Inspired by the survey that Karla posted a link to in this thread.

How much are you actually willing to pay for a (more or less) traditional adventure game? What would make you willing to pay more (other than obviously the game being better)?

For me, I sadly feel that it is hard to justify paying more than ~20€ for a new adventure game. The reason for this is that the genre generally speaking is pretty low on replay value, and most adventure games are relatively short (<10h. Also, I'm far too often disappointed with adventure games. When an adventure game is great, it is utterly amazing, and I can sit glued to my computer chair for hours I managed to beat Myst 1 in a single sitting, when an adventure game is just good, I'll far too often get bored and do something else instead. 

One thing that would make me willing to pay more for adventure games would be if the stories actually gave you choices on what to do. I guess the recent The Walking Dead (which I still have not played, shame on me!) is a good example of this. Also, Shadow of Destiny/Shadow of Time (depending on where you live) also let you make some choices. 

$15-20 for something I'm really looking forward to, $5-10 impulse buy, <$5 ideal!

The days of forking over $40+ for a PC game are pretty much over for me. Very occasionally I'll drop $$ on a game such as Rise of Flight or DCS A-10 but these are exceptional simulation rarities...

Originally Posted By tincup2 (19 DEC 2012 11:16am)

$15-20 for something I'm really looking forward to, $5-10 impulse buy, <$5 ideal!

 

The days of forking over $40+ for a PC game are pretty much over for me. Very occasionally I'll drop $$ on a game such as Rise of Flight or DCS A-10 but these are exceptional simulation rarities...

Would you say that Rise of Flight is worth buying? Because it is 60% off on Gamer's Gate right now, and I'm eyeing it intensely.

For AG's I stick to the 1€/1h of promised gameplay. There are rarely AG's these days that offer more than 20hours of playtime, so usually the limit is 20€.

For RPG's it's 0,5€/h, because i usually spent more than 100 hours in a good game.

...

It seems that 60€/$ is going to be the new price setting at an AAA-game launch.

We've seen it with Far Cry 3 and it also seems to be the case with SimCity and other future releases

If it was a type of game I liked, I would pay 50-100$.

I'd pay $40-60 for a AAA quality adventure game, unfortunately, they don't exist today. Which isn't to say I haven't enjoyed many of today's lower budget games, but it would take a lot of convincing to get me to pay more than 10-15 dollars for most of them, and the majority of the time will wait until they hit the $5-10 mark. I have been quite spoiled by the pricing in Steam's sales, I'm afraid.

I tend to agree with the idea of time spent per unit of currency now that $20 games no longer appear on the shelves around here anymore, one exception being a few Viva Media Titles. I think 1$/hr is reasonable with my current expectations for AGs these days. Deponia and Testament where lengthy games for me totalling around 22 hrs each of play and thus priced within that same ballpark, I deemed them decent games priced at less than the limit of $25.

New releases used to be more of a big deal back in the day (I recall getting my copy of Siberia 2 on its date of release and beating it before GB) but now I don't mind at all being patient. Sadly it's quite possible I'll never see what happens to Nina and Max in Secret Files 3. It's still not worth it.

While I think all of us have become a bit spoiled by the lower prices of AGs in general compared to years ago (particularly when it comes to those available for the iPad), IMO, Colpet and Andromus still have the right figures in mind when it comes to what a really good AG would still be worth if one could find one.

For those who come in with amounts that are $20 or less, I have to ask why the rules are so different for movies vs. AGs? Why will people drop $20 (including popcorn etc) for a 2 hour movie without batting an eyelash, but will balk at spending $30-40 for a game that lasts 8 hours or more?

Originally Posted By SirDave (19 DEC 2012 7:29pm)

While I think all of us have become a bit spoiled by the lower prices of AGs in general compared to years ago (particularly when it comes to those available for the iPad), IMO, Colpet and Andromus still have the right figures in mind when it comes to what a really good AG would still be worth if one could find one.

 

For those who come in with amounts that are $20 or less, I have to ask why the rules are so different for movies vs. AGs? Why will people drop $20 (including popcorn etc) for a 2 hour movie without batting an eyelash, but will balk at spending $30-40 for a game that lasts 8 hours or more?

