Halo 3: ODST Forum
This topic has moved here: Subject: Why ODST shouldn't cost $60.
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Subject: Why ODST shouldn't cost $60.

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Let me make it quite clear that I am buying ODST. Of course, that means I believe it's worth it. That begs the question, though: what is 'worth'? If all supermarkets put a 1000% mark up on all their food products, would they still be 'worth it'? Of course they would; we need food to survive. Should they cost that much? Most would agree not, because food doesn't take nearly that much to produce. The same applies to ODST.

The production cost of a game comes down to two observable factors: content, and development. That is, the stuff that comes in the box, and how that stuff is an advancement, an improvement, a development over previous titles. If we look at ODST in terms of new developments, we see that Bungie hasn't done a bad job. There's a non-linear campaign, a survival mode, the VISR, the chance to play as an ODST, a new health system, a couple of cool 'new' weapons...

The problems arise, however, when this is compared to Halo 3. Yes, you could compare it to Ice Age 3: The Game, but surely that's setting the bar pretty low, don't you agree? Are we saying that ODST is going to be as good value for money as 2008 Beijing Olympics? Bungie have set the standard, and it seems that they've fallen pretty short of it this time around.

In terms of new developments, Halo 3 came with a new engine; many new game modes; an expansive new feature set including Forge, File Sharing and Armour Customisation; new core mechanics such as equipment and support weapons, and a redefined multiplayer experience. There were a ton of new weapons, vehicles, and enemies, and any of these that had been recycled from previous games had also been, for the most part, substantially redefined.

When we view the content of ODST, another problem arises. We have a campaign, and we have a pretty in-depth new game mode. That's pretty much where it stops. Of course, there is a new multiplayer map pack, but that does happen to be content for Halo 3; if Halo 3 had come with three new Halo 2 maps, most people would have considered them a bonus rather than a part of the actual game.

I won't list the features of Halo 3 here, but it's pretty obvious that the list would supersede ODST in pretty much every way, particularly when considering the competitive multiplayer component; a feature that most people believe to be as integral to 'Halo' as its campaign.

So we see that both in terms of content, and development, Halo 3 ODST falls short by quite a way.

Of course, there are other ways to take a look at the price situation. ODST was developed by a small team over the course of just one year. Barely a few months before it was finished (and that time was spent mostly polishing) it was being called an expansion. Sure, "it's grown a lot since then", but did it really grow enough to propel itself from standalone expansion to fully fledged, Bungie-developed game?

You know what though, I think ODST will be great. I think that what it lacks in size and novelty it will make up for in quality. And even though I don't think it should cost $60, I am not going to get all hot and bothered over it; it cannot be changed, so let's just enjoy it for what it is.

So why did I bring this up? Well, part of me simply wanted to explain my stance, as well as the stance of many others who are unhappy with the price. But I also wanted you to consider another thing, something that is perhaps part of a bigger picture:

Some say the price is out of Bungie's control. Perhaps it is. But I find it strange that Microsoft allowed Valve to sell The Orange Box for a mere $60, but wouldn't let Bungie sell their game at their much-touted "value oriented" price. Me, I think that Bungie had something to do with it, and I think that above all, we should perhaps reconsider our usage of Microsoft as the infallible scapegoat.


Preemptin'

Posted by: Mr. Inevitable
Wait a second! What about the Halo: Reach beta!


Betas are generally considered bonus content, and as such do not factor into the game's price tag. Crackdown is fine example of this phenomenon.

Posted by: Captain Unavoidable
Yeah, but what about the second disc!


Ok, let's assume that when Reach is released, it comes bundled with all of Halo 3; there's no way to buy Reach without also purchasing this other disc. Should Reach then be priced at $120? No, it shouldn't. Equally, Halo 3 ODST's price should not be augmented by content that most people already own, and content that is 100% recycled material.

Posted by: Sir Skimmalot
Look, mate.

Campaign = $30
Firefight = $20
MMP2 = $10


Unfortunately, this is not an appropriate way of viewing the situation. For starters, you are ignoring half of the picture. Everything related to that which I dubbed 'development' is dubiously absent from your analysis.

For seconds, we see that by this logic, other games should cost tremendous amounts of money. Let's take Halo 3 as a point in case:

Campaign = $30
Multiplayer = $30
Forge = $10
Theatre = $10
11 Maps = $36.63
File Sharing = $5
Armour Perms = $5
Gametypes = $10

Hey look, Halo 3 should have cost $136.63!

And finally, we have the sweet, sweet side of subjectivity. In the end, value judgments such as those are all opinion, and as such have no place in argument.

Anyway, please discuss respectfully.

[Edited on 08.22.2009 5:57 PM PDT]

  • 08.21.2009 3:58 PM PDT
Subject: Why ODST is worth $60, but shouldn't cost $60.

Oh look, another worthless price thread, would you just get over the damn prince and stop whining.

