Our economy is in the toilet. The exchange rate, as it stands right now, is not exactly in our favour. Right now, a single US Dollar will cost R14.38, the Queen’s money will cost R21.75 a pound, and the Euro will set you back R15.71. That has an obvious knock-on effect; just about everything we buy will go up in price, particularly those things that fall under the banner of luxury items.
Unfortunately for us, video games fall under that banner. With the most recent economic slide, I think it’s a safe bet to say that the price of video games will soon become what we, in the parlance, might call bloody expensive. We’ve spoken to local game distributors, and though nobody’s really all that keen on divulging information, the general consensus is that by the time 2016 rolls around (which, according to my calendar, is soon), we’ll be paying over R1000 for a brand new console game release.
We know that the RRP of brand new games on the Xbox One will very soon breach that barrier, and expect others to follow suit soon after. While PC gamers sit there chuckling about the cost of console games, know that you won’t be spared either. While steam is still relatively affordable right now, that’ll be changing soon, as will the retail prices of the games you play.
The thing is, R1000 is one heck of a mental barrier – especially when it comes to a videogame; a bit of entertainment that could last you anywhere between two hours and two hundred hours. R1000 for a single video game is a lot of money – and at that sort of pricing, it’s going to be harder and harder to justify purchasing games new.
Can you though? Are you able to fork out over R1K for a game? Are you able to breach that massive mental barrier?
Last Updated: December 4, 2015
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 10:33
Minor correction Geoff: It’s not “bloody expensive” it’s “blerrie expensive”.
RinceThis
December 4, 2015 at 11:53
racist.
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 11:57
Shut up! You’re not even real.
Hammersteyn
December 4, 2015 at 10:33
Master Race be like…
http://i.memeful.com/media/post/oMJ28xM_700wa_0.gif
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 10:34
Suddenly those giant gaming backlogs are mighty appealing. 😀
Sageville
December 4, 2015 at 10:40
This!
Umar
December 4, 2015 at 10:35
I thought PC games are going to be more expensive now too seeing as the rand is coming to Steam
Hammersteyn
December 4, 2015 at 10:36
Nah, they play F2P games and wait for steam sales.
Umar
December 4, 2015 at 10:38
Oh yes, I forgot again that they buy all these games on sale and only play DOTA at the end of the day 😛
Hammersteyn
December 4, 2015 at 10:38
Or Warframe, that seems to be the in thing.
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:42
All the proper gamers are playing it
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 11:05
Not only is it F2P, but you also get to wait while playing it. 😀
RinceThis
December 4, 2015 at 11:09
http://www.gifbin.com/bin/042009/1239788892_jizz-in-my-pants.gif
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 11:11
While a picture is 1000 words more than I care to hear from you, on the bright side I don’t actually have to listen to them. BOOOOOOOOM!
RinceThis
December 4, 2015 at 11:21
You hear writing? Always thought you were fucking nuts!
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:23
Nothing compared to what I’ve heard about you!
RinceThis
December 4, 2015 at 11:29
lol
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 11:26
…
Deceased
December 7, 2015 at 11:59
@umarbastra:disqus THIS!!! [ goddamned crack… I mean DotA… is the reason for my backlog ]
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 10:39
Turns out they became cheaper. 🙂
Umar
December 4, 2015 at 10:39
Is it? Noice!
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 10:42
Some are, some aren’t. JC3 is R500, compared to Fallout 4 going for R800.
Umar
December 4, 2015 at 10:43
How does that work though? Do prices differ per publisher?
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 10:44
Yes, it’s up to the publishers to set their prices on Steam.
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:45
Some of them suck at maffffs
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 10:45
Yeah. But if we were paying dollars, we’d be paying more thanks to our wonderful exchange rate. Catch is that if you buy in SA, you can’t gift it to anyone outside of SA.
Viking Of Science
December 4, 2015 at 11:15
Short answer: Yes, prices are decided by Publishers, based on Recommendations from Valve
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 10:51
Nope. Still cheap 🙂
A few games are way more than retail, but only a handful.
RinceThis
December 4, 2015 at 11:07
lol
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 11:11
Whats Red Dead Redemption?
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:13
We would’ve been forced to use SocialClub by Rockstar and the game would never go on sale, so I think we’re okay without it. 😉
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 11:14
As I understand it, it’s the game everyone who only play new games want remastered because graphics don’t matter. It’s a bit confusing to me.
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:14
LOOOOOL
Hammersteyn
December 4, 2015 at 12:36
lol
veggiesaurus ZA
December 4, 2015 at 11:15
Don’t Starve Together was about R100. That’s all the gaming I need.
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:15
And now there’s the Shipwrecked DLC for R50! Woo!
Allykhat
December 4, 2015 at 11:49
Watch local PC pricing go up too… Fallout on PC goes for the same as console now, so why wouldn’t it also be subject to increase?
