Horizons "expansion" includes the whole game?

Things · Aug 5, 2015

Didn't see a thread about this so here's one.

From the Frontier store (that appears to be down ATM):

Elite Dangerous: Horizons will continue to introduce new features and gameplay as the season continues into 2016, enriching the Elite Dangerous experience with new activities and new ways to play. Elite Dangerous: Horizons includes all Elite Dangerous content to date, and all players will continue to fly together in the same galaxy. Existing Elite Dangerous players receive a £10 loyalty discount off the price of Elite Dangerous: Horizons, retaining their progress and unlocking the exclusive ‘Cobra Mk IV’ in-game spacecraft.

Unless I'm somehow reading it wrong, it seems Horizons includes the the base game in itself. (I suppose they are going to remove the base game from the store once Horizons is released)

So someone who buys just Horizons gets the whole game for 50EUR, while those who bought the base game (50EUR ?) get to pay about 87EUR in total (discount included).
One hell of a deal just to keep your progress.

Looking at it from another side, for the price difference of 12.5EUR (the discount), one can get a whole separate account instead of upgrading an existing one.

Am I getting this right?

Barking_Mad · Aug 5, 2015

Yeah, it looks as if it's cheaper to buy the entire game from scratch (albeit with loss of progress) than it is to update. Confirmation would be good.

Carradin · Aug 5, 2015

That's my reading of it as well. Really, the discount should be at least £15 for existing customers, perhaps as much as £20. At that point, the pricing would make sense given the base game being included in the purchase.

cpbtrading · Aug 5, 2015

I'm assuming premium beta players get this new expansion free when available ? Doesn't mention it.
.
I think the site should have waited until it was announced at the show this week, no..

Armour · Aug 5, 2015

Well, they've already made the base game, so you're really just paying for the creation of the expansion content. The fact that they're throwing in the base game for those who don't have it yet is just a bonus to entice new customers to fund the the expansion content. They have to fund the new stuff somehow, I suppose. If they have to discount it too much, perhaps they won't cover the costs and it just won't get made?

racketear · Aug 5, 2015

It is being announced today anyway so no biggy.

cptdavep · Aug 5, 2015

At last an excuse for a second account. One for the good me, who likes trading, mining and bounty hunting. Another for EVIIIILLLLL me to be a pirate, slave trader and smuggler.

Renegade Roach · Aug 5, 2015

Armour said:
Well, they've already made the base game, so you're really just paying for the creation of the expansion content. The fact that they're throwing in the base game for those who don't have it yet is just a bonus to entice new customers to fund the the expansion content. They have to fund the new stuff somehow, I suppose. If they have to discount it too much, perhaps they won't cover the costs and it just won't get made?

Yup, great way to treat existing customers who got the game to where it is today. Saying it's 'just a bonus' is a cute way of looking at the fact that they're getting the full game for close to half the price.

Not sure it's great business sense either. If true, my first reaction is 'screw FD, I'll buy it on sale... or wait until season 3 (or 4, or 5) and get all the pre-existing content free'.

Things · Aug 5, 2015

Can anyone reliably confirm or deny that Horizons allows one to play the base game right now?

Wouldn't make too much sense to me but I saw it mentioned 2-3 times.

Lord_Crazy · Aug 5, 2015

It seems like you are right. Those who could not afford the life-time pass will not be happy. Especially since said pass is almost cheaper than buying ED + EDH (only a 6£ difference if I am correct). On the other hand those embarking late (ie. only starting with EDH) are somewhat rewarded for it.

- - - Updated - - -

cptdavep said:
At last an excuse for a second account. One for the good me, who likes trading, mining and bounty hunting. Another for EVIIIILLLLL me to be a pirate, slave trader and smuggler.

Never thought about that but you are right. There is only a 10£ difference so why bother getting EDH as an expansion when you can actually make it a new account... Seems like we're gonna see a lot of bad boys in the galaxy soon

h347h · Aug 5, 2015

Pretty standard practice for MMOs people. If they want people to join they have to cut the costs of prior expansions. If not games like WoW would cost in the ball park of $200+ just to get the foot in the door. This is nothing new.

