Game Bundles

[BiG D]

It has become quite clear that elD does not approve of Valve's Orange Box, an excellent bundle containing 5 games worth a total combined cost of $130, but available for the incredible price of $50. (Obviously, I disagree with him. )

So, my question is this: why should it matter if you already own two of the games in the bundle? You can totally ignore those two, the three you don't own are certainly worth the cost. It sounds very much like you're complaining that someone else may potentially be getting a better deal than you. Is buying food in bulk evil because the family with 12 children is getting a better deal than you?

Software bundles are nothing new... At any game store, you'll find games like Unreal, Warcraft, Command & Conquer all offered in bundles. Even if you own some of the games contained, you're still getting a discounted price on the remaining ones. Where's the issue?

 

[Nanor]

Sorry elD. I agree with BiG_D. I mean, you're getting 5, nay 6 (Peggle Extreme is win, I don't care what you say) amazing games for the price of one? HL2 + HL2:EP1 amounted to about £30, right? You're getting those two plus four other great games for the price, if not less, than HL2 and EP:1.

Now, if they where charging me £30 extra, then I would be in a different boat.

 

[elDiablo]

Firstly, I have nothing wrong with bundles. I love them. I bought the id Super Duper Wooper pack from Steam and love every bit of it.

I have a problem with companies being bastards. I hate the fact they give you pretty much no choice. Either you buy their bundle with useless stuff (two whole useless games) or they charge you a lot more to buy the games with the useless stuff.

They are pretty much slapping everyone who has bought the other 2 games before. Oh, wow, I can give away free stuff to others, that I don't mind. However, who am I gonna give it to? Anyone who would want them will probably go, "but then I have to buy this pack with those games in it anyway... I may as well just buy the pack straight off!". Or it will go to someone who already has those games! Or just doesn't care and won't ever play them!

Secondly, for people like me who have already bought the games, they provide a second slap. Pre-order their new pack, and you get TF2 beta. Nice. Thanks. It's not like I'm a loyal customer or anything...

That's what's getting my goat. Ok, I also think that if they can sell the Orange box for that cheap, why can't they take out HL2 and Ep1, and release the other three games for, say, £5 cheaper? Maybe in a different colour box? Maybe black or something? No... Why not? Oh yeah, because they don't care about loyality! COMMUNISTS! FASCISTS! Etc...

 

[elDiablo]

Now, if they where charging me £30 extra, then I would be in a different boat.

Well, the way I see it (which could be wrong, I agree) is that they are charging you extra. Why did they cancel the black box edition? Because it wasn't a good idea? Or because then people would have to buy all the games together, and people who already bought the other games would have useless copies. And therefore give them to other people (who hadn't already bought HL2 and Ep1 or the orange box), to get people interested in their games. Who would then buy the orange box. And then have to give away their useless copies, etc.

 

[BiG D]

why can't they take out HL2 and Ep1, and release the other three games for, say, £5 cheaper?

My guess is they decided Portal, TF2, and EP2 in a pack were worth $50. And let's be reasonable, they are. They aren't going to sell those three games for anything less than that.

The inclusion of the first two games in the series is simply to make everything compatible, I'd say. What do you want to bet Portal relies on HL2 for at least some content? How pissed off would you be if the Orange box required HL2 and EP1 rather then included them? For Valve, this is the lesser of two evils.

 

[Tetsuo_Shima]

How pissed off would you be if the Orange box required HL2 and EP1 rather then included them? For Valve, this is the lesser of two evils.

So, what's stopping them having an Orange box with the full whack and a seperate black box, as elD suggested, without HL2 and Ep.1 for cheaper? Nothing but greed is what I'm inclined to say. It's extortion, daylight robbery, all that's missing is the Dick Turpin mask ...

 

[Nanor]

Well... I suppose it is greed to a cetrain extent. Nonetheless, it's very, very,very cheap. This is 6 games for the price of one. I don't care if I have to pay an extra £2.50 for another two games I'm not gonna play!

 

[Tetsuo_Shima]

I don't care if I have to pay an extra £2.50 for another two games I'm not gonna play!

Then by all means defend your right to pay more for your software.

 

[elDiablo]

How pissed off would you be if the Orange box required HL2 and EP1 rather then included them? For Valve, this is the lesser of two evils.

I would hate Valve even more for not being able to properly package their games, for one. If they require models or anything, they should be able to package them into the Portal (for example) build. If not, why not release a version for people who already have HL2 and Ep1? Ie, people who don't need the models from those games...

As for them not selling them for anything less, then yeah, maybe. But that still doesn't mean they have to give me useless stuff, making me feel like I'm paying for stuff I don't want or even need...

And to Nanor, I'm afraid I do care about paying for things I don't want

 

[Ronin Storm]

I'm afraid I do care about paying for things I don't want

In the final analysis, though, are you so piqued by this intrusion that you'd deny yourself those games to make a point that won't really be heard anywhere but your own conscience?

If so, great. Stick to it, soldier. You need to be happy with your own decisions, in my opinion.

If not, I'd be tempted to just chill about it. It's an odd situation having to buy games you don't need but if you'd have paid for the trio that you don't have at the same price as the entire bundle is selling for then its a minor case of having two licenses you don't need.

