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Originally Posted by Squirrelloid
Here's the thing you're neglecting - the lifespan of a game.
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That is true.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrelloid
And this is even more true for computer games where changing technology obsoletes old games.
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And that is the problem. Dom3 isn't obsolete. There is no replacement.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrelloid
So when you start off by asking questions like 'Why is it so hard for normal boardgames to stay in production' or 'why do RPG companies go out of business', you're asking entirely the wrong questions. You need to keep producing new products that will bring back older customers as well as be accessible to new customers.
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But a lot of RPG and boardgame publishers did just that, and still went out of business because the niche for boardgames and rpgs was shrinking. Sure the large ones like MtG and WotC survive. But the small ones die, or downsize.
Unrelated, how is dnd 4ed selling?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrelloid
A computer game's lifespan is 5 years at the most.
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Dom3 is already past the expected lifetime. It shouldn't be expected to generate any sales at all, especially at full price, and that it does should be regarded as miraculous.
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Only if there is a better version. Only if there is something new and shiny comparable out. Especially for a certain type of niche. (Starting to really dislike the word niche btw, used it a bit to much).
Otherwise where is nothing in conventional economics saying why prices should drop. Sure there is a method to slowly get the most out of the costumers by gradually dropping the prices, but that only works in certain situations, cant recall which exactly, and to lazy to look it up in my economy books. But supply vs demand doesn't apply in this case, as supply is rather infinite.
Boardgames also don't gradually drop in prices, and when they do, it is because the shops need the shelve space.
The idea that games should drop in prices is because you expect them to do, because it is supposed to be normal. Not because it makes economic sense.
Ps: regarding the lower prices. Never forget that this could be a business ploy. Lower pricing to drive the competition with lesser deep pockets out of business. (I'm paranoid anti-corporate, it is my Shadowrun heritage). Valve playing themselves off as the less greedy friendly corp, while crushing the competition.
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Edit:
Perhaps there now is a better version, if Elements gets improved.
Edit2:
I think the economics theory is related to different adopters of products. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusi...ter_categories