Support NeoGAF

[GaimeGuy]

I see all these people saying "Oh, I want Metroid Prime/Baten Kaitos/Prince of Persia 2, but we all know that it's going to bomb, so why pay for it at full price?"

This is stupid logic, I think. If you want a game, buy it, don't hold out because of some self-fulfilling prophecy about the price of the game.

 

[Uncle Dukey]

Because some of us like to save money?

 

[6.8]

Because games are expensive.

 

[Wario64]

We're not made of money

Besides, I bought enough games to last me for months. I don't need to buy another game at full price when it won't benefit me

 

[Ironclad]

If I want a game, I will buy it on release. Bought Alien Hominid on release. Bought Gradius V on release. Bought Katamari Damacy on release. Buying Drill Spirits on release. I see no reluctancy here.

 

[Vlad]

Everybody above me pretty much hit the nail on the head. Anybody familiar with the industry knows which titles are most likely to do well and which aren't. For instance, GTA:SA isn't likely to drop in price any time soon, so people are more likely to pick it up sooner instead of waiting so long to check it out. A game like PoP:WW, on the other hand, will probably be available in a few places for $20 by February or so, so it's easier to wait the few months and save the money.

Like you said, though, it is a bit of a self-fufilling prophecy. If enough people wait for the games that are likely to drop in price to drop in price, then they're more likely to drop in price sooner.

That said, I bet we're going to see some pretty killer deals in the beginning of next year as the less popular, but still good, games start getting marked down.

 

[Ironclad]

Everybody above me pretty much hit the nail on the head. Anybody familiar with the industry knows which titles are most likely to do well and which aren't. For instance, GTA:SA isn't likely to drop in price any time soon, so people are more likely to pick it up sooner instead of waiting so long to check it out. A game like PoP:WW, on the other hand, will probably be available in a few places for $20 by February or so, so it's easier to wait the few months and save the money.

Like you said, though, it is a bit of a self-fufilling prophecy. If enough people wait for the games that are likely to drop in price to drop in price, then they're more likely to drop in price sooner.

That said, I bet we're going to see some pretty killer deals in the beginning of next year as the less popular, but still good, games start getting marked down.

I found Otogi 2 for 20 bucks about a week after release. Luckily, I didn't buy that at release. Buying a game at launch all depends on how likely it is to drop in price, and how urgently you need it.

 

[Kobun Heat]

Like you said, though, it is a bit of a self-fufilling prophecy. If enough people wait for the games that are likely to drop in price to drop in price, then they're more likely to drop in price sooner.

Sort of. The industry-savvy are going to wait on games they know will drop price fast, especially when more games are coming out now than they have enough cash to buy anyway. But this just doesn't extend to the general populace; the average buyer of a game this holiday season isn't thinking too hard about price drops down the line.

 

[Mrbob]

Sort of. The industry-savvy are going to wait on games they know will drop price fast, especially when more games are coming out now than they have enough cash to buy anyway. But this just doesn't extend to the general populace; the average buyer of a game this holiday season isn't thinking too hard about price drops down the line.

Sales of Greatest Hits type games disagree with this statement.

 

[_Angelus_]

I see all these people saying "Oh, I want Metroid Prime/Baten Kaitos/Prince of Persia 2, but we all know that it's going to bomb, so why pay for it at full price?"

This is stupid logic, I think. If you want a game, buy it, don't hold out because of some self-fulfilling prophecy about the price of the game.

I quite enjoyed the first Blinx game. But I'm not about to pay full retail for its sequel when I know full well it'll be 15 dollars some 5-6 weeks from now. I can wait.
Owning all 3 systems has one playing musical chairs when it comes to which game to pick up next,and which to wait awhile for.

 

[Docpan]

The answers pretty simple...

.... MONEY.

 

[Ironclad]

Right now, I am just waiting for Outrun 2 to drop in price. It all has to do with money, and how urgently you need the game. If you can wait, and you know the price will drop, then by all means, please wait, and save your money.

