Reggie Fils-Aime: Low app prices threaten industry

[ZeroAX]

To take an uncharacteristically optimistic view of this issue, maybe this will encourage Nintendo et al. not to compete in the mini-game market. If there's no money in that market, they should go where the money is.. hardcore gamers ready to shovel over cash for lengthy and complex games.

Other than Wii part and Mario Party, I don't think Nintendo ever made mini game collections. It was the 3rd parties which shot themselves in the foot by making shitty mini game collections and thinking that the consumers are dumb enough to keep on getting burned by crappy games.

[Gnashvar]

[quote="ZeroAX"]I think comparing app games to big boxed games is like comparing youtube videos to movies.
quote]

I like your comment on this. You are right. When you compare games like Zelda and Oblivion to simple apps you realize you're getting more for your money in big budget games than simple ones.

[skyknight]

Well this is kinda resonating to an editor at 1up:
http://www.1up.com/news/angry-birds-cri ... gp-success

And I do agree with most of you, that gamers will continue to buy games, regardless of the media format, but the main concern will be the price expectation, i.e. say for PSP or DS, am I getting more bang per buck at USD $30 for a solid game vs. a $10 game via iTune store (like Chaos Ring)?

The concern for developers is this could following the so-called "Wal-Mart effort," that everything gets cheaper, but quality gets lower.

[AppleQueso]

I remember when games short, simple puzzle games like Tetris sold for just as much as games like Link's Awakening, and nobody complained...

[ZeroAX]

I remember when games short, simple puzzle games like Tetris sold for just as much as games like Link's Awakening, and nobody complained...

Thing is, Tetris was a marvel of game design. Heck the modern "updates" to it, only serve to make the game tacky. The original gameboy Tetris is timeless. But most of these iphone games are just....bad.

50 good games in a library of 10000 is a horrible ratio. Heck remove those games that are rip-offs of well known console games (I'm looking at you gameloft) or remove those games that only have good graphics to show (those games from Epic and iD) and what do you have left? Would you pay 300-500$ to play Angry Birds?

[Hatta]

Would you pay 300-500$ to play Angry Birds?

30 years ago the Atari 2600 cost over $600 in inflation adjusted dollars.

[Pulsar_t]

This thread is embarrassing So let's say Epic's $7 Project Sword comes to the 3DS with an RRP of $40.. It would have to be absolutely LOADED with extra content to justify the price hike.

The point is sorely missed here. People will pay up for whatever they think is fair, and that's always how things have been. So-called "hardcore gamers" are of little solace to firms that file for bankruptcy after being sunk because not enough people bought their $60-a-unit venture. I have no idea of Ninty's pricing on their DS channel, but they're definitely mental if they choose to ignore Apple's model of selling DLC games.

[AppleQueso]

I remember when games short, simple puzzle games like Tetris sold for just as much as games like Link's Awakening, and nobody complained...

Thing is, Tetris was a marvel of game design. Heck the modern "updates" to it, only serve to make the game tacky.

I'm talking about small, puzzle-oriented games in general. There was a point not even that long ago in time where people seemed fine with smaller, arcade-y games costing the same as giant rpgs with crazy graphics and fmv's out the ass.

Puzzle Bobble's another good example.

[AppleQueso]

...and besides all that, I think most of us can agree that some of the best games this gen have been inexpensive, dl-only PSN/XBLA/WiiWare titles and PC games, most of which cost in the realm of $10-15 or less.

My point is that I doubt "low prices" will threaten anything besides the inflated budget AAA types, which we could use less of anyhow.

[ZeroAX]

...and besides all that, I think most of us can agree that some of the best games this gen have been inexpensive, dl-only PSN/XBLA/WiiWare titles and PC games, most of which cost in the realm of $10-15 or less.

My point is that I doubt "low prices" will threaten anything besides the inflated budget AAA types, which we could use less of anyhow.

But the thing is, and I think this is what Reggie was referring to, we are talking about completely different price points. I too believe that games should be priced 10-20€, with less polished graphics being acceptable by gamers (playing my 16-bit consoles, and still don't see how their graphics could ever be considered "ugly" by anyone). That way developers will make a good amount of money off the sale, and consumers will buy more due to the much more logical price point.

But with the iphone market the way it is, they can barely make any money, unless their game becomes a huge hit, like angry birds. At, let's say, the 15$ price point, the developer will make 10$(Talking about digital distribution. Let's leave retail out of it for now), so with, let's say 20.000 sales, a small company with 10 people can make a respectable amount of money. 200.000$, should cover the costs of developing a small PSN/Steam/WiiWare/XBLA game, and even make a profit. But at the 1$ price point, a medium hit with only 20.000 sales, will barely make any money to keep a company afloat.

No the iphone market is only working for bedroom coders, and 2-3 person "companies". Try to go even slightly bigger than that, or try to do something really ambitious, and you are basically risking a lot.

Personally I wish the Steam/PSN/ect. route become the norm. A form of gatekeeper, who keeps shitty games off the virtual marketplace. And if you aren't happy with the gatekeeper, start your own "shop/mall". But the only place that would be possible would be on PC and Android. That's why I believe PC gaming is going to rock in the next couple of years, as more people start using digital distribution, and the PC will be the place to get the most innovative, logically priced, better quality, games.