The “I think games are too expensive” sentiment is one we’re all familiar with. The going rate of new titles ranges anywhere from $39.99 for a new DS/PSP game to $59.99 or above for console titles. While gamers can whine all they want, prices aren’t ever going to drop…are they?
At least one publisher wants to see such a thing happen. Namco Bandai recently voiced its opposition to the hefty going rate of new releases in today’s gaming world and suggests a summit, with major international publishers, be held to tackle the issue.
“I feel all the big video game companies need to join together in a worldwide summit to discuss the future of our industry. I think we have to pull our thoughts together”, Namco Bandai’s Olivier Comte told MCV.
“I am convinced that in the future we must change the price of video games – they’re too expensive for the audience. With the cost of development and the retail margins, £40 is a fair price [to us], but for the consumer it is too much.”
“From September to December there are three new blockbusters every week, and consumers just can’t afford to buy all that.”
Everything the man has said so far sounds exactly in line with my thoughts and feelings, but where he loses me is when he says “a good price of a game should be around £20 — but for this price we can’t make a ten to 15-hour adventure. So for £20 we should offer consumers four to five hours of gameplay, then after that we can make additional money with DLC.”
Ouch. That’s not what you want!
via MCV