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Will Some Vita Games Be Cheaper As Digital Versions?

It seems we'll have some incentive to purchase the digital copy of a new game for the PlayStation Vita.

Well, at least in Japan and for a limited time. A couple of titles have come to our attention; both of which will be specially discounted upon the game's launch for Sony's new handheld.

According to Andriasang , both Ridge Racer and Katamari Damacy will be a few hundred yen less if you download them from the PlayStation Store. Apparently, though, this deal only lasts for a short while so presumably, both the digital and physical copies of both games should be the same price later on. Also, because both titles in question are Namco Bandai products, it's clearly a publisher-specific deal…at least for now. Will more publishers give gamers this downloadable price cut when their titles first hit store shelves?

It's one of the bigger considerations for the digital generation: if the physical copies actually start to cost more, the shift towards all digital will likely move faster.

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jimmyhandsome
jimmyhandsome
13 years ago

I'm curious to see the price of Vita/PS3 games that take advantage of saving to the cloud to play on either device. I read something on the PS Blog where the director for the game Ruin said that they are working on a "fair" pricing system and understand that gamers won't want to pay full price for the same game on both systems. Curious as to what that means.

TheAgingHipster
TheAgingHipster
13 years ago

It's a good idea, from a corporate standpoint. Digital distribution requires no physical media (obviously), so the cost of producing discs/cards, manuals, boxes, and cover slips is completely eliminated, which I seem to recall accounts for about 30% of production costs. Don't remember where I read that, but even if it's lower, it saves a company a lot of money. Then you can charge MORE for the game itself, but have it still be LESS than the cost of the physical discs, so people think they're getting a deal while you're getting more money for your product. Charging less for the digital file could encourage more people to buy digitally while increasing your profit margin. Clever!

Underdog15
Underdog15
13 years ago

Games may be cheaper at the start via download, but in the long run, I doubt online versions will deflate in price much. From what we've seen on PSN so far, most titles have a fixed cost. Physical copies will reduce in price either as trade-ins or simple supply/demand principles.

GoldenShadow
GoldenShadow
13 years ago

It's always nice to save that extra couple hundred yen.

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
13 years ago

Wasn't it already announced that the downloadable games would be less costly than the ones based on media?

Beamboom
Beamboom
13 years ago

Call me crazy but if I get me me a Vita it will be for the Katamari game. I wasn't aware it would come to the Vita until I read this story today.
I absolutely LOVE Katamari!


Last edited by Beamboom on 10/11/2011 12:02:33 PM

thj_1980
thj_1980
13 years ago

Good to know and here. That is what all digital games should be at least $10 cheaper since there is no physical media.

___________
___________
13 years ago

bout time!
why DL games are MORE expensive then buying them from the shops ill never understand!
i picked up fifa 12 from JB last week for 98 dollars.
PSN wants 108 for it!
WTF?
downloads are suppose to be cheaper, not more expensive!

BikerSaint
BikerSaint
13 years ago

They should be since there's much lower overhead for the Developers.

Anything higher otherwise is just plain solid "ripoff"

PharaohJR
PharaohJR
12 years ago

makes perfect sense. i dont have to go in detail remending us & those who use ps3 heavly that know how much juice is left in this machine….. its plenty. vita here now & that little monster needs some light to grow.

we still getting grade A exclusives released other consoles cant compete with the level of quality….man ps3 set all the way to 2015.

shoutout to Sony on the browser update though…. IMPROVED ALLOT still little issues but its kool for now.

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