Why do videogames have such a short shelf life?

[Duke.Togo]

The industry creates its own cycle. With such a glut of product on the market and no quality standards, we're not far removed from the pre-crash era of the early 80's. Luckily the market has grown considerably, and gaming isn't seen as a fad so it will continue but we'll see this process repeat itself until the market changes or the distribution method changes.

Nintendo understands this with their first party titles; I just wish we could go back to the day of tighter control over releases. I believe that this will have to happen for total digital distribution to be successful.

[Zing]

It is rather odd that I can walk into Best Buy and pick up something like Rain Man on DVD, which they will have half a dozen copies, yet even the modern gaming selection is anemic.

[flojocabron]

hi everyone back again.

with some more stuff.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/20 ... ime-titles

that link up there is for a court battle between anime liscencors fighting over the rights of progams and money owed.

we're seeing money amounts for certain properties in high numbers.

Just substitute any anime on that list for any JP videogame.

the amount of money being moved is quite alot.

For an old videogame which still may be owned by various companies, one wrong move or subversive deal may leave a product in LICENSING HELL.

Some games may have songs, tech or orginal ideas that may be trademarked and re-liscensing it may be too much trouble for its worth.

Yeah its already out on a virtual console, but physical media may require new contracts.

And you know these companies can lawyer up to make it worse.

Movies and music are easier to re-negotiate cause the same companies always own them. And they own it with an iron grip!

When products are owned by various corporations they all want a piece of the pie.

[noiseredux]

It is rather odd that I can walk into Best Buy and pick up something like Rain Man on DVD, which they will have half a dozen copies, yet even the modern gaming selection is anemic.

yeah exactly, that's kind of what I wanted to articulate. So yes, you can go to Best Buy and get Rain Man on DVD. They probably have 3 copies. But you can't get Final Fantasy VII at Best Buy (even though a current gen console can play PS1 games ).

[AppleQueso]

Price of a brand new movie: $5-25
Price of a brand new game: $15-60

[noiseredux]

Price of a brand new movie: $5-25
Price of a brand new game: $15-60

but for instance, in my example, you can still buy those PS1 games from Square's website. They go for about $15. It just seems to me that if you could walk into Best Buy and purchase Final Fantasy VII for instance, for $10 or $15, a lot of people would. Imagine just a section of PS1 Greatest Hits games for super cheap right next to the PS3 section of your local big chain store... a sign that says "Replay your old classics on your PlayStation 3" (because there's probably a lot of folks who don't even realize they have the option...?).

[AppleQueso]

Price of a brand new movie: $5-25
Price of a brand new game: $15-60

but for instance, in my example, you can still buy those PS1 games from Square's website. They go for about $15. It just seems to me that if you could walk into Best Buy and purchase Final Fantasy VII for instance, for $10 or $15, a lot of people would. Imagine just a section of PS1 Greatest Hits games for super cheap right next to the PS3 section of your local big chain store... a sign that says "Replay your old classics on your PlayStation 3" (because there's probably a lot of folks who don't even realize they have the option...?).

Oh man about once a month I run into a post from someone who's all tripping out because they just realized their ps3 can play ps1 games.

[noiseredux]

Oh man about once a month I run into a post from someone who's all tripping out because they just realized their ps3 can play ps1 games.

seriously? That's so weird. I feel like I've told multiple people (family members or co-workers that have kids) that the Wii can play GameCube games and their heads blow up.

...of course I guess that's not still true, but I'm getting off topic here.

The Wii was kind of a good example at first. For a while after it came out you could still find brand new GameCube games sitting there next to the Wii games on a shelf. Just seems to me that at least things like Double Dash or the Zelda titles, etc would/could have continued to sell had they stayed in print.

[Hobie-wan]

Game hardware companies push for technology advancement which spurs people to move on from anything that looks old. If movies were brand new today, I bet the same thing would be happening.

Moving pictures! See people dance!

Talking pictures, the new hotness! Why read sparse title cards when you can hear the actors speak!

Movies, now in color! Why watch those drab old black and white films?

Technicolor! Colors so real and vivid you can taste them!

3D! Why watch flat pictures when they can leap out into the audience!

etc...

I suppose it did happen to a lesser degree with music. Records so you could listen at any time, then stereo. Tapes that were more portable. CDs that didn't wear out with each play and once again let you jump right to any song without winding.

[jfrost]

I guess that's the reason I've moved to the PC. Not only it is cheaper for me, but digital distribution has brought back all the games I loved from years ago. With consoles there seems to be a need to be always up to date.

Might be only a perception, but it is how I perceive it anyway.

And I'm always ranting against the gated communities of consoles lately. I guess these proprietary boxes aren't for me anymore.