Wow, they really haven't made anything since PAIN? I just assumed that they also made High Velocity Bowling, considering that game gets similarly pimped out with DLC.
With almost half of their team gone, it seems like Idol Minds is doomed to go the way of the dinosaur at this point. A real shame.
Sharing the sentiments of many here, if they had made a reasonably-priced Coolboarders for PSN (I'd say about $20) with online multiplayer, I know I would have given them money again. PAIN was fun for a while - and still is for parties - but it just gets way too old when playing solo, and way too quick. #idolminds
@the7k: That was Ramrod Studios, so something like that, that made High Velocity Bowling.
I never made the connection between this Idol Minds was the same studio that made Coolboarders since it's been so long since they touched that series. #idolminds
@gordiehowe5: Yeah, I know it was made by a different company now, I just didn't think to look it up until now. I just assumed it was handled by the same people, because they have a similar flood of useless DLC.
Much like how I never made the connection that they were the ones that made Coolboarders. If whoever is running Idol Minds was wise, they would have reminded us of this. Maybe they could have used that PAIN DLC income to fund that reminder. #idolminds
You know what would be really funny? Making a joke implying that the layoffs would involve flinging the employees out of window, using a giant slingshot. I bet NOBODY's thought of that before. #idolminds
@Handsome Al: I see what you did there you cheeky bastard :p.
It would probably helped if they released a bundle pack (character/map) and made the standard game cheaper. I only got it when it was on summer sale on PSN way back and I did buy one expansion for it but overall I thought HvB was more appealing in the long run.
I do wonder about the online server though since Calling all Cars server will be shut down beginning of next year. #idolminds
The PS2, Xbox, GC price range was $50, with the occasional 1st part or special release at $40 (Like MGS Subsistence).
PSX (PSone) 3rd party titles were $50, and 1st party were $40.
Before the disc based systems it was highly based on cart size, with Squaresoft games being $75+ on the whole, and other titles being in the $60 range.
Simple answer: someone sets a price, others follow suit.
@Knoxximus ver. 5.66: I think that's only true up to a certain point. Games were 50 dollars or more in the past because the RAM used to be on the cartridge itself, not the console.
Playstation was making bank when it moved the RAM to the hardware and we all know how cheap CDs are to mass produce.
I think companies are just trying to use that as their argument because it really makes sense. But we'll never know until we see a breakdown of all their costs.
In 1983 new games for the newer consoles were $35-40 in the US. $40 in 1983 has the same buying power as $78.43 in 2005. In 2009 that number goes up to $86.68
The price of games has not kept pace with inflation. We're actually getting a better deal than most gamers realize.
Everybody thinks games are getting more expensive when they are sort of getting cheaper. It's fun to say the big companies just want to rip off consumers. It's fun to complain. It's NOT fun to know your game history. Nobody thinks about the economics involved.
It doesn't really matter how much the games cost anyway. If new games were $50 this would be a thread full of complaints and half baked theories about why games should be $40.
I was going to say that the movie analogy is crap (a 70-minute kiddie movie costs the same to watch as a 3-hour SFX-bonanza, and a ticket to a star ensemble costs the same as one to an indie flick), but it kinda works the same way in the game industry. They just don't turn a profit as easily in games, since bad reviews early on can scuttle their ability to generate sales, and games (unlike movies) don't have a delayed transition to the rental industry.
The only real difference, then, is that you can always watch a movie at a budget theater and pay a much lower ticket price, or go hit the nearest IMAX and pay through the nose for a bigger screen and better sound.
@Purple Dave: 3D movies and Imax versions of movies offered at the same time are pretty much the only correlation. Usually I pay more to see an action or other graphically important film that I like in a better format, but if it's some sapfest I get dragged to, it's theatre 16 in the back with the sticky floors.
Leaked demos or early (alpha) versions of games are similar to vidcam versions of movies recorded in sneak preview screenings and availiable weeks before they are officially released. Certainly not the best quality: you might get a headache watching vidcam movies, or have to put up with some bugs in a beta, but you still get to try them either way. I don't think I'd turn up my nose at a TOR alpha if I could try it right now, and I would still definitely Day 1... but I doubt I'd pay to watch a movie I saw a crappy vidcam version of again unless it was REALLY good.
Hmm... re-reading this, I'm not sure exactly what you said that I was replying to, but something you said struck a chord in me and started this ramblimg... so I'm blaming your post and attaching it to yours haha.
Used to be $70 here in Canada, then when the dollar was strong they dropped it to $60. Now all of a sudden within the last few months games are starting to sell for $70 again even tho the exchange is still pretty close.
the $10 difference in price is a little too much. I could buy a game from the US and it would still be cheaper after the exchange rate. plus the taxes are higher in canada.
@silentsniper: Consoles or PC? I'm starting to buy more stuff online because of this, and I'm hopelessly nostalgic about old games,so I'm not really up to date with the current prices.
Also, there have been less MUST HAVE games coming out recently...
I recall when the 360 first came out, first-party games were $50, and only third-party games were $60. This was claimed to be due to license fees from Microsoft.
But as time went on, as Microsoft started to release its "big" games... they, too, were at $60. In fact, unless a game was meant to be a budget title (i.e. Oneechanbara), I don't think a single NEW 360 title has been under $60 since then.
Plus, you can get the PC version of PS3/360 games for $10 less all the time (unless ACTIVISION decides to change that...).
Halo 2 comes out with a $50 price tag and a $60 price tag. The $60 one sells like hotcakes. Other games try this by adding a figurine, art book or fancy case and, too, succeed.
