How Expensive Are Games?

[MaximB]

Hello !

I must confess that I am an ex-software pirate.
At my days I pirated everything and bought nothing (legal) for the simple reason that I was a student and had no income, I couldn't afford to buy anything and couldn't ask for a penny from my broke mom
So my philosophy was that if I can't contribute to the developers then they are not losing  any money if I "pirate" their game which I can't afford to buy anyways.
 
After the army, and MCSE - I've learned Linux and very fast started using only Linux.
By that time I've found a job and had income.
So I had a new philosophy (which doesn't contradict with the old one which I'm still holding), as Linux needs more games I will try to support many Linux games, and indeed many of the Linux games I've bought (legally) I didn't play more then a few hours.
I have a very large collection of legal Linux games, and I play with a very few games (Heroes of Newerth is so addictive).

But most of the games I've bought were from indie developers (as big developers usually don't give a shit about Linux), so their cost was pretty low ($15-30).
If each game had cost $60, there is no way for me to support that many developers, and if I was a Windows user I think I would still pirate software because there are so many games available that I can't possible buy even 10% of them - but I still want to check many of them.

I must confess that I still pirate Movies/series , but my philosophy on this is "I pay to the cable/satellite company each month with big money, they air those series anyways (yes mine does)   and they will air those movies in a year or two.
So I'm just taking what I pay for before time.
On the other hand I almost never watch T.V (all from my PC).

So, why the "big" games cost $60 and the indie games cost $20 ?
Brand ? Trademark ? more developers ? publishers ? ....yeah publishers take a big cut of the pie.
Most indie devs don't use publishers (only after they finish their game and need to make few boxes) and most of their games are sold online via download.
Actually there is a very interesting article on this gaming subject :

http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Top-Misconceptions-About-Gaming-Industry-40569.html

[StephenArdrey]

Hello !

I must confess that I am an ex-software pirate.
At my days I pirated everything and bought nothing (legal) for the simple reason that I was a student and had no income, I couldn't afford to buy anything and couldn't ask for a penny from my broke mom
So my philosophy was that if I can't contribute to the developers then they are not losing  any money if I "pirate" their game which I can't afford to buy anyways.
 
After the army, and MCSE - I've learned Linux and very fast started using only Linux.
By that time I've found a job and had income.
So I had a new philosophy (which doesn't contradict with the old one which I'm still holding), as Linux needs more games I will try to support many Linux games, and indeed many of the Linux games I've bought (legally) I didn't play more then a few hours.
I have a very large collection of legal Linux games, and I play with a very few games (Heroes of Newerth is so addictive).

But most of the games I've bought were from indie developers (as big developers usually don't give a shit about Linux), so their cost was pretty low ($15-30).
If each game had cost $60, there is no way for me to support that many developers, and if I was a Windows user I think I would still pirate software because there are so many games available that I can't possible buy even 10% of them - but I still want to check many of them.

I must confess that I still pirate Movies/series , but my philosophy on this is "I pay to the cable/satellite company each month with big money, they air those series anyways (yes mine does)   and they will air those movies in a year or two.
So I'm just taking what I pay for before time.
On the other hand I almost never watch T.V (all from my PC).

So, why the "big" games cost $60 and the indie games cost $20 ?
Brand ? Trademark ? more developers ? publishers ? ....yeah publishers take a big cut of the pie.
Most indie devs don't use publishers (only after they finish their game and need to make few boxes) and most of their games are sold online via download.
Actually there is a very interesting article on this gaming subject :

http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Top-Misconceptions-About-Gaming-Industry-40569.html

I think the piracy problem is over blown. I think alot of gamers have been dooped into thinking that there is this huge piracy problem. Console games are the hardest things on earth to pirate and most of the illegal piracy is do to limitations placed on access to materials.

I did a long report on this and most organized criminals would tell you that in the US, it's not an issue. Most overseas markets have a bigger issue with this because of state censorship. An American porno film in Japan can be sold for over 500 dollars because of the censoring of penetration and genital areas.

The Titicut Follies and The Prophet are some of the most pirated movies in the US. Why? Because you can't get legal copies of either movie. The same goes for that horrible crap Crispin Glover produces.

In the US, most of us want a polished product and will pay for it. Just keep that in mind, that any banning leads to a black market.

[FaTony]

As a rule of thumb, I almost never license* games that cost more than 3$. Thanks to Steam, even with this policy I currently have a list of games I've licensed* but haven't played yet.

