278 replies to this topic

[Cimarb]

Nathan K, on 11 January 2014 - 08:18 PM, said:

I'm not in marketing. But even I know that if few people are buying what you are selling. You do not up prices to get as much money out of these few as you can. You drop the prices to get as many people to buy them as you can. (Come on guys, do these things really cost THAT MUCH to make. )

It's supply and demand. If people weren't buying it, they would change the pricing. By the number of Grid Irons in game, I would say a good amount of demand is out there, even at these prices.

Reviorry, on 12 January 2014 - 08:13 AM, said:

you know if PGI and IGP want to encourage me to spend money on digital content, then they need to give me more reasons then it comes with a shiny finish or has a limited edition doll. Let me pilot the freaking thing! If they were to add a hero to the trial rotations instead of just the (c) variants of ones I can purchase I might be more inclined to buy a new one. I admit I bought the Ilya and the X-5 and so far the Ilya has been worth the money, the X-5 not so much. If I had gotten to try them first then may I would have picked somthing different, like say Heavy Metal or Pretty Baby. Right now I have a mech in my bay that I hardly use and I dont wish to sell it cause the cbills I would get dont even come close to the 3k MC (or 14.95USD) I spent on the thing.

The Heavy Metal is well worth the money, imo. Honestly, though, they do have "trial" versions, though, because you can buy the normal variants and see how the mech works first. The only difference on most hero mechs are the hardpoints, and they are rarely much different, if at all. For the HM, try out the 733C - it's almost the exact same mech, but without the cbill bonus or war horn.

[Ngamok]

Ceefood, on 11 January 2014 - 07:49 PM, said:

why because they are making out it is a good deal when really it is only slightly discounted at best which means it is not a good deal at all........................................................................... And when they could use some good PR then this would go towards it

That is your opinion then. My opinion was to buy it.

[Uncle Totty]

Cimarb, on 12 January 2014 - 10:03 AM, said:

It's supply and demand. If people weren't buying it, they would change the pricing. By the number of Grid Irons in game, I would say a good amount of demand is out there, even at these prices.

You do not know what that means, do you? If you have "X" supply, you make the price so there is "X" demand. But since PGI has an unlimited supply, why are they keeping the price so high to keep demand so low? If you drop 1/3 of the price and get X2 as many people to buy it, win/win.

[NRP]

I just gotta say that the Cheerleader bobble girl is freakin cool! Way cooler than the Hula girl. When you're moving it actually looks like she's cheering for you.

More bobble figures like this one please.

Edited by NRP, 12 January 2014 - 04:24 PM.

[One of Little Harmony]

Nathan K, on 11 January 2014 - 08:18 PM, said:

I'm not in marketing. But even I know that if few people are buying what you are selling. You do not up prices to get as much money out of these few as you can. You drop the prices to get as many people to buy them as you can. (Come on guys, do these things really cost THAT MUCH to make. )

Actually, any time you have imperfect competition, you SHOULD up prices becuase you make economic profit (not regular old business profit). Textbook example picture illustrating:



Mechwarrior's in game market definitely has imperfect competition becuase well.... there's only only one seller of goods. So we have what is known to most as a monopoly. However, I basically assume there's little to no marginal cost on mechwarrior, so we wouldn't have actual monopoly pricing, instead the pricing scheme will run off of the cost of MC, and given that Mechwarrior is a highly differentiated product, it can definitely assume some imperfect competition pricing but will still have some substitute goods to compete with. Thus, the actual state is somewhat simlar to monopolistic competition.

All that means is that in the short term, prices will be high, but over time demand will fall and the prices will transition accordingly.

Edited by One of Little Harmony, 12 January 2014 - 04:27 PM.

[Uncle Totty]

One of Little Harmony, on 12 January 2014 - 04:24 PM, said:

Actually, any time you have imperfect competition, you SHOULD up prices becuase you make economic profit (not regular old business profit). Textbook example picture illustrating:



Mechwarrior's in game market definitely has imperfect competition becuase well.... there's only only one seller of goods. So we have what is known to most as a monopoly. However, I basically assume there's little to no marginal cost on mechwarrior, so we wouldn't have actual monopoly pricing, instead the pricing scheme will run off of the cost of MC, and given that Mechwarrior is a highly differentiated product, it can definitely assume some imperfect competition pricing but will still have some substitute goods to compete with. Thus, the actual state is somewhat simlar to monopolistic competition.

All that means is that in the short term, prices will be high, but over time demand will fall and the prices will transition accordingly.

When you are sitting on the floor, you do not have far to fall.

Edited by Nathan K, 12 January 2014 - 04:29 PM.

[Cimarb]

Nathan K, on 12 January 2014 - 03:03 PM, said:

You do not know what that means, do you? If you have "X" supply, you make the price so there is "X" demand. But since PGI has an unlimited supply, why are they keeping the price so high to keep demand so low? If you drop 1/3 of the price and get X2 as many people to buy it, win/win.

