If you like the game, want to support the dev and want to see the new content first and 50$ is a no brainer for you - bend over and take it like the unappreciated consumer you are.
If the price seem too high, wait until christmas, I bet there would be a sale then. No need to cry about it and trying to make a thing out of the fact that you are having to pay twice for the base game instead of paying for the expansion like is normally done.
I rewrote that for you and filled in the lines to make sense of what you are actually trying to say. In all honest I don't understand where consumers like you come from. Could you explain to us more about your gaming habits, income and what you do in your spare time? I would really like to understand consumers like you.....cause I don't.
I work as a PR consultant, my boyfriend is a programmer. We are gaming on most of our free time. We've both clocked over 2000 hours in Guild Wars 2 and various other titles. 50$ is not an issue to our household in the slightest.
We also don't live in a basement as other gamer brethren, trying to tell me how fucked up we are for paying 50$.
You know, there are restaurants where dinner for 2 costs more than that.
What you have to understand is that some are willing to pay a lot more than others for entertainment. That is why you have a multi million dollar cars. That's not their real value.
Besides we can talk all week but the fact remain is that value is in the eye of the beholder. With the vet perks 50$ is worth it in my eyes. If it is too much for you, move along, plenty of games in the world.
Or you know ... get a better job.
Zero people in this thread have argued that they can't afford the expansion. What they are saying is that it does not contain $50 worth of content. So instead of lording how much money you have over other people and telling them to get jobs, how about actually reading their posts first.
To prove my point, I have masters degree and a full time job at one of the highest ranked hospitals in the country. I share my costs with my gf who I live with. I had a family member pass away recently who was extremely wealthy. I have more money atm than i know what to do with. I love GW2. Guess how many copies of the expansion I'm buying? Zero. Why? Because it's literally a joke how little content it contains.
Guess what I did do? Buy FFXIV + Expansion and a 6 month sub. Wait! You might say. That's more than GW2 + Expansion 2x over. True story. However, I actually think I'm getting my money's worth in comparison to the offerings from ANet.
TLDR - we've all got the money. The question is: what's the value of the expansion to you? For me it's not $50 that's for sure.
I completely agree, it is not the cost but is it worth it. I know some people here are broke college students or people on low income and $50 is a lot of money for them. (then maybe you should stop playing games and work overtime?) I just bought a few games on steam and gave away to my friends - way more than $50. Am I buying gw2? nope... pretty much any f2p game has more content than the expansion right now...
Then again I am still pissed as a former ranger that after 3 years still they did not fix pet pathing AI. I will go back to Gw2 when they fix that
If you like the game, want to support the dev and want to see the new content first and 50$ is a no brainer for you - bend over and take it like the unappreciated consumer you are.
If the price seem too high, wait until christmas, I bet there would be a sale then. No need to cry about it and trying to make a thing out of the fact that you are having to pay twice for the base game instead of paying for the expansion like is normally done.
I rewrote that for you and filled in the lines to make sense of what you are actually trying to say. In all honest I don't understand where consumers like you come from. Could you explain to us more about your gaming habits, income and what you do in your spare time? I would really like to understand consumers like you.....cause I don't.
I work as a PR consultant, my boyfriend is a programmer. We are gaming on most of our free time. We've both clocked over 2000 hours in Guild Wars 2 and various other titles. 50$ is not an issue to our household in the slightest.
We also don't live in a basement as other gamer brethren, trying to tell me how fucked up we are for paying 50$.
You know, there are restaurants where dinner for 2 costs more than that.
What you have to understand is that some are willing to pay a lot more than others for entertainment. That is why you have a multi million dollar cars. That's not their real value.
Besides we can talk all week but the fact remain is that value is in the eye of the beholder. With the vet perks 50$ is worth it in my eyes. If it is too much for you, move along, plenty of games in the world.
Or you know ... get a better job.
Zero people in this thread have argued that they can't afford the expansion. What they are saying is that it does not contain $50 worth of content. So instead of lording how much money you have over other people and telling them to get jobs, how about actually reading their posts first.
To prove my point, I have masters degree and a full time job at one of the highest ranked hospitals in the country. I share my costs with my gf who I live with. I had a family member pass away recently who was extremely wealthy. I have more money atm than i know what to do with. I love GW2. Guess how many copies of the expansion I'm buying? Zero. Why? Because it's literally a joke how little content it contains.
