WaltC wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 11:38:
Games certainly should be less expensive because the market for them is at least 20x bigger than it was in the 90's--maybe 50x. Duh. "Analysts" seem to understand less and less as time moves on. Back then 100,000 copies sold was a giant blockbuster--today it isn't unheard of to see a game sell 5,000,000 or more copies. I guess this "analyst" isn't familiar with the term "economies of scale"--which is the whole story behind all computer tech.
RedEye9 wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 10:13:
Wall Street will only improve games, just look what they've already done for SWBII & NFSP.
Beamer wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 10:32:
When you consider that some NES and SNES games sold for $80, which is the equivalent of ~$110-$130 now, yeah, AAA games have actually become a real value.
Some will argue distribution has gotten easier and cheaper (though development on AAA titles has gotten exponentially greater), or that they'd never buy if games kept with inflation, but the simple point is that games have become significantly cheaper now than the late 80s and early 90s.
Hell, check out this issue of CGW from 1990. Some games are $59.99, which is $116 today. Most are more $39.99 or $49.99, which is $75 and $96 today. Older games are regularly $33, which is $61 today.
There's an online game, playable via email, on page 61, which charged $3 per turn. PER TURN! I get that playable via email was mind-blowing back then, but $3 per turn. That's $6 now. How much would Civ cost you if you had to pay $6 per turn?
This October 1997 one is fun, too. An ad for Interstate 77, which I don't think ever came out, for $47, or $72 today. Microprose's Magic: The Gathering, then 6 months old, was $51, or $78. Unreal is a $60 preorder, or $92.
We're definitely paying way less. People will also argue they're getting less out of the games, and I'm not certain that isn't rose-colored glasses from people who are no longer the target audience.
Beamer wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 10:32:Trying to think what games I bought back in the day for absurd prices... I know I got Sword of Vermillion for the Genesis for $70 and Ultima VII for $70. SNK released their games for the "hundreds of dollars" on the Neo Geo.
When you consider that some NES and SNES games sold for $80
BIGtrouble77 wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 13:21:Beamer wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 10:32:Trying to think what games I bought back in the day for absurd prices... I know I got Sword of Vermillion for the Genesis for $70 and Ultima VII for $70. SNK released their games for the "hundreds of dollars" on the Neo Geo.
When you consider that some NES and SNES games sold for $80
The reality is that the game industry in monumentally larger today, so even at lower prices there's much larger profits to be made.
Tipsy McStagger wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 13:15:
I mean, name me something else that you get 100+ hours of enjoyment out of that's 60$.
WaltC wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 11:38:
Games certainly should be less expensive because the market for them is at least 20x bigger than it was in the 90's--maybe 50x. Duh. "Analysts" seem to understand less and less as time moves on. Back then 100,000 copies sold was a giant blockbuster--today it isn't unheard of to see a game sell 5,000,000 or more copies. I guess this "analyst" isn't familiar with the term "economies of scale"--which is the whole story behind all computer tech.
Burrito of Peace wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 15:07:Tipsy McStagger wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 13:15:
I mean, name me something else that you get 100+ hours of enjoyment out of that's 60$.
I can pick up a lot of books for $60 at a second hand bookstore that will provide me with 100+ hours of enjoyment easily.
HoSpanky wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 15:38:Burrito of Peace wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 15:07:Tipsy McStagger wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 13:15:
I mean, name me something else that you get 100+ hours of enjoyment out of that's 60$.
I can pick up a lot of books for $60 at a second hand bookstore that will provide me with 100+ hours of enjoyment easily.
$60 is the introductory price for most games. The books you’re talking about sell for $15 or more brand new. Let’s not compare used, older titles to brand new.
Burrito of Peace wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 16:19:HoSpanky wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 15:38:Burrito of Peace wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 15:07:Tipsy McStagger wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 13:15:
I mean, name me something else that you get 100+ hours of enjoyment out of that's 60$.
I can pick up a lot of books for $60 at a second hand bookstore that will provide me with 100+ hours of enjoyment easily.
$60 is the introductory price for most games. The books you’re talking about sell for $15 or more brand new. Let’s not compare used, older titles to brand new.
Now you're moving the goal posts. You said "...name me something else that you get 100+ hours of enjoyment out of that's 60$". So I did.
Moreover, I can pick up several used console titles (but not from Gamestop) for that $60 that will deliver more hours than most new single titles will.
“Despite its inconvenience to the popular press narrative, if you like Star Wars and play video games at an average rate, you’re far better off skipping the movie and playing the game to get the most bang for your buck.”
Beamer wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 11:51:
When games are taking 100x the amount of people to create, and it's the manpower that's the primary expense...
jdreyer wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 15:38:
Games are also orders of magnitude more expensive to make. In 1995 the gaming press was astounded by the cost of making Wing Commander IV: $10M. Today, AAA games are much more expensive: a Call of Duty costs around $100-150M to make, Knights of the Old Republic cost $200M, Battlefield 4 cost $100M, etc. And none of those numbers includes marketing, which typically double the cost.
jdreyer wrote on Nov 21, 2017, 15:38:
Knights of the Old Republic cost $200M