Anyone else a little miffed over Squenix's $39.99 pricing?

yea.... i brough final fantasy 12: revent wings and DQM:J and both games i felt i got rip off because it was boring and i didnt really understand the story.The story in those 2 games seems so stupid and the gameplay sucked.zeroxfinal

Ok, so you feel you got ripped off for 40 but if you paid 29.99 or 34.99 it would have been fair?

As for the games I just find a retailer that carries them for 29.99 or 34.99 like other Nintendo games.

whinge whinge

you should come to australia. The AU$ is almost equal to the US$ (A$1 ~ US$0.93) and we regularly pay $70-80 for our DS games, and often upwards of $100 for our console/PC games.

If you have a problem with the pricing of any one publisher, buying the games at hat price isn't helping your case. All it says to them is "They're hooked, let's try $50 next gen"Yagami-Iori

Thats true lol. But honestly I dont want to pay more then I already have too. Maybe you should get some connects, lol or try some online sites to order from. ;)

Most of Square-Enix's games are overrated and overpriced... I'll try to pick up FFXII:RW on eBay for around $30 if I can, but only after I've beaten FFXII... Which I never did, since I got so bored with how lame the Final Fantasy series has become these days... Long gone are the days are trudging across a snowfield in Magitek armor... So long to cool characters and deep plots... Now the Final Fantasy series is more like a fashion show; just a bunch of eye candy and showing off Nomura's "chic" character designs... They have nowhere near the same magic and whimsy as Amano's designs did... Man, I'm so disappointed with where gaming has gone!paul_hubans

I agree with everything you said. I have not been really impressed with the ways square enix games have been heading ever since sakaguchi left square soft. It seems to me the creativity is just not their anymore. I really did love trudging through the snow field battling against the magitek armor. I miss the good old days of final fantasy. I hated 12 so much it did not even feel like a final fantasy game. Amano is great and nomura to me is just not cutting it.

For the most part SE games have the extra production value to warrant the higher price. Final Fantasy III was teh first DS game I paid 40 for. I felt I got my money's worth.

Still, in the big picture, Nintendo games are the most inexpensive available. The PSP games are starting to come out for 30 and 40 but have been 50 often, As previously mentioned, 360 and PS3 titles start at 60 and yet the Wii titles cap at 50 for disk only games. I realize the same difference in production value applies. The market will bear out. If people wait for a price drop they will eventually start at a lower price. If the people keep buying it will continue as is (or worsen).

@ project-exile, I'm glad to see there are still true fans of the once-great series! It seems like people today just settle for really pretty graphics but have no idea that the game was once really about exploring cool worlds with moving stories and interesting characters!

By the way, with your name you must have heard of Project Exile (Black Sigil) for DS, right? That game looks like it might be what fans like you and me are looking for!

whinge whinge

you should come to australia. The AU$ is almost equal to the US$ (A$1 ~ US$0.93) and we regularly pay $70-80 for our DS games, and often upwards of $100 for our console/PC games.

Char1es

[QUOTE="Char1es"]

whinge whinge

you should come to australia. The AU$ is almost equal to the US$ (A$1 ~ US$0.93) and we regularly pay $70-80 for our DS games, and often upwards of $100 for our console/PC games.

likesstuff

No, he really could because his example makes zero sense

Games in the US for the DS come in three flavors

19.99

29.99

34.99 (reserved for the cream of the crop Nintendo franchises)

Square Enix charges even above that for their games. While they do a very good job with their games they're not as polished as their Nintendo counterparts in most cases yet they still charge 5 to 10 dollars more a game.

As far as regions paying more for games go complain to your government about your trade laws or move.

solution:R4edwardorito

Of course, that's such a brilliant idea.

I mean, game developers don't deserve money for the games the develop, do they? What they're doing is essentially charity work, and they don't deserve to profit off of years of hard work and expert programming.

[QUOTE="edwardorito"]solution:R4Radiohead85

Of course, that's such a brilliant idea.

I mean, game developers don't deserve money for the games the develop, do they? What they're doing is essentially charity work, and they don't deserve to profit off of years of hard work and expert programming.

well they are charging us a lot and with the amount of shovelware...

I mean a really good game, say a quality game made by Nintendo (perhaps mario kart for one) deserves whatever price is given to it, b/c it's a good game. but when you're charging 40 US dollars or whatever for a title that isnt really triple A, it's not fair to the fan base that more or less consists of teens, pre-teens, and the like.

So we should download games illegally and play them to our heart's content, b/c developers arent cutting us some slack (as are retailors, you should see the pricing in this country, ridiculous.) But then again it's this kind of attitude that makes developers raise prices since so many people are either bootlegging the game or just basically pirating and making developer's time and effort go to waste. You really cant find a balance can you...

