$60 games - A look at value.

[DaMullet]

You know, its really interesting to look at the mindset of people here.

People are complaining that they only get 10-20 hours of enjoyment out of a $60 title. This seems really weird to me because if you compare what you can spend $60 and then looks at the amount of fun time you get out of that, games are a REALLY good value.

So, let's look at some averages of the upper levels of what people are willing to pay. This is based on buying it new and enjoying it once, replay value is another topic.

Video Game
$60 / 15 hours = $4 per hour

Epic Video Game
$60 / 100 hours = $0.60 per hour

-Edit- I added this in for further comparison
Poor Video Game
$60 / 5 hours = $12 per hour

Night out
$100 / 6 Hours = $16.67 per hour

Blu-Ray Movie
$30 / 1.75 hours = $17.14 Per hour

Movie at the Theatre
$12 / 1.75 hours = $6.88 Per hour

Music Album
$20 / 1 hour = $20 Per hour
-Edit- I took this out because it can't be simplifed like this

Novel
$15 / 5 Hours = $3 per hour
(Cost Reference - http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/top-50-books/
I've also spent myself upto $35 for a book that I REALLY wanted)

As you can see, on a cost per hour of enjoyment, even short video games are one of the best bangs for your buck.

So... Why the hate for the $60 tag? I must be missing something...


--Update--

So after all the feedback from people I have a hypothetical conclusion that sums up the $60 hate.

And I'll use cars as an easy example

Let's take two cars;
Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG, $59,900
Nissan Versa 1.6, $10,740

If someone sold you a Nissan Versa for $59,900, you'd be really pissed off because you could have gotten a better car for the same price.

So when you buy a $60 game and only have as much fun with it as other $10 games in your library you feel jipped.

Regardless of the cost, its not a competitive price point. I think games are getting away with this because people have to buy it first to find out the value and you can't return it for 100% of your money back.

But now we're left with the problem as to how to fix this.

I say, especially to publishers, lower the price on crappy games and raise the price on good games to balance it out. Have reviewers play the game before it hits the shelves to help determind its worth.

If Kane and Lynch 2, brand new, was $30-$35 tops, it would take that edge off a bit.

But when you know that games are going to be good, they're going to be worth gold.
Here are some examples of games that I think would easily sell at a $70-$80 price point.

Skyrim
Mass Effect 3
Diablo 3

That way, your bottom line doesn't/shouldn't move and you end up with more happy, satisfied customers and happier customers buy more.

With that extra cash from that, publishers can then fund more AAA projects that are polished and immersive that are worth the higher price point resulting in more money.

This way, publishers have the ability to test out new concepts with that stream of cash, and if they strike gold (Like Portal) keep making money.

On the consumer side we see games like the 3 above that are pricy but worth it, but have new and unique titles for $20-$30 brand new. Giving us a rich and diverse artform to enjoy at any level we choose just like buying just about anything else. If people were not willing to break the bank for higher value items, then things like high end cars, diamonds, or $5,000 burgers wouldn't exist!
http://www.lasvegasvegas.com/content/5000-fleurburger-vs-499-n-out-burger

I'm just thinking out loud though. I know I'm probably missing something so please correct me!

 

[RoBi3.0]

results may very.

I find all your numbers very skewed in favor of your point, but I agree $60 is not bad for a good game. There are however lots of games that are not worth that price tag, but for those I wait and buy them on the cheap, usually used.

 

[PixelKing]

Or £40 for 6hrs of Dead Space 2.
What? I powerplay.

 

[DaMullet]

results may very.

Of course.

I find all your numbers very skewed in favor of your point

Example?

I know there are some move tickets that are only like $4, or some new blue-ray movies are only $20 and some new books are as cheap as $5. Just as there are DS games that are less then $40, or new PC games that are like $10, or Steam games that are like $5, and I'm not even looking at the $1 apps on phones.

I'm looking at the upper average limits of what people are willing to pay.

 

[LightningBanks]

I agree, its just the lack of funding for me, especially since I want manygames, and generally leave games unfinished by habit.

But when I get a game I play alot, it is really good value. I have over 100 hours on Tf2 and cod4, and 40 hours on super street fighter 4 3ds (to name a few) and I havent stopped playing these yet.

But then enter games Ive barely played 5 hours ><

ahh, I hate myself sometimes

 

[DaMullet]

I agree, its just the lack of funding for me, especially since I want manygames, and generally leave games unfinished by habit.

