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Another game hit by the Switch tax: Minecraft Story Mode
- Thread starter Shiggy
- Start date
Okami Haundo
Member
Microsoft owns Minecraft, but this game was made by Telltale. I don't think MS has any say in the pricing on this one.
Does Telltale make indie games now? The only "indie" game that was set to cost more on Switch is Rime, and they just brought the digital version of that game down so it has parity. There's a long list of indie games that have already released on Switch with price parity. The issue here seems to be the cost of cartridges leading to more expensive physical copies.
Should have been first post. lol
ElBoxyBrown
Banned
Telltale is not indie.
The releases were all 30-35 EUR from what I see, at least the disc releases.
No information on that yet.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=887465&highlight=walking+dead
Seeing how Switch is selling, the audience that attracts Minecraft and the fact that there arent too many retail releases planned in the near future....anything else would have surprised me tbh.
I expect the price of their other games like TWD if it gets ported over to be a bit more reasonable...but with MC they can get away with it i assume.
Okami Haundo
Member
That was a rhetorical question.
Yeah this game really isn't worth it for that money. Even if you like Telltale's formula and aren't tired of it/annoyed by the technical issues, this is aimed at a very, very young audience. More than any other Telltale game apart from, maybe, their early Bone games. Only consider it if you've got very young children who love Minecraft. It's very 'power of friendship' and all that.
Skittzo0413
Member
What other games is this actually happening with? It just got fixed with Rime.
ElBoxyBrown
Banned
For their sake it better be back to $30 if they decide to port their other games cuz $40 is not an attractive price for a Telltale game.
Many? Lol.
If you're going to make (poor) comparisons to last gen then you should talk about how last gen "many" games gave consumers the option to upgrade to a next gen version for a fraction of the price, instead of having to pay full price a second time. Last I checked there was a Wii U version of Minecraft Story Mode and "many" other titles that could have similar price breaks.
For better or worse, these price discrepancies are because of cartridge cost and Nintendo's policies. We don't need to make up other excuses.
Puyo Puyo Tetris, Rime (unless you think that a soundtrack download code is "fixing" it).
Skittzo0413
Member
Fixed with the digital pricing I mean. I thought that was the larger cause for outrage than physical.
Grim Patron
Member
At least with tetris you got 2 keychains. Lol digital soundtrack code. people buying physical defo would appreciate a digital soundtrack. /s
ElBoxyBrown
Banned
Puyo Puyo Tetris came with two keychains. But really it deserves to be a $40 game.
I think for their non-Minecraft content they will go for the standard price - because it caters more to the regular TT "core" gamer who probably wouldnt support that BS...but with Minecraft and the upcoming Holiday season, it makes sense from their point of view.
The upgrade options was there for a handful AAA games during the launch - this didnt effect stuff like the Telltale releases or a bunch of other indie titles. It was implemented because some Multigames released a couple of days/weeks prior to the One/PS4 console and they didnt wanna force customers to double dip or have to wait with game purchase until the consoles are out - this cant be really compared to this situation. Or did SE give you a chance to upgrade FFX HD PS3/PSV for cheap to the PS4 version ?
Price discrepancies are happening because the Switch is a new system and some publisher can get away with it. The same way Nintendo probably wont be able to get away or sell something like 1-2 Switch 2 years from now to the Switch customers. Its common sense and has been happening for decades now.
But it seems like you already made up your mind....so lets agree to disagree and continue to treat something that has been part of every new console launch, like a Switch exclusive issue.
peanutbutterlatte
Member
Dear god that is hilarious, why in Gods name would you buy this when the actual Minecraft is half the price?!
Polygonal_Sprite
Member
Yup. I don't know why people are surprised.
I wonder if that had anything to do with Deep Silver handling distribution in Europe for Sega, versus Sega doing their own thing elsewhere. As strange as it sounds, it may not have been Sega's decision to make WRT the pricing in Europe for that title.
Probably the same reason why someone would buy Smash Bros. even if they already own Mario Kart.
