Please Reconsider You Pricing Strategy

[opusthefowl]

Hello,

First-off, let me acknowledge right out of the box that most games here are more on the niche side of gaming rather than mainstream. Because of this, in general, I agree that companies will price their products a bit higher or a bit lower to fight the "niche" label to attract more purchases…Matrix on the other hand seems to go for the much higher route…and I think that’s a shame.

I am not talking about new games at all as for the most part, their pricing is fine. What I would like to address is their stock of older games.

A few examples:

Gary Grigsby's Eagle Day to Bombing the Reich
A repackaging (with polish) of two games from 1999, released 7 years ago (original games from 1999): $71

Larry Bond's Harpoon - Ultimate Edition
To celebrate the 20th anniversary, in 2010, released 6 years ago for a game 25+ years old: $85

Steel Panthers: World at War - Generals Edition
Released 16 years ago: $71

Hornet Leader PC
Released 9 years ago: $43

It just goes on and on…

The pricing strategy of games 5+ years and older just seems so absolutely out of whack that one has to ask themselves, what are they thinking?

I hope this thread starts a meaningful discussion and encourages Matrix to rethink their pricing strategy on their older titles. I’d love to buy some titles here but when faced with the choice of older top tier games in the $5-$10 range on Steam, GOG, Bundle Stars or Humble Bundle or a very old game that I’ll have to fight just to run on a modern PC and pay $70+ for that “privilege”, the choice is easy…

Thanks

[wings7]

What I have done, over the past several years was stick to a monthly budget a purchase one game a month (sometimes 1 every two months), it really made an affordable difference for me. [:)]

[opusthefowl]

ORIGINAL: wings7

What I have done, over the past several years was stick to a monthly budget a purchase one game a month (sometimes 1 every two months), it really made an affordable difference for me. [:)]

This isn't really about affordability, it's about pricing products in a more realistic manner that is inline with the industry in general. It's also about getting more people into war-gaming and getting rid of price barriers for those who are curious.

I generally spend $200-$400 a year on games but watch for sales and bundles...as great as a game is, you wait long enough and you will get it cheap. Half-Life 2 on Steam at their regular price is $11...on sale about $5 and that's for a 12 year old game...

Matrix does not follow this logic at all and as mentioned, seems to increase the prices of older games as if their are increasing in value as they get older. They are not wine, scotch or other tangible 'antique' type items that get better with age. In-fact, they sometimes get worse as they are incompatible with newer hardware...

[wings7]

Matrix pricing has never been a problem for me, I understand what you are saying. If you really want to purchase a game here then you should, after all isn't all about playing a game that you want and enjoying it? [&:]

[opusthefowl]

ORIGINAL: wings7
...isn't all about playing a game that you want and enjoying it? [&:]

Sure but it's also about getting that game at a fair price, just like any product in life. A game 10, 15 or 20+ years old being sold for more than a top-tier game released today is absurd. If we were talking about physical copies then maybe their high price would be warranted as you're approaching 'collectors' level but with digital copies, there is no such appreciation with age. But to charge more ofr a 20 years old game than the upcoming Civ6 game is 100% Bizarro World pricing.

For a good laugh, check out the "Budget Games" link...I mistakenly though that the prices would be different but LOL...sadly no...actually it seems like a dumping ground for their "discontinued" games (whatever that means considering they are digital). Just another Matrix oddity...

[Hotschi]

There's a Easter Sale, Summer Sale and Christmas Sale here every year, with games off 30% or even 50%, sometimes even the top titles are included, you just have to be patient.

Just be glad Matrixgames doesn't offer out-of-stock books. They usually are higher prized the older they are...

[wodin]

Seeing as you're new you wouldn't know this has been discussed many many times already. It isn't going to change.

[JWW]

ORIGINAL: opusthefowl

ORIGINAL: wings7
...isn't all about playing a game that you want and enjoying it? [&:]

Sure but it's also about getting that game at a fair price, just like any product in life. A game 10, 15 or 20+ years old being sold for more than a top-tier game released today is absurd. If we were talking about physical copies then maybe their high price would be warranted as you're approaching 'collectors' level but with digital copies, there is no such appreciation with age. But to charge more ofr a 20 years old game than the upcoming Civ6 game is 100% Bizarro World pricing.

