Last years games

[Jistic]

So I got to thinking. We see so many people complaining about the lack of innovation with a billion sports titles. Here and there we have a game that most can agree is a nice step forward. But a lot of the time we and even "professional" reviewers feel that a game is a roster update with a few tweaks.

With that being the case, why don't more people just buy last years games? Obviously if you still have last years games then you're already set. But you can buy many games from last year ; _________ 2K7 for under 10 bucks sometimes and 20 bucks other times. Right now NHL 2K7 is selling for 99 cents on ebay....99 CENTS! If you're essentially getting the same game, then why spend $60? If you want to 'upgrade' next year, you can again for very cheap. Is it that we feel driven to have the latest year on the box?

You'd be saving money AND voting "no" to the publishers who are putting out the same game and asking for full price for it.

[dkgojackets]

Re: Last years games

I do that for NHL since updated rosters/schedules isnt that important to me (I wouldnt know if they were wrong anyway). Playing NHL with two or three friends on the same team is so much fun.

[X*Cell]

Re: Last years games

So I got to thinking. We see so many people complaining about the lack of innovation with a billion sports titles. Here and there we have a game that most can agree is a nice step forward. But a lot of the time we and even "professional" reviewers feel that a game is a roster update with a few tweaks.

With that being the case, why don't more people just buy last years games? Obviously if you still have last years games then you're already set. But you can buy many games from last year ; _________ 2K7 for under 10 bucks sometimes and 20 bucks other times. Right now NHL 2K7 is selling for 99 cents on ebay....99 CENTS! If you're essentially getting the same game, then why spend $60? If you want to 'upgrade' next year, you can again for very cheap. Is it that we feel driven to have the latest year on the box?

You'd be saving money AND voting "no" to the publishers who are putting out the same game and asking for full price for it.

I on the other hand make those conscious decisions. I don't spend on games that pretty much mimic the years before (Madden)... but the games I do happen to spend money on like NBA 2k games that do progress... the $60 is worth it I guess.

[Jistic]

Re: Last years games

Just for fun I wanted to see what I could get on Ebay for the price of one new sports title. (shipping, tax, etc, not included)

Here we go:

NHL 2K7 - .99
NBA 2K7 - 7.99
Choops 2K7 - 5.50
APF 2K8 - $12.49
MLB 2K7 - 15
Tiger 07 - $11.99
Fifa 06 - $6.50 (Had to squeeze one more in there)

Total $60.46

How many of us spent the $420 on the above titles?

[Flyboy]

Re: Last years games

I just update (well, with puja's & others help) NFL 2K5 each year and never spend a dime.

[DaveDQ]

Re: Last years games

Is it that we feel driven to have the latest year on the box?

I'd say that many (including myself in some cases) do this. Consumers do not want the feeling of having something "dated." Especially male consumers. I suppose that here on OS you'll find some who do play previously released versions of sports games because they feel the most recent ones are not an improvement. Heck, there's an ESPN 2K5 forum still going right here.

I think in general though, gamers dispose of games rather quickly. There are a few titles I have thought about re-playing, RB6 Vegas being one of them, but I have to admit...once it gets "old" it kinda loses its appeal.

[Jistic]

Re: Last years games

I'd say that many (including myself in some cases) do this. Consumers do not want the feeling of having something "dated." Especially male consumers. I suppose that here on OS you'll find some who do play previously released versions of sports games because they feel the most recent ones are not an improvement. Heck, there's an ESPN 2K5 forum still going right here.

I think in general though, gamers dispose of games rather quickly. There are a few titles I have thought about re-playing, RB6 Vegas being one of them, but I have to admit...once it gets "old" it kinda loses its appeal.

I think some of it may be the feeling of being "left behind" too. It's like a digital mob mentality.

Interestingly I noticed that the sports games lose their value quicker than anything.

[DaveDQ]

Re: Last years games

I think some of it may be the feeling of being "left behind" too. It's like a digital mob mentality.

Interestingly I noticed that the sports games lose their value quicker than anything.

I wonder if it's because people automatically think the rosters are out dated. I like your experiment though. Very interesting.

[Jistic]

Re: Last years games

I wonder if it's because people automatically think the rosters are out dated. I like your experiment though. Very interesting.

Rosters and more. Seems like games that have sequels (Rainbow, Ghost recon) also nose dive. And sports games have a "sequel" every 12 months.

You don't say, "Oh that's the OLD Oblivion, I want Oblivion II". Or if you do it's not for years.

[DaveDQ]

Re: Last years games

I was thinking too...we've been somewhat conditioned to expect the next release, especially with sports games. They've been doing annual sports releases for a very long time.

Overall, it calls the guy that claims gameplay is the most important to the table. Maybe they truly can play a dated game and enjoy it as much as the casual guy playing the most recent release.

[KENYON06]

Re: Last years games

That's probably why I rent games.