Good question. I pay full price for movies because I'm essentially forced to do so, at least if I want the theater experience. Whereas with games I can get the same game experience whether I pay that 30-40 dollars now or wait several months for a price break.

I think it depends on the game for me.

I would have no problem paying full price for a game like Syberia or the classic Gabriel Knights.

Some adventure games, though they may be good games, feel a bit more rough and well lower budget/quality, and I generally would pay around the 15-30 mark for them.

A lot of newer good adventur egames have came out in this price range. For example the Whsipered World I paid 29.99 for at release, and it was worth it to me.

I think for most "indie" feeling games in gneeral the 15-30$ area is the sweet spot.

Originally Posted By SirDave (19 DEC 2012 7:29pm)

For those who come in with amounts that are $20 or less, I have to ask why the rules are so different for movies vs. AGs? Why will people drop $20 (including popcorn etc) for a 2 hour movie without batting an eyelash, but will balk at spending $30-40 for a game that lasts 8 hours or more?

I won't spend $20 for a movie, unless it is a movie I have incredibly high expectations for. Most of my movie-watching at the cinema comes from tickets that I've received due to helping out with things (one of the most common things around here to be handed out for volunteering is a movie ticket that you can use for any movie shown by the company that owns most of the cinemas around here)

But much like Andromus said, I guess it in the end comes down to having the option to pay a lot less for games, if you are just a little bit more patient. 

Originally Posted By Fnord (19 DEC 2012 1:51pm)

Originally Posted By tincup2 (19 DEC 2012 11:16am)

$15-20 for something I'm really looking forward to, $5-10 impulse buy, <$5 ideal!

 

The days of forking over $40+ for a PC game are pretty much over for me. Very occasionally I'll drop $$ on a game such as Rise of Flight or DCS A-10 but these are exceptional simulation rarities...

 

Would you say that Rise of Flight is worth buying? Because it is 60% off on Gamer's Gate right now, and I'm eyeing it intensely.

Absolutely. The modeling and graphics are superb - this is clearly a project of intense devotion by the publishers - a tour de force by any standard. After installation you will be prompted to update the program - a massive update that takes time but will bring you right up to date.

On the downside you need a top spec system to see it in all it's glory, but it's well worth it - even if you just use it as an intereactive reference book... which I confess I use it more as... My recent upgrade to W7 ironed out a lot of niggling graphic issues so the OS is also important..

Originally Posted By SirDave (19 DEC 2012 7:29pm)

 

For those who come in with amounts that are $20 or less, I have to ask why the rules are so different for movies vs. AGs? Why will people drop $20 (including popcorn etc) for a 2 hour movie without batting an eyelash, but will balk at spending $30-40 for a game that lasts 8 hours or more?

Well for me that's part of the problem too. I don't do the big movie thing often any more either as it just feels,  well, obscene. I go more often to the smaller art houses and dispense with the whole commercial thing. TV, can't really stomach most of either. I'm becoming and old codger I fear haha..

At this point I don't mind waiting for games and movies to cool off enough to fall into the reasonable impluse buying category - god know there's enough stuff out there to keep anyone busy even if you ignore the last 5 years of production..

Wow, $20 now for a flick drink and a snack? (shudder) But then I'd probably know better if only the IMAX was closer. Plus add another 15 give or take for gas.

No, no. With the advent of the Redbox (or similar facsimile) kiosk I tend to go with the seemingly popular theme of accepting the waiting period and then enjoying the few movies and games that interest me in a quiet controlled setting to my liking and all the while staying well within my budget...yawn.

I go to the movies maybe once a month or so depending on what's playing. Certain movies you just REALLY want to see in theather.

For example, Avatar and Life of Pi. Both films are a COMPLETELY different experience watching them at home, on a smaller screen, without 3d or a huge soundsystem backing them.

Seeing life of Pi (the most recent example of a superb special effects in a movie, where the movie itself was decent) on a huge screen with great sound and in 3d , it added a lot of the experience.

Plus seeing a movie with friends/family is just fun (for me at least) then simply watching it at hom eon the bouch late a night.

Movie prices are getting out of hand imo though. I mean I was going to see the Hobbit at the nearest Imax that supported that new "48fps" that it was filmed at, but upon checking the prices of the tickets I was like "I think I'll just go see it at my regular theather instead," as the tickets were SEVENTEEN DOLLARS a piece.

