I appreciate the analysis, but as a few pointed out, numbers alone does not provide the full picture. For me, to really understand the amount of content and how the quality stacks up is to actually play the game. Sure, not everyone wants to buy games full price just to get an idea of how these games stack up in general, but I cannot truly judge games based on numbers and specs of gameplay footage. If some people like certain games others don't and they actually played it, their opinion holds a good amount of weight because they tried it and can judge the games beI probably wouldn't have strongly considered Awakening if I didn't try the demo. I'm sure a lot of people started buying into the concept of Splatoon once the timed demo trials came for that game.

I'll just have to see once the 19th rolls around. If its anything like previous FE games, in terms of quality like Awakening, PoR, Blazing Sword, etc., then I think it'll be worth it (also considering how different all three sides are potentially going to be in terms of story, gameplay situations, etc.).

just want to throw this out there real quick before we completely demonize nintendo for this release. My local gamestop told me of a deal (not sure if its just gamestop or e-shop as well) where when you buy birthright or conquest, you can get a digital version of the one you didn't get for 20 bucks. So you get one, then pay half price for the second (which according to the op's graph is half the amount of new content). I think there is some kind of sale where you get all 3 for cheap too. Just saying that it appears nintendo is giving some interesting options for people of multiple income levels to choose from. If anyone has further info to add, or something that i'm mistaken on, feel free to share.

It's true. Second game digital download is half price. 

The only way to value and compare the content between fates and awakening is to actually play the game, but you did a great job with the analysis.

Since I wasn't able to get the special edition I'm going to buy conquest, the after chapter 5 or 6 if I recall correctly you can purchase the other version for half the price, I belive that's a fair deal. Not sure about revelations tho, I'm probably going to check if it's worth the $20 first before buying it.

Basically you can get all three version for $80 (which is the same price as the special edition).

I think the biggest, most glaring flaw is the special edition. If they want to experiment like this *fine*. But for the love of goodness make the package ALWAYS available and actually CHEAPER. The package deal should be a standard option and $60. Or $65. But not the same price as just up and buying them separate. Basically, treat this as an episodic experience: have an option to buy them all, at all times, with an actual discount.

It's not the content I'm really annoyed about, but just splitting the game up in the first place

If FE 14 had less content for one game but the same price as Awakening, I would totally get it, but it's not. The price is what annoys me the most

After thinking about it, yeah, each version has as much content as Awakening, or at least Birthright and Conquest separated, so the thread title isn't very accurate.

However, if you were to unify both versions to see all story points, you would see that their content don't double the things originally offered in Awakening, because, as you say, they have a lot of sutff in common.

As such, your point stands, because Fire Emblem Fates, as an individual game, it's a little less than 40% overpriced. In fact, 64 dollars is what the whole package should cost if the three games were coming in one.

While I agree on the availability, I think the $80 price is somewhat reasonable, considering what's going in that package. Three games that potentially provide three different stories and experiences, an art book (don't know how big it will be since I haven't seen an unpackaging of the special edition), and a 3DS case. That's actually less than what it could've potentially cost. You probably don't need me to calculate how much these items could potentially cost in their fullest price.

I'm in the boat feeling that you truly can't tell if the 3 games truly do have the same amount of content as Awakening until you have played them all. Considering the styles birthright and conquest, it is likely the first is likely to clear that checkpoint, since they have the free roaming mechanic of Awakening and Sacred Stones, but Conquest, maybe not, since it follows more traditional FE games. Revelations I have little knowledge of due to spoilers, so I can't comment on that.

There are different ways of looking at this. If you look at each game on it's own, they are likely the same amount or maybe even more than Awakening in terms of characters, stages, and chapters. If you compare shared amount, it probably doesn't equal enough to 3 full FE games. I feel I'll be able to make a better call once I play all 3 of them, but for now, I feel I am unsure to give a sure comment yet.

Also, on the 'what if' I don't see one as being the 'true' answer, but more as a result of 'what if I went with this one choice...' sorta thing xD

I agree. It not just the amount of content (numbers), its also about the experience. You can't just value quality without really trying the game(s) out. Since the three games are going to be formatted differently in terms of level design, story, etc., its likely that you will have different experiences from playing each game. 

Birthright was probably the developers way of maintaining that new FE audience that came about when Awakening got released. While some old fans might scoff at the game and the fans, you can't deny that they have a big part in FE's potential future, which was already in the balance before Awakening was developed due to low sales of previous games. Conquest appears to appeal to the veterans while Revelations is...I'm not sure really, maybe a mixture of both (for $20)?

And I concur with your last sentence. There probably is no true ending or answer. It's what it purposely was developed to be, a choice. Like there's no true ending in the Mass Effect trilogy (unless I'm wrong), even after all these countless decisions you had to make.