Xbox 360 'Games on Demand' priced between $20-$30
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Aug 5th 2009 at 9:58PM } 
-- that's $20-30 in American credit card currency. We got a little curious after one price was revealed in a video earlier today, but we wanted to make sure about the rest.We're currently working on getting the full list of prices for each game, but all will be revealed next week when the latest dashboard update goes live, on August 11.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Lurcharad @ Aug 5th 2009 10:03PM
Well...from the looks of the list of games, most of those games cost $20 or LESS for new in box....I have a feeling this will go over about as well as Xbox Originals did :(
copa @ Aug 5th 2009 10:23PM
Nearly all of these games can be picked up for $10 or less on Goozex. That's shipping included, no tax, with box, manual, and the ability to trade/resell.
Someone remind me again why Microsoft is so scared of offending Gamestop? Suppose Microsoft did start offering new-release games, or offering these games at reasonable prices. What exactly is Gamestop going to do?
Are they going to stop carrying all Microsoft products? That would hurt Microsoft, but it would bankrupt Gamestop. It just isn't going to happen.
whylekat @ Aug 6th 2009 12:41AM
Maybe they just wanna tap the Market any & all ways they possibly can.. If anyone buys these it must be good profit for Microsoft. Can't imagine it cost them too much to put this together..
Derick @ Aug 6th 2009 2:31AM
Copa, I agree wholeheartedly. I've been offended by GameStops business tactics for a while now, and I think a lot of the gaming community feels the same way. I wish Microsoft would serve them a body blow that would make them rethink things.
Xizer @ Aug 6th 2009 2:34AM
I would wager that the majority of GameStop's cash comes from the Wii. They could survive without carrying Microsoft products but they would take quite a hit.
Perno @ Aug 7th 2009 11:56AM
Xizer: I'd take that wager. Wii users buy the Wii, and some controllers, then they're done. Xbox 360 users buy the console, and TONS of games, then trade them in for newer games which is where all of Gamestop's profit lies. Selling a used game is probably the same profit $'s as selling an actual Wii, with a MUCH higher margin.
ryan @ Aug 5th 2009 10:03PM
so no $60 games :(
copa @ Aug 5th 2009 10:24PM
Not true. Microsoft has an option that allows you to buy Prey, and leave a $40 tip.
whylekat @ Aug 6th 2009 12:43AM
Ha I bought Prey at gamestop for $4 on sale last year..
sk8monroe81 (PSN--XBL) @ Aug 6th 2009 2:54AM
got prey with that sale too and havent even played it yet.... ive gathered quite a collection of well priced games now myself....
this just makes no sense to me.
but if you are (not you) that person that cant get out of bed but can pick up a controller, this is just for you....
at least we can get a game like bioshock and mass effect 360 for under $ 20 at every store more or less, but sony still stiffs us on old games like uncharted where you really have to search for a $ 30 price, while the MSRP remains $ 60...
i never understood how these companies including mp3 sellers seem to charge the same amount for the media as purchasing the real 'hard' media format and especially when it costs so much less to manufacture a mp3 or downloadable file versus a manufactured product...
we should be getting deals for stripped goods we never own.
paperless @ Aug 5th 2009 10:04PM
I was expecting 1500 points and the Xbox originals to drop price but i guess it was just a dream.
CH3BURASHKA @ Aug 5th 2009 10:08PM
Back the eff up - I was pretty sure at E3 they said the games would be 20 bucks even, or even less.
captainprotonx @ Aug 5th 2009 10:10PM
What I expected.
Meaning they will attempt to trick suckers into paying twice to three times the going rate for the same game in physical form.
Prey is $7 at GameStop. WTF, Microsoft? WTF.
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 5th 2009 10:12PM
Doubt there will be many people trying to decide which version of Prey to buy...
Premature ejaculation man @ Aug 5th 2009 10:39PM
I never see any games ever for discounted price. In my country they stay the same for years :(
pibs @ Aug 5th 2009 11:38PM
In Russia, Games play you!
The Dark Wang(Sweatshop Dick) @ Aug 5th 2009 10:11PM
I'm guessing only games that are 2 years old or more will be on here.
