Lifetime pass payback time

[who?]

FD having talked about using the revenue stream from one game to develop another, unfortunately creates a rod for their own backs. It makes it too easy to present any slowness or lack of development in ED as due to the ED money being funnelled to Planet Coaster or their next game.

I'm a lifetime pass owner myself, and am still a bit wary of how vague it all is. I know how much I've spent (over €200 for the game and pass, not including another €100 in cosmetics) but it's still far from clear what that pays for, or over what time period.

 

[Shadowdancer]

FD having talked about using the revenue stream from one game to develop another, unfortunately creates a rod for their own backs. It makes it too easy to present any slowness or lack of development in ED as due to the ED money being funnelled to Planet Coaster or their next game.

Uh… yeah, about that thing when companies use their money to invest in new products that will likely have a much higher profit margin. Where do you think that initial investment should come from?

 

[Sir.Tj]

I personally backed the game to be made and the LTE was a nice and very welcome bonus.

No-one outside of Frontier knows what the new model will be and we'll just have to wait and see what our position is when that announcement is made.

 

[-=VampyrE=-]

Even if FD changes the way of pay&deliver, the LTP is the easyiest way to get all content.
Why should i get a payback? I get my development of the game without any additional cost!
eveb if there is no season any more, there are patches. I get them and do not have to click a button.

 

[Muzz UK]

Over 1000 hours played... I got my money's (monies) worth without DLC.

SUre life timers will still get rewards

 

[Watcher]

Given the amount of hours I've put in I think I've had good value for money already.
Yes, I've paid more than I would typically but I've also played rather a lot.

So I think the lifetime pass was worth it.
The worrying question for me is whether FD will continue to give me all the DLC content for 'free' while shifting away from the Seasons model. I certainly hope so and I think it would be in the spirit of the lifetime pass but you never know. I reckon they'll do the right thing on this
Any extra content at this point is a bonus, I think we have a great game already and it is getting better.

 

[who?]

Uh… yeah, about that thing when companies use their money to invest in new products that will likely have a much higher profit margin. Where do you think that initial investment should come from?

There's an important distinction between buying a completed product, and buying what was - effectively - a work-in-progress.

If FD handed over a complete game, replete with all promised expansions on the day of purchase; then they could drink away the "lifetime pass fund" in a boozy, druggy holiday in the Caribbean for all I care. I'd have my game and I'd be happy with it. As it stands, it's very vague what will be included in the lifetime pass, the schedule is also very vague (what dates were shared, were missed). So yes, I am concerned if money that could be used on ED development is being routed elsewhere. No panic buttons being hit yet though; as always I'd just like more info.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Not a kickstarter, not a lifetime pass holder, so I really don't have much to say about this, other than... this is an example of why I don't do these sorts of things. It's a risk, and largely an unnecessary one.

 

[Ian Skippy]

Not a kickstarter, not a lifetime pass holder, so I really don't have much to say about this, other than... this is an example of why I don't do these sorts of things. It's a risk, and largely an unnecessary one.

Pretty sure way back the LTE was $30 or so.Those folks already got their money back, even if development would stop today. Which it clearly wont, so I dont get the issue very much.

 

[Vandaahl]

Doesn't bother me much whether I get my seasons for nothing and my DLC's for free or the other way around.

 

[Arindor]

From what I remember when I bought into the LEP there was no talk about Seasons to begin with.

Pretty much this, despite my pessimism that FD are always one decision from doing something completely silly.

I purchased the LEP knowing that it was a risk, but happy that, if it succeeded, I wouldn't have to fork out extra dosh. Here's to FD honouring the LEP!

 

[T1-Jafo]

Purchased the lifetime pass and my only regret is that I did not buy one for my second account. As far as I know, Frontier has not shown any indication that they are going to ignore the lifetime pass holders. I for one, feel Frontier will do it right.

 

[ozrix84]

bought the lifetime pass and promptly returned it after the announcement that planetary landings won't come to macs. haven't looked back since

 

[-=VampyrE=-]

Not a kickstarter, not a lifetime pass holder, so I really don't have much to say about this, other than... this is an example of why I don't do these sorts of things. It's a risk, and largely an unnecessary one.

Its highly speculation to think the LTP might end. It will continue, no matter what.
I share Brabens dream for ED. I have nearly 25 week of ingame-Time.
What ever changes in the way of Patch-dilivery: LTPs will stay active.

 

[Shadowdancer]

So yes, I am concerned if money that could be used on ED development is being routed elsewhere. No panic buttons being hit yet though; as always I'd just like more info.

I would not ever assume that E:⁠D has a big enough niche to float a company on its own especially with the slightly overenthusiastic projected cadence of paid expansions, so I would go full-on panic mode if they weren't actively diversifying with more mainstream franchises. They are self-published now (loath to use the term "indie"), so there is no big(ger) corporate behemoth sitting behind them to just give them the capital to do so.

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

Ubisoft allegedly has some 900 dollar editions of one of their franchises I've never played. I'd pay the price for a liftime thing within a blink of an eye would I have to choose, but I won't and I didn't - I mostly prefer to pay and know what I receive in return.

 

[Flimley]

It'll all be fine. There will be some good updates still I'm sure. And my LEP should cover that.
"Seasons" was in my mind a more recent idea. All will be revealed.....

Flimley

 

[VR Golgot]

Like many here, I've got a lifetime pass. Some people via kickstarter, some paid into. When I jumped in with a lifetime pass, Horizons was for the future but it was known that season 2 would be in the £30-40 range. I thought that with a 10 year plan, maybe 5 seasons (or at least major updates such as Horizons), then it would, in the end, be worth it. I was kind of hoping for something as revolutionary as horizons for S3, 4 etc, but it seems like FD are running out of steam for major gameplay changes.

With a season 3 looking less likely and FD moving to a more random DLC method of delivery, do any of you other paid lifetime pass holders think that you'll get your monies worth from it in the end, or do you feel a little conned by the way things appear to be moving? I've not decided where on the side of the fence I lie at the moment.... (I guess it depends on S3 / 4 or whatever replaces the season idea)

Dev is still ongoing, FDev are ticking along financially, and they've made many recent public statements that they're going to add more big ticket items. There doesn't seem to be much cause to panic on those fronts.

Lifetime Passes are always a punt, but this race doesn't seem to be over just yet

 

[Dsign]

As we have no idea what the plans are for the next expansion, I would say it is probably better to wait a few months until they tell us what the actual plans are.

Few months [haha]
I waited a whole year for E3, I'm happy with 2.4 but please... give us some news already !

 

[Siranui]

Like many here, I've got a lifetime pass.

Whats your /played?

What's that per hour, and do you feel it as value to *you*? External factors really are a bit moot.