Leveling Down

How do cmfl3x’s thoughts on Super Street Fighter IV & Starcraft 2 differ from espion4ge’s?

Yesterday, espion4ge wrote about his experiences trying to conquer hardcore games these days, and today I will do the same, albeit from a different perspective. I played tons of Starcraft in college as well, but I probably was never as good and usually would win more because of brains then because of actions per minute. That’s not to say I am very smart – it’s more like the only chance I ever had to win was to out-think an opponent, which sometimes was pretty rare. Anyway, when it comes to Street Fighter, my previous idea of strategy can be found here. So while I am finding myself relearning Starcraft in the sequel, for Street Fighter, it’s like I’m seeing the game for the first time, which is pretty cool.

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Games like Modern Warfare 2 and Starcraft 2 are worth more than their retail price.

Having now completed the 8 hour game that is Dante’s Inferno, I’ve started thinking more about the crazy idea that this game retails for the same price as a game like Modern Warfare 2. With Modern Warfare 2′s Stimulus Package earning millions and millions of dollars amidst some complaining about the expensive $15 price tag, analysts have discovered that the $15 price tag was actually too low, since sales were higher than expected at that price. Maybe $20 would have been the sweet spot? In any case, it has gotten me thinking as of late about the disparity between the value of games. Are all games created equal? Of course not. Yet why are they all charging $60? I guess it works because in the end, games that are more than worth the $60 retail price will continue to sell like hotcakes while games that are not worth it will sell far less quantities. Game studios will make more for games that are worth more, but is it the best pricing strategy?

I may sound crazy when I say this, but I am actually willing to pay a monthly fee for certain games. Now this may sound ridiculous since why would someone offer to pay more for something when he’s already getting it cheaper? If I can play Modern Warfare 2 online for free already, why am I suggesting that I don’t mind paying for it? Because it’s one of the most entertaining games I’ve played in recent history that continues to captivate me month after month while other games get beaten and put back on the shelf or sold. Read on for the list of games being released this year (and Modern Warfare 2) that I would consider paying a monthly fee for and why.
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Mass Effect 2 – an RPG with a shooter soul, or the other way around?

We live in an interesting time for games. In the not too distant past, gaming genres were clearly delineated: you’d play Doom to get your first-person shooting on, Starcraft to focus on real-time strategy, platformers like Super Mario Brothers 3 for throw your controller out the window experiences, and the turn based Final Fantasy role playing series for some heavy stories and to prove that “video games can make grown men cry”. But then, a funny thing happened on the way to the 21st century…

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