EA...erm, I mean Bethesda [Archive]

SyntaxN

09-01-2006, 09:25 AM

Plus this plugin needs the official patch to work ..the patch that causes incompatibility with real mods that are worth the download :mryuck:
I just wait for the "customize your game package", 10 bucks for the retail game with an empty world+some weapons and you can buy dungeons, enemies etc.. :dopefish:

Lethe

09-01-2006, 09:28 AM

I just wait for the "customize your game package", 10 bucks for the retail game with an empty world with some weapons and you can buy dungeons, enemies etc.. :dopefish:

Yeah. They should've just given us empty sandbox when they started on development so they can sell us content while they're developing it.

Tang Lung

09-01-2006, 10:01 AM

The only reason I still play Oblivion is the many quality fan made mods (mods made with tools that Bethesda have nothing to do with).

I knew pay for mods were going to be a bad idea. Plus it's solid proof of Bethesdas XBox bias (if any more was needed).

Mongorian

09-01-2006, 10:04 AM

This is a bit weak of Bethesda, mainly because a lot of those additions look really cool and I'm broke. :D

Sang

09-01-2006, 10:10 AM

Meh the prices are too low to really worry about them but I still think selling ADDITIONAL! game content is rather cheap (as in, you don't do that kind of stuff!).

ZuljinRaynor

09-01-2006, 11:34 AM

New spells? SWEET! Still gotta get the latest 3 official plug-ins. Had no time while I was on vacation.

infinity

09-01-2006, 11:54 AM

I dislike the concept of microtransactions. However, the retail game is already so complete, so I'm not complaining.

8IronBob

09-01-2006, 12:28 PM

I only wish that Bethesda and Microsoft would learn to bring X360 to a price point that can actually be affordable for addons. Until then, I can see myself trading in the X360 version of Oblivion to the PC version almost automatically...

Wamplet

09-01-2006, 01:12 PM

I have yet to buy anything.

Are the addon missions worth it?

Like the pirate one and that wizard astrolab thing?

Hudson

09-01-2006, 02:30 PM

Oh jesus, buying spells and items.. that's pretty terrible. Abysmal really.

Paying for additional patch content ftw :rolleyes:

This just in: $1 for every additional weapon in Fallout III!

Mudsling3

09-01-2006, 02:35 PM

Dime! Purchase a spell? I thought that is what you do in game. They better make it work in real life as well.

Hyperactive Slob

09-01-2006, 02:37 PM

Most of the missions aren't really worth it although they're very nice eye candy especially the houses not sure about the mehrunes razor mission though.

Damien_Azreal

09-01-2006, 03:05 PM

Now I'm sortof happy I uninstalled Oblivion. :p

MAT

09-01-2006, 03:49 PM

bah, Oblivion times are over. at least for me. Not missing it a little bit.

avatar_58

09-01-2006, 04:06 PM

You know whats funnier? You can make those spells via customization. They just aren't trying anymore....

In my opinion you either make an expansion worth my money, or don't bother with new content.

Damien_Azreal

09-01-2006, 04:55 PM

Agreed.

Odin

09-01-2006, 04:59 PM

What the **** is this shit?

Microtransactions are bullshit. Penn and Teller should do an episode about them. It's that bad.

avatar_58

09-01-2006, 05:04 PM

Tang Lung

09-01-2006, 05:10 PM

I blame xbox live. Flame me all you want, but before that piece of shit became the norm we didn't have to worry. Remember the Morrowind expansions? Live "proved" to corporations that there are doorknobs willing to spend money on this crap.

Thank you very much xbox.

That is basically what it is.

In fact more to blame is developer console bias on multiplatform systems. Bethesda aim these mods towards Xbox users who cant get their own mods, which is fair enough, but considering that the game was made with the 360 blatently in mind, and that they havent exactly helped out the mod community, it makes people a little sore.

avatar_58

09-01-2006, 05:14 PM

Well to me its dead simple: Live players must pay for add-ons so why should the PC players get a fancy expansion pack or free updates/mods? Therefore lets just sell them all the same shit because its obvious that PC gamers are just as gullable.

Heres what I do: I don't buy them. Simple as that. Bethesda is not getting my money unless they make something worth buying, like a couple of hours in an expansion pack.

