PoSSeSSeDCoW: I don't know about you, but I picked up several < 1 year old games on Steam for between $5 and $15 during the Steam Summer sale. Furthermore, a part of the reason for high prices in digital distribution (as well as the desire for more money) is the fact that retailers would be very unhappy (i.e. possibly stop shelving their games) if they were being undercut by digital distribution services.

StingingVelvet: It's not hard to have low prices on old games... I routinely get deals just as good as Steam on amazon. I just got Storm of Zephyr the other day for $3.99 brand new on amazon.
I don't know how Steam got it into people's heads that they are the only store that offers discounts, but they did. I would actually say by shopping on amazon 99% of the time I save a ton of money over Steam, as I constantly get preorder discounts, gift certificates and lower prices in general.
The reason Steam is more expensive is because they have to charge what the publisher says at all times, those deals must be worked out in advance. Boxed retail outlets can charge whatever they want.

rs2yjz: That's great, but am assuming everything won't be available though, and the sales won't carry over.

Deus_Ex: The way I see it in this quirky brain of mine is that the problem we face today is that companies aren't so much interested in making great games as they are making great profit. In the old days we had a problem with piracy as well, but there were more companies interested in passionately making games that they knew consumers would enjoy than game studios run by evil geniuses with dollar signs in their eyes.
I hope that some day we can get past this obsession with money and profit and concentrate on the most important aspect of video games: Providing an amazing experience for the consumer that he or she isn't afraid to pay for. Borderlands was an amazing game, people bought it. I wish it could be like this with every title.
I'm not naĩve, I'm optimistic :)

H2IWclassic: I spent good money on Supreme Commander and Forged Alliance (�25 in total which I normally wouldn't spend on a new game), unfortunately THQ decided to fuck over the devs (GPG and Chris Taylor). As a result they've churned out a dumbed down sequel to appeal to the mass market, which I feel was a big mistake.
I often buy used games due to money concerns, so THQ can go stick it where the sun don't shine, as far as I'm concerned.

PoSSeSSeDCoW: Actually, there's lots of evidence that suggests that the consolidation (and thus less competition) in wireless Internet has helped customers, as it has allowed them to become more efficient and improve coverage, as well as offer lower rates.

H2IWclassic: What I'm saying is THQ's losses were partially absorbed by GPG (losing two-thirds of your staff is a big hit for a developer). Which led to them having to go elsewhere for SC2.

Crassmaster: Not really sure why you'd think that. GPG hasn't exactly been on a great run of late...they developed Demigod, which was an absolute mess. SupCom 2. And let us not forget the wonder of Space Siege.
I'd say that, with a run of product like that, GPG brought any problems they had on themselves.

H2IWclassic: Yet this is the same GPG that made SC1, Forged Alliance and Dungeon Siege. Supcom broke a million copies sold less than a year after release, I wouldn't call that the signs of a failing company. Clearly there was a connection with the post-recession problems of THQ - are you telling me going from 125 to 45 staff didn't have an effect on GPG's capabilities?

H2IWclassic: Yet this is the same GPG that made SC1, Forged Alliance and Dungeon Siege. Supcom broke a million copies sold less than a year after release, I wouldn't call that the signs of a failing company. Clearly there was a connection with the post-recession problems of THQ - are you telling me going from 125 to 45 staff didn't have an effect on GPG's capabilities?

Crassmaster: Again, I'm betting the horrors of Space Siege and Demigod's release probably had a little something to do with their financial woes...and again, you can't put the blame on THQ for either of those atrocious games.

H2IWclassic: Dawn of War which has devolved to the same extent as C&C...