I've just recently begun to see a lot more $5.99 apps, BIA, HOS, Rolando etc. It might just be that that is Gamelofts new price for most of its apps, but maybe the price standards are dropping. Right now it just seems like some of the major app developers are doing it (Gameloft, Namco, ngmoco)
I think it is also trying to get over that $5 threshold. There is a stigma attached to being $4.99 that you could just as easily release at $3.99 or $2.99, but you are trying to gouge the market. This isn't necessarily the case, but a lot of iPhone consumers don't know a lot about iPhone psychology and buying patterns. Also, you have to consider that big-name apps came out at $10 at the launch of the app store. However, now that the recession is happening, and people are getting used to thrilling and cheap applications, the bigwigs like Namco and Sega are lowering their prices for the sake of sales.
