Pathfinder 1E PDF Rules Prices Forked Thread: Pathfinder RPG PDF at $9.99!!!!!

[am181d]

Ten dollars is still far too much for a PDF core system. Truth be told, the price of PDFs is primarily why there is so much damn piracy. I feel people are far more reticent to purchase PDFs at any price above 5 dollars, as opposed to gambling away 30 bucks on a hardcover product.

I suspect this is a demographic issue. In ten years, RPGs will be distributed primarily via PDF at prices 60% to 100% of what we pay now for print copies, adjusted for inflation. Gamers will carry around libraries of 100+ gaming books on their KindleRPG, all fully indexed and searchable.

Ultimately, the print versions will have LESS utility than the electronic version, and the economics of a zero-growth (or negative growth) market will make traditional print runs cost prohibitive.

 

[drothgery]

Ten dollars is still far too much for a PDF core system. Truth be told, the price of PDFs is primarily why there is so much damn piracy. I feel people are far more reticent to purchase PDFs at any price above 5 dollars, as opposed to gambling away 30 bucks on a hardcover product.

Given that eBooks still have most of the costs of print books (paying the authors, illustrators, editors, layout people, overhead, profit for the publisher, profit for the retailer -- unless they're selling directly), and only eliminate the actual costs of printing, binding, shipping, and profit for the wholesaler, it's really not resasonable to expect eBooks to be much less than half the cost of print books.

 

[thecasualoblivion]

I've only seen about 10% of these on store shelves at any time, and I've never seen any of the ones listed below $10 for the PDF on store shelves.

 

[smug]

Forked from: Paizo sets price of Pathfinder RPG PDF at $9.99!!!!!



Interesting question. As a pdf customer I could only hope so, but there is variance.

If you see any mistakes or any I missed let me know.

I think that you missed Pathfinder RPG out...

 

[mach1.9pants]

You've missed:

Priceless:

DnD 4E PDFs.....

1. having a value beyond all price; invaluable: a priceless artwork.
2. delightfully amusing or absurd: a priceless anecdote.

I'll let you use which definition definitions you want for WotCs ridiculously 'priceless' PDF policy

EDIT: ps nice list thanks

 

[AllisterH]

Given that eBooks still have most of the costs of print books (paying the authors, illustrators, editors, layout people, overhead, profit for the publisher, profit for the retailer -- unless they're selling directly), and only eliminate the actual costs of printing, binding, shipping, and profit for the wholesaler, it's really not resasonable to expect eBooks to be much less than half the cost of print books.

The only thing I can see is that people will EXPECT prices at this point. It will be very hard to convince consumers that a PDF is worth anything when companies treat it as a significant loss leader.

 

[xechnao]

I don't remember how much, but I do remember reading that printing costs actually are not the major cost of a publication. It would only make sense then to sell pdf's at a higher price. It would be the only way to make a profit.

It is really complicated. Usually, you could say that in print publishing the most important factor is distribution and its costs. If there were no distribution costs for the customer books could cost less than half as they do now. But it depends. It is a case by case matter.

 

[ggroy]

My sources in the book publishing business mentioned that for new titles, the biggest expenses are in the the writing and putting together of the book. The actual printing of the paper books is the least of their problems.

For example, many university/college textbooks have many names in the credits section in the front of the book who did all the editorial stuff and putting together of the book. (Many names are also not included in the credits section). All those people have to be paid first.

I'm sure there will be many names in the credits section of the Pathfinder Core book. All those people have to be paid too.

 

[Kingreaper]

I'm surprised I haven't seen anything with reference codes that come with the hardcopy that at least partially offset the price of the PDF edition.
Maybe it's out there. Seems like a good way to balance the "buys the PDF instead of the book" and the "buys the PDF and the book" markets.

 

[lmpjr007]

Ten dollars is still far too much for a PDF core system. Truth be told, the price of PDFs is primarily why there is so much damn piracy. I feel people are far more reticent to purchase PDFs at any price above 5 dollars, as opposed to gambling away 30 bucks on a hardcover product.

Being an actual 3PP who has found their products on torrent site when those products were only $2, I know price has nothing to do with it. Pirates just pirate, they don't do it for a good reason. They just do it. If you think $10 for over 500+ pages of a full color pages in a PDF, I hope you don't have a comic books that are 32 pages for 2.99 or $3.99.