Rugby League Live 4 is a Solid Effort That Probably Needs a Lower Price

[Steve_OS]

Big Ant Studios is no stranger to the world of rugby. With their fourth iteration of...

Written By: Kevin Groves

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[Cletus]

It really needs a better price point, but it is stuck in limbo.  I didn't get a chance to play RLL3 (too pricey) but 2 was a good effort.  It was not perfect, but it was a solid foundation.  The problem with price is this:  Where do you lose money?  League is a niche of a niche sport, so you're either stuck hoping someone sees it for 30 bucks and picks it up or you get 60 bucks out of the hardcore fans.

[Dazraz]

I'm yet to get this game. I owned RL3 which was a pretty enjoyable game. The reviews on RL4 seem mixed. Some are, like this one, positive. Others seem to say the game is a step back from RL3. I think the one fact that is agreed upon   Is the price point.

[stocksy]

Not sure if many realise but in many countries Rugby League isn't a niche sport. 

In New Zealand, Australia and England its many peoples number 1 sport and in many countries NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL are niche sports.

This game wasn't made and isn't marketed with the American market in mind.

Same as a criket game wouldn't be. Why should a game maker give it a cheap price point to sell in America and lose money in its key markets

Even at half the price it wouldn't sell well in the states.

For the record with Rugby league fans that live and breathe the sport the Live franchise has a good reputation.

Where as the Union offering "Rugby Challenge" doesn't so much.

worldwide Rugby is a massive sport. It's why Xbox one/ps4 has four different options! 

Rugby 15, Rugby World Cup, Rugby Challenge and the two offerings in the Rugby league live series 

[Stormyhog]

Re: Rugby League Live 4 is a Solid Effort That Probably Needs a Lower Price

Yep go to New Zealand it's all about the All-Blacks & in Australia it's the Wallabies & it's league teams. Basically RLL4 in Australia is the equivalent of Madden in north america in terms of popularity. I'm new to Rugby League but have learned about it pretty quickly. Niche games to me are titles like horse racing, fishing & hunting.

[KG]

Re: Rugby League Live 4 is a Solid Effort That Probably Needs a Lower Price

Not sure if many realise but in many countries Rugby League isn't a niche sport.*

In New Zealand, Australia and England its many peoples number 1 sport and in many countries NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL are niche sports.

This game wasn't made and isn't marketed with the American market in mind.

Same as a criket game wouldn't be. Why should a game maker give it a cheap price point to sell in America and lose money in its key markets

Even at half the price it wouldn't sell well in the states.

For the record with Rugby league fans that live and breathe the sport the Live franchise has a good reputation.

Where as the Union offering "Rugby Challenge" doesn't so much.

worldwide Rugby is a massive sport. It's why Xbox one/ps4 has four different options!*

Rugby 15, Rugby World Cup, Rugby Challenge and the two offerings in the Rugby league live series*

The difference is that the international following for the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL are much bigger than it is for Rugby outside of those few countries you mentioned.

Look, being considered "niche" isn't a slight to the sport at all. Most sports have to grow to reach a higher international profile. I'm just a believer that this game would/will have a hard time attracting new fans of the sport with a $60 price point.

Hell, I enjoy the game and I will probably fire it up in a few minutes.

[stocksy]

I think you under estimate the appeal of a sport that has a proper World Cup, in France, Italy, Agentina, South Africa, Ireland, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji (I could continue but you get the idea)... these counties Rugby is a bigger draw than any of the American sports\leagues.

[tomski182]

Re: Rugby League Live 4 is a Solid Effort That Probably Needs a Lower Price

Do you guys realise that they can set specific price points for each market? Why not sell it at a budget price in emerging markets to try and develop the game and the code in general?

[stocksy]

Because in this day and age people will just import it. 

If Madden was sold in England (very much a niche NFL market - no matter what the NFL claim) for half the price of America - people would buy it from England and not America... Americans I mean - also as a fan of the American sports I can tell you that even all of them are very much niche in England their price points are usually higher than America! 

I guess its to do with mass production in that country etc. 

[HenryClay1844]

I think this game is as good as some of EA's lesser titles, NHL and NBA specifically. It has features like the fan hubs those games lack. It's not like I"m going to buy this game every year it was a lot of fun for something I don't have any experience with.  I am happy to have paid full price for it. 

[TerryP]

Re: Rugby League Live 4 is a Solid Effort That Probably Needs a Lower Price

Do you guys realise that they can set specific price points for each market? Why not sell it at a budget price in emerging markets to try and develop the game and the code in general?

I'm curious enough to give it a try at $40. I believe the current price point (along with the learning curve) is too high for most consumers that aren't very familiar with the sport.

[KG]

Re: Rugby League Live 4 is a Solid Effort That Probably Needs a Lower Price

I think you under estimate the appeal of a sport that has a proper World Cup, in France, Italy, Agentina, South Africa, Ireland, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji (I could continue but you get the idea)... these counties Rugby is a bigger draw than any of the American sports\leagues.

Stocksy, I def don't underestimate the popularity in those countries but outside of Japan and maybe France/Argentina those aren't major markets and tbh, Rugby isn't the #1 sport in France, Italy, Argentina, Ireland, and Japan. Don't get me wrong, I agree with your earlier points but see below.

I'm curious enough to give it a try at $40. I believe the current price point (along with the learning curve) is too high for most consumers that aren't very familiar with the sport.

Exactly. This is ALL I was trying to say. More people would be inclined to give it a go if there was a demo and if the price was lower. It would help in emerging rugby markets.

[dubcity]

Re: Rugby League Live 4 is a Solid Effort That Probably Needs a Lower Price

The price point is definitely a problem. And the fact that you can guarantee that it will never go on sale or budge from that $60 price is more frustrating. Rugby League Live 3 never did. It's still at $60. Meanwhile, I bought Madden 17 about a month ago for $13 on the PS Store.

For whatever reason the developers/publishers for the Rugby Challenge and Rugby League Live series don't have the relationship (or interest) with the PS Store to ever have sales. Rugby 15 and Rugby World Cup 2015 were both on sale tons of times. I don't get it.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: Rugby League Live 4 is a Solid Effort That Probably Needs a Lower Price

I want RLL4, but I'm not paying that price for it. I paid full for RC3 since I was a union player for 13 years, and a big fan. I just can't justify the price in sports game season. If they had it at $29.99 I would have been in already.

[Tomba]

Re: Rugby League Live 4 is a Solid Effort That Probably Needs a Lower Price

Nne of the rugby games from rll3 to rc3 have gone down in price and neither will afl evolution OR rll4.


Esp on PC and we wont see a "deal" on them in the psn or xbox stores...


IF we were to import it like we do other import games wed be paying well over 90 WITH shipping.


so basically the thught has to be is this a game you'd rather play then your stateside games.


rll4 LOOKS much better and can actually have stadiums created from scratch(something I WISH Pro evolution soccer did I mean even down to the adboards we can edit in rll4!)


I really wanted rc3 but it NEVER went down in price still 59.99 after about a year now.


Now is the issue of deciding which one id want?


rll4 is better than rll3 hands down.


rc3 is better than rll3


I guess the problem lies in what leagues countries you wanna play in.


also the camera angles in both differ. rc3 has a REAL GOOD broadcast camera when the rll3 camera was an afterthought. Im unsure if rll4 has had that sorted into something more tv brpoadcastish?