M$ "Explains" Why 360 Owners Pay Premium For Shadowrun

While Xbox 360 owners are quite comfortable ponying up sixty bucks for Microsoft Games Studios-published titles on that console, there was a time when those releases were sold at last-gen prices. At launch, games like Project Gotham Racing 3 and Perfect Dark Zero went for MSRPs of $49.99, making the "jump in" a bit softer on the wallet.

With the release of FASA Studios' Shadowrun for the 360 alongside a $49.99-priced Windows Vista version, that $59.99 price point for the 360 edition might be considered puzzling. As the game's release date hits smack in the middle of the Halo 3 beta, mere months after Vista's public release, it seems like Shadowrun will be facing an uphill battle of acceptance.

So why the premium price? Newsweek's N'Gai Croal asked of Microsoft this very question and MS VP Shane Kim's reply is quite astounding. Mostly astounding in its incomprehensibility, but astounding nonetheless.

I'd quote it, but I don't know what to quote. You'll have to read it in context. But be careful-you might just scratch your scalp clean off deciphering the PR-speak. Michael McWhertor

Shadowrun for Windows Vista: $50. Shadowrun for Xbox 360: $60. First-Hand Explanation of the Pricing Disparity From Microsoft Game Studios: Priceless. [N'Gai Croal's Level Up]

Link: http://kotaku.com/gaming/shadowramble/ms-explains-why-360-owners-pay-premium-for-shadowrun-260426.php

Discuss

:lol: @ PR saying that Shadowrun, a multiplayer shooter, offers innovation.Tiefster

Shadowrun is the first cross multiplayer game for 360 and PC, that's innovation.

Shadowrun incorporates magic into the FPS genre, thats innovative.

and it looks really fun, beta testers agree, look at the shadowrun fourms if you dont believe me.

Sony has signaled that its multiplayer-only Warhawk will be sold for less than full price, and as a download. Was that ever considered for Shadowrun? How confident are you that a multiplayer-only console game can be successful at retail at full price?

The comparison of Sony's Warhawk to Shadowrun isn't a fair, apple-to-apples comparison.  We don't even know what Warhawk will really be when it finally releases, but we do know that Shadowrun is offering an amazing, innovative gaming experience with groundbreaking connectivity on multiple platforms, providing a rich cross-platform opportunity for gaming communities of Xbox 360 and Windows to come together. We think Shadowrun has tremendous potential and I can see it becoming a long time favorite with FPS fans and competitive gaming leagues.

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It must be emberassing to get owned by the interviewer when you are hyping a game :(

[QUOTE="Tiefster"]:lol: @ PR saying that Shadowrun, a multiplayer shooter, offers innovation.deangallop

Shadowrun is the first cross multiplayer game for 360 and PC, that's innovation.

Shadowrun incorporates magic into the FPS genre, thats innovative.

and it looks really fun, beta testers agree, look at the shadowrun fourms if you dont believe me.

I lol'd

Are you new to FPS's or something? Did you miss the Heretic and Hexen series?

Cross-platform games is hardly what I'd call innovation. That's like saying that PBR is innovative because it's the first online game for the Wii. 

This game looks to butcher Shadowrun's good name...also, the box art is God awful.goblaa

Microsoft is just too funny sometimes. $60 :lol: $60 :lol: $60.
Nike_Air

Sony is just too funny sometimes. $600 :lol: $600 :lol: $600.

:lol: @ PR saying that Shadowrun, a multiplayer shooter, offers innovation.Tiefster

Unfortunately for you, it does. :| 

[QUOTE="Nike_Air"]Microsoft is just too funny sometimes. $60 :lol: $60 :lol: $60.
deangallop

Sony is just too funny sometimes. $600 :lol: $600 :lol: $600.

Let me demonstrate the power of choice. I choose not to buy it.

Damn that feels good.

Wow, maybe people should have brought this up when it first started going on at the 360 launch. I bet that journalists nickname isn't "scoop".

Let me demonstrate the power of choice. I choose not to buy it.

Damn that feels good.

heretrix

:lol:

You're right, that does feel good! 

Who come with that boxart? Good God...Zam

Let me demonstrate the power of choice. I choose not to buy it.

Damn that feels good.

heretrix

:lol: Nice.

The interviewer should have called him out on this load of crap, and asked him to give a straight, to-the-point answer why Microsoft likes ripping off the Xbox 360 gamers.batistafan99

Isnt the answer pretty clear?

360 Users pay $60 for every game.....their used to it, and see it as normal....nobody is gonna complain about a $60 game when every other game is also $60....

On the PC....Every new game is $50 at the most...if not less (like STALKER for $40)....nobody would pay $60.... 

[QUOTE="Tiefster"]:lol: @ PR saying that Shadowrun, a multiplayer shooter, offers innovation.deangallop

Shadowrun incorporates magic into the FPS genre, thats innovative.

Savage and Dark Messiah of Might and Magic incorporated magic into the FPS genre. 

The interviewer should have called him out on this load of crap, and asked him to give a straight, to-the-point answer why Microsoft likes ripping off the Xbox 360 gamers.batistafan99

The $59.99 for Xbox 360 and $49.99 for Windows Vista price points are our standard pricing for each platform. This pricing structure is not uncommon in the multiplayer-only first-person shooter genre, as numerous titles have seen success at this price point and gaming model. I think it's premature to speak to pricing for all future projects, but as of now this is our pricing structure for our marquee titles like Shadowrun.Shane Kim

That's a pretty fancy way of saying "Because we can". 