Twin

09-02-2006, 02:50 AM

wow, that's kind of stupid...especially for a game that isn't even online...i mean who are you even going to show it off to? the computer controlled guy that runs the stables and say the same thing every time you talk to him? :p

FireFly

09-03-2006, 04:32 AM

I don't think it's clear that microtransactions are a replacement for expansion packs, which can be released at retail and have a much bigger audience.

avatar_58

09-03-2006, 04:53 AM

I don't think it's clear that microtransactions are a replacement for expansion packs, which can be released at retail and have a much bigger audience.

Well it seems 2kgames thinks otherwise with Oblivion and probably Prey pretty soon. I guess for them putting little effort and getting a much larger return in profit is probably why.

Gryph

09-03-2006, 11:28 AM

This makes me fear for Fallout 3 even more.

Zixinus

09-03-2006, 02:55 PM

Bethasda does a versy bad name for digital distrubutions, and if anybody siriously thinks I am gonna pay 5$ over the net for a building that is not very useful, they are terribly mistaken.

ZuljinRaynor

09-03-2006, 02:58 PM

They haven't charged $5 for anything.

avatar_58

09-03-2006, 04:01 PM

Bethasda does a versy bad name for digital distrubutions, and if anybody siriously thinks I am gonna pay 5$ over the net for a building that is not very useful, they are terribly mistaken.

Bethesda? Thats funny I was under the impression marketplace was being used before Oblivion was released. COD2 anyone? They aren't the only ones trying to sell mini add-ons. They won't be the last either.

Judging by how 3DRealms says 2Kgames is deciding on whether or not to charge for Prey maps/models I would assume it's 2Kgames fault with respect to Oblivion. Forgive me for thinking the coincidence of publisher means something.

Honestly I think the blame is with the people who actually bothered to buy those COD maps and whatever else was on marketplace, because its you people who proved the model works. Don't pay for something and then bitch later its not worth the money.

Needle

09-04-2006, 09:34 AM

Don't pay for something and then bitch later its not worth the money.
Eh, what? What do you propose instead? Not buying it but bitching its not worth the money or buying it and not complain even though it sucks?

avatar_58

09-04-2006, 03:52 PM

What I mean is that some of the people bitching have bought these small packs on marketplace, either from Oblivion or another game, and have no right to argue about why companies are continuing the effort.

If you paid them and joined in the support, how on earth can you badmouth the process? Its pretty obvious it worked on you if you own any of the packs.

Duoae

09-04-2006, 04:25 PM

Ah, but you can also say that because he bought it and has a feel for what value he got for his money he was a right to badmouth the practice, surely?

avatar_58

09-04-2006, 06:18 PM

Steve

09-04-2006, 07:48 PM

Wait, wait, wait... I have to PAY for new items? **** that. No really, **** that.

big fat lazy

09-04-2006, 11:26 PM

Actually none of the spells added from the tomes have new effects.

Duoae

09-05-2006, 05:05 AM

Surely, but I would assume that he wouldn't continue to do so right? I mean if one hated episodic, logically after a bad experience with HL2:Ep1 he would stop buying them from valve correct?

Burn you once shame on them, burn you twice shame on you.

Yeah, i presume that he either has stopped buying..... or has bought something else just in case that once was a fluke incident. They can happen you know ;)

Also, where does it say (and who are you talking about in relation to this cause Zixinus and Needle were the two you responded to and they haven't indicated they bought anything) anyone bought anything once, let alone twice?

I haven't bought any episodic content because i don't see the point. It's kinda like playing through 1/3 of a game and then stopping. I already do that with normal games - not because they're crap but because i get addicted to something else instead. :)

FireFly

09-05-2006, 07:12 AM

I already do that with normal games - not because they're crap but because i get addicted to something else instead. :)
Then what's the difference?

Foxy

09-05-2006, 07:41 AM

'lawl'. Paying for two-bit mods? Could only come from console land.

dreweth

09-05-2006, 10:24 AM

Oh jesus, buying spells and items.. that's pretty terrible. Abysmal really.

Paying for additional patch content ftw :rolleyes:

This just in: $1 for every additional weapon in Fallout III!

If you read deeper, you realize that it's a fundamental gameplay change. Spells are now random drops, just like the weapons and armor. Spellcasting just became much more provocative!

dreweth

09-05-2006, 10:26 AM

Denz

09-05-2006, 11:11 AM

So, i got to choose betwen MP2 for 2 $ or a new level in oblivion for the same price.