Guess what I did do? Buy FFXIV + Expansion and a 6 month sub. Wait! You might say. That's more than GW2 + Expansion 2x over. True story. However, I actually think I'm getting my money's worth in comparison to the offerings from ANet.
TLDR - we've all got the money. The question is: what's the value of the expansion to you? For me it's not $50 that's for sure.
Thank you both! 2 different consumers with 2 different values.
I'm not rich or poor, I know I do not come close making what you and Leon1e make. But telling folks to get a better job I find insulting... looking@Leon1e.
I do Purchasing/IT for small local business sacrificing pay to see a small business blossom.
Planing a Wedding
Child Support
Fiancee laid off for almost 6 months
Lawyer fees
This all adds up. I do not have a need for things like most folks. MMOs are my entertainment. Just as much as dinning out or cooking at home with quality food.
Yes, I know what it's like to enjoy an overpriced Big Mac or enjoying $10-$15 sandwich or burger. Even just to head over to a 7 Eleven and grab a couple Torenados. Many of us see
Value over time, they delivered and entertained me for 3 yrs. Looking forward to another 3 I drop $50.
FFXIV has always felt restrictive and zones too small. No exploration. Are the maps bigger in the new expansion?
Guess what I did do? Buy FFXIV + Expansion and a 6 month sub. Wait! You might say. That's more than GW2 + Expansion 2x over. True story. However, I actually think I'm getting my money's worth in comparison to the offerings from ANet.
TLDR - we've all got the money. The question is: what's the value of the expansion to you? For me it's not $50 that's for sure.
You haven't said anything new either. Value is subjective. Well there's a breaking news story. I personally don't think FF14 is worth spending $40 for an xpac and $156 a year rental fee for a gear treadmill. If I wanted to play a gear treadmill game I would go back to Rift, not because Rift is cheaper, but because it's a better progression game.
I think clunky boring combat and artificial subscription timesinks aren't worth my money. I should probably head to all the FF14 threads about Heavensward and point out how it's not worth the money and let everyone know I'm not going to buy it until it's $10. That'll show em.
I never said otherwise. You are arguing with me but I agreed with that point from the start. Value is subjective. The person I was responding to that people not being able to afford it is the issue.
Thank you both! 2 different consumers with 2 different values.
I'm not rich or poor, I know I do not come close making what you and Leon1e make. But telling folks to get a better job I find insulting... looking@Leon1e.
I do Purchasing/IT for small local business sacrificing pay to see a small business blossom.
Planing a Wedding
Child Support
Fiancee laid off for almost 6 months
Lawyer fees
This all adds up. I do not have a need for things like most folks. MMOs are my entertainment. Just as much as dinning out or cooking at home with quality food.
Yes, I know what it's like to enjoy an overpriced Big Mac or enjoying $10-$15 sandwich or burger. Even just to head over to a 7 Eleven and grab a couple Torenados. Many of us see
Value over time, they delivered and entertained me for 3 yrs. Looking forward to another 3 I drop $50.
FFXIV has always felt restrictive and zones too small. No exploration. Are the maps bigger in the new expansion?
Personally I find the zones to be reasonably large enough where they don't feel overly restrictive and I've had my moments of exploration but nothing compared to say Darkfall. I would agree that GW2's zones feel larger. Like you state I think it's about perceived value not about how much money people have.
Regardless GW2 is a solid title and I plan to buy the expansion. Just not for $50.
Another fact is marketing + box cost + retailer cost.
Back in the day Blizzard advertised the game on all media, sent the boxed game to gamestop, target etc and then sold for $50.
(numbers are estimated)
around $10-14 goes to retailer and transportation costs
another $5-8 for marketing
and finally around $15 for development and box cost, which leaves a net profit of $15-20 per box sold.
Lets take the new gw2 expansion:
-marketing costs : very low maybe $1-2 per box
- no shipping or retail costs on digital box sales.
-only net cost is development costs, which is not that high since it is just 1 new class + few new zones added.
Basicly Arena can sell the product at a very low cost but they are trying to push for maximum profits thinking lost %20-30 of customers are going to be offset by increased %50 profit.