Don't even get me started ont he price of drinks/popcorn, highway robbery. Then they wonder why so many people sneak in little snacks and treats? heck at the old theater I used to go to when I was a kid , we'd go to the nearby drugstore that was literally like 50 feet from the movioe theather and buy snacks, they knew exactly what we were doing and even said "The movie theater buys all their snacks here too" and they were marked up over 150%.

Games on the other hand I guess you could agrue it based on time-spent. Perhaps we value games because it's just come natural to us now? I mean games have been in the 30-50 range for a long time now, I guess most people are just used to it. Then you have games like Skyrim and other TES types of games that can give you hundreds of hours for 50 bucks, whereas you have a single player game that can give you only 5-6 hours for a single player campaign and yet they charge you the same price.

I have to be extremely hyped for any game, regardless of genre, to pay more than 20€ for it. That happens about once a year. For everything else I can wait, it's not as if there is a shortage of games to play, including some free-to-play ones of very high quality.

Movies are not directly comparable, exactly because the movie theatre experience can't be 100% replicated, not even if one has a cutting-edge home theatre installed worth more than 10.000€. Playing a game a year after release on the other hand, is practically the same experience as playing it on the day of release, and sometimes even better due to patching/updating.

And if going out for a movie cost 20$ per person over here, the theatres would be empty. Watching the premiere of the Hobbit in 3D, 48fps cost me 10,50 euros, and that's including bus fare and the two cans of beer I snuck in. Less glamorous affairs and frequent family pack/weekday deals offered by smaller theatres often allow people to go watch a movie for less than 5€ per person.

Originally Posted By Mr Innocent. (22 DEC 2012 9:00am)

And if going out for a movie cost 20$ per person over here, the theatres would be empty. Watching the premiere of the Hobbit in 3D, 48fps cost me 10,50 euros, and that's including bus fare and the two cans of beer I snuck in. Less glamorous affairs and frequent family pack/weekday deals offered by smaller theatres often allow people to go watch a movie for less than 5€ per person.

I'm slightly jellous.

Watching Hobbit in 3D would cost me 17.94€ or $23.63  

Adding a small soda & popcorn would increase the price by another 4.63€ or $6.10.

Hence why I hardly ever watch movies at the cinema, and absolutely never pay for soda & snacks at the cinema. 

Originally Posted By Fnord (22 DEC 2012 12:44pm)

Originally Posted By Mr Innocent. (22 DEC 2012 9:00am)

And if going out for a movie cost 20$ per person over here, the theatres would be empty. Watching the premiere of the Hobbit in 3D, 48fps cost me 10,50 euros, and that's including bus fare and the two cans of beer I snuck in. Less glamorous affairs and frequent family pack/weekday deals offered by smaller theatres often allow people to go watch a movie for less than 5€ per person.

I'm slightly jellous.

Watching Hobbit in 3D would cost me 17.94€ or $23.63  

watching it in 2D would cost me 15.04€ or $19.82)

 

Adding a small soda & popcorn would increase the price by another 4.63€ or $6.10.

Hence why I hardly ever watch movies at the cinema, and absolutely never pay for soda & snacks at the cinema. 

Is there a tax on fun in Sweden or something? Even your alcohol prices are ridiculously high 

IMAX 3D 48fps costs only 13€ in Belgium, and we're already complaining cinema has become too expensive.

Back in the day, each new Myst game would cost me $80.  I paid $50 for Syberia.  As these games lasted me more hours than dollars - Riven took months!!!!!  I thought it was money well spent and if there ever came another A++ quality game like Myst I'd willingly pay premium prices for it.

I find modern games don't appeal so much but I have paid $20 for a downloaded game.

As for cinema prices, it's $17 to visit the cinema here, with coke and popcorn adding another $10.  Naturally enough, I am very selective about which movies I take my kids to see because of the add-on costs.

Originally Posted By markornikov (22 DEC 2012 1:41pm)

Is there a tax on fun in Sweden or something? Even your alcohol prices are ridiculously high 

 

IMAX 3D 48fps costs only 13€ in Belgium, and we're already complaining cinema has become too expensive.