Philip
December 5, 2015 at 11:16
Really, master race… R799 on steam for a PC game… R2000 + for a grpahic card, R2000 for decent ram, R2000 for a decent Mother board, R1500 + for a Power supply, R1500 for a case, R2500 for Windows, R3500 for a monitor.
On a basic level you just got a machine for like: R15000, + 1 game….
Me: R4999 for a Makro 1tb special PS4 + free game and a R3500 monitor, that runs at 60fps and unless I sit 10cm away from my screen, still looks equally as good as any PC game……
Master race, may be if you consider spending more than console gamers. Besides it takes a higher level of focus, intelligence to play with a controller…
Also, I own a PS3, XB360, PS4 and PC… and I can say with experience on all platforms, that console gaming is by far more enjoyable than PC gaming….
Until you actually own more than just a PC, and you can speak with experience and say “I own a PS4 or what ever and I still prefer PC”, then fine, until then, you are part of a group of inexperienced gamers that have an opinion on something you have no knowledge of…
Hammersteyn
December 7, 2015 at 07:39
Was referring to the waiting for Steam Sales
Deceased
December 7, 2015 at 12:21
Started on consoles – moved on to PC – got rid of ALL consoles ( 3 at the time ).
Saying it requires more intelligence/focus to play on a controller doesn’t make any sense, as with ANY and all input devices – it becomes muscle memory, so there should be absolutely no reason to think and/or focus that hard.
If you think hardcore PC gamers care about how low they can get the price of their rig, you misunderstand – it’s about how immersed you can get yourself in the experience. Personal experience just kind of led me to a better machine gets you to a higher high. ( a joke, that last part was a joke )
If you don’t want to be called a Dirty Console Peasant, join the Glorious PC Gaming Master Race and if you don’t want to be part of the Glorious PC Gaming Master Race, then stay a Console Peasant – what people call you on the internet really has ZERO effect on anything – just keep gaming dude, because ultimately both just boil down to GAMER 🙂
Jac7
December 4, 2015 at 10:34
To myself? Yes. The wife? I end up with a hakskoek in the eye everytime.
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:50
What is a hakskoek?
A cake that is 90degrees?
Jac7
December 4, 2015 at 10:55
Lols, screw it. My last day of work so I’ll embrace the ridicule 🙂
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:55
Last day of work?
Jac7
December 4, 2015 at 10:58
Holidays 🙂 Saved up for 3 years to buy one game to enjoy over this festive season.
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 11:03
LOL, whatchoo got?
Jac7
December 4, 2015 at 11:11
Fallout 4. Should keep me busy for a while. Plus I can finally dig into my steam backlog. About 20 games that need some tinkering with.
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:11
Yes. You’re going to get many happy hours out of that one.
Jac7
December 4, 2015 at 11:17
Only like 12 hours in and I don’t think I’ve even begun to scratch the surface. Very epic game so far.
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:19
I’m on around 67 hours and I still have so many places I want to venture into.
Except for one specific area. I ain’t never going there again. 😀
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 11:14
AWESOME, well, I hope you still take time to troll Lazygamer from time to time, you crazy hakskoek
Jac7
December 4, 2015 at 11:17
Hehe I most definitely will. Favourite site on the Citadel. Glad the typo didn’t come out as kakskoen or kakskoek.
Reidroc
December 4, 2015 at 10:34
I can’t justify paying over R1000 for a game. That’s why I wait. Patiently. For games to go on special. I bought 3 games from the recent Playstation Black Friday sale. Those will last me a long time and was still under R500.
Guild
December 4, 2015 at 10:35
It’s going to have to be a blerrie good game for me to fork out over R1k for it
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 11:13
Like Star Wars Battlefront 😛
RinceThis
December 4, 2015 at 11:15
ohhhhh. shame. this dude came to paint my car the other day, he saw my Guardians of the Galaxy sticker and asked if I am a gamer. Said yes. He then went on about battle front for ages. Didn’t have a heart to tell him…
Guild
December 4, 2015 at 11:23
You should have corrected him and explained there are better games out there
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 11:24
There’s no point. I’ve tried with these types before – they just don’t understand. So I just sit with a sympathetic smile and endure. 🙂
Guild
December 4, 2015 at 11:29
As long as everyone is having fun, doesn’t matter what game you play. Unless you are Matty and still playing that Kardashian Mobile Game…..then we insult and tease you 😛
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 11:30
XD
Jokes aside, true story. 😀
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:32
Exactly. It’s actually just wrong that as a gaming community (where most of us were teased for being gamers when we were young) we actually have to now feel bad about WHAT games we play. Seriously? Screw that.
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 11:34
At least physical defects are still fair game, right? 😉
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:35
Haha!
Well, apparently so, seeing how “well” I’m treated here ;P
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 11:36
We were?
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 11:37
Well, if you actually spent time around other people yeah. We know why you didn’t experience any of this.
#ForeverSP
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 11:37
WIN!
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:38
XD
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:38
Not all of us were such cool cats as you (I guess me using “cool cats” also explains why I was bullied).
