Because they like to flay me alive...
As for pricing...
What really irritates me is the fact that digital downloads (for everything) cost the same as the disk copy. For one, I've eliminated most of the costs to the company related to shipping, handling, and production--data delivery is way cheaper. More importantly, I've also eliminated the risk for used resale. I shouldn't have to pay more to help them cover those costs, considering I'm a no-risk customer there.
It's really true though, regarding prices. There's no good reason for companies to be charging $60--the only reason they do is because people at the top tell them to. If games costed $30, I'd buy WAY more of them (probably more than double what I do now, because it's much easier for me to spend $30 here and there, than spend $60 sparingly). And considering most gamers aren't hardcore early adopters, I assume that goes for everyone.
Not all companies suck there, though. CCP has been decent with EVE. $5 to buy the game, $15 a month after your trial period (which can be huge if you know someone who plays... or can post on a message board). All expansions are free.
But I'm honestly afraid of how TOR will handle expansion pricing. I justified the $60 for the game, because I knew I'd get a comprehensive single player experience. I rationalized the monthly fee as being normal once I hit endgame (and am ignoring that I won't be DOING endgame activities to any significant degree for a few months). But if they intend to charge more than $30 for expansions, I'm gonna be pissed.
[EDIT]
@Eske,
A big part of it was that games used to be a small market. You could charge $140 for a game, because you weren't going to see any significant drop in sales for doing so--your market was only so large, and the profit of selling at $140 was much higher than at $30, because not too many more people were going to buy.
Gaming has mainstreamed now, but the market hasn't really adjusted itself. Gaming companies are getting worried, because cheap games are doing incredibly well right now. Look at the mobile market--they are terrified it's going to disappear, because $40 PSP games really aren't all that much more fun than a $2 iPhone game.
There's a huge market for games now, but companies are still acting like there's a small one of dedicated customers. Thing is, even dedicated gamers are having increasing difficulty paying $60 for anything but the biggest titles. Because there are plenty of really fun $5-10 games on Steam.
Edited, Feb 10th 2012 2:12pm by idiggory
____________________________
IDrownFish wrote:
Anyways, you all are horrible, @#%^ed up people
lolgaxe wrote:
Never underestimate the healing power of a massive dong.