Lets use COD for an example. Hell even BF3 works as well
$60 base price tag. Okay that's the norm nowadays, nothing special. Then lets say they release 4 dlc packs. that's $15 each pack so 15x4=$60 Each map pack generally contains 3-4~ maps so that's 12-16 more maps for another $60.
That totals to $120 (not counting tax on the actual video game)
Ns2 - $35. Any new 'expansions' or 'additions' will be released free of charge. the DLC (if any) will be purely cosmetic and will only help you stand out more. (I can has Nyan-cat marine?) Plus you have the community creating custom maps and mods to further enhance the amount of time you spend playing Ns2. Free of charge.
<!--quoteo(post=1949673:date=Jul 7 2012, 08:33 AM:name=Uzguz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Uzguz @ Jul 7 2012, 08:33 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1949673"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->If you're going to make a big deal of NS2's "indie" status: As much as people like to call NS2 indie because of UWE's origins and small team, it technically isn't. It has outside investors.
Next.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
+1 exactly what i was thinking... They had "angel investors", although from an independent origin, they are not independent.
I guess NS2 doens't deserve any of those best "indie" game awards then.
Either don't mention the word "indie"/awards on steam store page and keep the price or mention them and lower the price.
many people expect the price to be no more than $20 whenever they see the word "indie". That's what happens when there are too mnay indie sales and bundles go around these days.
$35 is cheap considering all the mods that are gonna be made from this game, what your really buying is a platform for multiple games, its like buying half life and getting all the mods for free. And this is gonna be a competitive game, so its not like its only a casual indy game, there are clans and matches and someday tournaments etc.
When i buy games, i consider how much entertainment value they have in terms of hours spent. Multiplayer games have alot more replay value than single player games. All the single player games ive bought have the same story ... i finish the stroryline ... and then if its a good game i will play it again on hard mode ... and then i get bored with it and never play it again. Games like Counter strike, Day of Defeat, Garrysmod, Starcraft2, Warcraft3, Team fortress2, all of these games im still playing because they just have so much replay value with all the mods and different gamemodes.
$35 dollars is very reasonable for this game. I already have like 250 hours just in the beta. I actually got it for something like $18.00 (split the cost of a two pack). Was a very excellent deal then.
<!--quoteo(post=1949646:date=Jul 7 2012, 11:03 AM:name=internetexplorer)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (internetexplorer @ Jul 7 2012, 11:03 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1949646"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Sorry, this isn't a flash game sold on steam in a random weekend sale. It's worth more than $10 even if you don't think so. All the best, most successful games are effectively 'multiplayer only' as well..<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This times a million. This is not your fedora hat wearing indie title. NS2 has content.
<!--quoteo(post=1949641:date=Jul 8 2012, 02:58 AM:name=Nightsbane)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nightsbane @ Jul 8 2012, 02:58 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1949641"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Simple question really. For a multiplayer only game to be charging this much seems a bit absurd.
I seriously wanted to buy this game as I played NS1 a great deal, however $35 is a bit steep. I would be much happier paying around $10.
EDIT: I don't want people to think I'm being ultra critical here or trying to start a flame war. As I mentioned I played NS1 for YEARS, and I loved that game. I really want to see this game succeed, but in order to do so it has to have a large player base. With the wrong pricing model that just won't happen.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> TFC, TF:2, CS:S, DoD:S etc all charged +65 bucks for online only content when they first came out...its really not that uncommon not to have a single player aspect. Sure EA titles such as BF offer both...but neither is really polished (still prefer operation flashpoint much better military sim).
Over in the land down under any decent game costs upwards of 89 bucks...35 for ns2 is a steal even in the early beta days.
If you played NS1 a lot see it as 20 bucks for all their hard work in creating that mod....and 15 for NS2.
I have spent much more money on games I have played a hell of a lot less and see ns2 as great value for money.
