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So do Switch games just never drop in price?
- Thread starter Spartancarver
- Start date
The real moral of this thread should be that market forces applied to art doesn't actually benefit the consumer as much as capitalist propaganda would suggest. Failing that, "selling a game what people are willing to buy it at is not anti-consumer" is an acceptable one that yet paves the path to socialist enlightenment.
it's about conditioning their fanbase. if they drop the price for arms, people are gonna expect it for mario odyssey and botw too.
unless something is a mega bomba, they don't drop prices. so people know that it doesn't matter if they buy at launch or wait two years, they're gonna pay the same amount.
That doesn't seem to be a problem anywhere else, games aren't bombing or losing sales just because there are more deals on them.
i won't say it's not a prolem. people get used to it and expect a price drop, even for the biggest, best received games. you can see it for any big game, some people saying they can't wait to buy it at 30, and if they wait a few months, they get their wish. that group is large enough that the games stop selling at full price shortly after launch. there's no reason a company can't make as much money possible off of something great they put out, at full price, but the market expects a price drop so they have to do it. i would argue if they hadn't conditioned their fanbases to expect a drop, and where able to sell at full price for longer, we would see less actual anti consumer practices like loot boxes and microtransactions in paid games.
Has it actually worked the whole time because I can recall a time not too long ago they were struggling.
Wii U software sales struggled because who had the Wii U? Their games still sold pretty well on it despite its 13 million user base.
yes, those same games are doing even better on the switch, showing it wasn't the games nor the price. people just didn't want a Wii U
Nintendo keep their prices high because they're the main vehicle for profit. Sony is more willing to drop prices because it's more interested in getting you in the ecosystem and getting that 30% cut on all those third party software sales/microtransactions that they mostly have that Nintendo can't count on.
it definitely wasn't because their software was slacking. even on the failure that wii u was, they sold huge amounts of software. just look how many million sellers they were able to put out on the system. if anything, it shows the strength of their software and their pricing that even on wii u they were able to achieve this:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_Wii_U_video_games
The market is competitive, if you don't do a deal on your game then someone else is gonna do it and steal your launch, Nintendo has an advantage in that regard as there isn't much competition, it's in their right to not do any price drops but it's also a shitty situation for consumers who want to try some old games only to see them still at full price, as for MTX, there is no solid argument that MTX and lootboxes are a result of this, it's also not like Nintendo is any good in regards to some of their DLCs (locking difficulties/QoL changes behind them).
lmao. Right, companies should arbitrarily drop prices on absolutely all entertainment products because some people are poorer.
Where's the floor then? Why is $20 ok for Bloodborne as you put it? What about the people that can only justify paying a buck for a videogame? Why is Sony leaving them out in the cold?
i'm not saying other companies can realistically just stop dropping their prices, it would definitely hurt their business. i'm just saying the act of dropping prices has lead to the market expecting it, so now they have no way to not do it. nintendo never participated in that, so to this day they they can get away with not doing it.
and honestly i don't buy that they can do it cuz they're not competing with others. all entertainment is competing with each other for people's time and money. switch players aren't in a bubble where they have some money reserved exclusively for switch games. most switch owners also have have another console or pc, there's no reason to think they're choosing to pay 60 dollars for a switch game because they have no other option, because they could just as well buy three games for another system with that money. they pay it because they see that nintendo game as being worth 60 dollars, event two years after launch.
I can get behind free Bloodbornes for every Playstation 4 owner. Let's go a step farther and say that every 1st party Sony title should be free on PS4.
Switch is getting more 3rd party games than any recent Nintendo console I can remember. And there are way more sales on Nintendo software this generation than I've ever seen. And this is with mainly tons of Indies and last gen ports. I have no doubt they would drop prices more quickly if the switch was getting the same 3rd party support as PS4/X1.
Very rarely
I recommend having a bookmark to Cheap Ass Gamers Twitter.
Setting a wishlist on the Eshop for easily tracking games so you can see when they are on sale
Maybe even do a slickdeals search from time to time
And of course Resetera's Buy/Sell/Trade thread
Good luck
I recommend having a bookmark to Cheap Ass Gamers Twitter.
Setting a wishlist on the Eshop for easily tracking games so you can see when they are on sale
Maybe even do a slickdeals search from time to time
And of course Resetera's Buy/Sell/Trade thread
Good luck
It feels weird to have to point this out, but video games are a luxury item. Nobody needs video games to survive. They offer no nourishment or security and provide no crucial service. They are a high-end entertainment product.
