I just don't understand. Greed? Or something else that I don't know about.

Davor

I read this in another post, that I thought was well said.

MakoFore wrote: »

its like 30 bucks for a new zone of quests, battlegrounds, a new class, at least a month of non stop gaming and new content right there. if u dont think thats worth 30 bucks and checking out? dont know what to tell u man- for that price nowadays thats a movie and popcorn and dinner- and that lasts like what- 3 hours?
for me- eso is the best value entertainment i have at the moemnt- other than netflix- hence i spend about as much per month on each that i do.

It got me thinking. I can see Zenimax going on their word about people who subscribe to ESO+ get all DLC free. (another topic that has been said many times.) That said, I still play because I know as a company you need to make money. It costs money to make Morrowind since it adds quite a bit. (again opinion differs. :P )

That said, how can a mount, the Dwarven Mount that is blue cost more than Morrowind? Yes I know it was said before, but I have seen no explanations as to why. Yes I am new to MMOs. I play ESO as if it was a single player game so I don't understand fully how MMOs operate.

So if it takes a lot of time, money and resources to make Morrowind and it can be sold for $40, how can a mount that looks almost the same except for a different colour can't take as much time and money and resources to make as Morrowind. Or even almost halft the cost of ESO it's self on day of release

I just like to understand why. What am I not seeing or not knowing. I am just an old fart who is finally getting up to date and trying to play a MMO. Trying to learn and justify my purchases now and I just can't justify this. Yes I know, I don't need it. Yes I know it doesn't effect game play except for visuals. But why does one that takes I swear 99% less work to do cost the same that does 99% more effort and I am sure 1000s of % to make.

Taylor_MB

It's an easy way to make money off people who are willing to spend it without completely corrupting the integrity of the game (people don't generally quit over it). It's not pay to win, but they do seem to be more concerned with trivialities than fixing long running and serious bugs.

Keep_Door

I stopped reading as soon as you said ZOS went back on their word.

Regardless of what you or anyone thinks morrowind was an expansion NOT a DLC.

Wether you think its not enough content or you think dlc and expansion are the same thing..... it doesnt matter.

At the end of the day ZOS said its an expansion and you have to pay for it even if you are a ESO+ subscriber.

* Grabs stick and stands over the dead horse with a malice lit fire in his eyes* ZOS is a company trying to turn a profit, they arent making this game for any other reason ...... its not greed its business.

Nestor

If they unlock all the doors/delves/ruins in that zone, then it will be a full fledged expansion. As it stands now, it is the beginnings of an expansion or new chapter to the game.

Besides, you don't have to buy it. Unless it has something you want, then you have to decide if it's worth the money. And, it will be on sale eventually, all things are.

anitajoneb17_ESO

Davor wrote: »

I just like to understand why. What am I not seeing or not knowing. I am just an old fart who is finally getting up to date and trying to play a MMO. Trying to learn and justify my purchases now and I just can't justify this. Yes I know, I don't need it. Yes I know it doesn't effect game play except for visuals. But why does one that takes I swear 99% less work to do cost the same that does 99% more effort and I am sure 1000s of % to make.

1/ The price of a good or service is not determined by the costs of making or providing it. It's set by offer and demand.
2/ You are comparing several things as if they had each their own business model. They don't. They're part of one global business model, in which a crown store mount provides more margin and covers more server costs than a purchase of the original game.

I appreciate the current model because what is needed to play (base game + DLC/expansions) is fairly cheap, and what is superfluous is expensive (crown store stuff).

Davor

Keep_Door wrote: »

I stopped reading as soon as you said ZOS went back on their word.

Regardless of what you or anyone thinks morrowind was an expansion NOT a DLC.

Wether you think its not enough content or you think dlc and expansion are the same thing..... it doesnt matter.

At the end of the day ZOS said its an expansion and you have to pay for it even if you are a ESO+ subscriber.

* Grabs stick and stands over the dead horse with a malice lit fire in his eyes* ZOS is a company trying to turn a profit, they arent making this game for any other reason ...... its not greed its business.

This is not a post about our opinions on what Zenimax did or do not do about DLC. It's our opinions so no right or wrong answer. I was asking for understanding to how the price points operate since I am not familiar with how MMOs work and I would like to understand what the reasoning was.

Davor

Nestor wrote: »

If they unlock all the doors/delves/ruins in that zone, then it will be a full fledged expansion. As it stands now, it is the beginnings of an expansion or new chapter to the game.

