Video Game Pricing Models

[digi]

How is it that single player / story mode video games still get released at the $60 marker? The only games that should be in that price range are multiplayer/online games with end game content. You beat the game once and it collects dust.

Here is my recommended pricing model:

Single Player games - $35
Multiplayer games - $55 - $60

Who's with me? Against me? Hold me?

[romevi]

To be honest, $60 is cheap for a video game. They were more expensive back then.

[Air tree]

It really depends on the game, many single player games have fantastic replay ability.


I don't think across the board multiplayer games have more value, and I think it's hard to say without a doubt what games are worth what.

[tp4tissue]

Well it works like this..


If you don't get the latest calloduty,   when all ur friends got the latest calloduty..   Now you're not cool..

So,  if you want to be cool, and talk about cool stuff with the cool people @ social arena. then you're forced to buy the newest calloduty..



This is how the younger people's world works..

[HouseofSuffering]

How is it that single player / story mode video games still get released at the $60 marker? The only games that should be in that price range are multiplayer/online games with end game content. You beat the game once and it collects dust.

Here is my recommended pricing model:

Single Player games - $35
Multiplayer games - $55 - $60

Who's with me? Against me? Hold me?

Single player games often cost more to make.....Why would they charge less for a game that cost more to make???

What games are you specifically talking about? Because without context, what you are saying makes no business sense.

Try pricing these.

****ty Single Player Only games (6-7 hours of playtime) - $??   
****ty Single Player/Co-op games - $??
****ty Multiplayer Only games - $??
****ty Single Player and Multiplayer games - $??
****ty Single Player/Co-op and Multiplayer games - $??
Good Single Player Only games (15+ hrs of playtime) - $??
Good Single Player/Co-op games - $??
Good Multiplayer Only games - $??
Good Single Player and Multiplayer games - $??
Good Single Player/Co-op and Multiplayer games - $??

[SwankyGiraffe]

I don't mind the price - the $/hr entertainment value is absolutely there.  These games tend to be more involved, have more depth, etc.  Plus, as others have mentioned, there are many single player games that are worth replaying.  I know I'm well past my first playthrough of Skyrim, which can account for thousands of hours of my life.

Single players also give you some flexibility - I don't need anyone else playing to entertain me.  Multiplayer games tend to lose their luster after a bit if the community doesn't stay intact.

[tp4tissue]

Dota and CS..

The last multiplayer games you'd ever need..

[HouseofSuffering]

I don't mind the price - the $/hr entertainment value is absolutely there.  These games tend to be more involved, have more depth, etc.  Plus, as others have mentioned, there are many single player games that are worth replaying.  I know I'm well past my first playthrough of Skyrim, which can account for thousands of hours of my life.

Single players also give you some flexibility - I don't need anyone else playing to entertain me.  Multiplayer games tend to lose their luster after a bit if the community doesn't stay intact.

Yeah, it depends on the Single Player game. Would I pay $60 for Final Fantasy, The Last of Us, The Witcher 3 or a Disgaea game (infinite single player)? Hell YES!!!

Would I pay $60 Dollars for Titanfall I, Battleborn, Evolve or Paragon? Hell No!

[digi]

How is it that single player / story mode video games still get released at the $60 marker? The only games that should be in that price range are multiplayer/online games with end game content. You beat the game once and it collects dust.

Here is my recommended pricing model:

Single Player games - $35
Multiplayer games - $55 - $60

Who's with me? Against me? Hold me?

Single player games often cost more to make.....Why would they charge less for a game that cost more to make???

What games are you specifically talking about? Because without context, what you are saying makes no business sense.

Try pricing these.

****ty Single Player Only games (6-7 hours of playtime) - $??   
****ty Single Player/Co-op games - $??
****ty Multiplayer Only games - $??
****ty Single Player and Multiplayer games - $??
****ty Single Player/Co-op and Multiplayer games - $??
Good Single Player Only games (15+ hrs of playtime) - $??
Good Single Player/Co-op games - $??
Good Multiplayer Only games - $??
Good Single Player and Multiplayer games - $??
Good Single Player/Co-op and Multiplayer games - $??

Any Single player / story based game, pick one and it still applies. The story has been completed once you beat the game, I don't understand why someone would repeat that over and over unless they didn't understand the story the first time?  Sure, you might pick it up years down the road for nostalgia reasons but your're not going to put the hours into it that you originally did. Or maybe just super bored?

