rec.autos.simulators

by **Byron John Forbe** » Thu, 20 Nov 2003 18:41:20

It just occured to me that as time passes, the price of computer
software falls off whereas old DVD Movies cost as much as a new release.
A good example is a racing sim by a company named Papyrus - Grand Prix
Legends. This is possibly the best piece of software code outside of NASA,
costing around $70 when released here in Australia in 1998. It can be
purchased anywhere now for under $10 - new and legal. And many in the sim
racing community will tell you that this is still the best racing sim on the
planet 'til this day!
Then we move to, say, the DVD of the old classic - Lawrence of Arabia.
This title is about 40 years old and I have seen it priced at numerous
retail outlets at just under or over $40!
Whether it be a Computer game or a DVD, both, if good, clean up upon
their release. In the case of a movie, it cleans up at the box office and
then DVD/Video rental as well!

WHY? (ie why does software taper off but not DVDs?)

by **lol** » Thu, 20 Nov 2003 18:51:38

The consumer mind set for software is "newer is better"
on the other hand movies become "classics"

by **Matthew Pag** » Thu, 20 Nov 2003 20:18:37

Minor correction, great movies become classics, many others fall by the
wayside.

When Lawrence first mixed things up in the desert, filmmaking was already
quite a few decades old. The home computer industry as a whole is still in a
relative infancy. The two shouldn't really be compared. Once you are
comparing a classic game that comes out 50-60 years after Space Invaders
with one that comes out 80-100 years after, things might be different.

> The consumer mind set for software is "newer is better"
> on the other hand movies become "classics"

> > It just occured to me that as time passes, the price of computer
> > software falls off whereas old DVD Movies cost as much as a new release.
> > A good example is a racing sim by a company named Papyrus - Grand
Prix
> > Legends. This is possibly the best piece of software code outside of
NASA,
> > costing around $70 when released here in Australia in 1998.

by **Daniel Bowe** » Thu, 20 Nov 2003 21:22:44

Ah, but a DVD is likely to drop in price over time. It's the age of the
release, not the age of the film that is the determining factor IMHO.

Daniel
--
Daniel Bowen, Melbourne, Australia
Email: dbowen at custard dot net dot au
http://www.danielbowen.com/

by **Ed Solhei** » Thu, 20 Nov 2003 21:41:51

Computer games gets outdated - but classic movies - dont.
And unless I am mistaken many of todays classics are being remasted and/or
restorated before their release on DVD - making it in essence a better
product.

I'm pretty sure that if Papy were to "re-master" GPL too - it would sell for
$40 aswell :)

--
ed_

by **free200** » Fri, 21 Nov 2003 00:37:53

i thought it would be obvious to anyone with a noodle, the dvd format itself
enhances the viewing of the movie, wether it is a 40 yr old movie or new
release is irrelevent in regards to price.....besides, they do drop in
price, i can think of at least 10 titles that have dropped from around
$30-35 to around $20 less than 6 mths after release....

- Show quoted text -

by TT » Thu, 20 Nov 2003 23:43:00

: Minor correction, great movies become classics, many others
fall by the
: wayside.
:
: When Lawrence first mixed things up in the desert, filmmaking
was already
: quite a few decades old. The home computer industry as a whole
is still in a
: relative infancy. The two shouldn't really be compared. Once
you are
: comparing a classic game that comes out 50-60 years after Space
Invaders
: with one that comes out 80-100 years after, things might be
different.
:
While I whole heartedly agree with your sentiments I think it is
more a case of "Economics 101 - Supply and Demand."

*IF* customers will still part with $40 for a classic like LOA
then it will be that price. If there are huge unsold stocks of
it then just watch the price plummet. Re: computer games - there
is always "the new kid" on the block to compete with so any
current game has to remain keenly priced. A bit like why did I
pay over A$4800 for an Acer 486 SX33, huge 4Mb ram (double what
it came with), 170 MB HD and a 2 speed CD ROM with a big 14"
colour monitor in 1992???? And what is that machine worth
now???? *IF* you could buy it new?

My $0.02 TT

by **Matthew Pag** » Fri, 21 Nov 2003 09:41:28

My point also. The computer industry is still moving forward in giant leaps.
Its still new. Consumers aren't going to use or play something old just
because it has tight code. They want more texture shaders and bigger guns.
Hence, price plummets abound. Myself I still play Sub Command, but I
wouldn't pay full price for it.

Besides this is moot, IIRC ezydvd is selling Lawrence for $23.50, not $40.
;)

by **NewcastleB** » Fri, 21 Nov 2003 10:12:37

On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 09:41:20 GMT, "Byron John Forbes"

> It just occured to me that as time passes, the price of computer
>software falls off whereas old DVD Movies cost as much as a new release.