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 11:39
I think more the fact you think he’s cool is why you were bullied 😛
*RUNS
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 11:40
To be fair, I bullied him into thinking it.
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:50
XD
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 11:24
I used to do that until I realised that it does not matter. If they are having fun they are having fun. No point popping that bubble even if there are better things.
Guild
December 4, 2015 at 11:26
Too true
RinceThis
December 4, 2015 at 11:28
I should have. But he was so fucking excited the he had ordered it. He was just about to go pick it up…
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 11:29
His path to the dark side has just begun.
RinceThis
December 4, 2015 at 11:49
hahaha poor bastard.
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 11:29
So its true – Rince has a heart?
RinceThis
December 4, 2015 at 11:49
Pah! Lies!
Guild
December 4, 2015 at 11:30
Hope he does enjoy it XD but ya could be a big disappointment
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 11:23
He paints over scratches at a car dealership. Of course Battlefront is the shit 😛
miaau
December 4, 2015 at 11:28
stereotype much today?
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 11:28
7.1type
RinceThis
December 4, 2015 at 11:28
virtual 7.1 type…
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 11:29
Dolby or riot
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 11:30
DOLBY (GITS)
RinceThis
December 4, 2015 at 11:50
with OvG everything’s a riot!
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 11:29
I lived in England for 10years. Stereotyping was our daily bread.
Besides, Im allowed to considering I have red hair 😛
miaau
December 4, 2015 at 11:32
Indeed yes. Nothing like listening to English people berate me for being white in Africa, then complain about other peoples in England in very stereotype fashion. When confronted they said if I knew these people, I would agree with them. Yes. Thanks. Well played, Englander’s I met.
Just giving you grief of course, something the red hair did not do, right?
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:33
I’ve met more racist foreigners than locals in recent years.
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 11:36
You probably had a Liverpool football shirt on.
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:37
So it’s the same as wearing a Bulls shirt?
Trolololol
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 11:37
Only Hipsters wear pink.
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 11:34
Lets just say that the English are still very pissed at the red haired vikings who nearly made the Anglo Saxons extinct 😛
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:35
A lot of the rest of us are pissed they didn’t ;P
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 11:35
Eish 😛
RinceThis
December 4, 2015 at 11:50
ohhhhhh
miaau
December 4, 2015 at 11:39
Yes, there does seem to be a somewhat flagrant disregard for those with redness in the hair
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:43
With Triss being the exception for many.
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 11:44
Not me. I rejected her just like all the rest of those people.
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:45
I liked Yen. But maybe it’s just the curly dark hair that got me.
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 11:47
Yes, you’re clearly biased. 😉
RinceThis
December 4, 2015 at 11:28
lol
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:25
Pizza guy delivered my food the other night, saw my Assassin’s Creed shirt (a game I’ve not played) and just nodded when he left, saying: “You enjoy the game, bro.”
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 11:26
He delivers pizza. Of course being an Assassin is the shit 😛
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:27
I had a different response when I answered the door naked though.
Jan Prins
December 4, 2015 at 11:27
Schizo much?
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 11:27
Im sure he has seen a nude mod before 😛
RinceThis
December 4, 2015 at 11:27
lol he must have been trolling you. PS.I was also wearing that shirt when the dude asked me 0_O!
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:30
It’s my “I’m lazy today shirt”. So I wear it a LOT. Plus it was free. 😀
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 11:32
You’re so lazy you didn’t even pay for it?
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:34
They saw Rince in front of me on the boat that day and were too afraid to charge us.
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 11:35
Should’ve keel hauled him. :/
Guild
December 4, 2015 at 11:21
GITFS 😛
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 11:22
…
Milesh Bhana
December 4, 2015 at 10:35
Honestly, i couldn’t manage R800-R900 either, but still managed to accumulate a backlog anyway. But i can see many will resort to piracy with this financial and mental barrier.
Jan Prins
December 4, 2015 at 10:38
Or wait until the games are cheaper. Picked up Alien Isolation for R299.99 on PS4 a few weeks back.
Mossel
December 4, 2015 at 10:45
Yup. I paid R150 for Dragon Age Inquisition two weeks ago.
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:45
Origin?
Jan Prins
December 4, 2015 at 10:46
Nee. Oor ‘n Bier…
Mossel
December 4, 2015 at 10:46
*Slow clap…
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:47
(how I felt after every chopper crash)
Mossel
December 4, 2015 at 10:48
LOL! I just basically gave up on choppers, tanks are where the party is at anyways.
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:47
Nouprajymos
Mossel
December 4, 2015 at 10:46
Yes, indeed!
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 10:52
Yea it was still R150 on Origin two days ago. Not sure about now though.
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:54
I can do R150
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 10:55
Yea. I was really close to getting that one.
Milesh Bhana
December 4, 2015 at 11:07
this is what i mean, never actually spent R900 for a game. Just been doing trading and jumping on specials.
It’s quite easy if you’re not buying games on release day. #spgamer
Umar
December 4, 2015 at 10:35
Just imagine…Imagine and picture in your head, what you would’ve felt, having spent R1000, ONE THOUSAND RAND…on The Order 1886.