With an online multiplayer game, you have basically a much longer lasting game in that there is competition and that in itself creates a longer lasting game.

[Halverson]

I'd pay more for some single player games. The legend of digi

[digi]

I'd pay more for some single player games. The legend of digi

Mhmm, talk to me papi...Ill be your boss any day.

[Halverson]

I'd pay more for some single player games. The legend of digi

Mhmm, talk to me papi...Ill be your boss any day.

Would you pay more for a physical copy of a game than digital?

[HouseofSuffering]

Why buy a Blu Ray for $20 Dollars you only get 3 hours of Entertainment out of it?

Why buy a Music Record for $20 Dollars you only get 90 minutes of Entertainment out of it?

Why buy a Book for $15 Dollars you only get 8 hours of Entertainment out of it?

[digi]

I'd pay more for some single player games. The legend of digi

Mhmm, talk to me papi...Ill be your boss any day.

Would you pay more for a physical copy of a game than digital?

Slightly more yes, because I can resell it.

[Halverson]

I'd pay more for some single player games. The legend of digi

Mhmm, talk to me papi...Ill be your boss any day.

Would you pay more for a physical copy of a game than digital?

Slightly more yes, because I can resell it.

Sigh, gotta keep them as trophies, victories. Pass them down to the children's when you die

[SwankyGiraffe]

Any Single player / story based game, pick one and it still applies. The story has been completed once you beat the game, I don't understand why someone would repeat that over and over unless they didn't understand the story the first time?  Sure, you might pick it up years down the road for nostalgia reasons but your're not going to put the hours into it that you originally did. Or maybe just super bored?

With an online multiplayer game, you have basically a much longer lasting game in that there is competition and that in itself creates a longer lasting game.

You can play something again to compete against yourself.  Or to play a different strategy. There are also many games that adapt to your choices and end differently depending on what you've done.

I personally don't mind paying devs accordingly for providing a game that doesn't require other people to make entertaining.  You could potentially argue that the repetitive games were easy to make, and therefore worth less even though you spend more time on them. Nothing is wrong with either, of course.  I will pay and play both.

[digi]

Just because a game costs more to make doesn't necessarily mean that it should be sold for more, pretty sure we all agree on that. The game company is just trying to recover their costs.

If a multiplayer game gives you maximum pleasure for longer hours (*insert Trojan gif here ) than who cares how much it cost to develop, it entertains you longer = maximum entertainment per $.

I'll break it down in my advanced math equation below.

CoG*HP=MP / π (Cost of Game X Hours Played = Maximum Pleasure divided by Pie)

[HouseofSuffering]

Just because a game costs more to make doesn't necessarily mean that it should be sold for more, pretty sure we all agree on that. The game company is just trying to recover their costs.

What company isn't trying to recoup their cost as well as make a profit for their work??? :| 

Does the company you work for operate at a loss and still have money to pay you and the other employees?

It's their job to do what's in their best interest.

Likewise with you. If you deem something unworthy of a purchase, then don't buy it. Don't expect the companies to do business at a loss because you prefer a type of game over another. They have plenty of other customers to sell to that will be perfectly happy.

If a multiplayer game gives you maximum pleasure for longer hours (*insert Trojan gif here ) than who cares how much it cost to develop, it entertains you longer = maximum entertainment per $.


I'll break it down in my advanced math equation below.

CoG*HP=MP / π (Cost of Game X Hours Played = Maximum Pleasure divided by Pie)

This can apply to any type of game.

My personal preference is SinglePlayer/Co-Op games with Multiplayer. I think purely Multiplayer games are a waste of money.......but that is just my personal opinion.......as is your whole argument.

[digi]

Just because a game costs more to make doesn't necessarily mean that it should be sold for more, pretty sure we all agree on that. The game company is just trying to recover their costs.

What company isn't trying to recoup their cost as well as make a profit for their work??? :| 

Does the company you work for operate at a loss and still have money to pay you and the other employees?

It's their job to do what's in their best interest.

Likewise with you. If you deem something unworthy of a purchase, then don't buy it. Don't expect the companies to do business at a loss because you prefer a type of game over another. They have plenty of other customers to sell to that will be perfectly happy.

