Expansion pricing

[Tinman]

Maybe "DLC" is a better term for what they are actually planning. And the pricing should be anywhere between 9,90 and 19,90

Actually, I think expansion fits better since these are about expanding the games scope in terms of actual game mechanics, not just in terms of content.

"DLC" implies things like new weapons, ships and maybe missions to me and that isn't really what the major expansions are about as far as I can tell.

 

[Riandor]

Depends on your definition...
WoW "Expansions" were all FULL retail price of a normal game (they did add significant content of course).

So it could well be that Elite "Expansions" known, i.e. the "Walking" & "S-P-Landings" are more expensive than the a-typical expansion price.

I would fully anticipate the £80 model to be more than good value for money, though it might take a while before you start making a so called "win" on your investment.

 

[Sir.Tj]

As the pricing for the game and expansions have not been announced yet and this is purely conjecture at this point, I'd say that it's a case of wait until Frontier are ready to make a announcement where it can be debated sensibly then.

 

[deusx_ophc]

they can´t seriously plan to cash in on every PATCH, and call it "Expansion"

In MMO terms an expansion is a huge and significant content addition

I assume this is not going to be a "pay per bugfix" monetization scheme?

Other companies need somewhere between 1-2 years for releasing actual "expansions"

Maybe "DLC" is a better term for what they are actually planning. And the pricing should be anywhere between 9,90 and 19,90

don't feed the

 

[Barns]

On a sort of related note, I've pledged enough so I'll get getting all future expansions whether I want them or not. So say I decide I don't like the walking about stuff and don't want to be boarded or faff around in stations and whatever - do you reckon we'll be able to disable expansion features even when our account is marked as owning them? I hope so - depends how the walking about expansion pans out but certain aspects I'm dubious about.

 

[Riandor]

As the pricing for the game and expansions have not been announced yet and this is purely conjecture at this point, I'd say that it's a case of wait until Frontier are ready to make a announcement where it can be debated sensibly then.

Aw come on T.j. If we did that all the time most of the threads around here would need to be given the same advice! he he...

Errr, not that I don't actually agree with you.

 

[Patrick_68000]

Detailed civilization of Thargoïds and other new civillisations, could also be a great expansion in the future

 

[Greeboski]

i think <static> <crackle> <silence>



<pop>
and thats all i have to say about it !!!

 

[Xaragon]

A few years ago expansions were about 1/2 the original cost. So if you estimate the cost of the "original" to be about £40 (which will be reduced by generic retail factoring to be about £35) then you might expect to pay about £20 (reduced to £19.99), per expansion.
So, you'd need the original plus 2.3 expansions to cost more than the £80 kickstart.

These days most "expansions" seem to be released as a new game, costing the same as the original, even if they are direct addons and not a new engine. (just look at starcraft2 if you want an example).
So you'd need the original and 1.3 expansions to cost more than the kickstart.

DLC tends to operate as extra bits, not normally a huge revamp of the game. Some companies do use it to release expansions, but again it tends to work out at the standard expansion cost.
Overall it can also cost more to download a "lot of bits" than 1 large change.

Of course the game could be a total flop, destroying the company and never having an expansion made.
If anyone actually thinks that this will be the case, i strongly recommend that they don't buy the game.

I'm working on the simple principle that i loved the original and the next one and kind of the last one. So i'm buying the game and if there are only 2 expansions in the next 4 years then i've not "lost" any money. If there are more, then i've saved a lot

Besides, i expect the game to save me a lot of money. Mainly from a reduced pub-based alcohol intake!

 

[devastat]

My bet would be that with the price of the £80, you would get the game + 2-3 expansions released in the first year or two. But there is always the possibility that if the game becomes successful, that there will be expansions for years to come, and then the "Digital pack" would be a great deal (if you keep playing the game).

But then again, if I would play the game for longer than year or two, I would gladly pay for the expansions. I opted for the first Beta round so I will be covered in any case.

 

[kilvenny]

Personally I think the 80 level is a snip. If you go 10 higher you get physical rewards that for the extra tenner (book,map and T shirt) are worth more than a tenner.

If you stop and think about the extent of the universe that is being mapped and thing about the number of planets. The size is enormous, in fact impossible to visit in a life time.

Landing on a planet or even flying over it requires significant detail to be present. Multiply that out over thousands of planets and giving some diversity its a mammoth undertaking to do so it looks right. That's a game in its own right.

Then the walking around requires you to be able to interact with the environment. Inside space stations, ships and presumably space walking. The missions/events model would need to scale out to cover it. Spying, assassinations etc all become possible. Again that's huge. That's an FPS in its own right.

For me these are full games, but what they also create is a world that invites the player who wants to just view the terrain or an FPS person to join the fun. Instantly you are broaden the market place. Elite Dangerous will start as a space game but I dont think thats what it will end up as.

What is also happening is that this is a great showcase for the Cobra development environment and showing its versatility. My understanding is FD wants to license it to developer so what better way in a game

 

[Alric]

They will cost £0.

 

[Patrick_68000]

Elite Dangerous will start as a space game but I dont think thats what it will end up as.

Well thought out. It is possible that Elite becomes more than a space game. +1 for you

 

[Fromhell]

Well thought out. It is possible that Elite becomes more than a space game. +1 for you

A space sim is basically a FPS with additional elements which are taken from RPGs.

Expanding the FPS element from space ships to avatars is the most logical thing to do.