Game Prices

I think the current trend of rising prices in video games is going to eventually hurt both the companies and consumers. For years big game releases were being released at $59.99, but with more bonus content becoming available game prices are rapidly
rising. Games are now starting as high as $69.99 for their base prices. If you want to receive games early or get potentially even more bonus content, the price can even reach $120 or more. I don’t think the average consumer (15-30) can afford to keep buying
games continually at these rising price points. Also digital game downloads offer an opportunity for Xbox to give a slight discount on game prices which could lead to increased sales overall.

In addition to these rising prices, games are now available to be purchased directly through the console. All one has to do is go to the marketplace and purchase the game and it will be digitally downloaded. This is good for the consumer in theory,
because it eliminates the need to go to a store and purchase the game, while also eliminating the need for having and maintaining a physical disk. The problem with purchasing games online, for me, is that the games are the same prices as they are in the store.
Games should be cheaper online because it costs Xbox much less to have them there. For example for Target to sell the game, they have to purchase it, ship it to the store, have employees handle it, and have it occupy space both on the floor and in the stockroom;
all of which costs them money. While I’m sure it costs Xbox money to sell the games digitally, they don’t have to pay any of the storage or handling or damage fees that physical stores do. So if Xbox is saving all that money, I think at least a portion of
those savings should be passed to the customer, via the digital game price.

So in summation, while in the short term higher game prices might seem like it would increase profits, in the long run I think it will lower profits due to consumers purchasing games less frequently than they currently do. Also I think games
purchased digitally should be at least partially discounted for the consumer.

:)

 

Game Prices

You guys do realize that when buying in bulk (this was already mentioned), the disc/sheet of paper in case/case costs literally pennies. As for storage, that is covered by the retailer, as the games are shipped to them, probably in a warehouse.

I don't think people realize, or are failing to realize, when it comes to bandwidth, while we (customers) pay to have Internet, MS has to have the ability to upload all of the downloads to us. Hence where all the bandwidth discussion comes from.

 

Game Prices

Just buy it from amazon, the disc version of ANYTHING is hundred times preferable to a digital download anyway.