Why can't we have both? Seriously, I have enjoyed getting lots of games for cheap and some of them are/were indie and brilliant, but I also have a hunkering for deep, large-scale games. And while there are a few ports of such games (mostly old great point-and-click adventures), let's not kid ourselves, devs aren't going to continue to bring over this stuff for peanuts. And for the most part such games are also too niche to stay in top 25 for long enough to be profitable for a buck. Where are the next installments of the Ace Attorney series, for instance? Etc. It is Apple's fault - there should have been a premium section in the Appstore long since, where the devs could only change prices once in 2-3 months. Then the more hardcore gamers could be served, too. Personally, I was very much tempted to buy a DS and to lesser degree a PsP because of all the high-quality stuff they have there, but as I have to upgrade both my PC and my iPod this year, it is just not feasible. I'd really prefer to get at least some of that content on my platform of choice - iOS.
*Clap Clap* Well done, you have made these fanboys look like well...fanboys. You are correct that the pricing and value obtained from a single purchase are all in the eye of the beholder. If they want to "instabuy," no questions asked, have at it. Just don't cry and moan when the price drops 50% within 2 weeks. From a macro viewpoint, $16 for any game is unprecedented. Let's compare some of the top iOS titles: GTA:CTW ($10), Infinity Blade ($6), Real Racing 2 ($7) and MC2 ($7). You're telling me that a remade version of an average entry in the FF series should be priced above all of these because "it cost $40 on the DS"? I laugh at you. I bought Tetris DS for $30 years ago. Should EA sell Tetris for the iphone for $12 instead of the 99 cents that I paid for it? Based on some of your logic, I have no doubt that some of you fools would fall for it. Now if you are buying it because you are nostalgic and too impatient to wait a couple weeks for the price to drop I can understand that. But for you fools trying to justify this with Economics 101 concepts, spare us all of the rantings backed by a useless profession. I often see somebody posting a rudimentary calculation such as $16/40hrs to justify this but with that logic, Angry Birds and Tilt to live could have charged me $20. Maybe they should raise the price now! Luckily, no game developer is stupid enough to justify the price as such. As for the users who posted that they were happy to see increased prices, punch yourself in the face for lying.
It is better to have something that you want for a relatively high price than not have it at all. Not everybody likes Angry Birds/Tiny Wings et al. and/or likes _only_ casual highscore games, however polished. I want to play the rest of Ace Attorney series/Ghost Trick on the go and it would be far cheaper for me if they could sell it for 10$ on the Appstore, than to buy a DS and obtain it there, even by alternative means. So, yea, price is in the eye of beholder indeed.
There's so many things wrong with this post that I'll leave it to Hodapp to respond if he finds his way back here. From horrific logic to personal attacks, this post should honestly just be removed.
Yet you don't even attempt to comment on all that I supposedly got wrong? Need someone else to speak for you? Wait, delete the post? Who did I personally attack? Did I say any names? Grow up!
I knew I could count on you for such a response. TA is in great hands. Oh no. Do I need someone else to speak for me? Most definitely not. I just thought one of Hodapp's more appropriate responses like the one above would be the best reply. Let's just leave it at that. For now I only have three things to say. 1. "Fanboys" is the most used word by trolls online in discussions about games. 2. Economics is a useless profession? Please spare me. 3. Why don't we see how well the game sells first before you start making assumptions. Come back tomorrow. Oh, but the "fanboys" are responsible for shooting the game up the charts right? No, actually. I'm a huge fan of Tetris, and if EA priced it at $29.99, I wouldn't go near the game. But um, yes, I'm sure you're right that the game would still do well at even that price though. People view the worth of things differently. As far as wanting the price of games to increase is concerned, maybe you should read more into the logic that people in this thread have presented on the subject. With your mindset, you've successfully fueled the race to the bottom effect of the AppStore. And are everyone's logic incorporated with economics really just nonsense? Are you sure you know anything about the AppStore, prices, and demand?
That's the thing isn't it, we don't rightly know anything about AppStore so no one should make any assumption regarding the pricing of a game much less say that it would somehow "invite" other big devs with their AAA titles to the App Store. But when it comes to prices and demand, we do know the theory and we can observe the trends, and as long as something is observable, testable, and provable we can safely make assumptions. BTW, just a reminder for some of us here, most of the members in TA are children, teenagers at the very least. You can't reason with them, I tried. They can't understand not because they don't want to, but because they haven't got economy class yet, from what I gather. Chances are, they're buying apps using their parents' money. So I no longer see the point of this thread.