To that end, though it sounds callous from a humanistic standpoint, this recent "but what about the poor families who can't afford Nintendo games if they're not $30?!" take on the topic is entirely irrelevant from Nintendo's standpoint, so long as unit sales for their software and hardware remain strong. Can't afford Zelda at sixty bucks? Find it used, or wait for a temporary sale (which does happen), or else that's too bad. There's no ruling body in the industry that determines what a game "should" cost, so Nintendo's free to value their games however they want to, and retaining the monetary value of their product is important to them strategically.
I also find it funny to see wording like "anti-consumer" "extortion" and "price-inflation" being thrown around in this case, where the issue at hand is not exactly a price being way too high, but the already established price not being cut down to people's expectations. I mean...you literally cannot call that inflation, that would imply that the price was at some point being raised, not...not-lowered. Video games aren't perishable goods, the quality of the product itself is not something that's going to deteriorate with time (outside of recent years, where games with heavy online interactions will eventually have their servers shut down in the long term, but that's a different can of worms for a different topic and not relevant to this ~2 years timetable). From a practical standpoint there's no reason to ever lower any game's MSRP, it's only ever done as a business decision to try and give a boost to consumer demand. Any price drop for a game is done strictly for business reasons, not for "spreading art" or generosity or anything else. It's an attempt to make more money. That's all it ever is.
To that end, though it sounds callous from a humanistic standpoint, this recent "but what about the poor families who can't afford Nintendo games if they're not $30?!" take on the topic is entirely irrelevant from Nintendo's standpoint, so long as unit sales for their software and hardware remain strong. Can't afford Zelda at sixty bucks? Find it used, or wait for a temporary sale (which does happen), or else that's too bad. There's no ruling body in the industry that determines what a game "should" cost, so Nintendo's free to value their games however they want to, and retaining the monetary value of their product is important to them strategically.
I also find it funny to see wording like "anti-consumer" "extortion" and "price-inflation" being thrown around in this case, where the issue at hand is not exactly a price being way too high, but the already established price not being cut down to people's expectations. I mean...you literally cannot call that inflation, that would imply that the price was at some point being raised, not...not-lowered. Video games aren't perishable goods, the quality of the product itself is not something that's going to deteriorate with time (outside of recent years, where games with heavy online interactions will eventually have their servers shut down in the long term, but that's a different can of worms for a different topic and not relevant to this ~2 years timetable). From a practical standpoint there's no reason to ever lower any game's MSRP, it's only ever done as a business decision to try and give a boost to consumer demand. Any price drop for a game is done strictly for business reasons, not for "spreading art" or generosity or anything else. It's an attempt to make more money. That's all it ever is.
I really hope they bring out a "Nintendo Selects" range for the Switch. It seems to strike that perfect balance of giving a cheaper option for those who need it while not devaluing the original copies bought by the elitist "muh value" crowd. The non-Selects/Platinum/other budget range branding versions of games tend to hold value and then appreciate much better than their budget-label variants.
I imagine the sheer cost of the carts could be a barrier for a while though.
I imagine the sheer cost of the carts could be a barrier for a while though.
Just caught up with this thread and I am shaking my head in dismay. Asking for games to be sold at a lower price than you're willing to pay is not "anti-consumer". It's literally entitlement.
Nintendo rarely does sales or price drops because keeping the price high creates perceived value. Apple does it all the time, as do many luxury brands.
Nintendo rarely does sales or price drops because keeping the price high creates perceived value. Apple does it all the time, as do many luxury brands.
I'm not willing to pay 60€ and more for tickets for concerts anymore. Including travelling there early, time investment and probably shitty sound (or the occassional tall guest right in front of you or beer ending up in your hair) it does not feel worth the hazzle, apart from the few smaller acts I want to support. Going to the movies starts feeling similar.
I'm still very willing to pay 55€ for an experience like Breath of the Wild. When I look at the price drop of RDR2 since October I have to think of Dan Houser boasting about 100h work weeks, and the 8 year development time, and that a part of the devs seems to get bonuses based on sales performance.
Games cost about as much or less than console modules in the 90s, but there is much more blood, sweat and tears in them. I would actively feel bad about having gotten a masterpiece like BotW for 20€. The last time I shopped for groceries I paid much more than that. I've paid 15€ for Hollow Knight and feel bad about as it has an incredible love for detail and amount of content, and is better than many self-proclaimed AAA titles.
When I was a student with little money and a 3ds I just bought used games or Nintendo Selects. Never felt entitled for a lower price.
