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Sony's Latest Greed Tactic - EQ Currency Locked Subscription
RPGPorkster
Member Posts: 77
Over the past month or so I have been contemplating returning to Everquest after using some free time given to old members, but couldn't make up my mind to do so or not. I was caught between price of subscriptions and time-lines I need for programming projects. Well my mind is now made up, Sony has just changed the pricing scheme for Australians and I bet for other Nations too. They are now charging subscription price based on a set Australian dollar value, not the USA price which converts quite nicely at the moment. With this greedy tactic from Sony, they have helped me decide about returning to the game. I refuse to play a game managed by such a company as Sony, attitudes that suck.
Has Blizzard increased their price?
The US price was about $14.99 which would currently come to around $16.30 Australian. The new price Sony wants is a locked $22.99 Australian, a difference of $6.69 or a 44.6% price increase. No currency conversion is needed but who cares, it's all to their advantage.
Bye Sony, you have turned away more customers with your all time greed. I was expecting a game as old as Everquest1 to be cheaper, not $14, and definitely not $22 a month, irrespective of a new expansion hitting the game.
If you're going bankrupt Sony, this isn't the way to save the MMORPG department. You need numbers of people, not few willing to pay the earth to play. I call that desperate.
Comments
It's absolutely extraordinary; SOE seem to have no attitude towards their loyal customers other than contempt.
In any case I'm not sure this is just blatant greed. In Europe we typically have payment available in both Euros and British pounds, both of them locked and independent of the exchange rate between them (though of course typically set at a reasonable rate when payment is opened). It means the same amount of money being spent every month, which is good for people who plan their (or their children's) spendings. For different services and as the exchange rate fluctuates this means the Brits or us others get "screwed", but if people are balancing on such a fine line with their economy I'd say they should find a free MMOG.
In any case I'm not sure this is just blatant greed. In Europe we typically have payment available in both Euros and British pounds, both of them locked and independent of the exchange rate between them (though of course typically set at a reasonable rate when payment is opened). It means the same amount of money being spent every month, which is good for people who plan their (or their children's) spendings. For different services and as the exchange rate fluctuates this means the Brits or us others get "screwed", but if people are balancing on such a fine line with their economy I'd say they should find a free MMOG.
I can't believe you are siding with SOE on this point. Are you really saying that you would prefer to pay much higher, locked prices at a conversion rate set by SOE to its own advantage just because a fixed rate allows you to 'plan ahead'?
Australians used to pay about $20 to play years ago when the US dollar was stronger, but times have changed and Sony now thinks they can sneak the extra dollars by locking in a conversion price.
Can others check if Sony has done this trick in other Nations? I don't think they would do it to Canadians since they are so close and would have a greater means to complain, but what out other lands?
In any case I'm not sure this is just blatant greed. In Europe we typically have payment available in both Euros and British pounds, both of them locked and independent of the exchange rate between them (though of course typically set at a reasonable rate when payment is opened). It means the same amount of money being spent every month, which is good for people who plan their (or their children's) spendings. For different services and as the exchange rate fluctuates this means the Brits or us others get "screwed", but if people are balancing on such a fine line with their economy I'd say they should find a free MMOG.
It maybe understandable if Sony had a server here and was charging for the service based in Australia, but they aren't. The price is costing them the same for all customers, irrespective if they are in US or Australia, or even in Japan. Actually players in our time zone get the raw deal in playing when it comes to server downtime and other issues.
This greed will only cause more of a wedge between existing players and other games. They that aren't that desperate will move off the game or goto the likes of WoW.
It's a shame as you see people like myself talking about returning or trialing the full game.
Well, it is their game...and we as consumers are free not to play it...... not much else we can really do except vote for our wallets
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
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Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
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"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
I'm not siding with SOE, but won't make a "they're an evil mega-corp out to get your money and eat your babies" statement based on only the fact that they have decided to set a local currency subscription fee for Australia. I don't know how the exchange rate is, nor how it has changed over the last 5-10 years (you said yourself it's nice "at this moment"). That the USD is really weak right now could be a coincidence, or it could be the triggering factor - only SOE knows for sure.
In general, I can very much understand that MMOG publishers have subscription payments in local currencies. They ought to be considerate of their community and their reputation when setting the price in a new currency though.
Edit: I did a check of AUD vs. USD, and I gotta agree that 22.99 AUD is a bit high. Even a year ago the rate was .077, so e.g. 18.99 AUD would have been more appropriate.
My line of work is closely related to the exchange rate of the US dollar. It has been sliding for about the last year on a pretty good clip. SOE didn't mind the exchange when it worked in their favor though.
This is typical SOE action that doesn't suprise me. It is flat out a rate increase without any justifiable returns to the end user.
If you don't like their policies, don't pay them. Coming around to whine about it just makes it look like a tantrum.
shit! They better not do that to the Canadian dolar which is worth 1.04$ American haha :-)
The majority of all MMO producers do this. Nothing here to see, please move along.
Some companies are just run by idiots, you cannot avoid it.
Ok guys...big news coming so brace yourselves...ready, here it comes...some companies are run by people trying to make money!!!!
