Game Developer Justifies Price Increase: Feel Free to Pirate It, I Remain Unconcerned
David Szymanski, the developer behind the acclaimed PC game, justifies his decision to increase the price, stating, Piracy or not, I remain unfazed Despite current lower sales, he anticipates that the forthcoming film's publicity will compensate for it
Developer David Szymanski, known for his successful PC games Dusk and Iron Lung, has increased the price of his latest game with the intention of increasing his earnings.
Szymanski recently raised the price of Iron Lung from $6 to $8, and responded to criticisms on social media by stating, "Iron Lung's price went up because the game is worth $8 and I want to charge that amount to earn more money. If you don't agree with this price, I don't want your money. Go pirate it or something idc," he said.
Szymanski further explained that he raised the price to reflect the additional value and content. The announcement of the price adjustment was made in October and it took effect in November.
He acknowledged hearing comments like, "He's only doing this for the money," and admitted to agreeing with that perspective.
"Yes, I do make games for a living," he stated. "If I didn't want to profit from them, I wouldn't charge for them. I believe in the simple business model of creating something valuable, and in return, receiving payment. If you feel my creations aren't worth the price, that's okay. You can choose not to purchase them, wait for a sale, or find another way to obtain them for free. Your feedback will help me decide on pricing for future releases."
Iron Lung's sales volume took a hit after the price change, according to Szymanski. He acknowledged that raising the price was a risky move, but he had hoped it would pay off in the long term. Szymanski anticipates that sales of the Iron Lung game will continue to decline.
Another factor to consider is Szymanski's optimism that the publicity surrounding the upcoming Iron Lung movie will offset the negative sales impact of the price increase.
The film is written, directed, and produced by Mark Fischback AKA Markiplier, who's also starring in it. The movie is coming to theaters but a release date has not yet been announced.
Editor's P/S
As an enthusiastic fan of David Szymanski's games, I understand his decision to increase the price of Iron Lung. He has put a lot of effort into creating a high-quality game, and he deserves to be compensated for his work. I believe that the game is worth the new price, and I am happy to support him.
However, I can also understand why some people are upset about the price increase. Not everyone can afford to pay $8 for a game, and it's frustrating when a game that you were looking forward to suddenly becomes more expensive. I hope that Szymanski will consider offering discounts or sales in the future so that more people can afford to play his games.