Ziljan · Aug 5, 2015

You didn't buy a "game" you bought an annual subscription to an MMO with "squatters rights." Most other AAA MMOs charge a monthly fee of $15, but FD is only charging $30 per YEAR for regular content and gameplay updates that come every 3-4 months. That is a pretty good deal.

If you bought the original game, you've enjoyed it for several months now, and hopefully you got your money's worth. People buying Horizons get the expansion but start the game way behind you and without the Cobra MkIV, which will probably be better than the best ship in the game (Cobra MkIII). I see no reason complain here. You paid for a service and it was rendered. If you want more service, then it won't be free. Why should it be? And why should new players pay for a years worth of service that they never received?

Remo · Aug 5, 2015

Ziljan said:
You didn't buy a "game" you bought an annual subscription to an MMO with "squatters rights." Most other AAA MMOs charge a monthly fee of $15, but FD is only charging $30 per YEAR for regular content and gameplay updates that come every 3-4 months. That is a pretty good deal.

If you bought the original game, you've enjoyed it for several months now, and hopefully you got your money's worth. People buying Horizons get the expansion but start the game way behind you and without the Cobra MkIV, which will probably be better than the best ship in the game (Cobra MkIII). I see no reason complain here. You paid for a service and it was rendered. If you want more service, then it won't be free. Why should it be? And why should new players pay for a years worth of service that they never received?

Exactly what I was thinking, I spent more money in 1 year paying Blizzard for WoW and I played that for 5 years not to mention EvE which is more expensive. I have had many gripes with ED recently and after a break and some bug fixes it is becoming enjoyable again so will happily pay £30 for the expansion.

Finally finish my exploration trip without the double/triple scans WOOOHOOOOO

+1 rep to Ziljan purely for common sense

CMDR Crustatious Cornelius Pig · Aug 5, 2015

Ziljan said:
You didn't buy a "game" you bought an annual subscription to an MMO with "squatters rights." Most other AAA MMOs charge a monthly fee of $15, but FD is only charging $30 per YEAR for regular content and gameplay updates that come every 3-4 months. That is a pretty good deal.

If you bought the original game, you've enjoyed it for several months now, and hopefully you got your money's worth. People buying Horizons get the expansion but start the game way behind you and without the Cobra MkIV, which will probably be better than the best ship in the game (Cobra MkIII). I see no reason complain here. You paid for a service and it was rendered. If you want more service, then it won't be free. Why should it be? And why should new players pay for a years worth of service that they never received?

have some rep!!

dumbo · Aug 5, 2015

Civilization: Beyond Earth launched 2 days after ED at $59.99, so far that game has been on Steam sale at $19.99 (that's the first 'big' PC title that I found in a similar time-scale).

By the time ED:H launches, that game will probably be on sale via steam for something similar to 12.5 EUR...

So, the idea that a copy of the 'base' Elite Dangerous would be worth 12.5 EUR in December doesn't seem all that strange.

VaLiuM · Aug 5, 2015

Things said:
Can anyone reliably confirm or deny that Horizons allows one to play the base game right now?

Wouldn't make too much sense to me but I saw it mentioned 2-3 times.

I'd like to know that as well.

Anna Bananna · Aug 5, 2015

Me too.

I'm just waiting for this answer before throwing my money at monitor.

Tiamat · Aug 5, 2015

Horizons is the full game + expansion and you don't lose existing progress if you buy Horizons. Choosing not to means you just don't get planetary landing and whatever other features Horizons gives you (Horizons is not a single release it is a whole season of updates).

As a late beta backer I'm not overly happy that new players buying Horizons pay about half of what I have but it is what it is.

EDIT: To be clear you can play the current game if you buy Horizons now as the entry in the store will give you the current ED installer.

Arnak · Aug 5, 2015

Hi,

OK, so I have purchased the Horizons beta but have yet to install it but I have a question.

Can I assume that it will be a new game in beta and not use my current position in ED?

That would mean that sometime later when the full version is released that I would then swap over to my existing account and use my current ED save to play with the Horizons pack installed?

It would help if that was clarified as I do not want to mess up my current save.

Bulder · Aug 5, 2015

Is it confirmed that you can download the base game without originally having it and then purchasing Horizons. Has someone tried this?