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[Simmura McCrea]

So many sales have been going through steam, meaning less cost for making disks and no second hand market. Yet they don't drop the average price of games. Discuss 

People will still pay the same price, leading to more profit for Valve. It's not hard to figure out.

[webadict]

So many sales have been going through steam, meaning less cost for making disks and no second hand market. Yet they don't drop the average price of games. Discuss 

E-books. Same deal. Though, there are some other costs associated with them that I'm not sure about with games via Steam.

[Knight of Fools]

I'd gladly pay the same price for something more convenient, especially with all the sales that Valve throws out there.

If prices were to go down across the board, though? I'd be all for that, too.

[klingon13524]

So many sales have been going through steam, meaning less cost for making disks and no second hand market. Yet they don't drop the average price of games. Discuss 

Well they do have huge sales. I agree that games should be a permanent 20ish% off from the boxed version, however.

[Andir]

People get really defensive about purchases/choices they've made.

So true.

Now now... no need for that. I bought a PS3, but I play the living snot out of it.  It was well worth my purchase and that's not being defensive.  It would have been nice with cross game chat, but it's not a feature I can say I missed since most of my gaming was couch co-op.

So many sales have been going through steam, meaning less cost for making disks and no second hand market. Yet they don't drop the average price of games. Discuss 

Well they do have huge sales. I agree that games should be a permanent 20ish% off from the boxed version, however.

I pretty much only buy sale items.  I view the price like an early buyer tax.

[Zangi]

People get really defensive about purchases/choices they've made.

So true.

I figure this speaks out more clearly to the masses, no research needed.

[forsaken1111]

I can't imagine that the bits of plastic and paper used for the box and CD are 20% of the price. In fact I'm pretty sure they're like 50 cents or less.

[Sergius]

I can't imagine that the bits of plastic and paper used for the box and CD are 20% of the price. In fact I'm pretty sure they're like 50 cents or less.

Distribution costs. Shipping. Storage costs (you have to pay for the space they take, after all). Less automated (got to pay those employees that take your cash, bag your product, etc, in a game store). The actual printing of the manuals/disc covers. The cost of burning the discs themselves.

The reason electronic media is usually more expensive although it costs a fraction, is basically protectionism: gotta keep those brick & mortar stores in business, right?

EDIT: Forgot to add, they also can't just burn those discs on demand, they need volume (hundreds and thousands of packaged discs). So it's basically a lot of stock sitting there for months until someone buys it. Not good.

[forsaken1111]

I can't imagine that the bits of plastic and paper used for the box and CD are 20% of the price. In fact I'm pretty sure they're like 50 cents or less.

Distribution costs. Shipping. Storage costs (you have to pay for the space they take, after all). Less automated (got to pay those employees that take your cash, bag your product, etc, in a game store). The actual printing of the manuals/disc covers. The cost of burning the discs themselves.

The reason electronic media is usually more expensive although it costs a fraction, is basically protectionism: gotta keep those brick & mortar stores in business, right?

I still won't believe that cutting out the physical box and distribution/transport would drop the price by 20% unless someone links some facts.

[klingon13524]

I can't imagine that the bits of plastic and paper used for the box and CD are 20% of the price. In fact I'm pretty sure they're like 50 cents or less.

Distribution costs. Shipping. Storage costs (you have to pay for the space they take, after all). Less automated (got to pay those employees that take your cash, bag your product, etc, in a game store). The actual printing of the manuals/disc covers. The cost of burning the discs themselves.

The reason electronic media is usually more expensive although it costs a fraction, is basically protectionism: gotta keep those brick & mortar stores in business, right?

I still won't believe that cutting out the physical box and distribution/transport would drop the price by 20% unless someone links some facts.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[forsaken1111]

So distribution of the physical product is what, 6% of the total?

[Sergius]

So distribution of the physical product is what, 6% of the total?

Unless the publisher gets to keep the retailer margin, no.

EDIT: Ok, I see in that chart there are no costs associated with the cost of running the shop itself.

[forsaken1111]

So distribution of the physical product is what, 6% of the total?

Unless the publisher gets to keep the retailer margin, no.

What? The retailer margin should be going to Steam I'd assume.

[webadict]

I'm guessing you've never been to the GFAQs PS3 board.

As I've said before regarding that board, when I brought up that I wasn't sure if I should keep my PS3 or trade it in for a 360 because most of my friends had the latter, I was told to "go circle jerk with my microsoft xbot fanboys". I was further told that I deserved it, for bringing up Sony's competition in front of its fans.

This kind of logic is beyond me. I mean, I like me some Coca Cola, but I don't go into a rage whenever someone considers drinking Pepsi in front of me.

I still have my PS3, and I enjoy it although I don't play it much, but that board is full of the most obsessive and aggressive/defensive fanboys I've ever seen.

I don't like to hate monger, but if there was ever a community that made me lose what little my faith and respect in humanity I have.. It'd be that one.

And this is pretty off topic, but I wanted to clarify what I meant.

Lurk those boards for a bit and I'm certain you'll come to dislike what you see. They aren't gamers, they're Playstation 3 Enthusiasts.

That's incredibly dumb. Why wouldn't they bring up legitimate arguments like, "It's only a video game console, but your meager asking of a simple question sends me into a fit of rage so powerful that I have no choice BUT to murder your entire family for its mere utterance."

So distribution of the physical product is what, 6% of the total?

Actually, you could consider the retailer as part of that, since they're counting that as storage as well. Plus, Steam wouldn't need platform royalties.

[Micro102]

Don't forget secondary sales. That could be anywhere from 10% of sales to 50%.