Are Xbox Games On Demand Prices Still Crazy?

53 responses to “Are Xbox Games On Demand Prices Still Crazy?”

1. 

   barrett

   April 8, 2010 at 9:18 am

   It’s also interesting to look at JB’s prices,once they were the cheapest place to go for new and old releases – not anymore.

   Reply
   1. 

      sharmona

      April 8, 2010 at 1:19 pm

      yeh, not really. My local JB HiFi is selling Fable Super Edition (all content) for $70.

      Also, GRiD is definately not selling for $100 at JB.

      Reply
      1. 

         Matthew Buckner

         April 9, 2010 at 4:04 pm

         These are the JB Hi-Fi Online prices. The in-store prices are completely different and often much cheaper. Jb’s online store has terrible prices! Game online tend to have the best prices imo. Jb in-store for new releases are generally the best.

         Reply
         1. 

            Jeremy

            April 10, 2010 at 7:55 am

            They were. But they’ve stopped discounting them in the first week. Now Zone Adrenalan in the Melbourne is cheapest.

            Microsoft – digital distribution SHOULD ALWAYS BE CHEAPER. Your costs are lower. What customers get is less (they have to pay to download, they don’t get a disk with the content backed up, and they can’t onsell it).

            There is no excuse for EVER being more than the price in a shop.

            Reply
   2. 

      glennc

      April 8, 2010 at 9:01 pm

      as far as i know they still are. this just looks like an EB ad to me. these prices do not match my experiences and JB have plenty of pre-owned and discounted games none of which are listed. i find EB games extremely over priced on every level.

      complete waste of an article.

      Reply
      1. 

         David Wildgoose

         April 8, 2010 at 10:50 pm

         Glenn, I clarified exactly how I chose the listed prices. If JB Hi-Fi wants to list one price online and then another in store, then that’s their choice (and they may want to update their website from time to time). Obviously prices vary from store to store and based on whether it’s preowned or part of a temporary sale. I am not going to call around every JB (or EB or GAME) store in the country to find out what they have in stock and how much they’re selling it for.

         What this post shows is that Games On Demand is getting more competitive in terms of price (though clearly some games are more competitively priced than others) and that it will be an increasingly valuable source of older games in the future. This was news to me given the criticism I levelled at the service in my post from August last year.

         Reply
         1. 

            Glen Bruton

            April 9, 2010 at 12:37 pm

            Should we add the $ per gigabyte required from the xbox hard drive? I know if I wanted to start using games on demand I’d need to purchase a new HDD.

            Damn Rock band uses most of my space 🙁

            Reply
2. 

   Joshy206

   April 8, 2010 at 9:38 am

   Thanks for the details, but I am fed up with expensive digital copies of everything (not just games). They save on postage, printing, burning to a disc, packaging and they cut out the middleman of game stores: these should be a shitload cheaper. Additionally: supply and demand. Yes, for some, the titles aren’t available elsewhere, but logic dictates that the GOD store will never run out of copies in the foreseeable future.

   I will admit, though, that the GOD store is very fair in most of it’s prices.

   Reply
3. 

   R

   April 8, 2010 at 9:39 am

   The only games I have bought off GoD are command and conquer and Crackdown. Thats because the DRM works like arcade games, meaning you can download it on 2 consoles and play multi-player at the same time. One console has to be the first to download it and you must sign in with your gamertag on the other (the gamertag that bought the item).
   As for retail games, its very seldom that I’d buy from a store as usually its a complete rip off (unless KMart is doing a good deal). I get most of my games online for around $70; thats pretty much the most I ever have to pay for new games. EBGames, Game and game traders are ripping us off.

   p.s. just bought fallout 3 GOTY new from an ebay store for $60.

   Reply
4. 

   lexielab

   April 8, 2010 at 9:44 am

   There is a substantial difference between online and in-store pricing for JB Hifi. Off the top of my head, I know that in-store pricing for Viva Pinata TiP is $27.98 (non-discounted) compared to the $44.99. I’d expect most of the other games to show similar differences.

   I can’t help but think that there’s little point to having JB Hifi on the list. I can’t state this as a fact, but I believe that few people buy from their website, precisely because of the price differences. The online JB pricing just doesn’t reflect the reality of people’s decisions.

   Of course, the in-store pricing might not actually change any of your statistics, so forgive me if I seem a little pedantic.

