https://ma.fellr.net/@fell/111504811722666890
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You won't like hearing this, but video games must become more expensive. When I was little, my dad got me a PlayStation 2 for christmas, but without any games. My mum was very generous and took me out to pick two games for it. They were 60€ each. Nowadays you would call those full-price games. But now, 20 years later, a full-price game is still about 60€. If you correct that for inflation, it should really be 86€ now. And that's not even covering the fact that games have massively increased in visual fidelity, which is much more expensive to produce. If you don't want games to be littered with microtransactions or ads, then you have to accept that a regular video game must be at least 90€. (98 USD, 77 GBP, 149 AUD, 134 CAD) #Gaming #GameDev #GameDevelopment #Steam #Inflation #Economy #PlayStation
Can't wait to buy the next installment of insert sports game here/call of duty for 100 USD base, 200 for the dlc, maybe even 300 for the ultimate deluxe extreme version.
The upfront cost is high, but the durability of the product makes it very cheap by hours-consumed. I spent around $350 to get my ~~Halo Playing Machine~~ X-Box back in 2001, but holy fuck did my friends and I ever play the bajezus out of that one hit classic. Hundreds of hours, easily. Probably over a thousand if you count each of my friends. Compare that to an equivalent number of DVD rentals or frames of bowling or drinks at the local bar. Way cheaper than after school sports classes or summer camps. Cheaper even than a pair of roller blades and protective kit (and way cheaper than medical bills).
Second-hand games (excluding the vintage collector's market) make the hobby cheaper still. Right now, I can get a used PS4 and a fist-full of classics for half what I paid to play Halo, fairly easily.
Getting games day-of release is still a rich kid's hobby. But nothing is stopping you from burning a hundred hours playing Starcraft or Mario Galaxy for pocket change.