we see it. If it happens expect to hear many gasps again, no matter what Sony may do to prepare us for higher priced titles.

[Kelegacy]

$60 dollar games are too expensive and a bad trend. I'm buying exclusively used games from now on, damnit, and using Cheapassgamer.com. Fuck 'em all. And anything over 60 bucks? I hope the game fucking bombs. I don't care. I'm sending a message that EB and Ebay are my friends if the industry wants to be greedy asshats.

I hope Sony gets smeared for this shit, if it's true. MS isn't much better, because to me they started all this shit. 10 dollar MERITLESS increase on games? Fuck 'em all. FUCK 'EM ALL.

Nintendo, if you even think about it, I'm disowning you, too.

[Jack B]

I certainly don't think I have more expendable income than most. I am just extremely uninterested in other things that cost money--all my other hobbies are ones that don't involve cash expenditure (books are really cheap and so is watching films if you have a Netflix subscription). When I go to visit friends back in St. Louis I am amazed at how much they blow when we got out to to bars or to eat. They easily drop $50 a night. I very very rarely do that and I"m not generally into the bar scene.

And I think the idea that the early adopter gets less value out of their purchases is somewhat of a fallacy. Yeah, I bitch about the 360's lack of software titles but what I am really bitching about is a lack of the type of games I am interested in playing. We can generally expect to wait at least a year for system price drops and even then it is rarely over $50. So, I get to use the system for an extra year in its lifespan for only $50? In the end, I'd say early adopters come out way ahead (with the big assumption that their system doesn't break). If I spend $400 on a 360 and get 5 years of play out of it before a new system comes out, I'm getting a lot more value than someone that waits till it's $99 and gets it at the end of the console generation. Of course this is only true as long as consoles are "throw away" technologically based entertainment that are only as good as the latest release. And I bitch about this being the case, but currently, the industry is infact geared towards this end and as long as it is, the early adopters always end up with the better bargain.

I've always felt that same way and wonder why we see so many, "oh, I got screwed because XYZ company just lowered their price...".

That's the way it always works with technology especially. You can always wait for another price drop, but you don't get to play with your new XYZ product in the mean time while waiting for the next price drop.

Eventually, you can pick up most things at a garage sale for $1 if you wait long enough. :)

[Jack B]

...would really rub my chubbah into a firm flagpole happily bearing the green standard.

:eek: You're scaring me! **closes eyes and trys to erase the vision he just saw*** :eek:

[fitbabits]

$60 dollar games are too expensive and a bad trend. I'm buying exclusively used games from now on, damnit, and using Cheapassgamer.com. Fuck 'em all. And anything over 60 bucks? I hope the game fucking bombs. I don't care. I'm sending a message that EB and Ebay are my friends if the industry wants to be greedy asshats.

I hope Sony gets smeared for this shit, if it's true. MS isn't much better, because to me they started all this shit. 10 dollar MERITLESS increase on games? Fuck 'em all. FUCK 'EM ALL.

Nintendo, if you even think about it, I'm disowning you, too.
I hear ya, Kel. I'm really reluctant to pay full price for any games these days unless it's something like GRAW or Oblivion - even then, I traded stuff in for them.

I can't see Nintendo going down the same road - they're much too astute for that (although I remember the days of N64 cartridge prices with much pain and gnashing of teeth).

[Siraris]

Who on earth would price thair game at $70?

With a more reasonable price scheme, all prices would come down.

Think of it this way, if a game launches at $50 and ends up in the bargain bin a year later for $15, then why was the game ever $50? Why not just make the game $35 and keep it there longer?

Overall, prices would come down and early adopters would be screwed less. Casual buyers would be screwed less. In fact, the only people who would be screwed are the ones who wait for $15 bargain bin games.

It will be difficult at first, but the market will sort itself out. If people buy $70 games that weren't worth it, they won't buy games from that developer again. Word-of-mouth would be very important as good game references are passed on through friends. Downloadable demos will also be of extreme importance to let people try games first. Given time and some trial-and-error, the new pricing scheme would work itself out.

I didn't say $70, you did. I'm just responding to your post.

[Achilles]

I can't see Nintendo going down the same road - they're much too astute for that (although I remember the days of N64 cartridge prices with much pain and gnashing of teeth).I too doubt Nintendo will charge that much this upcoming generation, the market won't support it. But you're right that in the days of the SNES and N64 they happily charged $60 or more. They've also traditionally been the slowest to reduce their prices, even in this generation. Prices were reduced by the Playstation and people have grown accustom to it.