Or Is It Alton Brown? (Wiizer Sweatshop Co-Founder, Chief Executive Peon) @ Aug 5th 2009 10:16PM
As a general rule, I'd say so. There could be exceptions, however.
Tann @ Aug 5th 2009 10:12PM
well after pricing most arcade games at 800-1200 they can't really price a downloadable full retail game at that..
i mean i think they're having these prices based on what they already have for the rest downloadable games on the marketplace.
and a lot of people who play probably associate retail with more money so naturally they may think that 1600 is fair when in reality you could get it much less, thats just what i think anyway..
Gun Barrier @ Aug 5th 2009 10:13PM
I hope that if they put new games, they would be discounted to at least 50$ from 60$, since we are not getting a box, manual, or disk. They don't even have to share the money with a retailer. I would just stick to buying game Disk if they were priced evenly with their physical counter-part.
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 5th 2009 10:16PM
Retailers get an EXTREMELY small fraction of money from new games. That's why places like EBgames/GameStop are desperately pushing used trades.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 5th 2009 10:51PM
Retailers get something like 20%. This is not an extremely small fraction.
Dano @ Aug 6th 2009 3:55AM
@LS2LS7: Perhaps when the price drops into the half-off range or under $20, but new releases are very different. Retailers *typically* see $5 at most in markup. I'm basing this on my time at EB in the early part of the decade. I'll concede that things may have changed, but I sincerely doubt it. There is a reason they always ask for trades & have awesome deals on used games - it's all profit.
yuyuujenkins @ Aug 5th 2009 10:19PM
Does anyone know an article/rant about videos on demand? The article maker drew a pictuure of a guy head explodes while saying "No! I want fucking entertainment in my ears and my eys now! AAAAHHHHHH!" and then his head explodes, and later his legs explode becuse it was considered cool? Where can I ind it so that I can use the word "on demand" as a point of reference?
tmacairjordan87 @ Aug 5th 2009 10:19PM
I was lookin forward to this, but I'm not spending $20 on crackdown when it's $10 at gamestop. I'll pay a couple more dollars for the convenience, but not $10-$20 more.
Aero @ Aug 5th 2009 10:19PM
Final dashboard update?
Professor Lario @ Aug 5th 2009 10:33PM
I think it is 'final' as in finished - not the last one, although I could be wrong...
TimmyTenga @ Aug 5th 2009 10:20PM
If you search for the game on xbox.com, it will tell you how much it costs :)
epsilon343 @ Aug 5th 2009 10:26PM
Hmm...I was thinking about getting Mass Effect again but after seeing those prices I'm taking a step back. Microsoft needs to realize that since they're competing in territory that is owned by Gamestop they can't just set their own rules and expect to win the game. And since there's nothing physical being given to me I'm a little wary, especially if a retail copy is cheaper.
NukeAssault @ Aug 5th 2009 10:36PM
lol i bought COD2 a few months ago for like 7 bucks. As expected ill pass. Thanks for trying MS.
hey_big_dck psn:fuliano626 @ Aug 5th 2009 10:36PM
20 dollers seems kinda fair since about the price of a greatest hit title plus, the games are new and never been used before, off topic but how do I change the email connected to my joystiq account can anyone help?
Cody @ Aug 5th 2009 10:43PM
LOL wowzers...
Otis @ Aug 5th 2009 10:58PM
...and this service will fail just like XBOX Originals did.
What did those idiots think, that XBOX Originals failed NOT because of price, but because it was XBOX 1 games? Ha.
Hardly anyone, except the extremely naive, or extremely curious is going to use this, because, just like the originals, why pay $20-30 when you can get the game new in a box for $20 or less... or in most cases, used for $10 or less. Hell, look at Mass Effect. The Platinum Hits version is $20, and comes with a second disc with stuff. The GoD version is $20, and is just the game, and nothing else. WHY would any sane individual do that?
Cody (www.myspace.comsouthsydeent -- MATT P. FREESTYLE MIXTAPE TRACKS ARE UP FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE!!!) @ Aug 5th 2009 11:08PM
Does Microsoft still update the backwards compatibility list anymore? Or did they stop that to start charging people for Xbox Originals?