Finally before you come out saying why so much but only online, understand what a BETA is and whilst you may not have been told, there has been talk all along of some form of single player tutorial to help players learn the game. But most of us would all rather they get the online right before worrying about the single player.
<!--quoteo(post=1949656:date=Jul 7 2012, 12:14 PM:name=Nightsbane)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nightsbane @ Jul 7 2012, 12:14 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1949656"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Ok let me ask a different question then.
Why should I pay $35 for this game when I can play Blacklight: Retribution or Tribes for free? Those are both complete games.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Presumably because you like the distinct mechanics and gameplay present in NS2.
<!--quoteo(post=1949656:date=Jul 7 2012, 11:14 AM:name=Nightsbane)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nightsbane @ Jul 7 2012, 11:14 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1949656"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Ok let me ask a different question then.
Why should I pay $35 for this game when I can play Blacklight: Retribution or Tribes for free? Those are both complete games.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is not a bad question. I've played all 3, and both Tribes and Blacklight are decent games in their own right. The deal is only sweeter that they are free. Here is why you might pay for NS2:
Like someone else said, it is the only RTS + FPS out of the bunch. Unlike Blacklight earlier today, whose entire US/AU server went out for over an hour, NS2 is quite stable and doesn't have account creation problems. You do not have to unlock things by grinding away for hours. You will never be pressured into buying extras. Additional content will be developed and delivered for free (similar to TF2 updates).
Ultimately, take a look at the gameplay or videos by NS2HD. If you want to play the game, buy it. (or lurk for the occasional key giveaways) If you don't want to play it, you can always wait for a sale.
<!--quoteo(post=1949809:date=Jul 8 2012, 12:08 AM:name=MisterNubs)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MisterNubs @ Jul 8 2012, 12:08 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1949809"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->How does one go about getting a refund?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<strike>Sorry for a double post.</strike> Usually emailing the NS2 staff is enough to request a refund, and from what I hear they're pretty quick about it. <sub><!--coloro:#FF8C00--><span style="color:#FF8C00"><!--/coloro-->^ FTFY - Angelusz<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></sub>
Reasons could be given to justify this game's price, but a lot are passing off bogus right now, you're not making a good case for this guy.
<!--quoteo(post=0:date=:name=PersianImm0rtal)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PersianImm0rtal)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->my 724 HOURS played is worth the $40 dollars I paid for the game.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> That's nice and all, but at the same time there are many MANY people with 1~ hour of game-time for NS2, due to it being wholly unjoyable for a plethora of reasons. Needless to say you'll find the most hardcore of players in these forums, so supplying an argument like "I've get X hours under my belt!" isn't terrible convincing either way.
And the comparison with movie-trips is just lousy, it's a whole different kind of entertainment with different rulesets, the 2 aren't comparable (and 3D sucks, don't pay for it).
<!--quoteo(post=0:date=:name=Krovakon)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Krovakon)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Lets use COD for an example. Hell even BF3 works as well
$60 base price tag. Okay that's the norm nowadays, nothing special. Then lets say they release 4 dlc packs. that's $15 each pack so 15x4=$60 Each map pack generally contains 3-4~ maps so that's 12-16 more maps for another $60.
That totals to $120 (not counting tax on the actual video game)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> And this is just horribly skewed arithmetic to put other games in as bad a light as possible. You're acting as if you're obligated to buy those DLCs, while you really are not. I could put forth similar rubbish by stating you should add the i5 5GHz Sandybridge to the paying-price of NS2, cause that's what you'll need to play it (hyperbole for effect).
If you want to make a good case for NS2, say it allows for mapping\code-modding, has dedicated-servers et cetera, those are all increasingly (in today's gaming-world) strong selling-points. Don't smear other games (even if you are right), it just makes you look bad.