There is a probleme. :o

Duoae

09-05-2006, 04:59 PM

Then what's the difference?

Er.. because i go back and play through the rest of the game and don't have to pay for more?

avatar_58

09-05-2006, 05:32 PM

Why do you people seem to think that it won't balance itself?

This is the games industry my naive friend. When something is proven profitable, it is explored fully. Why do you think expansions were created in the first place? This is just an "evolutionary" step in the eyes of the business man.

Aegeri

09-06-2006, 10:23 AM

And remember folks, this same group of "fine people"* are the ones that have the Fallout 3 license.

*Not really.

big fat lazy

09-06-2006, 10:39 AM

So, i got to choose betwen MP2 for 2 $ or a new level in oblivion for the same price.
Damn, MP2 is only $2 now? I knew I should have waited 3 years.

Mongorian

09-06-2006, 11:03 AM

If it was important enough to me, I would buy one of these plugins. I just don't have interest in Oblivion anymore.

By the by, avatar. Bethesda made the decision to do this instead of releasing free content because why should they be making new content and giving it away for free? They could be working on their next project, or something more profitable. They're a business, not a charity. If you don't want to buy it, go the user made route.

avatar_58

09-06-2006, 11:06 AM

By the by, avatar. Bethesda made the decision to do this instead of releasing free content because why should they be making new content and giving it away for free? They could be working on their next project, or something more profitable. They're a business, not a charity. If you don't want to buy it, go the user made route.

Who's saying it should be free? Theres a thing called an expansion pack. Of course, the xbox users can't get something like that so they instead enforced this lame ass nickle and dime scheme on everyone.

FireFly

09-06-2006, 11:53 AM

Expansion packs are released for consoles, too.

Mongorian

09-06-2006, 12:37 PM

Theres a thing called an expansion pack. Of course, the xbox users can't get something like that, so Bethesda and other developers are doing the wise thing and maximizing their sales based on what works in the current market.

Fixed.

ZuljinRaynor

09-06-2006, 02:09 PM

Expansion packs are released for consoles, too.

Huh? As standalone (D3: ROE) or as a rebundle (Morrowind GOTY). AFAIK that's it.

Zixinus

09-06-2006, 02:12 PM

I aggre with avatar_58. It would have much, much better if these stuff came with an expension pack. This nickle and dime scheme is just pathetic.

And they released stuff for Morrowind FOR FREE! Not entire levels of course, merely modifications that didn't come ingame.

Again, Bethesda sets a bad example for digital distibution. Why not give out an entire expension pack modell by modell, lines per lines of code, texture per texture...

FireFly

09-06-2006, 04:10 PM

Huh? As standalone (D3: ROE) or as a rebundle (Morrowind GOTY). AFAIK that's it.
Yes, that's correct. They're not classical expansion packs, but still the content gets released.

However, the Halo 2 multiplayer map pack was released separately.

ZuljinRaynor

09-06-2006, 04:13 PM

That was an installation and AFAIK it wasn't big. 13GB 360 HDDs don't seem to friendly.

dreweth

09-06-2006, 10:48 PM

This is the games industry my naive friend. When something is proven profitable, it is explored fully. Why do you think expansions were created in the first place? This is just an "evolutionary" step in the eyes of the business man.

It's funny just how much this board does not want to understand the idea of a free market.

What you have explained is a simple economic step within the boundaries of a free market.

You are still haggling price, essentially. Naive, indeed.

Duoae

09-07-2006, 03:33 AM

What do you mean? We can't haggle prices. Its not a free market if the commodity is controlled through one person/business... then it's called a controlled market, no?

dreweth

09-07-2006, 09:28 AM

What do you mean? We can't haggle prices. Its not a free market if the commodity is controlled through one person/business... then it's called a controlled market, no?

A free market is a market where price is determined by the lack of government regulation in the interchange of supply and demand. This is in contrast to a controlled market where supply, demand, and price are set directly by government.[1] According to a more philosophical definition, a "free" market is a market where trades are, in theory, morally voluntary and therefore free from the interference of force and fraud.[2]

You don't necessarily have a right to haggle prices in a free market. You have a right ot buy or not buy. The laws of supply and demand will determine the correct price.

avatar_58

09-07-2006, 04:09 PM

You don't necessarily have a right to haggle prices in a free market. You have a right ot buy or not buy. The laws of supply and demand will determine the correct price.