I don't have EP1 (did I miss something?). For me it's only HL2 that I duplicate. I'm just trying to figure out if I have any funds left for these beasties.

 

[Nanor]

Then by all means defend your right to pay more for your software.

All right that doesn't sound good. Orange Box

Let's see, buy all those games individually... $129.75. I'm saving $85. Wow, talk about getting greedy...

 

[elDiablo]

All right that doesn't sound good. Orange Box

Let's see, buy all those games individually... $129.75. I'm saving $85. Wow, talk about getting greedy...

If you think that they still aren't going to make a HUGE load of cash from selling 3 games at $85 cheaper than normal, then I've got some bad news for you

In fact, their marketing department is doing very well! You're not having a single second thought about buying these games, when normally (faced with a $130 bill), you would probably not bother. They are not losing $85 per person that buys this bundle, they are making $45 from everyone who is going to buy it who normally wouldn't.

 

[Nanor]

If you think that they still aren't going to make a HUGE load of cash from selling 3 games at $85 cheaper than normal, then I've got some bad news for you

In fact, their marketing department is doing very well! You're not having a single second thought about buying these games, when normally (faced with a $130 bill), you would probably not bother. They are not losing $85 per person that buys this bundle, they are making $45 from everyone who is going to buy it who normally wouldn't.

They're making a healthy profit, I'm saving lots of money. I'm sorry, what are you complaining about?

 

[Tetsuo_Shima]

In this day and age, it's inexcusable for valve to deny customers (previous, loyal customers, no less) the freedom to customise which software they buy. If they can retail all those games for 50 bucks, then why can't they take HL2 out for those that already have it and knock off a small portion of the price? Tell me - why can't they? They have the new all-singing all-dancing steam platform that they go on about, so what reason is there not to allow us to buy the new software without paying for old stuff again?

Yeah, it costs a lot more to buy those games individually, which means that folks like elD have no choice but to repurchase software they already have. You're being pigeon-holed into buying the stuff they want you to, for bigger profits. They know fine well that nobody is gonna buy a game for $45 when you can get 5 for $50 - they never intended to sell many $45 games in the first place, it's just to shepherd you all into buying something twice. It's bullshit! And you know what, if EA had pulled a stunt like this first you would have dragged them over the coals, Nanor.

 

[Nanor]

OK, let's put it like this:

2007 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 RRP with dump valves and all the things the cool cats have for $313,600-$345,000 except a certain someone is selling it for a third of that and you can hardly believe your luck. Then he says, right, I'm gonna charge you a tiny bit extra for some phat alloys and a new interior (both of which you have at home). Your still saving a lot of money, aren't you? Are you gonna tear them a new asshole for charging you more when in fact you're still saving so much money? I wouldn't.

And no, if EA decided to sell 6 games in one bundle pack for the price of one game instead of charging me roughly £20 for each then I may in fact praise them.

By incorporating two more games which I already have I'm just saving less. I'm still saving a shit load of money, but just saving $5 less. When it gets to the point where I'm losing more money instead of saving less expect to see me at the front of the crowd yelling "Chaaarge!".

I mean $5? You guys are making a mountain out of a mole hill...

 

[elDiablo]

Using your little example there Nanor, I wouldn't be happy spending £313,600-$345,000 that nice car, but would (as you said) be very happy buying it for a third of the price. But then them saying that the extra bits will cost slightly more, but I have already bought those parts and don't need to have more.

Fine, I could just sell either the originals or the new extras. Fine.

Except I can't with Steam. I can't sell the original CD-Keys that I bought in the past, and no one is going to want to buy the new ones off me, as then they will be in the position as I am now. That's where you comparison breaks down. We have no choice in the matter. That's what I pissed about.

And again, they are doing good marketting when you use phrases like, "I'm just saving $5 less..."

 

[Nanor]

Ya, ya, I'm in denial.

My point still stands. We are still saving money, aren't we?

We have no choice in the matter.

Yeah, you do. If you're so annoyed about having to buy two extra games already have, buy them individually. You hypocrit.


I still love you all!

 

[Tetsuo_Shima]

No, they are making you think you're saving a shitload of money. What if they'd priced the games individually at $100 apiece? Jesus christ, I'm saving over 400 dollars! ... no you aren't, theyre pricing you out of buying them individually so that you are forced to buy the first games again.

Yeah, it's only $5 dollars now. But after more companies latch on to the fact they can diddle you out of 5 bucks it becomes 10, then 20, then 50 ...

And no matter what you say, you would have stuck the boot into EA if they'd done this. You can never resist having a dig at EA ...

Also, your analogy is out of context.

 

[Nanor]

No, I am saving money. Games are averagely priced at roughly £20, possibly more. I'm getting these 6 games for $50 which would normally cost $129. Am I or am I not saving money? And as I said, when they start getting extortionate, expect to see me leading the charge.

Analogies aren't my forte.

 

[Tetsuo_Shima]

No, I am saving money. Games are averagely priced at roughly £20, possibly more. I'm getting these 6 games for $50 which would normally cost $129.

But that's only the price that they are selling it at. If you can retail them individually for 40 each, but stick them in a bundle where they average out to about ten dollars each, and still make a profit, doesn't that tell you something?

Analogies aren't my forte.

Heh, I was just indulging in nit-pickery, I saw your point.