I do know what it means. The unlimited supply doesn't matter in this case, because the demand they are shooting for is being met. They are obviously making money, so they don't need to reduce the cost.

I'm not saying a reduction in cost wouldn't be great - I would love it - but if they are meeting their cost goals, they aren't going to lower the prices. They also have to take into account the "forum rage" if they did reduce the cost moving forward, because id10ts would be up in arms about how much THEY paid for a certain mech...

[Fang01]

NRP, on 12 January 2014 - 04:23 PM, said:

I just gotta say that the Cheerleader bobble girl is freakin cool! Way cooler than the Hula girl. When you're moving it actually looks like she's cheering for you.

More bobble figures like this one please.

She loves it in my spider. Work them hips girl!

[Ceefood]

Ngamok, on 12 January 2014 - 02:09 PM, said:

That is your opinion then. My opinion was to buy it.

& no offense but when people like you keep buying items like this it helps PGI justify their exorbitant prices they keep charging. If people actually sat down & said "they really are overcharging us" then no one or very few bought it then PGI would have to re-evaluate their marketing & costs then bring it to a decent level. ...............................................................I was also saying that PGI have a very bad PR image currently with a lot of players so making the limited edition available for no additional cost or minimal extra would help their PR I would think

[Madw0lf]

Ceefood, on 13 January 2014 - 01:18 AM, said:

& no offense but when people like you keep buying items like this it helps PGI justify their exorbitant prices they keep charging. If people actually sat down & said "they really are overcharging us" then no one or very few bought it then PGI would have to re-evaluate their marketing & costs then bring it to a decent level. ...............................................................I was also saying that PGI have a very bad PR image currently with a lot of players so making the limited edition available for no additional cost or minimal extra would help their PR I would think

Its all about perception though. Does it seem like a decent price to me? Taking into consideration how much I want it, what itll do for me, and what kind of money I have to spend. Personally Ive spent a good amount of money on this game, for things I like (Love the PP mechs minus the Locust. Have several Heros including the GI) and have felt I could justify, because I really enjoy this game. Most of my gaming time the last year (which is kind of minimal) has gone into MWO.

And Im thinking enough people overall have the same feeling as me and PGI are meeting their income goals. Theres and old sayin; If it ait broke, dont fix it

[Jalik]

I wonder whether lowering the prices of hero mechs too much would be detrimental to the profit. Especially in the light of lower MC prices for non-hero mechs. After all, if you want something to look valuable you might want to try to give it a high price. I think the perception of high value alone could drive sales. Or am I completely wrong with this?

Edited by Jalik, 13 January 2014 - 06:58 AM.

[Cimarb]

Ceefood, on 13 January 2014 - 01:18 AM, said:

& no offense but when people like you keep buying items like this it helps PGI justify their exorbitant prices they keep charging. If people actually sat down & said "they really are overcharging us" then no one or very few bought it then PGI would have to re-evaluate their marketing & costs then bring it to a decent level. ...............................................................I was also saying that PGI have a very bad PR image currently with a lot of players so making the limited edition available for no additional cost or minimal extra would help their PR I would think

Madw0lf, on 13 January 2014 - 06:01 AM, said:

Its all about perception though. Does it seem like a decent price to me? Taking into consideration how much I want it, what itll do for me, and what kind of money I have to spend. Personally Ive spent a good amount of money on this game, for things I like (Love the PP mechs minus the Locust. Have several Heros including the GI) and have felt I could justify, because I really enjoy this game. Most of my gaming time the last year (which is kind of minimal) has gone into MWO.

And Im thinking enough people overall have the same feeling as me and PGI are meeting their income goals. Theres and old sayin; If it ait broke, dont fix it

I understand what you mean, Ceefood, and agree that it would be a good PR move for them, but the benefit would have been minimal, unfortunately. Look at the free premium time they recently gave us - they got a few "thanks", but many people didn't notice, replied with "n.o.p.e." like id10ts, or forgot about it the next day. If they had included it at no extra charge, no one would have even noticed because they expected it to be free. Granted, the way they did it upset people that assumed that and was a poor way of handling it too, but they are screwed either way.

What Madw0lf is saying is true - no on us forcing you to pay anything, so if you don't think it is a good deal, don't buy it. If you want it, help support the game for what it is and hopefully will be and enjoy it. Plenty of people think the game is really good currently and many of us are very hopeful for what the game will turn out to be once PGI gets their ducks in a row.

[Ngamok]

Ceefood, on 13 January 2014 - 01:18 AM, said:

& no offense but when people like you keep buying items like this it helps PGI justify their exorbitant prices they keep charging. If people actually sat down & said "they really are overcharging us" then no one or very few bought it then PGI would have to re-evaluate their marketing & costs then bring it to a decent level. ...............................................................I was also saying that PGI have a very bad PR image currently with a lot of players so making the limited edition available for no additional cost or minimal extra would help their PR I would think

I understand what you mean, but their pricing model of 75 MC per ton has been here since the YLW. That's been some time ago and since I do not see it changing, I go ahead and buy the hero mechs I like, I don't buy them all, but a few. Besides the Grid Iron, I own the X-5, Flame, Ilya, Protector, and Heavy Metal.