Me and most of my friends are not buying the expansion, not that we do not have $50, but they would rather pay $15 a month to FFivX plus buy and try a few new indie games. ( we all bought ark survival few days ago, well its really not an indie company since the developer is the evil EA)
SOE has done this with EQ and EQ2 for many years, and it's a good idea. Let me tell you why...
If you use the Blizzard model, or the SOE model from 2004, you buy the game and play it,and then as each expansion comes out, you buy the expansions. If, at some point, you stop playing and then decide you want to rejoin a few years later, you have to plunk down the cash for *ALL* the expansions between where you stopped playing and now. That's a good sized chunk of change!
Now, imagine you talk your friend into playing... they have to buy the base game and ALL the expansions, pretty much all at once. Sure, you can just play with the base game... except your friends will want to do things that are locked to you, which is no fun.
SOE figured out that the best way to get new players *AND* get older players to return is to just bundle everything. You buy the current game, with all the expansions to that point. You don't pay $300 for them, you pay the same price you'd pay anyways and get all the older stuff as part of the deal.
Blizzard hasn't figure this out yet. And that's why their sub numbers are dropping... (well, part of it). If you played WoW during the Lich King and had fun, maybe you were tempted to go back but resisted because Cataclysm sounded silly, and Panda-land was even more silly. But now, even if you like the idea of the new expansion, do you want to fork out $120? Well, you have to because you can't play the newest content without ALL the previous expansions.
Exactly, its a totally awesome move by Anet.
However, WoW and FF14ARR make you pay up sub+base game price+expansion price not because they haven't figured this out, but because people like the OP and others freaking out at this haven't figured out that they are getting a great deal. Blizzard etc charge those prices because they can leverage their brand name to have players willing to pay through the nose and they can happily just rake in all the fat loot.
The irony is I rarely see people making threads that pick up lots of attention for games that clearly charge outrageous prices (like WoW and FF14RR), whereas possibly the best deal in the business gets ripped apart, its hilarious.
Whether its a fair price is irrelevant with the expansion your not just buying the base things your also buying the immense amount of living world that will follow all next year, which will be loads of content period.
Originally posted by MadOtaku Whether its a fair price is irrelevant with the expansion your not just buying the base things your also buying the immense amount of living world that will follow all next year, which will be loads of content period.
That would only be a fair point if they do not monetize the LS like they have in the past. Once they do it's no longer a free content update, it's paid DLC., which shouldn't be factored into such arguments. As it places said content outside the binds of the box fee.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Originally posted by MadOtaku Whether its a fair price is irrelevant with the expansion your not just buying the base things your also buying the immense amount of living world that will follow all next year, which will be loads of content period.
That would only be a fair point if they do not monetize the LS like they have in the past. Once they do it's no longer a free content update, it's paid DLC., which shouldn't be factored into such arguments. As it places said content outside the binds of the box fee.
Your argument is a little disingenuous isn't it. It kind of changes when you add other facts, that it actually was offered for free by merely logging in anytime during the LS chapter. You got it whether you played it or not. Those that didn't log in or couldn't can obtain it with in-game gold without spending any RL money or can group with someone that has the LS content and play it for free.
While you have a point, it seems a pretty big stretch to apply here since this is nowhere close to traditional DLC.
Originally posted by TheOctagon Well, seeing as your all getting a free copy of Guild Wars 2 whether you want it or not anyways, can I have an extra key for it?
From my understanding you can't trade the keys or else you lose the expansion.
Originally posted by MadOtaku Whether its a fair price is irrelevant with the expansion your not just buying the base things your also buying the immense amount of living world that will follow all next year, which will be loads of content period.
That would only be a fair point if they do not monetize the LS like they have in the past. Once they do it's no longer a free content update, it's paid DLC., which shouldn't be factored into such arguments. As it places said content outside the binds of the box fee.
Your argument is a little disingenuous isn't it. It kind of changes when you add other facts, that it actually was offered for free by merely logging in anytime during the LS chapter. You got it whether you played it or not. Those that didn't log in or couldn't can obtain it with in-game gold without spending any RL money or can group with someone that has the LS content and play it for free.
While you have a point, it seems a pretty big stretch to apply here since this is nowhere close to traditional DLC.
I don't see how simply saying once they start charging for it, it's no longer to be considered part of the box fee, is disingenuous. I'd say it's being disingenuous to ignore it becoming a revenue stream.