While Xbox 360 owners are quite comfortable ponying up sixty bucks for Microsoft Games Studios-published titles on that console, there was a time when those releases were sold at last-gen prices. At launch, games like Project Gotham Racing 3 and Perfect Dark Zero went for MSRPs of $49.99, making the "jump in" a bit softer on the wallet.

With the release of FASA Studios' Shadowrun for the 360 alongside a $49.99-priced Windows Vista version, that $59.99 price point for the 360 edition might be considered puzzling. As the game's release date hits smack in the middle of the Halo 3 beta, mere months after Vista's public release, it seems like Shadowrun will be facing an uphill battle of acceptance.

So why the premium price? Newsweek's N'Gai Croal asked of Microsoft this very question and MS VP Shane Kim's reply is quite astounding. Mostly astounding in its incomprehensibility, but astounding nonetheless.

I'd quote it, but I don't know what to quote. You'll have to read it in context. But be careful-you might just scratch your scalp clean off deciphering the PR-speak. Michael McWhertor

Shadowrun for Windows Vista: $50. Shadowrun for Xbox 360: $60. First-Hand Explanation of the Pricing Disparity From Microsoft Game Studios: Priceless. [N'Gai Croal's Level Up]

 

Link: http://kotaku.com/gaming/shadowramble/ms-explains-why-360-owners-pay-premium-for-shadowrun-260426.php

Discuss

uforaverwill

WTF? I'm not even going to rent that POS now.  

Console gamers are just now realizing we always get cheaper games? Its nothing new really. It has to do with legalees and other things.Vandalvideo

I see a big difference

400 for a console = 60 bucks a game

1,000 for a decent PC = 50 dollar games 

Wow reading skills really suck on SW.  He basically said that Shadowrun is $60 because people will pay $60 for it.

There was no PR bs about how the 360 excperience was better, or there was a difference in market.  Just straight up, that's how it is.  I'm sure that if selling the title at $60 is a problem they'll lower the prcie.

Wow reading skills really suck on SW. He basically said that Shadowrun is $60 because people will pay $60 for it.

jrhawk42

We got that part.  We're just impressed at how purty he made it sound. 

[QUOTE="Vandalvideo"]Console gamers are just now realizing we always get cheaper games? Its nothing new really. It has to do with legalees and other things.-DarthVader-

I see a big difference

400 for a console = 60 bucks a game

1,000 for a decent PC = 50 dollar games 

[QUOTE="Nike_Air"]Microsoft is just too funny sometimes. $60 :lol: $60 :lol: $60.
deangallop

Sony is just too funny sometimes. $600 :lol: $600 :lol: $600.

[QUOTE="deangallop"]

[QUOTE="Nike_Air"]Microsoft is just too funny sometimes. $60 :lol: $60 :lol: $60.
hplarjy

Sony is just too funny sometimes. $600 :lol: $600 :lol: $600.

LMFAO!!! hahaha...owned.

:lol: @ PR saying that Shadowrun, a multiplayer shooter, offers innovation.Tiefster

"This pricing structure is not uncommon in the multiplayer-only first-person shooter genre, as numerous titles have seen success at this price point and gaming model. I think it's premature to speak to pricing for all future projects."

I hope this doesn't mean they intend to price their future exclusives for the same price. 

Anyway, I'm not interested in this game personally. I think the game will do poorly in sales too. Reasons being a) the boxart, and b) looks very unoriginal from what we've seen so far.

Could be wrong but the main FPS for me on the 360 this year is Halo 3. 

 

Isnt the answer pretty clear?

360 Users pay $60 for every game.....their used to it, and see it as normal....nobody is gonna complain about a $60 game when every other game is also $60....

On the PC....Every new game is $50 at the most...if not less (like STALKER for $40)....nobody would pay $60....

cobrax75

[QUOTE="cobrax75"]

Isnt the answer pretty clear?

360 Users pay $60 for every game.....their used to it, and see it as normal....nobody is gonna complain about a $60 game when every other game is also $60....

On the PC....Every new game is $50 at the most...if not less (like STALKER for $40)....nobody would pay $60....

SergeantSnitch

Lol,

they can leverage their marketing and development costs over all platforms, while we are focused on Windows and Xbox 360 as a first party publisher.

LMAO, really this ought to be the dumbest excuse I've seen in a while 

If you read between the lines the answer is thus -

"Microsoft are 100% dedicated to milking our customer base for every penny possible. You only have to look at our overpriced accessories to see this. We aim to deliver Microsoft only accessories to our Xbox & Xbox 360 customers at over inflated prices so that we can dominate the market. One only has to look at our HDD and Wireless Adaptor prices to see this. Microsoft doesn't comment on rumours or speculation."

[QUOTE="cobrax75"] 

Isnt the answer pretty clear?

360 Users pay $60 for every game.....their used to it, and see it as normal....nobody is gonna complain about a $60 game when every other game is also $60....

On the PC....Every new game is $50 at the most...if not less (like STALKER for $40)....nobody would pay $60....

SergeantSnitch

Depended on stories it went between 50$-60$. Still..stop the damage control, 60$ PC games are extremely rare, on 360 60$ is what 95% of games cost