Well, we're always going to see things differently regardless. If I walk into a video store and see a straight to video movie for $5, then see The Departed or some other name movie next to it for $20 - I'd think most people would think the safer purchase would be the known quantity. Same with most things. Even VC said they weren't going to go w/that price the following year. I don't think you can use the 2K5 comparison because I doubt they'll spend the money marketing APF2K the way they did 2K5. They had Terrell Owens, who was still liked back then. They had a decent tv campaign. The had the NFL license/recognition. Either way, we could debate perception until the cows come home - like most things, I disagree w/you on your point. Personally I think a low price would be great - puts more money in my pocket. But I think it's foolish to think too low a price doesn't affect a person's perceptions on product quality. I'd think most knowledgeable consumers think "There must be something wrong w/it for being much cheaper" when they see two things w/a huge disparity in price
I completely disagree. Blitz the League would exist, but this game wouldn't. It's a huge undertaking for VC to take this on - develop a fictional league and have it accepted, where the USFL, old AFL, XFL, etc. have failed. To act as if it's not a huge risk is ridiculous. I shouldn't say the game wouldn't exist - it might exist but in a much lesser capacity, with smaller expectations being placed on it. There's a reason they're not making a CFL game.
While there are many of us that would buy a VC football product regardless, if Madden were what it should be there would be no where near the demand there is for this game right now. The reason most of us have no problem paying $59.99 for APF2K is Madden's quality at $59.99 has been so poor. If you had a strong Madden - that had gang tackling/great player interaction, great presentation and visuals, online leagues, etc. - there's just no way you could tell me there'd be a market for a game doing the same thing, except generic. When I see people openly talking about this game on
Madden forums - then I know the game has fallen off. There are a ton of factors that go into Madden sales - I'd argue quality isn't one of them. Or at least one that's high up on the reasons the game gets purchased.
Finally something we almost agree on. I said I thought $39.99-$49.99 should be the price. But $40 isn't a no-brainer price imo, so it's going to be risky regardless. Either way, you're sort of proving my point - it is going to be extremely difficult to get the regular gamer to buy into an unlicensed game. It'd be even moreso if Madden were good and didn't give them a reason to look elsewhere. So what would be the reason to bring out a generic football game?
While I could see VC wanting to make a football game, if they couldn't offer anything considerably better than what was already being offered it'd be foolish to take it on in the first place.