[casual_games] pricing

[Dave Rohrl]

The right price is one at which a willing buyer and a willing seller
meet and it varies not only by product but also by channel.  When I
worked at Pogo, we would sell our download games for $19.99 online but
$9.99 at retail because those were the most effective price points for
us in those channels.  If possible, I would encourage you to test
multiple price points in a limited release - maybe through your own web
site - to see where you will make the most money with your current game.

And as far as the Doom 3 argument goes, I don't think it's terribly
valid.  Doom 3 isn't worth $50 to your target customer - it has no value
whatsoever to them.  I do think that argument is valid where people try
to do hard-core games and genres in the download space, which is one of
the reasons that people haven't seen much success with combat flight
sims, core sports, etc. in the download space.

As far as "just moving the mouse and clicking the button", that's pretty
much what I did in Diablo as far as I can recall ;)  Simplicity of
interface is never a bad things for a game - think of Katamari - but it
may be that the reviewer is trying to call out other issues for you.

- DaveR

-----Original Message-----
From: casual_games-bounces at igda.org
[mailto:casual_games-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Lennard Feddersen
Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 10:37 AM
To: casual_games at igda.org
Subject: [casual_games] pricing

My companies latest game, Battle Castles, has been venturing out of the 
casual space sandbox where reviewers often ask the same question I do 
about what we make.

How come $20 for this game where I just move my mouse and click the
button?

I know that people either like what you make and buy it or they don't 
and that often those who are complaining wouldn't pony up $10 either.  I

know from personal experience that games priced at $24.99 can vastly out

perform titles at $14.99 - perceived value is a real thing.  That said, 
my game didn't cost 1/3 of what Doom 3 cost to make and there are lots 
of multi-million dollar titles down at the local video store on sale, in

shiny packages for $20.

Anybody have a fresh new take on this one?

-- 
Lennard Feddersen
CEO, Rusty Axe Games, Inc.
www.RustyAxe.com

Lennard at RustyAxe.com
P. 250-635-7623 F. 1-309-422-2466
3521 Dogwood, Terrace, BC, Canada, V8G-4Y7

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