* Software is licensed, not sold.

[fake]

As my gf wants another cell phone I'm not that expensive in games anymore...
... just got an other more expensive hobby... lol....saveme...

[FaTony]

Want cheap games? Pirate them. Russia has a very high piracy rate that's why Steam and retail games there are 50% cheaper.

Vote with your wallet and Internet connection.

[StephenArdrey]

Want cheap games? Pirate them. Russia has a very high piracy rate that's why Steam and retail games there are 50% cheaper.

Vote with your wallet and Internet connection.

That's also a good way to ensure that certain titles don't get sequels and remakes. Really, if you love a game back it if not don't but piracy should only be used in the most extreme cases like Venezuela

[noregrets]

In most European countries and Australia/New Zealand games are double the price they are in the USA. This includes both retail and digital distribution prices and it's ridiculous. Games should cost the same in every country, it seems unfair that certain countries are being ripped off for no reason even more so when the game is purchased through a digital distribution service and some countries pay double what it costs in the USA.

I like GoG.com's approach to pricing - the price is the same in every country.

[BnGamesReviews]

Want cheap games? Pirate them. Russia has a very high piracy rate that's why Steam and retail games there are 50% cheaper.

Vote with your wallet and Internet connection.

This sort of mindset is what kills many games, sequels, and projects from ever making it off the ground.  The PC (And generally Anti-Console) community suffer the most when publishers do not want to cater to the platform due piracy.  And in this mans opinion, if you cant afford it you shouldn't play it.  Its as simple as that.  If your low on dough, then save for it.  Developers/Publishers/Game Industry needs to get paid too just like you and me.

[FaTony]

Yeah, except they've gone too far and need to be punished.

I want Valve, EA, Ubisoft, Take-Two, Gearbox, Activision, Sony and Microsoft to go out of business.

If for some magical reason all those companies will vanish, nothing of value will be lost.

[BnGamesReviews]

Yeah, except they've gone too far and need to be punished.

I want Valve, EA, Ubisoft, Take-Two, Gearbox, Activision, Sony and Microsoft to go out of business.

If for some magical reason all those companies will vanish, nothing of value will be lost.

Any by what do you mean "Too far" exactly?

[StephenArdrey]

Why wasn't Nintendo on that long list? Really, if one is guilty, they all are to a certain extent.

[MrDownerup]

bottom line it's all Entertainment. We don't need any of this stuff,but if you enjoy it (as I do),support it.. then you'll most likely end up with some more great Entertainment..

I've been guilty of "try before buy",but if I enjoy it past a level,or two..I always buy..even if I have to wait for sale,or save..

and yeah..what does that even mean.."gone too far" ? none of those companies have harmed me,or anyone I know,in any way. unless you consider shopping an addiction,and these guys are the pushers..in which case all companies are guilty..

[StephenArdrey]

bottom line it's all Entertainment. We don't need any of this stuff,but if you enjoy it (as I do),support it.. then you'll most likely end up with some more great Entertainment..

I've been guilty of "try before buy",but if I enjoy it past a level,or two..I always buy..even if I have to wait for sale,or save..

and yeah..what does that even mean.."gone too far" ? none of those companies have harmed me,or anyone I know,in any way. unless you consider shopping an addiction,and these guys are the pushers..in which case all companies are guilty..

Agreed, I can't seem to see why people always blame big companies for their parils. The reality is, you can choose not to buy anything from them. If you don't like EA, don't buy from them and they will eventually change things up or go out of business. On the other hand if you pirate their games, you are kind of a hypocrite.

It's like saying," Hey, you guys suck... but I want to play your games."

That doesn't make much sense. The idea that some people, are trying to rally around a flag of anti-corporate establishment, is kind of a lie. Take the Occupy movement, a group of hipster douche bags without aim trying to take on corporations for their own faults. You can't take on a corporation, if you are sitting on your iPhone and tweeting about your expirience.

The blame game is stupid. The only people we have to blame, is ourselves. Plus with what I said earlier, game prices have basically gone down over time if you look at inflation. That being said, I don't buy into the pro-piracy movement.

I can understand checking something out if it doesn't have a demo. I can even excuse people illegally downloading a product that isn't allowed in their area ex. Austrailia, UK, and Venezuala. Using piracy as a means to lower game prices or take these guys down a notch, is just plain, everyday bullshit.

