Commercial Game Prices

[Tobriand]

I buy all my games second hand typically, so £9.99 is typically what I pay - therefore for a downloaded game, that's what I'd be willing to pay full stop. At £14.99, I'd be tempted to buy games boxed from time to time, but at more, I'd probably do the usual and wait until second hand, tbh.

But then, I'm cheap

 

[danny404]

I doubt you could tell us what developers inquired into this? Also choose the 19.99/24.99.

 

[dreamwarbird]

To be honest, if i knew the quality of the games in development, i would probley pay more for then what i voted for (14.99/19.99). But just can't get over the fact that the quality of games on my GP32 weren't that great, which is a thorn in my mind. So my voted is kinda invalid, until i have been shown the quality of the games in development.

 

[Drak]

For free of course...

seriously though 10$!

 

[Goity]

I'd be willing to pay a fair bit for a decent 3d round based RPG

 

[OrR]

My other idea was that the game would have timed DRM. After a year or so from purchase you could log on to the site that you got the game type in your serial etc and get an unlocked version. By then the hype for the game would be down and wouldn't be selling that great anyway as it is old.

​

I think that's a good idea. However, I'd suggest a time span of 2 years since these independent games keep selling for longer periods of time. I don't think all developers would like this, though, so perhaps you have to give them the option to do it on their games.

i would pay a good 25 quid for a good game, but only boxed. a download is worth nothing, i paid for a couple downloadable gp32 games, and when the unit packed up i just got some cracked versions anyway,

it would of been quicker from the users point of view to get the cracked ones in the first place, or the games be non-encrypted, but saying that, stuff spreads quick online, so it's swings and rounderbouts.

​

You'd do piracy of games that are still availiable? Get out of the scene now! :angry:

 

[davey g]

Don't go Jaw ... don't GOOOOOOOO! OrR, learn to read.

 

[deadlychicken22]

I think that Jaw has a good point and don't see why many people are attacking him for it. I don't think that cracked games are a good idea, and I wouldn't get them. But I was very pissed off when I couldn't get the games that I had PAYED for for the gp32 and felt rather cheated, so I see where he is coming from. If you payed for a game you should be able to redownload it under certain cercumstances and you should be able to transfer it to different gp2x's and different SD cards. I think an online system run by craigix would be good because I trust him to handle this effeciently as he has done most of the time in the past (it would be all of the time except for some psp import incidents.....).

About game pricing:
For a fun but rather small game (such as an arcade game or high-quality homebrew) I would be willing to pay $10 or so for download and $15 for boxed
Example: geometry wars (for xbox360, available for $5)

For a comercial quality game on par with the GBA (but with hopefully better graphics) I would pay $20-25 or so for download and $30 for boxed
Example: castlevania, fire emblem, etc.

For a simply amazing game I would be willing to pay $35 or so for download and $40 for boxed.
Example: i'm not sure ;p Maybe a good RPG like final fantasy, lunar legend, or breath of fire, maybe a good platformer like mario, maybe a good adventure game like zelda, or maybe even a totally amazing puzzle game that will keep me occupied for 20+ hours. No matter what catagory, the gameplay must be top notch and the graphics and sound should be very good as well.

 

[OrR]

Don't go Jaw ... don't GOOOOOOOO! OrR, learn to read.

​

Yeah, I might have read the post wrong. Sorry, if that's the case.

 

[SolidSnake]

but how the DRM gp2x system work?

 

[OrR]

The game is locked to a special number, either a card number or a device number. Games can be encrypted to only run from a specific card or on a specific device.

 

[Flexinoodle]

If a game is a commercial port that is released within reasonable time from the original, I can't see why it shouldn't be the same price as the PSP or DS.

 

[deadlychicken22]

so, what devs are onboard? (or is that secret?)

 

[SolidSnake]

The game is locked to a special number, either a card number or a device number. Games can be encrypted to only run from a specific card or on a specific device.

​

but for a downloadable game for example, how it would work?

 

[OrR]

so, what devs are onboard? (or is that secret?)

​

I guess it is or he would have told us already... h34r:

The game is locked to a special number, either a card number or a device number. Games can be encrypted to only run from a specific card or on a specific device.

​

but for a downloadable game for example, how it would work?

​

You tell them the number of your GP2X, they let you download an automatically prepared copy encrypted for use on your device only.

 

[Radek]

For a DRM... it'd better to be locked to serial of gp2x with option to transfer licence. SD cards can sometimes break down so it's self explanatory why it'd be better this way. I also sometimes had to format my SD cards and use them for other purposes.

Eventually a special kind of SD card what can only hold a commercial software would be not stupid. I'd buy one if software were worth it. Anyway I'd prefer shipping by download than by mail.

For prices... Personally I would pay more for really good game what I could enjoy for long time. I would also pay for some ports if the prices would be reasonable.

The Reap, Balls of Steel, NFS1, Screamer, SystemShock1, UltimaUnderworld... these are games I'd like to have option to buy.

For newer stuff I don't know - it's a developers' thing - show offers then I may buy something.

 

[SolidSnake]

ummm, system shock...

 

[Captainbubby]

I selected the 2nd option 15-20 GBP's, though I would absolutely pay more for a top title, Liberty City Stories for example. But a game like that relies on a lot of 3D effects, I'm totally unsure of how it would look on the gp2x.

Also some open ended replayable strategy game (Like Romance of the Three Kingdoms) I'd pay more for as well because I never get sick of those

 

[codeninja]

I selected the 2nd option 15-20 GBP's, though I would absolutely pay more for a top title, Liberty City Stories for example. But a game like that relies on a lot of 3D effects, I'm totally unsure of how it would look on the gp2x.

Also some open ended replayable strategy game (Like Romance of the Three Kingdoms) I'd pay more for as well because I never get sick of those

I'm sorry, but you bought a wrong console if you expect GTA to come out for it, or wait until the install base to hit millions, first.

To me, GP2x is for 10~20 minute gaming fix. It's about playing games that I can't enjoy in other consoles any more such as good 2D shooters and platformers. So, I'm expecting good controlling platformers, clever puzzle games and classic 2D shooters that are not crazily high in production value. That leads to $10~$15 pricetag which I'll be willing to experiment, since it's within compulsive carefree purchase range. From $20 and up, I'll be checking whether I like the game, and from $30 and up, I'll be quite picky and it better be damn good.

In my situation, GP2x with $10 games perfectly fills the niche that I expect it to fill.

 

[Captainbubby]

I DON'T expect it, I was merely stating how much I would pay and why, while stating examples.