Why are the 360 games $10 more than the the xbox games if they both are using the same type of media? If they were using a new type of media then i could see the $10 mark up, if someone know could they explain.

The general idea is that development and production costs for next-gen games are higher than for previous-gen games. Better graphics (higher poly models, higher res textures, etc.), better AI, better sound, higher production values that are more in line with high-end Hollywood productions, etc.

Welcome to November 2005. Get used to not only spending 10 bucks more, but shelling out for extra downloadable content.

The general idea is that development and production costs for next-gen games are higher than for previous-gen games. Better graphics (higher poly models, higher res textures, etc.), better AI, better sound, higher production values that are more in line with high-end Hollywood productions, etc.
Ok cool, I was just curious. thx

My question is why are they $20 more then the PC version? Seems like it would be easier to program for set hardware like the 360. With the PC version they have to add all the code so the computer guys can modify the settings and find one that works, plus have to program for multiple driver types. How could it possibly be cheaper to program for the PC when you have so many extra things to take into account?

My question is why are they $20 more then the PC version? Seems like it would be easier to program for set hardware like the 360. With the PC version they have to add all the code so the computer guys can modify the settings and find one that works, plus have to program for multiple driver types. How could it possibly be cheaper to program for the PC when you have so many extra things to take into account?

Exactly, and a perfect example will be HL2 orange box. It is the same game on pc and consoles, but it will cost more for the console versions.

Also, Crysis will be the most technologically advanced game anywhere, costing a fortune to make, and it will be $10 less than any console game.

My question is why are they $20 more then the PC version? Seems like it would be easier to program for set hardware like the 360. With the PC version they have to add all the code so the computer guys can modify the settings and find one that works, plus have to program for multiple driver types. How could it possibly be cheaper to program for the PC when you have so many extra things to take into account?

It's pretty simple, actually. Without talking about the far greater number of available PC programmers, it comes down to basic economics. The marketing folks create a curve of price vs units, and pick the point that maximizes their returns. In a market where most games are $40 and there are a great many alternatives, pricing a game at $60 has little reason behind it if it would be less profitable than pricing it at $40.

It's pretty simple, actually. Without talking about the far greater number of available PC programmers, it comes down to basic economics. The marketing folks create a curve of price vs units, and pick the point that maximizes their returns. In a market where most games are $40 and there are a great many alternatives, pricing a game at $60 has little reason behind it if it would be less profitable than pricing it at $40.
So its not that the game is any cheaper to make, may even be more expensive, its just that there is more competition for PC gamers and more PC gamers.

See this is why rumors of game studios merging or the PS3 or Xbox "winning" and stupidly created laws scare the crp out of me. We need MORE competition and more gamers in general so that prices can drop.

59.99 for new releases is crazy! :eek:

yes, it is crazy. The cost of gaming for the average gamer who owns just 1 or 2 consoles and gets only 10-12 games a year is well over $1000 a year. That is a lot of money to spend just so you can play video games.

And the hardcore gamers can spend much, much more, especially if they are into pc games. Crysis is making my bank account cry right now.

My question is why are they $20 more then the PC version? Seems like it would be easier to program for set hardware like the 360. With the PC version they have to add all the code so the computer guys can modify the settings and find one that works, plus have to program for multiple driver types. How could it possibly be cheaper to program for the PC when you have so many extra things to take into account?
PC games are usually always cheaper because game developers doesn't have to pay royalties to the console manufacturers. Unlike Xbox 360 and Xbox games, Microsoft doesn't get royalties from PC games. At least, they didn't use to. I don't know about the new "games for windows" thing they have now.

What you all don't realize is that 60 bucks isn't the price ceiling anymore.

More and more games are being released with collectors editions, running anywhere from 70-100 bucks. Why? Because people are stupid enough to buy them. Vote with your dollar.

The prices of the games is the main reason I rent these days! ;)

yes, it is crazy. The cost of gaming for the average gamer who owns just 1 or 2 consoles and gets only 10-12 games a year is well over $1000 a year. That is a lot of money to spend just so you can play video games.

And the hardcore gamers can spend much, much more, especially if they are into pc games. Crysis is making my bank account cry right now.

Hardcore PC gamers spend at least $1000 a year on hardware upgrades alone, not inclusive of games. I know, I used to be one of them.

