Two recent events have caused me to be very concerned about the prices we'll be paying for Xbox Live Arcade games in the near future.First, Microsoft announced that they will be restructuring the XBLA. Basically, this means they will be de-listing titles that don't perform well or get low scores on Metacritic. You know this will include mostly retro titles that debuted at 400 points. I don't know why they don't just discount them and try to boost sales. The whole point of having digital distribution is to save money on packaging and shelf space. Arcade titles don't require any of that, so why take them off the service?
Second, the Penny Arcade game sold over 16k copies so far according to X3F. This means that, even with it's hefty $20 price tag, it still sold extremely well. Now, there's nothing wrong with a game selling well. The problem is the message that is sent by those numbers. Pricing the game at $20 was a risk, but it was also a way to test the waters to see if the world is ready for a 1600 point arcade game. Well, according to over 16,000 of you, we are. Thanks for fucking the rest of us!
Now, everyone makes the argument that the game is 7-8 hours, which is more than some retail games. And they say that those of us that speak out against the prices are just too poor to buy them. I call bullshit on both those arguments and I'll tell you why.
First off, 7-8 hours of gameplay is fine, but that's all you get. There's no multiplayer. There's no real replay value unless you want to play the same story multiple times. Also, if it were a retail game you would have the option to trade it in for credit or sell it on eBay. With the digital distribution, the game will just sit on your hard drive forever.
Finally, just because I don't want to drop $20 on a 8 hour game does not mean I'm poor. It means I'm not willing to support higher prices for the sake of higher prices. I'm all for the advancement of the industry, but this just smacks of the fleecing of the 360 install base.
Some people who are big PA fans may think the game is reasonably priced, but I say it's just one more step in the direction of higher prices and less value for the consumer.
6 comments:
Judging by your prior GTA4 post, you obviously have a love of conspiracy theories that make NO sense in the least. But, without getting into details on why this may possibly be one of the most unresearched, unfounded, and biased posts I've read in years... lets just examine what you've wrote:
Now, everyone makes the argument that the game is 7-8 hours, which is more than some retail games. And they say that those of us that speak out against the prices are just too poor to buy them. I call bullshit on both those arguments and I'll tell you why.
First off, 7-8 hours of gameplay is fine, but that's all you get. There's no multiplayer. There's no real replay value unless you want to play the same story multiple times. Also, if it were a retail game you would have the option to trade it in for credit or sell it on eBay. With the digital distribution, the game will just sit on your hard drive forever.
Now, I know this may be tough for you to process, so let me work you through the bold points. You admit that the game is about 8 hours of gameplay; it can go as far as 12 if you're really trying, but lets call it 8. Halo 3 took me about 6 hours to beat. Call of Duty 4 maybe 5. Both of those games fall into your "Well they have multiplayer" point. And both of those games are 60 dollars. I get the same amount of single player content for $20 with no multiplayer. Sounds like an AMAZING deal in retrospect.
And I know you clearly love this conspiracy theory of yours, that this was a test for Microsoft to see what users would be willing to pay. However, the Penny Arcade game was always envisioned as a PC/Mac/Linux release, and also 360 as DLC. The PC/Mac/Linux version is $20. Did you think they were going to just going to lower the price for 360 users because they're so....awesome? The game is worth $20, so $20 was charged. You don't get special pricing because you have Arcade-style games priced cheaper.
The PA guys made a great game, and $20 is a value for what you get. If you can't see that, you're obviously blurred by your desire to find conspiracy theories everywhere. Don't even get me started with your GTA4 comments. Just stop being ignorant and open your eyes.
I see that you're trying to defend what you think is a good point, but you're obviously very wrong. I won't hide behind sarcasm and "witty" comments. I will simply post the facts.
Just because you blew threw Halo 3 and CoD4 in those short times doesn't mean that there isn't a ton of replay value to the single player campaigns. Plus, add in the multiplayer, which has everyone getting medals and perks, you have two discs that are packed with value. Way more than is quantifiable for each individual person. So, that ruins your argument that the PA game is an "AMAZING" deal. Just means you like Penny Arcade enough to felate them.
And the game is going to be 4 episodes at $20 a piece. That's $80 in case you can't process it. That's a lot even for a retail game. And you will only play it once and you can never trade it in. It will languish on your hard drive like all your GTAIV saves.
And by the way, I'm not the only one who believes this "conspiracy theory" as you put it. There are plenty of people who think the exact same thing. Maybe you should open your eyes instead of being a mindless drone willing to pay whatever they ask. Stop being an ignorant lemming and open your eyes.
Hey Gemini, you gotta realize that just because this first episode is 20$, that doesn't mean all the rest will be. The next ones might 15$ or 10$. I'm just talking out my ass here, I really don't know how it's gonna go.
I'm shocked at a $20 game for XBLA, but its fan base clearly spoke and is willing to pay. I got the trial to at least give it a look later. As for kicking game play around an all, funny thing is way back with all the old games. I'm talking way back. I use to play some of those side scroller games over an over, hours upon hours and not even get bored doing the same thing over and over. These games are leaps an bounds above those and I imagine I could see myself going through them again an again at some point. So your talking about 21-24 hours of possible play in that respect.
You make some valid points about the lack of resale or the lack of multiplayer options, but for a 7-8 hour game that is well made, I am fine with paying $20.
Not everyone finds multiplayer to be a necessity in a game that they plan to purchase, and there's nothing that says you can't replay the game.
I paid $54 bucks for Prince of Persia and Shadow of the Colossus, which both lasted about 6 hours. I loved both and have only played a few times since.
The initial experience can warrant a purchase for gamers who are interested in storytelling and such.
I imagine those are the types who would be okay with purchasing this game.
also, this: http://gamecrush.blogspot.com/2006/12/long-game-isnt-better-game.html
Thanks for the awesome comments, guys. It's all about what's important to you. I just don't want there to come a day when they release Assault Heroes 3 (for example) for $20 just because they think they can.
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