Publishers have an epiphany: If this many people will buy a $60 dollar game, why don't we charge that much for every game? So the new generation rolls around and they say it has to do with development costs and other miscellaneous fees. Thing is, games have always cost a lot to make. True, they have been getting increasingly due to licensing fees, voice talent and 'teh high-defs', but c'mon. If Metal Gear Solid and Halo 2 can be sold for $50, why can't current-gen games?
So now we run into an even bigger problem. The basic, no-frills edition, rings up at $60. The collectors edition at $80 and the Super-Duper Edition at $150+ (Legendary Halo 3, Rock Band/GHWT, Prestige Edition). And guess what? Those super limited and hard to find editions are still selling.
Come next generation, it's going to be $70 minimum and even more for extras and garbage. We have no one to blame for this price increase but ourselves - or at least the people who bought Halo 2: Collector's Edition.
10/22/09
10/21/09
With almost half of their team gone, it seems like Idol Minds is doomed to go the way of the dinosaur at this point. A real shame.
Sharing the sentiments of many here, if they had made a reasonably-priced Coolboarders for PSN (I'd say about $20) with online multiplayer, I know I would have given them money again. PAIN was fun for a while - and still is for parties - but it just gets way too old when playing solo, and way too quick. #idolminds
10/21/09
I never made the connection between this Idol Minds was the same studio that made Coolboarders since it's been so long since they touched that series. #idolminds
10/22/09
Much like how I never made the connection that they were the ones that made Coolboarders. If whoever is running Idol Minds was wise, they would have reminded us of this. Maybe they could have used that PAIN DLC income to fund that reminder. #idolminds
10/21/09
10/21/09
10/21/09
10/21/09
Sad to see this company getting hit with lay-offs, though that is the domino effect for ya. #idolminds
10/21/09
10/21/09
10/21/09
It would probably helped if they released a bundle pack (character/map) and made the standard game cheaper. I only got it when it was on summer sale on PSN way back and I did buy one expansion for it but overall I thought HvB was more appealing in the long run.
I do wonder about the online server though since Calling all Cars server will be shut down beginning of next year. #idolminds
10/05/09
The PS2, Xbox, GC price range was $50, with the occasional 1st part or special release at $40 (Like MGS Subsistence).
PSX (PSone) 3rd party titles were $50, and 1st party were $40.
Before the disc based systems it was highly based on cart size, with Squaresoft games being $75+ on the whole, and other titles being in the $60 range.
Simple answer: someone sets a price, others follow suit.
10/04/09
10/04/09
10/04/09
10/04/09
Playstation was making bank when it moved the RAM to the hardware and we all know how cheap CDs are to mass produce.
I think companies are just trying to use that as their argument because it really makes sense. But we'll never know until we see a breakdown of all their costs.
10/04/09
source: [www.bls.gov]
The price of games has not kept pace with inflation. We're actually getting a better deal than most gamers realize.
Everybody thinks games are getting more expensive when they are sort of getting cheaper. It's fun to say the big companies just want to rip off consumers. It's fun to complain. It's NOT fun to know your game history. Nobody thinks about the economics involved.
It doesn't really matter how much the games cost anyway. If new games were $50 this would be a thread full of complaints and half baked theories about why games should be $40.
10/04/09
The only real difference, then, is that you can always watch a movie at a budget theater and pay a much lower ticket price, or go hit the nearest IMAX and pay through the nose for a bigger screen and better sound.
10/04/09
Leaked demos or early (alpha) versions of games are similar to vidcam versions of movies recorded in sneak preview screenings and availiable weeks before they are officially released. Certainly not the best quality: you might get a headache watching vidcam movies, or have to put up with some bugs in a beta, but you still get to try them either way. I don't think I'd turn up my nose at a TOR alpha if I could try it right now, and I would still definitely Day 1... but I doubt I'd pay to watch a movie I saw a crappy vidcam version of again unless it was REALLY good.
Hmm... re-reading this, I'm not sure exactly what you said that I was replying to, but something you said struck a chord in me and started this ramblimg... so I'm blaming your post and attaching it to yours haha.
10/03/09
the $10 difference in price is a little too much. I could buy a game from the US and it would still be cheaper after the exchange rate. plus the taxes are higher in canada.
10/04/09
Also, there have been less MUST HAVE games coming out recently...
10/03/09
But as time went on, as Microsoft started to release its "big" games... they, too, were at $60. In fact, unless a game was meant to be a budget title (i.e. Oneechanbara), I don't think a single NEW 360 title has been under $60 since then.
Plus, you can get the PC version of PS3/360 games for $10 less all the time (unless ACTIVISION decides to change that...).
10/03/09
Halo 2 comes out with a $50 price tag and a $60 price tag. The $60 one sells like hotcakes. Other games try this by adding a figurine, art book or fancy case and, too, succeed.
Publishers have an epiphany: If this many people will buy a $60 dollar game, why don't we charge that much for every game? So the new generation rolls around and they say it has to do with development costs and other miscellaneous fees. Thing is, games have always cost a lot to make. True, they have been getting increasingly due to licensing fees, voice talent and 'teh high-defs', but c'mon. If Metal Gear Solid and Halo 2 can be sold for $50, why can't current-gen games?
So now we run into an even bigger problem. The basic, no-frills edition, rings up at $60. The collectors edition at $80 and the Super-Duper Edition at $150+ (Legendary Halo 3, Rock Band/GHWT, Prestige Edition). And guess what? Those super limited and hard to find editions are still selling.
Come next generation, it's going to be $70 minimum and even more for extras and garbage. We have no one to blame for this price increase but ourselves - or at least the people who bought Halo 2: Collector's Edition.