Sorry I don't understand this. Again no familiar with MMOs and not sure what you mean by unlocking all doors. Trying to understand.

Besides, you don't have to buy it. Unless it has something you want, then you have to decide if it's worth the money. And, it will be on sale eventually, all things are.

I know I don't have to buy it. All I am asking is why is the price the same for Morrowind where Morrowind takes many people hours to make, money and resources while the mount is just a reskin of something already made. If Bethesda tried to do this for their Elder Scrolls game, I am sure the internet would get red hot from the flaming. Again, trying to see the reasoning.

Also how can it be on sale if it's only for sale for four days? Is this not a limited time to buy? I thought once it's stopped being sold we can't buy it again like other mounts that I missed out on.

Davor

anitajoneb17_ESO wrote: »

Davor wrote: »

I just like to understand why. What am I not seeing or not knowing. I am just an old fart who is finally getting up to date and trying to play a MMO. Trying to learn and justify my purchases now and I just can't justify this. Yes I know, I don't need it. Yes I know it doesn't effect game play except for visuals. But why does one that takes I swear 99% less work to do cost the same that does 99% more effort and I am sure 1000s of % to make.

1/ The price of a good or service is not determined by the costs of making or providing it. It's set by offer and demand.
2/ You are comparing several things as if they had each their own business model. They don't. They're part of one global business model, in which a crown store mount provides more margin and covers more server costs than a purchase of the original game.

I appreciate the current model because what is needed to play (base game + DLC/expansions) is fairly cheap, and what is superfluous is expensive (crown store stuff).

Thank you very much for the explanation. I believe I have a better understanding now. Greatly appreciated.

anitajoneb17_ESO

Davor wrote: »

Thank you very much for the explanation. I believe I have a better understanding now. Greatly appreciated.

You're welcome.
Think of it like a blockbuster movie (Spiderman for instance). That movie cost millions to make, each viewer pays say 10$ to watch it at the movies, yet on the way out some of them will buy a spiderman puppet for 15$ which was made in China for 0.02$.

Both items contribute to covering the cost of the movie (and beyond that, to the generated profit). The puppets contribute more. At least, per sale. It just happens that people are ready to pay 15$ for a puppet and only 10$ for a movie ticket. That's offer and demand.

Waffennacht

People won't buy something they think everyone else will have

Riptide

OP, you say you are an old fart - same here. And I am incredulous (insofar as I care, which is veryy little) that you can't work out exclusiivity. And how desirable it is to focus a large section of expendatures on over priced cosmetic items aimed at those with comfortable disposable incomes. They add no functionality of the game and don't even do much in the way of status. Most of us know what skins and things are earned vs bought, etc.

Its fluff that helps support more development. We are getting a decent stream of content. Don't buy what you don't think is worth it. Done and done.

out51d3r

Mounts are a cosmetic item. ZOS is a business trying to make as much money as possible, -without- screwing over gameplay in the process. Thus they offer cosmetic stuff that doesn't affect gameplay for ridiculous prices. If people weren't buying them at that price, ZOS wouldn't be selling them at that price.

Whether or not you think the insane prices for cosmetics are acceptable is a personal thing. I'm personally fine with it. Others(the gotta catch them all!) types find it extremely negative.

ThePrinceOfBargains

Keep_Door wrote: »

Regardless of what you or anyone thinks morrowind was an expansion NOT a DLC.

Keep_Door wrote: »

its not greed its business.

Riptide

I actually must say I think its the collector types who must have every single senche they make, or the *exact* vma weapon trait they want etc that really, truly, seethingly etc gnashing of teeth.

They don't like to hear it, but its on them. You seriously have to lighten up a might, for your own health - you know? You can only ride one mount at a time, the perfect trait isn't THAT important, etc etc.

Decaffinate

Balamoor

Are we really dragging this idiotic whine back out to kick around some more?

Malic

Threads like these usually pop up when MMO's are transitioning from the "BIS, rotation, strat for boss fight" threads to "WHY IS THIS COSMETIC SO EXPENSIVE IN THE STORE" threads.

It happens with MMO after MMO, companies monetize make a lot of money and want more so they water the game down to the point your waiting for the next release to get more cosmetics, maybe some PVE quests.

