Game book pricing

[Mouseferatu]

When it comes to consumerism, it's always a bad idea to simply assume one is being treated well and keep quiet. Just as it's the "duty," so to speak, of a company to charge as much as it can for its products, it is also the "duty" of the consumer to try to get companies to sell their products as cheaply as possible. I don't assume we're getting screwed, but I also don't assume a corporate entity has my best interests in mind, either.

There's a difference, however, between "Man, isn't there any way for you to sell these books cheaper?" and "D00d! WoTC is so ripping us off!! I could buy books this book for $15 when I was 9. Only reason I cant now is because Wotc are a bunch of holes!!!1!"

I have no problem with the first. I have a serious problem with the second. And while the second might be a bit of an exaggeration to some, most of us have seen the attitude, if not the exact phrasing. (And I've seen some phrasing that comes pretty close.)

I wouldn't expect people to assume that a company has their best interests at heart. But neither is it appropriate to assume that every move they make is designed to screw over their customers.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

I wouldn't expect people to assume that a company has their best interests at heart. But neither is it appropriate to assume that every move they make is designed to screw over their customers.

I agree 100%.

All game designers to a lesser or greater extent are in the buisness for the love of the game. If they weren't they'd be doing ... well .. pretty much anything else. Cripes, working at McDonald's pays more and you can get health insurance.

 

[pogre]

Oh, certainly. Nobody's claiming that we didn't know what we were getting into. I knew from day one that this job paid crap, and that if I worked really hard, I might eventually reach the point where I could demand higher-quality crap. I wish that weren't so, and I hope for the day when it's not, but I know that would require a miracle even God would have to roll up his sleeves to accomplish.

But I'm not talking about this from the stance of a writer, now. Speaking simply as a fan: I don't want the RPG industry to die. And it bothers me when people complain about the books costing too much and the RPG companies being money-grubbing corporate entities. Sure, they're out to make a profit; it's called business. But nobody's getting screwed here; in fact, we've all been treated remarkably well, cost-wise.

I could not agree more. I would like to see more high end products myself.

The choice already made I was referring to though was on the consumers' end - not the producers' end. You said the consumers need to be willing to pay more or be satisfied with flash in the pan companies. I would suggest that's exactly what the RPG consumers have chosen.

I have no idea why consumers balk at $50 books, but not $50 video games - but they do.

 

[ssampier]

And I want cheap employees that won't sleep on the 12-hour job and won't ask for a raise, dang it.

But that's life.

You mean game writers are people that expect to feed their families, put a roof over their heads, and car payment (maybe health insurance)?

I figured game writers slept in a dark cell somewhere in the Renton, Washington campus of Wizards of the Coast. It was only the incessant whipping that keeps them writing

Isn't that close to the truth Ari?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I'm an attorney who is about 13 weeks from completing an MBA (Yea Me!).

I routinely have to buy EXPENSIVE books for my practice or my studies.

A USED textbook for me is $30-90 dollars. A law text may run several hundreds, and I leave the thousand dollar ones for the big firms and libraries to buy.

So, personally, I don't bat an eye at a $35 game book...as long as I'm getting a quality product. I have seen too many game books that are either poorly manufactured (remember the 2Ed softcovers, anyone?), or are shoddily edited- some that obviously haven't even been run through a spellchecker. The first problem is largely a thing of the past, but bad editing continues to dog the hobby.

And then there's the issue of content.

Since the rise of D20, we've seen an explosion of 3rd party publishers of D20 product. After enjoying the heady rush of all that RPG-y goodness, I began to notice that some products were just...useless. Then I noticed that a good many products I hated were all from the same companies. (I'm not naming names, since its a matter of personal taste.) Right now, those companies could print something revolutionary and only charge a buck for it, but I felt burned so many times by them, I'd be the last in my group to buy it.

 

[Mouseferatu]

You mean game writers are people that expect to feed their families, put a roof over their heads, and car payment (maybe health insurance)?

I figured game writers slept in a dark cell somewhere in the Renton, Washington campus of Wizards of the Coast. It was only the incessant whipping that keeps them writing

Isn't that close to the truth Ari?

Some of us only wish our cells were actually on the WotC campus.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Most gamers who complain about prices generally have no idea of the costs to produce, or the fact that publishing costs have grown exponentially over the past 30 years, while the retail prices in the RPG business only started reflecting that in the past few years.

Generally, it's not the consumers duty to inform themselves of production cost. It could be very expensive and in the end, still be more than a consumer is willing to pay, despite being 'fairly' priced (all things objective.) The market works as the market works.

 

[JoeGKushner]

I have no idea why consumers balk at $50 books, but not $50 video games - but they do.

Apples and oranges and always will be.

Can I get that $50 book for $20 in the same store a few years down the road?

Can I rent it for a few dollars and take it back if I don't like it?

Can I plug that book in right away and play it without anyone else being there or needing anything else to enjoy it.

Can I sell the game back to the store for credit, getting more credit the sooner I return it?

One is passive and requires little to use, the other interactive and requires much more involvement.

Might as well start comparing it to movies, fine dining and other expensive bits.

 

[HellHound]

Unfortunately, I have to agree with Joe on this.

While I get far more enjoyment out of books, the entire concept is different between books and video games...

 

[Ranger REG]

And then there's the issue of content.

Since the rise of D20, we've seen an explosion of 3rd party publishers of D20 product. After enjoying the heady rush of all that RPG-y goodness, I began to notice that some products were just...useless. Then I noticed that a good many products I hated were all from the same companies. (I'm not naming names, since its a matter of personal taste.) Right now, those companies could print something revolutionary and only charge a buck for it, but I felt burned so many times by them, I'd be the last in my group to buy it.

Meh. It's not like WotC can actually review third-party publishers if their products are up to their quality standard, whatever THAT is.

You make it sound like they need to pass some sort of GAMA-sanctioned exam in order to be certified game publishers.