If a multiplayer game gives you maximum pleasure for longer hours (*insert Trojan gif here ) than who cares how much it cost to develop, it entertains you longer = maximum entertainment per $.


I'll break it down in my advanced math equation below.

CoG*HP=MP / π (Cost of Game X Hours Played = Maximum Pleasure divided by Pie)

This can apply to any type of game.

My personal preference is SinglePlayer/Co-Op games with Multiplayer. I think purely Multiplayer games are a waste of money.......but that is just my personal opinion.......as is your whole argument.

I don't even understand how that is a statement based off of what I said.. I think anyone with half a brain assumes profit is built into the equation.

I updated the equation:

CoG/BC+P*HP=MP / π (Cost of Game Divided by Business Costs + Profits * Hours Played = Maximum Pleasure divided by Pie)

[tp4tissue]

CoG/BC+P*HP=MP / π (Cost of Game Divided by Business Costs + Profits * Hours Played = Maximum Pleasure divided by Pie)

digi, u makes bad equations..  hahahaha

[HouseofSuffering]

Just because a game costs more to make doesn't necessarily mean that it should be sold for more, pretty sure we all agree on that. The game company is just trying to recover their costs.

What company isn't trying to recoup their cost as well as make a profit for their work??? :| 

Does the company you work for operate at a loss and still have money to pay you and the other employees?

It's their job to do what's in their best interest.

Likewise with you. If you deem something unworthy of a purchase, then don't buy it. Don't expect the companies to do business at a loss because you prefer a type of game over another. They have plenty of other customers to sell to that will be perfectly happy.

If a multiplayer game gives you maximum pleasure for longer hours (*insert Trojan gif here ) than who cares how much it cost to develop, it entertains you longer = maximum entertainment per $.


I'll break it down in my advanced math equation below.

CoG*HP=MP / π (Cost of Game X Hours Played = Maximum Pleasure divided by Pie)

This can apply to any type of game.

My personal preference is SinglePlayer/Co-Op games with Multiplayer. I think purely Multiplayer games are a waste of money.......but that is just my personal opinion.......as is your whole argument.

I don't even understand how that is a statement based off of what I said.. I think anyone with half a brain assumes profit is built into the equation.

I updated the equation:

CoG/BC+P*HP=MP / π (Cost of Game Divided by Business Costs + Profits * Hours Played = Maximum Pleasure divided by Pie)

It doesn't seem like you understand much. 

I will try to make it simple for you.

No one is "forcing" you to buy their games.

Why should they be "forced" to charge a set price determined by what type of game they make?

Why is your perceived value of games the only one that is correct?

How about you just don't play or buy games that you don't think are a value to you and let everyone else do the same?

[tp4tissue]

It doesn't seem like you understand much. 

I will try to make it simple for you.

No one is "forcing" you to buy their games.

Why should they be "forced" to charge a set price determined by what type of game they make?

Why is your perceived value of games the only one that is correct?

How about you just don't play or buy games that you don't think are a value to you and let everyone else do the same?

man.. who let the reddit in here.. hahahhaa

so patronizingly negative..

hahahahahhaa

[HouseofSuffering]

It doesn't seem like you understand much. 

I will try to make it simple for you.

No one is "forcing" you to buy their games.

Why should they be "forced" to charge a set price determined by what type of game they make?

Why is your perceived value of games the only one that is correct?

How about you just don't play or buy games that you don't think are a value to you and let everyone else do the same?

man.. who let the reddit in here.. hahahhaa

so patronizingly negative..

I've been here a bit. lol

[Kavik]

I look at is as this: single player takes a lot longer to develop because you have a story, scripted events, AI that has to behave, etc. Maps have to be larger or, at least, designed around keeping the player interested and curious to figure out where to go next instead of just an arena that is balance with health and weapon placements (even that idea is a bit outdated now). I think it's the design aspects that increase the cost and not necessarily the end user experience.

That said, these days, you can wait a couple months and get at least 20%-30% off any game, at least on PC.

[digi]

CoG/BC+P*HP=MP / π (Cost of Game Divided by Business Costs + Profits * Hours Played = Maximum Pleasure divided by Pie)

digi, u makes bad equations..  hahahaha

LOL

[RELLIK]

No offense, but with that outlook then CLEARLY LoL is worth more since its F2P 

...Until you realize the majority of players are braindead farming shiny $kin$. After a while this 'value' per hour is just wasted time and you'll wish you'd played something else, unless you consistently have a group to play X MP game with, where everybody needs their own copy, which means more copies sold/can have lower selling point (never mind co$metics). Its gonna rake in more cash, theres reason Blizzard/Valve are MP only now.