   Reply
5. 

   matt8k

   April 8, 2010 at 9:50 am

   It does give provide another option.
   What suprises me most is not that on demand is a more expensive method, but that you can get games like PD Zero and Pure at everyday prices of $15 or less!

   Reply
6. 

   Andrew Burdusel

   April 8, 2010 at 10:05 am

   I remember last year I said I didn’t think this service would take off because of the data allowance problem we have in Aus. Do we have any figures on how many people are using this?, I’d imagine its picking up quickly, seeing as how a lot of companies are getting smarter and offering unlimited downloads for a reasonable price.

   Reply
7. 

   Andrew

   April 8, 2010 at 10:10 am

   Maybe this will shut up the EB haters. Cheapest on most games!

   Reply
   1. 

      sharmona

      April 8, 2010 at 1:21 pm

      errr no. not by a long shot.

      Reply
      1. 

         Petruna

         April 13, 2012 at 5:26 pm

         There is no way to copy PS3 games yet. The reason 10 games cost more than the scnoole is that Sony subsidize the scnoole and make the money back on the games.

         Reply
8. 

   paulus

   April 8, 2010 at 10:10 am

   Good article, Dave. I didn’t look at all the titles and their prices in your list, but you’ve raised a lot of valid points. And made a handy resource.

   Reply
9. 

   Mr Waffle

   April 8, 2010 at 10:15 am

   Army of Two
   JB Hi-Fi: $89.99

   It goes for around 30 bucks second hand at most JBs around here. Hooray for the second hand market!

   Reply
   1. 

      GreenLego

      April 8, 2010 at 7:13 pm

      My friend and I both got brand new Army of Two from an UK online retailer for A$20 including delivery earlier this year.

      With the strong A$, I’m finding more and more deals from the UK.

      Reply
10. 

    Cerzel

    April 8, 2010 at 10:32 am

    I’ve never used GoD because of the ridiculous prices, and given how little they’ve changed, I probably never will.

    Reply
11. 

    Aron Mayo

    April 8, 2010 at 10:37 am

    If my internet was better I would definately consider using GOD to purchase some of these games, Burnout Paradise for example, great deal. The service is pretty decent now and Microsoft is continually getting further ahead of Sony in regards to digital distribution…the stream of games for games on demand is pretty impressive. Most online outlets thought Microsoft wouldn’t support the service with a steady stream of games, but alas they have. 🙂

    Reply
12. 

    metalisticpain

    April 8, 2010 at 10:44 am

    MS need to look at valve… really.

    Reply
13. 

    Rob Hay

    April 8, 2010 at 10:56 am

    “Halo Wars
    Games On Demand: $69.95
    EB Games: $49.95
    GAME: $64.00 (online price only)
    Games Warehouse: $45.95
    JB Hi-Fi: $62.99”

    I picked up this game from Ebay for $21. The limited edition collectors edition complete with intact codes for limited edition vehicles and a steel case… beat that games on demand!

    Reply
14. 

    Old_Skool_Gamer

    April 8, 2010 at 11:05 am

    Games On Demand is a bloody joke. The prices are way too high and being forced to use 360 hard drives instead of being able to upgrade with a normal hard drive (ala PS3) means that a lot of people just don’t have the space to download a game.

    Micro$oft should get with the program and heavily reduce their Games On Demand prices permanently and at least allow up to 1TB external hard drives to be used instead of a pissy little 16GB for flash drives.

    If you can’t buy a game new anymore then find a good secondhand copy. A lot of gamers (myself included) prefer a “real world” copy of the game.

    Reply
15. 

    Old_Skool_Gamer

    April 8, 2010 at 11:08 am

    Sorry for the double post, but I forgot to say, anyone that pays $49.95 for a copy of Avatar: The Burning Earth that can’t be returned for an exchange or refund is an absolute moron. People only buy it because it only takes 2 minutes to get the full 1000 gamerscore.

    Reply
    1. 

       oggob

       April 8, 2010 at 1:43 pm

       What about anyone that buys the game in general? :p

       Get a few friends to rent it from a video store, everyone puts in $1, you and everyone can have the 1000 points by morning tea!

       Reply
       1. 

          Old_Skool_Gamer

          April 8, 2010 at 3:00 pm

          I’m not saying that anyone that buys it is a moron. What I was saying was that anyone that buys it from a downloading service like Games On Demand for 50 bucks is a moron. It’s a download so you can’t return it. I myself bought this game from EB Games for $31 I got the 1000 gamerscore, then promptly returned it and got something else.:)

          Reply
          1. 

             oggob

             April 8, 2010 at 9:40 pm

             I understood what you meant, I was just having some fun… Personally I don’t know anyone that has actually bought the game with the intention of playing it for the story, etc…

             Reply
16. 

