Are PC Games prices going up?

altrewin · 3 Jul 2014 at 14:44

Honestly I think bringing back proper demos could be one of the best ways to lower piracy. While I haven't pirated something to try it first in several years I'll admit to doing it in the past, this is mostly due to the abundance of game review sites and youtube channels out there, meaning I can get a good look at what the game is like before buying it. The only other times I've pirated a game in the past is for a few older titles that were disc only and the disc stopped working (last ones I remember doing were K&M + Croc), this is only because I generally find it slightly less immoral to pirate older games (pre-2000) due to most devs not making money off them anymore and/or the company has gone bust anyways.

However I still do not agree with pirating newer games or even games that haven't been released yet. Sure I can understand that you don't want to give money to certain companies, but just don't even touch their games then, or wait until they've come down in price and had the majority of their problems patched, I can't remember the last time I've paid full price for a title. This is why we have Steam Sales! & 3rd party key sites!

Gimpymoo · 3 Jul 2014 at 15:26

hyperseven said:
I did say 'like E3' I wasn't going to name them all because there are so many now.

But if they can cobble something together for the patrons/press in these events why not for the people who are going to buy the product.

If early doors, such builds will only run at a playable state on specific hardware which helps to limit the QA required to almost nill, you can also ramp up the visuals etc specifically to that rig and the strengths of your game.

Releasing a demo for "everyone" can be VERY time consuming and full of bureaucracy.

altrewin said:
Honestly I think bringing back proper demos could be one of the best ways to lower piracy.

Not to derail the thread but that comment is pure fantasy.

The same 14 year olds with no money will still pirate games if they want to play.

I would go as far to say that piracy is linked to age group more than anything else.

If you polled this forum, I expect the "teen" age group would pirate more than say the 35-50 age group, for which there are many reasons for this.

Martini1991 · 3 Jul 2014 at 15:30

Five.Stars said:
Congrats on adding to the piracy stats that the gaming imdustry use as a stick to beat pc gamers with! It makes zero difference whether you go out and buy a game that you feel is worthy of your cash - and I doubt you do this 100% of the time - you are still adding a +1 to the piracy statistics.

The piracy statistics by themselves are meaningless.

Davey_Pitch · 3 Jul 2014 at 19:16

I don't want to see anyone else advocating piracy in here. Having a discussion is fine, but admitting it or saying its a good thing isn't something to do on here. Accounts will be suspended if it continues.

Rofflay · 3 Jul 2014 at 21:45

Just keep whining about the prices then!

They are going up though i noticed this with the PS4 launch where games started to go for 60 Euro and then sure enough they tried it on with the PC market in AUS/GER etc. Now it seems it is coming to us as well. I mean look at the prices of STEAM higher than the old retail yet there is no physical costs on STEAM. And the CS/refunds are a dictatorship. And this is why games are £39.99 on there? Seriously i game now at 120hz and buy my games a year later when i can play them on max. And the most i pay per game is about £10.

As for the console dribbers who are paying £45 a game seriously get a grip and stop being tards. It is an inferior junkbox that offers nothing STEAM and big picture mode wont with a controller. And the games cost a hell of a lot less. Death to consoles!

jay20aiii · 3 Jul 2014 at 21:52

Seems to be the case for anything related to EA. Aside from a recent Origin sale that saw none of the A-List titles go on offer they seem to be standing by the strategy of "pay dearly or go elsewhere".. I hate to think where we would be without Steam.

Rofflay · 3 Jul 2014 at 21:57

Steam is going the same route mate, Do you not see the amount of indie junk plastered over it? You can barely find the good games and when you do they cost more than the rainforest.

How much is Watchdogs on Steam again? £39.99 and £49.99 for the Digital Deluxe! Crazy!!!

HangTime · 3 Jul 2014 at 22:00

altrewin said:
Honestly I think bringing back proper demos could be one of the best ways to lower piracy.

Piracy was massive in the days when demos were commonplace; people were doing it because it was cheaper than buying, quicker/easier than buying (due to lack of legal downloads), sometimes got you access before release date and was basically DRM free.

Much as with the music industry in my view the best thing they have done is to embrace technology and make it easy for people to do legal downloads. 10 years ago that wasn't the case, take Doom 3 for example basically you could either get a dodgy US copy from the comfort of your home at the start of August, or wait a week for the EU release which would involve either leaving the house or having to get it delivered. Demos didn't even come in to the equation, everyone wanted a new Doom game.

ZombieFan · 3 Jul 2014 at 23:17

hyperseven said:
Well if the game developers actually released demos, yes remember those, we could try before we buy! But oh no, they are too lazy to even do that.

When was the last AAA title that had a demo? I can't remember one, and no not Beta (Battlefield(s) so we can test their net code), a full demo.

Titanfall was available for free for 48 hours a week or two ago. Effectively a demo.

You are entitled to a full refund on any EA games bought via Origin within 24 hours of first launching the game (*not* including download time. 24 hours after playing the game for the first time). Effectively a demo.

AWPC · 9 Jul 2014 at 17:17

Sega are proving my point :rolleyes:

Alien Isolation: Nostromo Edition with 4 different pieces of DLC is £38 on PC @ retail you only get 2 pieces of DLC with it as well that still leaves 2 more pieces of DLC to buy 1 of which is exclusive to 1 unannounced yet retailer only

Digital pricing is likely to be 15-25% higher as it usually is :rolleyes:

This DLC is all recreating key scenes from Alien (1979) so its a real up yours to gamers who want the whole SP only experience

hyperseven · 9 Jul 2014 at 17:59

ZombieFan said:
Titanfall was available for free for 48 hours a week or two ago. Effectively a demo.

You are entitled to a full refund on any EA games bought via Origin within 24 hours of first launching the game (*not* including download time. 24 hours after playing the game for the first time). Effectively a demo.

Not really a demo, since will be full download and not everyone has uncapped bband, but kudos to Origin for doing that.

gothic_hobbit · 11 Sep 2014 at 13:52

I remember downloading a demo for Unreal Tournament 2003.

Have demos really gone the way of the dodo ?

Vern1961 · 13 Sep 2014 at 17:17

In real terms, not really. We have enjoyed an extended period where the average price of a new, non-budget, PC game has hovered between £19.99 and £34.99. However I remember Microprose mil-flight sims going for £44.99 in the early 90's, fairly sure I paid >£40 for Flight Sim 2004 and FSX, with Microsoft Train Sim in 2001 costing a whopping £50.

The difference now is that few people would willingly spend that amount of money unless it is an exceptional or specialised interest title. However I'll happily part with £40 for GTA V.