Oh no they did not just raise the price!

Wireless adapter included...That's why...

It was included for FREE in Japan. We got hosed.

F*ck that price. You know all those complaints I make about annual sports games and how they rip off the fans? Well all of that applies to Nintendo when it comes to the Pokemon franchise. It's hard to believe Pokemon is made by the same company that makes Zelda. Four Swords Adventures came with a link cable and it was an original game and I bought it new for LESS than the usual Cube game price. And to make things worse the wireless adapter is a rip-off in itself since games have to be programmed to use it instead of working with all link cable games like it SHOULD.

Pokemon + overpriced NES collection = Nintendo abusing their handheld monopoly. As much as I don't care for Sony I'm glad there's going to be some competition in the market to keep this sort of stuff down.

The reason why it's also a high price is because this new entry (old?) has alot more features added to it. The ability to play with wireless is one, but there are also new regions to the Kanto area. Not to mention creating new sprites for everything in the game, that kinda takes a little bit of time. Also, why make them cheaper than the Ruby and Sapphire ones? If that was the case, everyone would skip on the old (new?) ones to get these new (old?) ones. It makes sense to a business strategy, "why buy the cow when the milk is for free?" I do see your drift though about it being ridiculous about the wireless adapter, but then with this, that means that they're actually compatible, and what's the point of adding wireless to a game, if people don't even own the prephiral? Adding it in was a great idea, even if it did skyrocket the price 10 measley dollars. Not bad for something that costs 10$ to get but still has wires.
The thing about Sony stopping this won't help, because Sony is doing something even worse!! "Oh let's put GT4 on the PSP AND PS2 and hope people will buy them both!!!" They're gonna sodomize the handheld industry just like they bastardized the gaming industry with their "Play"Station. BAH!! More like "I'm Sony, GIVE ME SOME MONEY!!"Station.

"Also, why make them cheaper than the Ruby and Sapphire ones?"

I don't think anyone is asking for that. It's just that Japan didn't have to pay more and we do. That's bullsh!t.

They never have to pay as much as us (well, here in The States at least). That's the way the economy works, domestic lands get it cheaper, foreign lands get it more expensive...simple as that. If you don't like it, don't buy it...or as you said, you're in a position to spend money and not worry about it (quote from that Trading Games thread).

I meant they don't pay more in relation to the prices of other Japanese GBA titles. It has nothing to do with the economy or country.

Actually it does, that'd be like saying that because a Dell is made in America (in Round Rock mind you) that it's going to sell for equal price in Taiwan. Whatever, it'd be much more than you think it is...it's not very easy to ship products, especially when it's a bulk of them (i.e. games) They have to find a way to make profit some way. That's just not gonna happen if they sell it for 30$. If that was the case, why don't they sell Viewtiful Joe or Metal Gear Solid 2 for 10 dollars (yes you can find them used for that much) but the point is they just can't. With the steady decline of the gaming market over there, and the rise of it here, might as well try to make as much bang for your buck instead of trying to please the public. People are sheep, they do what you tell them to do. If you set something for 40$, people are oging to buy it no matter what.

$40? I thought we were done with $40 games after the GBA's launch. I still want a copy though, so I'm going to keep my eyes open for deals when the game launches. I actually got Pokemon Sapphire on it's release date, brand new, with free player's guide, for only about $23. I'm hoping to find a similar deal again.

And I do agree with SgtShiversBen's comments about the shrinking game market in Japan. The decision to sell the PKMN games for $40 here in the states probably came from NCL, not NOA (I seem to remember a rumor about NCL actually wanting to charge a full $30 for the NES Classics and NOA had to talk them down to $20)

Ian, japan didn't have to pay more, thats correct.
Japan also has to pay roughly $50 for every single GBA game, either way, we get a better deal. Stop your damn bitching.

Likewise, i'm a pokemon whore, so i'll be reserving my copy shortly. Full color map of kanto is going up on my wall. w00t.