I just want to get a decent manual with a game for $60. The instruction manuals have gone to pot.

The general idea is that development and production costs for next-gen games are higher than for previous-gen games. Better graphics (higher poly models, higher res textures, etc.), better AI, better sound, higher production values that are more in line with high-end Hollywood productions, etc.


this is in fact very true; production costs have risen dramatically; dev's are employing much larger workforces

but the real answer is: that is the price that MS determined they would make the most money at

this is in fact very true; production costs have risen dramatically; dev's are employing much larger workforces

but the real answer is: that is the price that MS determined they would make the most money at
Really? Its the price MS determined? Aren't Sony games the same price? (not sure what Nintendos prices are)

Basic economic rules, charge what the market will bear. The special edition games are and experiment in establishing the higher end of console game price elasticity.

Its pricing established by Sony and Microsoft, not because it's more expensive. At least that's what someone from Bizarre Creations has told me, and I don't see any reason to not believe it, makes more sense than console versions costing more than PC versions like some of you are proposing.

Really? Its the price MS determined? Aren't Sony games the same price? (not sure what Nintendos prices are)

If they have similar market data and similar practices, it's completely reasonable that they would both come to the same conclusion about the price point at which the most profit can be made.

Price is too high. Say all the excuses you want, it's too high. I'd buy a game a week if they were 20 bucks.

20 bucks Canadian is what, $2.50? :D

You guys have got to be kidding me. 59.99 is actually less than what games use to cost. Remember the days when Killer Instinct came out and cost 80 bucks? Remember the NEO GEO? Remember all those ultra expensive cartridge games? 59.99 is a bargain compared to what things were before, especially if you factor in economic factors and inflation.

45 bucks would be the best price. I'd for sure buy a game a week at that price.

I remember back in the day when N64 games were costing $70... 10 years ago. Lets see $60 dollars is $10 less than $70 and then when you factor in inflation and the fact that these games cost significantly more to produce than N64 games did I'm pretty content with paying $60 for a new release. Besides do you really need every game you want when it comes out? The only games I buy at or near launch are the AAA must have titles I can't live without (Halo, MGS, Final Fantasy, Nintendo first party titles, and a few others) all the others I'm perfectly content waiting a year for to save $30, sounds stupid but when you save $30 over the course of 10-12 games a year it's a savings of $300-$360 a year.

but the real answer is: that is the price that MS determined they would make the most money at

Uh, no.
When the 360 launched, all the MS pubished games came in at the old price.
All the EA and Activision games came in at $60 because they wanted higher prices to offset the higher development costs.
Other developers followed suit.
Kameo, Perfect Dark, and PGR3 all started out at $50.
MS didn't raise their prices until spring 06. (Look it up.)

As for Sony, they waffled on pricing right up until launch and they were hinting that $60 was not a sure thing; given their dev costs, they talked of prices all the way to $100. And it may yet happen.

But for now, $60 is the baseline, even though we still get new 360 games occasionally launching at $49 and even $39. Not many, but a few.

So no, MS mandates nothing, other than the *percent* royalty they get per game and those rates are negotiable, anyway. That's part of the leverage they use to get exclusive games, exclusivity windows, or merely exclusive features in 360 games.

MS has clout but developers set the price.

The prices aren't that bad. Didn't Super Nintendo games use to be between $60-$70. If you factor in inflation, that would be $70-$80 or more by today's standards.

Also, doesn't Microsoft and Sony charge higher royalties for current gen games compared to previous gen games?

everyone should buy the games when they are on sale, like the times when fry's have new release games between $47-$49

It was N64 games that were priced above $50 for a few select titles if I remember correctly. And it was because of the higher cost of developing cartridges instead of cd roms I think.

My problem is not the $60 cost. It is the $60 cost when the same game for PC is still $50.

It was N64 games that were priced above $50 for a few select titles if I remember correctly. And it was because of the higher cost of developing cartridges instead of cd roms I think.

No, it wasn't the development. It was the higher cost of the memory in the cartridges for the larger games.

I paid a premium for the 2nd and 3rd Zelda games. I think $75 for "A Link to the Past" and $80 or so for the SNES game. I wouldn't have a problem paying a high price every once and a while for a huge title. The problem now is that the hype machine turns 8 out of 10 games into "must have" titles.

