A View From The Road: The Perfect Subscription

[Xocrates]

I have nothing against expansions. What I object to is leaving the ability to play all three races as part of a complete singleplayer campaign out of the full product. It's basically just cutting out what could already be put in rather than thinking up new content, which is what expansions are supposed to be about. And I'm well aware Blizzard has tried to justify it by claiming that they're crafting an epic story which is too big to fit in one game, but I don't buy it. It seems that Blizzard are determined to gradually siphon out what we can expect to get in a full-priced game, to force countless extra payments for things that were once considered standard.

You have never played Dawn of War, have you?

Also, Blizzard's excuse was that if they didn't do that they would never release the game, especially since they stated they expect to release the expansions with a couple years in between each.

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

I have nothing against expansions. What I object to is leaving the ability to play all three races as part of a complete singleplayer campaign out of the full product. It's basically just cutting out what could already be put in rather than thinking up new content, which is what expansions are supposed to be about. And I'm well aware Blizzard has tried to justify it by claiming that they're crafting an epic story which is too big to fit in one game, but I don't buy it. It seems that Blizzard are determined to gradually siphon out what we can expect to get in a full-priced game, to force countless extra payments for things that were once considered standard.

You have never played Dawn of War, have you?

Also, Blizzard's excuse was that if they didn't do that they would never release the game, especially since they stated they expect to release the expansions with a couple years in between each.

I wasn't terribly impressed with Dawn of War's singleplayer. And as far as excuses go, that's pretty poor. Tile-based RTS maps are among the easiest thing ever to design: just look at how Warcraft III has been saturated with custom maps from the editor.

 

[DTWolfwood]

100% AGREE! I want this to model to come to America! >.<

Options = WIN!

Will also be buying the $100 Collectors Edition

Edit: lol more ppl ranting about the price i guess prices can never go up when money continues to be worth less and development continues to cost more and more. Brilliant folks lets starve the industry so that they quit making good games and instead focus on shit like most of the games on the Wii. Genius! <.<

 

[DTWolfwood]

You forgot to mention Blizzard's other brilliant subscription scheme, whereby when you purchase the game you get one campaign, and then if you like that you can buy the other two as expansions to see what happens next.

If i get the same play time from the other 2 campaigns as i would from the first (say 10-12 hours) instead of having 3 campaigns at 3 hours each? Sure i'll pay to see the rest of the story ^-^

because we all know that having terribly abridged campaigns to appease gamers is the way to go right?

I've yet to be disappointed by a blizzard product and given their track record, I'd be happy to give them the benefit of the doubt here

 

[dead_rebel]

I just have to remind you that this is not the goal of Activision...to "help" you. If anything, I think this subscription to be the work of Blizzard, but don't tell Bobby, he'll shut you down so fast it won't be fun.

 

[idah0]

Hi there everyone.
I'm actually from Russia (sorry for bad English) and I'm surprised that author didn't bother to see the average price of games in Russia. Well, surprise! Almost all new PC games including AAA-hits like Dragon Age or Battlefield BC2 are distributed in 2 versions: a jewel and a dvd-box (and collector's editions sometimes), and average prices are 15-20$ for a jewel and 30-40$ for a box. So the point is that we will actually have to pay full price for SC2 plus subscription fee. Either way this game will not be cheaper than others, even if you will never want to play multiplayer. This pricing model does not offer a "lower bar of entry for consumers to test the waters" comparing to an average price, it just says: "Want full multiplayer? Pay even more!". Which actually sucks for russian gamers.

 

[Gunner 51]

Hi there everyone.
I'm actually from Russia (sorry for bad English) and I'm surprised that author didn't bother to see the average price of games in Russia. Well, surprise! Almost all new PC games including AAA-hits like Dragon Age or Battlefield BC2 are distributed in 2 versions: a jewel and a dvd-box (and collector's editions sometimes), and average prices are 15-20$ for a jewel and 30-40$ for a box. So the point is that we will actually have to pay full price for SC2 plus subscription fee. Either way this game will not be cheaper than others, even if you will never want to play multiplayer. This pricing model does not offer a "lower bar of entry for consumers to test the waters" comparing to an average price, it just says: "Want full multiplayer? Pay even more!". Which actually sucks for russian gamers.

