Please support Game Informer. Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue
THQ CEO Talks DLC, Cheaper Games
THQ's Brian Farrell has shared his opinion on the $60 price point of video games in the past, and he hasn't changed his mind. Recently the CEO fleshed out his ideas on the subject, and also discussed the future role of DLC and micro-transactions in the console space.
Speaking with Forbes, Farrell reiterated that while the $60 price point is fine for some games, it should be the default for every experience. "Our view is that there will be a wide range of price points for games in the future," Farrell said. "These price points will be driven by the type and depth of the content delivered. A $60 video game now and in the future can deliver a deep experience and hours of differentiated experience through online play, as we’ve just done with Homefront. If we deliver an experience that the gamer values and wants more of, we build on that with digitally delivered downloadable content, which has the effect of increasing the average revenue per user, or ARPU."
Farrell also said that he believes other price models will work in the console space too. "There is definitely a place in console games for the micro-transaction model. For example, the Motoclub shop in MX vs. ATV: Alive – the in-game store will allow players to purchase content from inside the game rather than having to purchase it through the Xbox LIVE marketplace. I think it is a great example of how a triple-A console game can participate in the micro-transaction model." Farrell stated he believes free-to-play games can also work on consoles, but that publishers will have to work with Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo to find a "business model that works for both them and us."
Be sure to check out the rest of the interview at Forbes.
I’d like to ask you to support Game Informer’s continued coverage of games with a subscription. For less than two dollars per issue, we mail you a full year of 10 print magazines, each with cover stories and preview features filled with exclusive details about the most exciting upcoming games. We profile and interview game creators. We look back on the rich history of gaming, and we celebrate what’s next.
Here on the website, we offer much of our content for free, including game reviews, daily news, videos, event coverage, and more – all with minimal ads.
We do so with a small editorial team, alongside contributing paid writers from around the world – over 65 individuals from 9 countries around the world, just in the last couple of years.
It’s not possible without support.
In a time when game makers and games coverage have faced hard struggles and layoffs, the future of this 30+ year magazine and community is at risk. Our new standalone magazine subscription is the number one way you can keep us alive – and we believe you’ll get a pretty fantastic gaming magazine in your mailbox every few weeks for your trouble.
Thank you.
