Games that are so cheap it shouldn't be allowed!

On March 5 we launched a new section called Games Under $10 where we feature every game on this site that is in fact - the whole truth and nothing but the truth - under $10 bucks.

In light of worldwide economic concerns, many game developers and publishers are lowering prices to see if it results in an increase in sales.  We decided to do the same.

Many full versions are $9.99. Some are $6.99. That shouldn't be legal - but it is.

This is what you need to know:

This is an Experiment!

Yes, that is right.  This is a lab experiment.  You are in fact the experimentees.  But instead of injecting you with harmful substances to see if any mutations result, we are merely seeing if the lower prices cause you to buy more games.

How will we know if the experiment is a success?

If all of us (developer, publisher, and us at DFG) actually make more money from lower priced full version games, those games will stay at lower prices (sorry about that - we are a business!).  If not, game prices will go back up. 

Why would prices go back up?

Fact of the matter is these games are expensive to make.  Most games cost anywhere from $20,000 to $200,000 and even more to create.  That isn't cheap.  It also is a total pain in the neck - just ask any software developer.  If you don't know any software developers, you can ask here.

The game industry is getting more and more competitive and smaller developers are finding it harder to survive.  They must earn the most they can from their games.  Price testing is one way to try to figure that out.

Why aren't all games this cheap?

Other than the costs of making a game that we already talked about, for some game developers it isn't worth it to sell their full versions this low.  We had to remove the following games from our Games Under $10 area at the developer and/or publisher's request:

• Kudos
• Kudos Rock Legend
• Oval Office
• Democracy
• Real Estate Empire
• Fairy Godmother Tycoon
• Mad Magic
• Empires & Dungeons

What are your thoughts on lower prices?

So what do you think?  Do lower prices actually make you buy more games or will you buy a good full version game at any reasonable price?  Should more developers drop prices and possibly lose revenue (and maybe even go out of business) or is the standard $20 a good price for most games?