That's just not right...

[bairdlander2]

Im a highway robber

[wworld7]

ORIGINAL: Knavery

I'll tell you what's highway robbery... Given a 25 dollar ticket for a seatbelt violation and then finding there's a 75 dollar surcharge on top of that--the governors little way of telling people he's not raising taxes.

Many states add surcharges on to fines. I'd rather it this way than rasing taxes. And yes, I got caught in a state that had seatbelt laws when mine didn't about 15 years ago. I learned my lesson, and my state added soon afterwards.

[mjk428]

ORIGINAL: Adam Parker

ORIGINAL: mjk428]

It is a little creepy that Adam Parker decided to investigate the OP.

Nup, Just too many years seen of folks dissing publishers and designers without foundation.

So as Mr Tzu writes, every battle is...

Without foundation?

So this game isn't more expensive than the previous? They didn't also raise the price on a game that's several years old?

Like it or not, there is foundation. Matrix knows it and doesn't shy away from it. It's great that you're satisfied with the choices made but some folks are legitimately unhappy. There's no need to crusade against the non-believers.

BTW, don't assume the complaints are hurting sales. The hubbub about the price is the only reason I gave the game a second look. I'm keeping an open mind and look forward to the checking out the demo.

[Rocko911]

Mjk428 has brought up some valid points. I think they raised the prices on the old games just to help decrease the price difference between them and the new expensive release.

[Adam Parker]

ORIGINAL: mjk428

I'm keeping an open mind and look forward to the checking out the demo.

Cool and I don't know if you saw my post in another thread here about the price listed by Matrix in 2006 for the forthcoming World in Flames?

$80 USD.

Guess you've got to add 4 year's worth of inflation to that now huh? Greedy thieves <sarcasm> [8|]

I'll buy.

[wworld7]

ORIGINAL: LRRP

Mjk428 has brought up some valid points. I think they raised the prices on the old games just to help decrease the price difference between them and the new expensive release.

I am of the belief that at best the increased prices on the old helped to keep the new from being even higher, and at worst being finished at all.

[Arjuna]

ORIGINAL: LRRP

I think they raised the prices on the old games just to help decrease the price difference between them and the new expensive release.

This is not the case at all. We raised the price when the value of the US dollar depreciated by 20%. People need to realise that we live in a global economy where for the most part currencies float - ie change from day to day. As the US economy started deteriorating and the Australian economy was going gang busters the US/Australian exchange rate altered dramatically, such that we were receiving less than 80% of what we had when we started selling COTA. We still have to pay bills here in Australian dollars and so had no choice but to increase the sale price in USD or go out of business. It's that simple.

FYI when we started selling COTA the AUD was worth about USD 0.67. We raised it when it got into the low 0.80s. When we made the decision on the price for BFTB it was around 0.93. Since then it's been up to 0.95 and down to 0.83. Because we are paid in USD this volatility adds immense risk to our business. And that risk has to be factored in, to a degree, to the price we sell our products.

Now please stop speculating. If you don't know the facts then you should exercise some restraint. By all measn ask a question and I will endeavour to answer it.

[Rocko911]

Arjuna,
I am aware of the exchange rate issue, however you may be disappointed in trying to predict where and when the rates will change. The fact is that in the last 30 days the US dollar has gained against every major currency by alot, even you currency. Hell the EU dollar is crashing with every other month a country going belly up (greece, spain ect..). Even when calculating in the rate the increase is still much larger than it should be. I will be honest if the game was $65 digital download, I think you would have sold many many more copies, including me buying one. I mean no disrespect to your work or time put in. You have to admit that your pricing on the game was flawed just by the amount of discussion and turmoil it has brought on this site. I have never in all my years here seen such outrage posted about a price of a new game. In this I am not speculating as the evidence is proving everyday with more and more people posting. Again I wish you luck with your game and its sales, however till I see a price that is in my opinion reasonable I will not buy it.

[Casus_Belli]

You guys are in Canberra!? I never realised! I grew up in Canberra [:)]. Lovely town.

[highpocrisy]

maybe you you start charging in gold...

[htuna]

ORIGINAL: Arjuna

ORIGINAL: LRRP

I think they raised the prices on the old games just to help decrease the price difference between them and the new expensive release.

This is not the case at all. We raised the price when the value of the US dollar depreciated by 20%. People need to realise that we live in a global economy where for the most part currencies float - ie change from day to day. As the US economy started deteriorating and the Australian economy was going gang busters the US/Australian exchange rate altered dramatically, such that we were receiving less than 80% of what we had when we started selling COTA. We still have to pay bills here in Australian dollars and so had no choice but to increase the sale price in USD or go out of business. It's that simple.