  • 08.21.2009 4:00 PM PDT

So it's 4:30am....

Wow there's bloody hundreds of these topics today. If you don't want the game, then don't buy it.

  • 08.21.2009 4:01 PM PDT
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*new campaign - $30 easily
*new coop survival mode - $10 easily
*map pack - $10

STFU please.

[Edited on 08.21.2009 4:02 PM PDT]

  • 08.21.2009 4:01 PM PDT

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Posted by: Lunatic__Brandon
*new capaign - $30 easily
*new coop survival mode - $10 easily
*map pack - $10

STFU please.


By that logic, Halo 3 should cost around $349.

  • 08.21.2009 4:02 PM PDT

I miss playing Halo with my friends.

Posted by: Lunatic__Brandon
*new campaign - $30 easily
*new coop survival mode - $10 easily
*map pack - $10

STFU please.


+ Access to Halo: Reach Beta $10-$20

  • 08.21.2009 4:03 PM PDT
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Posted by: porkstein
Posted by: Lunatic__Brandon
*new capaign - $30 easily
*new coop survival mode - $10 easily
*map pack - $10

STFU please.


By that logic, Halo 3 should cost around $349.


Good logic my friend. Map packs for all games cost $10. The maps that come with the game do not cost $3.33 each.

Not to mentions games with only a 6 hour campaign sell well at $60.

  • 08.21.2009 4:05 PM PDT
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Posted by: Kaiser TheGreat
Posted by: Lunatic__Brandon
*new campaign - $30 easily
*new coop survival mode - $10 easily
*map pack - $10

STFU please.


+ Access to Halo: Reach Beta $10-$20


That doesn't cost money

  • 08.21.2009 4:05 PM PDT

I miss playing Halo with my friends.

Posted by: Lunatic__Brandon
Posted by: Kaiser TheGreat
Posted by: Lunatic__Brandon
*new campaign - $30 easily
*new coop survival mode - $10 easily
*map pack - $10

STFU please.


+ Access to Halo: Reach Beta $10-$20


That doesn't cost money


Did you play the Halo 3 beta?

  • 08.21.2009 4:08 PM PDT
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+ Access to Halo: Reach Beta $10-$20

That doesn't cost money


Look I Don't Want To Make You Look Stupid But Umm... Playing Campaign And FireFight Doesn't Cost Any Money Either Dumb -blam!-

[Edited on 08.21.2009 4:11 PM PDT]

  • 08.21.2009 4:10 PM PDT

LW45 TS40 TO40 TSW35 TSN35 TT30 SB30 MLG25

Posted by: Lunatic__Brandon
Posted by: porkstein
Posted by: Lunatic__Brandon
*new campaign - $30 easily
*new coop survival mode - $10 easily
*map pack - $10

STFU please.


By that logic, Halo 3 should cost around $349.


Good logic my friend. Map packs for all games cost $10. The maps that come with the game do not cost $3.33 each.


So a map pack map costs 3.33, but a stock map doesn't? Good logic my friend.

11 x $3.33 is around $37. Plus $30 for the campaign, and we have Halo 3 (minus all multiplayer functionality, Forge, Theater, blah, blah, blah) costing $67.

You simply can't assign figures to each component of a game. They're priced based on development cost, not content. One map doesn't take a tenth of the time to develop as a new engine. Do you see people assigning figures to that 'component'?

[Edited on 08.21.2009 4:14 PM PDT]

  • 08.21.2009 4:12 PM PDT
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Uncharted for the PS3 was $60, but it only had campaign and I believe a few extras. Why is it that nobody whined about Uncharted's price, but when Halo 3: ODST, a game with a beefy campaign, Firefight, a Halo: Reach beta key, and all the bells and whistles of Halo 3 multiplayer, is instantly demonized for its $60 price tag?

  • 08.21.2009 4:15 PM PDT

Foley says:

-The proper response is:-

Posted by: The Searchbar
Why the hell don't people use meh?

WAAH oh the noez its 60$!!! Its end of the world holy -blam!-!!!!! We're all going to die!!! -______- don't buy it then shuzzzzzzzzz

  • 08.21.2009 4:16 PM PDT

Porkstein.. what do you think making this thread is going to do? It just shows what an arrogant, usless dick you are. Just quit while your ahea- well, just quit.

  • 08.21.2009 4:20 PM PDT

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Posted by: Go Vader
Uncharted for the PS3 was $60, but it only had campaign and I believe a few extras. Why is it that nobody whined about Uncharted's price, but when Halo 3: ODST, a game with a beefy campaign, Firefight, a Halo: Reach beta key, and all the bells and whistles of Halo 3 multiplayer, is instantly demonized for its $60 price tag?


Expectations.

  • 08.21.2009 4:20 PM PDT

Expressing my strong liberal views without shame. Favorite quotes below:

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
"One starts to live when he can live outside himself."