There is a huge tax on alcohol and tobacco here in Sweden, as a way to encourage people to consume less of it, hence why getting a beer in a shoddy bar in Stockholm will set you back 5€ (it is also because that is the "expected" price). If you want a good beer (or cider), you have to pay another 2€.

Going to see a movie is just so expensive because they know that people will pay.

I rather enjoy this candid discussion of AGs and $$. I must say though, that I'm uncomfortable reducing game value to a function of hours of potential gameplay x $/hr. I buy according to expectations of enjoying a game first and foremost - and even if reliable reviews says that a game has 50+ hours of game play, I'll end up buying another game for the same price if I think it promises more of what I look for in a game - even if it is [far] shorter in scope.

I've had enough good experiences with low-priced/indie games not to take offerings in the $10-20 range seriously, and have many expensive large-scope games just sitting on the shelf unfinished or unplayed. In retrospect some games would have been a deal even at ten times the normal cost, the enjoyment of playing Riven for example far outweighs any 'wallet factor'.

So I'll stick with my orignal formulation...

New game $19.99

Old game $9.99

Really old game $4.99

Originally Posted By Fnord (19 DEC 2012 6:57am)
How much are you actually willing to pay for a (more or less) traditional adventure game? What would make you willing to pay more (other than obviously the game being better)?

I'm in the same class as Colpet and Andomus.

Originally Posted By colpet (19 DEC 2012 4:08pm)
If it was a type of game I liked, I would pay 50-100$.

Originally Posted By Andromus (19 DEC 2012 7:02pm)
I'd pay $40-60 for a AAA quality adventure game, unfortunately, they don't exist today.

At least they don't exist for the type I'm most interested in -- Myst/Riven/Schizm/Uru/Obsidian/...

If the RHEM series had higher production values, and was as pretty as Myst III or Uru, it would be worth it.

The amount I'd pay would also depend on whether the game was infected with opprobrious DRM. There are some games I wouldn't even play for free because I don't want that garbage on my computer. The days are past when I put up with that stuff. And anything with limited activations that depend on the presence of an activation server is not worth more than $25 to me, no matter how good the game is.

Originally Posted By SirDave (19 DEC 2012 7:29pm)
For those who come in with amounts that are $20 or less, I have to ask why the rules are so different for movies vs. AGs? Why will people drop $20 (including popcorn etc) for a 2 hour movie without batting an eyelash, but will balk at spending $30-40 for a game that lasts 8 hours or more?

It's been several years since I went to a movie theatre and it will be a cold day in heck before I step into another one. The only exception might be an "art" theatre where hopefully the audience would be reasonably considerate. At least I had the pleasure of seeing that movie theatre get razed. It's still a vacant lot. I've got nothing against movies themselves -- I used to visit a video/DVD rental shop until they closed ($3 to $4 per movie) and I still buy DVD's from Amazon once in a while ($10 to $20). So not much different from the average game for me.

One thing that would make me willing to pay more for adventure games would be if the stories actually gave you choices on what to do. I guess the recent The Walking Dead (which I still have not played, shame on me!) is a good example of this. Also, Shadow of Destiny/Shadow of Time (depending on where you live) also let you make some choices.

If I enjoy a game, I'll replay it -- sometimes immediately after finishing. If I don't enjoy it, no amount of so-called "replayability" will induce me to play it.

In general, a game would need smooth production values that show no evidence of cutting corners, excellent writing (if it was a story-type adventure), convincing voice acting (no silly cartoon voices that call attention to themselves or are wrong for the characters), enjoyable puzzles that you haven't seen 16 times before, a gameworld that is detailed, interactive, and interesting to explore, and other stuff I can't think of at the moment.

I can't begin to describe how much I hate this forum software. As soon as I use one of my usual keyboard shortcuts, the whole post disappears -- and unlike every other forum I've ever visited, there doesn't seem to be any way to get it back. I'm not seeing any option to preview the post either, so I have no idea whether the UBB code is working as expected before submitting the post.

I generally am not prepared to pay more than about US $30 although if I knew that the game was EXCEPTIONALLY good (VERY rare these days IMHO) I would pay up to $40 or even $45, but I don't think any more – and like Jenny100 ONLY if it was a proper disk version without ANY DRM.

Since Mac games are made less frequently than those for Windows, I will pay full pop for a game to get it right away and to encourage game makers, especially the indies, to port more games to my chosen platform.