So recently I've gotten back into handheld gaming, more or so because of my iphone. The last time I played a handheld was when I was a kid and my gameboy was my first gaming machine so it was nostalgic and quite refreshing at the same time. Now since, the iphone has a fairly limited library of more hardcore/long games i started looking at other handhelds and with the announcement of the 3DS I was quite happy but then I saw the prices.

$50 for one game...That's what I pay for triple A ps3 games. I was quite shocked by the prices so i looked into development costs and found them to be a fraction of ps3 titles (500k-1.8mil developing 3ds games --- 8-12mil developing ps3 titles). Now I was just wondering why exactly are the prices so high? Is there anything I'm missing or are these games just overpriced?

I think I'm more shocked because I can buy a high quality game such as infinity blade on the app store for 6 bucks or many other titles for the same price. But ye, this is kind of mind boggling.

Edit: To be clear I'm only talking about prices of psp/ds games, the other console prices in my opinion are justified.

Very simply put.

The prices are this high because we are willing to pay them.

As long as that keeps happening, prices wont lower. :/

Originally posted by Gabby-air

Now I was just wondering why exactly are the prices so high? Is there anything I'm missing or are these games just overpriced?

Because its "the new" technology and there are just too many people with too much money, willing to pay it.  I don't have a DS anymore, but I had a hard time paying even $30 for a new game, and I prefer RPGs and they always launched at $35-$40.  And RPGs take yrs to lose their value and be affordable, around $20 or less.

This is one of the main reasons why I don't buy into consoles anymore, $50-$60 for the low end of 5-20hrs of entertainment ~ way too friggen much.  The occassional RPG upwards of 80-120hrs I suppose could be worth it, but honestly most just don't look that good.  {Tales of Vesperia was awesome when I had a 360 though}

Anyway, I have yet to see the 3DS in person or even see a 3D movie at the theatre, but a few months ago there was a display at Coscto set up showing off the new 3D TVs they had in stock.  I did not like it,  I mean it was neat seeing it for the first time, but after a few short minutes, my already painful migraine became even worse.  {Will that stop me from buying a 3DS @launch and selling it for double the price on eBay to some fool with too much money...hell no, but nah I won't buy one for myself...}

Originally posted by Khrymson

Originally posted by Gabby-air

Now I was just wondering why exactly are the prices so high? Is there anything I'm missing or are these games just overpriced?

 

Because its "the new" technology and there are just too many people with too much money, willing to pay it.  I don't have a DS anymore, but I had a hard time paying even $30 for a new game, and I prefer RPGs and they always launched at $35-$40.  And RPGs take yrs to lose their value and be affordable, around $20 or less.

This is one of the main reasons why I don't buy into consoles anymore, $50-$60 for the low end of 5-20hrs of entertainment ~ way too friggen much.  The occassional RPG upwards of 80-120hrs I suppose could be worth it, but honestly most just don't look that good.  {Tales of Vesperia was awesome when I had a 360 though}

 

Anyway, I have yet to see the 3DS in person or even see a 3D movie at the theatre, but a few months ago there was a display at Coscto set up showing off the new 3D TVs they had in stock.  I did not like it,  I mean it was neat seeing it for the first time, but after a few short minutes, my already painful migraine became even worse.  {Will that stop me from buying a 3DS @launch and selling it for double the price on eBay to some fool with too much money...hell no, but nah I won't buy one for myself...}

Well thing is, with consoles the price can be justified because of the high development costs and usually a unique experience. Say god of war 3 which I bought for 60 bucks knowing it was 8 or so hours long but every penny was worth it because that game was mind blowing. But i barely do spend 60 bucks on a game, its usually games I love that I buy right away but yeh when the games about 30 bucks then I go out and buy it. Plus with the Steam sales I don't need to buy games that often.
As for it being new technology, I still see the older DS games like Mario kart going for 40 bucks at my local Gamestop and bestbuy. I would atleast think that Nintendo would lower prices for first party games as Sony and Microsoft do.

Prices are high especially if it is a newly release. If you want to get it in a cheaper price, then buy after how many months or you could look for stalls outside malls which offer lower prices.

yeah you're right, that's marketing strategy. if the demand is high the price will increase. they are really so wise to catch the consumer wants so they can earn more.