Red Dead Redemption joins Games on Demand (for $60!)

by Alexander Sliwinski on Dec 21st 2010 7:00PM

Xbox Live Marketplace's Games on Demand has added Red Dead Redemption, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands and Narnia: Prince Caspian at prices one could kindly classify as "outrageous."

Red Dead Redemption is listed at its full boxed retail price of $60. We've confirmed with Rockstar that the digital copy is just the original game and doesn't include any of the DLC. Obviously, we recommend purchasing this through the marketplace like we recommend a rattlesnake bite to the groin. Prince of Persia: TFS and Caspian are priced at $30 apiece (way above their Amazon prices).

With all the deals we've seen leading up to Christmas, we can't in good conscience recommend any of these to you. If you have any interest in these titles, just wait and see what discounts will be available at retail after the holiday.

[Thanks, Brian]

Source: XBLM RDR, XBLM Prince Caspian, XBLM PoP:TFS

Tags: microsoft, Narnia, Prince-Caspian, prince-of-persia-the-forgotten-sands, Red-Dead-Redemption, xblm, xbox, xbox-live-marketplace

Reader Comments (79)

I think this is the first real experiment with retail games on demand. I would have bought my first if it was 40 but I balked at the price. Not that it isn't fair, it is. I guess.

@Jack Kevorkian I don't see how it's fair. A digital game should NEVER be the same price as retail. Retail prices include all the annoyances of retail - all the disc work, the printing, the cases, shipping, retail negotiations. Digital is just downloading a file. It costs little to nothing.

A digital game should be at least five dollars cheaper than retail. A digital game released this much later? Much less.

Then digital fails and they say we don't want digital (see Sony and PSPgo). It's just that the prices are so discouraging.

@Jack Kevorkian

It's not at all fair. It's a digital copy. All you get is the convience of not leaving the house. And wasn't there a game that couldn't even multiplayer with physical disc copies?
it should be a SIGNIFICANT reduction in price for replacing the ability to lend games to friends, or bring your copy anywhere else.

@whylekat Its fair in that you can charge what people are willing to pay. Supply and demand you know? We all have the option of getting a physical copy. Which is what I plan on doing.

@JONNNathannn
Expertly put. That's a point that I think these big companies forget a lot of the time. Sure, they may come up with some decent excuses as to why or how they got the price(s) they did, but at the end of the day you have to make it worth while for the consumer. You cant blame the consumer for not buying something that they believe is overpriced.

The reason digital distribution may fail (when it comes to consoles, at least) is because of these ludicrous prices, not a lack of consumer interest.
The second issue Microsoft is going to have to deal with is digital distribution support. Im not talking about adding games, but patches, compatibility, and incentives are all issues that need to be addressed. I dont understand why this is so hard for this greedy company?! Or did I already answer my own question?

@Jack Kevorkian To be fair, digital distribution does have its costs - computers, servers and bandwidth.
Having said that, this is that "other shoe dropping" I was talking about when all those previous deals, with games for like 2 bucks or something, were flying around. MS was just tempting more and more people to use the service and then when it had enough customers, it was gonna go back to "business as usual", and sure enough it did.

greedy rockstar

@Nikkinik Thats what the game costs.

@Jack Kevorkian I don't understand why this go downvoted when this IS how much the game costs new.

@Robborboy May 18 when it was released, not worth that much anymore nowadays (eg 40 bucks new from game.co.uk)

@Robborboy Because joystiq is overrun by idiots.

@Nikkinik And a copy of Zelda from years ago is worth in the hundreds. Your point? Brand new from Gamestop RDR costs 59.99$. And cheapest on amazon if for 54$.

@Robborboy

Well the "controversy" comes from the fact that its a digital download so it should be, to a degree, cheaper than its physical counterpart.

@Robborboy Lol, you're an idiot. I have a first edition of a book worth around 5000 dollars, your point? a) If its a digital copy, for a fact it should be cheaper than retail, and b) if they're still charging you full price for a 6 month old game, then they are probably ripping you off.

I wouldn't mind paying full retail if it were released via On Demand on the same day it's originally released at retail. There have been a couple of occassions where I haven't been able to find a game in stores upon release or afterwards (not the major games mind you), so having another method to always be able to acquire the game would be cool.