Jan Prins
December 4, 2015 at 10:38
I will fling poop!
Hammersteyn
December 4, 2015 at 10:36
I can hardly afford new games as is. Have to trade in most of the time.
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 10:36
BURN!!!
During The Game Awards 2015, EA’s Jade Raymond (former Managing Directory of Ubisoft Toronto) took the stage to present the award for best voice acting. What came out of her mouth, however, was the center of attention. Before presenting the award she said “to really make a character come to life, you need to find the actor that captures the voice of the character. Like who could imagine Metal Gear without the voice of David Hayter?” an obvious jab at Konami for choosing Kiefer Sutherland over Hayter in Metal Gear Solid V.
RinceThis
December 4, 2015 at 11:10
ouch
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 10:37
I can hardly justify R600 for a game. R1k is GITFS territory.
Hammersteyn
December 4, 2015 at 10:38
You wanna know the best part? That’s R1000 without any season passes nor DLC
Kenn Gibson
December 4, 2015 at 10:39
depends on the game. The Witcher 3, Fallout 4, Dragon Age Inquisition, Destiny? Sure, I’ve gotten hours of entertainment out of them. I have friends who spend close to that on an evening out. I am lame I stay home get my entertainment from games and movies. I will just have to be way more selective on what I purchases.
Original Heretic
December 4, 2015 at 10:45
Yeah, totally depends on the game. That’s why I prefer long RPG’s as well. 100+ hours of entertainment for only R1000? Well worth it.
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 10:51
So… not The Order 1886 that was selling for R850 😛
Ottokie
December 4, 2015 at 10:39
R600 max is my personal limit
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 10:39
Im buying the GOTY edition of the Wither 3. Thats R1600 so far.
Basically if I want to support the devs Ill buy 2 copies.
BUT, dropping R850 for the likes of Mad Max or Batman will never happen.
AS FOR A SEASON PASS THAT COSTS THE SAME AS A FUCKING GAME? NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
I did not even support the DEMO of MGSV that was $40. They can fuck off.
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 10:40
What’s “The Wither 3” – a cheap Chinese knockoff?
Jan Prins
December 4, 2015 at 10:41
He was talking about little oVg 🙂
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 10:42
Nope, nothing down there 🙁
According to Dawins theory of Evolution, if you do not use something for long enough it tends to drop off 😛
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:43
How do you pee?
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 10:45
Out of my pours. Hence my ginger hair always smelling of piss.
Jan Prins
December 4, 2015 at 10:45
Can I just say eeewwww???
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 11:14
Thats what she said.
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:45
[makes notes never to slap oVg on the head when saying ‘good boy’]
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 10:46
Wear a glove & watch for splash back.
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 10:46
I laughed a little too much at this. XD
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:47
I’ll rather use the stick of positive reinforcement
[3m pole with fake hand attached to it]
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 10:47
Probably why the Japanese are too afraid to sell DOA Extreme to the West ;P
Hammersteyn
December 4, 2015 at 10:45
hahahahahaha
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:46
PISoonlik dink ek dis disgusting
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 10:46
Would you say it pours out of your pores? 😛
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 10:48
fixed 😛
Jan Prins
December 4, 2015 at 10:43
Ha! You should ask Mrs Palmer out on dates more! 😉
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 10:41
lol Kind of sounds cool, in an Eastern European kind of way.
The Wither
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:41
Sounds like a Mike Tyson game
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 10:43
lol
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 10:45
bwahahaha
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 10:43
That’s why he’s only paying R1.6k instead of R2.6k.
Geoffrey Tim
December 4, 2015 at 10:43
Minecraft DLC.
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 10:53
Yes. I agree with this.
Luckily Mad Max was already R300 on pc two weeks after release.
Hammersteyn
December 4, 2015 at 10:40
I bet the price we get for games when we trade in stays the same
Loftus
December 4, 2015 at 10:41
trade in stays the same, buying 2nd hand will rise
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 10:41
R1k for a new game? No. I just won’t. Can’t justify it to myself. Even seeing Fallout 4 going for R800 on Steam right now makes my eye twitch.
And this is coming from someone who bought a W3 CE. I was okay spending money on that because I got a lot for my money. But R1k for just the game, nothing else, and then you’re going to get hammered with season passes, DLC and MTs as well? GITFS.
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 10:41
tl;dr
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:41
No
Nee
Nyet
Jan Prins
December 4, 2015 at 10:42
Not de hel!
Mossel
December 4, 2015 at 10:42
Nie vir n n@#$% nie.
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:42
Norrefok
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:44
Daar is geen, maar geen manier nie
Hammersteyn
December 4, 2015 at 10:45
I’d like to get a viewpoint from the retailers. Are they concerned that sales may decline? Do they have a strategy to help soften the blow? Anything?
BakedBagel
December 4, 2015 at 10:46
The day i pay R1000 for a game is the same day that i start up my bittorrent client.
