Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve more than likely noticed that multiplayer only titles usually sale for the discount price of $30-$40. Games that provide months, sometimes even years of gameplay, (Warhawk) sale for half the price. Meanwhile, games that provide a mere 8-10 hours of gameplay, with no multiplayer, continue to sale for $60. Is it not fair that single player only games sale at a discount price as well?

There are many that would argue, and rightly so, that developers need to make money. They continue to work hard (in some cases) to provide us with quality material that usually warrants the price of admission. It is also common knowledge that value is often attributed to the longevity of a particular product. Although there are exceptions, this is generally the case. It is my belief that either single player only titles are overpriced, or games that include both an incredible singleplayer and multiplayer are underpriced. It is my opinion that its the former, rather than the latter. To some this will seem like a radical statement, but in actuality there is something here worthy of consideration.

How is it that games such as COD4, Gears of War 2, Killzone 2 and countless others which offer both an exhilerating single player experience, along with a fascinating multiplayer experience, sale for the same price as inFamous and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Meanwhile, it is acceptable for games such as Warhawk and Socom to sell at a discount, while games such as Wanted: Weapons of Fate ,with its 6 hours of gameplay, continue to demand a $60 price tag. How can you defend paying whats equivalent to $10 for each our of gameplay. Keep in mind, this is not MGS4 gameplay, I’m talking about Wanted: Weapons of Fate and many others like it.

I am aware that at times developers invest much time and resources to many of these experiences, thus demanding proper returns. I am also aware that developers do not have to work to program in the countless interactions that can occur while having a multiplayer experience, being that most of the content and experiences are created by the community. I am merely suggesting that publishers consider the quality and replayability of their offerings given the changes of what gamers demand out of the product. There was a time where the single player aspect of a game was all you needed to warrant a hefty price tag; that time has passed. Many games have upped the ante by providing both.

Written By: bakerboy