It's limited run content that has a window of free time, once that window is over it becomes part of their every day revenue (ie the cash shop). That's when it essentially becomes DLC.
I think you might be misunderstanding the angle my argument is coming from, it's a matter of trying to argue something that is monetized is free, it might have been free for you, someone has paid for it though, it wouldn't be much different than arguing ROTHC was free for all, because they offered a window where you got it free with paying your sub before the Revan expansion came out. People were still paying for that update , as are folks in GW2 paying for living story content.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Originally posted by MadOtaku Whether its a fair price is irrelevant with the expansion your not just buying the base things your also buying the immense amount of living world that will follow all next year, which will be loads of content period.
That would only be a fair point if they do not monetize the LS like they have in the past. Once they do it's no longer a free content update, it's paid DLC., which shouldn't be factored into such arguments. As it places said content outside the binds of the box fee.
Your argument is a little disingenuous isn't it. It kind of changes when you add other facts, that it actually was offered for free by merely logging in anytime during the LS chapter. You got it whether you played it or not. Those that didn't log in or couldn't can obtain it with in-game gold without spending any RL money or can group with someone that has the LS content and play it for free.
While you have a point, it seems a pretty big stretch to apply here since this is nowhere close to traditional DLC.
I don't see how simply saying once they start charging for it, it's no longer to be considered part of the box fee, is disingenuous. I'd say it's being disingenuous to ignore it becoming a revenue stream.
It's limited run content that has a window of free time, once that window is over it becomes part of their every day revenue (ie the cash shop).
Again, not completely true on the "limited" run for free statement. I have taken a buddy of mine through a chapter of the LS so that he didn't have to pay for it. I can take you tomorrow. It only becomes part of revenue stream if the consumer chooses it for convenience sake. And whether we like it or not, it isn't up to us to determine what others are willing to contribute to the cash shop for the convenience of not farming for gold or having a friend.
I agree with you if a purchase is required to obtain the content. But when a developer provides multiple avenues to obtaining missed content, we as players should be encouraging it. Again, I like your argument but I believe you are stretching it in its application here. For your box price, you can experience the LS content that you missed without paying for it. You can argue the ways to obtain it, but you have a choice whether to contribute to the cash shop or not and still get the content.
I guess I should have worded it that it is disingenuous not mention all options in your argument.
Originally posted by Bladestrom ^^ a compelling reason? It's $2 a month averaged out, should it be $30 and $150 a year sub instead?
What is their reason for not offering the expansion separately?
You're looking at it wrong. The expansion is separate. However, if you're a new player they're adding the core game whereas if you're a veteran you're getting an additional character slot.
The core is an added incentive, not a part of the expansion. The character slot is an incentive, not a part of the expansion.
Originally posted by MadOtaku Whether its a fair price is irrelevant with the expansion your not just buying the base things your also buying the immense amount of living world that will follow all next year, which will be loads of content period.
That would only be a fair point if they do not monetize the LS like they have in the past. Once they do it's no longer a free content update, it's paid DLC., which shouldn't be factored into such arguments. As it places said content outside the binds of the box fee.
Your argument is a little disingenuous isn't it. It kind of changes when you add other facts, that it actually was offered for free by merely logging in anytime during the LS chapter. You got it whether you played it or not. Those that didn't log in or couldn't can obtain it with in-game gold without spending any RL money or can group with someone that has the LS content and play it for free.
While you have a point, it seems a pretty big stretch to apply here since this is nowhere close to traditional DLC.
I don't see how simply saying once they start charging for it, it's no longer to be considered part of the box fee, is disingenuous. I'd say it's being disingenuous to ignore it becoming a revenue stream.
It's limited run content that has a window of free time, once that window is over it becomes part of their every day revenue (ie the cash shop).
Again, not completely true on the "limited" run for free statement. I have taken a buddy of mine through a chapter of the LS so that he didn't have to pay for it. I can take you tomorrow. It only becomes part of revenue stream if the consumer chooses it for convenience sake. And whether we like it or not, it isn't up to us to determine what others are willing to contribute to the cash shop for the convenience of not farming for gold or having a friend.