I'm still very willing to pay 55€ for an experience like Breath of the Wild. When I look at the price drop of RDR2 since October I have to think of Dan Houser boasting about 100h work weeks, and the 8 year development time, and that a part of the devs seems to get bonuses based on sales performance.
Games cost about as much or less than console modules in the 90s, but there is much more blood, sweat and tears in them. I would actively feel bad about having gotten a masterpiece like BotW for 20€. The last time I shopped for groceries I paid much more than that. I've paid 15€ for Hollow Knight and feel bad about as it has an incredible love for detail and amount of content, and is better than many self-proclaimed AAA titles.
When I was a student with little money and a 3ds I just bought used games or Nintendo Selects. Never felt entitled for a lower price.
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That was my situation too back then. I was always happy to wait for a better deal whenever it was possible to find (trade-ins of games I'd never play again, or sales, or waiting for the budget model to come out).
It's why I don't understand why people are crying about the full price. There are ways to work around it, even if Nintendo is known to not drop prices.
Lol ok.
Funny how quickly people forget Nintendo's struggles with the N64, Gamecube, and Wii U.
I buy far fewer Nintendo games than PS4/PC because of their stubborn prices. I think a Nintendo console is the worst value proposition for gaming by far. But you know... It is what it is. At least there are some nice eshop deals.
In retail? Yes, because usually on the best games get a retail release.
Digitally, lots of sales.
I'm a bit salty several 3rd party games I bought had digital sales. But granted I didn't mind to see the sales actually happen and see the games find an audience on Switch.
Digitally, lots of sales.
I'm a bit salty several 3rd party games I bought had digital sales. But granted I didn't mind to see the sales actually happen and see the games find an audience on Switch.
That was kind of their point. Despite lackluster hardware sales, first party software sales were still pretty strong.
I understand why Nintendo does it and im cool with it. For some of their games they pack enough stuff in there that I don't mind paying. A lot of their stuff though I think is pretty weak but it get propped up because Nintendo consoles typically have doodoo third party support so Nintendo's own stuff tends to sell better and for longer than it should.
It's a stark, sometimes jarring difference from Sony and MS. Today I was buying the Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 pack for PS4 for my daughter and I browsed some other PS4 titles and saw Detroit for $20. A big hype well received exclusive from last year, $20. Then I checked the 3DS games with my son, lots of dirt cheap third party stuff, Nintendo games still $25-40.
It's hard to say it's anti-consumer because in some of the cases, they offer a quality enough product that people are willing to spend $60 years later. Zelda, still $60. Horizon ZD on PS4 is $20 with the DLC included. Crazy difference. Plus let's not act as if Sony and MS wouldn't be selling their games at full launch price for years if sales allowed it.
It's a stark, sometimes jarring difference from Sony and MS. Today I was buying the Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 pack for PS4 for my daughter and I browsed some other PS4 titles and saw Detroit for $20. A big hype well received exclusive from last year, $20. Then I checked the 3DS games with my son, lots of dirt cheap third party stuff, Nintendo games still $25-40.
It's hard to say it's anti-consumer because in some of the cases, they offer a quality enough product that people are willing to spend $60 years later. Zelda, still $60. Horizon ZD on PS4 is $20 with the DLC included. Crazy difference. Plus let's not act as if Sony and MS wouldn't be selling their games at full launch price for years if sales allowed it.
I feel like some folks are seeing this backwards.
While the end result is "Nintendo games are more expensive than non-Nintendo games," that's not really the problem.
The REAL problem, I would argue, is that nearly everyone OTHER than Nintendo hideously overprices their games for the first few weeks/months after release. The "real" price for the game comes quickly enough, and that game stays at that lower price for the majority of its lifespan, but most publishers seem content to release $20 games at 2-3 times the price for the first few weeks.
Nintendo isn't the one with overpriced games. Most of their games are worth the "full" $50-$60 price tag, and most consumers appear to agree. However, if almost every OTHER game needs a significant price drop to keep selling, it implies that "early adopters" are getting taken advantage of by most publishers.
While the end result is "Nintendo games are more expensive than non-Nintendo games," that's not really the problem.
The REAL problem, I would argue, is that nearly everyone OTHER than Nintendo hideously overprices their games for the first few weeks/months after release. The "real" price for the game comes quickly enough, and that game stays at that lower price for the majority of its lifespan, but most publishers seem content to release $20 games at 2-3 times the price for the first few weeks.