F.THAT.IDEA
Marcus
December 4, 2015 at 10:52
Well, add shit up, I paid R650 for BF4 and R500 for the premium. That’s over a grand on a single game.
BakedBagel
December 4, 2015 at 13:50
You got robbed.
I wouldnt spend R500 on bf4 alone.
Willie Roberts
December 4, 2015 at 10:47
Honestly, I hardly look at the cost of games. My wife made a simple rule a few years back, I can buy games as long as I finish every single one. I therefore tend to buy and play games and trade them in as quickly as I can. I spend at least 20% of my day playing games so I really don’t need justification. It’s the hobby I chose, and I see no difference with me spending a R 1000.00 a game to people who spend 20x that on a new racing bike, or car accessory, or the next set of golf clubs. It’s all about priorities at the end of the day.
The right question to ask is if your serious about gaming as a hobby or professionally is a R 1000.0 to much to pay? I actually raised this question on the weekend, why are DVD’s and Blu-ray’s so much cheaper then games, irrelevant of the platform, considering the budgets used for movies?
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 10:49
Movies are cheaper because a) the audience is much larger and b) they make money from cinema sales before it hits DVD or BluRay.
Willie Roberts
December 4, 2015 at 10:52
True. Maybe movies is the worst of all the examples. I think however the same question can be asked for other things in the entertainment business, including music, and pretty much anything else being imported into the country.
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 11:16
^THIS^
BurninZ
December 4, 2015 at 10:48
I have bought two new games this year and they are both RPG’s, its the only way i can justify paying R800 for a game. When the price hit R1000 i have no clue what i will do. I will have to wait a few months after a game is released before buying one. R1000 is just flipping Crazy!!!
Loftus
December 4, 2015 at 10:48
Buying and playing games two / three years after they are released and the prices drops discount bargain bin special, is it a bad thing ?
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:49
No, it is called beating the system
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 10:50
No. It’s called waiting for a fair price.
Loftus
December 4, 2015 at 10:54
i just had look at games i didn’t get in the past because of money, now a year / two their prices are very good, even more so 2nd hand.
Marcus
December 4, 2015 at 10:50
No, nothing wrong with that. Just won’t work if you’re intrested in MMO’s
Marcus
December 4, 2015 at 10:49
It’s not only the exchange rate that determines the price, greedy publishers also play a huge role in this. To this day there is no real transparency, they simply will not let people know how much it really costs to produce a single game. And then they ask why people will pirate their games.
And don’t think the UK has it better, friend in Ireland had to fork out 65 POUNDS for Fallout 4!
Pushing up prices for AAA titles seems to be the norm, then these sly motherless ***** add MT to their games! Ek kak sommer in my broek!
Francois Knoetze
December 4, 2015 at 10:50
Personally the backlog I have will keep me busy till middle next year. after that its game sales on PSN etc for me. This was the last year I buy games new. Also the only time I spend that kind of Dosh is when I really really must have a collectors edition
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 10:50
I’ve only twice spend more than 1000 on a game.
Both times very much worth it.
It depends greatly on the game though. Some of these “AAA” games are barely worth R200, but some really do deserve to get that income and can completely justify it, compared to the amount of pleasure I get out of it.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 10:51
Nope, I can’t justify it, if I pay R1000 for a game, it’ll have to be special, very blerrie special, Add to that the cost of data, because when last did you buy a game without a day one patch? and you get closer to the R2000 mark… As an example, I paid R550 for Legacy of the Void, in addition to that I spent R200 on a Cell C data bundle, to add insult to injury, I couldn’t find Fallout 4 at any retailer at the time, and having a limited data contract, had to spend close to R1400 on the game and the data needed to download it…. I’m done with paying that much for games, especially if you end up forking out about R3k a month just for your hobby, in comparison to two years ago where that R3k would cover 6 games instead of two….
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:51
Y U NO ask a friend for the game files?
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 10:54
I did!! I even offered coffee and whiskey, I wouldn’t go as far as bodily favours, but still I was desperate!
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:55
Terrible friend
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 11:04
Hehe, well beer is also available….
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 11:11
Sold
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 10:55
Are you in the Westernous Republic or the Borderlands of Gauteng area?
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 10:57
I’m in the Eastern most side of the Mordorian Pretoria area, but I don’t mind traversing the black gates of the Pandorian-esque Gauteng area….
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:57
I’m on the NorthEastern part of Snortoria, there where the grass is green and the girls are pretty
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 10:58
Take me back to the Paradise cidy!! Oh won’t you take me Haooommeeee!!!!
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:59
I can’t
A.) I’m married
B.) No way am I traversing the eastern parts
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 12:37
HAHAHA!!! I’m also married, so no, but I have had that song stuck in my head since reading that…
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:00
Green grass in Gauteng? I don’t get the joke. 😉
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 11:03
It is no joke, some of the best looking lawns I’ve seen are in my area
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:05
Oh lawns.