 

[Amir0x]

Yup, since many games drop from 50 bucks to 20 bucks, a savings of 30 dollars is extremely good. If I assume that game Y is going to bomb and thus drop in price, then when it does drop in price the savings I'll have can be transported to a game I can't (won't) be without.

It's pretty simple.

 

[Helena]

But aren't those the kind of attitudes that make games bomb and drop in price fast? Sure it's good for your wallet but it can't help the industry any. I get a game when I want it, not waiting or scheming involved.

 

[Cubsfan23]

Gaming-Age isn't going to save a game from reaching the bargain bin.

 

[Wellington]

There can't possibly be enough time in the day to play all the incredible games coming out these days.So why waste my money on a game that will sit on my shelf for a few months then pick it up when the price is down anyway...?

But aren't those the kind of attitudes that make games bomb and drop in price fast? Sure it's good for your wallet but it can't help the industry any. I get a game when I want it, not waiting or scheming involved.

Companies should know beetter than to release all their games at the same fucking time. I'll play the biggest of the big games and the rest will have to wait.

 

[Kobun Heat]

Sales of Greatest Hits type games disagree with this statement.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there's plenty of people out there who just go for cheap games, or even say things like "I guess I'll get that game when it goes Greatest Hits." We're talking about bombs that drop price fast to clear out shelves, not budget-priced rereleases.

To illustrate the difference: people who bought Beyond Good & Evil for $50 got fucked. People who bought Final Fantasy X at $50 would have had to wait a LONG time to save thirty bucks.

 

[Amir0x]

But aren't those the kind of attitudes that make games bomb and drop in price fast? Sure it's good for your wallet but it can't help the industry any. I get a game when I want it, not waiting or scheming involved.

My wallet is what drives me as a consumer, and it'll always be that way. I just don't have the money to buy every game I want at a 40 or 50 dollar price point.

 

[GDJustin]

Bard's Tale is so fucking mine for $20 in about 60 days.

 

[Kobun Heat]

But aren't those the kind of attitudes that make games bomb and drop in price fast? Sure it's good for your wallet but it can't help the industry any. I get a game when I want it, not waiting or scheming involved.

Except, as I tried to point out above, the collective consumer impact of GAF bounces off the industry like a pebble off a tank. The number of people who hold off on buying Prince of Persia because they think it'll drop to $20 by February aren't the ones who would make it bomb.* The massive amounts of people who didn't want it period would be.

*IF it bombs! It may very well not.

 

[fallout]

Man, this is totally the time for cheap gaming, especially if you just picked up any new console. At this point, you can get a cheap system and wackload of great, cheap games. Have I said cheap enough? Yes, we're all cheap.

 

[Ronabo]

I personally have a stash of games at work hoping they BOMB BOMB in price soon so I can scoop them up.

Keeps fingers crossed that Blood Will Tell drops soon.

 

[Jr.]

I'm not! I picked up both Castle of Shikigami 3 and Ghost in the Shell : SAC right when they came out! I love GITS!!!

Otherwise, why waste your money on an unknown!

 

[mashoutposse]

Why pay $49 today when you can pay $29 in a couple of weeks/months? Especially if you have a backlog and the game isn't a clear AAA title?

If you want to get games cheaply AND quickly, eBay's a good place to check. Just make sure that you don't get ripped off on the shipping.

 

[pilonv1]

Why pay $49 today when you can pay $29 in a couple of weeks/months? Especially if you have a backlog and the game isn't a clear AAA title?

The only thing I've been paying full price for lately are games with online play. Offline is a different story though. Why buy a game for $50 now when it will be $20 down the line and offer you the exact same experience?

 

[missAran]

The better question is why pay full price for a game that will be cheaper in a few months?

 

[Link316]

Besides, I bought enough games to last me for YEARS. I don't need to buy another game at full price when it won't benefit me

IAWTP

 

[Guileless]

Very few games are worth full price. I enjoy short/mediocre/niche games much more if I know I only paid $20 for them.