Its usually Y 3-5 for most of them, its the transition to casual. The latest twist are the console ports, now those people are usually just gamers. The PC water downed version attracts the casuals who want to hang out and chat in guild. You see housing items, mounts, skins all become more prevalent in conversation on forums.

Its not a bad thing, casuals are bad people they pay to keep these games running. ITs the combo of their demand and developers greed that inevitably chase away people who want challenge to the next mmo. What youre left with is a game like LOTRO. ESO is heading that way, the key is will the next MMO with PVP be out soon enough so you can squeeze 1-5 good years of game play out of it before they go casual too?

Looks like Crowfall is next.

kichwas

Davor wrote: »

It's our opinions so no right or wrong answer.

Actually opinions are like anything else - they are either right or wrong and how much you believe one doesn't matter one bit in making it more right or wrong.

iiYuki

You can sell a mount at any price if it's limited edition people panic buy or collection buy so they dont miss out, tbh it usually gets me (thankfully I hate dwarven mounts and have already missed out on other LE mounts so Ill never complete my collection, so I didn't buy it), I have more vinyl, cds and cassettes that were limited to x number of physical copies, I barely like the bands but it was limited edition to like 500 worldwide and I panic bought incase I might like them, makes me feel special to have something hardly anyone has or ever will have again.

Integral1900

Exclusivity pricing, very old trick. You will have a hard time finding a big company that doesn't use it at all. Basicaly you have a small part of the player base that has a fair bit of disposable income. They are willing and able to spend that cash to have the new flashy thing. It's basically a "look at me" purchase. It's the same reason Ferrari exists. Old mate of mine used to sell cars like that for a living. According to them nobody who buys one of those things is doing it because of the driving experience, they do it to show how huge their wallet is

So let's have an end to this rubbish about ripoff pricing, you don't need to buy it, it has no effect on gameplay except in the case of the spider mount to make you look like a total wally, therefore it cannot by definition be a ripoff. If you buy it that is your choice, they don't make you buy it any more than they can can force you to buy gamble crates.

Nestor

Davor wrote: »

Sorry I don't understand this. Again no familiar with MMOs and not sure what you mean by unlocking all doors. Trying to understand.

I know I don't have to buy it. All I am asking is why is the price the same for Morrowind where Morrowind takes many people hours to make, money and resources while the mount is just a reskin of something already made. If Bethesda tried to do this for their Elder Scrolls game, I am sure the internet would get red hot from the flaming. Again, trying to see the reasoning.

Also how can it be on sale if it's only for sale for four days? Is this not a limited time to buy? I thought once it's stopped being sold we can't buy it again like other mounts that I missed out on.

There are several ruins that I have come across that are in the original game that are just doors in the ESO Chapter. Same with the Dwemer Ruins that are there, but no access. I don't think the game needs all the hundreds of places to explore that the single player game had, but it does need more than it has right now.

As for the sale, yes, they are limited time in some cases, and in some cases they are not. You can buy ESO now for less than it sold at launch, about $26 last time I checked on Amazon, and that is a daily price, not a special sale. This is less than half the launch day price.

Bombashaman

I haven't paid a dime for this game. Or I did bought the game if it wasn't free? Anyway, hasn't paid anything after that. Doing fine. Soloing hard stuff. Enjoying the game. Don't pay if you don't want to, it's your choice. You don't have to.

Davor

Nestor wrote: »

There are several ruins that I have come across that are in the original game that are just doors in the ESO Chapter. Same with the Dwemer Ruins that are there, but no access. I don't think the game needs all the hundreds of places to explore that the single player game had, but it does need more than it has right now.

As for the sale, yes, they are limited time in some cases, and in some cases they are not. You can buy ESO now for less than it sold at launch, about $26 last time I checked on Amazon, and that is a daily price, not a special sale. This is less than half the launch day price.

Thanks for the explanation.

Bombashaman wrote: »

I haven't paid a dime for this game. Or I did bought the game if it wasn't free? Anyway, hasn't paid anything after that. Doing fine. Soloing hard stuff. Enjoying the game. Don't pay if you don't want to, it's your choice. You don't have to.

I know it's my choice. That is why I didn't buy. I was just trying to understand the reasoning. Again, not familiar with MMOs so thought maybe because this was an MMO there was a reason to it that I didn't know about. Now that I see it's not anything to do with MMOs and just like another company Games Workshop, I understand now.

malchior

You don't have to understand their motives or reasons behind it. If it's not worth it in your eyes then forego it.

