What i find annoying about Horizons, is not the price, but the fact that i can't find enough information about exact features that are supposed to be part of it.
Only then, after i know what it catually IS, i can consider if whatever price is fair, or feels too much, or whatever.
I mean... what do we actually know?
Or should i say "what do I actually know?" (maybe the info is somewhere out there, and i just failed to find it).
From what i gathered, this is what will be in Horizons:
1.) Basic implementation of "Planetary landings"
Landing only on planets/moons without atmosphere, ie. only baren land, scattered with rocks, crevices, and mountains at best.
So, from how i understand things, this alone is rather basic and easy (judging from my own programming experience of simple GIS terrain visualizations in the past, and from working on a certain large-terrain game i wont name).
But of course this is not all there is to it, and there should be much more, right? (i hope so).
2.) Driving the SRV vehicle on planet/moon surface
This is a bit more difficult, as it requires to add something realy new to the game (the handling and physics model of that vehicle and what not).
From what i heard about this topic (and i hope i am wrong), it reminds me of much more dull and boring experience of that in Mass Effect when you're driving around in Mako (and that one wasn't very exciting, it was ok for few times, but after a while it got old and rather annoying).
So, not only the technical implementation must be really good, but it has to be fun (and not only for the sake of driving around aimlessly), to make it enjoyable repeatedly - and here i am sceptical.
Of course, at least the first time i get the chance to do it, i will probably enjoy it, i just worry that it might also be the last time after finding out that ...there is just no real point to it and nothing much to do other than... well, driving around.
So, on its own, this feature is not really that interesting - unless there will be a reason to drive that vehicle, and that takes us to point #3.
3.) Finding "things" on the surface
So... what kind of "things"??? Bases? What does it mean? will it be a place with few generic structures (looking the same on each planet) with some turrets shooting at me until i destroy them? (again, Mass Effect and Mako)
Probably yes, because without being able to actually walk around, i dont see much else you can do with a vehicle.
So, bases not really interesting either - at least judging by the very limited information i was able to find.
4.) Loot
What does that mean? There is already "loot" in the game - when you go to certain USS, or you destroy a ship, it spills out some cargo => loot.
So what is this new "loot"? No idea.
5.) Crafting
Again. A total mystery.
Did i forget something?
Over all, judging by the information above, i DO NOT want this expansion no matter its price, because it doesnt bring me anything enjoyable or interesting - but maybe it IS interesting and enjoyable, but we just dont know because nobody wants to tell us.
Shouldn't we be told in more detail?
...i mean they want us to buy this expansion, right? So, the usual and expected practice would be, that you actually DESCRIBE the product you are trying to sell, but all we were told could be hardly more vague.
I understand the needs for basic or total secrecy while the game/expansion is still in development AND not yet available in stores.
But they are already selling it! So for the sake of my sanity, tell me what am i actually buying!
Or is there no actual plan of what will, or will not be part of it?
I dont believe that - before you announce something, you know your budget and you make a plan.
The things may (and usually NEVER go exactly as planned), but you do have a plan and if some feature doesnt make it in the end, then the only excuse is "a very good reason", and believe it or not, ppl understand those and usually wont make a fuss about it if they are given a reasonable explanation.
Until now, i never experienced anything like this, not as a customer, not as a developer.
So, i am just saying, no point talking price, if you have no clue what you're buying