Roughly,a dollar is double a pound.

I live in the UK, and games cost £30 at minimum - From lower budget companies.

And you are complaining about paying £20!!

@ project-exile, I'm glad to see there are still true fans of the once-great series! It seems like people today just settle for really pretty graphics but have no idea that the game was once really about exploring cool worlds with moving stories and interesting characters!

By the way, with your name you must have heard of Project Exile (Black Sigil) for DS, right? That game looks like it might be what fans like you and me are looking for!

paul_hubans

I started playing final fantasy games way back in the old days like back in 1991. I remember the first time I saw final fantasy 2 with the airships flying to baron after that I was hooked. To me graphics really don't mean much to me I would rather play a snes game over most of the games that came out today. Yes my name is about the game black sigil blade of the exiled. I cannot wait for the game to come out. It has that old school snes style that I crave in games. I am just a old school gamer.

Roughly,a dollar is double a pound.

I live in the UK, and games cost £30 at minimum - From lower budget companies.

And you are complaining about paying £20!!

Ques4d4

QFT! Its not fair at all in the UK, the equivelent of $60 for all games, they are not reduced regularly. We have to pay on average $80 for brand new games, so I would *politely* like to tell you to quit your moaning.

I don't mind paying more for a SE game, their production quality is usually at the top for any system. Plus they can charge that much because they know people will pay, you should see what they charge in Japan for new DQ and FF games, they are usually charged the equivalent of $30 dollars more than regular price.

7CloudStrife7

I would have to agree with you. I don't buy every SE game but the ones I do are always worth it. I think SE makes great games.

[QUOTE="Radiohead85"]

[QUOTE="edwardorito"]solution:R4thattotally

Of course, that's such a brilliant idea.

I mean, game developers don't deserve money for the games the develop, do they? What they're doing is essentially charity work, and they don't deserve to profit off of years of hard work and expert programming.

well they are charging us a lot and with the amount of shovelware...

I mean a really good game, say a quality game made by Nintendo (perhaps mario kart for one) deserves whatever price is given to it, b/c it's a good game. but when you're charging 40 US dollars or whatever for a title that isnt really triple A, it's not fair to the fan base that more or less consists of teens, pre-teens, and the like.

So we should download games illegally and play them to our heart's content, b/c developers arent cutting us some slack (as are retailors, you should see the pricing in this country, ridiculous.) But then again it's this kind of attitude that makes developers raise prices since so many people are either bootlegging the game or just basically pirating and making developer's time and effort go to waste. You really cant find a balance can you...

[QUOTE="Ques4d4"]

Roughly,a dollar is double a pound.

I live in the UK, and games cost £30 at minimum - From lower budget companies.

And you are complaining about paying £20!!

tylea002

QFT! Its not fair at all in the UK, the equivelent of $60 for all games, they are not reduced regularly. We have to pay on average $80 for brand new games, so I would *politely* like to tell you to quit your moaning.

...I've generally chosen not to buy overpriced GBA and DS games on principal in the hopes that witholding my money would help discourage the practice. ... So I was wondering: Do any of you go out of your way not to buy DS games at the $39.99 price point, or is it just not that big of a deal? In my opinion it just seems a bit pricy for a haldheld game so I usually try and vote with my wallet to help encourage lower prices.Archon_basic

You and me both.

I don't think higher quality is what is driving prices in Squenix's case. I think it is greed pure and simple. They know that their fans will pay the price, so they charge it. A lot of people don't mind it, but I feel like they are squeezing me for money. IMO Squenix games are good, but so are a lot of other games--and those other games aren't $39.00. So I play the other games until there is a price drop or a good sale on the Squenix games I want.

Square has been doing this for a while.

I remember paying $59.99 Secret of Mana, Chrono Trigger.

I guess if anyone can get away with it, it's SquareEnix.

Sometimes I forget how much of an international audience Gamespot has picked up in recent years. A little perspective goes a long way. Obviously my $5 problem doesn't even compare to the prices the people in Europe, Australia, and other places have to deal with. Though in your case I think part of the problem is that you guys get murdered on sales tax but don't have to pay any income tax, correct?Archon_basic

unfortunately no, here in Oz we get slugged with income tax as well. Theres actually quite a lot of debate over why games cost so much here, but sadly noone is able to come up with a price breakdown so we cant identify any reason. Heh, and like you say, as bad as we have it here, Im sure there are even worse. I cant imagine the gaming scene in Tuvalu is very vibrant.

[QUOTE="Radiohead85"]

[QUOTE="edwardorito"]solution:R4thattotally

Of course, that's such a brilliant idea.

I mean, game developers don't deserve money for the games the develop, do they? What they're doing is essentially charity work, and they don't deserve to profit off of years of hard work and expert programming.

well they are charging us a lot and with the amount of shovelware...