Yeah because we all know games have changed so much in price by demand correct? PC games, since they aren't doing as well as console games, essentially cost much cheaper right? So explain why I'm paying $60 for games?

I have a right to buy or not buy, yeah.....because everything else I've attempted to avoid dissapeared right? Are you trying to tell me my one sale can topple Episodic or Steam? Maybe if I don't buy UT2k7 Epic will fold? I don't have a choice in the matter. Expansions will vanish and this new profitable form will take over. From a business stand point it's golden. From a consumer point its nickle and diming.

Duoae

09-07-2006, 05:52 PM

You don't necessarily have a right to haggle prices in a free market. You have a right ot buy or not buy. The laws of supply and demand will determine the correct price.

I read that wiki article before posting what i did. You essentially proved my point.

A free market is a market where price is determined by the lack of government regulation in the interchange of supply and demand. This is in contrast to a controlled market where supply, demand, and price are set directly by government.[1] According to a more philosophical definition, a "free" market is a market where trades are, in theory, morally voluntary and therefore free from the interference of force and fraud.[2]

They only say government because that's the highest power. On Live! and other console related things MS, SONY and Nintendo are the goverments. It's a controlled market by design.. not a free market.

Your "have a right to buy or not to buy" also fits into free or controlled markets so i can't see how it's a defining part of the equation. The main difference is that in a free market products will be "reasonably" priced due to competition... this is why governments do not like monopolies....

Plus, i was just questioning the haggling thing from your post. I wasn't saying we have a right to haggle prices...

Mountain Man

09-08-2006, 10:10 PM

Buy spells for 1$. Yeah, shove It Up Your Ass Bethesda...

link (https://obliviondownloads.com/StoreCatalog_ProductList.aspx?SubCategoryId=1)
Wanna know the best part? You don't have to buy it. That's right, you can happily boot up Oblivion and play for dozens of hours without buying a single official plug-in. Pretty sweet, huh?

There's also the matter that these offical plug-ins are mainly intended for Xbox 360 chumps who don't have access to user created content. PC gamers really aren't the intended market for the most part.

I stopped playing Oblivion about 2 months ago. Weird thing is, i dont miss it at all.
So?

Mongorian

09-08-2006, 10:40 PM

Wanna know the best part? You don't have to buy it. That's right, you can happily boot up Oblivion and play for dozens of hours without buying a single official plug-in. Pretty sweet, huh?

Exactly. Take it or leave it. Think one of the plugins looks cool? Then spend the couple bucks to get it. As far as I can tell, what everyone (AVATAR_58) is complaining about is an unfounded fear that micro transactions will be the death of PC gaming.

Your "sky is falling" attitude is tiring.

avatar_58

09-08-2006, 10:45 PM

As far as I can tell, what everyone (AVATAR_58) is complaining about is an unfounded fear that micro transactions will be the death of PC gaming.

Don't put words in my mouth. I said this will be the end of full fledged expansions. You can't argue that, since its already becoming the norm thanks to marketplace.

Mountain Man

09-09-2006, 07:32 AM

Well, I really think that depends on the company. For instance, Ensemble Studios is releasing a full-fledged expansion for Age of Empires 3, Firaxis put one together for Civilization 4, and Monolith is currently working on one for FEAR (not to mention their admirable decision to release FEAR's multiplayer package as a free download). So I really don't see how these micro-transactions are becoming "the norm".

Mongorian

09-09-2006, 11:38 AM

People said similar things when MMORPGs started becoming popularized, claiming that it was the end of non-subscription gaming. After all, MMORPGs can technically generate far more profit. It's obvious how that turned out.

Daveman

09-09-2006, 03:57 PM

I think the fear is that this will become a future justification for releasing shitty and incomplete games that might be ten bucks cheaper or something, but which you have to upgrade to make the game fun. I mean, that' seems to be EA's reasoning with patches. "If we patch the game, it doesn't matter what state it's in at release!"

avatar_58

09-09-2006, 04:01 PM

I mean, that' seems to be EA's reasoning with patches. "If we patch the game, it doesn't matter what state it's in at release!"

Don't you just love games that are released but get a patch a week later? I don't think that will be a big problem though, as most companies just need to look to Atari's sales to know better.