What would happen if video games were cheaper?

[BloodSquirrel]

Let us say that the price of a brand new video game is $60.00. What if that were $50.00 instead? Would it make a difference? Would more people play video games? Would game publishers still make enough money? What would happen?

I'm going to let you in on a secret: Big companies don't price their products by throwing a dart at a wall with different numbers on it. The big publishers ran a lot of numbers, they looked at a lot of market research, and they decided that $60 was the price point where they would make the most profit. Were they right? Maybe, maybe not, but they've certainly put more thought and research into it than anybody on this forum has, and I see no overwhelming evidence to second guess them.

 

[Halceon]

Cheaper games = less piracy. And you know it's not a question of really being able to afford the game or not. It's about the feeling of affordable... -ness.

 

[AlphaOmega]

?60 is just too much for me, half the games for me are cheaper to import then buy here :x

 

[esperandote]

it dependes, it surely would mean more sells but will it mean more profit? if it did then game developers would be encouraged to develope more an better games, if not then the contrary, less and shitier games.

 

[teisjm]

I would use the money i saved on a laptop so i could play the games while at work. I would prolly just keep my current job and never get an education.

 

[squid5580]

I can't see it making much of a difference. We all know that if you are patient you can get the same game for 10 - 20 bucks (or free for that matter). 50 bucks is still alot for an unemployed kid. I would like to see it but frankly I buy lots of new games anyways since I lack the patience to wait for them to drop in price.

And lets not forget things like Gamefly where you can get access to all the games you want for a small fee.

I would like to see some sort of pricing scheme. Sure there are the budget titles but lets be honest not all games are created equal. Some games are worth the 60 and lots aren't. They should be sold at what they are worth not at some flat rate that someone came up with.

 

[skcseth]

They were $50 last cycle so not much at that price point.
I'd say they would have to come down to at least $40 to see any significant difference.
Then again, games would have to be really good and sell really well if companies wanted make anywhere near as much profit as they would if the price point was still at $60.
I'd really like to see games come down to $20 (I got my copy of UFC 2009 at Gamestop for $20 through their trade in program), but that might be asking too much. Maybe all game retailers should look into some sort of a trade in program to bring down the prices of games.

 

[Nmil-ek]

According to Valve's market research lower prices lead to higher profits. Not just higher sales, higher profits.

I think its time someone told them a monkey with a calculator is not good financial support.

 

[Shepard's Shadow]

The video game industry would fail.

 

[Mirroga]

Then I could probably buy both Prototype AND inFamous without doubts and reviews.

 

[DNA]

Why buy it the day it comes out anyhow? wait 2-3 months and the price will drop significantly anyhow.

Or be smart, and browse sales (especially online). Friend of mine picked up FO3 for 360 for like 20$ when the reg retail was still like 60$

 

[tenlong]

I would buy more games. I came to a realization recently. Unless i want a game badly ill wait till the prices go on a game. I can't tell the number of times over the years i bought a game and never played till months later .