I agree with you if a purchase is required to obtain the content. But when a developer provides multiple avenues to obtaining missed content, we as players should be encouraging it. Again, I like your argument but I believe you are stretching it in its application here. For your box price, you can experience the LS content that you missed without paying for it. You can argue the ways to obtain it, but you have a choice whether to contribute to the cash shop or not and still get the content.
I guess I should have worded it that it is disingenuous not mention all options in your argument.
I personally play GW2 with my wife, so pretty much anything we do we do on our own, it's a fast moving experience, which makes the whole meeting others thing problematic, everyone is zigging and zagging their way toward what ever event pops. GW2 also isn't my main game, I'd rather not spend the time I do with it, grinding gold, I don't mind paying for the LS stuff, I just don't like the argument that i got it for free...or With my original box cost. OR that i should factor the future LS stuff into this box purchase. As it will probably be the same story there. It just seems like a have your cake and eat it too argument.
The issue again isn't that they charge for it, it's ignoring that they do, it may not be on your dime, that's not the case for everyone. The only reason I didn't argue the complexities is because they were covered under his post. I gave the other side of the story.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Originally posted by MadOtaku Whether its a fair price is irrelevant with the expansion your not just buying the base things your also buying the immense amount of living world that will follow all next year, which will be loads of content period.
That would only be a fair point if they do not monetize the LS like they have in the past. Once they do it's no longer a free content update, it's paid DLC., which shouldn't be factored into such arguments. As it places said content outside the binds of the box fee.
As many have suggested you can still get it for free.
Originally posted by MadOtaku Whether its a fair price is irrelevant with the expansion your not just buying the base things your also buying the immense amount of living world that will follow all next year, which will be loads of content period.
That would only be a fair point if they do not monetize the LS like they have in the past. Once they do it's no longer a free content update, it's paid DLC., which shouldn't be factored into such arguments. As it places said content outside the binds of the box fee.
Your argument is a little disingenuous isn't it. It kind of changes when you add other facts, that it actually was offered for free by merely logging in anytime during the LS chapter. You got it whether you played it or not. Those that didn't log in or couldn't can obtain it with in-game gold without spending any RL money or can group with someone that has the LS content and play it for free.
While you have a point, it seems a pretty big stretch to apply here since this is nowhere close to traditional DLC.
I don't see how simply saying once they start charging for it, it's no longer to be considered part of the box fee, is disingenuous. I'd say it's being disingenuous to ignore it becoming a revenue stream.
It's limited run content that has a window of free time, once that window is over it becomes part of their every day revenue (ie the cash shop).
Again, not completely true on the "limited" run for free statement. I have taken a buddy of mine through a chapter of the LS so that he didn't have to pay for it. I can take you tomorrow. It only becomes part of revenue stream if the consumer chooses it for convenience sake. And whether we like it or not, it isn't up to us to determine what others are willing to contribute to the cash shop for the convenience of not farming for gold or having a friend.
I agree with you if a purchase is required to obtain the content. But when a developer provides multiple avenues to obtaining missed content, we as players should be encouraging it. Again, I like your argument but I believe you are stretching it in its application here. For your box price, you can experience the LS content that you missed without paying for it. You can argue the ways to obtain it, but you have a choice whether to contribute to the cash shop or not and still get the content.
I guess I should have worded it that it is disingenuous not mention all options in your argument.
People do not want options or they ignore it all together. They see a price tag on it and it suddenly becomes an issue.
Originally posted by Betakodo So they now offer a character slot if you activated the game before a certain date. They should have done that in the first place (See Guild Wars Factions and Nightfall which they did without cash shop items in the game). The game is still too expensive in my opinion for what they claim to have in it, plus I'm pretty sure HoT is going to be loaded with cash shop items anyways.
People need to get it through their heads that they aren't adding to the price of the expansion with the addition of the base game. They are giving people who buy the expansion a FREE copy of Guild Wars 2 vanilla with the expansion IF you don't have an existing Guild Wars 2 account.
Let me break it down for you so it's easier for you to digest:
1) If you DON'T own a copy of Guild Wars 2, you get a FREE copy with HotT. 2) If you DO own a copy Guild Wars 2, you get a FREE character slot. 2a) If you got your copy of Guild Wars 2 in (roughly) 2015, you are entitled to a full refund.
That's it.
