Topic: Wario Land: Shake It!

[Dasmos]

Ikaruga was released at full price years ago, so it makes sense to be released at a budget price. Braid on the otherhand, while an awesome game, the visuals aren't as detailed and the game is relatively short with very little replay value. Most of the magic of the game is trying to figure out the mutitude of puzzles present within the game.

Although I can't really say anything about Wario Land friom not actually playing it. Although the grahics are exceptional.

[NWR_Lindy]

I'm just saying that, in my opinion, there are very similar products out there that I could get similar enjoyment out of at a much lower price point.

[Dasmos]

Ikaruga isn't a similar product in any stretch of imagination. The only similarity is that it is played on a 2D plane. Also it's a 6 year old game so basing an argument of price around is pretty silly. I can agree with the comparison to Braid, although I hope to get more than 3 hours playtime out of Wario Land.

[Mario]

2D, 3D, who cares

I've said this before - you can't tell me that it cost Nintendo a fifth of the money to make Wario Land: Shake It than it did any of its other 3D first-party games, yet they sell it at the same price.  I can't help but feel that that's kind of a rip.

That's a terrible way to look at value. Someone could make a game for a buck and it could be more entertaining than Wario Land.

[KDR_11k]

Has there EVER been a perception (outside a small fraction of the internet hardcore) that 2D is "simpler and should be cheaper" than a 3D game?  I don't really think so...

Dunno, I haven't done any surveys but I wouldn't be surprised if people who grew up on the Playstation adopted the mentality because SCEA preached it to hurt the Saturn...

I guess the DS might affect it a bit though, why should a console game be more expensive than a handheld game? With a 3d game you could at least argue to some extent that it's not possible on the DS at all but with Wario Land the average user doesn't even know you can't get quite the same on the DS.

[Bill Aurion]

I'm just saying that, in my opinion, there are very similar products out there that I could get similar enjoyment out of at a much lower price point.

I want examples!  Console examples!

I guess the DS might affect it a bit though, why should a console game be more expensive than a handheld game?

Well that affects all games and not just 2D ones...Answer: Higher cost of development (yes, console 2D games cost more than handheld ones to develop...)

[Stogi]

I don't understand. Since when did game prices become relative? Why are we expecting to get price cuts when companies keep their costs low?

There is no media in history that does this; look at movies, music cd's, and art.

[NWR_Lindy]

Why shouldn't they be relative?  The Wii is cheaper than PS3 and 360 because it uses older system architecture that doesn't cost as much to produce as the system architecture in the other consoles.  Therefore the cost of the Wii makes perfect sense to me.  Wario Land: Shake It uses older 2D technology that doesn't require the cost investment of newer 3D technology.  Why shouldn't it be a little cheaper?  I don't think that's illogical.

If I wanted an amazing 2D game, there's plenty of cheap stuff out there to choose from on GameCube, VC, PSN, XBLA, etc.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Wario's fat overpriced ass can step aside.

If it really wants to uphold the old school sense of value, it can be priced at UDS$70 (1993 value) like other 2D SNES games in their prime.

But it's not 1993 anymore, and all the low-quality anime you stuff into it won't make it worth more than $15 today.

[Stogi]

Therefore the cost of the Wii makes perfect sense to me.  Wario Land: Shake It uses older 2D technology that doesn't require the cost investment of newer 3D technology.  Why shouldn't it be a little cheaper?  I don't think that's illogical.

Ya, but it's still NEW. If it's NEW, then it should cost the same as something NEW. You don't have to buy it because of price (hell I barely pay full mark-up), but it's "illogical" to expect pay for something NEW at the same price as something OLD.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

So $50 is a steal compared to 1993 SNES games, right RITE RIGHT?

[Bill Aurion]

Right!

[Bill Aurion]

Actually, I find this whole argument amusing considering Silks recommended people to spend 70 bucks for a gimmicky card/eyetoy game and 40 bucks for a DEMO...Talk about lack of value for what you spend...

[NWR_Lindy]

I recommend that you buy Wario Land: Shake It! for $49.99 and enjoy it.  That's what I recommend.

[Bill Aurion]

Awesome, I'm glad that's settled...

[vudu]

The Wii is cheaper than PS3 and 360 because it uses older system architecture that doesn't cost as much to produce as the system architecture in the other consoles.  Therefore the cost of the Wii makes perfect sense to me.  Wario Land: Shake It uses older 2D technology that doesn't require the cost investment of newer 3D technology.  Why shouldn't it be a little cheaper?  I don't think that's illogical.

**** ... I actually agree with Silks.

I'll still buy it at $50 without a second thought, but I fear that most mainstream gamers will dismiss it.

[Stogi]

If you want to discuss how ALL games should be less, then sure, 50 sucks.

Hopefully, digital downloads can offset the rising costs of game development.

[KDR_11k]

Well that affects all games and not just 2D ones...Answer: Higher cost of development (yes, console 2D games cost more than handheld ones to develop...)

And? It makes them worth LESS to me. I prefer DS games since they're portable. I can play the DS at home but I cannot take the Wii on the commute. Games are priced according to what they can get people to pay, not to what they paid to make it. If they think they can make people pay 50€ they'll price it like that, whether that turns out to be true is to be seen.

[Bill Aurion]

Uh, then why don't handheld games cost more?  You'd think the practicality would lead people to pay more for them, right? =)

[Adrock]

I'll probably end up buying this soon since I have it reserved. I could wait for a price drop, but considering Twilight Princess is still $50 new, I don't think Wario Land will be dropping any time soon.

[NWR_Lindy]

It will depend on how it sells, but you typically don't see first-party Nintendo games drop below $39.99 until the become Player's Choice titles.

But you can typically pick them up for cheap at B&M stores well before that happens.

[Jonnyboy117]

I said this once on the podcast, but if games were priced relative to their development costs, you'd have to pay upwards of $100 for GTA, Zelda, Final Fantasy, etc.  Also, I think it's wrong to assume that Wario Land cost less than a typical Wii game to develop.  2D animation is not cheap, especially at the level of quality in this game.  When you think about simplicity of many other first-party Wii games, Wario Land could have easily cost as much as some of them.

Development costs aside, I do think it's natural in this day and age to question the value proposition of a 2D game, because we associate them with handheld platforms and less total playing time.  With that said, I think it's completely possible that Wario Land is worth $50; it's just not something I can determine until playing it thoroughly.  And I plan to do that as soon as my review copy shows up.  (It's late, wah!)

[KDR_11k]

Uh, then why don't handheld games cost more?  You'd think the practicality would lead people to pay more for them, right? =)

Doubt it. Handheld games are perceived as lower quality and cheaper hence they have to follow. Maybe it's because the original GB was black and white and had cheaper games than the NES or something (AFAIK DS games still cost about the same as GameBoy games).

[DAaaMan64]

Uh, then why don't handheld games cost more?  You'd think the practicality would lead people to pay more for them, right? =)

Doubt it. Handheld games are perceived as lower quality and cheaper hence they have to follow. Maybe it's because the original GB was black and white and had cheaper games than the NES or something (AFAIK DS games still cost about the same as GameBoy games).

No, I think it is because most gamers don't prioritize handhelds like they do consoles. I don't.

[Bill Aurion]

Back on the subject of the actual game itself, here's THE BEST AD EVER! ='D