PrayingSeraph

WOW there are actually people here who understand buisiness and pricing! I am so used to 20 different rants on how "ZO$ is sooo greedy and we are getting ripped off, I hate them(yet continue to support them financially)!!! They are evil!!". This has been very refreshing

Davor

malchior wrote: »

You don't have to understand their motives or reasons behind it. If it's not worth it in your eyes then forego it.

But if I don't understand and don't ask, how will I know if it's not worth it? Now that I know it's not really MMO related I can judge if it's worth it or not for me. So instead of getting it, I got the other pack that game me the DLCs and wolf mount and pet. I found that worth it for me.

Again, thank you everyone for helping me understand better. Greatly appreciated.

Riejael

Davor wrote: »

That said, how can a mount, the Dwarven Mount that is blue cost more than Morrowind?

Exclusivity. There are many players who will buy the $40 mount simply because it is priced so high. They know that they can afford it and that they will be part of an exclusive few that are willing to pay for it. That means in their eyes, they will be riding a mount that is unique to them. That there will be very few that they will run into that will also have the mount.

If the mount was $5. This wouldn't be the case. While economically it makes sense to sell more at a cheaper rate. Sometimes you just want to appease everyone as there is quite a few cheaper mounts.

When I played MechWarrior Online. I saw a Clan Mech Pack go for $500. Not $500 worth of ingame currency, but straight up $500. Those few players who purchased those packs got a Golden mech. Like shiny AF, Goldmember Gold. Players bought them simply to stand out. In addition they put a limited time and limited number of how many could be bought. So you had to be quick to get them.

Exclusivity is something some players will pay very highly for. Imagine if Dwemer were available (and statwise were identical to Altmer to avoid any P2W or imbalance), but only 20 players could get the chance to play them. Imagine how much someone would be willing to pay for that right? We're talking 4 to 5 digits.

Davor

Riejael wrote: »

Davor wrote: »

That said, how can a mount, the Dwarven Mount that is blue cost more than Morrowind?

Exclusivity. There are many players who will buy the $40 mount simply because it is priced so high. They know that they can afford it and that they will be part of an exclusive few that are willing to pay for it. That means in their eyes, they will be riding a mount that is unique to them. That there will be very few that they will run into that will also have the mount.

If the mount was $5. This wouldn't be the case. While economically it makes sense to sell more at a cheaper rate. Sometimes you just want to appease everyone as there is quite a few cheaper mounts.

When I played MechWarrior Online. I saw a Clan Mech Pack go for $500. Not $500 worth of ingame currency, but straight up $500. Those few players who purchased those packs got a Golden mech. Like shiny AF, Goldmember Gold. Players bought them simply to stand out. In addition they put a limited time and limited number of how many could be bought. So you had to be quick to get them.

Exclusivity is something some players will pay very highly for. Imagine if Dwemer were available (and statwise were identical to Altmer to avoid any P2W or imbalance), but only 20 players could get the chance to play them. Imagine how much someone would be willing to pay for that right? We're talking 4 to 5 digits.

Wow, really? I never thought of that. I can understand the business model then. So if there is a market for it, I can fully understand. Get as much money for as little work done. Actually that is a sound practice. Sucks for us, good for Zenimax.

Again, thank you. While I didn't feel it's worth it for me, I can see why others see worth in it now. I understand now why the prices are what they are.

Riejael

Davor wrote: »

Wow, really? I never thought of that. I can understand the business model then. So if there is a market for it, I can fully understand. Get as much money for as little work done. Actually that is a sound practice. Sucks for us, good for Zenimax.

Again, thank you. While I didn't feel it's worth it for me, I can see why others see worth in it now. I understand now why the prices are what they are.

I don't see it as it sucks for us. Its a Luxury at best. If I buy a car, I buy what I can afford. It doesn't suck just because they have sportier or luxurious models that I can't or don't wish to spend on. They all get us from point A to B. Same thing with mounts.

The real difference is our mounts all go the same speed. In RL cars have varying amounts of performances based on price in many cases.

That's just my perspective. Not trying to convince you of anything. But sometimes it helps to have different outlooks. Hope it helped.

Davor

Riejael wrote: »

I don't see it as it sucks for us.

I guess I should have said, sucks for me then. Be nice to have but don't find the worth in the price. Just glad to know it's not an MMO thing and I don't need to buy it if I so choose not to and it will not gimp me in the game.