That's true, but we also don't know that it wouldn't since the prices of games have been on a steady decline since 2 and a half years ago. Someone needs to pave the way as is true with any new idea. Yes, that's also correct, but shouldn't we also look into the reasons? Why have prices changed in the ways they have? You answered that question perfectly in your last point. It's also the answer to why console gamers and large corporations alike look down on the iOS as a gaming platform. I'm not a bigot by any chance, having only turned 18 2 months ago, but it's true what you say. There's no way to reason with anyone who doesn't know about the worth of things and what it's like to spend your own money. My account on iTunes is bounded to my own account, and I've always used the money I've earned personally to buy my games even though my parents are outside the 7 digits income mark. You learn a lot of things by taking college courses, and listening. And certainly, most people around here won't even try to understand no matter what logic you throw at them. Apparently, Hodapp is quite familiar with this concept..now aren't you Hodapp..
The notion of AAA gaming existing on the iOS platform as anything other than an occassional novelty is fail. Too many people who own iPhones own them primarily as a phone, not as a dedicated gaming device. And too many people who own iPod touches ARE children and teenagers. They have a very limited amount of disposal income. For now, I'm moving onto the 3DS and I'll see how that goes. I realize Nintendo has a history of pandering to a casual audience as well, but I still have some hope that they will step up their games here and provide a more hardcore/dedicated experience. If not, there's always the NGP, which will definitely provide a hardcore experience. People who are desiring this from their iDevice are wasting their time. You are chasing the mythical unicorn here, my friends. I chased it for the better part of two years myself. But I'm over it. Touch Arcade still has on of the better forums around though, even if you're not exactly dedicated to the iOS gaming scene.
Who knows, you may be right. But it's something I definitely won't accept. It is a dream indeed, but honestly, the platform is still in its infant stages. I've also been a customer since the very beginning, and the transformation has been dramatic. There's definitely more than just hope that the iOS is heading in the direction "hardcore" gamers would like. We've seen quite a few titles in these few years that rival the best of handheld gaming, namely the DS and PSP. But most of all, there's one point you presented that can't be denied. Although the iOS have sold exponentially more units in the past year than Sony and Nintendo, the customer base is comprised of teenagers and preteens...who've never put in a day's work in their life. In any case, I think I'll stick around the iOS gaming scene. After experiencing/owning consoles from the SNES up to the PS3, I have no doubt in my mind that the iOS is my favorite.
AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! Another thread about pricing debate!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't we just get over this already? If its worth $14/$16, then it should be sold for that price. Simple as that. And who ever said you needed to buy it? Theres plenty of 99 cent games out there for you cheapskates *cough*Angry Birds*cough*. Done. Your welcome.
Gee. $14 is too high for a dramatically (and graphically) better remake from a game that you spent nearly what, $35-40 on? Replies like this is why large gaming companies are avoiding the app store (like that interview with Activision). 'Nuff said.
To end all the cheap talk !!!! Here comes probaly one of the most EPIC post in toucharcade Enix building = the building in which they run thier company from. No they dont get free rent , do you?? Try $20,000 a month for housing 100+ employees. Enix utility bill= Electicity=$8,000 a month. You think running all those computers are free , think again. QuadCore processors 10GB running memory computers that we wont see in the market until 10 years from now, unless we have money. Enix Staff = Professional Programmers = $50,000-$70,000 a year. These are professional programmers and artist/animators and game designers. They work overtime making games for you to enjoy and sometimes not even getting paid for the overtime. Marketing and ADs= For IOS magazines and media outlets rates from $300-$500 dollars per ADs spot. So now do you people get the point already . Do your own research , making quality games isnt cheap. They have to remake the game even if its a port. They dont just transfer the game over , they have to recode it and redraw it to fit the IOS device. Now do you still think thier prices are to high ?
This thread is trolling like crazy, just look at all the responses. The certain *someone* who made this thread is laughing it up, while everyone is getting all worked up over 100% pointless banter, that will in no way shape or form change the fact that maybe some developers, especially ones as large as SquareEnix, know the value of their products. They've been selling games, this game, for longer than half the users here have been alive. I'm just as cheap as the next guy, but honestly, let's draw the line somewhere.