<!--quoteo(post=1949815:date=Jul 8 2012, 12:18 AM:name=player)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (player @ Jul 8 2012, 12:18 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1949815"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->If you want to make a good case for NS2, say it allows for mapping\code-modding, has dedicated-servers et cetera, those are all increasingly (in today's gaming-world) strong selling-points. Don't smear other games (even if you are right), it just makes you look bad.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Isn't it sad that the whole dedicated servers thing (or even running your own servers) is a PLUS and not a given nowadays?
30$ isnt too bad, im a person to spit chips coz i got ripped off buying Far Cry 2 for $1.50 off steam.
Mod tools = money, no matter what. Think of how much content you get for free from the community. And Games/maps etc made by gamers ARE the best things for games.
<!--quoteo(post=1949656:date=Jul 7 2012, 11:14 AM:name=Nightsbane)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nightsbane @ Jul 7 2012, 11:14 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1949656"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Ok let me ask a different question then.
Why should I pay $35 for this game when I can play Blacklight: Retribution or Tribes for free? Those are both complete games.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
If your time is completely worthless I can see why $0 for <i>some fun</i> is a good value proposition. However I don't think my time is completely worthless and I won't waste it playing ###### "free to play" games when I could pay some money and play a game I'll actually like.
The biggest tragedy in all of this is that tribes:ascend could have been an excellent game if they charged money for it, but because they decided to use the "free to play"-model, it immediately becomes next to worthless to me. They need to have a persistent state in order to sell you things; and that's exactly the last thing I want in a competitive FPS; It's like a game of chess where the board is free, but if you pay $10 you get to start with an extra queen. Bother this nonsense.
<!--quoteo(post=1949656:date=Jul 8 2012, 02:14 AM:name=Nightsbane)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nightsbane @ Jul 8 2012, 02:14 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1949656"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Ok let me ask a different question then.
Why should I pay $35 for this game when I can play Blacklight: Retribution or Tribes for free? Those are both complete games.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I wouldn't spend a dime on Blacklight or Tribes that's how ###### those games are.
And for the record nothing is free, someone is paying for you to play.
Have you even played Tribes? The new weapons are 1. unlockable without spending any money. 2. Not better, but different.
The pathfinder weapon for example does more damage, but got a smaller blast radius. So you need to do more direct hits with it. So actually the guy playing towards the gun and gaining some gameplay experience by the way is likely to be able to handle the weapon better than someone buying it from the start failing to do any damage at all.
And then again I'm asking myself why I'm always among the top players without having even unlocked anything at all. This black and white painting is ridiculous, not every f2p game is the same just as not every full price game is worth the money, or is it? ;)
fmponeJoin Date: 2011-07-05Member: 108086Members, Squad Five Blue
From inside the community, my only concern about the price point is that it is more of a barrier to entry for new players, than a lesser price would be. But I also want UWE to profit and the like, etc.
Giving it away for free would definitely grow the community pretty fast though! ;p
Well the good thing about digital distribution is how easy a price can be adapted. It's only logical to start with the highest reasonable price possible. If it sells well it can stay that way for a while, if not it has to be corrected to a lower price.
<!--quoteo(post=1949859:date=Jul 8 2012, 06:09 AM:name=AuroN2)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AuroN2 @ Jul 8 2012, 06:09 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1949859"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Sorry but.. what? How the hell is 35 expensive? Thats cheap as chips, even if you dont work!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Lays potatoe chips are<!--coloro:#A0522D--><span style="color:#A0522D"><!--/coloro--> 79 <!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->cents. So, actually, NS2 is worth about <!--coloro:#FFA500--><span style="color:#FFA500"><!--/coloro-->46<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--> and <!--coloro:#FFA500--><span style="color:#FFA500"><!--/coloro-->2/3<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--> bags of lays potatoe chips. That is, if you <i><b>really</b></i> wanted to get technical.
Comments
$60 base price tag. Okay that's the norm nowadays, nothing special.
Then lets say they release 4 dlc packs. that's $15 each pack so 15x4=$60
Each map pack generally contains 3-4~ maps so that's 12-16 more maps for another $60.
