Analysts: Some Publishers May Slash $59.99 Software Price
Given the current economic downturn, many people have to curtail their luxury spending, and unfortunately, that includes cutting into our leisure activities. However, one analyst believes we may enjoy temporary relief with a software price cut.
As GameDaily reports, Signal Hill analyst Todd Greenwald hinted that the standard $59.99 price point for next-gen software may be in danger. This could be construed as good news from a consumer's standpoint, but from the publisher's perspective, this could be a devastating move. The profit margin on new software isn't that great to begin with, and says Greenwald:
"To us, the biggest risk facing all publishers is the demise of $59.99 pricing for front-line 360 and PS3 software titles. With all of the price-reductions made during the holiday season, funded jointly by both retailers and publishers, there is obviously a concern that $59.99 goes away, which would be fairly devastating for margins, as development and publishing costs would stay virtually flat, while sales would take a 20% hit."
However, despite all this, publishers really aren't having any trouble selling new games (well, provided the game is good). Last year's financial numbers showed a 20% growth and most analysts are predicting that the slumping economy can't really hurt the "cocooned" game industry. Until the $59.99 price point becomes a legitimate drain, we can't really can't see an across-the-board price cut on software. You might see more retail sales, but that's about as far as things will go...we're not analysts, though. What do we know?
2/3/2009 Ben Dutka
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Comments (66 posts)
englishgolfer
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 1:00:01 AM
SarahPalinMILF
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 9:27:21 AM
NoSmokingBandit
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 9:42:38 AM
englishgolfer
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 9:56:09 AM
YesterdysRising
Tuesday, February 03, 2009 @ 10:36:11 PM
Reply
rell
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 7:50:21 AM
Schmitty
Tuesday, February 03, 2009 @ 10:43:03 PM
laxpro2001
Tuesday, February 03, 2009 @ 11:29:10 PM
Now if companys began to publish games at a lower price range people might be suspicious. However if the publisher did this for all games they published I feel consumers wouldn't suspect anything of lesser quality.
So basically they can't price games they publish differently otherwise it will drive consumers away from the lower priced one.
blitz30952
Tuesday, February 03, 2009 @ 10:48:20 PM
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Banky A
Tuesday, February 03, 2009 @ 11:40:36 PM
coverton341
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 12:01:06 AM
GuernicaReborn
Tuesday, February 03, 2009 @ 10:49:23 PM
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somethingrandom
Tuesday, February 03, 2009 @ 11:04:59 PM
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Tristan
Tuesday, February 03, 2009 @ 11:07:01 PM
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I haven't bought any new game this year. Since I'm not really into the first-person shooter/action genre then it'll be months from now til I'm buying a new game (Depends on when Square-Enix' gonna release FF13 outside Japan).
Last edited by Tristan on 2/3/2009 11:07:46 PM
hart_attack
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 10:29:49 AM
LCF
Tuesday, February 03, 2009 @ 11:29:06 PM
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As a result you get games out the door with bugs. Or they could be like Epic and microsoft and don't believe in testers. Then it ends up with alot of patches.
So like I said, I don't mind paying the $60 for a game as long it's a good quality game. But on that token this gen has just been riddled with bugs. I blame the general gaming community on this one for having no patience.
KevinCairo
Tuesday, February 03, 2009 @ 11:29:33 PM
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When places like Gamestop sell used games, do the publishers get a cut? If not, a price cut would definitely sway people towards buying new and could be potentially helpful.
Last edited by KevinCairo on 2/3/2009 11:31:15 PM
hart_attack
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 12:59:36 AM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, February 03, 2009 @ 11:35:05 PM
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...considering inflation and the VAST difference in games now and then, I'm not entirely sure anybody should complain. By all rights, they should cost close to a hundred bucks apiece.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 2/3/2009 11:35:27 PM
KevinCairo
Tuesday, February 03, 2009 @ 11:37:01 PM
LCF
Tuesday, February 03, 2009 @ 11:47:18 PM
Renck
Tuesday, February 03, 2009 @ 11:49:26 PM
coverton341
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 12:03:59 AM
Didn't say what game just said video g: but that goes to show that like was said with inflation games are cheaper today. I would love to find out how much a 2600 cart costs in the Atari hay-day but for the life of me I can't find one receipt from then
Aftab
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 12:38:48 AM
KevinCairo
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 1:37:19 AM
-Seeing the price drop is a good incentive to buy new games more readily
-Takes from used game sales
-More sales at a slightly lower price COULD potentially turn out a similar profit as selling slightly less at a slightly higher price
I'm not saying it would be a success, but it's not out of the question. Seriously, manufacturing the blu ray disk and case isn't very costly so moving more units that are still at a good profit could bring in a greater net profit if it really stimulates sales enough.
recks1jtp
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 7:42:20 AM
NoSmokingBandit
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 9:49:18 AM
If a game cost $40 im am convinced their profit margins would go up a bit. I am very picky about what games i buy (i only have about 1 dozen ps3 games) becuase nothing pisses me off more than spending $60 for a game that sucks. If they were $40 i would be willing to buy more games that im unsure about because i wouldnt have wasted so much on it if i end up not liking it.
