#13 - A computer game publisher has recently released

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

Strengthen. The correct answer choice is (B)

The new adventure computer game discussed in this stimulus has interesting puzzles and a
compelling plot that makes players want to complete the game. Players can buy the game or rent it
for two days at a time, and those who rent and then buy are eligible for a rebate of the rental price,
which represents a significant part of the purchase price.

The game has been selling at levels equal to expectations, and has been renting at levels above
expectations. Based on the notion that many of the current rentals, which are exceeding expectations,
will soon be converted to sales, the game publisher predicts that sales will soon exceed expectations
as well.

The question that follows asks for the answer choice that most justifies the publisher’s prediction, so
the correct answer will make it more likely that sales will soon exceed expectations.

Answer choice (A): The prediction that sales will soon exceed expectations is based on the fact that
rentals are currently exceeding expectations, and there is reason to believe that many such rentals
will be converted to purchases. As such, the ability to purchase directly from the publisher does not
boost the strength of the publisher’s prediction.

Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. The stimulus provides that most who play
the game want to complete it. If, as this choice provides, the game requires several weeks for most
players to complete, that would make it more likely that a two-day rental will not satisfy most
players, and again, the rental price represents a significant portion of the full purchase price. Taken
together, this increases the chances that the two-day rentals, which are exceeding expectations, will
eventually be converted to full purchases.

Answer choice (C): The publisher’s popularity and success in the market would presumably be
considered in the creation of sales expectations. This choice does not strengthen the publisher’s
prediction that sales will soon exceed those expectations, because that prediction is based on the idea
that many of the rentals, which are exceeding expectations, will soon be converted to purchases.
Answer choice (D): If anything, this choice would weaken the publisher’s prediction, because it
makes continued enjoyment of the game less likely; regardless, this choice fails to help justify the
publisher’s prediction, so this answer should be ruled out of contention.

Answer choice (E): The publisher’s prediction is based on the fact that the current level of rentals
will soon translate to sales that exceed expectations. Since this choice does not help to justify that
prediction, it cannot be the correct answer to this Strengthen question.

[smile22]

I am a bit unsure on how answer B strengthens this argument. I understand that the stimulus is concluding that soon sales of the game will exceed expectations based on the fact that the rate of sales and rentals have met and exceeded expectations, respectively. How does B strengthen the argument?

[Steve Stein]

Hey Smile,

That's a good question. In that one, people who rent that video game have an incentive to go from buyer to renter, since the cost of one rental can be applied to the cost of purchase. Sales are meeting expectations, and rentals are exceeding them, so the publisher of the game predicts that sales will soon exceed as well.

The publisher's conclusion is based in part on the notion that the current expectation-exceeding renters will soon become expectation-exceeding buyers. This seems reasonable, since the even casual players get preoccupied--with completing the game.

If, hypothetically, the game could be easily completed within a day or two, this would weaken the claim, since we are not told how people respond after having completed the game.

If, as answer choice (B) provides, it actually takes weeks for most people to finish the game, that provides support for the notion that current renters (whose numbers are now exceeding expectations) will still have an incentive to become buyers (even after their two-day rental).

I hope that's helpful--please let me know whether this is clear--thanks!

~Steve

[smile22]

Ohh I see. I missed the point about renters only being allowed to rent for two days only. Answer B makes complete sense. Thank you!

[jruzicka]

I don't understand how B is the correct answer. This stimulus really confused me on the portion when it talks about how the publisher offers a rebate = to the cost of one rental for renters who buy the game. WHy would they get a free rental when they bought the game? I picked A for my answer bc I did not know what else to pick.

[Ron Gore]

Hi, J!

Welcome to the forum.

This is a Strengthen question in which causal reasoning has a big role. There are two causal relationships at play.

First, the game's inventive puzzles and compelling plots cause people to become preoccupied with completing the game.

Next, the rental rebate produces an incentive for those preoccupied gamers to purchase the game assuming they would have to rent the game for some extended length of time and the purchase price isn't significantly higher than the cost of repeated rentals. So, to some extent, we can say it is likely that the rebate causes renters to be at least a little more willing to buy the game.

We know that game sales have already met expectations. And the rentals are going strong, exceeding expectations. Since the qualities of the game will cause the renters to want to finish the game, and the rebate will likely cause some of them to be more likely to purchase the game, and the game has already met sales expectations, all we need to strengthen the conclusion is to find out that the renters will have the game long enough to decide it's cost effective to buy the game, especially given the nudge of the rebate offer.

Answer choice (B) does just that. If it takes several weeks for players to complete the game -- which, remember, they are preoccupied with doing --, then that definitely strengthens, at least a little bit, the conclusion that the sales, which have already met expectations, will go on to exceed expectations.

Don't worry about why the stores offer the rebate. That's not important to this question. Just take the fact that they do offer the rebate and consider the impact that will have on the renters.

Please let me know if you have any further questions!

Best wishes,

Ron

[15veries]

Hi,

I just wanted to double check...
So it does not have to be "2 weeks" right?
It can be 3 weeks, 5 days, or months...it just means or needs to exceeds the "2 days" so that it will support the idea they will become buyer and increase the sale of the product.
Since this is justify question, it can go beyond what it requires, right?

Thanks

[Emily Haney-Caron]

Hi 15veries,

Basically, yes. Good work reasoning through this.