Analyst: Modern Warfare 2 DLC was too cheap |
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| BY Rain Anderson Apr. 14th, 2010 | More on: |
According to EEDAR analyst Jesse Divnich, Activision was a tad too generous when pricing Modern Warfare 2‘s record-breaking Stimulus Package DLC.
The content, which added five maps to the rotation — three new and two favorites from the first Modern Warfare — came with a price tag of $15; a price point that forced Infinity Ward public man Robert Bowling to explain its worth.
Divnich, however, feels that Activision could have added another $5 to the price and achieved the same results.
“The accepted commercial success benchmark for DLC for a console game is 20% of the install base,” he told IGN. “The stimulus map pack was able to reach that benchmark in just a week, and should reach 30 – 35% (of Modern Warfare 2 owners purchasing the add-on) through its lifetime.”
“It is evident that 2.5 million Xbox Live players felt that $15 was either just right or a good bargain and given the enormous quantity sold (2.5 million), I’d argue that Activision could have charged more and still obtain the same results.”
“Unfortunately,” now that MW2 players know what to expect when it comes to the game’s DLC pricing, it will be difficult for Activision to deviate. “However,” he continued, “Activision could employ some psychological tricks, maybe 5 new maps (no remakes) for $20? Or 5 maps and 2 skins for $20?”
“Whatever the case, you can bet that DLC prices are going to rise to the point where pricing reaches its most optimum in relation to demand.”
Just because you can squeeze more money from someone’s hands doesn’t mean that it is a good practice. I wonder if a $10 price tag would have made even more sales. Also, just because someone paid $15 this time doesn’t mean they will do it again.
$15 was too much. But, sadly, as long as people speak with their wallets, this will continue. $20 is ridiclous though–that’s a third of the full game’s price and you get only a fraction of the content.
The saddest thing is that my friends and I will continue to fork out the dough regardless of the price now. They know they’ve got us. Charge me up the a$$ – I don’t care anymore!!!
Economics 101: the MARKET decides the price, and if people happily hand over $15 for five maps, then Activision would be stupid not to charge that much.
na way i only brought it cause i knew about the 7 day xbox live extra otherwise it would have been a complete rip of
a $10 MP would have got my money, but i hate how these companys think they can get away with an extra 5 dollars for one JUST ONE more map, and two of those 3 were remakes, not even orginals… they just need to stop being money hogs and do something new, they might just get a good name for doing so. look at fallout 3 and its add-ons, all five of those add ons brought AT LEAST 10 hours of just the main quest, than with the extra land/side quests, new guns/outfits, characters and even the level cap, etc… it streched my money to the max. on the other hand this MP will get stale after use, the whole multiplayer of MW2 got boring to me before my first pres. sure its fun, but lets add a new gameplay type, or newer killstreaks, more weapon add-ons?? anything to make the dull multiplayer and map pack better and fresh. im going to stay away from these dull copies of FPS for now, and pick up something new, like RDR or even Brink, maybe fallout 4 will be good too, i just know i’m not going to be paying for any “NEW CONTENT” thats 15, 20, or higher. this compay is setting the bar lower, and price higher…