That totals to $120 (not counting tax on the actual video game)
Ns2 - $35. Any new 'expansions' or 'additions' will be released free of charge.
the DLC (if any) will be purely cosmetic and will only help you stand out more. (I can has Nyan-cat marine?)
Plus you have the community creating custom maps and mods to further enhance the amount of time you spend playing Ns2. Free of charge.
Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
Next.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
+1 exactly what i was thinking... They had "angel investors", although from an independent origin, they are not independent.
Case closed?
Either don't mention the word "indie"/awards on steam store page and keep the price
or mention them and lower the price.
many people expect the price to be no more than $20 whenever they see the word "indie".
That's what happens when there are too mnay indie sales and bundles go around these days.
What I connect with independence is the freedom to make the game the way you want it to be without the publisher telling you what works.
When i buy games, i consider how much entertainment value they have in terms of hours spent. Multiplayer games have alot more replay value than single player games. All the single player games ive bought have the same story ... i finish the stroryline ... and then if its a good game i will play it again on hard mode ... and then i get bored with it and never play it again. Games like Counter strike, Day of Defeat, Garrysmod, Starcraft2, Warcraft3, Team fortress2, all of these games im still playing because they just have so much replay value with all the mods and different gamemodes.
<img src="http://oi49.tinypic.com/2nc3nux.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
Enough Said.
All the best, most successful games are effectively 'multiplayer only' as well..<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This times a million. This is not your fedora hat wearing indie title. NS2 has content.
Its a pretty simple concept, they arnt trying to be greedy devils
I seriously wanted to buy this game as I played NS1 a great deal, however $35 is a bit steep. I would be much happier paying around $10.
EDIT: I don't want people to think I'm being ultra critical here or trying to start a flame war. As I mentioned I played NS1 for YEARS, and I loved that game. I really want to see this game succeed, but in order to do so it has to have a large player base. With the wrong pricing model that just won't happen.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
TFC, TF:2, CS:S, DoD:S etc all charged +65 bucks for online only content when they first came out...its really not that uncommon not to have a single player aspect.
Sure EA titles such as BF offer both...but neither is really polished (still prefer operation flashpoint much better military sim).
Over in the land down under any decent game costs upwards of 89 bucks...35 for ns2 is a steal even in the early beta days.
If you played NS1 a lot see it as 20 bucks for all their hard work in creating that mod....and 15 for NS2.
I have spent much more money on games I have played a hell of a lot less and see ns2 as great value for money.
Finally before you come out saying why so much but only online, understand what a BETA is and whilst you may not have been told, there has been talk all along of some form of single player tutorial to help players learn the game. But most of us would all rather they get the online right before worrying about the single player.
Why should I pay $35 for this game when I can play Blacklight: Retribution or Tribes for free? Those are both complete games.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Presumably because you like the distinct mechanics and gameplay present in NS2.
Why should I pay $35 for this game when I can play Blacklight: Retribution or Tribes for free? Those are both complete games.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is not a bad question. I've played all 3, and both Tribes and Blacklight are decent games in their own right. The deal is only sweeter that they are free. Here is why you might pay for NS2:
Like someone else said, it is the only RTS + FPS out of the bunch.
Unlike Blacklight earlier today, whose entire US/AU server went out for over an hour, NS2 is quite stable and doesn't have account creation problems.
You do not have to unlock things by grinding away for hours.
You will never be pressured into buying extras.
Additional content will be developed and delivered for free (similar to TF2 updates).
Ultimately, take a look at the gameplay or videos by NS2HD. If you want to play the game, buy it. (or lurk for the occasional key giveaways) If you don't want to play it, you can always wait for a sale.
<!--quoteo(post=1949809:date=Jul 8 2012, 12:08 AM:name=MisterNubs)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MisterNubs @ Jul 8 2012, 12:08 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1949809"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->How does one go about getting a refund?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<strike>Sorry for a double post.</strike> Usually emailing the NS2 staff is enough to request a refund, and from what I hear they're pretty quick about it.