Who pays full price for something like Catwoman? The mind boggles.

 

[FightyF]

I bought 2 non-"big games" and I'm punching myself in the nuts for it.

 

[DSN2K]

like everyone said... MONEY.

 

[Pachinko]

Quite frankly , when I buy a game nowadays, I know full well its chances of being completed are very small. So when buying a new release I'll only buy something that I'm guarunteed to finish or atleast play for 5 + hours within 3 days. It just doesn't make sence to spend alot of money on a bunch of games in the fall that I won't get around to playing for 6 months or more.

For example, last Xmas I got FFX2 thinking I'd finish it off like the last FF game. Didn't go that way in the end. I've had it well, nearly a year now and I've played it for 4 hours total. Now it costs 30-40 dollars for a new copy. I'd like to pick up paper mario 2 and Megaten Nocturne but I know it's pointless at 60-70 bucks a pop when I won'f finish either of them anytime soon. I'll get one at Xmas maybe and the other 6 months down the road.

 

[Do The Mario]

I am a uni student therefore I have ample funds for clothing, books, booze, Kebabs and gaming!


NOT!

 

[mj1108]

The better question is why pay full price for a game that will be cheaper in a few months?

Especially when games are dropping in price even faster than in year's past.

 

[duckroll]

I think the title of this thread answers the question itself. What defines a "big game" other than a game that has tons of hype and everyone can't wait to play? So basically if you translate that to consumer vibe it becomes:

Why are people not buying the less popular games which often tend to be mediocre or less awesome than the top tier A-list titles? Or at least not buying them instantly?

When you look at it like that, the answer becomes pretty obvious.

 

[Mr_Furious]

I only pay full price for:

a) quirky budget releases

and

b) pre-orders with cool bonuses

and that's it. Everything else waits till sale or pricedrop.

 

[Neo_ZX]

How long did it take XenoSaga to drop to greatest hits prices? I bought the first one at full price. But if this one comes with an extra like the artbook for XS1 then I'll be forced to get it at launch too.


Even though I don't regret supporting the devs, it still felt kinda bad that I see it for GH prices. No really obscure games that maintain or exceed MSRP this gen it seems.

 

[BlackClouds]

Another reason to pay full price (or at least getting a game close to its release date), online play. Especially on Xbox Live, nobody plays old online games as it seems many games have a short shelf life of online popularity (with exceptions ofcourse). Part of the reason why I didn't wait on Outrun 2, but will wait for Otogi 2 (nobody even looked at the game at one of the local Best Buy's unfortunately, even on Black Friday, it'll be 20$ before I know it).

Another reason I can think of is hard to find titles (and quirky low budget) because of a low print run and no hype (but are still worth buying). I haven't even seen Blood Will Tell in any of the major stores, that game, if it was worth buying would probably make me nervous enough to get it at full price.

Sports and Fighting games you might want to buy at release date, especially before major glitches and cheese play starts to dominate. Also the shelf life of some of these titles is less than a year. But if you have a backlog of unfinished regular games then it's pretty foolish to buy a new popular title at full price, if it's going to sit on the shelf for months. All common sense really.

I feel bad sometimes about good games bombing, then picking them up on the cheap. Gunstar Heroes was a title that was heavily discounted soon after release, and it's one of the best games of all time.

 

[DarienA]

I see all these people saying "Oh, I want Metroid Prime/Baten Kaitos/Prince of Persia 2, but we all know that it's going to bomb, so why pay for it at full price?"

This is stupid logic, I think. If you want a game, buy it, don't hold out because of some self-fulfilling prophecy about the price of the game.

The only stupid logic here is not realizing that some of us DO by more than the big game release... when those threads get created however they don't have nearly the same amt of staying power.

We're not made of money

Besides, I bought enough games to last me for months. I don't need to buy another game at full price when it won't benefit me

Speak for yourself.