For a good laugh, check out the "Budget Games" link...I mistakenly though that the prices would be different but LOL...sadly no...actually it seems like a dumping ground for their "discontinued" games (whatever that means considering they are digital). Just another Matrix oddity...

Please define "fair price" for me in general. Maybe everything should be set at a "fair price." Then I would be driving a Mercedes instead of a Toyota to work. (Not complaining about the Toyota; wonderfully reliable at a great price, but not a Mercedes.)

[opusthefowl]

ORIGINAL: wodin

Seeing as you're new you wouldn't know this has been discussed many many times already. It isn't going to change.

Been coming here well over 6 years...so not an old guard type but "new"?

[opusthefowl]

ORIGINAL: Hotschi

There's a Easter Sale, Summer Sale and Christmas Sale here every year, with games off 30% or even 50%, sometimes even the top titles are included, you just have to be patient.

Just be glad Matrixgames doesn't offer out-of-stock books. They usually are higher prized the older they are...

of-stock book

True regarding books but then that's the old digital vs hard copy argument...

As for the sales, that is nothing new. All gaming vendors have them. The issue here is the original prices for very old games.

[opusthefowl]

ORIGINAL: JW

Please define "fair price" for me in general. Maybe everything should be set at a "fair price." Then I would be driving a Mercedes instead of a Toyota to work. (Not complaining about the Toyota; wonderfully reliable at a great price, but not a Mercedes.)

If you want to drive a Benz, go for it. I bought a used 190e a while back for $4000. The price dropped with age, of course. But as with tangible, unique items, they can increase in value over time so a brand new 190e now would be worth far more than $4k. As we're not talking about tangible items....I digress..

While I cannot say exactly what the fair value is for a 20 year old digital game, I can look to others in the industry and see what they are doing; Matrix is bucking the trend to a high degree. Offering games in the $70-$80 range is pretty shocking. $5-$10 range would be far more appropriate.

[opusthefowl]

...also, don't you want MORE people to discover, enjoy and play these old games? I find it odd that that people are defending 20+ year old games being priced over the $70 mark. I mean, don't you want MORE people to play against?

[Qwixt]

I wanted the GG Eagle Day game, but it has bugs, is old, is way overpriced, and appears just about abandoned. So I just forgot about it. Maybe someday during an x-mas sale, but not until it hits about $15.

[Huskie]

There was a time too many I bought a game on Matrix and Slitherine and not even a week or month later the exact game goes on sale... my problem is always the sale comes too late and then I can't use the discount and then it expires and the cycle repeats. It is a little frustrating. I wish they wouldn't keep planned discounts a secret -_-

[Jagdtiger14]

Opusthefowl: I completely agree with you. I would be hard pressed to buy those games for even $10+shipping much less 30% or 50% off their ridiculous price. Not because I cant afford it, but because I don't see the value.

I've noticed for a while now that Matrix is not a very savvy business operation. They treat their customers terribly, the moderators and forums are politically correct, they give you an anniversary coupon that is less in value than the discounts you can be patient for later, and other things I could go on about.

On the positive, I've noticed Matrix is conducting tournaments for some of their games. Nothing better than human vs human competition. If conducted properly can increase interest and revenue dramatically in any game new or old. However, I'm not sure if this is something Matrix came up with, or fans for the various games. They should do this for every title they own.

Unfortunately I think you are tilting at windmills here.

[IainMcNeil]

We've explained why things are the way there are many many times. You might not agree with it, but we make the best call based on the sales data to get the most revenue for our developers. There will always be people who think they know better and understand the market but we're the ones making the calls and being accountable to our developer partners so we'll do what we believe is best.

On a personal note, everyone wants more for less and many people don't understand their value judgments are different to others. "If I will only pay $20 for a game then surely everyone else thinks the same and $20 is the correct price point and anything more means they are losing money". Clearly that statement is nonsense and unless you have the data to see the sales curves and prices its all conjecture. We have the data and we make the decisions.

I'm locking this as it always ends up getting nasty. JadgTiger is already hurling insults, which are completely unfounded as the vast majority already know.