Nintendo isn't the one with overpriced games. Most of their games are worth the "full" $50-$60 price tag, and most consumers appear to agree. However, if almost every OTHER game needs a significant price drop to keep selling, it implies that "early adopters" are getting taken advantage of by most publishers.
That's over the top, and correlation /= causation.
But it's more like a contingent of other companies' fans are more time sensitive and absolutely must play games asap after release and will pay a premium to do so. And that's fine, if people want to pay for it. Several companies are indeed taking this to the next level by allowing 'platinum' editions that allow buyers early access etc.
I think Nintendo is "smart" about their full priced, old, Wii U ports but I also think it's a bit greedy too. Especially when they don't have a system of transferring digital titles from Wii U to Switch or offering some kind of discount for those who bought it digitally on Switch.
Heh, this is a funny way to look at things but it's reminiscent of something one can easily observe in the music/film/tv business. Digital has extended the "shelf life" of media products almost indefinitely but with it also changed our perception of value. Among my circle of friends, it's really only games and movies that have managed to keep their value as premium products. For movies it's only because of the cinema experience and games are also not immune to sales creep. Music and tv shows are basically worthless unless they're tied to a subscription service and I wonder how Game Pass and all the upcoming streaming platforms will shape the gaming industry.
While I'm aware this is the unpopular route, the eShop always has sales on and the Nintendo titles do go on sale every few months.
On top of that you can use coins you earned from other games to lower the price even more.
So there's always a way.
I gotta say as a consumer I appreicate Nintendo's pricing stategy. There's nothing worse than paying one price for a game only to see it quickly drop well below that on a nearby sale. PC users know this pain all too well.
On top of that you can use coins you earned from other games to lower the price even more.
So there's always a way.
I gotta say as a consumer I appreicate Nintendo's pricing stategy. There's nothing worse than paying one price for a game only to see it quickly drop well below that on a nearby sale. PC users know this pain all too well.
I think it has to do with several issues:
- people not comparing with value for money for other daily (groceries) or entertainment activities (especially those that are much more short-lived: concerts, bars, train tickets)
- no ability to perceive quality, detail and the incredible amount of work that has gone into many of today's games, especially Nintendo's
- having a whole generation growing up believing the "freemium" model and pay-to-win is the new normal - well, the gane industry shot in their own foot here and I believe a bit that they deserve the current situation for this greed
- Steam discounts leading people into buying hundreds of games they'll never play, and the connected lowered perceived value
- Not having learned yet how to save money on full-priced games (trade-ins and used products)
That Nintendo games are compared to fancy-graphics-but-mediocre—cringeworthy-content stuff like Detroit in this thread just proves point two for me :p
I also think that the Switch demographic is a quite a different one than PS4 / Steam. Probably another reason why Nintendo can pull this off.
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This is a bad take, suggesting all non-Nintendo games are rotting food? Also bananas and toilet paper are not entertainment nor in the dozens of dollars.
Anyway Nintendo keeping prices high isn't really anti-consumer, it doesn't punish prospective buyers. However it also isn't pro consumer and locks out people with less expendable income (which in some ways benefits Nintendo by adding a level of prestige to their games).
Honestly I do think a lot of games fall in value too quickly which makes purchasing games day one less of an incentive but Nintendos route isn't much better (although they know they have the ravenous fanbase which will defend their every move). There should be sustainable middle ground that doesn't punish day one buyers but also allows those will to wait to be able to buy at a lower price tag.
It's fine if you think something is too expensive, but that doesn't mean the price point is anti-consumer.
And if you do decide to go down that avenue of argument, then *everything* is anti consumer as all companies want your money.
And if you do decide to go down that avenue of argument, then *everything* is anti consumer as all companies want your money.
This is a smart post.
I can't relate. The PC games you feel burnt on (for not getting the absolute cheapest) were probably cheaper than Nintendo games will ever be so...
They seldom go on sale which is why I buy very few games for Nintendo platforms especially within the first few years. The nice part about other systems is that you can often jump in mid generation and have a plethora of super high quality titles available for $20 and under.
This is one reason I hesitate to buy very many games day one for non Nintendo systems. I know if I'm patient they will drop significantly in a matter of weeks. I'm much more likely to buy a Nintendo game day one knowing it's unlikely to get massive price drops quickly.
I do want to point out though that you can still find deals on Nintendo games. The prices may not drop permanently, or across the board at all retailers, but I f you are patient and a savvy shopper you can still find plenty of good deals on Nintendo games. It also makes it that much more satisfying to me knowing they will retain that value.
Edit: even right now there are some good deals on Nintendo Switch games.