[Kelegacy]

I hear ya, Kel. I'm really reluctant to pay full price for any games these days unless it's something like GRAW or Oblivion - even then, I traded stuff in for them.

I can't see Nintendo going down the same road - they're much too astute for that (although I remember the days of N64 cartridge prices with much pain and gnashing of teeth).
Is is Lik-Sang or Play Asia that offers region-free games like GRAW for 39.99 (plus 3.10 shipping!)? I think it's Play Asia. They are much cheaper in those places, like the 360 itself, because of the market. But they all offer English support right on the disc, and will work on any 360! That's a hot deal that I'm starting to look at a bit more closely.

[Plays4Pants]

All i have to say is that it's pretty obvious at least to me that games financially and creativly will die within 20 years. It's all beginning to not make any sense. Games are costing more, yet people are not willing to pay more and are more willing to buy used/garage sale than ever.

Not blaming costumers or developers...just the way the big seemingly indestructible boulder rolls.

[fitbabits]

Is is Lik-Sang or Play Asia that offers region-free games like GRAW for 39.99 (plus 3.10 shipping!)? I think it's Play Asia. They are much cheaper in those places, like the 360 itself, because of the market. But they all offer English support right on the disc, and will work on any 360! That's a hot deal that I'm starting to look at a bit more closely.
Huh, interesting. I have a region-free Xbox 360, but region-free games would rock (so long as there's nothing dubious about them).

[Johan]

I'm as concerned as others here over the price of games, but you have to admit, when Sony said their system would sell even without games, they were probably 100% right for the first six months (we'll find out in November)...

and somehow, someone has the money to buy these games...CoD2, for example, sold to 75% of 360 purchasers; games are still selling briskly. Who in the hell is buying them all? I have a large collection, but 95% of my games are bought at least a year or more into their actual retail life, so that I can actually afford to build a nice library, rather than just have a few of the newest/latest titles.

I just don't get it; who has the money for all the titles that are selling, and what makes anyone think that will stop? People are suckers for the latest/greatest widget on the market.

[Kelegacy]

All i have to say is that it's pretty obvious at least to me that games financially and creativly will die within 20 years. It's all beginning to not make any sense. Games are costing more, yet people are not willing to pay more and are more willing to buy used/garage sale than ever.

Not blaming costumers or developers...just the way the big seemingly indestructible boulder rolls.
Nintendo has the right objective: affordable, cost-effective fun. Why continually push the graphical envelope if consumers have to dish out more and more to get that extra bit of eye candy. This generation looks to be the most expensive yet, what with the added costs of HDTVs (while not necessary, they do add to the experience).

I faulted Nintendo while I was in college towards the tail end, but I really have done a 180. If we could see the same kind of support on the Wii that the GBA and DS have...Jesus. Just think of it.

[Kelegacy]

Huh, interesting. I have a region-free Xbox 360, but region-free games would rock (so long as there's nothing dubious about them).
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-dw-49-en-70-1924.html

That's GRAW for 40 bucks. INSANE.

Here's the rest. (http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-14-71-bn-49-en.html)

EDIT: Actually, that's not the rest, but just the bestsellers. You can find the rest on there easy enough, but make sure you check the region code.

[dimsumx]

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-dw-49-en-70-1924.html

That's GRAW for 40 bucks. INSANE.

Here's the rest. (http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-14-71-bn-49-en.html)

EDIT: Actually, that's not the rest, but just the bestsellers. You can find the rest on there easy enough, but make sure you check the region code.


Check before you buy. (http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-00-3-xbox360_compatibility_guide-49-en.html)

[NonSoft]

I'm sending a message that EB and Ebay are my friends if the industry wants to be greedy asshats.


Fuck that.
The last used game I bought from EB (Chrono Cross) came with no instructions, in a cracked to hell generic jewel case with discs that were so scratched they didn't even work. Not only were they scratched they looked like someone had used sand paper on them. That was online, only because I couldn't find it in the actual store. Anyway, there is no way I'd buy from their site again, although maybe in person where I can see the discs before I buy them.

Ebay isn't actually too bad, but I generally use it to buy rare RPGs that cost a 50-80 dollars, so I'm not saving too much there. :p
I have seen decent prices on easy to find games though.

[Kelegacy]

Check before you buy. (http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-00-3-xbox360_compatibility_guide-49-en.html)
There ya go, that's a much better way of shopping for NTSC-U games. Thanks!!

