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3rd Party PSP Games Cost Too Much.

S

Sho Nuff

Banned
I'm a mature (heh) adult and I have money to spend on dumb shit like video games. However, I have been growing ever more pissed off with the pricing of 3rd party PSP titles to the point where I simply don't buy them anymore (or get the second-hand Japanese versions for 3400 yen, like SSX and Burnout).

I know that PSP games cost more on the production side to make, that's fine. I don't mind paying a premium of $5 over the typical $35 price of DS/GBA titles. But when you ask me to pay $50 for a port of something that I could get the full version of for $50, well, then you can just bite me.

Think about it.

UMDs are cheap, cartridges are expensive (and yet they're STILL cheaper at retail). If they're shipping UMD porn for 900 yen, it's pretty friggin' obvious you can make a UMD for pennies and not worry about pre-allocating $10-$15 for the silicon alone.

What is the dealio here? I might pay $40 for a fully loaded portable Smackdown, but for $50 you'd just might as well get the PS2 version with the online play on your big-screen TV.
 
This is what makes me reluctant to get PSP games. I look into buy one and second guess the buy. I personally think $40 is still to much.
 
PSP games have higher budgets?

In some cases, it's crap. PoP should not cost 49.99 as it was already developed and was just ported over (and an excellent port job at that). But most games should not. I don't know why most games are so much.

I would buy SO many more games if they were all 34.99 instead of 49.99.
 
49.99 is just too much for handeld games, and it seems to the same developers that are pricing the Xbox 360 games 59.99
 
Go go Gamefly. $20 a month and you can rent about 3-7 games per month, depending on how fast they ship to you.

And I believe that the prices will go down in the future. Weren't GBA games averaging at around $40-45 at launch?
 
Kutaragi said way back that UMDs were so cheap to produce that he expected "magazines" to appear in UMD format available at trainstations and combini for little more than the cost of the magazine itself - so, i guess the costs are going into paying whatever the sony license fee is + development costs.
 
Why, then, are Famitsu PSP mags (with demos) 1280 yen?
And the magazine you get with the demo disc is only about 8 pages at that.
 
Just like the ridiculous $60 price gouge for supposed next-gen cost increases, the true fact of the matter is GREED. Simple as that.
 
I was hoping that the prices would drop over time but I guess that isn't happening.

$35 - $40 would be acceptable, Sony gets to charge a premium and its a small hike compared to what the consumers are used too. There might be a slight psychology angle with these current prices. Marking them at the same price as their console brethren makes it appear like its the same product for example. While we're talking about UMD prices I hope UMD Movies continue to go down. I'd definitely invest in a couple for the $10 - $15 pricepoint.

I'm hoping we get like a Simple 2000 series for the PSP here in the U.S.
 
Y2Kevbug11 said:
PSP games have higher budgets?

In some cases, it's crap. PoP should not cost 49.99 as it was already developed and was just ported over (and an excellent port job at that). But most games should not. I don't know why most games are so much.

I would buy SO many more games if they were all 34.99 instead of 49.99.
Click to expand...

EXACTLY. You have a few artists doing geometry reduction, some guys cutting down the engine, maybe a sound guy retooling all the data. The original teams have little to do with it as the ports are typically farmed out to Shaba (though in one or two cases, the original team does the port but farms out the art reduction to India). Unless you're generating an incredible amount of new content like GTA:LCS (which IS worth $50, IMHO), there's no reason for such a high pricetag.
 
Sho Nuff said:
Unless you're generating an incredible amount of new content like GTA:LCS (which IS worth $50, IMHO), there's no reason for such a high pricetag.
Click to expand...

Agreed. That's why I have so few games for my PSP. I use it for pretty much everything else.
 
Sounds like retailers are starting to put pressure on Sony to drop PSP game prices in USA.

Hope it happens.

I would like to see 35 to 40 dollar psp games the norm. However most DS games go for $34.99 here and some $39.99 so I doubt it'll happen.

MVP 06 by EA was a travesty as far as pricing goes. It was $49.99 for the PSP version when the PS2 and XBox versions were $29.99. What a joke. MVP on PSP had cut game modes and slowdown. This premium pricing BS has to stop. Even with the 360 we have the same problem. Companies taking a stand on premium pricing with half ass products. No wonder consumers don't want to spend full price on games anymore.
 
Mrbob said:
I would like to see 35 to 40 dollar psp games the norm. However most DS games go for $34.99 here and some $39.99 so I doubt it'll happen.
Click to expand...

Damn, I didn't know DS games went that high.
 
Sho Nuff said:
Damn, I didn't know DS games went that high.
Click to expand...

funny enough, Lunards does go that high.

THAS does too. Same with Viewtiful Joe.

most of the rest are $35 though. There's some that are $30. At least more than there are $40.
 
