Associate
- Joined
- 18 Sep 2007
- Posts
- 572
Over the last couple of years we've seen PC games slowly rise up to the same price point as their Console brothers.
Where previously a PC game would cost you £27-£30 now they are regularly £40 (or more!)
With repeated news stories of game studios going bust, was this just inevitable and a necessity in order to keep the industry going? Or is this the result of consolidation in the development market (with the likes of EA, Activision etc buying up smaller studios), with a reduction in competition allowing for these price increases?
It could be argued that 'costs' have dramatically reduced for publishers, they no longer need to 'press' discs and spend money on packaging, distribution etc, as sales are now done electronically. They have also cut out the middle man, and so should be receiving far greater percentage of the sale of a game.
However, on the flip side, gamers expectations have risen dramatically, no longer can half a dozen developers spend 2-3 years on a game and release it "when its done". Gamers expect a release each year or 18 months, and they often expect it to be 'a cinematic experience'. As such game studios are frequently tens or hundreds of people working on multiple titles at any one time.
Discuss (please)
Where previously a PC game would cost you £27-£30 now they are regularly £40 (or more!)
With repeated news stories of game studios going bust, was this just inevitable and a necessity in order to keep the industry going? Or is this the result of consolidation in the development market (with the likes of EA, Activision etc buying up smaller studios), with a reduction in competition allowing for these price increases?
It could be argued that 'costs' have dramatically reduced for publishers, they no longer need to 'press' discs and spend money on packaging, distribution etc, as sales are now done electronically. They have also cut out the middle man, and so should be receiving far greater percentage of the sale of a game.
However, on the flip side, gamers expectations have risen dramatically, no longer can half a dozen developers spend 2-3 years on a game and release it "when its done". Gamers expect a release each year or 18 months, and they often expect it to be 'a cinematic experience'. As such game studios are frequently tens or hundreds of people working on multiple titles at any one time.
Discuss (please)