Wage SLAVES
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 5:31:42 PM
Itdoesntmatter
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 12:12:30 AM
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daus26
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 12:50:39 AM
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I say developers should just honestly sell games based on what they're worth. I sometimes feel like they sell games at 60 bucks just because the standard price point is that. However, I also believe there r publishers honest enough to release a game less than 60 dollars.. e.g: Ferrari Challenge n Kung Fu Panda. I also even believe some games are actually worth more than 60$.
So, 60 dollars is definitely the reasonable price point especially considering how some N64 games were at the same price. No complain here. Besides some stores give discounts to games sometimes, n if u guys dont know, the standard price for next gen games at costco is 54.99 so a 5-10 bucks incease from last gen's standards can only make sense.
Gabriel013
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 1:24:24 AM
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BigBoss4ever
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 2:24:38 AM
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Last edited by BigBoss4ever on 2/4/2009 2:26:35 AM
realmadpuppy
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 2:24:41 AM
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dveisalive
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 3:15:26 AM
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OriginalSin
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 4:39:42 AM
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skoda
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 5:01:32 AM
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noshownogo
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 5:11:04 AM
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Alienange
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 6:01:27 AM
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Last edited by Alienange on 2/4/2009 6:02:03 AM
Gabriel013
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 7:46:32 AM
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Driven2Decay
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 8:29:51 AM
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Last edited by Driven2Decay on 2/4/2009 8:32:10 AM
CH1N00K
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 8:37:52 AM
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One that kind of bugs me though is the high price of some of the handheld games. 40 to 50 bucks for a DS game is a bit steep IMHO.
Diggity Dan
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 8:39:12 AM
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PS3_Wizard
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 11:06:48 AM
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Its because of companies like that, who cut into developers profits by selling used games, that we are forced to pay that much for a new game. And its also the reason most games stay at max price longer than in previous generations.
I for one don't see how companies like that can even sell the used games without giving some profit to the developers. Whats the point of copyright? Whats the point of putting the disclaimers in the back of instruction booklets, stating that its "illegal to distribute" their product?
I know some developers are speaking out about it, but alot more needs to be done. Many of you know that I work for Gamestop, and I'm proud to say that I quit 3 days ago (not before preordering all the blockbusters I could so my employee discount could take effect).
If all the developers could somehow stop the sales of their product, or atleast require a fee for re-selling it, then I think prices will level out for all (except gamestop, which should see some major profit losts).
Robochic
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 2:18:05 PM
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IE:lord of the rings conquest (so not worth the 70 bucks i paid CDN)
Hey off topic anyone notice that ebgames has a lot of pre-order deals where if you take it home don't like it or played through the game you get you're full amount you paid for back as instore credit? i've been pre-ordering and it was offered on LOTR conquest (thank goodness) so i got my money back as a instore credit of 82.99 and preordered Resident evil 5 and they have the same deal? Not sure why that is.
Diggity Dan
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 @ 3:34:20 PM
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While some people who'd otherwise buy a new game go ahead and buy it used (forgoing some profits to the developers), there's an important 2nd effect: The fact that people know they can unload their used games after they'be bought them new actually *increases* the demand for new games. Removing the used game market wouldnt be in developers' best interest either. They only do that with PC because it's nearly impossible to stop pirating.

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NoSmokingBandit
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Tuesday, February 03, 2009 @ 10:22:52 PM
Far Cry 2 featured some very tasteful Jeep logos on the vehicles, but did that save me any money?" Of course not! Did it make the game any better? According to a GameInformer interview, Far Cry 2 is missing alot of the 'polish' they originally intended.
Several of the THPS games had ads and they still cost normal price (i cant even remember what i paid for them, haha).
Burnout Paradise, however, got it right. I can pick it up for $20 now, and im ok with ads for a game priced that low.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 2/3/2009 11:34:17 PM