LCS is worth 50. In fact, if there is a way to justify 60 dollar BS, it's that. Not, say, Madden 360 or NBA 2k6 or whatever.

I really have no problem paying a premium for games that are worth it. Problem is most aren't. :D

Sony's games are reasonably priced. I paid 34.99 for SOCOM PSP and I think that's wonderful. Animal Crossing on DS is the same price. Good deal.
 
Y2Kevbug11 said:
Sony's games are reasonably priced. I paid 34.99 for SOCOM PSP and I think that's wonderful..
Click to expand...
If awesome games like SOCOM can be $35-$40, every PSP game should be that price. (Even GTA:LCS, although I paid more)

The problem is that the majority of gamers are still buying the crap for the inflated prices. Aren't EA's games the highest selling at the moment in NA? (aside from GTA)

As long as the games sell, there's no hope for reduced prices.
(The same can be said of the PSP "value" pack)
 
Y2Kevbug11 said:
Sony's games are reasonably priced. I paid 34.99 for SOCOM PSP and I think that's wonderful. Animal Crossing on DS is the same price. Good deal.
Click to expand...
Yeah I'm definitely happy that Sony is keeping with the $40 pricepoint here in the U.S. Hopefully third parties will catch on sooner rather than later or Sony will relax the licensing fees a bit (if that's the case).
 
I think I bought it used. Yeah, used. So I got a slight discount. :D

Then I had my gamestop card so I got it for even less. HOORAY!
 
Y2Kevbug11 said:
I think I bought it used. Yeah, used. So I got a slight discount. :D

Then I had my gamestop card so I got it for even less. HOORAY!
Click to expand...

AND THE GAMESTOP CARD ALSO GETS YOU A YEAR OF GAME INFORMER

BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE LAST TWO MONTHS SO IT'S FOURTEEN ISSUES
 
One of the big reasons I haven't picked up a PSP yet. I have trouble throwing down $30 for a GBA game...No way I'm doing $50.
 
The grace period where publishers can get away with $50 games is going to expire after the holidays. Brand new technology means you can set the price to anything you want, and people can't do anything about it. Movie studios are doing this too and making some easy money off the dirt-cheap UMD movies.

Some publishers charged $40 for GBA games when the GBA came out. Games dropped to $30 pretty quickly after that. Same thing for the DS, although I would think that some $40 DS games are worth it (Sk8Land).

GTALCS is probably the only PSP game where I think it would be worth $50, everything else I would want to play should be $30-40 games.
 
AniHawk said:
funny enough, Lunards does go that high.

THAS does too. Same with Viewtiful Joe.

most of the rest are $35 though. There's some that are $30. At least more than there are $40.
Click to expand...

DS prices have actually gone down.

Madden 05 came at 39.99
Madden 06 at 29.99

Burnout atd NFS:MW are at 34.99, again, against all EA launch games at 39.99 (including Urbz)

However, Nintendo is liking the 34.99 price point over the 29.99 on GBA


But unlike GBA, weve had some really budget launches. Snood 2 and Ford Racing 3 can be found for 9.99

And according to IGN, Ford 3 is by the same team that did Burnout....but tis better
 
jamesinclair said:
DS prices have actually gone down.

Madden 05 came at 39.99
Madden 06 at 29.99

Burnout atd NFS:MW are at 34.99, again, against all EA launch games at 39.99 (including Urbz)

However, Nintendo is liking the 34.99 price point over the 29.99 on GBA


But unlike GBA, weve had some really budget launches. Snood 2 and Ford Racing 3 can be found for 9.99

And according to IGN, Ford 3 is by the same team that did Burnout....but tis better
Click to expand...

GBA -> DS prices have stayed the same. Super Mario Bros. 3 and Pokemon Ruby were both $35. It was places like Best Buy where they were at really good prices (Zero Mission for $20, Fire Emblem for $25, etc.)
 
Daxter has been listed at EB for $49, and so has Pursuit Force. Let's hope these are just place-holder prices. If not, let's hope the trend (of Sony games at this price point) does not continue.
 
Mook1e said:
Daxter has been listed at EB for $49, and so has Pursuit Force. Let's hope these are just place-holder prices. If not, let's hope the trend (of Sony games at this price point) does not continue.
Click to expand...

They probably are placeholder.
 
DS pricing seems to be hit or miss for the $30 point. I saw Viewtiful Joe Double Trouble for $30 at a GS, but $40 at EB. Likewise, Mario and Luigi 2 seems to be $30, but it seems to go for $35 at other places.
 
I struggle with buying DS games at just $35, unless they're really worth it or have added incentive like Metroid Prime Pinball coming with that rumble pak cart. Btw, I saw VJ: DS for $29.99 at the Gamestop on 86th in NYC. Is this all over or just a unique case? If so, that's a pretty fast price drop.

