167 réponses à ce sujet

[Came99]

Haha.. I just had to check.. It took you 9 minutes to reply to that. You really dont have a life, do you?

[DJoker35]

And it took you 4...

[menasure]

all heil the european tax rate for games lol ... yes you'll pay more because you live in europe anyway, however the games industry makes it themselves very easy (and profitable) by charging a 1:1 rate dollar vs euro to start with. that's however a general comment on the trend in the games industry i just made.

even if i could i know i wouldn't support this type of micro-payments marketing though because they're a hassle to deal with on both sides and often just a way to charge more in total -that's why managers come up with the scheme-.
having said that the theory is not an evil one: you get what you pay for -provided you really get enough info- and the decision is basically simple for individual products like these dlc's: either you agree with a price or not. saying you do not agree while still paying makes no sense: you agreed with the conditions imposed by your action then.

Modifié par menasure, 26 novembre 2009 - 10:16 .

[Fernando Melo]

Let's keep it mildly on topic shall we...



We always aim to set our content pricing as a single price across all platforms in order to keep it consistent and fair regardless of which one you play DA on - so whatever we set something for in BioWare Points = same amount you'd see the content for using Microsoft Points = whatever that translates into in USD for Sony Store (north america).



We then get feedback from the folks we work with in various offices around the world at EA for what that should equate to for each other currency we support worldwide.



So the rule of thumb (the intent) is that you should see content in BioWare Points roughly match what you'd see it for in MS Points etc, for each country. If you do find a discrepancy then PM me - I'd genuinely like to know if we are off the mark in some countries so we can correct that, or at least figure out why that is.



For what it is worth, it serves us no purpose to try to find ways to annoy our customers by charging a few pence more on digital sales in Liechtenstein vs anywhere else hoping no one will notice. That would be silly - nobody does that as their reason. If you see anything like that, it most certainly is unintentional and we should fix it if we can. But if you prefer to believe that is purposeful, and/or that the evil EA machinery is masterminding it all, I have a fantastic tin foil cap of protection +1 that i'm willing to part with.



I'd also suggest if you'd like to discuss value/pricing or merits of why/why not get DLC, that there are other topics for that already - please use those.

[Came99]

I have to say that I am astonished about the willingness to be in dialogue with your customers. THERE you have something that I find extremely positive and something that is rarely seen these days. Kudos for that I must say.

After thats said, I must admit that english is not my primary language, and if the above explains why I have to pay well over 10 bucks for something that is 7 dollars elsewhere, I honestly didnt get it. I am not saying that it isnt answerred, I am just saying that if it is, I failed to understand it and hopes that someone will dummy it down a bit.

(oh and btw.. We are not talking pennies we are talking a price difference of 30/40 %, so please dont neglect the problem like that)

Modifié par Came99, 26 novembre 2009 - 10:28 .

[GODzilla]

Fernando Melo wrote...

Let's keep it mildly on topic shall we...

We always aim to set our content pricing as a single price across all platforms in order to keep it consistent and fair regardless of which one you play DA on - so whatever we set something for in BioWare Points = same amount you'd see the content for using Microsoft Points = whatever that translates into in USD for Sony Store (north america).

We then get feedback from the folks we work with in various offices around the world at EA for what that should equate to for each other currency we support worldwide.

So the rule of thumb (the intent) is that you should see content in BioWare Points roughly match what you'd see it for in MS Points etc, for each country. If you do find a discrepancy then PM me - I'd genuinely like to know if we are off the mark in some countries so we can correct that, or at least figure out why that is.
 

That is a noble undertaking and it doesn't please me to inform you that you failed for some countries. For instance in Germany we pay 9,66$ for Wardens Keep, while it normally should cost only 7$. And for The Stone Prisoner we have to pay 27,38$, while it should cost 15$. The higher the price, the more we have to pay extra it seems.

By the way: The prices are based on old curses, currently it's even more.

[Mordaedil]

Fernando Melo wrote...

So the rule of thumb (the intent) is that you should see content in BioWare Points roughly match what you'd see it for in MS Points etc, for each country. If you do find a discrepancy then PM me - I'd genuinely like to know if we are off the mark in some countries so we can correct that, or at least figure out why that is.

Thanks Fernando.

I am currently at work, so I can't really check what Bioware points would charge my debit card, but I will check when I get home and see if it is as advertized.

My complaint was a bit with Steam, which has been less generous on their price-corrections, and since I can access their pricings from here.

[Varenus Luckmann]

jynthor wrote...

Came99 wrote...

Killian Kalthorne wrote...

To pay for the translation.

What translation?

Indeed i'm playing an English version.

But it would've been awesome to play danish localization. It truly would.

