Yesterday Niantic sent me a message asking if I want to do another game for them.
I mentioned it everyone at work, and one of the guys said , "Dude... You just got a second interview! Now, just don't go EA on us."
I am going to be That Guy. I am going to go there.
I...Am going to defend EA.
With statistics.
Thirty years ago, when the video game industry was relatively new, a top-end video game sells from $40 to $60 dollars. It was likely made by a team of no more than about 20 people, and sold to a customer base of, at minimum, 3 million people.
Today, in 2017, a top-end video game sells for $40 to $60 dollars, is made by a team of from 200 to
1,000 people, and is sold to a customer base of at least
3 million just to break even.
So. First, making the game requires 10x to
50x as many people to pay. Second, the sales numbers have not climbed nearly as much.
Third. $50 USD in 1987 is worth $108.57 USD in 2017.
Fourth. Conversations on Steam and otherwise have constantly bemoaned high video game prices, encouraged waiting for sales "when the prices are
reasonable", and a consistent unwillingness to pay around $100 for a video game.
So.
1) The cost to make an AAA or AAA+ video game has risen by 10x to 50x.
2) The price of a video game has
dropped by more than 50%.
3) Customers will not buy video games at a price that would support development.
The only way a video game company today, can make enough money to bring you the AAA and AAA+ video games
you want, is to either charge around $100 USD,
minimum, and forget sale prices... Or use payed DLC. Payed expansions. Payed upgrades.
Micro-transactions.
Has EA gone too far? Yes! But if we're talking about greed, here?
Take a look at those fingers pointing back to you.
And me. I don't always pay full price, either.
But I'm admitting I'm part of the problem... For whatever it's worth.