> Then we move to, say, the DVD of the old classic - Lawrence of Arabia.
>This title is about 40 years old and I have seen it priced at numerous
>retail outlets at just under or over $40!

> WHY? (ie why does software taper off but not DVDs?)

If you are prepared to wait the DVD title you're after should
theoretically come down in price. I'm currently waiting for "Far From
Heaven" to come down below the $25.95 mark and I'm prepared to wait.
It's extremely rare for me these days to pay over $25.95 for a DVD.

Concerning "Lawrence of Arabia", I've seen this disc advertised for
$24.95 at places like EZYDVD and the like. I want to get this title,
but will wait for the YET AGAIN re-mastered version which improves on
this title which recently came out in U.S. Apparently, in the first
DVD release, the colour of the sky changes colour so many times and a
major remaster was done yet again.

So, if you are prepared to wait, DVD prices can drop dramatically
within 6-12-24 months. And remember, you are under no compulsion to
buy straight away. Often, it's better to wait for a special edition
release to come out - that's a wait of 2-4 years in some cases.

Hope it helps

Newcastleboy

by **Mike Beaucham** » Fri, 21 Nov 2003 12:11:03

Laurence of Arabia... #23 in the top ratings of ALL movies ever made, voted
for by over 22,000 people on IMDB.com.

GPL... crappy old game, with really bad graphics compared to anything today.

Flame away, nerds. But if you plop GPL in the hands of the average PC gamer,
they'll throw it away, face it. Heck, there's even *** sim racers who
don't even like it, and who would rather play ETCC, F1C, F12002, GTR2002,
RT, or Mobil 1.

Mike
http://www.racesimcentral.net/

by **Mike Beaucham** » Fri, 21 Nov 2003 12:13:25

Exactly..

The Laurence of Arabia DVD has been cleaned up a considerable amount. It's
not like it's been on DVD since 1962. Also, I'm pretty sure LofA sells a few
more copies than GPL.

Mike
http://mikebeauchamp.com

> i thought it would be obvious to anyone with a noodle, the dvd format
itself
> enhances the viewing of the movie, wether it is a 40 yr old movie or new
> release is irrelevent in regards to price.....besides, they do drop in
> price, i can think of at least 10 titles that have dropped from around
> $30-35 to around $20 less than 6 mths after release....

> > It just occured to me that as time passes, the price of computer
> > software falls off whereas old DVD Movies cost as much as a new release.
> > A good example is a racing sim by a company named Papyrus - Grand
Prix
> > Legends. This is possibly the best piece of software code outside of
NASA,
> > costing around $70 when released here in Australia in 1998. It can be
> > purchased anywhere now for under $10 - new and legal. And many in the
sim
> > racing community will tell you that this is still the best racing sim on
> the
> > planet 'til this day!
> > Then we move to, say, the DVD of the old classic - Lawrence of
Arabia.
> > This title is about 40 years old and I have seen it priced at numerous
> > retail outlets at just under or over $40!
> > Whether it be a Computer game or a DVD, both, if good, clean up upon
> > their release. In the case of a movie, it cleans up at the box office
and
> > then DVD/Video rental as well!

> > WHY? (ie why does software taper off but not DVDs?)

> i thought it would be obvious to anyone with a noodle, the dvd format
itself
> enhances the viewing of the movie, wether it is a 40 yr old movie or new
> release is irrelevent in regards to price.....besides, they do drop in
> price, i can think of at least 10 titles that have dropped from around
> $30-35 to around $20 less than 6 mths after release....

> > It just occured to me that as time passes, the price of computer
> > software falls off whereas old DVD Movies cost as much as a new release.
> > A good example is a racing sim by a company named Papyrus - Grand
Prix
> > Legends. This is possibly the best piece of software code outside of
NASA,
> > costing around $70 when released here in Australia in 1998. It can be
> > purchased anywhere now for under $10 - new and legal. And many in the
sim
> > racing community will tell you that this is still the best racing sim on
> the
> > planet 'til this day!
> > Then we move to, say, the DVD of the old classic - Lawrence of
Arabia.
> > This title is about 40 years old and I have seen it priced at numerous
> > retail outlets at just under or over $40!
> > Whether it be a Computer game or a DVD, both, if good, clean up upon
> > their release. In the case of a movie, it cleans up at the box office
and
> > then DVD/Video rental as well!

> > WHY? (ie why does software taper off but not DVDs?)

by **Mike Beaucham** » Fri, 21 Nov 2003 14:54:52

Turismo is definately fun when you want to play some multiplayer at
someone's house for fun... Like, with people who aren't necessarily crazy
about simming..