[Uncle Totty]

Any way, the mech is out and looks great. (Yay! You can go back to working on the Clan mechs now! )

[Blackfire1]

Yet another slap in the face to Founders. If I knew my +25% would be wasted. I'd have never bought it.

[Cimarb]

Blackfire1, on 15 January 2014 - 10:27 PM, said:

Yet another slap in the face to Founders. If I knew my +25% would be wasted. I'd have never bought it.

Wasted? Did you not play with your founders mech for the last two+ years? If not, that is your own fault. If you did, you got two years of bonus over what any other hunch pilot got - get over yourself.

[Monky]

One of Little Harmony, on 12 January 2014 - 04:24 PM, said:

Actually, any time you have imperfect competition, you SHOULD up prices becuase you make economic profit (not regular old business profit). Textbook example picture illustrating:



Mechwarrior's in game market definitely has imperfect competition becuase well.... there's only only one seller of goods. So we have what is known to most as a monopoly. However, I basically assume there's little to no marginal cost on mechwarrior, so we wouldn't have actual monopoly pricing, instead the pricing scheme will run off of the cost of MC, and given that Mechwarrior is a highly differentiated product, it can definitely assume some imperfect competition pricing but will still have some substitute goods to compete with. Thus, the actual state is somewhat simlar to monopolistic competition.

All that means is that in the short term, prices will be high, but over time demand will fall and the prices will transition accordingly.

Oy, no. They are not selling 'mechwarrior' they are selling a video game and video games are ubiquitous. It's like saying Monster energy is the only one selling Monster energy drinks so they can set pricing to whatever they can ask ffs.. while it is 'technically true' it is ignorant of other consumer options and a foolish strategy at best.

Just to throw in an example - I spent 15 bucks on this game because that's what I felt it was worth, if it was a paid title. I spent 30 bucks on Warthunder and I've played it for a fraction as long and got way more in game things than I would have gotten for MWO at the same price, and have had a much more positive experience. This is because there is a quality gap between the two games and the pricing structure in MWO is blind to the quality gap between themselves and competitors because it chooses to ignore the existence of competitors.

Edited by Monky, 16 January 2014 - 09:52 AM.

[Ngamok]

Cimarb, on 16 January 2014 - 07:31 AM, said:

Wasted? Did you not play with your founders mech for the last two+ years? If not, that is your own fault. If you did, you got two years of bonus over what any other hunch pilot got - get over yourself.

Exactly. My Founders mech is my 4G. I bought the Grid Iron as well. I will continue to play both since I run them differently till something else takes my time to master (currently finishing up the Grid Iron and then will finish the last Orion ON1-M). After that, who knows, I'll prbably bounce between all my Hero + Founder mechs.

[Alexander Chenard]

Can anybody tell me why hunchbacks are so slow? Max speed with speed tweak on my j model is 98. I can fit 5 ml and 2 srm 6 for some brawling action.


Now tell me why multiple heavy models can fit there max standard engines, go mid 80's with tweak, and hold wayyyyy more firepower?

I feel like if lights go around 130-160 on average, mediums should be from 90-120 with speed tweaks.

That leaves heavys from 50-90 ish, and assaults a bit slower.

[DirePhoenix]

Alexander Chenard, on 17 January 2014 - 09:41 AM, said:

Can anybody tell me why hunchbacks are so slow? Max speed with speed tweak on my j model is 98. I can fit 5 ml and 2 srm 6 for some brawling action.


Now tell me why multiple heavy models can fit there max standard engines, go mid 80's with tweak, and hold wayyyyy more firepower?

I feel like if lights go around 130-160 on average, mediums should be from 90-120 with speed tweaks.

That leaves heavys from 50-90 ish, and assaults a bit slower.

This is a divergence from the Battletech I know and love, and it's a divergence driven by the players. In canon, a "fast" light would only go 120 kph (without MASC). Mediums would top out at 80-90kph. Average speed for heavies and assaults were 60kph, with the "slow" mechs topping out at 50kph.

Here, people treat it as a fail if you're not using the max engine size you can fit at all times. I blame this mostly on the decision to make this a "pixel-perfect shooter" where "skill" is determined by your ability to put the crosshairs on the spot you want to hit. There is no significant increase of difficulty when trying to hit a target while you're at flank (max) speed compared to if you're just at cruising speed or standing still (I doubt many players even use speeds other than max and full stop). And not much change of difficulty in trying to hit a target that's going at any speed less than 90kph, so you have to make your mechs go at ludicrous speeds to gain any sort of advantage.

Edited by DirePhoenix, 17 January 2014 - 11:12 AM.