Games are not in the same price range as textbooks are. With rare exceptions (I'm looking at you, Steel Battalion and Halo 3 Special Edition), games cost $50-$60 dollars.
In comparison, anecdotally, I have yet to have a semester at college where I wasn't "required" (I could have chosen to try and get by without the textbooks, but thats more hassle then I need) to buy 3-4 textbooks that were anywhere from $80-$150, used. Or that much in supplies for an Art class..
Going from 80 to 50 is not a new business model, unless I misunderstood what you said.