'cept I'm getting low on hard drive space.

Now if the game has been out for a while, I obviously don't want to pay full price for it online. So I'm all for releasing games online. I'm just not for premium pricing, when you do away with the box and manual.

@Starcade I looked online and brick and mortar shopped and noticed the game is back to sixty bucks almost across the board. I think it shows discounts have more to do with vendor rebates and have less to do with clearing inventory. I think rockstar timed this and pulled rebates on the game as an experiment. It goes without saying that the undead nightmare deal coincided with this release yah

lolno

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze

Microsoft sure does know how to make me laugh.

If you're not getting the disc, it needs to be less. Period. I'm not saying a ton less. 50? That wouldn't even be unreasonable. But asking full price for a game, when you're not dealing with production costs and the retailer's cut? (I know Microsoft gets a cut, before you point that out. I would only imagine it would be less, considering they don't have to pay lackeys to sell it to you.) That is just not right. That's now where the market needs to go. Going full digital should make prices drop. Period.

@Jerk Face

now = not

@Jerk Face That's what I've always thought. Maybe it seems too much like right?

@Jerk Face

It's like the same argument with the PSP Go pricing - there is less moving parts, and less functionality in that device. It should not cost MORE than the original. That's absurd. And charging full price for a game you don't have to budget shipping, retailer mark-up, production, or packaging into.. that's bullshit. Plain and simple.

I can handle 20 dollar XBLA games and 15 dollar map packs. I can handle avatar clothes and DLC on the disc (if the game doesn't feel short on content). But this is where I, as a consumer, draw the line.

@Jerk Face You dont care about paying 15 dollars for 5 maps or 4 maps. But you mind paying 60 for a full game? I dont support any of the pricing.

@Jerk Face "I can handle 20 dollar XBLA games and 15 dollar map packs. I can handle avatar clothes and DLC on the disc (if the game doesn't feel short on content)."

Those are perfect reasons as to why this game is being sold for $60 on Live, yet on Steam games routinely sell for outrageously low prices. You reap what you sow, and 360 players have nothing to complain about when getting shafted.

@Jerk Face Actually, moving parts are cheaper. The less moving parts, the more expensive it will be. Look at solid-state drives for example.

I am still waiting for some tpe of explaination as to the reasoning for the games on demand prices. I have bought a few of them, but nothing over the $20 mark. The digital distribution route seems like a great way for the publisher to bypass lost revenue from second hand sales, but the prices need to be a bit more competitive you would think.

@WMcPete What kind of explanation is needed? Publishers try to get the most money for their products.

@Jack Kevorkian
Yeah we shouldn't question pricing. The publishers need money. If they decide they want more money like the are doing now with digital downloads, we should just give it to them! Why stop at 60, they should charge us 100 because like you say the publishers want more money for their products and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with that at all! I am gonna start charging a 1000 dollar for my used toilet paper. Let's see how the market responds. They can't complain because i need more money.

The whole point of games on demand is impulse purchases. When you price a game so high it forces the person to second guess the purchase you've already lost.

@swooded

My impulses don't usually last the five hours required to download a game.

Seems like Steam is the only service that 'gets' digital distribution.

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze

even still, DRM is a bitch. if steam sold all their games DRM-free it would be perfect.

@Liquidfingers

How is it a bitch? I didn't even know it had any?

@Liquidfingers

Are you crazy? I love Steam's DRM! It makes it more convenient for me to use, and let's face it; it succeeds at hindering piracy, unlike SecuROM.

@Esposch Steam's DRM hinders pira......OH, I get it. This is a sarcastic comment. I am onto you now you silly little goose you.

@Robborboy

No, wasn't sarcastic at all. I remember before Steam people would buy a game and share it with 10 friends. Now they buy said game and tell their friends to buy a legit copy.

I still don't understand how Games on Demand is still alive and kicking. I would /love/ to know sales figures of these games, and exactly what constitutes as a "good business model" to Microsoft to keep this adventure going.

