For the fans of the Metal Gear Solid franchise, apparently Konami can do no wrong. They are so desperate for more gameplay, they will happily pay for whatever crumbs that they can get. Well, this latest instalment is quite an expensive crumb.
Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes is the prologue to the next instalment in the franchise, Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. The prologue, set in Cuba, will include a “concentrated story mode” (read: short) that sets things up for The Phantom Pain. All well and good, it’s nice to get a prequel and some extra gameplay. So, how much will fans have to dish out for what sounds to me like a paid demo.
That’s where things get a bit wonky. This single level prequel will cost $30 retail or $20 as a download for Xbox 360 and PS3. PS4 and Xbox One will also get a downloadable version for $30.
Are you kidding me? I’m sorry but that’s simply obscene for one level. I know monetization is all the rage and companies will squeeze every last cent out of consumers, but $20-30 for one level? It’s being described as a budget-priced prologue, but I still can’t wrap my head around this price. Sure, it’s not a full priced game, but I’m not sure I’d be willing to pay that much for such a small game. The entire Walking Dead season (five episodes) is available for $25 – is this game going to be that big?
I like games for a range of prices – there are plenty of indie and mainstream games that I will happily pay for on a sliding scale. However, the inherent value has to be there – if a game is going to cost me $30, I expect quite a sizable amount of gameplay. But, I’m also an RPG nu who expects hours and hours of gameplay. What are your expectations for game pricing? Does this seem reasonable to you?
For those who haven’t seen it, here’s the opening cinematic for Ground Zeroes:
Last Updated: November 5, 2013
Admiral Chief Ninja
November 5, 2013 at 13:37
Heh
Martin du preez
November 5, 2013 at 13:44
Apparently it’s 5 hours long. More than BF4 $ COD’s Sp. Just sayin’
SaintsRowNigri
November 5, 2013 at 13:49
Yeah, but with COD and BF you at least get some meaty MP
Martin du preez
November 5, 2013 at 13:49
BUT $60
SaintsRowNigri
November 5, 2013 at 13:52
$60 is expensive. But if you are a CoD fan, you will get your money’s worth in play time at least… Obviously referring to the multiplayer side of course…
Brian Murphy
November 17, 2013 at 23:05
And if you’re an MGS fan, $30 for a 5 hour campaign is worth it. And let’s not bring CoD into this, they pay 15-20 bucks for map packs ffs.
ElimiNathan
November 5, 2013 at 13:45
The game will become one of those infamous ones and I think therefore it will sell plenty
Captain GUZ
November 5, 2013 at 13:47
Snake in the grass……
oVg
November 5, 2013 at 14:03
bwahahaha
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 5, 2013 at 13:48
Konami is taking a page out of Capcom’s playbook. This might be a little unfair, but ever since MGS went mutliplatform, the stench of fail has become almost overbearing. I don’t want to blame Microsoft, because after all, corporations are not evil, they’re indifferent. They are entities that exist purely for profit, but it is kind of ironic that the rot began when they partnered up with Microsoft.
In a nutshell, Konami is quickly following Capcom and Squeeeenix down the rabbit hole of fail! I have a feeling that nextgen will be littered with the corpses of publishers and developers who became too greedy and in turn tasted the slap of disgruntled consumers.
SaintsRowNigri
November 5, 2013 at 13:51
I think they think their game is so good, that it is the next GTA V, hence the hectic prices…
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 5, 2013 at 13:53
The only problem is that, that becomes the new price norm. Just watch Activision or EA releasing Skylanders or Madden at a GTA 5 price point.
SaintsRowNigri
November 5, 2013 at 13:56
That is going to happen. I honestly cannot see next gen games selling at current gen prices for too long. Some time or another those prices are going to go up
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 5, 2013 at 13:52
Capcom did a “You Pay Beta” with Dead Rising 2 as well, and it’s just sad to see Konami doing the same. Such a damn pity, I always held Konami in high regard, but it’s always sad to see them slowly succumbing to the rot of greed!
🙁 ???????????????????????????????
oVg
November 5, 2013 at 14:02
????????????????????????
ToshZA
November 5, 2013 at 14:04
??? ??? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ??????!
oVg
November 5, 2013 at 14:10
?…
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 5, 2013 at 14:11
????
