While this may be true, you could say the same thing for people who buy games off of steam for 50%-80% off the regular price.
This response also doesn't answer the question, however, I understand where you're coming from.
So, regardless of the slap in the face, why is it so much?
'Why is it so much' seems an odd question. Value is in the eye of the buyer, other buyers may wonder 'why is it so inexpensive; Frontier could have charged double!'.
'Why did they price it too high for many people' is much easier to answer:
- to keep the number of alpha testers at a manageable level.
- to keep the alpha population mostly adult or near-adult (if you're under 18 you might not yet understand why keep under-13s out of an Alpha feedback phase makes a difference to the quality of feedback so don't start in at me about it).
- to reduce feedback from 'low budget buyers' (in Appillionaires the author stated that every time they dropped a game from 2.99 to 0.99 the sales went up less than x2, and sometimes went down(!), (so 30% less revenue or worse) and the negative reviews of this variety: "what a rippoff! 0.99! omg it should be free!" went from very low (i.e. under 5%) to reputation-damagingly high (i.e. over 20%). So they learned that early release games must be more expensive to keep the 'budget whingers' out. Again, don't shoot the messenger, go read the book and accept that it's a fact that increasing game prices above the average, or at least above the budget level, especially at release, both increases revenue and decreases complaining.
- To keep the quality of the feedback high (if we pay more, we take it seriously).
- To emphasize that part of getting 9 months early play time is testing and providing feedback; putting the price up makes casual gamers (who probably don't want to be bothered with silly things like testing the software and writing up serious feedback), go elsewhere and come back when the game is more robust.
OBVIOUSLY there are people who would make great contributors, who get excluded by raising the price barrier. But that's not the intention, it's a side-effect of the above.
A possible way in...: There are several Coaster Head Early Birds who are buying Early Access passes for serious contributors to the forum(s). That's how much we love the game and are willing to pay extra to get it developed and tested properly and promptly. If you seem like someone that the community, and Frontier, really would benefit from having in the Alpha, you might get lucky. Keep posting useful valuable stuff, maybe join Coaster Head, get noticed as a helpful person with serious intentions and good ideas. There are people who have 'invested' over $1000 in this game already, including buying access for other players.
A faster way in...: Mow two lawns and wash two cars for your neighbors and you'll be in by next weekend. Cannot be that hard surely. Takes my kids less than a week to rake up $100 from chores anytime they seriously want something that i won't buy them
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