If I really want a gold necklace, and I pirate it from the jewelry store. I do time because people have lost revenue because of my actions. Not because people think things shouldn't be free. The reality is, you aren't really hurting the corporate CEO's when you pirate, you are only hurting the little man when you do.

The game testers get laid off before anyone else because quality controll is always a back burner. Then star programmers leave and you end up with half assed, half baked products from these companies all because you couldn't wait for a price drop? Sincerly, I try to get it but there isn't much of a leg to stand on in any case.

[FaTony]

but if you enjoy it (as I do),support it.. then you'll most likely end up with some more great Entertainment..

No, it works the opposite way actually. See, if companies see that you pay for it, they will go to the great lengths to minimize work involved and to maximize profits. This always ends up into piece of shit sequels. It's the small and unknown companies who struggle to survive are actually more likely to produce good entertainment, because they need to take people off the other franchises' needles.

unless you consider shopping an addiction,and these guys are the pushers..in which case all companies are guilty..

I actually think like that.

Anyway, I was trying to say that pirating games (whether it's good or bad) will lower prices. Simple as that. I'm not actually pro-piracy, I'm anti-copyright. I like that piracy threatens the concept called "intellectual monopoly". I mostly pay for my games, as a result, I carefully read EULAs and I don't like the fact that I have almost none rights over the stuff I've paid for.

While typing this post I've looked "first-sale doctrine" on Wikipedia as a refresher and wow, this article has been changed a lot since the last time I read it. I guess I've read too much EULAs and have to read actual laws somewhere.

I usually release my stuff into public domain. But it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that it's almost impossible to create something without using someone's previous works. And in today's world it's almost impossible to create something without copyright infringement or without paying substantial sum of money. That creates a huge obstacle for free (as in free beer and as in free speech) content.

Thankfully, we have free software movement (and not only software), Pirate Parties, etc. These are concentrated on actually helping other people and not mindlessly making money.

I view commercial game developers/publishers as evil. I view my love of gaming as addiction and disease. I sometimes have to pay these evil people for a dose, I don't feel good about it.

[RedGhostFrog]

I feel it is somewhat unfair that people criticise piracy when they have it so easy when it comes to buying games. As others pointed out, some games don't get released in some countries, and then if they do the price is unreasonably rised. And of course some countries are so poor that they cannot even afford the prices in the US, let alone in their own countries. Saving and buying it later is just not a choice there.

I personally believe (and I might be poorly informed) that the gaming industry tends to not be such an asshole when it comes to copyright enforcement, at least compared to the film or the music industry. That being said, copyright laws in the US are insane. Check this: http://copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm copyright expires "70 years after the death of author. If a work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first". And now Congress can re-copyright works in the public domain. What the fuck!?
And don't even get me started on SOPA, PIPA, CISPA, ACTA and other shit laws like those...

It's like saying," Hey, you guys suck... but I want to play your games."

Agreed, it's hypocritical. But bear in mind that's not the only reason to pirate.

but if you enjoy it (as I do),support it.. then you'll most likely end up with some more great Entertainment..

No, it works the opposite way actually. See, if companies see that you pay for it, they will go to the great lengths to minimize work involved and to maximize profits. This always ends up into piece of shit sequels. It's the small and unknown companies who struggle to survive are actually more likely to produce good entertainment, because they need to take people off the other franchises' needles.

unless you consider shopping an addiction,and these guys are the pushers..in which case all companies are guilty..

I actually think like that.

Anyway, I was trying to say that pirating games (whether it's good or bad) will lower prices. Simple as that. I'm not actually pro-piracy, I'm anti-copyright. I like that piracy threatens the concept called "intellectual monopoly". I mostly pay for my games, as a result, I carefully read EULAs and I don't like the fact that I have almost none rights over the stuff I've paid for.

While typing this post I've looked "first-sale doctrine" on Wikipedia as a refresher and wow, this article has been changed a lot since the last time I read it. I guess I've read too much EULAs and have to read actual laws somewhere.

I usually release my stuff into public domain. But it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that it's almost impossible to create something without using someone's previous works. And in today's world it's almost impossible to create something without copyright infringement or without paying substantial sum of money. That creates a huge obstacle for free (as in free beer and as in free speech) content.

Thankfully, we have free software movement (and not only software), Pirate Parties, etc. These are concentrated on actually helping other people and not mindlessly making money.

I view commercial game developers/publishers as evil. I view my love of gaming as addiction and disease. I sometimes have to pay these evil people for a dose, I don't feel good about it.

This. Completely agreed.