I agree with this, but at the same time, the mainstream gaming audience has clearly spoken their mind on their perception of platformers, the past few years.  Even a big name like Donkey Kong, which has been spun for over 2.5 decades, has lost it's value to a lot of gamers, ESPECIALLY mainstream.  If Nintendo REALLY wants to right this ship, take a break from platformers would be my first suggestion...

I would pay $60 for any game as long as it's what I'm after, for example I would pay $60 for a JRPG with 2d sprites as long as it looked up my alley.

There are a lot of games that aren't "worth" $60. However, standardization does things to prices.

As much as any other genre.

But do you think that twice the people would buy a game if it was 30$ instead of 60$? Just so that the developers/publishers get their money back?

That's a question I think a lot about. 20 years ago games costed even more than now, not including inflation and so on. At that time they got away with it though, since there were no 1 dollar mobile phone games.

Is VVVVVV supposed to be one of the best indie platformers?  I played the demo of that game, and came away completely unimpressed.  It probably wouldn't even make the list of the 50 best internet flash games I have ever played.  If that is the state of indie platformers, that is really sad.

Wow.

That sounded really harsh, and now I kind of feel bad.  But it is also true, so...

Same  here.

Indie games are generally inferior to proper games, and putting them up against the best in the industry is like putting a mouse in a cage with a lion.

i remember when i bought DK on snes for 49.99 that was along time ago so for the current nintendo platformers to still have not increased (dont know what prices other wiiu games are) SW prices is good

i think $60 is pretty fair for majority of games that have a 10-20hr SP and some kinda MP most MP like the older CODs and uncharted can keep me playing for at least 2 yrs after release. anything that dont have a around 10hr SP and no MP shouldnt cost $60 but luckily most games now can be found at a 10%- 30% discount soon after release if your patient and know where to look

DKC and Rayman give me more hours of entertainment than most of these sophisticated games lack nowadays.

I think its all about the budgets.

In terms of sheer gameplay, I think it depends on what kind of platforming you like. In terms of everything else - Content, longevity, replayability... If you have more money to spend youll tend to be able to put more content into your game.

When it comes to bang for your buck, a fair few indie platformers are up there with some "AAA" platformers.

This is just wrong on so many levels. Indie development is getting better and better as days go by. From Minecraft to Papers, Please. From Don't Starve to Hotline Miami. From The Stanley Parable to Outlast. So many brilliant, unique experiences that not only sell as well as the $60 retail games, but continue to grow with dedicated fanbases.

To call them inferior to "proper" games is extremely shallow.