Zero day DLC = disrespecting the customer

[mechaerik]

You don't get a special box - its a download. AFAIK, the Deluxe edition is Steam exclusive (not available elsewhere).

Also @clone army:
Yeah, I did that on purpose.

 

[NovaSilisko]

Steam exclusive (not available elsewhere).

Well that's dumb. (captain obvious, right?)

 

[Chalks]

You don't get a special box - its a download. AFAIK, the Deluxe edition is Steam exclusive (not available elsewhere).

Also @clone army:
Yeah, I did that on purpose.

Yeah, I know that. The point is if it was a physical copy, you'd get a special box and a soundtrack CD for $10 extra. Because it's digitally distributed, you get a free civ and a soundtrack CD for $10.

Oh, and apparently with the second option everyone craps out their lungs with rage or something.

 

[NovaSilisko]

Oh, and apparently with the second option everyone craps out their lungs with rage or something.

Law 71 of the internet:

If it exists, someone will hate it.

 

[mechaerik]

A special box is not the same as an extra civ. In that special box, the game is exactly the same. In this system, someone who purchased the Deluxe edition does not have the same game.

 

[Rusty Edge]

And Firaxis has been selling additional content, maps and scenarios via expansion packs since the dawn of time.

I'm sure you'll live.

These expansions have beeen available on disk, from all sellers.

I don't think they've had a release of different versions of the game at inception/pre-order/ day zero or whatever you want to call it before.

This looks like a watershed to me.

 

[Chalks]

These expansions have beeen available on disk, from all sellers.

I don't think they've had a release of different versions of the game at inception/pre-order/ day zero or whatever you want to call it before.

This looks like a watershed to me.

And being on disk is an awesome feature... why?

 

[Jeckel]

And being on disk is an awesome feature... why?

Because then you own that disk and the stuff on it and can use it when and how you wish. Without a disk you don't own anything. You use it when they say, how they say, and where they say. Same reason most people buy cars instead of leasing them.

 

[Zhahz]

I don't buy collector's editions usually because the extra fluff doesn't appeal to me. Deluxe digital is usually about the same. IF I buy Civ5 (still debating due to the whole steamy crap) I'm surely not spending an extra 5-10 for ONE civ.

The bummer to me, and I'm not one to get worked up over which civs are in/out/wherever, is that babylon has always kind of been a staple and tacking it on as DLC is kinda lame.

Overall, I'm very disappointed with Firaxis and Sid. Civ5 has always had loyal and fanatical fans and it seems like the goal this time around is to milk, milk, milk the cash and screw the players. That's not how you reward die hard fans of one of the most beloved franchises ever.

When you're on the 5th iteration of a game that's sold 12m copies you should be giving the people what they want, not taking a steamy dump on them.

 

[deanej]

A special edition that has the same game is fine. That's what we had with civ4; didn't matter what edition you got, everyone had the same game. With civ5 this won't be the case.

To be honest, if it weren't for modding, I probably wouldn't care. But this does have serious consequences for modding. I won't continue to cite RFC as an example, given that Rhye is more worried about lack of Spain than the Babylon controversy, but I'm sure there are plenty of mods/scenarios affected.

 

[Rusty Edge]

And being on disk is an awesome feature... why?

Actually, I'd rather buy games on flash drives.

Disks are awesome because the installations don't get interupted and make me tear my hair out

They also work anywhere I have a laptop with a charged battery. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Phil Ken Sebben]

Because then you own that disk and the stuff on it and can use it when and how you wish. Without a disk you don't own anything. You use it when they say, how they say, and where they say. Same reason most people buy cars instead of leasing them.

This is a false argument, because you don't OWN the game, at any time. You own the license to play one copy of the game. It's still the property of Firaxis. You are not allowed to sell the game files to others, or modify and sell it, or make it available to other people for free. Unlike a car, with which you can do whatever you damn well please, since you actually own it completely, wheels to roof.

What do you own? The $0.33 DVD disk. The disk holder it came in. That's all, no more, no less. This is 2010. You can download the files to any game at any time. The only thing you pay for is the license, the CD-key.

Your ''leasing'' argument is also false, because you don't lease a game when you buy it online and download it. You get the exact same end product, minus the disc. Buying a game in a shop does not make it any more ''real'' than buying it online. You get the game files either way, whether you get them on a disk or not.

 

[arstal]

Stardock grants you a license also, but if you buy the disk, you can run the disk, install, and play the game. Patches are another story, but you'll be able to play the game.

Valve, should it decide to do so, can brick your games whenever it feels like.

One scenario: valve charges you $4000 says you owe it due to an error on their part. They charge your credit card. You put a chargeback on valve to keep it from happening. Valve will brick your entire game library. (this has happened on chargeback, unsure about the scenario)

This is why I don't trust persistent activations.

 

[NovaSilisko]

Stardock grants you a license also, but if you buy the disk, you can run the disk, install, and play the game. Patches are another story, but you'll be able to play the game.

Valve, should it decide to do so, can brick your games whenever it feels like.

One scenario: valve charges you $4000 says you owe it due to an error on their part. They charge your credit card. You put a chargeback on valve to keep it from happening. Valve will brick your entire game library. (this has happened on chargeback, unsure about the scenario)

This is why I don't trust persistent activations.

Something like this is extremely rare, though. Out of the million(quite literally) people who use steam, I've only heard of around 15 or so cases of spontaneous account deactivation. There might be more, or less. I'm not fully sure.

 

[arstal]

This isn't spontaneous. This is valve screwing over a customer who decided to do something to keep valve from taking their money unfairly (chargeback).

Now, not all chargebacks are legit- but the fact that you could lose an entire game library, just because you don't want to pay a large bill to Valve that isn't your fault, is chilling.

I'm not saying Valve is going to twirl a mustache and tie a damsel to the tracks, but they would be within their legal rights to screw you over royally, and have done it to others in the past.

 

[sophie]

I am mad about this, but mainly due to the implications of modding.

 

[bishopDC]

Overall, I'm very disappointed with Firaxis and Sid. Civ5 has always had loyal and fanatical fans and it seems like the goal this time around is to milk, milk, milk the cash and screw the players. That's not how you reward die hard fans of one of the most beloved franchises ever.

When you're on the 5th iteration of a game that's sold 12m copies you should be giving the people what they want, not taking a steamy dump on them.

Send this directly to Firaxis/2K - that's food for thought!
Thx Zhahz for this brilliant statement.

Edit: What enrages me most is this "digital exclusive only" crap. There're still many many people out there, who would like to purchase a physical copy of the game together with a handbook, soundtrack, whatsoever and they surely would buy the collectors ed. too! 2K - where is the economical logic in rejecting those potential buyers??

 

[Magma]

Means I will just have to spend my money elsewhere.

 

[Set]

Babylon wasn't one of the Civilizations confirmed for release - so you're claiming that you'd be happier if it never existed than if people had the choice to get it?

I think he's mad because they have taken the time and energy to make the babylonian civ but are not releasing it with the normal game. personally I would much rather they had not made it and released the game earlier or the best. JUST INCLUDED IT IN THE NORMAL GAME!

 

[Ahriman]

Just a thought; would people feel differently if they promised that Babylon and the maps would also be included as part of their first expansion?
So, by not buying the deluxe edition, you missed out on getting these only for the ~year until the first expansion pack.