[mod edit]
So if you own the game its a 50 dollar character slot lol.
Originally posted by Bladestrom ^^ a compelling reason? It's $2 a month averaged out, should it be $30 and $150 a year sub instead?
What is their reason for not offering the expansion separately?
You're looking at it wrong. The expansion is separate. However, if you're a new player they're adding the core game whereas if you're a veteran you're getting an additional character slot.
The core is an added incentive, not a part of the expansion. The character slot is an incentive, not a part of the expansion.
It just is kind of sad for people who already spent on the game. They don't even get a discount for already owning the core game that they purchased in the past.
New player buys expansion, gets core for free and has complete game. Which is great, because what use is an expansion without the core game.
Existing player already has core game and wants to buy expansion and has to pay the same for it as a new player. Even though they already spent money on the core game. I think that this sends the wrong message to existing players (active or not). Why should a loyal player have to pay more in the end?
I think too that there should be two packages.
EDIT : Just imagine having bought GW2 core just before the press release how expansion would include core. Lol.
Originally posted by Bladestrom ^^ a compelling reason? It's $2 a month averaged out, should it be $30 and $150 a year sub instead?
What is their reason for not offering the expansion separately?
You're looking at it wrong. The expansion is separate. However, if you're a new player they're adding the core game whereas if you're a veteran you're getting an additional character slot.
The core is an added incentive, not a part of the expansion. The character slot is an incentive, not a part of the expansion.
It just is kind of sad for people who already spent on the game. They don't even get a discount for already owning the core game that they purchased in the past.
New player buys expansion, gets core for free and has complete game. Which is great, because what use is an expansion without the core game.
Existing player already has core game and wants to buy expansion and has to pay the same for it as a new player. Even though they already spent money on the core game. I think that this sends the wrong message to existing players (active or not). Why should a loyal player have to pay more in the end?
I think too that there should be two packages.
Well no kidding. The expansion is a set price, everyone pays that price for it. That's pretty much how things work. You're not paying any more than a new player for the expansion. The fact that new players get the core as incentive is irrelevant. The fact that vets paid for the core years ago is irrelevant. One price today, varying incentives. New players won't get the extra slot, nor will they get the years of experience the rest of us have.
"EDIT : Just imagine having bought GW2 core just before the press release how expansion would include core. Lol."
They're refunding the cost of the core game for those people.
People do not want options or they ignore it all together. They see a price tag on it and it suddenly becomes an issue.
Who said anything about them charging for it being an issue? I also didn't ignore it, that point came with the original post by MadOtak. which I responded to, Let me put it as plainly as possible, you can't argue something is free, while a company makes a dime off someone for it. No matter how you slice it or the options available, they're still making money off of it. WHich means you can't turn around and say, that's part of the box fee...How hard is that to understand?
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Originally posted by Bladestrom ^^ a compelling reason? It's $2 a month averaged out, should it be $30 and $150 a year sub instead?
What is their reason for not offering the expansion separately?
You're looking at it wrong. The expansion is separate. However, if you're a new player they're adding the core game whereas if you're a veteran you're getting an additional character slot.
The core is an added incentive, not a part of the expansion. The character slot is an incentive, not a part of the expansion.
No you are looking it wrong. You are the one whos beeing fooled by their marketing department. Open your eyes a bit.
The price does not equal the full vanilla game. It does not provide the equal amount of content to be 50 Dollar/Euro.
They are making you belive, GW2 Vanilla is for free, but for f**** sake, dont you see your beeing manipulated into believing that? Nothing is free and your paying the price for GW2 vanilla and those extra cost for the new f2p update, aka HoT.
They are trying to do everything making you belive, that you get the game for free- and they also changed some information in Q+A- just to fit the new concept- but before that, it was clearly stated that the addon is a standalone- thats why they lowered the price- just to milk all they can. Its called false advertizement.
I myself bought 4 copys- i dont regret it because i sold them for the double price
*Edit also by adding the main game- it does look like your getting more- its fuking shady and dishonest to their loyal customer base.
Comments
I completely agree, it is not the cost but is it worth it. I know some people here are broke college students or people on low income and $50 is a lot of money for them. (then maybe you should stop playing games and work overtime?) I just bought a few games on steam and gave away to my friends - way more than $50. Am I buying gw2? nope... pretty much any f2p game has more content than the expansion right now...