- Albert Einstein

Firefight is a huge thing.

  • 08.21.2009 4:20 PM PDT

Posted by: Irr3l3vant
It's on a lot of community maps. Affinity, Think Twice, Abridged...

Posted by: dfisch5
I meant good maps

I respect that you don't feel that the game is not worth $60, but I disagree. I do feel that the 9+ hour long campaign, plus Firefight (which is something that I am really looking forward to), plus 3 new maps, and also with an additional beta key for Reach, is definitely worth the $60. The second disc also will allow me to delete my maps from my harddrive, which will mean not having to buy a new Harddrive or memorysitck/flashdrive for a while. And as a final note, It would have been much better for you to voice your opinion in on of the many other threads about this subject.

  • 08.21.2009 4:23 PM PDT

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Posted by: Axcleblade
I respect that you don't feel that the game is not worth $60, but I disagree. I do feel that the 9+ hour long campaign, plus Firefight (which is something that I am really looking forward to), plus 3 new maps, and also with an additional beta key for Reach, is definitely worth the $60. The second disc also will allow me to delete my maps from my harddrive, which will mean not having to buy a new Harddrive or memorysitck/flashdrive for a while. And as a final note, It would have been much better for you to voice your opinion in on of the many other threads about this subject.


Oh, I think it's worth $60; I'll probably be playing ODST for many months to come, and that's more than most games I buy. But I don't believe it should cost $60, due to its small size relative to other Halo games.

  • 08.21.2009 4:27 PM PDT
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Posted by: porkstein
Posted by: Axcleblade
I respect that you don't feel that the game is not worth $60, but I disagree. I do feel that the 9+ hour long campaign, plus Firefight (which is something that I am really looking forward to), plus 3 new maps, and also with an additional beta key for Reach, is definitely worth the $60. The second disc also will allow me to delete my maps from my harddrive, which will mean not having to buy a new Harddrive or memorysitck/flashdrive for a while. And as a final note, It would have been much better for you to voice your opinion in on of the many other threads about this subject.


Oh, I think it's worth $60; I'll probably be playing ODST for many months to come, and that's more than most games I buy. But I don't believe it should cost $60, due to its small size relative to other Halo games.

.....? I fail to see how it is small. Bungie has said that they extended the campaign, Firefight in and of itself should be a long lasting feature, adding in Halo 3 multplayer will extend it, and the Reach beta will bring in life. It seems its size isn't much of an issue.

  • 08.21.2009 4:44 PM PDT
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I see your logic/concern, but it's out of your control. The price will most likely not change, so if you don't feel it's worth the $60, then don't buy it. It most likely will not effect me whether you buy it or not.

  • 08.21.2009 5:00 PM PDT

Come get some.

Yeah, well I live in Australia, so I have to pay more than you do for every single game.

So here's a thought- just shut the hell up. Bungie and Microsoft know that everyone complaining about the price is just going to buy it anyway.

[Edited on 08.21.2009 5:04 PM PDT]

  • 08.21.2009 5:03 PM PDT

YouTube : whosOOPPY.:)

I Camp IRL Style.. UMAD?

Why Dose Every Other Game cost 60$
Think about it..
You got new campaign
new survival mode
map pack 2
Beta For Halo:Reach
+Another Halo 3 disk with ALL Maps

And If So why would COD MW2 cost 60$?
And MANY other Games...
Think about it before another stupid Thread.
**And if you dont like the price Wait a couple years for Price Gose down.**

[Edited on 08.21.2009 5:13 PM PDT]

  • 08.21.2009 5:04 PM PDT

You just got Shakespeared!

Im getting the limited edition so that's $40 more but it comes with a controller that you can't buy separately, and all Halo ODST plus Halo mythic (name of the disc with the maps) so stop complaining.

  • 08.21.2009 5:09 PM PDT

Check out the group, Planet Reach and talk about Bungie's next game without the annoyance of the public forum. Oh and it's nice there too.

You thought you had lag, it took Jesus 3 days to re-spawn.

Oh look, another comparison that only looks at one side.

Yes, Halo 3 had more content than ODST, but what about the other side of that argument? Uncharted and Bioshock had less content than ODST and they both were 60 bucks. If those games that only have a campaign and nothing else are 60, why is ODST over priced with all of its content?

I see what you're saying but you fail to look at all of the games that only had campaign and were worth their 60 dollar tag. Lack of multiplayer does not make a games value go down. Especially when there's so much other content.

  • 08.21.2009 5:10 PM PDT

ima save this space for the wolf...for the epic wolf....

with every halo 3 map on a different disc?? im pretty sure its worth the money
and bungie said that you dont need your old halo disc if you use the one with the maps and everything.so its like buying a new and improved halo 3 + halo 3 odst

  • 08.21.2009 5:12 PM PDT

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