Game Prices.

[dc-arena]

Its the retailers that put the costs up, not the devs/publishers. If you saw what cut a developer and publisher takes from a game you'd be very shocked..

[DjSatansfury]

think on import the most i paid was ?70 and that was splatterhouse 3 for the megadrive

bought it from dream machines 2

to be honest importers would still be asking that huge mark up they did years ago if it wasnt for companies like VG+ and play asia

they now have to compete for business and now i would rather import viewtiful joe (with bonus clock) for ?21 rather than give a uk importer ?40 before shipping

Dont get me wrong, but from what i've seen, PA still take the piss tbh

[nips]

Its the retailers that put the costs up, not the devs/publishers. If you saw what cut a developer and publisher takes from a game you'd be very shocked..

Exactly, so if the cost of game development continues to ascend, then it'll be impossible to sustain...

[Concept]

Until new methods of distribution come in. Be prepared for online content delivery to take off in a big way, preferably unified throughout the industry under one system, in a few years time if publishers continue to frustrate and freeze developers out.

When Broadband takes off and the software technology becomes more reliable and less interfering (I'm looking at you Steam) then I could see it being the way forward. Publishers aren't going to like it though, and neither are retailers.

It'll be interesting to see if companies like EA will try and change the laws in the industry by themselves or through a coalition. We could be seeing a big split in developer/publisher relations in a few years when the distribution mechanic changes as we know it today, if the power is continued to be wielded mostly to a small number of parties.

Interesting times ahead.