    JonBOY26

    April 8, 2010 at 11:18 am

    Have never bothered with Games on Demand.

    When it was first introduced I browsed through games on demand and almost fell off my lazyboy when I saw the prices. I haven’t bothered going back since…….

    Reply
17. 

    Denaz

    April 8, 2010 at 11:19 am

    Thing is, most of those games are all on sale at one store or another, or at some point within the year. So you can usually pick them up very cheap.

    But then, its not just down to the price, but also the size of the download, and the space that we have to store it.

    Reply
18. 

    Aaron Meacham

    April 8, 2010 at 11:31 am

    Has anyone else noticed how much JB Hi-Fi has been jacking up it’s prices lately?

    Reply
    1. 

       oggob

       April 8, 2010 at 1:41 pm

       Not at all, even now I find that I am price matching them at other retailers like EB or GAME. It was mentioned that this is the online JB Store, which is nothing like the Brick and Mortar stores.

       They are still the best day to day retailer for cheap games. It’s only when Target, K-Mart, Big W tend to have random sales when they aren’t.

       Reply
19. 

    Mr Explody

    April 8, 2010 at 12:00 pm

    I haven’t used Games on Demand for the following reasons:

    – I’m not on iiNet, so the content would be metered
    – The cost of Xbox Hard Drives is phenominally high, and as such I would prefer the games to be stored on DVD. I have a 20gb hard drive currently, and will probably boost that to 36 with a USB stick soon, but I still don’t think I’ll be using that space with download games from this service.
    – The price of the games I might be interested in are too high on this service.

    The only game I would consider downloading through this service would be Dead Rising, simply because I would struggle to find it anywhere else. Though I suspect I might be able to find it cheaper on eBay.

    I wonder however what the prices of Games on Demand are in the U.S. As it appears that services such as these are geared towards U.S. users who do not have metered downloads.

    I’m much more interested in downloading games from Xbox Live Indie Games… if they made that available in Australia.

    Reply
    1. 

       wepoo

       April 8, 2010 at 1:31 pm

       You can get Dead Rising on eBay for about $25AUD.
       Thats half price compared to GOD.

       Reply
       1. 

          Hideki

          April 14, 2012 at 7:17 am

          no theres no place to ritgseer but you have to be affiliated with a more well known reviewing site like ign or kotaku and people have to actually read your blog

          Reply
20. 

    James

    April 8, 2010 at 12:03 pm

    Wow fallout still costs that much? I got it cheaper on release from cdwow, and then it’s probabaly even cheaper on ebay.

    Reply
21. 

    Tom

    April 8, 2010 at 12:24 pm

    I’ve got unmetered Xbox content but still stay away from the Games on Demand. The pricing is just ridiculous for a digital copy when I can find a hard copy at or under the same price which can also be traded back in.

    Microsoft need to be more aggressive with their pricing if they’re to win over more digital sales. The supply will never run out so they must have a substantial margin on these, unless they have a royalties agreement with publishers? Anyone know any insider information on their pricing strategy?

    I’m with Mr Explody – I’d use it a helluva lot more if they offered Indie Games – but that seems like it may never happen. 🙁

    Reply
22. 

    Jim Neale

    April 8, 2010 at 1:45 pm

    Most of those games people can pick up at my local JB or EB for 2nd hand REALLY cheap…

    Reply
23. 

    Stone

    April 8, 2010 at 1:51 pm

    Despite being with iiNet so content is un-metered I can’t entertain GOD due to my near launch hardware only having a 20 Gb capacity HDD. Even with USB support (yay) it won’t allow the freedom to waste 3-5gb on a game that may take pride of precedence in my collection for a month or two but will ultimately end up on a ‘virtual’ bookshelf.

    With too great a backlog and a dynamic competitive retial industry where I can get titles like Mass Effect for $25 to many factors go against GOD at least at this stage in Australian (metro) telecommunication infrastructure.

    On the other hand XBLA is a brilliant electronic distribution system I happly use that is streets ahead of both PSN and I assume Nintendo’s offerings, but I too would dearly like to see Oz gamers get access to the indie scene both as developers and consumers.

    Reply
24. 