ToshZA
November 5, 2013 at 14:14
Konami, ? ?????? ???? ??????? ??????? ???????. ?? ????????.
oVg
November 5, 2013 at 13:59
It has started already. Episodic content is a thing again and will now be standard.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 5, 2013 at 14:12
I was so glad when episodic gaming died in the mid-naughties. The fact that it’s back, leaves me with a massive ulcer. What is it with the Game industry? Why does it want to suck so hard?
oVg
November 5, 2013 at 14:15
Its because the suits know that gamers are a bunch of gullible bananas and we will do anything for a little bit more banana juice.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 5, 2013 at 14:22
Online passes, episodic gaming, day one patching, CALL OF DUTY, microtransactions, 4 hour gameplay for $60, broken games, the cloud, DRM, gamer stupidity…. Days like this I feel like just giving up on gaming and take up bouldering or bodyboarding.
oVg
November 5, 2013 at 14:24
But you will slip 😛
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 5, 2013 at 14:26
One of the benefit of becoming an old fart, is that eventually it gets too much and you flip out and start wearing tie dyed t-shirts, while your toupee flaps in the wind.
There’s just so much any old gamer can take, and one day, you might just see a massive game collection up for sale on Gumtree!
oVg
November 5, 2013 at 14:30
I feel you. I would not be surprised if Wii U sales start to increase. Nintendo has always been solid when it comes to the raw foundations of gaming.
I think we have become to big for our boots
Why do they have to re-release Wind Waker? because we do not know what true games are anymore. Escape, one cannot escape with an on-line game.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 5, 2013 at 14:32
You know it’s grim, when an industry starts rehashing the golden oldies. Just look at the film industry, it’s 1980 remakes, superhero films and pretentious crap.
Only Chinese-backed Nollywood can save us now… *vomit*
oVg
November 5, 2013 at 14:37
The cycle of life continues. Do not forget the 10 year life cycle of VR and 3D. Hopefully the Rift will sort it out this time. We need that to work because the bullshit new gaming interfaces like Kinect are not going to save the day.
Back to basics people. But we all know that the internet has created lazy programers. Rush it out fix it later.
The ball is now in The Witcher 3’s court. That will be the decider between the two door stops.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 5, 2013 at 14:42
VR is like venereal disease… it merely hides. You can never be rid of it.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 5, 2013 at 14:27
True… my grip strength is pretty weak. But, surely if I emulate Solid Snake, all I have to do is hang off ledges… 😛
IchiYamamoto
November 6, 2013 at 11:16
Well – less hang off ledges and more drop and catch your self onto lower ledges. 10 times per level – max of 3 levels. Or 100 pull-ups per level.
Though – you may get lucky and ‘find’ that bandanna/wig and never have to worry again. ^^
Brian Murphy
November 17, 2013 at 23:06
This should make you happy then, since it’s $30 bucks for a 5 hour campaign.
ToshZA
November 5, 2013 at 14:02
I can buy 3 full games (Indie or specials) for that price. And with some amazing Humble Bundle deals out there, I would rather throw that money their way and get 5-10 games, and support charity. What are they thinking? Seriously?
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 5, 2013 at 14:08
That’s fail pricing right there. Suckers will pay it though.
Wil Church
November 6, 2013 at 06:31
It’s not one level, if you read the Konami facts form on the Konami website it states that there will be multiple missions and side missions. Within these missions are different forms and ways to take on the mission, whether by stealth of violence. For a price of $30 it fits perfectly
Chad Lewis
November 8, 2013 at 02:07
The game won’t be a 30 minute one-level experience. and even if it only winds up being 4-5 hours, thats why it’ll only be 20-30 bucks. People pay 60 dollars for games that can be finished in whole in that same amount of time
Nate Barrett
November 17, 2013 at 22:46
What a deceptive article, seriously. It’s not just ONE level. It’s a main mission that’s expected to take around 5-6 hours to complete, and a whole list of side missions as well. Compare this to many games with campaigns that take 7 hours to beat (you know, most non-RPGs) that cost $60 and this is indeed budget priced. If it costs too much for you, get a real job.
Brian Murphy
November 17, 2013 at 23:07
Knee Jerk reactions are all the rage, research isn’t the internet’s strong suit.