Posted 13 December 2012 - 02:39 AM
I hate to be cynical (just kidding, I love to be cynical), but I feel that this sale only barely ameliorates the ridiculously expensive stuff. Mostly the Christmas stuff which is REAAAALLY overpriced. Also, I currently feel that most of the 'Mech prices are overpriced when converted to real dollars.
The Ilya (DURING this sale) is just over $22. ($15 for 3000 *1.2 = 3600, $7 for 1250 * 1.2 = 1500. Total of 5100 for $22, still leaving you short 150 MC).
Since that leaves you short 150 MC, if a player with 0 MC wanted to buy an Ilya, they'd have to spend at least 30 dollars. (Admittedly they'd have 2550 MC left over during this sale).
I would very much like a PGI employee to come onto the forums and have an open and frank discussion about pricing with the community. I, for one, feel that the current prices are dramatically overpriced, especially the cosmetics. Consider that currently there are two cosmetic things for sale: Camo and cockpit items. Camo is actually reasonably priced, but still a little high. Cockpit items are both dramatically overpriced and cannot even be "shown off." Only when your teammates die do they get to see this stuff you bought. Note that the hats in Team Fortress are considerably cheaper than MWO cockpit items and are also visible to all players. You get to show 'em off! It's fun!
As to the 'Mechs, I just can't see them being viable under current prices. Especially given the beta status. Players are taking a large risk purchasing expensive 'Mechs (especially Hero 'Mechs) at current prices. Take, for example, the Ilya. Let us say, hypothetically, that MWO's release and official balance has missile weapons being very powerful, and lasers and ballistics underpowered (I hope the official balance is fair for all weapons, but we're speaking in hypotheticals right now). That means that any player who buys an Ilya spent $22+ on an underpowered 'Mech, aside from the C-bill boost.
So could we please have a frank and open discussion? I'd love to be able to talk to the guys from PGI (or perhaps the folks at IGP, if they're responsible for price-setting) about why they decided to make prices $X, instead of $Y. Perhaps even see some graphs about expected sales at given price-points. In short, it'd be nice like you treated this community as not just customers, but investors and adults. Remember that many of us (including myself, obviously), did make a large, conscious investment into this game before we could even legally read or hear reviews. We feel like investors in addition to customers, and it'd be absolutely brilliant to be treated as such.