<sub><!--coloro:#FF8C00--><span style="color:#FF8C00"><!--/coloro-->^ FTFY - Angelusz<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--></sub>
<!--quoteo(post=0:date=:name=PersianImm0rtal)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PersianImm0rtal)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->my 724 HOURS played is worth the $40 dollars I paid for the game.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's nice and all, but at the same time there are many MANY people with 1~ hour of game-time for NS2, due to it being wholly unjoyable for a plethora of reasons. Needless to say you'll find the most hardcore of players in these forums, so supplying an argument like "I've get X hours under my belt!" isn't terrible convincing either way.
And the comparison with movie-trips is just lousy, it's a whole different kind of entertainment with different rulesets, the 2 aren't comparable (and 3D sucks, don't pay for it).
<!--quoteo(post=0:date=:name=Krovakon)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Krovakon)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Lets use COD for an example. Hell even BF3 works as well
$60 base price tag. Okay that's the norm nowadays, nothing special.
Then lets say they release 4 dlc packs. that's $15 each pack so 15x4=$60
Each map pack generally contains 3-4~ maps so that's 12-16 more maps for another $60.
That totals to $120 (not counting tax on the actual video game)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
And this is just horribly skewed arithmetic to put other games in as bad a light as possible. You're acting as if you're obligated to buy those DLCs, while you really are not. I could put forth similar rubbish by stating you should add the i5 5GHz Sandybridge to the paying-price of NS2, cause that's what you'll need to play it (hyperbole for effect).
If you want to make a good case for NS2, say it allows for mapping\code-modding, has dedicated-servers et cetera, those are all increasingly (in today's gaming-world) strong selling-points. Don't smear other games (even if you are right), it just makes you look bad.
Isn't it sad that the whole dedicated servers thing (or even running your own servers) is a PLUS and not a given nowadays?
Nuff said.
Mod tools = money, no matter what. Think of how much content you get for free from the community. And Games/maps etc made by gamers ARE the best things for games.
Why should I pay $35 for this game when I can play Blacklight: Retribution or Tribes for free? Those are both complete games.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
If your time is completely worthless I can see why $0 for <i>some fun</i> is a good value proposition. However I don't think my time is completely worthless and I won't waste it playing ###### "free to play" games when I could pay some money and play a game I'll actually like.
The biggest tragedy in all of this is that tribes:ascend could have been an excellent game if they charged money for it, but because they decided to use the "free to play"-model, it immediately becomes next to worthless to me. They need to have a persistent state in order to sell you things; and that's exactly the last thing I want in a competitive FPS; It's like a game of chess where the board is free, but if you pay $10 you get to start with an extra queen. Bother this nonsense.
Why should I pay $35 for this game when I can play Blacklight: Retribution or Tribes for free? Those are both complete games.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I wouldn't spend a dime on Blacklight or Tribes that's how ###### those games are.
And for the record nothing is free, someone is paying for you to play.
The pathfinder weapon for example does more damage, but got a smaller blast radius. So you need to do more direct hits with it. So actually the guy playing towards the gun and gaining some gameplay experience by the way is likely to be able to handle the weapon better than someone buying it from the start failing to do any damage at all.
And then again I'm asking myself why I'm always among the top players without having even unlocked anything at all.
This black and white painting is ridiculous, not every f2p game is the same just as not every full price game is worth the money, or is it? ;)
Giving it away for free would definitely grow the community pretty fast though! ;p
Lays potatoe chips are<!--coloro:#A0522D--><span style="color:#A0522D"><!--/coloro--> 79 <!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->cents. So, actually, NS2 is worth about <!--coloro:#FFA500--><span style="color:#FFA500"><!--/coloro-->46<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--> and <!--coloro:#FFA500--><span style="color:#FFA500"><!--/coloro-->2/3<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--> bags of lays potatoe chips. That is, if you <i><b>really</b></i> wanted to get technical.