In Japan
Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire... 4,800 Yen
Pokemon Fire/Leaf... 4,800 Yen

In America
Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire... $35
Pokemon Fire/Leaf... $40

They got the wireless adaptor for free. Fire/Leaf costs the same as Ruby/Saph and also comes with a wireless adaptor
We have to pay extra for it. Fire/Leaf costs $5 more than Ruby/Saph does, so we're basically paying $5 more and getting a wireless adaptor that should be free.

Shipping costs are not enough to effect the MSRP by $5. It certainly doesn't cost them $5 to ship each wireless adaptor.

Obi: Ever tried converting those Yen amounts to US dollars? The USD price for GBA games is so low they can't afford throwing in freebies.

Why do you americans have to always complain about the prices of games? Don't you really understand how cheap you get them? The Japanese have to pay way more than you, but that's nothing compared to Europe. You propably don't know that standard GBA games cost about 55-60 Euros in here, and if you don't know, as you propably don't, that's about 70 $. And you start crying when you get a game with added accessories for 40 $.

And that 4800 Yen is about 44 $ BTW.

Antti: The exact price is regional, most of the world (that includes most european countries) pays around 50 USD for GBA games, though. In both Germany and France GBA games go for 40-45 Euros and Gamecube games go for 55-60 Euros. Maybe where you live the prices are higher (from what I heard about the northern countries, they are). For some reason the "out of the way" countries (North European countries, New Zealand, South American countries, etc) are more expensive in regards to games, might be related to logistics or something. Cheaper countries don't get them cheaper, though, in the Czech Republic games cost the same as in Germany...

Its only 5 dollars more than previously thought. I can scrape that much up out of change stuck in between the seats of my car. =P

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Originally posted by: KDR_11k
Antti: The exact price is regional, most of the world (that includes most european countries) pays around 50 USD for GBA games, though. In both Germany and France GBA games go for 40-45 Euros and Gamecube games go for 55-60 Euros. Maybe where you live the prices are higher (from what I heard about the northern countries, they are). For some reason the "out of the way" countries (North European countries, New Zealand, South American countries, etc) are more expensive in regards to games, might be related to logistics or something. Cheaper countries don't get them cheaper, though, in the Czech Republic games cost the same as in Germany...

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The US prices were set before the dollar crashed, they couldn't raise them to make up for the weaker dollar because it would cause a backlash from the US market. Back when the Euro prices were set to 60 for a GC game that was the equivalent of 50 USD. Then the dollar dropped from 1.20 EUR to 0.80 EUR and suddently the GC games costed the equivalent of 70 USD in Europe. I think only the 50M+ countries get their own translations (back in the NES age all games were untranslated even in Germany), the rest gets told to put up or shut up. I have no idea why prices are higher in Finland, but maybe large scale logistics behave different from small scale logistics or something. Anyway, I agree, importing from the US is CHEAP!

Agreed. Like, two new release GBA games from the US is cheaper than one GBA game here. Especially if it's a Yu-Gi-Oh game. Jam your $90 price tags, Atari.

Oh are we angsting about price in this thread? In on that angst, regional PAL angst too, which crushes scissors (we have two connundrums apparently) Boktai is $80 AU here, fun.

The UK seems to get it well because of the currency. Most new games are £35-£40.
I found a bargain online and got Viewtiful Joe brand new for £15, so I'm happy.

WOO.

ITEM UK Price AU Price US Price
GC Game $72.87 $70.22 $50
GBA Game $63.76 $49.15 $30

Prices are based on RRPs and all in US dollars.

The US gets games before the UK and Australia and get them for much cheaper, GBA GAMES ARE HALF THE PRICE IN THE US THAN IN THE UK. Plugabugz, 15 pounds is $27.33. You were paying just under the US price.

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Originally posted by: Jale
ITEM UK Price AU Price US Price
GC Game $72.87 $70.22 $50
GBA Game $63.76 $49.15 $30

Prices are based on RRPs and all in US dollars.

The US gets games before the UK and Australia and get them for much cheaper, GBA GAMES ARE HALF THE PRICE IN THE US THAN IN THE UK. Plugabugz, 15 pounds is $27.33. You were paying just under the US price.

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