CIV6 false advertisement by Fireaxis?

[Ogro]

Now that all four DLCs are out I will show how the deal went down for me (and I assume all other Brazilians gamers) *All prices in BRL

On 29/09/2016 I've bought the deluxe for: R$ 189,00

Today, 28/03/2019, after the release of the last fourth DLC, these are the prices:

Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI: R$ 129,00
Civilization VI - Persia and Macedon Civilization & Scenario Pack: R$ 19,90
Civilization VI - Australia Civilization & Scenario Pack: R$ 9,90
Civilization VI - Poland Civilization & Scenario Pack: R$ 9,90
Civilization VI - Vikings Scenario Pack: R$ 9,90

Doing the math, I would have paid R$ 178,6 for them all, which is R$ 10,4 less than I've paid in the deluxe.

The original advertisement:

Expand your empire further with the Civilization VI Digital Deluxe which includes the full base game, the 25th Anniversary Digital Soundtrack, and access to four post-launch DLC packs* that will add new maps, scenarios, civilizations and leaders for a bundled discount.

*Save vs buying DLC packs a la carte. Individual DLC may be sold separately. If you purchase the Digital Deluxe, do not also purchase these standalone packs, as you will be charged for them.

I'm not angry or wanting to do a class action. For me it's just another disappointment with the company.

What do y'all think?

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

The savings exists in most other places. If it didn't in Brazil, it was probably due to currency translation errors more than intentionally misleading advertising.

 

[Siptah]

I'm sorry for you. It's working out here (Switzerland). + You get the soundtrack, but that's probably not worth much for most people.

 

[Morningcalm]

The saving should work in *all* places.

This is disappointing behavior by the developer/publisher (though most of the blame likely lies with the publisher). GamerZakh also ranted about it in three separate videos (one about Macedon, one about Persia, one about this issue separately).

 

[Leyrann]

To be fair I do kinda feel like, even in places where the prices did work out correctly, they could've done a little more margin. Would like to see the fifth DLC being free for deluxe edition too.

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

You can probably secure a refund by contacting Steam in your country and pursuing the case.

 

[Morningcalm]

I really hope Firaxis addresses this at some point, but somehow I doubt they will. Too much controversy for them, and they don't like getting their hands dirty (hence they didn't upload the stream where the lead designer accidentally revealed Gorgo, Harald Hardrada etc by entering the Civilopedia to show Barbarossa's agenda).

It's also a nuisance that many people will now separately have to complain about the issue in order to get their money back (if they do. There's no guarantee they will).

 

[Ryika]

Russia seems to have it best in terms of relative discount. 2000 of whatever their currency is for the game, 1000 for the DLC (~3000 overall).

Digital deluxe costs 2600, which means they save 400, so 1/5 of the base game. That's ~$12.

 

[DJ_Tanner]

I really hope Firaxis addresses this at some point, but somehow I doubt they will. Too much controversy for them, and they don't like getting their hands dirty (hence they didn't upload the stream where the lead designer accidentally revealed Gorgo, Harald Hardrada etc by entering the Civilopedia to show Barbarossa's agenda).

It's also a nuisance that many people will now separately have to complain about the issue in order to get their money back (if they do. There's no guarantee they will).

Its a currency translation issue in a single market, what is there to address? If it is a huge deal people in that market can ask for a refund, this is a non-starter...

 

[Morningcalm]

I doubt it's just an issue in a single market. GamerZakh is in Malaysia, and the OP is from Brazil. How many other markets are affected? I don't know, and I doubt you do either. There could very well be more markets that lost money on a Deluxe Edition purchase.

And the soundtrack is no solace, as the base game soundtrack is up on YouTube anyway, and the other tracks in the Anniversary Edition soundtrack are also on YouTube.

 

[Ryika]

In Euro, Deluxe Ed. is more expensive by around 6 euros (currently on Steam).

No it's not.

Digital Deluxe is 79,99€, Base game (59,99€) + DLC (23,96€) is 83.95€.

 

[darko82]

No it's not.

Digital Deluxe is 79,99€, Base game (59,99€) + DLC (23,96€) is 83.95€.