Mike
http://www.racesimcentral.net/

> On Thu, 20 Nov 2003 03:11:03 GMT, Mike Beauchamp wrote in aus.dvd:

> > Heck, there's even *** sim racers who
> > don't even like it, and who would rather play ETCC, F1C, F12002,
> > GTR2002, RT, or Mobil 1.

> I'm no "*** sim racer", but I /do/ think Gran Turismo should be in
> your little list... ;)

> --
> - Cods

> (un ROT-13 to email)

by **Anthony Bethe** » Fri, 21 Nov 2003 18:01:34

Meh! $40 for LOA...I got the limited edition cloth cover one for 17.95
brand new at Blockbuster's last massive movie clearance in Hoppers
Crossing. Was very happy and had never seen the movie before this,
only heard the myth. Just never got around to it. Best 17.95 I ever
spent I reckon.

by **j[nospam]ca..** » Fri, 21 Nov 2003 21:25:42

ok,

Maybe its because, i don't know, it costs millions and millions of
dollars to make a film? Lawrence would be a $100+ million film if it
were made today. Maybe its because you have to pay residuals, points,
etc... to people involved in films, including all the big name stars?
Maybe its because investors have actually put up millions of dollars
and expect some kind of return on their investment? Maybe its
because, as others have pointed out, the staying power of films vs.
computer games? No one is gonna be playing GPL (or any other current
game for that matter) in 40 years. Maybe its the distribution costs
associated with getting that product out? You can go into just about
any audio/video store and get a copy of Lawrence. You can't say the
same about any computer game except maybe "The Sims."

I'll grant you that the reproducion costs are minimal compared to the
cost of the product, but trying to understand the different pricing
structures of DVD movies vs. computer games is not rocket science.

jeff

On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 09:41:20 GMT, "Byron John Forbes"

> It just occured to me that as time passes, the price of computer
>software falls off whereas old DVD Movies cost as much as a new release.
> A good example is a racing sim by a company named Papyrus - Grand Prix
>Legends. This is possibly the best piece of software code outside of NASA,
>costing around $70 when released here in Australia in 1998. It can be
>purchased anywhere now for under $10 - new and legal. And many in the sim
>racing community will tell you that this is still the best racing sim on the
>planet 'til this day!
> Then we move to, say, the DVD of the old classic - Lawrence of Arabia.
>This title is about 40 years old and I have seen it priced at numerous
>retail outlets at just under or over $40!
> Whether it be a Computer game or a DVD, both, if good, clean up upon
>their release. In the case of a movie, it cleans up at the box office and
>then DVD/Video rental as well!

> WHY? (ie why does software taper off but not DVDs?)

by **Tim Mise** » Sat, 22 Nov 2003 09:43:43

Another point is in movies, graphics and sound are everything. In video
games, graphics, sound, and gameplay are everything. Even in todays games,
the graphics are not up to the level that movie graphics were in the 1940's!
Film has it's advantages so it all comes down to whether or not it's a good
movie while in video games, a great classic video game can be hampered by
poor graphics. One day when game graphics become truley photo-realistic
(There's an overused term!), then we can start loving classic games.

-Tim

P.S. - Time to start playing Miner 2049er again.

> Minor correction, great movies become classics, many others fall by the
> wayside.

> When Lawrence first mixed things up in the desert, filmmaking was already
> quite a few decades old. The home computer industry as a whole is still in
a
> relative infancy. The two shouldn't really be compared. Once you are
> comparing a classic game that comes out 50-60 years after Space Invaders
> with one that comes out 80-100 years after, things might be different.

> > The consumer mind set for software is "newer is better"
> > on the other hand movies become "classics"

> > > It just occured to me that as time passes, the price of computer
> > > software falls off whereas old DVD Movies cost as much as a new
release.
> > > A good example is a racing sim by a company named Papyrus - Grand
> Prix
> > > Legends. This is possibly the best piece of software code outside of
> NASA,
> > > costing around $70 when released here in Australia in 1998.

rec.autos.simulators

Prices - Computer Games Vs DVD Movies

Prices - Computer Games Vs DVD Movies

Prices - Computer Games Vs DVD Movies

Prices - Computer Games Vs DVD Movies

Prices - Computer Games Vs DVD Movies

Prices - Computer Games Vs DVD Movies

Prices - Computer Games Vs DVD Movies

Prices - Computer Games Vs DVD Movies

Prices - Computer Games Vs DVD Movies

Prices - Computer Games Vs DVD Movies

Prices - Computer Games Vs DVD Movies

Prices - Computer Games Vs DVD Movies

Prices - Computer Games Vs DVD Movies

Prices - Computer Games Vs DVD Movies

Prices - Computer Games Vs DVD Movies

Prices - Computer Games Vs DVD Movies