Are games getting cheaper? Research by EEDAR seems to show that, while looking at broad trends, more games priced lower than the $59.99 standard MSRP of "seventh generation" games are hitting store shelves. While this trend isn't as clear cut as the graphs may make it look, it's clear that consumers are becoming increasingly focused on the price of their entertainment.

The obvious question has to be whether or not this trend has to do with the Nintendo Wii, a system where games still cost $49.99 on average, if not lower. The standard definition system is much simpler to code for, meaning the savings in development can allow publishers to release games for a lower price point and remain profitable.

It's not that cut and dry, however. "Something to keep in mind, however, is the adoption of the Wii by many old PS2/GameCube/Xbox owners who prefer kid, casual or family oriented titles. It would be unfair to exclude Wii data just because they have done a better job of capturing the attention of a large number of users that enjoy cheaper games," the report states. "Furthermore, the Wii has done an equally superior job of bringing new gamers into the market. These gamers, sometimes referred to as 'nontraditional' gamers, are likely more price sensitive and prefer less expensive games. The median price for Wii games released in 2008 was $39.99, compared to $49.99 in 2007." Even among Wii owners, it seems, the price for games is dropping.

Leaving out the Wii completely, one can see price becoming a factor on both the PS3 and Xbox 360. "As the Xbox 360 and the PS3 hardware continue to decline in price, more non-traditional, casual, family, and price sensitive gamers (noting these demographics sometimes overlap) will likely adopt these systems, which will increase the demand for cheaper titles," the report says. February and March releases show an average price of $53 for 360 games, much lower than the normal $60 per title. The report also points out that that there is more demand for these types of less expensive games, now that the Xbox 360 has a SKU under $200.

This shouldn't be used strictly as guidance for pricing, as premium-priced games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero continue to do well at retail, and the $59.99 price point doesn't seem to hurt most big-name blockbuster titles, although that could change. "Of course, the aggressive pricing of the seventh generation is a double-edged sword; if pricing begins to correlate more strongly with value, then publishers/developers need to be careful about the games they have in development," the report warns. With companies like EA making a larger push into the Wii business and casual gaming remaining popular among a wide audience, publishers will continually be forced to balance price with quality.