What do other gamers think of the two different formats usually offered for each casual game being sold at Big Fish? There is a significant difference in price (about $7 for the Standard game and $13 or more for the CE version), so this is worth thinking about. In most cases, there is some Bonus Game play included with the CE (sometimes a good bit of extra time; other times, not - you don't know in advance) and maybe a Strategy Guide. Do many gamers think that makes the CE version worth double the price? Or do more gamers go with the less expensive, standard version of the game? (You do get some artwork and maybe a soundtrack, but does anyone care about those?) I'm just curious.

My personal thoughts on this:

When CEs first started coming out,they were few and far between and they seemed to have more than the SE of the game. A little more worth it back then. Now that two a week are pushed out, they don't seem to be worth the extra price. The only extras that matter to me are achievements, extra game play and the strategy guide. If a CE has excellent reviews, worthwhile extra game play and a decent list of achievements, I will probably buy the game during a half price or BOGO sale. Never full price anymore. That can be tough when a new game from a series that I love comes out, but so far I've been able to stand strong.

To boil it down, I don't think they are worth it now because they are too "mass produced". Once in a while you get a diamond in the rough but not often enough.

Just adding my 2 cents. I usually end up buying the CE for the convenience of the SG. I always play through the bonus content, but really don't use any of the other features(music, screen savers, etc). At one time they tried to offer a Deluxe Edition, which did not have the bonus content, but did include the SG. It was about $10.00. I really liked that idea, but guess it wasn't that popular.

thracia

Sometimes the CE version is worth the extra price and sometimes it's not (if the CE has a particularly good bonus chapter that fills out the story, for instance, and/or adds enjoyable extra activity to the gameplay).

The difference in price between the two is kind of a nonissue at this point (at least it is to me) because it is rare to go a week or more now, after a new CE has been released, where you can't pick it up at some point for approximately $1.50 more than the price of an SE (and sometimes less than that), what with all of the constant sales. What used to be a big decision (CE versus SE) is no longer the tough choice that it once was. If you take advantage of the sales, the difference in price now is quite modest.

Helpful responses, thanks! After buying and playing several hundred games, I'm coming around to the point of view that the Standard game is more worth its cost than the CE. I am not interested in screensaver art, music files and all the rest of the "Extras." The only thing that matters to me is how good (and long) the Bonus Game was. So, if I am going to pay twice as much for the CE version, the Bonus Game has to be of similar caliber as the game in order for me to feel I got my money's worth.

After finding so many of the Bonus Games to be disappointing or short, I think I am going back to buying the Standard version. If someone reviews a game and remarks on the quality of the Bonus Game, I'll buy the CE version. However, "Reviews" of casual games are few and far between, and seldom that specific when they do occur.

You are right, Marion, that the periodic sales help with the cost of buying games, but the sales usually apply to the Standard version as well as the CE. Given that, you can buy far more games (period) if you buy the lesser-priced version ~ whether it is on sale or not. I guess it is up to each gamer to weigh all these parameters.

That's a very good point, Reenie.

I usually go for the CE because of the sheer convenience of having a walkthrough immediately to hand !!
[ I tend to play Casuals when I don't want to have to "think" too much ]

And as I tend to buy my Casuals from Big Fish when they are holding a "sale" I don't find them over expensive

Me too - which is more often than I care to admit.

I'm sayin' nothin' !!!!

I'm with both of you Mad and Marian on that "think" thing!

I usually wait for the 65% off sales (I'm not a member of BF) and get the CE if there is one. I like the extra play and the guide but don't really use the rest of the extras. I'd rather use the guide than "skip" a puzzle that I'm having a problem with. At least I feel I'm playing the game that way, though I prefer not to need it. Not sure if I think double the money is worth it or not but since I spend it, it must be - for now anyway.

Speaking of sales: It's a buy one get one free week-end. So time to stock up on the games you wanted to buy.

Yes, an excellent time to stock up.

I don't think I've ever purchased a CE.

Most of the extras such as wallpaper, soundtrack, SG, achievements etc don't interest me. I've often wondered about the bonus chapter. There are a very few casual games (Dire Grove?) where I have wished it wouldn't end and could play it forever. Mostly I get bored toward the end and have to discipline myself to finish the game. I think this is because of the hidden object searches which I hate. A longer game therefore would rarely be something I'd want.

But I'm very glad they do release CEs as many gamers really like them. We are all different.

I didn't have internet access for several months and coming back to see what BFG has to offer I'm amazed at the number of sales there are. There's rarely any need to pay full price for anything so, as you say, CE devotees may indulge themselves without breaking the bank!

Does anyone know why there are so many sales? Policy change or more competition; market shrinkage?

I go months without playing any CGs so end up accumulating credits as a BF member
so don't mind using them for the CE version of a game. I'm not interested in all of the extras but do like the inclusion of the SG & a bonus chapter....although I do feel annoyed if the bonus chapter is needed to make sense of the story as I do think if you choose to buy the SE version the game should conclude to satisfaction!

Marian, I did buy two games, both Standard versions, although I played the CE trial game for both. The only difference I can see now that I am playing the Standard one is that there are no "Morphing Objects" to look for in each scene. But that stuff always felt like padding; when I do play these games, I am not playing for the HOG aspect, but for the mini-games and puzzles. As long as the Standard version does not end up serving me a truncated version of the story line that you would need the Bonus Game to finish coherently, I am content. As others have said, we can pick what we want and pay for it accordingly.

That all sounds very sensible, Reenie.

Chrissie, I agree that the main game should have closure and not need the bonus game to complete the storyline.

Meryl, with all these discounts on games, I can only think that they more than make up for it, profit wise, by the increased number of games sold.