$20-30 for games that can be bought for nearly half that on either Amazon or ebay in physical form? Paying for "convenience" can't even begin to explain these still-ridiculous prices.

If anything kills the future of downloading games its the stranglehold on pricing from out of touch console companies controlling the whole market. Digital downloads will not take off unless theres a competitive system in place like there is with retail.

@aughscreennames Do they really controls the market? I get the impression that it's publishers calling the price, for eg. RDR, I think no way it's MS's idea to sell it for $60, it's absurd even compared to other GOD games' price.

Microsoft games were the first ones to show up and they were all full MSRP. Fable 2 was $60 for as long as I can remember even while it was $20 at amazon.

I would imagine that the publishers give MS the same deal that they give stores, so I bet its up to MS to decide how much to charge, and since they are dimwits they go MSRP. Another theory is that they have relationships with retailers that they dont want to mess with so they price themselves out of the market on purpose since they make money on sales regardless.

digital distribution has always been appealing to me, just not at these prices. there's no reason whatsoever that one should charge full retail price for a download. i've yet to buy any of the games in XBL's 'games on demand' for this very reason. maybe if they included these in the 'deal of the week' every once in a while it may actually be worth it sometimes...

What's drm mean

@Wizardsofwaverly

He doesn't mention DRM, but anyway. DRM is Digital Rights Management. It basically stops the user from using the product in any other way than intended by the manufacturer (Digital sense).

Man, I don't like the sound of that. I will take physical copy over digital any day of the week or year. Steam is the only exception since they have such great prices and support.

And you all want digital download? At the same price as the solid copy? Vote with the wallets.

Microsoft seriously doesn't get it. There is competition, there is diversity in the marketplaces. I have so many options for gaming and where I get my games, it's rather insulting to release games at those prices.

@Wizardsofwaverly

DRM stands for digital rights management - the various copy protection systems used in digital media such as downloadable games or music.

I'd be really curious to see what kind of a cut Rockstar sees on these sales. We all know that if RDR is bought for $60 at a retail they don't see anywhere near the full retail price. I just wonder what the percentages look like for digital downloads.

Why not release on the same RETAIL DATE, then we'll consider.

@GamingColt Actually, this is cheaper than Retail believe it or not.

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 50 Comments

Red Dead Redemption

Red Dead Redemption joins Games on Demand (for $60!)

Reader Comments (79)

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:02PM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:45PM JONNNathannn said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:54PM whylekat said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 8:39PM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 8:44PM applefleas said

Posted: Dec 22nd 2010 6:56AM 2late2die said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:06PM Nikkinik said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:11PM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 9:19PM Robborboy said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 9:49PM Nikkinik said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 9:59PM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 10:44PM Robborboy said

Posted: Dec 22nd 2010 12:25AM philmcfail said

Posted: Dec 22nd 2010 6:12AM Nikkinik said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:07PM Starcade said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:15PM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:09PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 10:11PM Stevetrop Man of Mystery said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:09PM Jerk Face said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:10PM Jerk Face said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:11PM Pugnaciousturtle said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:16PM Jerk Face said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:32PM Tereso said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:50PM The angry pro consumer gaming ga said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 9:12PM Robborboy said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:13PM WMcPete said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:16PM Jack Kevorkian said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 9:12PM DaFreak said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:14PM swooded said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 8:33PM arkweld said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:15PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:24PM Liquidfingers said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 9:23PM DaFreak said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 9:51PM Esposch said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 10:45PM Robborboy said

Posted: Dec 23rd 2010 7:54PM Esposch said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:19PM Nintendo Tim said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:20PM aughscreennames said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:39PM ybfelix said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 11:20PM aughscreennames said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:23PM Liquidfingers said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:37PM Wizardsofwaverly said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 11:40PM Muzaffar2705 said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:26PM DudeManPerson said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:28PM Tereso said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:34PM Courtney said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 8:55PM Styli said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:39PM Shoti said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 7:40PM GamingColt said

Posted: Dec 21st 2010 9:17PM Robborboy said

Red Dead Redemption Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

WB conjures up Harry Potter for Kinect this fall

Featured Stories

Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is a stranger in a strange land

Silver Lining: I Am Alive's unfeeling world

Game Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW