Former Nintendo PR Explains Why Switch Games Rarely Go on Sale: ‘This Isn’t Ubisoft’
- Thread starter Lunatic_Gamer
- Start date
- Opinion News Business
Super Lemon Drop
Gold Member
The brand philosophy and pride in their product's value makes sense in those terms, but in reality they can continue to charge full price with limited and infrequent sales on first party because of the exclusivity they enjoy. I don't believe they do it for any reason beyond that, no matter what they say. You have to pay if you want to enjoy their exclusive products, so they will charge the premium because fuck you, give me money.
Kacho
Member
That's a really big market too. They must be stopped at all costs.
Generic
Member
The whole "value" argument is a meme because paying less for games is objectively good for consumers.
Yes.
Bernardougf
Member
Deerock71
Very Poor Hoice of Wor
You mean those very same Wii U games that fueled the entire lifespan of the Switch? BTW, on topic, did anyone notice this guy is no longer a Nintendo employee, and is not speaking for the company? I'm just curious.
Walter Matthau
Member
It's refreshing to buy a game at launch and not worry about it instantly losing all of its resale value a few months later.
Baemono
Member
What a dishonest statement. Nintendo games before the Switch used to go on sale after selling a certain amount. They just got greedy and they need to own up to that.
Yeah but Players' choice/Nintendo Selects launches usually when the console starts to flop, which still isn't the case with the Switch
This is actually the best thing about Nintendo games. You know you won't buy them and in 3 months they'll be half off.
I bought Witcher 3 on Switch like a month after release at full price I think, and a week later it was 40. That's why I'm holding off buying 3rd party games until discount.
But I'm sure this thread will make us understand how this is anti-consumer by Nintendo, and this is actually the most pro-consumer thing ever.
I bought Witcher 3 on Switch like a month after release at full price I think, and a week later it was 40. That's why I'm holding off buying 3rd party games until discount.
But I'm sure this thread will make us understand how this is anti-consumer by Nintendo, and this is actually the most pro-consumer thing ever.
Connificent
Al Pachinko, Konami President
Because the western industry are 100% right and absolutely flourishing, I presume?
Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
They sure as hell aren't Ubisoft lmfao
Deerock71
Very Poor Hoice of Wor
We might see those now that the Switch 2 is looming.
BlackTron
Member
Yeah, as someone who bought it on Wii U for full price on release. This is the shit that pushes me to modding. Yeah maybe I'll buy the new Mario or Zelda but I'm not rebuying the same DK at an even higher price than before. After all the money I dumped on Nintendo in their darkest hour I don't feel like I should have to rebuy every last damn game just to detach from their Frankenstein console. Despite the fact I still re-bought half of them, everyone has a limit. Jesus Nintendo.
Baemono
Member
The thing is backwards compatible, it's like free money for Switch 2. The DS didn't have Selects line either. We won't see BOTW at 20$ anytime soon if they can sell a 10$ Switch 2 upgrade.
SkylineRKR
Member
If I am correct Gamecube games saw some discounts. I bought Metroid Prime etc for 20 bucks ish new. They didn't stay at RRP for long.
But since, yeah, one thing is certain with Nintendo; you can buy those games at launch without the risk of the price being slashed in a month. This means resell value is pretty good. If I search a local marketplace for used goods Mario Odyssey is still being offered for 35-40 by tons of people.
This is both good and bad. If you want to sell your games after a few months its not like EA or Ubi drivel netting you 5-10 bucks a piece tops.
But since, yeah, one thing is certain with Nintendo; you can buy those games at launch without the risk of the price being slashed in a month. This means resell value is pretty good. If I search a local marketplace for used goods Mario Odyssey is still being offered for 35-40 by tons of people.
This is both good and bad. If you want to sell your games after a few months its not like EA or Ubi drivel netting you 5-10 bucks a piece tops.
Fahdis
Member
Nintendo: "We value our products!"
Also Nintendo: "Our fandom is retarded."
Literally, seeing how someone said that buying games Day 1 and then see resale value being the same after a month calling it pro-consumer is absolutely mind boggling. Everything depreciates in value, its the people who keep buying this crap that keep inflating game prices.
If some of you could keep a Nintendo Shrine giving a Mario a plastic rim job between his two fat cheeks after waking up, you would.
Also Nintendo: "Our fandom is retarded."
Literally, seeing how someone said that buying games Day 1 and then see resale value being the same after a month calling it pro-consumer is absolutely mind boggling. Everything depreciates in value, its the people who keep buying this crap that keep inflating game prices.
If some of you could keep a Nintendo Shrine giving a Mario a plastic rim job between his two fat cheeks after waking up, you would.
Fbh
Member
I don't like it and it's one of the big reasons I'll skip the Switch 2 for now.
But I think getting their customers used to games just not going on sale (or at least not soon, and never with big discounts) was really smart by Nintendo.
So with other games I can just wait 3 months and get it half off.
And that's somehow bad for me as a consumer?
But I think getting their customers used to games just not going on sale (or at least not soon, and never with big discounts) was really smart by Nintendo.
So with other games I can just wait 3 months and get it half off.
And that's somehow bad for me as a consumer?
Thabass
Member
Th
That's absolutely your opinion, one of which is one I will vehemently disagree with. They are generally some of the best games. I think the games that usually get shit on, especially lately, are the Pokemon games.
Pasta la Vista
Member
Yeah I was about to say, Ubisoft was a good 3rd party partner for Nintendo, weird that this dude is just throwing them under the bus.
Not trying to defend Ubi here, they've lost me as customer for many years already.
Dacvak
No one shall be brought before our LORD David Bowie without the true and secret knowledge of the Photoshop. For in that time, so shall He appear.
Man, so many hot takes in this thread. Everything from "Nintendo is able to charge whatever they want" to "I choose not to buy Nintendo games because of the price."
How can we ever convince Nintendo to lower the prices and force people to buy the games now?
How can we ever convince Nintendo to lower the prices and force people to buy the games now?
Kataploom
Gold Member
Some takes here, maybe I get it because I've worked on brand building and design in the past, also if something is too expensive for me I'll just walk away instead of attacking the seller lol.
It would be great because of these people using them to attack Nintendo:
As if there weren't enough examples of visually pleasing games from Nintendo already.
Edit: Yeah, its clearly not Ubisoft
such a premium product for U$ 70
trash tier product also U$70
Nintendo dosnt work on "brand recognition" they work on "fanboyism retardation"
I guess you don't really give a fuck about Nintendo because you'd realize there's a reason why everyone constantly uses Zelda BOTW/TOTK and Xenoblade games to shame on Pokemon
SweetTooth
Banned
Edit: Yeah, its clearly not Ubisoft
such a premium product for U$ 70
trash tier product also U$70
Nintendo dosnt work on "brand recognition" they work on "fanboyism retardation"
The cult will go for your throat..lol
flying_sq
Member
They use the same tactics as Honda and Toyota. If you don't run discounts often or at all, it creates a false sense of higher value products. The product become worth more on the used market, which keeps perceived company value higher. I mean you also have to make something good, but yea that's why.
SweetTooth
Banned
Time has value man, I bought it on release date ...enjoyed it. Why would I be angry that someone else got it for cheaper after a year? Lol
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GametimeUK
Member
The whole "Nintendo games not going on sale" thing fucks with me mentally when it comes to purchaes. It makes my feeble brain buy the games near release because I know if Ieave it for a couple of years I simply couldn't justify paying so much for an old game. It's really weird lol.
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ProtoByte
Weeb Underling
29.99 in 2003 is the equivalent of 52.12 today.What a dishonest statement. Nintendo games before the Switch used to go on sale after selling a certain amount. They just got greedy and they need to own up to that.
Inflation aside (just under 40 bucks, btw) this is Nintendo at its weakest. The GameCube lost bigly to the PS2 as well, and came at a time when the games market was growing. That is no longer the case.
Ironically, Nintendo is selling their first party software at higher orders of magnitude now than they were in the entire GameCube-Wii U period.
Jubenhimer
Member
Another reason I believe is that Nintendo wants its games to remain as fresh as possible to the eyes of the consumer. Keeping a game full price for a long time allows Nintendo to continue to constantly market it as if it were still a new game. And when your a company that focuses heavily on the integration of your hardware and software, that's especially important. It's part of the reason their games often have insane sales figures each gen.