Yea, mine’s green too. I also suspect I have Sabre-toothed tigers roaming in there.
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:00
Ah. Otherwise I was going to offer to help.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 11:03
Hehe, Well,like I say, I don’t mind travelling, I’m used to travelling long distances anyway, on a good day I do 80kms…
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:03
Cape Town might just be over 80kms I think 😉
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 11:09
Aah, Well at this rate flights will be cheaper than to download games….
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:11
Possibly.
miaau
December 4, 2015 at 11:08
Eina
On a normal day day 5km. There and back (work and home, I mean)
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 11:10
I used to live close to work, but the 7 kms trip used to take between 30 and 45 minutes…. I now have the same travel time for 40kms…
miaau
December 4, 2015 at 11:18
I have to cross two major streets, else no traffic at all for me. Yay.
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 11:11
How do you “day 5km”?
Does it take a day?
miaau
December 4, 2015 at 11:12
On a normal day day, 5km
Must be a smudge on your screen obscuring the comma. 🙂
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 11:13
Y U DAY DAY EH?
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:13
That’s just how he do do.
miaau
December 4, 2015 at 11:17
Why do you not accept my ability to day?
Mossel
December 4, 2015 at 11:14
Seriously, let’s make the Westernous Republic a thing. Rewolusie!!
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:14
I’m in.
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 11:15
Fokkit dit klink awesome, ek kom sommer af!
Mossel
December 4, 2015 at 11:16
Doenit! Dis net n kwessie van tyd!
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:17
En wyn. Alles hier is altyd ‘n kwessie van wyn.
Mossel
December 4, 2015 at 11:18
Ons maak ons eie republiek! Met strippers en cocaine!
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:19
XD
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 11:20
“The area previously known as Cape Town was recently renamed as the Westernous Republic, this has caused a soaring amount of visits to the heritage sites as travellers “Have not encountered anything as awesome as this” in years…” Fox News….
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:22
True story.
Gauteng drivers will be subject to a test before entering. If you do not hold up traffic behind you on the N1 because you’re going too slow in the right lane, then you’re a maniac driver. 😉
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 11:24
HAHAHAHAHA!!!! YES!!! THIS^^
Hammersteyn
December 4, 2015 at 10:55
Zoidberg has friends? 😛
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 12:41
I have a few, the cockroach in the dumpster still thinks I need to trim my shell or get a new one, but I can’t stay friends with anchovies for too long….
Hammersteyn
December 4, 2015 at 12:57
XD
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 10:53
I don’t spend more than R300 a month on games. I can’t justify more. I have more important things like food and shit to spend my money on.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 10:54
Food = 2 minute noodles and tuna with mayo, luckily I’m not at the baked beans stage…
hehe
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 10:55
Yip. I just bought 5 games for around R260. Why the hell would I pay R1k for 1?
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:56
Whatchoogot?
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 10:56
That’s a dangerous question to be asking him.
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 10:57
Bound by Flame, Styx, This War of Mine, The Fall and FINE SWEEPER!
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:58
Cool. I should have gotten Styx and tWoM
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 10:59
Fine Sweeper!
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 10:59
Styx has been on my Wishlist for WAY too long.
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:59
Same here
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 10:59
I couldn’t get into This War of Mine tbh. Managed about an hour before I quit. Haven’t wanted to go back either. :/
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 10:55
I just worked out that Ill be spending R1080 for Beyond Two Souls.
R480 for the game and R600 for internet cap to download 40gigs.
But in my mind, its worth it. I love brazen videogames and I want to support them like a those kick starter fans.
Otherwise we end up with more CODs.
Hammersteyn
December 4, 2015 at 10:56
No uncapped?
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 10:57
Wi Fi with SONIC Solutions. R79 for 5gigs at 3mb per second.
Hammersteyn
December 4, 2015 at 10:58
Yet you spend R600 on one game for internet. That’s more than my ADSL bill for a 4MB line. I had to download Warframe, SF4 and almost a 4gig day one patch for Just cause 3
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 10:58
“had to”
Hahaha you felt like you were missing out!
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 11:02
Ya it all works out the same as retail. Beyond Two Souls is an exception as the hard copy is only released in march.
This and Indie games like Life is Strange. Anything else I get at retail. Besides, thanks to every game requiring an update, one cant delete their library of disked games from the HD anymore without loosing those gigs of patches. Thanks to the small 500gig HD there is no more room.
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 10:58
I spent over 100 hours on Witcher 3. If that game had cost me R1000, then I’ve spent aprox R10 per hour. I would say that’s a pretty cheap bit of entertainment.
oVg SOmaNY games
December 4, 2015 at 11:05
I spent R850 for The Order 1886. R170 per Hour PAAAAAAA!!!!! BEAT THAT 😛
Hammersteyn
December 4, 2015 at 11:07
LOL
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:07
Wow. That’s insane.
I spent R300 on Skyrim with DLCs. Got over 340 hours.
That’s 85c per hour. Now THAT is money well spent.