I've been meaning to pick up a PSP and some games, but the price barrier is too much when I break down what it'll all cost me in the end. That and I have a nice library of DS titles to jump back and forth from that I'm still having a blast with it, on top of Nov/Dec/early 2006 games that I'll be getting. Don't think I'd have a time or place to fit in a second major handheld.

edit: OK, so it is a GS thing.
 
At least in the US, there's a growing trend of releasing PSP games at $30 which is nice to see. They're not stopping with the $50 releases, but they've been doing that since launch day, whereas I don't think there was a single $30 release at launch and for at least a few months afterward. So at least the range for pricing at release is expanding into lower brackets, if not exiting the higher ones.
 
kaching said:
At least in the US, there's a growing trend of releasing PSP games at $30 which is nice to see. They're not stopping with the $50 releases, but they've been doing that since launch day, whereas I don't think there was a single $30 release at launch and for at least a few months afterward. So at least the range for pricing at release is expanding into lower brackets, if not exiting the higher ones.
Click to expand...

Yes, there have been several PSP games released at $29.99 lately. Tokobot and Pinball Hall of Fame are two notable releases from the last week, and World Championship Poker 2, Midway Arcade Treasures: Extended Play, and Ultimate Block Party are all coming in the next few days. This is most definitely a good thing.

The Best Buy circular from the Sunday (December 11) newspaper has The Hustle selling for $19.99 on page 16. This is the lowest price I've seen advertised in the newspaper for a PSP game.
 
It's all about the freemasons, the New World Order, the Skull and Bones, they are planning it all. Run for you lives, game pricing is a plan contrived from the 666 pyramid and the all seeing eye.

What THE FUCK am I talking about?
 
Ohhh, this just reminds me I'm going to buy so many games while I'm back in the States.

Not $50 PSP games tho.

DO YOU SEE WHAT PEOPLE DO WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR HARDWARE REGION FREE
 
AniHawk said:
funny enough, Lunards does go that high.

THAS does too. Same with Viewtiful Joe.

most of the rest are $35 though. There's some that are $30. At least more than there are $40.
Click to expand...
There's budget DS releases popping up at $19.99 now too.
 
Mr_Furious said:
Just like the ridiculous $60 price gouge for supposed next-gen cost increases, the true fact of the matter is GREED.
Click to expand...

Corporations set prices at levels they believe will maximize revenue and generate income for shareholders. That's what our system is based on. You and I may think it's borderline insanity to pay $50 for a half-assed EA port, but apparently it's working because games are still coming out at that price.

I hope it changes and until it does, I will buy sparingly. Since launch, I've only bought SOCOM and LCS. Those games are easily worth $40 and $50, respectively. Field Commander is listed at $40, and I expect to get that as well. All the other games, not so much.
 
BlueTsunami said:
This is what makes me reluctant to get PSP games. I look into buy one and second guess the buy. I personally think $40 is still to much.
Click to expand...
QFT

Why spend $50 on a port of a PS2 game that you could probably get for $20-40?
 
Take a look at SSX Tour, the console versions are $30 withh all new content while the PSP version is $50 and its just a remix of past games...wtf is that?
 
Mr_Furious said:
Just like the ridiculous $60 price gouge for supposed next-gen cost increases, the true fact of the matter is GREED. Simple as that.
Click to expand...

It's not as if development costs are any higher, the market is riskier with a smaller user base, or that Microsoft is asking for more per game or anything like that could be the reason for the price hike.

It's very reasonable for publishers to maintain their current profit margins as they transition between generations. If they costs go up, so should the msrp.

In the PSP's case, I'd assume that Sony is asking for a larger royalty fee for games than what they would for the ps2. It'd explain the amount of console ports that they system's getting and how the only original content seems to be coming from Sony 1st/2nd parties (or Rockstar that of course is going to get a deal). With console ports, they can get something close the the experience that Sony expects them to put out with much lower costs and much less risk.
 
GBA games are the only ones I refuse to pay full price for. They're just not worth any more than 19.99 max.
 
I have yet to buy a $50 PSP game.

$40 is worth it for a full-length title, or something I know I'll play the crap out of-- which is what I've been buying.

Pinball Hall of Fame was $30, and that was fine considering the large amount of content and the presentation.
 
I will not pay more than $39.99 for a PSP, I have not paid more than $39.99 for a PSP game, if it was over that price, then I waited and snagged it later via eBay.
 
This is what prevents me from getting a PSP.

I've seen VJDS for 30 bucks, despite its supposed 40 dollar MSRP. I wonder if Capcom reduced the price due to poor first-month sales? I've seen a bunch of DS games at lower than their original costs, lately. The only ones that are still at 39.99 everywhere are Tony Hawk and Battles of PoP.
 
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