View Full Version : Console gamers paying more
placebo
08-04-2009, 04:10 PM
I'm sure this has been discussed before, but it really pisses me off that console game prices are always higher than their PC counterpart. Just two recent examples: Joystiq notes a sale on the new Batman game at Amazon - $48 for consoles; $40 for PC.
Why the price difference?
New downloadable content for Left 4 Dead - free on PC; $7 for consoles.
Is there a legitimate reason I'm not aware of? I hate that this kind of crap gets pulled and no matter how much ink gets spilled about it (I did plenty of pontificating when I worked as a gaming journalist). It just seems so damn unjust.
Frankie_Says_Relax
08-04-2009, 04:19 PM
I don't mind paying the extra $10 when I'm assured that:
There's no graphical/memory benchmark issues (the game looks and plays the same on all 360s, Wiis and PS3s respectively)
The rate of "hacking/modding/cheating" in online multiplayer is kept to an absolute minimum due to the policing of XBL, PSN and Wii by the respective bodies in charge of each service or game developer (though, it's understood that it's generally unavoidable even on consoles).
The cost of game consoles are generally hundreds less than high-end gaming computers and the marketplace life-cycle of those consoles is almost always longer.
Richter Belmount
08-04-2009, 04:20 PM
Why do you think its cheaper on pc? Cause not everyone has a gaming rig to play these games so the console version is more convenient to the average consumer.
Take Worms, back in the days a SNES game would be like $49, the Amiga game of same would be $25.00. Back then they blamed cartridge costs are higher, what's their excuse now?
Overbite
08-04-2009, 04:26 PM
On the flipside ya got Modern Warfare 2 which is $60 on every system, including PC. And the PC doesn't get the collectors edition
darkslime
08-04-2009, 04:48 PM
Remember that a PC game will be more in the long run, because a high end gaming PC costs more than a console from this gen.
BetaWolf47
08-04-2009, 05:21 PM
Consoles generally get the games first, and PC gamers need some incentive not to pirate the games.
jb143
08-04-2009, 06:39 PM
Development costs are higher on a console. For a PC, anyone can write and release a program for it. It's not quite that simple for a console. For example, you generally have to buy a pricey development system from the console manufacturer.
roushimsx
08-04-2009, 06:54 PM
Licensing costs drive up the price of games on the newer consoles.
Also, shit is cheap. It's not as cheap as it was last generation, but I think everyone has pretty much forgotten just how expensive games were in the 16 bit era and early on in the 32bit era.
garagesaleking!!
08-04-2009, 07:13 PM
this has nothing to do with the post per say, but also keep in mind that pc games rapidly drop in value much quicker than console games, so they get them cheaper but end up paying in the long run.
Nionel
08-04-2009, 09:08 PM
I think everyone has pretty much forgotten just how expensive games were in the 16 bit era and early on in the 32bit era.
So true, I remember when Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy III for the SNES were brand new at TRU, if memory serves, both games were 74.99, not to mention the plethora of other SNES and even N64 games that were 59.99 or more.
c0ldb33r
08-04-2009, 09:53 PM
Here in Canada, I remember $100+ SNES cartridges!
Trebuken
08-04-2009, 10:07 PM
Microsoft/Sony/Nintendo all get $10 when a game is sold. Nobody has to license a PC game. I think that is the basic reason for the price difference.
I believe many games are developed on and for the PC simultaneous and the PC version is held back; not always true, but often I think.
CDiablo
08-04-2009, 10:35 PM
PC games are cheaper because it gives incentive for people to buy it rather than boot methinks.
PC gaming is awesome, games release $10 cheaper usually and usually drop $10-20 in a month while the console game costs the same. The money saved on games over consoles can be used to upgrade your rig.
whoisKeel
08-11-2009, 10:39 PM
People "buy" PC games? Proof please.
swlovinist
08-11-2009, 10:56 PM
The Pro of having to spend $600 to $1500 on a PC gaming rig is that money can be saved on the games, not to mention push graphical limits pending on the setup.
I am not a modern PC gamer at all(minus Diablo) so I say good for those PC gamers, they deserve a break.
A gamer is gamer, no matter what you play :)
boatofcar
08-12-2009, 12:51 AM
We definitely need more threads like this, as we don't discuss how expensive games are enough.
j_factor
08-12-2009, 01:11 AM
There's no license required for a PC game. The end.
ScourDX
08-12-2009, 02:42 AM
Not exactly. Mac games are more expensive than PC games. In some cases more expensive than the console games. I've seen the Call of Duty 4 for $75 on Mac. It could be licensing or fewer percentage of user playing games on Mac or both.
garagesaleking!!
08-12-2009, 03:09 AM
mac games are hard to come by, i think thats all it is.
Licensing costs drive up the price of games on the newer consoles.
Also, shit is cheap. It's not as cheap as it was last generation, but I think everyone has pretty much forgotten just how expensive games were in the 16 bit era and early on in the 32bit era.
bingo,
all the people that cite the cost of a gaming rig driving it down is dead wrong, why the hell would they care ;p
PCs are by and large far easier to develop for, and sony/microsoft/nintendo all charge licensing fees for games, even for dlc and everything. They don't make money off selling consoles for less then it cost them to make it..... (note though: I believe the PS2 was recently opened as a free platform to release games for, not sure)
Also PC gamers are extremely longstanding and have certain expectations, such as included multiplayer, free patches and no DLC, expansions or bust ;p (except for free games which rely on microtransactions).
But overall being a PC gamer does not cost less at all, because of those aforementioned rig costs (though lemme restate that that has no bearing on why they charge less :P).
Not exactly. Mac games are more expensive than PC games. In some cases more expensive than the console games. I've seen the Call of Duty 4 for $75 on Mac. It could be licensing or fewer percentage of user playing games on Mac or both.
