Devaluation of Games

[SomethingWild]

Some random thoughts and questions.

When games come out, no matter on which console, they're pretty expensive. Here in the Netherlands it's around 50 euro for Wii, 50-60 euro for PS2 and even more for PS3/Xbox360.

Let's look at Need for Speed Pro Street for PS2. This game is currently in stores here for 50 euro. It's been around 6 weeks since the release of this game here and already it has devaluated very much. On ebay they go for 19 euro. (http://cgi.ebay.nl/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270200800849&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=017)
Easy math shows the loss of around 30 euro just weeks after it's release.

This is just one example, but the same goes for almost every game. Not looking at some games which are hard to get/collector's items. Even if you don't check ebay or other used sites, after a year or so the game price is slashed in half or even more (usually, they come down to 20 euro).

My question, knowing this, why would anyone buy games when they just hit the stores? All because of the hype? The need to play certain games? I really don't get it. How hard can it be to wait a couple months before getting a game.. would your life be so much more complete with some new game? Please note, I'm not trying to offend anyone, I'm just trying to understand.

So, do you buy games when they just come out? Why (not)? Any other thoughts?

[Tuffty]

Very interesting point. One that springs to mind immediately is Virtua Fighter 5 for the 360. Recently released here in the UK, last week in October if GameFAQ's anything to go by. A little over 2 months now and what was a full price game for a next-gen title, £50, can be bought online from a GAME store for £20, 60% off and cheaper now than games released for the same console which have been on the market for much longer.

I think I lot of it boils down to what the market is buying. Naturally, game stores will want to keep the popular games at full price, or as close to it as they can, in order to gain maximum profit, but those not selling well (VF5 by the looks of it) they want to reduce the price of in order to shift stock and not keep it laying about otherwise they lose money in keeping it stored. Also depends on the platform it's available on. Certain games are an exception however. ICO for the PS2 was on offer on eBay for ridiculously high prices, but it was largely due to the fact that there weren't that many copies of the game available anyway, making it a worthwhile collectors item.

For the most part, I'm with BarrieV on this, but it largely depends on the game in question and your anticipation of how it will fare in the market. If it's a game such as Halo 3, or Guitar Hero III, you know how popular they are and they will probably be at a high price for somewhile so it's probably for the best to buy it at the cheapest place you can find it. But if it's a relatively obscure JRPG, you know you can afford to wait for a while and the price will be cut. Personally, if I want to buy a game on the release day then it has to be something I've heard good things about, looks fun to play, and I've been waiting a long time for. (FFXII for example)

[Masabi]

I disagree with you two.  I think that getting a game right when it comes out and in the store is good because if it's a game you really want, then you're going to want it right away.

I only buy games that I *REALLY* want (no "the back looked good!" for me, I research all of my purchases and know months in advance I'm buying them).  Since I only have around 7 games in my 360 collection (because I refrain from impulse purchases) those 7 games are ones that I was waiting months to buy and got the day they came out.  If you're a frequent game buyer I can see you waiting to buy but if you're like me, who only buys a game once in a blue moon, you're probably gonna want to buy it ASAP just because you have no other games left to play.

Case in point: The day I heard Rock Band came out, I wanted it.  I waited months, months, and counted down to the release date.  Of course I'm not gonna wait another 2 months to buy it!  I went and bought it the day it came out.  Same with Command & Conquer 3, Gears of War, etc.  I would never "impulse buy" a $60 game (though I do it with $10 games sometimes).

And as for buying online, it's not an option for me, so it is increasingly hard to find games that are only a few months old in stores cheap.  They're usually still high priced, or if they're marked off, they're used.

[winner]

Although I guess it 's the same with anything, I've had cases with this for toys, mags and camera lenses.
Cos you first have to think how to get the item (counting speed. air, ship, pre-order, importers, mass retail/e-bay, small shops, and finally discounted). And the price range may really drop a month or even a week after release, because of the first price setting for shipping fees/buyer hype mentality.
I know some guys that really do go to japan just for a toy or a game... rich #^$*%*(.

For games (old and new), I'm an impulse buyer in a sense that I'll buy a bunch at a time on the day I want it. But I nearly read gaming websites every day... so I have a pretty good idea what I will be getting

Release date doesn't matter that much. Instead, it depends more on like how much I look forward to that game.
But saying that, I pre-ordered DevilMayCry4 a few days ago... if it's anything like DMC2, then the devil won't be the only one crying. 

[Tuffty]

^ Intrestingly DMC4 is £10 cheaper on the 360 than on the PS3. Capcom said that it was down to retailers to set them and that this sometimes happens:

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=91777

The more I hear about DMC4, the more I want it. Big fan of DMC and DMC3 (2 doesn't exist) and previews/reviews say this is the best one in the series. Cannot. Wait. So I guess this will be one of the select few titles that I must own and be happy to pay full price for!

[ebc]

haha yeah Australian's ripped the fuck off

I would buy more games if they were like $30-40 each but they're $90+ here. Why would I want to spend that much on something that I might not like anyway? It's crazy and wrong, but I do think there is a push towards online methods of buying games, like Steam which I think has very good prices for games.