FYI when we started selling COTA the AUD was worth about USD 0.67. We raised it when it got into the low 0.80s. When we made the decision on the price for BFTB it was around 0.93. Since then it's been up to 0.95 and down to 0.83. Because we are paid in USD this volatility adds immense risk to our business. And that risk has to be factored in, to a degree, to the price we sell our products.

Now please stop speculating. If you don't know the facts then you should exercise some restraint. By all measn ask a question and I will endeavour to answer it.

On the "Price" Thread, Erik stated that price was raised in order to aid the development of BFTB? Which is the truth?

[Joram]

ORIGINAL: Arjuna

ORIGINAL: LRRP

I think they raised the prices on the old games just to help decrease the price difference between them and the new expensive release.

This is not the case at all. We raised the price when the value of the US dollar depreciated by 20%. People need to realise that we live in a global economy where for the most part currencies float - ie change from day to day. As the US economy started deteriorating and the Australian economy was going gang busters the US/Australian exchange rate altered dramatically, such that we were receiving less than 80% of what we had when we started selling COTA. We still have to pay bills here in Australian dollars and so had no choice but to increase the sale price in USD or go out of business. It's that simple.

FYI when we started selling COTA the AUD was worth about USD 0.67. We raised it when it got into the low 0.80s. When we made the decision on the price for BFTB it was around 0.93. Since then it's been up to 0.95 and down to 0.83. Because we are paid in USD this volatility adds immense risk to our business. And that risk has to be factored in, to a degree, to the price we sell our products.

Now please stop speculating. If you don't know the facts then you should exercise some restraint. By all measn ask a question and I will endeavour to answer it.

Wait, I thought the price increase was due to all the revolutionary new stuff put in, not the currency. So the lesson here is not to buy from Australia right now. Got it. So when the dollar recovers I'll check back and see what your tune is then.

[Arnir]

ORIGINAL: cmurphy625

ORIGINAL: Arjuna

ORIGINAL: LRRP

I think they raised the prices on the old games just to help decrease the price difference between them and the new expensive release.

This is not the case at all. We raised the price when the value of the US dollar depreciated by 20%. People need to realise that we live in a global economy where for the most part currencies float - ie change from day to day. As the US economy started deteriorating and the Australian economy was going gang busters the US/Australian exchange rate altered dramatically, such that we were receiving less than 80% of what we had when we started selling COTA. We still have to pay bills here in Australian dollars and so had no choice but to increase the sale price in USD or go out of business. It's that simple.

FYI when we started selling COTA the AUD was worth about USD 0.67. We raised it when it got into the low 0.80s. When we made the decision on the price for BFTB it was around 0.93. Since then it's been up to 0.95 and down to 0.83. Because we are paid in USD this volatility adds immense risk to our business. And that risk has to be factored in, to a degree, to the price we sell our products.

Now please stop speculating. If you don't know the facts then you should exercise some restraint. By all measn ask a question and I will endeavour to answer it.

On the "Price" Thread, Erik stated that price was raised in order to aid the development of BFTB? Which is the truth?

Yeah, I would like to know which it actually is. This is getting confusing.

[OttoVonBlotto]

Because we are paid in USD

Why in earth did you agree to that, when my company and everybody else has to buy things from another country we always have to pay in the suppliers currency that way exchange rates are down to the buyer not the seller. ?

[bairdlander2]

Arjuna is correct.I live in another "commonwealth" country called Canada and its very bad for our companies that export to USA now because of their weak economy and our booming economy.I dont know for what purpose these price/complaints threads keep popping up.If you cant afford or dont like the price,dont buy it.Simple.Complaining is not going to lower the price.

[Arjuna]

ORIGINAL: LRRP

Arjuna,
I am aware of the exchange rate issue, however you may be disappointed in trying to predict where and when the rates will change. The fact is that in the last 30 days the US dollar has gained against every major currency by alot, even you currency. Hell the EU dollar is crashing with every other month a country going belly up (greece, spain ect..). Even when calculating in the rate the increase is still much larger than it should be. I will be honest if the game was $65 digital download, I think you would have sold many many more copies, including me buying one. I mean no disrespect to your work or time put in. You have to admit that your pricing on the game was flawed just by the amount of discussion and turmoil it has brought on this site. I have never in all my years here seen such outrage posted about a price of a new game. In this I am not speculating as the evidence is proving everyday with more and more people posting. Again I wish you luck with your game and its sales, however till I see a price that is in my opinion reasonable I will not buy it.

