Equilibrium price for video games?

[Shimmer35]

I myself feel that all new releases should be $39.99(list) and then a few months later(7 to 9) reduced to $24.99 list. I think those prices are best for the consumer and good for the developer. If games continue to be in the $49.99 range I will have to wait until they are greatest hits before I can afford to own all of the ones I want :D

So what do you feel the prices should be that would be best for the consumers and the game developers?

[djones6746]

I also agree with the $39.99 price tag for a new release. Many gamers are on a budget and at $50 per game.....does not leave a whole lot of money left for much else. I try not to spend more than $100 per month(have not purchased anything lately...next game for preorder is Silent Hill 2) If all new releases were $40.00....I could justify another $20.00 and bring home 3 games per month. For all of you out there who do not have kids yet or a mortgage......enjoy your financial freedom. ;) :)

Unless a game is so good that I know I will play it over and over.....I usually sell once completed. I also usually only buy one game at a time. Unlike years ago when I would have 5 brand new titles and no time to play them all... :)

[Thunderball]

I might buy 1 title every 2 months. Of course with the holiday season approaching, I've got about 10 things preordered. :D

[CreatureX]

Videogames have never been cheaper than they are now. I remember these prices from my "younger " gaming years:

1982 - Pac-Man (Atari 2600) $45
1988 - Double Dragon (NES) $65
1988 - Phantasy Star (SMS) $90
-eek-

[djones6746]

Alright....who voted for $49.99??? :)


I think the competition(Xbox and Gamecube) will drive the current prices of $49.99 down to a standard of $39.99 as we all became accustomed to with most PSone releases in the end. :)

[Mountain Biker]

$39.99 seems reasonable with another drop to $29.99 after so many months.......$49.99 is a bit steep....I'd have to cut way back on dvds to afford that :( ......I'm still waiting for the rumored PS2 price drop to $199.00. Any word if that will still happen?

[MWoody]

If you look around a bit, you really shouldn't ever be paying more than $40 for a game. That said, I don't really mind the $49.99 price point so much. After all, compare:

A s****y summer movie for 2 hours at $8, that's $4 per hour.
Around 30 hours (average) of great gameplay at $50, that's about $1.50 per hour.

Of course, that logic does more to convince me not to go to the movies anymore than it gets me to pay $50 for a computer game... :D

[Homer Simpson]

I'll pay $49.99 or even more if it's a good game. Zelda games for example are worth whatever they need to keep the standards up (as long as we're not lining the pockets of ToysRUs executives). I do think the price should come down after 6 months to help people that can't afford them.

[tanman]

just out of curiosity. anyone know how much it costs (post development) to make a cartridge game versus a disc based game. i know that the memory in a cartridge has got to cost at least 5 times more than the plastic in a disc.

[Lethal Nemesis]

$50 for a game is pretty steep, but I'm sure that the prices will go down in the near future. At this point, Sony, Nintendo, and MS will have to price their games a little higher just to make up for the money lost in console sales. Once the ball gets rolling, most new titles will probably come down to the $40 range. Look on the bright side: at least you're not paying an upwards of $60 for a cartridge -eek-

[jingoro]

There's way too many games out there competing for my time, so I'm willing to wait till it gets down to under $20 :)