But when I get a game I play alot, it is really good value. I have over 100 hours on Tf2 and cod4, and 40 hours on super street fighter 4 3ds (to name a few) and I havent stopped playing these yet.

Well, look at it this way, if you were a party animal or a movie buff, you'd be even poorer or more bored then you are now!

But then enter games Ive barely played 5 hours ><

ahh, I hate myself sometimes

I added a poor video game to my OP and its still not the most expencive thing on the list. So no worries!

 

[Senaro]

The music one is a bit strange, unless other people make a habit of only listening to a CD once ever. Maybe for a bad CD.

I'm just not sure that a "Money per hour" scale is a good way to measure how good a game, book, or movie is. For me, a night out might mean I drop ten dollars at a buffet for a couple hours and chat with friends. It's less "results may vary" and more of "Here's a single example." There are just too many variables in each of these cases to really judge.

 

[Valkyrie101]

Regarding music albums, they generally have much higher replay value - you can listen to an album many times, whereas you can't watch a film very often. Games also have higher replay value, but to a lesser extent than music.

 

[Zantos]

Like it. I've always maintained that videogames are comparatively cheap. Spesh if you bought the Morrowind GOTY for £6.

Or for that matter Might and Magic 7 for 50 pence. And got about 60 hours out of it. That's less than a penny an hour!

 

[danintexas]

The original Atari 2600 console cost $200

Games ran about $30-$50 each

FYI - That was actual USD - not adjusted for inflation

No one should complain about the cost of video games these days. There isn't a reason for it. They are probably the cheapest form of entertainment you can buy other than perhaps a stick and a rock.

 

[Wolfram23]

A 5 hour novel? I don't think so! I'm a pretty quick reader, I just finished this great book by Guy Gavriel Kay called Under Heaven and it took me at least a good 10 hours to read.

But anyway, looking at it from a consumer standpoint of dollar value per hour is one thing, but look at it from the other side. Money spent to create the product, plus desired revenue, divided by expected sales. A game that costs 10 million to make and sells 1 million copies, with a 40% profit, should only cost ($10,000,000*1.4)/1,000,000 = $14. Fourteen dollars!!! With a 40% profit!

 

[funguy2121]

You know, its really interesting to look at the mindset of people here.

People are complaining that they only get 10-20 hours of enjoyment out of a $60 title. This seems really weird to me because if you compare what you can spend $60 and then looks at the amount of fun time you get out of that, games are a REALLY good value.

So, let's look at some averages of the upper levels of what people are willing to pay. This is based on buying it new and enjoying it once, replay value is another topic.

Video Game
$60 / 15 hours = $4 per hour

Epic Video Game
$60 / 100 hours = $0.60 per hour

Night out
$100 / 6 Hours = $16.67 per hour

Blu-Ray Movie
$30 / 1.75 hours = $17.14 Per hour

Movie at the Theatre
$12 / 1.75 hours = $6.88 Per hour

Music Album
$20 / 1 hour = $20 Per hour

Novel
$15 / 5 Hours = $3 per hour

As you can see, on a cost per hour of enjoyment, even short video games are one of the best bangs for your buck.

So... Why the hate for the $60 tag? I must be missing something...

With respect, I think OP is missing the point by a mile.

To even attempt to compare music, literature, cinema and video games in terms of value is to not understand the subjectivity of art, though they can certainly be compared in terms of genre and stylistic choices. Also, your theory is based solely on arbitrary time values and equally arbitrary prices, and does not take any other values into consideration. For example, video games have not saturated the mainstream enough to have the same impact as the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin. Personally, I spent a little more than a 1/4 on Inception than I spent on Metroid: Other M, and I've easily spent 3 x's as much time watching the former than playing through the latter. Also, most "epic" or quest type games last 30-40 hours, and most other games last 8 hours or less. A night out may extend from dusk 'til dawn and cost less than $20, but even if it does last 6 hours or less and cost $100 or more, a night out with friends more than likely will generate more lifelong memories, and perhaps generate more lifelong relationships, than will the 50 hours you spend in a couple of months playing World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy. A night out is far more likely to include an introduction that leads to a first kiss, or a lovemaking session, or a fellow musician with whom you ultimately form a band, or a person highly regarded in your field who helps you get started on your career.