[Johan]

Fuck that.
The last used game I bought from EB (Chrono Cross) came with no instructions, in a cracked to hell generic jewel case with discs that were so scratched they didn't even work. Not only were they scratched they looked like someone had used sand paper on them. That was online, only because I couldn't find it in the actual store. Anyway, there is no way I'd buy from their site again, although maybe in person where I can see the discs before I buy them.

Ebay isn't actually too bad, but I generally use it to buy rare RPGs that cost a 50-80 dollars, so I'm not saving too much there. :p
I have seen decent prices on easy to find games though.

Amen to that...I gave up on EBGames since they were purchased by Gamestop (aka 'feck GameStop in the eye,' right GunnyMo? ;) ). Since the merger/purchase, EB no longer guarantees instructions and packaging with their used disks...a major change, for me, so I ONLY buy sight seen (in my hands).

Anyway, they both suck even without that issue :mad:

[KamaItachi]

Is is Lik-Sang or Play Asia that offers region-free games like GRAW for 39.99 (plus 3.10 shipping!)? I think it's Play Asia. They are much cheaper in those places, like the 360 itself, because of the market. But they all offer English support right on the disc, and will work on any 360! That's a hot deal that I'm starting to look at a bit more closely.

I may be wrong, but I don't think those games are region free. They're Asian games which will run on Japanese machines and will have full english support, but they're still branded with NTSCJ on the top right hand corner.

They are much cheaper than games bought in shops though.

[Kefkataran]

Oh Jesus, Sony. Why do you keep doing this to yourself? :(

I'm going to be in the corner sobbing.

[EternalGamer]

Good find Kel. Apparently Tomb Raider and G.R.A.W are both compatible with U.S. systems for $39. I'm already playing through the former via Gamefly (great game). Something to remember to check on in the future with new games.

[BlackPete]

...but more games besides the Xbox-norm action titles would really rub my chubbah into a firm flagpole happily bearing the green standard.

:confused: :rolleyes: :eek:

[Kelegacy]

I may be wrong, but I don't think those games are region free. They're Asian games which will run on Japanese machines and will have full english support, but they're still branded with NTSCJ on the top right hand corner.

They are much cheaper than games bought in shops though.
Most are NTSC-J, but there are a handful of region-free titles with English support, like GRAW, Far Cry, etc. that do play on NTSC-U machines. dimsumx gave a nice little list of games that meet that criterion.

[KamaItachi]

Most are NTSC-J, but there are a handful of region-free titles with English support, like GRAW, Far Cry, etc. that do play on NTSC-U machines. dimsumx gave a nice little list of games that meet that criterion.

Yeah, I noticed that, but I had tried to reply before he made his post and my connection at work is pretty shocking.

I think it took something like 10 minutes for my reply to actually go up :(

It is a good list though.

In Japan, Condemned is called "Psycho Crime"!

[lost]

You've managed to make me feel like a rape victim. Rape in my wallet.

That Play Asia site has GBP price conversions as well. Most are like £22, if I walk into GAME or Gamestation here and (were I to have a next gen console) bought a game itd cost me £49.99, thats nigh on double.

Whilst people bitch about prices, remember us poor brits getting rimmed.

[Kelegacy]

You've managed to make me feel like a rape victim. Rape in my wallet.

That Play Asia site has GBP price conversions as well. Most are like £22, if I walk into GAME or Gamestation here and (were I to have a next gen console) bought a game itd cost me £49.99, thats nigh on double.

Whilst people bitch about prices, remember us poor brits getting rimmed.
Awesome, we should all band together to find the best deals possible, maybe a weekly thread devoted to such a thing.

[bone_matrix]

Awesome, we should all band together to find the best deals possible, maybe a weekly thread devoted to such a thing.

Or, you know, www.cheapassgamer.com.


:D

[Morratut]

What really sucks about all this is I know I'll buy it. I'm such a friggin gadget electronics whore it doesn't matter. As much as I talk down to and make fun of the PS3 right now as soon as I see the glossy black on the shelf with Heavenly Sword right there and a Playstation logo in the spiderman font I'll be dropping 600 beans. Then I'll bend over and take it like a prison boy as I buy each 70 dollar title.

But it's cool...at least I get free online.

Lol Excellent Bap.

Wow if this is true then i'm not gonna buy a Playstation 3 for a very long time.