    Jeff Pearce

    April 8, 2010 at 2:20 pm

    I’m quite impressed actually. I’d like to see further discounting on the titles, especially the older titles, and heavier promotion. Perhaps in the form of bundle deals? Like say… purchase Viva Pinata and get Kameo for an extra $5?

    Reply
25. 

    Random

    April 8, 2010 at 2:27 pm

    Considering a recent pie chart here on Kotaku showed only 1/4 of the money earned from a retail sale goes to the publisher, these games could be a lot cheaper and MS would still make more money than on a physical copy.

    Combine that with the disgusting prices and limitations of the 360’s storage options, and I have to wonder how many people using this are average consumers that don’t really understand what they’re getting into.

    There are always great deals at retail if you shop around or just wait for a special, so I think GoD prices would have to get down to under $30 before I’d see any value in it over a boxed copy…

    Reply
26. 

    Alex neville

    April 8, 2010 at 4:11 pm

    fallout 3 is bout 50 bucks at my local EB

    Reply
    1. 

       Namarrgon

       April 8, 2010 at 8:59 pm

       Fallout 3 is AUD$99.95 from xbox.com.au, but only US$29.95, from xbox.com!

       Fable II is AUD$59.95 from xbox.com.au, but only US$19.95 from xbox.com.

       That sucks, no matter how you slice it.

       Reply
27. 

    brad. d

    April 8, 2010 at 4:32 pm

    if they were beating retail by at least $15 i “might” consider using the service. but as it stands i laugh at their pricing structure.
    i bought burnout revenge (used, obviously) about 6 months ago for $7 and dirt i bought (brand new and sealed) well over a year ago for $10.
    then about 2 months ago i bought fallout 3 and far cry 2 both new for $25 each. all of these came from eb’s

    Reply
28. 

    Lucas Brown

    April 8, 2010 at 7:05 pm

    GOD is a joke and (in Australia) RRP is also a joke. Importing from UK ftw. Although I do scour the preowned games in EB/JB when I pass them – occasionally there’s a gem in there!

    Reply
29. 

    Zed

    April 8, 2010 at 7:26 pm

    These prices are way off! I work at a JB hi fi and they are all heaps cheaper new and pre owned than this article states. Dont take this as gospel, just ring your local store and ask.

    Reply
    1. 

       David Wildgoose

       April 8, 2010 at 10:52 pm

       Zed, I have listed the prices as stated on JB Hi-Fi’s website. Perhaps as an employee you could encourage them to update it?

       Reply
30. 

    ollycity

    April 8, 2010 at 9:51 pm

    I’ve converted some of my games to digital via Games on Demand (GTA IV and Burnout Paradise), it’s worth not having to put the disc in, and the price is softened by selling the disc game to a friend.

    I’ve also bought Crackdown off of GOD, as an impulse purchase. I think $30 is the sweet spot for impulse buying, as i bought both burnout and crackdown without much thought thanks to the $30 pricetag.

    Reply
31. 

    spiz

    April 8, 2010 at 10:13 pm

    those JB prices are wrong, i was there earlier today actually and the prices were much cheaper.

    one thin i have noticed, prices on jbhifionline are way more expensive than their actual current price. i dont think it gets updated.

    Reply
32. 

    hristinho18

    April 8, 2010 at 11:45 pm

    Admittedly the JB site need to bring pricing into line with B&M stores- most particularly on back catalogue. But the grand majority of this (mostly crap) list of games are much cheaper instore.

    Perhaps next we might have a comparison of JB vs EB vs GAME on preowned prices…? Or are EB too embarrassed to advertise the fact they ticket preowned games at higher prices than other retailers sell the same titles for… brand new?

    Reply
33. 

    Dire Wolf

    April 14, 2010 at 7:23 pm

    You can download games straight to the 360? wow I feel out of the loop. Gotta go grab me Kameo.

    Reply
34. 

    JaykOli

    July 29, 2010 at 12:03 pm

    I looked at most of those titles and the listings you have are almost $20 off. I don’t know if that is because of us being in different countries though.

    Reply
    1. 

       David Wildgoose

       July 29, 2010 at 12:08 pm

       These are Australian prices.

       Reply
35. 

    nathan

    April 13, 2012 at 4:33 pm

    Are you talking about the doanlowd-able games? If so, everything should be fine. The next generation of consoles will use the same market (PSN/XBL) as today, probably just an upgraded version. So your stuff will be saved. Too early to be thinking ahead, next consoles should be out by late 2013.

    Reply