I'm not sure if there is licensing fees for macs, really don't know about that. But you don't just switch a value and a game can be played on macs, it's a fair bit of effort for usually very little return, which is why there's not that many games for both windows and mac, and almost no decent mac-exclusives (I can't say none cause honestly I don't know :P)
chrisbid
08-12-2009, 08:49 AM
Take Worms, back in the days a SNES game would be like $49, the Amiga game of same would be $25.00. Back then they blamed cartridge costs are higher, what's their excuse now?
not having to pay a license to a console manufacturer
Icarus Moonsight
08-12-2009, 08:56 AM
People "buy" PC games? Proof please.
This. Besides all the piracy on PC and the lack of a required license to release, if the PC versions of their console equivalents were priced at parity the PC game market would have certainly tanked and disappeared by now. So yes, of course, incentives are required for PC vs consoles to ensure any sales at all. No licensing, if all things were equal, would just make the PC platform more attractive and profitable.
BydoEmpire
08-12-2009, 09:45 AM
Why the price difference?Two answers. First, because they can. Many people want the convenient "plug and play" nature of console games (among other advantages) so they're willing to pay an extra $10. Second, because the console manufacturers charge 3rd parties to manufacture the discs for their machines. That fee is about ten bucks.
Goods are largely priced based on what people are willing to pay, not what it cost to make.
The 1 2 P
08-12-2009, 07:18 PM
New downloadable content for Left 4 Dead - free on PC; $7 for consoles.
Is there a legitimate reason I'm not aware of?
There is a very simple well documented answer for this question. As much as I like Microsoft, they are the sole reason why this content "won't" be free on the 360. Valve is highly regarded for being one of the most community friendly developers in the world, giving out tons of free content to those who have purchased their games. And they would have gladly made this new content free on the 360 if they could, but Microsoft said no. Microsoft allows very little free content in the way of auctual games and game add-ons. Why? Because they are in the business of making money of course.
chrisbid
08-12-2009, 07:30 PM
Why? Because they are in the business of making up for a 1 billion dollar+ loss on rrod console repairs
fixed :)
The 1 2 P
08-12-2009, 08:12 PM
fixed :)
Wrong....thats what the Avatar Marketplace is for;)
SegaAges
08-12-2009, 09:36 PM
I can tell you first hand in owning a higher end machine, that the price will never even out and pc gamers will be paying more.
Example, the last upgrade I did, I dropped about $700 into my system. Now it is like a whole new system (I don't even run xp anymore, I run w7).
Now my pc is almost completely built up for gaming even though I do other stuff on it. If I wanted a pc to do just everyday shit, I would not need to drop an extra 700 into it.
Now, games being about $10 cheaper will still not even this out. If we compare this to 360, which you can get a nice one new for 300, that means that I would have to buy 40 pc games brand new when they come out for this to even out.
I will say one nice thing about pc gaming, and that is that most games prices drop like a rock very fast, which is nice.
Besides, I would love to see a 360 with the specs of my box. That would be awesome.
And yes, this is time to inform what kind of system I have:
gigabyte am2+ mb
phenom 2 oc'ed to 3.2 GHz with a aftermarket heatsink
4gb ram
xfx hd 4890 video card
I bought something else as well to bring this up to 700, I just don't remember what.
ScourDX
08-12-2009, 10:53 PM
Besides, I would love to see a 360 with the specs of my box. That would be awesome.
And yes, this is time to inform what kind of system I have:
gigabyte am2+ mb
phenom 2 oc'ed to 3.2 GHz with a aftermarket heatsink
4gb ram
xfx hd 4890 video card
I bought something else as well to bring this up to 700, I just don't remember what.
Maybe in next generation of console. Rumor has it the next gen console will allow you upgrade parts. So you can put in extra ram to run your games.
Cornelius
08-12-2009, 10:57 PM
Maybe in next generation of console. Rumor has it the next gen console will allow you upgrade parts. So you can put in extra ram to run your games.
What a novel concept! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64_accessories#Expansion_Pak)
ScourDX
08-12-2009, 11:04 PM
What a novel concept! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64_accessories#Expansion_Pak)
Oh yea...I guess it didn't work back then. ;) Now with PC gaming on decline, I can see console developer taking advantage of upgrade parts and make gamers pay more for their accessories.
Icarus Moonsight
08-13-2009, 02:55 AM
What a novel concept! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64_accessories#Expansion_Pak)
Not to mention Saturn, DS etc. When it comes down to swapping out GPUs and shit for consoles stick a fork in me...
G-Boobie
08-13-2009, 05:25 AM
I'm sure this has been discussed before, but it really pisses me off that console game prices are always higher than their PC counterpart. Just two recent examples: Joystiq notes a sale on the new Batman game at Amazon - $48 for consoles; $40 for PC.
Why the price difference?
New downloadable content for Left 4 Dead - free on PC; $7 for consoles.
Is there a legitimate reason I'm not aware of? I hate that this kind of crap gets pulled and no matter how much ink gets spilled about it (I did plenty of pontificating when I worked as a gaming journalist). It just seems so damn unjust.
You were a gaming journalist and you aren't aware of platform licensing fees?
The answer to this question is a lot more simple than you think. This is something that you learn in Economics....
The price of the item is determined by which pricepoint makes the company the most profit. Is it better to sell one game at $10 profit, or 11 games at $1 profit each? It's better to sell 11 games at $1 profit because your total profit is higher. It also works the other way. Why sell 10 games at $10 profit each when you can sell the same 10 games for $15 profit each? Manufacturers will price items in accordance with "what the market will bear."
So...production costs don't necessarily have ANYTHING to do with price. They are something that is considered, but there are other things that go into determining price.