I too use the movie argument because virtually everyone goes to see a movie once in awhile and pays the 8 bucks, agreeing that it is somewhat reasonable.
Pay $8 for a ticket 1.5 hours of entertainment (I pay more because I get svckered into a large soda but w/e). That means that 8x8 is $64 bucks, or 12 hours of entertainment for more than the price of buying Skyrim. According to steam I have 123 hours in Skyrim, so I've already got my moneys worth, relative to seeing movies, by a factor of 10. Consider also that I paid 10 bucks for PC Morrowind, and received Xbox Morrowind as a gift years ago and between the two of them I'd conservatively estimate 400 hours played. Now are there other things, perhaps as 'worthwile' that you can spend your 60 bucks on? Sure... But in terms of finding a way to entertain yourself I think that a good video game has a ridiculously beneficial quotient.
You pay $8 for 1 movie ?
At the drive in we get
3 movies back to back.
Sure there are people that pay ridiculous prices at the concession but we can take our own food.
Then there are the movies that I buy, typically for under $6., that unlike games are not used once then thrown away.
I have music and DVDS that I have had for decades, can't say the same about video games.
Granted in the past I have had a ton of fun with games but I have had a ton of fun doing other things that cost less money also.
Games are getting worse in general. They have more bugs, cost way more money, have a tendency to have poorly scripted endings that are obviously rushed to get it on the shelf etc
I played the original Morrowind trilogy and I still think they are better games considering the age of them.
Making a pretty looking game just does not cut it when by lvl 40 it is unplayable because it is defective software.
Problem is that we live in a culture of greed and laziness so these problems are to be expected I guess.
There is still no excuse for Skyrims lack of quality control and then having the neck to charge $60. for the product.
They could fix it and add free content for those that paid full price as a means of compensation.
That would only be fair would it not ?
We have to work for our money so why should they be an acceptation ?
Fix it or refund it is all I'm saying.