 

[Folder]

We get to see/play most games on release.
In answer to

Why are people so reluctant to buy anything except the big games on release?

I'd say that aside from the money issue, most games are a bit shit. Simple fact. When I first started working in the games industry six years ago every game that landed in my office was a thrill. Opening the jiffy bag was always really exciting. Understand, we get pumped when top games land, obviously, but it's a sad fact that 90% of games are toilet, perhaps not right not, but for most of the year.

I think perhaps on a board like this, it's easy to forget that most games are licensed shovelware pap.

 

[sonycowboy]

We get to see/play most games on release.
In answer to I'd say that aside from the money issue, most games are a bit shit. Simple fact. When I first started working in the games industry six years ago every game that landed in my office was a thrill. Opening the jiffy bag was always really exciting. Understand, we get pumped when top games land, obviously, but it's a sad fact that 90% of games are toilet, perhaps not right not, but for most of the year.

I think perhaps on a board like this, it's easy to forget that most games are licensed shovelware pap.

NEWS &&&&& EDITORIAL.

Spong has got it all.

 

[Folder]

NEWS &&&&& EDITORIAL.

Spong has got it all.

Hey, great.
Rather than discuss the topic, why not mention SPOnG in some way?
Um... *pats on back*
To the point, do any of you read the full, all format all price schedules. It's enough to make you cry!

 

[Solid]

I've bought these games for full-price this year:

Riddick
Final Fantasy X-2
Pro Evolution Soccer 4
Halo 2 LE
MGS: The Twin Snakes
Prince of Persia 2

And about 17 more titles for budget price (30euros and down). Cheap ass gaming rocks!

 

[Soul4ger]

*IF it bombs! It may very well not.

Dude. The commercial has Godsmack. They're in.

 

[Great Wasabi Man]

Maybe it's me and the cofee hasn't kicked in yet but wouldn't a better topic title be why do people hate on games before playing them? Pop 2 and METROID prime aren't "small" games.

serioulsy I thought it was a thread about how games that are hyped out the ass get gobbled up while games like BG&E(a great small game) end up floping cause people are rightfully cautious with thier money.

ah whatever

 

[missAran]

I'll pick up a few games, maybe three, by the end of the year; sure there are a couple more that I want, but typically, Q1 and Q2 are bland, so why not wait anyway? Last year, for example, I picked up Viewtiful Joe, Prince of Persia, and Beyond Good & Evil late (for about $60 for all three of them). It was worth it and it kept my occupied until late summer when the new wave of the titles hit.

 

[Tsubaki]

If you don't pay full price for a game upon release, it means you didn't want the game enough.

That being said, most games I didn't want enough.

 

[ManDudeChild]

How long did it take XenoSaga to drop to greatest hits prices? I bought the first one at full price. But if this one comes with an extra like the artbook for XS1 then I'll be forced to get it at launch too.


Even though I don't regret supporting the devs, it still felt kinda bad that I see it for GH prices. No really obscure games that maintain or exceed MSRP this gen it seems.

I don't know the exact time, but the minimum time for Greatest Hits is 9 months and a few hundred thousand units sold.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

I buy all my games on release day. I spend so mush time waiting for it, I want it the day it drops. The only game I didn't buy this year on launch day was Donkey Konga because I was watching my twin daughters play it. They liked it so much, I got it for them and the extra congos. Granted that they will be 5 exactly one month from today they haven't grasped the concept yet. However, I play it. It also taught me the importance of always reading the instruction maunal. I didn't know that you had to clap your hands either, lol

 

[KyotoMecca]

Hey, great.
Rather than discuss the topic, why not mention SPOnG in some way?

Spong!
x

 

[Grubdog]

Actually I tend to buy the "smaller" games on release because if I don't get them straight away it's likely I never will, in Australia lots of GC games are rare (and overpriced) and you can't get some unless you preorder them. I sometimes wait a while to get the big games because i'll be able to get them anytime.