ElBoxyBrown
Banned
This is a narrative story driven game based on Minecraft. Of course it's not actual Minecraft.
I didn't spend $70 on COD Ghost.
Minecraft itself is 29.99 USD on Switch (same as on Wii U).
Saiyan-Rox
Member
I reagrd it as New Console tax tbh as it pretty much happens with every single new console release anyway
RichiRamjag
Member
It's $30 digital, that's fixed to me.
Yup, initial cost of porting a engine/game to a new console + less retailer competition have often resulted in some publishers/devs charging that new console tax. Its pretty much the only time period where they can get away with it because people wanna play something on their new systems.
That's great for you, but that doesn't decrease the retail price, which still remains higher than on any other platform.
Lol you again. Sorry iOS version is portable as fuck to me
Snkfanatic
Banned
Funny you say that. At first I really liked the idea of carts but the more I use my Switch the more I really just love having it all on hand and ready to go. Only physical purchase so far has been Zelda.
freeofgreed
Member
Are cartridges that much expensive? This was never an issue with 3DS/DS/Vita (where games were even cheaper than Their console counterparts) so why is it blowing up now?
3DS and Vita game cards only ever hit 4GB for retail titles. I don't know how big MSM is, but we're starting to deal with games that are shipping on game cards that are already up to four times the size as that, and in one case thus far, a whopping eight times. There's also the factor of these games being the "real deal" versus the spinoffs and smaller scale counterparts that frequently hit handheld systems in the past.
RichiRamjag
Member
I was always given the impression that those who brought physical didn't mind paying more for the option. I see it becoming the norm going forward tbh. Still, that doesn't explain the exact reason why some of these games are higher I guess.
You can share and resell carts, you can't with your digital purchases.
So, assuming you'd only play through this single player story based game once, you'd likely end up paying less, if you account for the fact that you'll easily be able to sell your cartridge for at least 20$.
Herp Derpington
Member
lol ok. I'm sure that's their first line of thought in pricing their game. I'd talk to Nintendo about their accessory prices first.
AndrewDean84xX
Banned
My daughter and I share games between our two Switch's.
I mean, I bought Back to the Future for like $1 twice, so the idea I'm going to buy what is functionally the same game with a license I have no interest in at a much higher price is a bit much to take. Comparing Telltale's assembly-line licensed games to the massive undertaking that is GTAV is pretty rich.
Another one to add to the list: Sine Mora Ex
29.99 EUR on Switch
19.99 EUR on PS4/X1
At first it looked as if there was price parity, but the distributor was (relatively) quick to notice their mistake and adjust the price. Some retailers still have the Switch version up for the old price, so you may want to preorder now, or just wait for the inevitable bargain bin prices later down the road.
29.99 EUR on Switch
19.99 EUR on PS4/X1
At first it looked as if there was price parity, but the distributor was (relatively) quick to notice their mistake and adjust the price. Some retailers still have the Switch version up for the old price, so you may want to preorder now, or just wait for the inevitable bargain bin prices later down the road.
TLZ
Banned
I don't know where to start with this silly post.
The PS4/Xbone prices are normal and the PS360 ports are cheaper. PS360 are also inferior even if new. The Switch is inferior to PS4/Xbone and should NOT be more expensive. If anything it should be similar at max and cheaper for it's inferiority.
Also collections and HD collections come out usually cheaper on the newer consoles than they were originally.
But of course Nintendo should be given a pass and and all kinds of excuses.
Cards are more expensive than disc media.
I have no clue what you are trying to say to be honest. Game prices based on inferiority? So Destiny 2 on consoles will cost half as much as the PC Version? Good to know.
Obviously Switch games shouldn't be more expensive that games on other systems. But the Switch market is in a different spaces compared to the established and seasoned eco system. There is less content and competition on Switch. And some publishers or devs will feel take advantage of that fact... That will always be the case.
You would have a point if Nintendo's own Switch games were more expensive than their WiiU counterparts for example.