As a previous poster said...vote with your wallet...I'm certain SOE won't be reading this thread, nor will the people who really like the game and think its worth the money.
Notice: The views expressed in this post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the reviews of MMORPG.com or its management.
Neil Thompson
Staff Writer
MMORPG.com
You know, it is sure funny that people were not bitching about being "locked" into a good price when the exhange rates are in their favor. Plus, look around and find a bank that will give you a U.S. credit card then you don't have to worry about that problem. When I lived in England, Barclays gave me a US and UK credit cards so I know it can be done.
Fear not fanbois, we are not trolls, let's take off your tin foil hat and learn what VAPORWARE is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaporware
"Vaporware is a term used to describe a software or hardware product that is announced by a developer well in advance of release, but which then fails to emerge after having well exceeded the period of development time that was initially claimed or would normally be expected for the development cycle of a similar product."
It's probably Australia charge TAX tbh because in the UK our goverment charges VAT tax on the subscriptions and it costs me about $18/19 a month.
However our economy is much better and its only like £9 a month.
It is this kind of impotent defeatism that allows MMO operators - from SOE to Farlan - to treat theit customers so badly.
How patronising and, indeed, how wrong.
Companies in the real world do indeed make every effort to maximise their revenue flow but they also take pains to explain, justify and indeed sometimes discount rate hikes to their loyal customers in order to keep and build their longterm commercial relationship with those customers - check out how Toyota handles its customers (buy a Lexus today, your next Lexus is an immediate 5% off AFTER all the deals, discounts and bargains offered by your local dealership) or British Airways (fly Economy three times in a row in a Europe and BA will automatically bump you a class next time you fly).
Iv been boycuting SOE For a few years, And Plan to For the rest of my life.
Im glad i ran into This article.
It re-enforces why Iv chosen to Look away from sony Products.
And i invite Others To do so as well.
SOE is a global company. The dollar is taking a nose dive to other currencies so they must adjust their pricing to keep their profits up in other nations. SOE was created to make money and not lose it. It makes 100% sense for them to switch their pricing to local currencies in other countries instead of depending on the dollar which is losing it's value to other currencies around the world. SOE is after all a business designed to make money. If you want a F2P game then don't play SOE games or any other pay2play games. If this logic is too much for you to handle then there is nothing that can be done.
Games I've played/tried out:WAR, LOTRO, Tabula Rasa, AoC, EQ1, EQ2, WoW, Vangaurd, FFXI, D&DO, Lineage 2, Saga Of Ryzom, EvE Online, DAoC, Guild Wars,Star Wars Galaxies, Hell Gate London, Auto Assault, Grando Espada ( AKA SoTNW ), Archlord, CoV/H, Star Trek Online, APB, Champions Online, FFXIV, Rift Online, GW2.
Game(s) I Am Currently Playing:
GW2 (+LoL and BF3)
QFT. As long as the company sees no loss (subscriptions times fee, before vs. after) it's a good move for them. Not sure how many Australians would consider those extra dollars worth quitting a game over (or not starting up one).
Several deleted posts. I wonder what is going on in this thread? It isn't surprising SOE is trying to make money. It isn't surprising they don't care who they upset. I do feel for the OP that they have increased the subscription rate so much though. But, SOE has the right to do it. Just as you have the right to complain about it. I don't understand the hatred here in this thread though.
As much as I agree with that the price changes are not a good idea and I don't pay for EQ in the first place, "voting with your wallet" has no impact whatsoever. Unless you band together large groups of people to make a statement that proves your point (which isn't hard to do), voting with your wallet = 0. Whether they get an extra 12 bucks here or lose 12 bucks there isn't even a theoretical drop in the bucket, let alone a real one.
Send them an open letter with 20,30,50, 100 people signed saying we'll play if you unlock your rates, then you'd be onto something. And given the huge following of EQ (since many people absolutely do not want to quit the game even now and also since it effectively has low system requirements being as old and established as it is - a good thing, even), I would not count out such an idea.
/rant
As far as i knew, the UK already had this fixed pricing of £9.49 ($20 or so as it works out thesedays). WoW has had a £8.99 fixed pricing. However i wont pay more than £9.49 for a game, and boy it has to be good to warrent that price.
Lotro wasnt that good to warrent the price, thats why i didnt bother (£9.49 a mth). Which is why i am back to playing WoW again, untill warhammer comes out that is. Age of conan and pirates of teh burning sea are 2 others i am watching but as yet havent been able to get into any of the beta's (on any of the 3 games), still there is hope and a little time.
1) Sony is falling behind the business model set by Blizzard's success and their own initiation with EQ1. I don't think anyone should be able to say otherwise.
...Therefore we get back to price and attitudes. How do we has MMORPG fans, help to keep a game alive and convince Sony to change its attitude for the better? Is it that important, should we care about EQ?
...Is there an argument about Walmart vs Main Street shops, regarding MMORPG's? SOE has gone from a Walmart to the direction now of a boutique store.
...So people think it's reasonible for Australians to pay a 44,6% increase in playing cost, whilst others pay the US or equivalent?
Just to make it clear, Sony wants Australians to pay $21.16 USD to play for a month (basic subscription.)