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Want cheaper games?

New campaign wants greater value in the industry...

I just received word of a rather fascinating development that may be of interest to anyone who enjoys playing games, or works in the games industry. It’s called the Fairplay Campaign, and it aims to force the games industry to reduce prices for the good of the consumer, and, they argue, the business as a whole.

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Under £20 is their target figure for a new game, a massive drop from the more common £45 or so. The campaign will take a variety of forms, including a boycott on games purchases (between the 1st and 8th of December), which hopes to make those in the industry with power take note. The Fair Play Campaign accuses hardware manufacturers like Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft, of being the main culprits driving high prices as a result of their large licence fees for launching games on their platforms (typically, it says, £8-9 of the total cost of a new game).

An online petition is also available for those interested, and more information on it all can be sought here.

1. That's just utter excellency. Best site I've seen in a long time, they've even got some strong arguments, and as they say themselves - there's one thing that even the stupidest business can't afford to ignore - consumer power.

   Fight the power!

   Haarball Monday, 30 September 2002, 09:23:32

2. About time, I usually have to pay over $100 for games after taxes around here. Way too much for 50 cents worth of plastic. There many games I'd like to have but just can't afford.

   Shadow Wolf Monday, 30 September 2002, 17:38:20

3. I would definately buy more games if they were cheaper. $45 (where I live) is a terrible price, when 6 games come out each summer I simply can't afford them!

   Jason Anderson Monday, 30 September 2002, 18:34:7

4. If people did manage to lower the price of games through boycott you'd end up with one of two things. 1. Games that suck. 2. Only hard core gamers making games. If #2 was the case, the games would still probably suck. It takes time and resources to make a game. That costs money.

   Aaron Monday, 30 September 2002, 18:43:23

5. That would be great. I think games are way too high prices. I would buy a lot more games. I always debate on wether or not to buy a game and I usually pick no because it's too expensive. If the reduced the prices enough I would say Yes to most of those. Where I live it's $50 for a game.

   Erik Wednesday, 2 October 2002, 16:29:46