Hey! Why does FD still charge $$$ for the base game?

[Archvillain]

I can't speak for those with LEP's... but I do indeed sympathize with them on the fiasco of the "Seasons" direction of DLC, which was an utter disaster.

As a LEP holder I clearly don't speak for all LEP's in believing that in all areas of life there is no place for crab mentality, such as being angry that someone got a great deal on the short term, and trying to sabotage that goodness. I feel like people who go for LEP should in an ideal world exemplify the kind of super-fan who is pleased if something will lift Elite up in the world, not be an angry toxic little bean-counter about it. But if my idealism is any kind of norm clearly there have been some vocal exceptions to it

 

[StuartGT]

I somewhat agree: the basegame should be pulled from sale.

Only Horizons (for basegame owners to buy) and ED CMDR Deluxe (basegame+Horizons bundle) should be sold.

Blizzard's choice of offering a game for free (until 18th Nov) following their PR disaster at BlizzCon, has no bearing on what I think FDev should do, however.

 

[PiLhEaD]

All this. ...though I don't think its been a fiasco.....

Regarding FDevs handling of the LEP - I agree.

It's been an incoherently managed debacle that only momentarily ascended to the heady heights of being an utter fiasco.

 

[Braandlin]

why isn't ED free?

because frontier is a profit making company with shareholders. Its business model is to avoid any form of pay to win and to sell its base products.


For those talking about why horizons hasn't been bundled into the base game yet... remember that Beyond is still part of Horizons. So horizons isn't finished until 3.3 plus any necessary patches are delivered.

It's possible after that the games might get bundled into one. However it might serve marketing purposes better to have an entry level cheaper game to entice people and then an extra paid download.



In other news i just added "toxic little bean-counter" to my list of currently preferred insults. Thank you.

 

[Faybs]

Blizzard's choice of offering a game for free (until 18th Nov) following their PR disaster at BlizzCon, has no bearing on what I think FDev should do, however.

And that is the crux of the matter here: Blizzard is not doing this out of any sense of morality or duty to their community, it's a plain and simple "hey! look over there!" while they wait for people to forget about the latest Diablo game.

 

[Stigbob]

Your ignorance of games and a company magnitudes of times more successful than Frontier does not weaken the OPs argument. By all means keep living in a cave though.

Lol that's some industrial grade unthinking brand loyalty you've got going there.

 

[CMDR Karrde Sun]

Probably out of principle. FD still view themselves at least in part as a oldschool video game vendor, ie you pay, you get something and you're done.

Its getting weaker over time, but they can also justify earning the fee though the free updates. They're not just building a once off in all but legal terms casino and letting it roll in.

Elite is still too much of a niche to get away with that anyway. Probably will do more damage than good. If the destiny 2 player gets it because hes bored its going just result in a high volume of negative reviews. That's probably it.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

Most games remain with a price even a long time after release, even if they have expansions/DLCs that people will buy. I think you pointed to the exception rather than the rule with Destinty.

Should FD do it? I guess they feel they don't need to. Anyone interested in ED will buy it anyway. If they can't afford the base game then its unlikely they will be able to afford the expansion, so i don't see a case there either.

There are also good reasons for keeping something paid for even when there are expansions to buy, especially in online games.

 

[Aashenfox]

Lol that's some industrial grade unthinking brand loyalty you've got going there.

Nah, he's right, if you haven't heard of Bungie (I strongly suspect you have), then you are not a gamer or into games, and by that token, perhaps should not be disputing gaming norms.

 

[Bigmaec]

I somewhat agree: the basegame should be pulled from sale.

Only Horizons (for basegame owners to buy) and ED CMDR Deluxe (basegame+Horizons bundle) should be sold.

Blizzard's choice of offering a game for free (until 18th Nov) following their PR disaster at BlizzCon, has no bearing on what I think FDev should do, however.

That. +Rep

There is no reason the base game is still sold stand-alone. People who buy only that are at a severe disadvantage and will propably feel ripped if they have to buy another add-on to be competitive. And make no mistakes, you of course aren't competitive without horizons. So fix that blunder and sell horizons bundle only.

 

[Stigbob]

Nah, he's right, if you haven't heard of Bungie (I strongly suspect you have), then you are not a gamer or into games, and by that token, perhaps should not be disputing gaming norms.

I haven't disputed a gaming norm as free to play is the exception by a very very long stretch.

I'm very picky about games know what I like and don't waste time on all the rest, for example I also know very little about instant coffee as I prefer beans/ground. Fashion is for children so this weeks most currently popular generic AAA titles simply don't appear on my gaming radar at all.

 

[Bortas]

Because, you know, sometimes even game developers need to eat and since pizza isn't free unfortunately they have to charge money for their products.

 

[dreamer1986]

So the game would be full of trolls ready to grief you in open just for laughs? No, thanks.

 

[CMDR CPT. Boris]

Let me fix that for you: Video game development company (Bungie) stops charging money in return for its product (Destiny 2), news at 11.

maybe Bungie realised that sales was not as expected and make destiny for free to attract more player.
Same for "For Honor" on Ubi few months ago.

Maybe Elite is good and don't need that especially with it's new big update

(oh and i paid 80euros for destiny [haha])

 

[Cosmo]

Destiny 2 is free now (the base game that is; you still need to pay for expansions). Frontier should do the same. Besides, no one will stop at the base game once they realize that you need Horizons if you don't fancy flying around in your A-rated death boat.

Blizzard still charges people a monthly fee to play World of Warcraft. ED doesn't have that so it's a lot cheaper.

 

[Bortas]

So the game would be full of trolls ready to grief you in open just for laughs? No, thanks.

With just the base game (without engineers), they would more likely be cannonfodder for everyone else

 

[VR SenseiMatty]

I would suggest the opposite:

The basic game should still be sold at full price while Horizons should become free for everyone that got the game. So FD can make its life easier programming a game without restrictions (ehm... wings, multicrew, infinite probes...).

In the past I've seen games becoming free because as long as you sell it you're bound to some obligations (copyright, support) and when the game stops selling (or drastically reduces the income) it's easier to turn it free. This is not the case for ED, of course...

 

[Muzz UK]

Destiny 2 is free now (the base game that is; you still need to pay for expansions). Frontier should do the same. Besides, no one will stop at the base game once they realize that you need Horizons if you don't fancy flying around in your A-rated death boat.

They charge for the base game because they are a commercial company that needs to make money to pay its employees.

 

[Drelthar]

Hopefully because they dislike the free to play business model.

Hopefully.

Probably not...

 

[oscarolim]

Destiny 2 is free now (the base game that is; you still need to pay for expansions). Frontier should do the same. Besides, no one will stop at the base game once they realize that you need Horizons if you don't fancy flying around in your A-rated death boat.

If you want to compare with other companies, Star Citizen charges real money for ships. Should FDev do the same?
Or you know, let FDev do what they believe is best, and other companies do what they believe is best.