[Varenus Luckmann]

Fernando Melo wrote...
[...]
For what it is worth, it serves us no purpose to try to find ways to annoy our customers by charging a few pence more on digital sales in Liechtenstein vs anywhere else hoping no one will notice. That would be silly - nobody does that as their reason. If you see anything like that, it most certainly is unintentional and we should fix it if we can. But if you prefer to believe that is purposeful, and/or that the evil EA machinery is masterminding it all, I have a fantastic tin foil cap of protection +1 that i'm willing to part with.

[...]

There's nothing tinfoil-y about it! Inhuman corporate structures radiates evil by it's own accord. There's no conspiracy behind it, no intentional evil. It just develops that way. The same way the bear mauling children in the forest isn't ruled by a conspiracy of flesheating bears (although that would be somewhat awesome). D:

[Seeker341]

Fernando Melo wrote...

[...]

We always aim to set our content pricing as a single price across all platforms in order to keep it consistent and fair regardless of which one you play DA on - so whatever we set something for in BioWare Points = same amount you'd see the content for using Microsoft Points = whatever that translates into in USD for Sony Store (north america).

We then get feedback from the folks we work with in various offices around the world at EA for what that should equate to for each other currency we support worldwide.

So the rule of thumb (the intent) is that you should see content in BioWare Points roughly match what you'd see it for in MS Points etc, for each country. If you do find a discrepancy then PM me - I'd genuinely like to know if we are off the mark in some countries so we can correct that, or at least figure out why that is.

For what it is worth, it serves us no purpose to try to find ways to annoy our customers by charging a few pence more on digital sales in Liechtenstein vs anywhere else hoping no one will notice. That would be silly - nobody does that as their reason. If you see anything like that, it most certainly is unintentional and we should fix it if we can. But if you prefer to believe that is purposeful, and/or that the evil EA machinery is masterminding it all, I have a fantastic tin foil cap of protection +1 that i'm willing to part with.

I'd also suggest if you'd like to discuss value/pricing or merits of why/why not get DLC, that there are other topics for that already - please use those.

I have to note that that may mean that MS points aren't valued equally (considering all things such as exchange rates, taxes, whatever). Interesting to note for me is that a lot of games on digital download services have the same issue. Sometimes the prices are right considering the exchange rates an' all, and sometimes they vary wildly. Often the UK, mainland Europe and Australia (among others) pay more than US customers and sometimes it's one of those, and sometimes it's the other way around. That isn't to say that you did it incorrectly, but in general I expect prices in euros be rather close to (slightly higher than) those in pounds and quite a bit lower than the price in US dollars. It happens often enough (in other cases) that the price in Euros and US dollars is the same even though the valuta have a different value.

Of course I realise there are various ways to look at this. First you have the exhange rate plus taxes and whatever comes added through whatever rules countries make. Another way would be to generally look at the relative price of similar products in the countries it's sold. Like selling a game cheaper in a poorer country as the price will otherwise be so high only a very small minority can get it.

My thanks for your response and I hope you can elucidate the matter a bit more for us as interested customers.

-edit- Would you please be so kind as to point me (us) towards a/the good topic regarding value and pricing? The forums aren't what you may call.. handy if you want to search for specific type of information.

Modifié par Seeker341, 26 novembre 2009 - 11:38 .

[Mordaedil]

Ditt troll-vesenet, du skrattar nu.

[The Angry One]

Fernando Melo wrote...

Let's keep it mildly on topic shall we...

Less talking more DLC releasing!

[Came99]

Erhhmm.. I still dont understand what the dude is saying. Please dummy it down for a non-english reader. Did he explain why its +10 dollars in Denmark?

[Seeker341]

Came99 wrote...

Erhhmm.. I still dont understand what the dude is saying. Please dummy it down for a non-english reader. Did he explain why its +10 dollars in Denmark?

He's saying that, approximately Bioware/EA's DCL points = MSpoints for your given country. MSpoints differing between what country you live in I assume.

And that if we do find that there is a difference between the price in Bioware's points  (and I'm not sure if he's talking about) and MSpoints or regular valuta (being the type of money you use as payment in your country), you can feel free to notify him.

Modifié par Seeker341, 26 novembre 2009 - 11:34 .

[billbro]

Fernando Melo wrote...
So the rule of thumb (the intent) is
that you should see content in BioWare Points roughly match what you'd
see it for in MS Points etc, for each country. If you do find a
discrepancy then PM me - I'd genuinely like to know if we are off the
mark in some countries so we can correct that, or at least figure out
why that is.

