[Game] Battlefield 3
- Thread starter Ralfst3r
- Start date
They still need money to maintain those reliable servers, the people to maintain them, and all other forms of infrastructure required to keep Steam up and running and providing you with those nice 1.5 MB a second download speeds. Does it cost as much as boxing a game and selling it to a store? I am not sure, but I am guessing the overall cost is roughly the same.
As for the "they are greedy because they kept the price the same!" comment, it makes little sense. Getting a digital download has its advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that more money might go straight to the developers rather than Fedex, Best Buy (or whatever their counterparts are in Denmark). At least this is the case with TWI and RO2.
Being cheaper was never a realistic advantage. It seemed obvious that the prices would remain the same. We pay the same, but the developers get more money. How is it that the developers are being greedy? It is a win win for us. I would rather be giving TWI a larger percent of $40 than having some of it diverted to a retail store, even if in the end I am still paying $40. I also don't recall any publisher stating that they would lower the prices on digital downloads VS boxed copies. Maybe some did, but I don't recall ever reading such a thing.
The thing is, bandwith and taking care of servers doesn't cost exactly as much as distributing the game and letting every step of the way take a cut. It just doesn't. It is considerably cheaper.
Why doesn't this reduced price reach the consumer then?
Because almost every game is being sold digitally AND in retail, and if you want a store to carry your game you can't say, here's my game, sell it for 50
Why doesn't this reduced price reach the consumer then?
Because almost every game is being sold digitally AND in retail, and if you want a store to carry your game you can't say, here's my game, sell it for 50
Not exactly. Many people would pay more for a box or a DVD. That is assuming it is within $5 or so. Surely not $22 Euros or so more. 
Still, the developers are selling the games for as much money but taking in more money for themselves. I have no problem with that. And do you have any real world figures/sources in the cost difference between shipping, retail profit, ect. VS server costs and labor? I would be interested in knowing what the general price differences are.
Still, the developers are selling the games for as much money but taking in more money for themselves. I have no problem with that. And do you have any real world figures/sources in the cost difference between shipping, retail profit, ect. VS server costs and labor? I would be interested in knowing what the general price differences are.
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Dietrich Graf
FNG / Fresh Meat
Some of you are forgetting to factor in how much of the final price is attributed to taxes (form of state sponsored inflation).
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I would like to think that digital transactions aren't tax-free either it's really not much of a factor when comparing prices of retail and digital outlets.
Ok.Dietrich Graf
FNG / Fresh Meat
I would like to think that everything you buy didn't have tax included, making things cheaper. But because of taxes, I do notice that I don't buy as much. Then again, I don't pay any where near as much as you Europeans do. Just thinking of what your bill for goods and services after taxes are included makes me shiver.
I suggest you study economics, and not the Keynesian, Macroeconomics garbage.
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Haven't been in this thread for awhile, but I'm sure someone or future someones will be in here complaining about Origin and how they need to have another client running to play their games.
You only need to use the Origin client to register and download BF3. You don't have to have it running to play BF3.
How Origin and BF3 will work - YouTube
You only need to use the Origin client to register and download BF3. You don't have to have it running to play BF3.
How Origin and BF3 will work - YouTube
1. Battlelog usage was forced in Alpha to test, which is why everyone had to use Origin to get to Battlelog to get to BF3. DICE said Battlelog usage won't be required to play the game.
2. Do you really think they will release a game with no main menu? IE Battlelog launch-able only.
3. Origin is required to register and download BF3 on the PC. You can launch games on Origin without Origin running.
4. Origin profile name is linked to Battlelog name. Like Steam Profile is linked to Valve games. So that is why Origin "Account" is required to play. Not that it is required to be running to be played.
If I turn out to be wrong, I will admit defeat.
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I figured that would be the case. I really don't want Origin for a single title... but I have a feeling ME3 will be the same. I can skip BF3, but I really want ME3.
Another Steam like system will be very annoying, since it is essentially the same... a whole lot of extra programs that do the same thing. It will surely become annoying when all these programs just add more bloat/junk to your PC. And as others have stated, I don't trust EA. Steam might use up some resources, but I imagine Origin will be a far more bloated program.
Another Steam like system will be very annoying, since it is essentially the same... a whole lot of extra programs that do the same thing. It will surely become annoying when all these programs just add more bloat/junk to your PC. And as others have stated, I don't trust EA. Steam might use up some resources, but I imagine Origin will be a far more bloated program.
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Well, not quite. Apparently you just need Origin to register the game (and to download and I guess update it). Allegedly, you don't have to have Origin running to play the game.
[url]https://twitter.com/#!/zh1nt0/status/100892143303925760[/URL]
Clearly states that you need origin to play the game.
Ditto. I really can't be bothered with BF3 if it requires Origin running all the time. Don't mind using it to download, but not if it's a requirement to run the game. They haven't been running this system long enough for me to trust it.
But as you say, I really want ME3, and will be so annoyed if it requires Origin.
I would be shocked and amazed if EA was going to let anyone play BF3 without Origin running in the background. The service does EA no good if people only have to D/L it once and then flip it on just to update. In order for it to provide the functionality they want to compete with Steam, they'll need everyone online using its services. Otherwise it's just a glorified version of the EA downloader, and they spent far too much time and money on it for it to be just that.
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Yes you need Origin Account + Origin to download the game. It doesn't say you need to have Origin running to play the game. That is what I'm getting at.
The only thing that Twitter posts confirms is you need to register all copies of the game on Origin, even if you buy a retail copy.
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