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 11:18
I got Terraria for about $2 – at the time about R21. I have almost 500 hours in that. So.
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:19
Now that is just insane. I think I’ve got 70-80 hours on mine, honestly not sure.
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 11:21
Haha and my Skyrim is about 100 hours, so we have a reverse in time spent regarding the two games. XD
miaau
December 4, 2015 at 10:56
For games like Civ V? Sure, easy sum. Amount of money paid vs hours spent playing makes game R0.01 per hour. Mass Effect and Dragon Ages series, the same.
Other games? Not sure. Really not. I will not be spending more than R1000 on average games, even new Mass Effect or whatever, as we cannot know how good beforehand
Viking Of Science
December 4, 2015 at 11:18
I’ve Already Spent R3000 on The Witcher 3…..
R2800 for the Base game Collector’s Edition,
R200 for the Hearts Of Stone Collector’s Edition (Gotta have them IRL Gwent decks).
And I Just KNOW that if there’s a collectors type thing for Blood and Wine, I won’t even blink before Buying it.
But that’s just me and That game…
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:20
I’m the same with Witcher 3. I’m giving CDPR all my money at this stage.
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 11:21
LOL me too. I’m hoping they include the other Gwent decks with the next expansion. Please please please.
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:23
If not we can just throw more money at them until it happens.
Gavin Mannion
December 4, 2015 at 11:27
If the exchange rate doesn’t resolve itself soon we are going to be in serious trouble as an industry. Very few people can justify spending R1000 on a video game. Which means a massive drop in sales, less marketing money, less focus on our region and all round just bad news
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 11:28
Yeah but vote ANC.
/sarcasm
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 11:32
* All industries
At the current rate not only will inflation give us a kick in a rather uncomfortable place, but our interest rates are going to start soaring as well, in essence, without change, we’re in for a ride on a wave made out of rocks and broken glass…
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:34
Oh yes. I’m seeing it where I work too. We’re trying to fight prices with margins and all it does it create an entirely new set of problems.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 11:39
Oomph…. It gets very, very bad, when you start fighting for prices with competitors and you make a single mistake, you could end up underfunding the project costs, this then rolls on to different levels, investors, employees, physical hardware, processes, maintenance etc.
It’s bad news, hopefully, and I sincerely hope so, things will change…
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 11:40
The biggest side effect that I see is that staff are being over worked to try compensate. Always a bad thing, but what other options do companies have to try stay afloat?
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 11:46
That’s the question of the Century, the problem is that people that are overworked are much less productive, but the South African Labour market has, for as long as it has existed, been one of a nail biting experience, where you are constantly reminded of being blessed because you have a workplace and in the same breath asked to work harder, because the company cannot afford paying for an additional employee. Our market has evolved into a market that caters less for creating jobs than creating riches for shareholders and maximising profits, now take that simple formula and you’ll see that eventually something breaks, like a car being driven without being serviced…
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:48
Oh yes. That’s another huge problem in SA now. Sadly, and I’ve seen this myself, many of the companies’ directors aren’t taking the cut, they’re putting it on their workers.
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 11:52
Yup. Brand new R1m car for director – next staff meeting “sorry, we can’t afford to hire more staff”. My company 3 months ago. Awesome, right?
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:53
Something very similar happening here.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 11:54
Yep, there is an old saying “Put your employees first, your customer second and your shareholders will pick the rewards, change the model and no one will be happy…”
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:57
If only. Many companies are picking employees last. The sad thing is that many of them ARE replaceable because of the shortage of work. But you can just bet on it that there’s zero loyalty from the employees.
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 11:58
That’s a misnomer. Yeah you can replace the body, but the skills and expertise are usually irreplaceable. And companies don’t take those into account when they consider staff “replaceable”.
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 12:00
I agree.
How the company sees it: If they don’t want to work for that money, someone else will.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 12:00
To add to that, on average, a new employee costs about twice as much as an already established employee, the more you replace the more it costs, the less the experience, the smaller the profit margin
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 12:01
Haha, the last company I left considered me very replaceable and loved to remind me of it. When I left they did replace, but I found out 6 months later that they needed 5 people to replace me. XD
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 12:02
Because of the ass-space you took up?
I KEED
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 12:02
Actually my mom worries I’m too thin :/ Stress doesn’t help ones “comfort” factor.
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 12:04
Yea man. Stress is way worse than people think. My doc is convinced all my recent illnesses are from it.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 12:06
The same thing happened to me, left the company and by month 6 they had four people in my exact position, couldn’t make headway… You look back at it and just nod your head…
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 12:07
Yup. I was torn between laughter and just sadness. So unnecessary.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 12:08
True, but if they wanted loyalty, they should have gotten a dog, not treated their employee like one…
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 12:09
THIS…. THIS THIS THIS.
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 12:15
To the top!
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 12:00
My previous manager is totally replaceable, in fact, we have, already.
However, he barely did any work, so this is a poor example
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 12:01
hahahahaha
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 12:03
Dude, I wish I was joking.