20 bucks Canadian is what, $2.50? :D

You might be very surprised

$20 Canadian = $18.73 US

It's the US dollar that sucks these days :)

http://www.bank-banque-canada.ca/en/rates/converter.html

I try to see things differently. No one complained when you paid 25 cents to play at the arcade. 4 quarters a game... play about 5 games per session. $5.00 a visit.

Do the math. In the comfort of your own home, 6.1 system, HDTV, sofa, air conditioning, and your choice of beverage. When you break it down, you aren't spending that much.

I live in NYC and can easily drop $70 on dinner out with wine. Then I sh*t and piss it out later the same day. At least I get to keep my games.

I guess it's all about perspective.

You might be very surprised

Not at all. It's called a joke, silly.

Uh, no.
When the 360 launched, all the MS pubished games came in at the old price.
All the EA and Activision games came in at $60 because they wanted higher prices to offset the higher development costs.
Other developers followed suit.
Kameo, Perfect Dark, and PGR3 all started out at $50.
MS didn't raise their prices until spring 06. (Look it up.)

As for Sony, they waffled on pricing right up until launch and they were hinting that $60 was not a sure thing; given their dev costs, they talked of prices all the way to $100. And it may yet happen.

But for now, $60 is the baseline, even though we still get new 360 games occasionally launching at $49 and even $39. Not many, but a few.

So no, MS mandates nothing, other than the *percent* royalty they get per game and those rates are negotiable, anyway. That's part of the leverage they use to get exclusive games, exclusivity windows, or merely exclusive features in 360 games.

MS has clout but developers set the price.

Wow, so may things wrong...

Publishers make the price, not developers. Developers make the game, they don't sell it. MS games were cheaper because they don't have to pay the license fee (not a %). The fee is unknown, but typically it's $10. Sony talked about $100 games? FUD... sure the xbox fanboys did, they sad Blu-Ray was sooooo expensive the games and movies would be more than DVD. Funny how reality is soo much different from the FUD.

The perfect example of over charging is Shadowrun, a MS published game (so no license fee), nine level MP only for $60.

The perfect example of over charging is Shadowrun, a MS published game (so no license fee), nine level MP only for $60.

Seeing "Shadowrun (PC)" free at CC with purchase of Halo2 (PC) for $39.99 just makes the 360 price seem even more absurd.

sure the xbox fanboys did, they sad Blu-Ray was sooooo expensive the games and movies would be more than DVD.

Blu-ray (and HD DVD for that matter) is more expensive than DVD for movies. :rolleyes:

Very few games are worth $60. Solution? Buy the ones that are and wait a few months to get the ones that aren't for $40 off ebay.

Very few games are worth $60. Solution? Buy the ones that are and wait a few months to get the ones that aren't for $40 off ebay.
Best statment of this thread!

Yeah, my approach is to use a service like GamezNFlix to rent games that I'll play for a few days/weeks/months (generally I finish a game in a few days to a couple of weeks tops) and then return it. I pay $13.99/month to have three out at a time and I also have access to HD-DVD media. I also occasionally buy used games with my Gamestop 10% off card, then trade them back in with the same card for 10% extra, ideally with a few other games to get an extra trade-in bonus. I roll that credit toward my next in-store purchase whenever that happens.

All in all I'd estimate that I actually pay no more than $20 to play a game that I don't keep. There are a few games that I do keep, mostly online games that I play with friends (e.g., Gears of War, Virtua Tennis 3, etc.) and a few games that I play enough to keep indefinitely (Oblivion being the notable one here).

Unfortunately no one really takes PC games on trade-in anymore, but I don't play very many of those anymore...the occasional RPG (Neverwinter Nights 2) or adventure game (Sam & Max), and generally you can get those pretty cheap anyway.

20 bucks Canadian is what, $2.50? :D

Closer to $19 these days. :p

I guess nobody rembers paying 60 bucks and up for Sega Genesis games. Shoot, I remember my dad paying 80 bucks for SMB2 on NES.

Very few games are worth $60. Solution? Buy the ones that are and wait a few months to get the ones that aren't for $40 off ebay.