Then again I am still pissed as a former ranger that after 3 years still they did not fix pet pathing AI. I will go back to Gw2 when they fix that
Thank you both! 2 different consumers with 2 different values.
I'm not rich or poor, I know I do not come close making what you and Leon1e make. But telling folks to get a better job I find insulting... looking@Leon1e.
I do Purchasing/IT for small local business sacrificing pay to see a small business blossom.
People may complain about the $50 price, but regardless they will still pay it anyways just to have it.
Even if they reduced the price to $40, that is 20% less profits they receive.
The company is willing to gamble on the fact that they will not lose more then 20% of there playbase .
Especilaly if you count the number of new players the bundled package will bring in.
It a pure and simple money move to maximize profits....regardless if players think the price is fair or not.
I never said otherwise. You are arguing with me but I agreed with that point from the start. Value is subjective. The person I was responding to that people not being able to afford it is the issue.
Steam: Neph
Personally I find the zones to be reasonably large enough where they don't feel overly restrictive and I've had my moments of exploration but nothing compared to say Darkfall. I would agree that GW2's zones feel larger. Like you state I think it's about perceived value not about how much money people have.
Regardless GW2 is a solid title and I plan to buy the expansion. Just not for $50.
Steam: Neph
Another fact is marketing + box cost + retailer cost.
Back in the day Blizzard advertised the game on all media, sent the boxed game to gamestop, target etc and then sold for $50.
(numbers are estimated)
around $10-14 goes to retailer and transportation costs
another $5-8 for marketing
and finally around $15 for development and box cost, which leaves a net profit of $15-20 per box sold.
Lets take the new gw2 expansion:
-marketing costs : very low maybe $1-2 per box
- no shipping or retail costs on digital box sales.
-only net cost is development costs, which is not that high since it is just 1 new class + few new zones added.
Basicly Arena can sell the product at a very low cost but they are trying to push for maximum profits thinking lost %20-30 of customers are going to be offset by increased %50 profit.
Me and most of my friends are not buying the expansion, not that we do not have $50, but they would rather pay $15 a month to FFivX plus buy and try a few new indie games. ( we all bought ark survival few days ago, well its really not an indie company since the developer is the evil EA)
Exactly, its a totally awesome move by Anet.
However, WoW and FF14ARR make you pay up sub+base game price+expansion price not because they haven't figured this out, but because people like the OP and others freaking out at this haven't figured out that they are getting a great deal. Blizzard etc charge those prices because they can leverage their brand name to have players willing to pay through the nose and they can happily just rake in all the fat loot.
The irony is I rarely see people making threads that pick up lots of attention for games that clearly charge outrageous prices (like WoW and FF14RR), whereas possibly the best deal in the business gets ripped apart, its hilarious.
I personally don't have a problem with the cost of the expansion or the fact it comes bundled with the base game. I am concerned with:
1) pre-ordering a game without any kind of release date
2) knowing very little about what is total scope of the expac yet it costs a minimum of $50
Playing: varies every day it seems.
That would only be a fair point if they do not monetize the LS like they have in the past. Once they do it's no longer a free content update, it's paid DLC., which shouldn't be factored into such arguments. As it places said content outside the binds of the box fee.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Your argument is a little disingenuous isn't it. It kind of changes when you add other facts, that it actually was offered for free by merely logging in anytime during the LS chapter. You got it whether you played it or not. Those that didn't log in or couldn't can obtain it with in-game gold without spending any RL money or can group with someone that has the LS content and play it for free.
While you have a point, it seems a pretty big stretch to apply here since this is nowhere close to traditional DLC.
From my understanding you can't trade the keys or else you lose the expansion.
I don't see how simply saying once they start charging for it, it's no longer to be considered part of the box fee, is disingenuous. I'd say it's being disingenuous to ignore it becoming a revenue stream.
It's limited run content that has a window of free time, once that window is over it becomes part of their every day revenue (ie the cash shop). That's when it essentially becomes DLC.
