NTH, you should explain more about how inflation rate works.
IMO, games improve overtime in many different directions.
There are those who go straight upwards (like Gran Turismo series), with more contents, better quality, smarter computer opponent AI, more realistic, more customization, interface, interaction, and multiplayer capability.
There are those who aim for the specifics. Battlefield series totally dump singleplayer, sea warfare, etc for more graphics, multiplayer, interaction, customization, etc... however they are sure to be improving.
In short, there must be some improvement in BF3, and some people are willing to buy it, even though they sacrifice several aspects that "used to be" cool in previous series.
Games in the EU are rediculously expensive, here in NL they used to be 50 gulden which' currency was worth about 2 euros. Instead of making prices 25 euros, they just switched the money icon... I never bought a game since then unless it was totally worth it.
Are you sure they are legit version?
FYI, in Singapore, before they drive away illegal/pirated software out of street market, it used to cost SGD 10 a title for pirated version, the legit version is around SGD 60-90. Since people used to buy pirated games most of the time (due to the price), they simply feels the price is increasing overtime when piracy is slowly driven away overtime.
In Indonesia, the pirated software used to be IDR 8,000 (CD), then currently at IDR 25,000 (DVD) each. The legit ones is rated at IDR 480,000-700,000. They are both still sold side-by-side, if you want MP, you buy the licensed ones, if you are not so concerned about IP rights stuff, then you can save for the morale.