What happened to the 'premium price'

super_furry

I remember Activision stating that because MW2 was bound to be a hit they were going to sell it for a higher than normal price as an 'experiment'. There was a bit of an uproar about it but now it just seems to be a normally priced game at €49.99. Did Activision row back on their decisions or are retailers just absorbing the price hike?

DarkJager

Never heard that but if it was true, I'd imagine the pre-order figures for it made them change their minds. Something like 5 million copies are expected to be sold today alone.

Hercule

The inflated pricies was a recommended retail price - some of the less honourable companies will enforce the higher price point to bleed as much money as possible out of early adopters - then drop the price down to a more average price afterwards - I have seen gamestop do this in the past with other big launches

There is quite a large margin made on the game which gives companies like tesco a large scope for pricing - effectively selling the game as a loss-leader in attempt to secure complimentary sales. Id say in the city centre the shop selling it for 45 would sell 20-30 more copies (per platform) then a shop selling it for 50

super_furry

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/pachter-activision-mw2-price-is-a-test

There was a bit of a fuss about it at the time, but maybe they just decided to price it normally.

Vyse

As far as I am aware this inflated price is still in place but being absorbed by the retailers (so Activision are still receiving the extra money for the game).

Play.com are selling it for £44.99 (what a bargin).

Gamesnash.ie: Pat

RRP dropped slightly from an initial €69.99 to €64.99 with a similar cost price reduction. It is costing €50.00 to buy it in from Activisions Distributors but I would imagine the bigger players are getting it a little cheaper with their rebate deals etc. Harvey Normans I know for definite are loss leading.

Zombrex

HMV have it for €40 on PC.

Very glad I didn't pay €60 on Steam (the PC-DVD version installs through Steam anyway as far as I know). It is not even released till Thursday on Steam and you pay 20 euro for the privilege of waiting 2 days.

Seems madness, I don't know what Activision/Valve where thinking. To make on-line distribution work it should be cheaper and be released earlier, not hugely more expensive and released later.

Crazy

spooky donkey

I have to say its still more expensive that most other games. I was in HMV and every game in their top 10 games was either 40 or 45 where COD is 50 so there is a mark up on other game prices.

Ri_Nollaig

Wicknight wrote: »

HMV have it for €40 on PC.

Very glad I didn't pay €60 on Steam (the PC-DVD version installs through Steam anyway as far as I know). It is not even released till Thursday on Steam and you pay 20 euro for the privilege of waiting 2 days.

Seems madness, I don't know what Activision/Valve where thinking. To make on-line distribution work it should be cheaper and be released earlier, not hugely more expensive and released later.

Crazy

Steam is a joke for buying games.
only the odd time it has something for good value.

Prices dont really go down either, only a few months ago COD4 was still like 59.99! I got it in game for like 19.99.

Zombrex

Ri_Nollaig wrote: »

Steam is a joke for buying games.
only the odd time it has something for good value.

Prices dont really go down either, only a few months ago COD4 was still like 59.99! I got it in game for like 19.99.

I think that is more COD4 than Steam. I got Mass Effect for 7 euro yesterday (special from regular price of 14 euro).

But you are right, you will get better, more regular, deals in the retail stories trying to shift excess stock.