I don't think the argument is over the quality of games coming out. I think it is the fact that PC gaming has become the mecca of gaming specials.
If we take a step back to a few years ago, games came out and we had to buy them at full retail price if we wanted to play it. Then Valve created Steam and changed the way in which PC gaming is done. The Steam platform got traction due to not only the number titles available for purchase, but the fact that they started providing special pricing on certain games. And we flocked to the service, which in turn made the publishers embrace Steam even more, which created more variety and choice of games on the service, which made that even more people joined. And so the cycle continued.
Now, other 3rd party companies are joining in the bandwagon of providing PC gamers more choice and value; companies like GOG, Humble Bundle, Origin etc. To get more people to join the services, they held specials on various games and pulled a fair few people onto their platforms.
This perpetuated a market where a PC game will very seldom stay the same price as it's launch price. We as PC gamers have become so accustomed to services like Steam and GOG that has specials every now and then, that we buy more and more games that we didn't really want, but had to get because it's on special. I know I've bought a couple of games just because they were really cheap.
This pressures companies to ensure that they must provide specials on games that will draw people in, because there are so many alternatives that, if one company can't give you the deal you want, chances are there is someone that will. As a PC game buyer, you have such a big choice of retailers that you have the luxury of buying somewhere with the best special
The console market doesn't have this. There is no 3rd party app/service/platform that provides the same value as what Steam or GOG can give, thus your only choices are to buy your games from brick-and-mortar store or from the Microsoft/Sony online stores. Here you will find no big push for specials as on PC, because the number of retailers and retail channels are much less than on PC. Hence why there are a lot less specials on console than on PC
This trend changes the mindset of the consumer/gamer of each platform. PC gamers are so used to specials, that we have no problem waiting for a game to go on special before buying. Console gamers doesn't have that luxury, because the market is not geared towards specials as much as PC gaming is.
IMHO
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And to add something, Are publishers actually surprised people are buying games on special rather than the full price?! Really?! Isn't that like the purpose of a special; to draw in new customer/clients?
Originally Posted by DieGrootHammer