I think you might be misunderstanding the angle my argument is coming from, it's a matter of trying to argue something that is monetized is free, it might have been free for you, someone has paid for it though, it wouldn't be much different than arguing ROTHC was free for all, because they offered a window where you got it free with paying your sub before the Revan expansion came out. People were still paying for that update , as are folks in GW2 paying for living story content.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Again, not completely true on the "limited" run for free statement. I have taken a buddy of mine through a chapter of the LS so that he didn't have to pay for it. I can take you tomorrow. It only becomes part of revenue stream if the consumer chooses it for convenience sake. And whether we like it or not, it isn't up to us to determine what others are willing to contribute to the cash shop for the convenience of not farming for gold or having a friend.
I agree with you if a purchase is required to obtain the content. But when a developer provides multiple avenues to obtaining missed content, we as players should be encouraging it. Again, I like your argument but I believe you are stretching it in its application here. For your box price, you can experience the LS content that you missed without paying for it. You can argue the ways to obtain it, but you have a choice whether to contribute to the cash shop or not and still get the content.
I guess I should have worded it that it is disingenuous not mention all options in your argument.
What is their reason for not offering the expansion separately?
You're looking at it wrong. The expansion is separate. However, if you're a new player they're adding the core game whereas if you're a veteran you're getting an additional character slot.
The core is an added incentive, not a part of the expansion. The character slot is an incentive, not a part of the expansion.
Oderint, dum metuant.
I personally play GW2 with my wife, so pretty much anything we do we do on our own, it's a fast moving experience, which makes the whole meeting others thing problematic, everyone is zigging and zagging their way toward what ever event pops. GW2 also isn't my main game, I'd rather not spend the time I do with it, grinding gold, I don't mind paying for the LS stuff, I just don't like the argument that i got it for free...or With my original box cost. OR that i should factor the future LS stuff into this box purchase. As it will probably be the same story there. It just seems like a have your cake and eat it too argument.
The issue again isn't that they charge for it, it's ignoring that they do, it may not be on your dime, that's not the case for everyone. The only reason I didn't argue the complexities is because they were covered under his post. I gave the other side of the story.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
As many have suggested you can still get it for free.
People do not want options or they ignore it all together. They see a price tag on it and it suddenly becomes an issue.
So if you own the game its a 50 dollar character slot lol.
It just is kind of sad for people who already spent on the game. They don't even get a discount for already owning the core game that they purchased in the past.
New player buys expansion, gets core for free and has complete game. Which is great, because what use is an expansion without the core game.
Existing player already has core game and wants to buy expansion and has to pay the same for it as a new player. Even though they already spent money on the core game. I think that this sends the wrong message to existing players (active or not). Why should a loyal player have to pay more in the end?
I think too that there should be two packages.
EDIT : Just imagine having bought GW2 core just before the press release how expansion would include core. Lol.
Well no kidding. The expansion is a set price, everyone pays that price for it. That's pretty much how things work. You're not paying any more than a new player for the expansion. The fact that new players get the core as incentive is irrelevant. The fact that vets paid for the core years ago is irrelevant. One price today, varying incentives. New players won't get the extra slot, nor will they get the years of experience the rest of us have.
"EDIT : Just imagine having bought GW2 core just before the press release how expansion would include core. Lol."
They're refunding the cost of the core game for those people.
Oderint, dum metuant.
Who said anything about them charging for it being an issue? I also didn't ignore it, that point came with the original post by MadOtak. which I responded to, Let me put it as plainly as possible, you can't argue something is free, while a company makes a dime off someone for it. No matter how you slice it or the options available, they're still making money off of it. WHich means you can't turn around and say, that's part of the box fee...How hard is that to understand?
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
No you are looking it wrong. You are the one whos beeing fooled by their marketing department. Open your eyes a bit.
The price does not equal the full vanilla game. It does not provide the equal amount of content to be 50 Dollar/Euro.
They are making you belive, GW2 Vanilla is for free, but for f**** sake, dont you see your beeing manipulated into believing that? Nothing is free and your paying the price for GW2 vanilla and those extra cost for the new f2p update, aka HoT.
They are trying to do everything making you belive, that you get the game for free- and they also changed some information in Q+A- just to fit the new concept- but before that, it was clearly stated that the addon is a standalone- thats why they lowered the price- just to milk all they can. Its called false advertizement.
I myself bought 4 copys- i dont regret it because i sold them for the double price
*Edit also by adding the main game- it does look like your getting more- its fuking shady and dishonest to their loyal customer base.