As critical as I've been of Nintendo's handling of the Switch 2 pricing details, and as skeptical as people can be of their business sometimes, the numbers at least speak for themselves. I feel like gamers sometimes put too much stock in making companies act "consumer friendly" everytime, all the time. But if you want to actually get results, you sometimes need to play the bad guy.
As critical as I've been of Nintendo's handling of the Switch 2 pricing details, and as skeptical as people can be of their business sometimes, the numbers at least speak for themselves. I feel like gamers sometimes put too much stock in making companies act "consumer friendly" everytime, all the time. But if you want to actually get results, you sometimes need to play the bad guy.
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Ceadeus
Member
You took one isolated example and generalized the whole thing to the advantage of your opinion.
Edit: Yeah, its clearly not Ubisoft
such a premium product for U$ 70
trash tier product also U$70
Nintendo dosnt work on "brand recognition" they work on "fanboyism retardation"
vaibhavpisal
Member
Nintendo would make way more money from me if they went on sale.
FullMetalx117
Member
In North America, the best time to buy a physical copy is close to release date. To this day, I have yet to pay full MSRP for any game. Almost all retailers offer some $10-$20 discount near launch if you know where to look.
The issue with Nintendo games is scarcity, they don't really reprint physical as often so I've noticed prices tend to stay at MSRP after release.
Personally, I really like the way Nintendo operates. Why ever buy a game on release if you know it will be more than 50% off within the year like most Ubisoft games. When I buy a Nintendo game on release, I feel much better about the price I'm paying. In fact, on release, it may be the cheapest time to buy.
I fully support what Nintendo is doing and expect to get their games below MSRP on release.
The issue with Nintendo games is scarcity, they don't really reprint physical as often so I've noticed prices tend to stay at MSRP after release.
Personally, I really like the way Nintendo operates. Why ever buy a game on release if you know it will be more than 50% off within the year like most Ubisoft games. When I buy a Nintendo game on release, I feel much better about the price I'm paying. In fact, on release, it may be the cheapest time to buy.
I fully support what Nintendo is doing and expect to get their games below MSRP on release.
Tams
Member
It's true though. Nintendo value their games (not always correctly).
Moral values aside, having people know your game will be cheaper fairly soon is quite the disincentive.
The whole culture of sales in gaming I feel is damaging and unsustainable. Yes, people are building up big libraries, but it puts enormous strain on developers and publishers to deliver hits on release and to then immediately go onto working on the next game. It's not good for companies and it's certainly not good for the employees.
Moral values aside, having people know your game will be cheaper fairly soon is quite the disincentive.
The whole culture of sales in gaming I feel is damaging and unsustainable. Yes, people are building up big libraries, but it puts enormous strain on developers and publishers to deliver hits on release and to then immediately go onto working on the next game. It's not good for companies and it's certainly not good for the employees.
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while the game looks of course beter on a next gen console comapred to low end laptop graphics i wil say that no amount of graphics can help a lame stale game like shadows, id rather play an ugly pokemon game then a ubisoft game
Edit: Yeah, its clearly not Ubisoft
such a premium product for U$ 70
trash tier product also U$70
Nintendo dosnt work on "brand recognition" they work on "fanboyism retardation"
Gameplay Gods Bless
Member
It's just supply and demand. Whenever Nintendo consoles do badly they do good sales like with the 3ds and launch 3ds. But when they do good they don't like with Switch. I remember Nintendo never dropped the price of Mario kart DS because it kept topping the charts in sales. If something keeps selling regardless then why would you drop the price.
Fbh
Member
If you look at buying videogames like some sort of money investment... then yeah that's not great.
If you look at buying games like spending money on entertainment I don't see how it isn't good for me as a consumer.
With every other publisher you get options. Pay full price to get the game day 1 or wait 6-12 months to get it on sale for 30-50% off (let's be honest, the times of 50% off after 3 months are mostly gone). With Nintendo it's pay full price now or pay full price 3 years later. As a consumer I don't see that as a benefit.
IDKFA
I am Become Bilbo Baggins
Let's not put video games and Nintendo on such a high pedestal.
Video games can be artistic, but they're not art. They are games. Games that started out as electronic toys for children.
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