Will be sending you a PM shortly, the discrepancy seems to be more widespread than just Europe (I had to pay around $9.5 AUD, while the direct conversion would be around $7.5 AUD). Personally, I don't understand why we don't just get the option of paying for the content in USD - I'd rather pay the bank conversion charge than pay roughly 30% more for the same content.

Modifié par billbro, 26 novembre 2009 - 11:47 .

[LovelyMover]

OK I'm going wildly off topic on something, but it needs to be said (asked?) in reaction to Melo's mention of Microsoft points, if I buy EA points is the download content country restricted?



What I mean by that is, if I use an Italian credit card can I only download Italian game content?



Microsoft seem to lack the intellectual capacity to comprehend that Europeans move, live and work in countries other than those they're born in, and furthermore that they may prefer to relax playing games that are in the native tongue.



Try paying for points then finding out you cannot choose the game language format...See how that makes you feel.

[The Angry One]

MS are extremely restrictive and crass with their proprietary theme park money.

Following them as a model is a very bad idea.

[LSDS]

The way I understand this is that pricing within a specific region is equal across the gaming platforms (PC, PS3, Xbox 360).  I'm sure that's true.  But this isn't the issue that players are concerned about.  What is being questioned is the difference in price for the same DLC purchased in NA and for other regions.  $7 USD vs $10 USD.  Everyone is curious as to the reasoning behind that extra $3 USD.

Fernando Melo wrote...

We always aim to set our content pricing as a single price across all platforms in order to keep it consistent and fair regardless of which one you play DA on - so whatever we set something for in BioWare Points = same amount you'd see the content for using Microsoft Points = whatever that translates into in USD for Sony Store (north america).

We then get feedback from the folks we work with in various offices around the world at EA for what that should equate to for each other currency we support worldwide.

So the rule of thumb (the intent) is that you should see content in BioWare Points roughly match what you'd see it for in MS Points etc, for each country. If you do find a discrepancy then PM me - I'd genuinely like to know if we are off the mark in some countries so we can correct that, or at least figure out why that is.

[xCirdanx]

Came99 wrote...

Erhhmm.. I still dont understand what the dude is saying. Please dummy it down for a non-english reader. Did he explain why its +10 dollars in Denmark?

@Djoker35 i think you too took that a bit to personal, and you don´t realy understand his point either.

To the OP and the topic, this pricing politic is as has been said, obviously connected with Microsoft and their Point system. In this case it´s "normal".

Microsoft is, sorry for the word, sh*tting on europe the whole time, because they can´t do what they want here like in america. I worked for them for 2 years. I know what i´m talking about

Neverless i do agree with you too, that i would pay for DLC if it is worth more playtime. I don´t get anything out of 40min playtime. Thats me.

[Dragon Age1103]

Came99 wrote...

In Europe Wardens keep didnt cost 7 bucks. It costed 10. To be precise: 52 danish kroner which with the current rate equals 10.44 US dollars. I am very puzzled why the Europeans have to pay 30-40 % extra for their content? You just think that you can squeeze that extra dough from us, so why not, ehh?

Generally I would like to say the following to Bioware:

In my opinion Wardens Keep wasnt worth neither 7 or 10 bucks content wise, but I bought it anyway to have the storage (which in my humble opinion should have been included with the game). If it wasnt because of the fact that I got the game in a very profitable preorder deal (traded in 2 cheap bought pre-played games and got DA:O for 1 danish krone (20 cent)) I would never have bought Wardens Keep. But since I got the game very cheap I felt I could spare the 10 dollars. There is not a chance I will buy anymore though, because the price is simply to steep. You cant compare DLC to food and coffee, but to other games only, and DLC simply is to expensive compared to gametime, and compared to saving the money and buy a whole new game.

You might make a massive profit on this in the short run, but I am absolutely sure that on the long run you will lose. You will lose a lot of goodwill and end up with a damaging reputation as a company who milks their players.
 
NOONE would have minded one or two bigger expansions during the lifespan of this game, but milking people here and there with 1 hour of gameplay for outrageous prices, advertising the DLC from ingame, not including storage chest in original game and other shenenigans  will just make you a bit more unpopular for every time you pull such a stunt (as it shows clearly on the forums).

Before this game you were the RPG-company who couldnt fail. You had a very large and devoted fanbase who trusted in you. You were for RPGs what Rockstar is for sandbox-games: THE ONES WHO NEVER DISSAPOINTS. That reputation is worth a LOT of coffee and buritos. Now you are EXTREMELY quickly throwing all that overboard and getting a reputation of a company who is only after milking your customers as much as possible.

Was it worth it? Right now your saving account probably say yes, but I sincerely doubt it.
 
Have it your way´, Bioware. 

