According to sony, PS3 games will range from $60 upwards of $100 apiece. While most places taking pre-orders are listing games at $59.99, we really won't know how much games will actually be before the ps3 and several titles hit the market.

Since the xbox 360 came out, the new pricing scheme is usually $59.99 for regular games, and $69.99 for special editions, although a few games are reported to be from $39.99 to $49.99. $49.99 was the average price for games for the original xbox, ps2, gamecube, and probably several other consoles before that.

Even earlier, in the nintendo, genesis, and sega cd days, prices fluxuated even greater. While most games certainly took on the $49.99 starting price, several games were quite a bit more. I bought dragon's lair for sega cd the day it came out, and it was $79. If I'm not mistaken, pitfall for the sega cd or 32x system was around $74 as well. Sword of vermillion had an initial $80 price tag, and several of the phantasy star games were also in that price range, for the sega genesis system.

It appears as though there are a lot of special editions and bonuses compared to previous systems too. Microsoft subsidized both the original xbox and the xbox 360, and it is being reported that Sony is also subsidizing their ps3.

When a game company subsidizes its systems, it has to make its money back by selling more games and accessories, which could be why $10 higher game prices and more special edition games.

Fortunately, in today's day and age, games get popular one day and not-so popular the next. The biggest fans buy in to a game or series first, and then when sales slow, game companies usually go a lot lower on their prices. In six months, you may see a game transition from $49.99 to $29.99, or even better, $19.99. I hope that this can be a continuing trend for future next gen games as well. There are plenty of 2 or 3 out of 5 games that I would not want to pay $40+, but would welcome in the $19 - $29 price range, if I had the urge to try it out and the extra cash.

Now days, it's less about what looks shiny on the outside and more of a whole lifestyle. Gaming has been, off and on, a large part of my life. When I say "Has Been," I mean that I'm not a big gamer any more. I go through phases when I won't pick up a controller for months, and then play for weeks.

Gaming, to me, isn't just about playing a game any more. It's about these forums, chatting with people about games. It's about reading the magazines. It's about going to places like gamespot and looking at the screen shots or videos, reading the reviews, searching the web for information. It's about finding a better price on ebay. It's about collecting games and finding those rare items at garage sales and swap shops. It's also about not getting too excited for a release that leaves one vulnerable to disappointment.

Back when I was in to "playing" games, spending countless years in front of a television, I really did enjoy the rpgs, with all of the reading, questing, and leveling. Well, RPGs are still my favorite games today, but I don't like constantly leveling any more. As you get older, your back starts getting out of place and you just can't sit around for so long any more. You also start thinking about other things in life, besides leveling your character for 6 hours a day heh...

At the same token, some of the more fast-paced rpgs, or action rpgs, just don't have the same flare. So, I just have to find a balance.

Also back then, trading games was a big thing for me and friends, but when I transitioned in to a collector as well, I didn't want to trade, unless the games were doubles, etc.

Now days, as I've stated before, I just don't know if I have room for all of my games. I could either box them up tightly, using as little space as possible, or sell them eventually. I personally don't want to sell them off but may have to one day.

10/25/06 It's official.

I am retracting the "who needs blu ray?" statement posted months earlier. I believe it may work this time because many many companies who form the BDA (Blu ray Disc Association) have banded together to make this new format possible. There are already thousand-dollar computer drives available that use this new technology to complement today's best used-car-price computers. (I'm sure 3+ gigs of CPU speed is enough to run the drive.)

Some here seem to have the notion that Sony invented Blu Ray as some would say Henry Ford invented the automobile. Initial mass production does not equal invention. So Sony is implementing it first into their PS3, it doesn't mean it's theirs. The BDA, comprised of a joint group of electronics companies, helped contribute to its birth, not Sony alone.

As for game prices I would have to agree with you all. I don't want to take home a PS3 game for two gamecubes or ten dreamcasts. I also like the dropping prices of today's games. It is the best way to save big. They drop after the first couple of months since the release. It's great!

I haven't had much time to chat either, as you probably know by now. I maximize whatever minutes I can get. Then it's back to work for me.

I remember Phantasy star 4 (sega genesis) was $104, I too saw sword of vermillion for $80.

There are a few places trying to sell ps3 games for $86-$100, for almost all of them. Let's hope that all of the retailers have some insider information regarding their $59 prices and won't sh** on their customers and cancel thousands of pre-orders because they had the wrong price, if that's the case.

I remember when the N64 came out and we were charging $100.00 per game at christmas time. People were pissed but they bought them.

Is ebgames/gamestop going to honor their 59.99 pre-orders, if the games in fact turn out to be $86 and they actually lose money on them?

Any time before when i game has changed price after the first pre-order was done the customer had to pay the difference. sorry to say.