Nintendo 3DS

[BoringSupreez]

Let us not forget the game prices of last gen, $30 for a GBA game and $50 for PS2/XB/GCN across the board.

I must of bought a new GBA game every week during its life! (at least it seemed like every week)

I remember people (including myself) complaining about the rising costs of games this gen. We didn't realize that games weren't becoming expensive, it was that prices were unusually low last gen. Remember the $10 PS1 games after the PS2 came out? And all greatest hits lines being $20?

[isiolia]

I remember people (including myself) complaining about the rising costs of games this gen. We didn't realize that games weren't becoming expensive, it was that prices were unusually low last gen. Remember the $10 PS1 games after the PS2 came out? And all greatest hits lines being $20?

Games are still generally becoming less expensive, in a way, as their price has tended to go up slowly relative to other things. We were paying $50-60 (sometimes $70-80) for SNES carts 20 years ago. PS1/etc saw the average cost drop (where the N64's went up some), but we're still really only back to early 90s cart prices now.

Handhelds are a bit different, as I still half expect them to be $20-30 like Game Boy games.

[Hazerd]

I remember people (including myself) complaining about the rising costs of games this gen. We didn't realize that games weren't becoming expensive, it was that prices were unusually low last gen. Remember the $10 PS1 games after the PS2 came out? And all greatest hits lines being $20?

Games are still generally becoming less expensive, in a way, as their price has tended to go up slowly relative to other things. We were paying $50-60 (sometimes $70-80) for SNES carts 20 years ago. PS1/etc saw the average cost drop (where the N64's went up some), but we're still really only back to early 90s cart prices now.

Handhelds are a bit different, as I still half expect them to be $20-30 like Game Boy games.

For sure, $69.99 for Pokemon Stadium, and lets not get started on Neo Geo.

[ZeroAX]

Games are still generally becoming less expensive, in a way, as their price has tended to go up slowly relative to other things. We were paying $50-60 (sometimes $70-80) for SNES carts 20 years ago. PS1/etc saw the average cost drop (where the N64's went up some), but we're still really only back to early 90s cart prices now.

Handhelds are a bit different, as I still half expect them to be $20-30 like Game Boy games.

The thing is PC and smartphone games are getting cheaper so people are expecting the same from console video games.

And let's not forget that the cartridge era game prices were greatly inflated.

Also why are you guys complaining? I had to pay 45-50€ for GBA games and 60€ for Gamecube games. Wii game prices are actually lower than gamecube prices, which was awesome for me.

[nightrnr]

Accounting for inflation, I think we are about right for prices (on physical releases).

But I still don't get the digital prices. I think there should be a bigger discount for downloaded games. There's no extra production costs, less middle-men (or none), and no resale value. In my mind, it should be like half the cost.

Most of the time, you can even find a good used copy of a game for a lot less than the DL-version.
The only time I ever buy is when there's a pretty good sale.

[ZenErik]

At the very least it would be nice to get 10 - 15% off on digital releases. It know companies want to increase their profit margins but increasing the margins a little bit and passing a little bit to the consumer would be nice. It happens sometimes but enough yet. At least on consoles. Not sure about PC releases.

[ZeroAX]

Accounting for inflation, I think we are about right for prices (on physical releases).

But I still don't get the digital prices. I think there should be a bigger discount for downloaded games. There's no extra production costs, less middle-men (or none), and no resale value. In my mind, it should be like half the cost.

Most of the time, you can even find a good used copy of a game for a lot less than the DL-version.
The only time I ever buy is when there's a pretty good sale.

Console sales still depemd too much on retailer promotions. None of the big 3 want to piss them off

[nightrnr]

Console sales still depend too much on retailer promotions. None of the big 3 want to piss them off

Sure, but I still think that DL sales need to evolve with the times a little more.
Plus, people will always want physical copies, that's not going away. It's easier for parents to shop for too, and hard goods make better gifts anyways.

Also, competition may actually be a bad thing in this case. If all 3 pissed 'em off at once, there'd be less problem (again business has to evolve somehow). But there is too much risk of losing business if only one does it.

But I don't know, your probably right (not being sarcastic, I really can't predict the ramifications).

[Opa Opa]

Is it just me or does Mario Kart 7 kind of suck? I'm not having any fun with it. Even though it had its share of problems, the Wii title is much more enjoyable than this.

[alienjesus]

Is it just me or does Mario Kart 7 kind of suck? I'm not having any fun with it. Even though it had its share of problems, the Wii title is much more enjoyable than this.

I disagree so thoroughly with this.

It's not my favourite in the series (Mario Kart DS is best) but it's up there. The Wii one is dire though, just unending clusterfuck of overpowered weaponry. Easily the worst entry in the series in my opinion.