Just Because a Game is Old Doesn't Mean it Must Be Cheap

Kotaku's Brian writes: "This year, it’s Seiken Densetsu Collection for Switch. The first three games in the Mana series, on Nintendo’s new console? Yeah, I’m in. Of course, the level of excitement I’m seeing on the internet about the announcement is rather muted, thanks to the bare-bones special features and the 4800 yen (about $50) price tag."

[PhoenixUp]

I believe it should be. For example I personally hate walking into a store and seeing old Nintendo games on DS and Wii still selling for near full price when they are used.

[Tapani]

Your opinion is entirely from a consumer's and your personal wallet's point of view. While it is as valid opinion as any, I think we are talking about a bigger thing here, such as "what is gaming" and "how it should be priced".

[Chexs1990]

Uhmm, yeah it does. If it's essentially nothing but a port with a texture/resolution mod, it is never okay to charge full price for it. It is a greedy miscalculated act from devs and nothing else.

[Tapani]

Shouldn't it be the other way around anyway, at least if gaming is considered as an art form? Even if gaming is considered as pure entertainment, still, the same rule applies. Some of the 80s games (first golden age) have aged rather well and can be considered as totally playable classics today, just like paintings, music or movies from the same era.

[Taero]

If I buy a print of the Mona Lisa I don't expect to pay the same price. Minimal work compared to the original.

[prankster101]

If it's a Digital Download only, and the assets haven't been significantly reworked, then the price should be cheap.

[feraldrgn]

They should definitely drop in price over time like most things.
Or do you believe consoles should never drop in price too?

[DialgaMarine]

The only time I've ever heard that statement is from new generation self-entitled kiddie casuals who demand every game be a massive AAA project like Horizon, but then only play CoD and BF every year. Yeah, there's definitely a higher standard for games releasing today, but that doesn't mean classics automatically lose their quality.

Now charging today's full price for a classic is ridiculous. Unless the developer completely rebuilt the game from the ground up, $50+ is just plain asinine, especially in the case of Nintendo where they aren't even adding new features like Trophies, and simply porting it.

[CrimsonWing69]

It absolutely should be. What are the dev costs that make the game full price? Why is it that RE4, 5, and 6 are priced at $20 for the HD remasters rather than $60? Unless the game is rebuilt from the ground up with a AAA budget I do not see nor do I agree why/how an old game doesn't need to be cheap.

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

AAA Budget doesn't =/= $60 price tag

[CrimsonWing69]

Do you get why games cost $60? Like how much goes to the publisher, the dev, retailers, etc.?

[iofhua]

If they release Seiken Densetsu 3 in English I would love to buy a legit copy of it. That alone would be worth the price. It's a shame I've only been able to play it as a pirate.