Biggest threat to game developers...

[JerryMungo]

So here's my take.

The biggest threat to game developers is not piracy, but high prices and low turnover as a result. The real threat to profits is that many gamers will rather buy a legal used copy at 60% the full RRP than pay full RRP for a game that you will play, finish then put away or sell on.

Don't get me wrong, piracy does some damage to sales no doubt, but let's face it, it's pretty darn hard to navigate the minefield of installing an illegitimate copy of a game given the threats from malware and lack of support, etc. The people doing that are generally desperate and skint - they're not going to spend R600 on a new game any way you look at it.

Now if a premium title cost R300.... and an older or less pop title around R150-200, I think you'll see way more turnover... people would even be happy to buy online without receiving media that you can sell on. Only the real enthusiasts buy at premium prices... and then often they sell their copy on when they've played the game.

I'm going to ask mods for a poll to see how many people buy second hand games or buy older games at lower prices, I'm sure it's a significant number.

What do you think?

 

[Chevron]

This exists already.

Have you heard of Steam sales?

 

[JerryMungo]

I'm not sure I understand. This meaning lower priced games? I'm aware of steam, my point is not that it doesn't exist, it's that its just too expensive to buy new games and developers would be better off with lower prices, higher turnover and better exposure. THAT would drive piracy down and sales up.

 

[Lord Nikon6]

This exists already.

Have you heard of Steam sales?

Indeed, steam sales is a bugger to my credit card, $5 here, $7, but the console market is not so lucky...

 

[RazedInBlack]

This exists already.

Have you heard of Steam sales?

Besides Steam, you can even go down to your local Cash Converters/Crusaders and possibly pick up a premium title at half the price. Even better, you can bargain with the sales person as well for extra discount.

 

[JerryMungo]

Besides Steam, you can even go down to your local Cash Converters/Crusaders and possibly pick up a premium title at half the price. Even better, you can bargain with the sales person as well for extra discount.

This is what I'm saying. The game devs get zilch from this kind of sale... now if they'd drop their prices.

As for steam.
Assassins creed black flag deluxe... R800
Standard... R600

 

[Chevron]

This is what I'm saying. The game devs get zilch from this kind of sale... now if they'd drop their prices.

As for steam.
Assassins creed black flag deluxe... R800
Standard... R600

That's brand new.

L.A. Noire is now $3.74

Just grab things when they go on SALE.

You are guaranteed 60% off after 3 months.

 

[JerryMungo]

Right. What was LA Noire when it was new?
What do you think black flag will drop to?

What if they started at R300 for a new title? Would you be inclined to buy it?

 

[Chevron]

Right. What was LA Noire when it was new?
What do you think black flag will drop to?

What if they started at R300 for a new title? Would you be inclined to buy it?

I have no problem waiting 3months for a game to go on sale. If no one bought the games at R600 they wouldn't sell it as such.

Just be patient and not feel entitled to things you can't afford. That's the whole reason we have piracy and what caused this problem in the first place.

I have even seen some games get 50% off two months after release. Just have patience.

 

[RazedInBlack]

Right. What was LA Noire when it was new?
What do you think black flag will drop to?

What if they started at R300 for a new title? Would you be inclined to buy it?

Defintely! But R800 . . . no! Even if its deluxe edition

 

[JerryMungo]

I have no problem waiting 3months for a game to go on sale. If no one bought the games at R600 they wouldn't sell it as such.

Just be patient and not feel entitled to things you can't afford. That's the whole reason we have piracy and what caused this problem in the first place.

I have even seen some games get 50% off two months after release. Just have patience.

It's less about me and more about what you think your advice to game development houses would be considering their target audience and fees. If I wanted a game, I could buy it, but there's no way I'd advocate R600 a pop for my children for example. I want them to grow up with some normal perception of value.

 

[Rickster]

This exists already.

Have you heard of Steam sales?

Maybe he was talking about non steam/ Console games

EG GTA V, BF4 etc

 

[Chevron]

Maybe he was talking about non steam/ Console games

EG GTA V, BF4 etc

If someone wants to game cheaply they shouldn't be getting a console.

 

[Lord Nikon6]

If someone wants to game cheaply they shouldn't be getting a console.

Completely agree. I was prepared to pruchase GTA5 for the massive price it sold at, so was a whole bunch of other people. It was worth the amount I paid. BF 4 I bought on an origin Sale for R299...

 

[Keeper]

Just be patient and not feel entitled to things you can't afford. That's the whole reason we have piracy and what caused this problem in the first place.

Uh, u serious bro? I think that is the WHOLE POINT the op is making.
You've just pwned yourself.

 

[Lord Nikon6]

Uh, u serious bro? I think that is the WHOLE POINT the op is making.
You've just pwned yourself.

Yes, that was his point, but you cannot just expect publishers to release the game at a cheap price immediately. This would cause the games to deteriorate, because why invest a lot into it if you can only make that much, because people don't want to buy the more expensive games.

If you cannot afford it, wait until you can. I feel strongly against pirating of video games. the developers put actual work into these games. Not that I am for pirating of television items, but I do think that these actors get way more money than deserved.

 

[Zewp]

What if they started at R300 for a new title? Would you be inclined to buy it?

No, because I'm guaranteed to get it for far under R300 a few months down the line.

Patience pays off.

 

[Demon7]

So let me get this right.. you guys are against the price reduction becasue you dont mind waiting for it to get cheaper three months or so down he line...
The reason why you dont want it cheaper is beacuse the dev will then be losing money or working at a loss...
so by you buying it for the sale price... is ok.... why?

something wrong with that picture?

 

[CamiKaze]

Instead of marketing a game...they should also market why it is important to play games and what fun it can be...I've been struggling to get my SO to play starcraft and Dota for quite some time but its all a giant sigh to me. lol Anyway, I think that if people get to know how fun it is, especially for couples then sales will go up as well. Not just marketing new features in a new version of a game. That is all water off a ducks back to the females and elderly that i know. My 2cents.

 

[Keeper]

So let me get this right.. you guys are against the price reduction becasue you dont mind waiting for it to get cheaper three months or so down he line...
The reason why you dont want it cheaper is beacuse the dev will then be losing money or working at a loss...
so by you buying it for the sale price... is ok.... why?

something wrong with that picture?

Exactly.