To me feels like a lot of the industry still focusing too much on first 2 weeks sales, which IMO needs to go, and when it does may change SP launch prices.

[Kavik]

One other point that somewhat plays into it for me is that multiplayer games stop being playable when other people stop playing them. How many multiplayer-only games can never be played again because the "official" servers are down and/or there is no player base? Games like Titanfall and Evolve lost players really fast.

[noisyturtle]

If anything I feel like multi player only games should cost WAY less or be free since so much less work and resources go into their development. New character models and move set balancing is simple with relatively short turnaround from concept to implementation. 

[FrostyToast]

Single player game where every hour of the game is hand crafted and all interaction with characters must be built from the ground up.
Multiplayer game where one map with no NPCs is built and the interactive experience is built by the other players.

Edit: not just one map for multiplayer games but about the same sq kilometres of map content.

Multiplayer games might grant the user more play time, but the cost is not more for a multiplayer game.

[digi]

I think a lot of you are assuming that more work goes into single player games just because it has better graphics.

MECHANICS & CREATIVITY is a core component of game longevity....just look at League of Legions or Dota..

Hence the new equation:

M*C²=GL*3.14

[tp4tissue]

I think a lot of you are assuming that more work goes into single player games just because it has better graphics.

MECHANICS & CREATIVITY is a core component of game longevity....just look at League of Legions or Dota..

Hence the new equation:

M*C²=GL*3.14

This man can't be stopped !!

[FreeCopy]

Whatever your opinion on game pricing is, the future of gaming looks like it's trying to be the arcade model streamed to your living room. It will be perpetual pay to play and micro transactions.

On the question asked: I think the amount that goes into a SP game would ultimately make it cost more than a MP game. I think your price points should be reversed based more on you get out what you put in from the developers side.

[tp4tissue]

Whatever your opinion on game pricing is, the future of gaming looks like it's trying to be the arcade model streamed to your living room. It will be perpetual pay to play and micro transactions.

On the question asked: I think the amount that goes into a SP game would ultimately make it cost more than a MP game. I think your price points should be reversed based more on you get out what you put in from the developers side.

I pretty sure user --FreeCopy--   is a pirate.. 

[FreeCopy]

Whatever your opinion on game pricing is, the future of gaming looks like it's trying to be the arcade model streamed to your living room. It will be perpetual pay to play and micro transactions.

On the question asked: I think the amount that goes into a SP game would ultimately make it cost more than a MP game. I think your price points should be reversed based more on you get out what you put in from the developers side.

I pretty sure user --FreeCopy--   is a pirate.. 

That is a false accusation and I resent such slanderous remarks.

reported.

[tp4tissue]

Whatever your opinion on game pricing is, the future of gaming looks like it's trying to be the arcade model streamed to your living room. It will be perpetual pay to play and micro transactions.

On the question asked: I think the amount that goes into a SP game would ultimately make it cost more than a MP game. I think your price points should be reversed based more on you get out what you put in from the developers side.

I pretty sure user --FreeCopy--   is a pirate.. 

That is a false accusation and I resent such slanderous remarks.

reported.

Bring it.. beyyetch.. //wha wha... !!

[digi]

Whatever your opinion on game pricing is, the future of gaming looks like it's trying to be the arcade model streamed to your living room. It will be perpetual pay to play and micro transactions.

On the question asked: I think the amount that goes into a SP game would ultimately make it cost more than a MP game. I think your price points should be reversed based more on you get out what you put in from the developers side.

I pretty sure user --FreeCopy--   is a pirate.. 

That is a false accusation and I resent such slanderous remarks.

reported.

[FreeCopy]

Whatever your opinion on game pricing is, the future of gaming looks like it's trying to be the arcade model streamed to your living room. It will be perpetual pay to play and micro transactions.

On the question asked: I think the amount that goes into a SP game would ultimately make it cost more than a MP game. I think your price points should be reversed based more on you get out what you put in from the developers side.

I pretty sure user --FreeCopy--   is a pirate.. 