Otis @ Aug 5th 2009 11:21PM
They completely abandoned updating the BC list a year or two ago.
Sly [Wiizer Sweatshop Raccoon] @ Aug 5th 2009 11:31PM
wow cody, as if you couldn't get anymore unbearable. now you're advertising in your name! simple blogs are fine, but that's ridiculous!
CaramelZappa @ Aug 6th 2009 12:17AM
Laziness.
I have to get my fat ass off the couch, get in my car, drive ten miles, find parking, leaf through the mess of used gamestop games to find the right one, and then get home and find out the game is scratched. After the second trip to gamestop and getting one that works, I still have to get up off the couch every time I want to play the damn game.
With games on demand, I don't even have to move, I just pay way too much money for the game, and it gets delivered fairly quickly while I play other games. When I want to return to the game after playing something else, I get to just press the xbox button and go to quick launch.
Also, there are plenty of parents that first of all have no idea that they can get the same games cheaper and secondly would rather just hand their kids a credit card than drive them to the mall.
So for a smart shopper no, games on demand isn't fantastic, but I have a feeling it'll be pretty successful for Microsoft.
Jason Statham (Aka Vegeta) @ Aug 6th 2009 2:18AM
It's called convenience my friend. That's where that extra $5 is going to.
Vcize @ Aug 5th 2009 11:00PM
Too high for games that old.
Cheesus(Crust) @ Aug 5th 2009 11:10PM
Atleast with PSN full games are cheap.
sk8monroe81 (PSN--XBL) @ Aug 6th 2009 3:17AM
what was the price on GT5longDEMO on PSN today ???
$ 30 - $ 40 still right?
socom? $ 40 ?
i don't get where the same type of quality ps3 games are cheaper on PSN..
i don't get the fanboy drift?
sony and ms charge too much for downloadable media available on disc.
Drunk Ste @ Aug 5th 2009 11:16PM
Well 1600-2400 points is £13.60 - £20.40 here in the UK.
I can pick up any of the games online new for around £10 - £15 each.
Mouthsmasher @ Aug 5th 2009 11:19PM
I will never purchase an xbox 360 game from this service. Sound like there's a lot of Gamestop fans around too, but I never plan on supporting them either.
When I buy a used video game, I can always find it MUCH cheaper online (even after shipping) than at Gamestop. Whenever I sell a used video game, I always get MUCH more by selling it online than I would from Gamestop. I've also had too few bad customer service experiences with Gamestop.
captainprotonx @ Aug 6th 2009 7:25AM
It's not about being a fan. It's the only choice for some.
And now it's the only brick and mortar choice. God bless capitalism.
Dishwasher @ Aug 5th 2009 11:20PM
or you could use goozex.. just sayin
Tez @ Aug 5th 2009 11:35PM
They better be, the games are old.
derickw69 @ Aug 5th 2009 11:37PM
you need to stop posting this spam crap. seriously can someone stop this idiot from posting this same spam across different articles.
Bradwart @ Aug 6th 2009 12:15AM
PDZ is in the clearance bins at Gamestop for 8 dollars...yeah, this will fail. Just like Jade Empire being 15 when used copies are less than 10.
CaramelZappa @ Aug 6th 2009 12:20AM
I'm disappointed in all the old games. I was expecting new releases on games on demand. I certainly wouldn't make all of my purchases on it, but it's perfect for some games. Really popular games like Halo Recon would be really nice to have instant access to so it doesn't take any shuffling through discs to play with a friend when they're on.
vtnwesley @ Aug 6th 2009 1:25AM
I understand why they don't have all the newest games up there. It's frustrating though seeing so many over priced early/launch titles. As others pointed out, a Best Buy "junk game bin" will see some of those games for $10-20 as it is. I like the idea of digital distribution a lot, but throw us a bone. Fable 2 is no longer new and now $40 in most stores new. Halo 3 isn't new either. Let's get some solid/newer games up there too. If they don't, people will come to know it as a dumping ground for crummy games and never buy from it. I mean, really? Sonic the Hedgehog 2006 for $20?