| The cost of video games has been rising | | | | downloaded for as little as $6.99, which is less |
| consistently. MSNBC reported that top games | | | | than half the cost of the same game on CD or |
| would be selling at $49.95 on the retail shelves, | | | | DVD. There is significant savings for |
| and that future games, because of rising | | | | manufacturers who distribute their games digitally |
| development costs will likely cost more. Michael | | | | via download or online play because there are no |
| Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan | | | | packaging material, no physical CD or DVD, no |
| Securities, estimated that consumers could be | | | | shipping and handling costs. The model has been |
| paying another 10 dollars per title by the end of | | | | very successful even Amazon now offers |
| the year. As an avid gamer, I have watched this | | | | download games. |
| rising tide with fear and trepidation. Video games | | | | The popular categories of download games include |
| are a great outlet for stress, can teach some skill | | | | these game categories: Adventure, Hidden Object, |
| and be educationally useful. Forbes reported on a | | | | Match 3, Large File, Puzzle, and Kids. They include |
| study by psychologists at the University of | | | | titles like Nancy Drew, Mystery Case Files, Diner |
| Rochester found that players actually derive a | | | | Dash, Farm Mania, and classics like "The Price Is |
| sense of achievement, freedom and social | | | | Right". Actually, there are thousands of download |
| connectedness from games. But the rising costs | | | | games, and new ones are coming online |
| hinder the average consumers ability to pickup | | | | everyday. There are download and online games |
| new and diversified titles. The exceptions to the | | | | from every genre and for every taste. So before |
| current trends of higher prices are tied to internet | | | | you fork out $50 plus dollars for that next video |
| technologies. The online and download computer | | | | game, do some research--you may find that the |
| games are places where inexpensive games can | | | | game is already a download computer game |
| still be found. | | | | release and you may be able to get it for $6.99. |
| The concept is that the cost of digital storage, | | | | That could put a lot of money back into your |
| CPU cycles, and bandwidth are actually falling and | | | | pocket, it may even allow you to buy five or six |
| offsetting the rising cost of game development. | | | | games instead of one. Look into download games |
| Computer games that are commonly found on | | | | and online games today. |
| department store shelves for $19.95 can be | | | | |