EvaUnit02 on 16/12/2008 at 05:24
Recently I noticed that some recent PC releases from major publishers have had marginal to significantly lower RRPs (before the usual online retailer discounts) than their console counterparts.
Eg:-
-The RRP for Tomb Raider Underworld PC (Edios) is $79.95 NZD vs. $119.95 for HD console versions.
-Need for Speed: Undercover PC (EA) is $59.99 NZD vs. $99.95 for HD console versions.
-Spider-Man: Web of Shadows PC (Activision) is $39.95 NZD vs. for $99.95 HD console versions
-Fallout 3 PC is $109.95 NZD vs. $139.95 for the console versions.
Has this been a common trend over in Europe and North America as well? I know that royalties/licensing fees paid to the console manufacturers have to be taken into consideration, but there's surely more to it than that?
I recall that major record distributors lowered the RRP of album CDs to combat music piracy.
Phatose on 16/12/2008 at 05:28
It's typically $10 or so US less for a PC version of a multiplatform game - $50 PC/$60 console.
For PS3, there's probably BRD licensing fees as well.
Koki on 16/12/2008 at 06:47
I always assumed that console versions were more expensive because that's how they earn money in the first place - not on consoles themselves(Which are often sold with a loss) but on the games.
june gloom on 16/12/2008 at 08:15
Koki is right for once. They sell them at a loss then charge exorbitant prices on the games- especially high-profile console exclusives such as Final Fantasy.
Aja on 16/12/2008 at 08:47
PC games are usually ten dollars cheaper here, too.
Except for Rare games, which have all been $40 on the Xbox lately.
WingedKagouti on 16/12/2008 at 10:11
Quote Posted by EvaUnit02
Has this been a common trend over in Europe and North America as well?
Denmark has new PC games at ~$65-75 (at current DKK/USD exchange rates) and new Console games at ~$90-$110 (Wii games low end, 360/PS3 high end).
Yell Piranha on 16/12/2008 at 10:29
PC Games have always been cheaper here (UK) but you raise an interesting point for me. If games were cheaper would people be more likely to buy them and less likely to pirate them?
Audiosurf is an example of this, it cost me about £5-6 (at a time when we had a good exchange rate). If it had been £10 I wouldnt have bought it. I have no doubt it would never have got the interest it did had it cost that much.
My point is that as software has a minimal reproduction cost once created would charging less allow developers to increase sales to the point they get more profit?
Toxicfluff on 16/12/2008 at 13:05
I dunno about combating piracy, but a lost sale is a lost sale. I haven't bought a game for over £25 in months. The last three games I bought on release - Stalker, Bioshock and Fallout 3 - have all been at a discounted ~£25 price from play.com. I'm just not prepared to pay £35+ for a computer game these days.
The other games I've bought have all been older and thus heavily discounted -- i.e. £5-13. Granted, games at these lower prices are a much less important revenue stream -- but I wouldn't have bought them otherwise.
Mr.Duck on 16/12/2008 at 14:55
Vat eez ze RRP, monsieur?
:)
Judith on 16/12/2008 at 15:14
Recomended retail price? (and that says a non-english native ;))