Agreed. I wait for sales or buy games used. Bestbuy has graw2 for $39 this week. Last week up I poicked up prey for $20. The weeke before was full auto for 12.99$ at fry's. There are plenty of good buys on ebay. I got gow for 29$ with shipping. A lot of games have a release price sale so I never preorder. Either fry's best buy or circuit city usually has a good price. Also a lot of my friends sell their games after playing them for a few weeks. That is the best.

this is in fact very true; production costs have risen dramatically; dev's are employing much larger workforces

but the real answer is: that is the price that MS determined they would make the most money at

So that's why it has taken EA three next gen Madden games to supposedly get the game right this time around. :D I've wondered what they've been doing with all of that money. Maybe they'll take some of the money and put a team to developing SSX 4 with a soundtrack as good as SSX 3.

Very few games are worth $60. Solution? Buy the ones that are and wait a few months to get the ones that aren't for $40 off ebay.

Ding ding!! The only game I've bought at $59 was Gears of War.Every other game ranged from $20-$49.My money has to go in too many directions to plunk down $59 on a game I may play through once,then wind up selling off for far less than I paid originally.I also find myself MUCH pickier about the games I buy than prior generations.

It is amazing how easy it is to find deals--two weeks after Forza was out and I paid $64 for it (tax included) it was up for sale for $54 + free shipping + no tax on Buy.com---on top of that there was the $10 off for first time google checkout users---if you've used google checkout before you can set up an new account using only a different email address and get the $10 off anyways---so basically two weeks after it was released you could get it for $44 shipped.

There are always deals out there to be found and if not--as I said earlier--ebay is incredible. Copies of Crackdown and Gears can be got for $35 or less---a lot of the earliest releases---Kameo, PGR3 etc can be gotten for $20-$25 too.

The other thing about ebay that is huge is that you'll get more for selling your games on there than you will for trading them in---and when you trade in games you get store credit so you have to use it to buy their used games which cost more than used games on ebay so in the end you really get much more for your money than you would if you traded them.

I have 300+ feedback on ebay and got to play a ton of games last generation because I used it so much.

There are maybe 3-4 games left in 2007 I'd pay $60 for---Halo 3, Mass Effect, and Bioshock are about it for me. And since two of them are mostly single player experiences---I will probably wait a couple of months for them and try to get them for $40 or less.

The other thing about ebay that is huge is that you'll get more for selling your games on there than you will for trading them in---and when you trade in games you get store credit so you have to use it to buy their used games which cost more than used games on ebay so in the end you really get much more for your money than you would if you traded them.

I've found that in a lot of cases, it can be a wash between trading them in and selling on eBay once you figure in listing and PayPal fees, as well as taking the time to pack a game and drive to the post office to mail it. It all depends. To be honest, I've had the best luck selling my games at work. Companywide e-mail lists FTW!!1. :D

I dont believe the whole next gen games need a pricehike ********. There's less competition on the PC scene, especially now since more devs are selling games on consoles to maximize profits. The same game on the PC will be $10 less than the same game on the 360/ps3. the best thing is to wait and buy used off of ebay. if you wait a month or so you can get a game for sometimes 50% off if youre lucky (theyll rape u on the shipping tho)

The reason people put high shipping is that ebay's fees work on a percentage of the sale. So people jack up the shipping costs because it means less fees to be paid by the seller to ebay. But most people don't know that and think that they are getting raped in shipping.

Since Ebay has made the change to showing the shipping with price people need to know that you should know how much you are willing to pay with shipping included. If I am willing to pay $35 I look for an auction with that price combined buy it now---if I don't find it--I go back in a month and look for it again.

When I sell on ebay I look at the Buy it now prices---I take the lowest combined game price + shipping and I beat it by $1-----my auctions usually end in less than a day.

Shipping a video game is cheap--$1.50 to $1.85 via first class mail--plus the cost of the envelopes---which is very small per envelope if you buy 100 of them from Staples (or if you can get them free at work). The pain is the trip to the post office---I've got that figured out too though---get there 15 minutes before the post office opens on Saturday morning and you're in and out in 15-20 minutes.

The reason people put high shipping is that ebay's fees work on a percentage of the sale. So people jack up the shipping costs because it means less fees to be paid by the seller to ebay. But most people don't know that and think that they are getting raped in shipping.

Since Ebay has made the change to showing the shipping with price people need to know that you should know how much you are willing to pay with shipping included. If I am willing to pay $35 I look for an auction with that price combined buy it now---if I don't find it--I go back in a month and look for it again.