I, for instance, is one you are losing. Dragons Age is a great game, and I have been enjoying it very much. But it isnt so great that I cant leave your next one on the shelves if I dont like your company politics. I am voting with my wallet, and I bet I wont be the only one.
 

 I don't think you really need to come on here & complain. If you don't feel its worth it, don't buy it, don't DL & most importantly don't cry about it. $7 for me in the US get a storage chest, awesome shield, armor, sword, tons of plot, great characters, & 2 new abilities well worth 7 dollars plus free XP before starting the main campaign. But its much easy just to complain about things!! so keep crying little buddy!!!!

[xCirdanx]

Dragon Age1103 wrote...

 I don't think you really need to come on here & complain. If you don't feel its worth it, don't buy it, don't DL & most importantly don't cry about it. $7 for me in the US get a storage chest, awesome shield, armor, sword, tons of plot, great characters, & 2 new abilities well worth 7 dollars plus free XP before starting the main campaign. But its much easy just to complain about things!! so keep crying little buddy!!!!

Why not? 

Where else should he post? This is the right place. And you don´t know the playtime before you actualy have played it. The gear is redundant so are the XP. The chest should be in the game no matter what. And THERE you go "tons of plot" it isn´t there. This is probably more anoying to me then the short playtime, it was a great setting for a great storyline, but didn´t felt like it after that short time, lack of interesting characters...it was just short..there was no tons of plot.

Your opinion isn´t the only one.

[aries1001]

The price for Warden's Keep is 6.51 Euros (at least in Denmark) The exchange rate for Euros to Danish Kroner is about 1 Euro for 7.5-8.0 kroner (DKK). This means that 6.51x7.5-8.0 DKK. This is around 48 DKK-52 DKK. You have to remember that Denmark has a sales tax of 25%. Steam has to do this and I do think this is what Bioware (and MS and Sony) has to do when offering DLC in Europe.



The problem is that when you do the exchange rate back to US dollars from Danish Kroner; it'll give you 52.00 DKK: 4,98 which is US dollars 10.44- where 4.98 is the amount of kroner we in Denmark have to pay for 1 US dollars. As others have suggested this has to with the exchange rates between countries, not the nominal (as in the numbers you see) price for the DLC.



However, at the current rate of exchange between the Euro and the US dollars,where 1 Euro = 1.5 time the value of the US dollars (7.5 DKK for one Euro divided with 5.00 DKK for one US dollars), the DLC should have been priced at around 4.50-5,00 Euros, maybe ending up at 4.80 or so.



My earlier point about the added sales tax of 25% still stands, though, for Denmark at least. THis would mean that 4.80 X 1.25= 6.00 Euros. And then about 0.50 cent (euros) for maintaining the servers or something like that, or maybe because of the higher cost of living in Europe etc.



Sorry to hear about the Germans and Australians paying a lot more for the DLC, though.

[Diva]

aries1001 wrote...

The price for Warden's Keep is 6.51 Euros (at least in Denmark) The exchange rate for Euros to Danish Kroner is about 1 Euro for 7.5-8.0 kroner (DKK). This means that 6.51x7.5-8.0 DKK. This is around 48 DKK-52 DKK. You have to remember that Denmark has a sales tax of 25%. Steam has to do this and I do think this is what Bioware (and MS and Sony) has to do when offering DLC in Europe.

The problem is that when you do the exchange rate back to US dollars from Danish Kroner; it'll give you 52.00 DKK: 4,98 which is US dollars 10.44- where 4.98 is the amount of kroner we in Denmark have to pay for 1 US dollars. As others have suggested this has to with the exchange rates between countries, not the nominal (as in the numbers you see) price for the DLC.

However, at the current rate of exchange between the Euro and the US dollars,where 1 Euro = 1.5 time the value of the US dollars (7.5 DKK for one Euro divided with 5.00 DKK for one US dollars), the DLC should have been priced at around 4.50-5,00 Euros, maybe ending up at 4.80 or so.

My earlier point about the added sales tax of 25% still stands, though, for Denmark at least. THis would mean that 4.80 X 1.25= 6.00 Euros. And then about 0.50 cent (euros) for maintaining the servers or something like that, or maybe because of the higher cost of living in Europe etc.

Sorry to hear about the Germans and Australians paying a lot more for the DLC, though.

This

[Georg Zoeller]

Germany has 19%VAT, that could have something to do with it.

Modifié par Georg Zoeller, 26 novembre 2009 - 10:57 .

[GODzilla]

Georg Zoeller wrote...

Germany has 19%VAT, that could have something to do with it.

USA has 14% VAT as far as I know, so...yes, you're right, a 5% difference in price would be reasonable. But it's more.