Furthermore, I don't think there is "hate" for the $60 pricetag. The economy still sucks and those of us who spend our own money, not our parents', on games would rather pay the $40-50 for which you can get most Wii and 360 games than the PS3's $60 pricepoint. The PS3 is supposedly substantially superior in processing power to the 360, yet almost all multiplatform games still look better on the older, cheaper 360. $50 is a reasonable expectation for games.

 

[Flames66]

Night out
$100 / 6 Hours = $16.67 per hour

I have never spent that much on a night out. I don't go on them very often though.

Also

Novel
$15 / 5 Hours = $3 per hour

You read your novels damn fast.

Now, I avoid spending more than £10 on a game, same as I try to avoid it when buying anything else. For me it is a nice even price above which I start to feel a hole in my wallet.

 

[Jasper Jeffs]

You could include monthly subscription based games in your OP as well, that's practically limitless replay value for a month. I personally don't like spending £40, it's a lot of money and some games clearly aren't worth it for the 5/6 hours you get out of them.

I think there's too many variables to bluntly say "video games are good value for money", some video games can be great value and others can be shit, I might rate other forms of entertainment higher than video games, I might get bored of video games quickly etc.

 

[EternalFacepalm]

A novel usually lasts far longer than 3 hours.

I don't see many games worth 60$; the only ones I've seen recently were CoD-games, and those last around three hours, so yeah.
Just bought Terraria for 10$, and I've played it 10 hours or so. Much more worth than your usual 60$ game.
Half-Life 2 I've found for as low as 2 dollars(!), and that game is like 12 hours of gameplay.
Portal sells for 2 dollars as well, and that's 0.5$ per hour; so, tell me, why not hate the 60 dollar pricetag?

 

[distortedreality]

Blu-Ray Movie
$30 / 1.75 hours = $17.14 Per hour

Music Album
$20 / 1 hour = $20 Per hour

Novel
$15 / 5 Hours = $3 per hour

While I agree with the point you're making, none of this helps your case any...

Also, just because a game is 5 hours or less, does not mean it's a bad game. But that's a different argument, one that's been done even more times than this one.

/edit - funguy wins thread.

 

[silent-treatment]

If you are spending $20 on a music album then you are doing it wrong. Even with regular prices, like around $13, your point is still proven though, but I can see where people would get that you are leaning towards your point. There is an X factor that you are leaving out though, and that is enjoyment. With blu-ray, the satisfaction does not only come from the movie itself, there is the awesomeness of the high definition. If you just want the movie then get the DVD for twenty.

Mind you I agree, to a point, with your argument, but I cant afford the 60 bucks to buy a game. The thing that I am confused on is I use steam. I own none of the current gen systems, and no I am not counting the family wii, so I only use my (shitty) computer to play games. Why is it that I am paying the SAME amount of money for a digital copy of a game, then people do for a physical copy? Does one not pay less on iTunes? It bugs me a little, that and the last game I paid 60 bucks for was MW2 and I hated it, but thats besides the point...

 

[brunothepig]

Note: I'll be going by Australian prices.
The thing is, it's a lump sum. If you enjoy a game, typically you will get more entertainment for your money. But if you don't enjoy it, you're down far more than you would be had you bought a crappy movie or book. While I agree, I loved Portal 2 and thought it was well worth the $60, had I paid full price for (for example) Dead Space I would have been bitterly disappointed. I would have been down $80-$100, for 3-4 hours of sticking with it in the hopes I'll enjoy it more. Basically, I got almost no entertainment out of Dead Space, meaning, had I paid full price, I would have lost a lot more than I would have if I'd misjudged a movie or book. Basically, I'd have no complaint if we'd be given comprehensive demo's.
On top of that, there are degrees to it, you're massively oversimplifying.
Oh, and this is just a complaint, but I reckon assuming an album would only be played once is going a bit far. I've almost listened to a fair number of albums much more than I've played any game.

 

[BreakfastMan]

So... Why the hate for the $60 tag?

Because people are cheap and don't like to spend money. They would rather pay less and get more. I sure know I do (I am probably one of the cheapest people on the forums). That is why things like used game stores exist. Because people are greedy and want to spend the least possible.

 

[Krantos]

Novel
$15 / 5 Hours = $3 per hour

Where the hell do you shop for books?

Average cost for a softcover book is about $8 (USD) at most major bookstores. SO your numbers should look more like this:

$8 / 5 hrs = $1.6/hr

That is, of course, assuming that you read a book in 5 hrs. Most books I read range from 500-1,000 pages, so 5 hrs is a bit on the low side.

I don't have a problem with your point, but your estimates could use some work.