That is a false accusation and I resent such slanderous remarks.

reported.

Show Image

I did mess with cracking cd protections, executables, and tried writing keygens but failed. Overall I was not very good.

I more followed tKC, the keyboard caper.

[davkol]

Single player game where every hour of the game is hand crafted and all interaction with characters must be built from the ground up.

That was the case with games like Morrowind.

Now you're too often getting mostly generic computer-generated open worlds.

I mean, generated maps are cool (see rogue-likes), but it's not the same thing as… Morrowind or Jeff Vogel's RPGs.

[digi]

Single player game where every hour of the game is hand crafted and all interaction with characters must be built from the ground up.

That was the case with games like Morrowind.

Now you're too often getting mostly generic computer-generated open worlds.

I mean, generated maps are cool (see rogue-likes), but it's not the same thing as… Morrowind or Jeff Vogel's RPGs.

Very good point, intriguing.

[noisyturtle]

People forget Final Fantasy III was $79.99 in 1994

[Sintpinty]

Where do you think Hades came from? My debit? No! i got it off a repack and now i can't stop playing

[Shapey Fiend]

Games used to be crazy expensive in the 16bit days and they held their value a long time. I'm cool with new stuff costing 70 or 80 euro I'm just very unlikely to grab them new. I grab almost everything on sale really.

[noisyturtle]

As long as the money goes to the devs and doesn't pad executives pockets.

[phinix]

I want this:

bring back big box versions - and then ask $50-60 for them. Digital - $40 max.
Ans stop this steam account s*** nonsense - let games be re-saleable - no restrictions, if you played it and loved it and would play again - keep it. Didn't like it, or won't play it again - sell it.

[AKmalamute]

Nope, sorry. GoG's deepest sales, on their oldest games.

I used to stick hard & fast to a $20/year software budget, and that included office programs. So I shuffled through the forgotten bins for $1-3 CDs, and got some amazing deals.

So that's my thought on games. Three dollars for a single-player game whether or not it has network code shoved into it. Multi-player only games cap for me at about a hundred pennies, USD.

[Shapey Fiend]

It's very easy have more games than you could ever find time to play for very small money these days.

Big box is never coming back all that limited edition stuff is a very shaky market with small margins from what I can see.

[noisyturtle]

Limited edition and small run games are straight up predatory and I attribute the rise of that sales model partially but directly responsible for the the rise of scalpers. Scalpers and resellers who buy out entire store stocks should never have become a norm, the fact you cannot go out and buy a PS5/Xbox in a store around Christmas is a direct cause. Not being able to find 30xx gpus is a direct cause. And the people complaining still pay aftermarket scalper prices like the ecosystem destroying hypocrites they are. We need a law passed ASAP to shut these leeches down, because at this point it isn't just a few consoles that 'fell off a truck,' it is an entire console generation launch suffering because of it.

[AKmalamute]

We need a law passed ASAP

I can't support governmental intrusion into a non-injurious interaction. The solution is for consumers to grow a spine and wait.

Also, if you see someone "selling theirs" -- PAY LESS it's a used product, after all. The more scalpers can't make money reselling legit product, the faster they'll go back to burger flipping, which is at least an honorable way to turn elbow grease into cash.

[Shapey Fiend]

Agreed. Impatience has created the market for scalpers.

Companies making products are always trying to stop them becoming commoditized. That's why Apple and Nintendo are always letting things sell out. The PS5 doesn't have any exciting launch games so this is the best marketing the machine could have gotten.

It's Supreme with clothes. I can get a middling quality clone of a Supreme product or I can buy the real thing, I've done both. Have one of their button up shirts for 10 years I still get complements on it and it hasn't dated. People don't value things based on quality anymore so scarcity is the next best solution.

The only market I think scalpers genuinely suck in is for live concerts and festivals cos often if you miss those there's not a chance to see the act again. They've created laws to crack down on that in my country now anyway.

--

On a separate thought I'm sort of worried games going fully digital will result in them becoming too cheap. Look at what happened to the App store. Everything is free with microtransactions and designed entirely around grifting you. An all you can eat Netflix style system would also be really crap for creators in the long run. You know there's 20 people pitching Spotify for games right now.

[Darthbaggins]

Dota and CS..

The last multiplayer games you'd ever need..

rephrase that - Dota & R6:S