Well, indeed. I thought it was 49,99€. Probably, because in other stores you can buy it cheaper. But the DLC prices are not equal, in fact.

 

[DJ_Tanner]

I doubt it's just an issue in a single market. GamerZakh is in Malaysia, and the OP is from Brazil. How many other markets are affected? I don't know, and I doubt you do either. There could very well be more markets that lost money on a Deluxe Edition purchase.

And the soundtrack is no solace, as the base game soundtrack is up on YouTube anyway, and the other tracks in the Anniversary Edition soundtrack are also on YouTube.

I have no idea what a GamerZakh is, but I haven't seen anything say the price is more in Malaysia. And it doesn't matter if you impute any value on the soundtrack or not it is still there. But even if there 2 or 3 more small markets where this crops up; those within those markets may bring it up to Firaxis if they would like and I would imagine it would be resolved, but there is no need to "address it" its still a non-issue.

 

[LethalLeigh]

I brought a Day One edition from EB in Australia for $60 AUS the DLC cost me around $10 AUS ( depending on the AUS $ at the time) So The Base Game and all 4 DLC will cost me around $100-$105. I Saw the Deluxe On sale Before Release for $120 AUS. Meaning I saved myself around $15 by waiting. Plus I got myself a nice Civ world Map mouse Pad with my Day One Edition.

Firaxis Defiantly have Made a mistake. I hope they realize this, and give all you guys that spent extra money on the Deluxe Edition a 5th free DLC. Hopefully then it will make up for it.

 

[Morningcalm]

I have no idea what a GamerZakh is, but I haven't seen anything say the price is more in Malaysia. And it doesn't matter if you impute any value on the soundtrack or not it is still there. But even if there 2 or 3 more small markets where this crops up; those within those markets may bring it up to Firaxis if they would like and I would imagine it would be resolved, but there is no need to "address it" its still a non-issue.

My earlier post indicated GamerZakh was also complaining about the pricing in three videos. He is from Malaysia.

I like that you assume there are only 2 or 3 small markets where this crops up. What determines, in your judgment, what makes a market "small"? How many gamers have to be affected for you to see it as a problem?

 

[MadDjinn]

A couple clarity points for the arguments -

It's 2K who sets prices, not firaxis. So blame the publisher, not the developer for the price problems.

Steam doesn't use a single market with price translations across different currencies. It uses multiple markets with their own currency. Publishers set the prices manually, not automatically. This leads to errors and obvious discounts and increased costs across the markets.

There was a thread posted about the time of release that showed the various prices across the currencies. A lot of them were lower cost that a straight USD conversion. It would be nice to see what the price difference there was as well as individual country cost comparisons.


Edit- and this is only for steam Ofc. Buying a game for cheaper at some other non-steam location and then the dlc on steam basically ruins any argument.

 

[King Jason]

I'm not angry

Why? You should be. You were told if you pay X amount it will be a better deal than Y amount - so you paid X amount because of that. Now, it turns out, paying Y would have been cheaper for you.

Contact 2k. Or steam. Get your R$ 10,4 back.

 

[DJ_Tanner]

My earlier post indicated GamerZakh was also complaining about the pricing in three videos. He is from Malaysia.

I like that you assume there are only 2 or 3 small markets where this crops up. What determines, in your judgment, what makes a market "small"? How many gamers have to be affected for you to see it as a problem?

I watched a video from that guy and while complaining the price isn't higher, so we are back down to 1 market with an issue.

 

[Morningcalm]

I watched a video from that guy and while complaining the price isn't higher, so we are back down to 1 market with an issue.

The other posters in this thread alone show it's not just one market.

So far:
-Australia
-Brazil
-Malaysia

And as previously indicated, there may well be others. These are just the ones we know of.

 

[MadDjinn]

The other posters in this thread alone show it's not just one market.

So far:
-Australia
-Brazil
-Malaysia

And as previously indicated, there may well be others. These are just the ones we know of.

Australia doesn't count unless you can show a steam only costing of the dlc vs deluxe extra cost.