I mean a really good game, say a quality game made by Nintendo (perhaps mario kart for one) deserves whatever price is given to it, b/c it's a good game. but when you're charging 40 US dollars or whatever for a title that isnt really triple A, it's not fair to the fan base that more or less consists of teens, pre-teens, and the like.

So we should download games illegally and play them to our heart's content, b/c developers arent cutting us some slack (as are retailors, you should see the pricing in this country, ridiculous.) But then again it's this kind of attitude that makes developers raise prices since so many people are either bootlegging the game or just basically pirating and making developer's time and effort go to waste. You really cant find a balance can you...

If you don't think the game is triple A and worth it's price tag, then don't buy it. Simple as that. If you want it bad enough, then either buy it at full price or wait for a sale.

I think I remember paying like $80 for Final Fantasy III (VI) when it came out for the SNES in 1994.paul_hubans

Both final fantasy 2 and 3 for the snes where really expensive games. I remember getting final fantasy 3 and the box was just stuffed full with all of the stuff about the game. I wish I had the original stuff. I still have this poster it came with. Those where the days when companies would just pack the game with tons of stuff. Rarely do companies do that now.

Square Enix is a completely different company now. With all the remakes and rehashes, anyone can tell where their priorities lie. I remember reading somewhere that Square has no interest in releasing their past library on the Virtual Console. Why charge five bucks for FF1 when you can sell it on the GBA and PSP for $30-$40? I understand completely that Square is a business, not a charity. But recently, with all the cash-ins (read: Dirge of Cerberus) I really can't get behind Square anymore. They lost me after FFX-2.dominae

Well said... It's kind of a shame that they lost touch with their roots, became a corporate giant, and forgot about their true fans. Now they just want to appease the masses and make money by mass-producing eye candy that has little substance beyond its polished exterior.

[QUOTE="tylea002"][QUOTE="Ques4d4"]

Roughly,a dollar is double a pound.

I live in the UK, and games cost £30 at minimum - From lower budget companies.

And you are complaining about paying £20!!

Archon_basic

QFT! Its not fair at all in the UK, the equivelent of $60 for all games, they are not reduced regularly. We have to pay on average $80 for brand new games, so I would *politely* like to tell you to quit your moaning.

No, tax isnt the problem, ignorant companies are. Tax is fine, and its not that bad (On the tax note, we do pay income tax, but people should still pay more. What? I'm left wing) but when companies think that 29.99 dollars is the same as 29.99 pounds. But Oh well, for DS at least, imports are calling!

Square Enix is a completely different company now. With all the remakes and rehashes, anyone can tell where their priorities lie. I remember reading somewhere that Square has no interest in releasing their past library on the Virtual Console. Why charge five bucks for FF1 when you can sell it on the GBA and PSP for $30-$40? I understand completely that Square is a business, not a charity. But recently, with all the cash-ins (read: Dirge of Cerberus) I really can't get behind Square anymore. They lost me after FFX-2.dominae

And Square's refusal to put their games on the Virtual Console is a flat out shame. I can only hope that they eventually go that route after they've exhausted all of their other porting options (is there any kind of market for another re-release of FF 1 & 2? Time to cash those out on the VC.). At the very least they should give us DS ports of Chrono Trigger and Seiken Densetsu 3. I don't get why they sit on such good games for 10+ years while they spam ports of FF 1 and make a million spinoffs of FF 7.

Just an FYI - Here's the article concerning Square and the VC.

An excerpt:

"We feel that the Japanese game market still requires [physical] media. Also, FF and Dragon Quest are played by a wide range of users, from children to adults, so there are limitations when you consider the problems that we would have with billing systems."

I played and enjoyed Final Fantasy XII, but it didn't feel too much like a Final Fantasy game. And honestly, I liked FF7 until Square drove it into the ground and crammed it down our throats. Square = George Lucas?

Ok, a bit harsh, but embellished for effect.

I had no idea that square enix has decided not to bring their games to the virtual console, which just sucks big time and I think it will hurt them in the long run. The problem with seiken densetsu 3 and I had no idea about this until yesterday the reason why it never came over here is because they had issues with the game. They would fix one bug and then two would pop up. One bug in the game got to the point where sometimes if you hit a enemy nothing would happen. Maybe they where afraid of a recall. With square enix as a company I really started losing interest when they deciding on making all of those spin off of 7. For me once sakaguchi left square it seems the company has really lost a lot of the creativity it once had. For me I did not like final fantasy 12 at all. I always liked the traditional style of final fantasy better. I think if final fantasy 13 is not a smash hit I mean like when final fantasy 7 came out and made a big impact it might come to a dramatic end. All series have to come to a end. Not saying it won't just final fantasy 13 had better be really good.project-exile