Welcome to the Escapist, Idiah0.

Console owners here in Britain have a very similar multiplayer pricing system. Not only do we have to pay full price for the game. (And for some reason, console versions of the game are 25% more expensive than a PC copy) - but we also have to put up with subscription fees to X-box Live for the privilege of multiplayer gaming.

 

[Rack]

Hmm, I have a sinking feeling this model is going to make it over here after all. My guess is £35 for the regular edition with 4 months multiplayer otherwise being £3.99 a month, £75 for the collectors edition with a years worth of multi, and £50 for a lifetime subscription to SC2 multi.

 

[Robert0288]

I like this theory. Many games I find start to lose my interest after a week or so (lots of spare time). This lets me play more games which leads to more studios getting my money (plus for industry) and more games for me (yay me!)

 

[carpathic]

A curious idea, but I cannot help but remember that companies do not ever do things to save us money. Rather, they structure there entire corporate life around removing as much money as possible from our pockets.

That said, this is at least a fairly innovative way to separate us from our money.

Too bad I don't like Starcraft.

 

[idah0]

Welcome to the Escapist, Idiah0.

Console owners here in Britain have a very similar multiplayer pricing system. Not only do we have to pay full price for the game. (And for some reason, console versions of the game are 25% more expensive than a PC copy) - but we also have to put up with subscription fees to X-box Live for the privilege of multiplayer gaming.

Yes, we have Xbox Live here in Russia too and pay for gold subscription, but I was talking about PC games. XBL Gold is a completely diffirent service to pay for because it offers multiplayer in all games no matter how many you own.
The funny thing is that in Russia it is much cheaper to be a PC gamer rather than console gamer because the price of new console games is about 60$ compared to 17$ for PC. I think that it's really because of the piracy here. If PC games would be sold at european prices here, no one would buy. So this Starcraft pricing model's purpose is to try to make people pay the price which could be compared to the european price, by additional subscription fees. In fact, it's a very good model for Blizzard because the price becomes higher than average which is too small. So that system cannot be applied in Europe or US because there is no reason for Blizzard to change price there.

Trust me, I'm an economist

 

[Gunner 51]

Yes, we have Xbox Live here in Russia too and pay for gold subscription, but I was talking about PC games. XBL Gold is a completely diffirent service to pay for because it offers multiplayer in all games no matter how many you own.
The funny thing is that in Russia it is much cheaper to be a PC gamer rather than console gamer because the price of new console games is about 60$ compared to 17$ for PC. I think that it's really because of the piracy here. If PC games would be sold at european prices here, no one would buy. So this Starcraft pricing model's purpose is to try to make people pay the price which could be compared to the european price, by additional subscription fees. In fact, it's a very good model for Blizzard because the price becomes higher than average which is too small. So that system cannot be applied in Europe or US because there is no reason for Blizzard to change price there.

Trust me, I'm an economist

I haven't played PC games in years. But I could never understand how PC games were being sold cheaper than console games. But the difference between them in Russia is huge, though I can see why you Russian's aren't too happy having to pay European rates for your games from what you said.

I can understand why Blizzard are doing all this, but I don't think I can condone it.

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

You forgot to mention Blizzard's other brilliant subscription scheme, whereby when you purchase the game you get one campaign, and then if you like that you can buy the other two as expansions to see what happens next.

If i get the same play time from the other 2 campaigns as i would from the first (say 10-12 hours) instead of having 3 campaigns at 3 hours each? Sure i'll pay to see the rest of the story ^-^

because we all know that having terribly abridged campaigns to appease gamers is the way to go right?

I've yet to be disappointed by a blizzard product and given their track record, I'd be happy to give them the benefit of the doubt here

Good for you. I however will probably get bored of playing Terran halfway through the campaign and give up. That's why I like the arrangement of the old campaigns in WCIII and SC; just as you're starting to tire of one race, you get to start all over again with a new one. Now if I want that I'm apparently going to have to wait 2 years and spend another 60 bucks.