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 12:04
I know you aren’t, hence the laughter. And the sad thing is that I see managers all over who fit the same profile. It’s so very sad to see. But it makes good managers that much more awesome.
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 12:05
I pity the company that employed him now, if they only knew…
BUT, as they say, not my monkeys, not my circus!
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 12:06
What’s the bet he’s totally full of himself and blowing wind up his own arse? For some reason, companies love hiring people like that too.
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 12:07
It took my current company about a year or two to see through his BS.
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 12:08
That was quick. O_O Good on your company.
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 12:15
He gtfo before processes started against him, but you should hear my co-workers talk about him after he left, good grief, and I thought I didn’t have time for him!
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 12:18
The sad thing is that, usually, those guys get hired from a singular interview…
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 12:02
My company retrenched a colleague a few months back, because her main function was transferred overseas. The lesser of her two main functions was health & safety. That same month we started a massive project where we needed a health & safety rep – we had to employ an outside person at 5 times what we were paying her, for a fraction of the time. SMART!
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 12:02
I HATE companies that operate like that
Pariah
December 4, 2015 at 12:03
Me too. And yet, its so very common. It makes me seriously wonder why companies don’t learn from this.
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 4, 2015 at 11:54
Many years ago one of our subbies was bitterly sobbing about how we had to pay him early on a big job because he couldn’t afford to pay his staff. The first thing our project manager said when he heard that was… but he just bought a brand new BMW Z3 cash.
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 11:58
Ass
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:47
Yea. We’ve got a lot of pressure on us now to try and meet prices. Even our international suppliers have gotten more understanding about our issues with the exchange rate that they’re making price cuts. People on the outside haven’t felt or seen it near as badly as it actually is….or how bad it’s still going to be next year when those prices start filtering through.
Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!
December 4, 2015 at 11:48
Not to even mention the MEAT prices as well :/
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:49
I do Africa trips to check up on our stores and such.
Meat and veg in other parts of Africa are WAY cheaper than here, and the quality is better too.
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 11:50
Please….make it stop!
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 11:49
Yep, it’s crisis control here, crisis control there and before you know it it just spirals out of control…
dawith
December 4, 2015 at 11:44
By the look of things it will not resolve itself really soon. This world is fast becoming a dangerous place. Rather invest in real tools like a GUN because it can save your life.
And by the way what can you buy for 1k nowadays?
Gavin Mannion
December 4, 2015 at 11:50
All a gun is going to do is get you killed.
Captain JJ 4x
December 4, 2015 at 11:52
A lot of people (from older gens) that I know have sold their guns because when you’re broken into it’s one of the first things they go for…
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
December 4, 2015 at 11:52
You beat me to it by a millisecond
Jan Prins
December 4, 2015 at 11:31
Just worked out: I spent about R3.5k on the Sims 3 plus all add-ons and packs. Obviously not in one go…
Kromas untamed
December 4, 2015 at 11:32
Most games I buy retail usually come out at R1k -R2K price range. That being said they are all CE with awesome extras.
GooseZA
December 4, 2015 at 11:35
Nope.
*thinks about it some more
Nope.
Mike Doutchevitch
December 4, 2015 at 12:24
I don’t have a problem with it, but I will have to put more weight on the length of a game. I won’t be able to justify spending that on a game that will be done in a weekend., but something like the Witcher or Fallout would still be a bargain. As for the shorter games, they will have to really ace the reviews.
SmurFyZA
December 4, 2015 at 12:58
1k for a game? Hell no! Luckily the gaming community allows for trading and resale of pre-played gamed.
Generic ZA
December 4, 2015 at 13:43
Well imagine being a gamer in Zim, R1000.00 = ZWD 25000.00
but I know some of you’re thinking this … ;P
Vernon Jonker
December 4, 2015 at 13:47
already a 1000 bucks at cna for blackops and battlefront iam checking gumtree everyday lol
DieJason
December 4, 2015 at 15:38
I would just like to point out that many years ago, I walked into an Incredible Connection store, and the latest Xbox360 exclusives were selling at R999 each. Fable 2, Gears of War 2. Though that didn’t last long because I assume it wasn’t selling.
I ALMOST splurged on the Xbox One recently, but I’ve decided to hold back again, it’s getting harder to justify spending that amount of money on something I’m finding less time to enjoy.
DieJason
December 4, 2015 at 15:48
I downvoted my own comment and want to say wow, I sound like such an old ballie. I WANT TO PLAY GAMES AGAIN.
Darren Peach
December 4, 2015 at 15:57
I for one thing that there is most definitely a huge financial associated with gaming. It’s hard not to feel guilty about spending close to a thousand bucks on a game.
Darren Peach
December 4, 2015 at 16:25
Christ, I know I have a huge fucking migraine, But to type something this badly….
Darren Peach
December 4, 2015 at 16:27
I for one, Think, That there is definitely a huge financial burden associated with gaming. It’s hard not to feel guilty about spending close to a thousand bucks on a game.