When I sell on ebay I look at the Buy it now prices---I take the lowest combined game price + shipping and I beat it by $1-----my auctions usually end in less than a day.

Shipping a video game is cheap--$1.50 to $1.85 via first class mail--plus the cost of the envelopes---which is very small per envelope if you buy 100 of them from Staples (or if you can get them free at work). The pain is the trip to the post office---I've got that figured out too though---get there 15 minutes before the post office opens on Saturday morning and you're in and out in 15-20 minutes.

oh i know about the paypal and listing fees, ive sold stuff on ebay before, but that still doesn't mean you're not getting raped on shipping. i've seen items on ebay that sold for $30 (like video games) that end up having 15-20 for shipping. theres no way ebay fees is 50+% of the items purchase cost

Thats probably because people don't pay attention to the shipping and only look at the bidding price---thats no one's fault but the bidder--you have to pay attention---know what you're willing to pay and stop yourself from bidding any higher.

Problem is that people bid snipe at the end of auctions so you always wind up getting outbid by .50 cents.

I think ive only paid full price for 3 of my games ($60 for Oblivion C.E., $70 for GoW C.E., $60 for Enchanted Arms) So out of the 40 xbox 360 games 3 isnt to bad. Im quite a bargain shopper so it helps. I often hit up the gamestop/EB Buy 2 Get 1 Free Sales and use my edge to save an extra 10% and will stack with game informer extra 10% off coupons for an even better deal. I have picked up at least 24 games like this. I also use buy.com when new titles come out and can often pick up a new title for 43.99 with free shipping (Did this for Crackdown, Forza 2, etc.) And the rest i will pricematch stores like when Call of Duty 3 Gold was on sale at CC for 39.99 i had Best Buy PM it for that and then i used $10 reward zone bucks for anotehr deal.

If you don't like that it costs more for the PC, then buy the PC version. I mean, you're not an idiot right?

And come on, games have cost pretty much the same since NES days back in the 80s.

If you don't like it, don't buy it. No one is holding a gun to your head.

If you don't like that it costs more for the PC, then buy the PC version. I mean, you're not an idiot right?

And come on, games have cost pretty much the same since NES days back in the 80s.

If you don't like it, don't buy it. No one is holding a gun to your head.

Eh, it is a free market and all, I'm all w/ you on that. But if you can't complain on a forum, where can you complain ;).

Nobody has to pay retail. CheapAssGamer.com is your friend. Whenever a new game is released, it is undoubtedly on sale somewhere. Hell, right now you can get $5 off any game or gaming accessory at best buy, for starters. I would NEVER pay $60 for a game.

My problem is not the $60 cost. It is the $60 cost when the same game for PC is still $50.
I think the game developers have to pay royalties to the console manufacturer for releasing console games but not for games for the PC.

Also consider that PC games are competing with the freenet/bit torrent/stolen market. The 360 does not have that competition.

Also consider that PC games are competing with the freenet/bit torrent/stolen market. The 360 does not have that competition.

Yes it does.

Nobody has to pay retail. CheapAssGamer.com is your friend. Whenever a new game is released, it is undoubtedly on sale somewhere. Hell, right now you can get $5 off any game or gaming accessory at best buy, for starters. I would NEVER pay $60 for a game.


CAG is more evil than good, granted it saves you alot of money but i think i buy 10 times more games now than i used too :eek: well i guess its not all that evil. :cool:

Yes it does.

But to a far lesser degree.

I honestly believe the difference in the "standard" cost now is simply the term next gen. Console/game makers saw a business opportunity and took it. Most people obviously suck it up.

The same thing with microtransactions. I rarely buy "extras" for games after purchasing the game but someone has to or they wouldn't keep putting the stuff on the marketplace.

I thought the console games were more expensive to subsidize the cost of the console. Are not the consoles sold at cost or a loss in hopes of greater returns on more game sales. So the cost of the game has to pay for the development of the game and the console. A PC game only has to cover development of the game.

My question is why are they $20 more then the PC version? Seems like it would be easier to program for set hardware like the 360. With the PC version they have to add all the code so the computer guys can modify the settings and find one that works, plus have to program for multiple driver types. How could it possibly be cheaper to program for the PC when you have so many extra things to take into account?
Licensing for consoles costs $$$.