 

[pumasuit]

Excellent report, John. It seems like an excellent system, but it will be a couple years before blizzard buys in to the same system. They make absurd amounts of money from the current system, so to adopt the Russian system, there would have to be consumer tests and reports detailing that US consumers would fly for the kind of system, and then the next step would be implementing that system.

Also worthy of notice, how many current subscribers would feel that they have been cheated out of the money they have spent on the game already? New players get the ultimate discount?

It works for new games, but WoW won't see something like this for a long time.

 

[jasoncyrus]

snip

The difference between then and now is that back then you got MOUNTAINS of content, and even the collectors editions these days dont feature all the content they keep in reserve for DLC. Yes we all know they COULDVE put it in the game quite easily for EXACTLY the same price but they deliberately choose to keep it out to suck you dry for more and more money. As the saying goes a fool and his money are easily parted, and thats what the world of gamers has turned into a bunch of fools with too much money.

 

[JaredXE]

Ooooh, can I get a cheaper version since I won't be playing multiplayer anyways? That way I won't feel nearly as cheated for only getting a third of a story. The pricing plan sounds fine, it gives the player choice and choice is generally good.

 

[JakobBloch]

Yes, we have Xbox Live here in Russia too and pay for gold subscription, but I was talking about PC games. XBL Gold is a completely diffirent service to pay for because it offers multiplayer in all games no matter how many you own.
The funny thing is that in Russia it is much cheaper to be a PC gamer rather than console gamer because the price of new console games is about 60$ compared to 17$ for PC. I think that it's really because of the piracy here. If PC games would be sold at european prices here, no one would buy. So this Starcraft pricing model's purpose is to try to make people pay the price which could be compared to the european price, by additional subscription fees. In fact, it's a very good model for Blizzard because the price becomes higher than average which is too small. So that system cannot be applied in Europe or US because there is no reason for Blizzard to change price there.

Trust me, I'm an economist

I haven't played PC games in years. But I could never understand how PC games were being sold cheaper than console games. But the difference between them in Russia is huge, though I can see why you Russian's aren't too happy having to pay European rates for your games from what you said.

I can understand why Blizzard are doing all this, but I don't think I can condone it.

Game producers have to pay a fee to the console manufacturers for each product sold. I am not sure if the fee is big enough to account for the entire +25% price of console games but it is a big chunk of it. The reason why this is necessary is that the console producers are selling the consoles at a lose (when factoring in development of the thing) to recoup their loses they say that some of the money that you spend on games have to go to them. The producers of the games naturally pass this cost on to you. PC has no such problem. We pay that "fee" when we buy the computer. Your average gaming rig cost significantly more then a console so we get the games cheaper.

 

[DTWolfwood]

Good for you. I however will probably get bored of playing Terran halfway through the campaign and give up. That's why I like the arrangement of the old campaigns in WCIII and SC; just as you're starting to tire of one race, you get to start all over again with a new one. Now if I want that I'm apparently going to have to wait 2 years and spend another 60 bucks.

good point. But its not like u cant get some skirmishes in with the other races or as if there's gonna be nothing in between the expansions for you to buy & play. ^-^

Tho i could swear i heard they are gonna be Expansion prices not Full Retail. saying of course Bobby Kotick doesnt have anything to say about it. >.<

I for one still would love the option to buy the full game for cheaper with a free short term MP option. Since ill probably stop with the MP of the game in 4 months anyways. Pricing in Russia is full of win.

 

[John Funk]

snip

The difference between then and now is that back then you got MOUNTAINS of content, and even the collectors editions these days dont feature all the content they keep in reserve for DLC. Yes we all know they COULDVE put it in the game quite easily for EXACTLY the same price but they deliberately choose to keep it out to suck you dry for more and more money. As the saying goes a fool and his money are easily parted, and thats what the world of gamers has turned into a bunch of fools with too much money.

Prove it.

All I see is someone who knows nothing about software development.