Thanks for your reply.

If you read my response carefully you would have noted that I didn't say the increase this time was totally due to the current exchange rate. It is just one of the factors contributing to the need to increase the price. IMO the intensity of the debate over price is due to a number of factors. First is because many people desire the game but can't bring themselves, for a host of reasons, to pay the asking price. Another is the fear that this will be the beginning of a shift upwards in PC wargame prices in general. And for a small minority this is just a golden opportunity to fan the flames. There are other causes as well. But these are the main ones. The funny thing is that so far for every post saying they won't buy it we are getting posts form previous lurkers and from new people to these forums saying they are buying it. So far sales seem pretty good. As I said before, regardless of any other arguments, the bottom line is that we need to increase the price to stay in business. It's either that or no more development.

[MajFrankBurns]

Simple.Complaining is not going to lower the price.

You don't know that so you're just blowing wind out your other end with those kinds of statements. Plus it is not only complaining but a consumer statement of facts many are not going to buy the game because it is too much and not worth $80. It really doesn't matter what kind of economy your puny little australia or canada is in right now what matters is where the majority of your consumers live and how much they are willing to pay and that's the bottom line and that will be the bottom dollar.

[DanOppenheim]

I like the fact that you start with complaints about "blowing wind out of your other end" and then go on and do the same. Excellent work. Bravo.

[htuna]

ORIGINAL: Arjuna

ORIGINAL: LRRP

Arjuna,
I am aware of the exchange rate issue, however you may be disappointed in trying to predict where and when the rates will change. The fact is that in the last 30 days the US dollar has gained against every major currency by alot, even you currency. Hell the EU dollar is crashing with every other month a country going belly up (greece, spain ect..). Even when calculating in the rate the increase is still much larger than it should be. I will be honest if the game was $65 digital download, I think you would have sold many many more copies, including me buying one. I mean no disrespect to your work or time put in. You have to admit that your pricing on the game was flawed just by the amount of discussion and turmoil it has brought on this site. I have never in all my years here seen such outrage posted about a price of a new game. In this I am not speculating as the evidence is proving everyday with more and more people posting. Again I wish you luck with your game and its sales, however till I see a price that is in my opinion reasonable I will not buy it.

Thanks for your reply.

If you read my response carefully you would have noted that I didn't say the increase this time was totally due to the current exchange rate. It is just one of the factors contributing to the need to increase the price. IMO the intensity of the debate over price is due to a number of factors. First is because many people desire the game but can't bring themselves, for a host of reasons, to pay the asking price. Another is the fear that this will be the beginning of a shift upwards in PC wargame prices in general. And for a small minority this is just a golden opportunity to fan the flames. There are other causes as well. But these are the main ones. The funny thing is that so far for every post saying they won't buy it we are getting posts form previous lurkers and from new people to these forums saying they are buying it. So far sales seem pretty good. As I said before, regardless of any other arguments, the bottom line is that we need to increase the price to stay in business. It's either that or no more development.

Dave you have an excellent game in your hands... The first video of the Tutorial has impressed me to that fact (much more than the promo video)...

People are addicts when it comes to video games, so with the great reviews, you are going to get people that break down and can't resist [:D]... I would probably be one of them if I didn't have so many games right now.. in fact this price thread made me give WITP another try (wasn't interested the first time I tried).. and now I am hopelessly addicted..

Some people might be going to far.. but there are a lot that have a cut off price.. they are just voicing their opinions.. and yes there is the possibility that if it was a lower price, the sales might be three or four times higher, so who knows... But NO I am not looking for you to lower your price.... maybe someday in a future Holiday sale I will grab it.. LOL or maybe the next round of tutorial videos will make me weak.. But the bottom line is.. Matrix is an 'open' forum, unlike some 'other publishers'.. so that is why a lot of people are fans.. abut also why people voice their opinions...

Again, looks like an excellent game.. I have not seen on 'owner' say they are disapponted.. and that is 'rare' with a new Video game.. congrats... Maybe someday, I'll get to try it.. or maybe COTA will come down in price, so I'll get a taste! [:D]

[milkweg]

ORIGINAL: wodin


Although after the initial shock wore off I have got used to the idea of having to pay more for certain games.

It`s thanks to people like you getting used to the idea of paying $90.00 for a game that they think they can get away with it. Well, not me, never. And I don`t care if I get jumped on by the fanboys because I can hold my own.