Economic Times

A post I saw in another thread got me thinking about something...whenever BF runs a promotion or in the case of the new MCF is releasing a "collector's edition" that has more content but is going to cost more...there is always at least one person who mentions how tough the economy is right now and BF should be more aware of that...

Now, correct me if I am wrong, but I think BF does a pretty good job of keeping that in mind. They have reduced their prices to $6.99 for all, they are no longer requiring you to be a Game Club member to take advantage of that low price and even though you get automatically signed up for the club with a purchase they make it really easy to cancel. AND if you somehow fail to see that big ol' cancel button on the purchase page and get charged for a credit you didn't want they are very accomodating in getting you your money back. And they have continued their daily deals for members to bring us older games at super low prices. So color me blind, but the way I see it BF IS very aware of the hard economic times for many and have considered that in the changes they have made.

But, with that being said, they still have a business to run and their end goal is still to make money. Excuse me for being frank, but someone's inability to pay their mortgage or their electrical bill is not BF's problem. They still have to make money to continue to give us all the games we want as well as to stay in business; and promotions and the MCF series make them a lot of money. I don't know what I'm trying to say, except that I think BF is doing their fair share of keeping the economy in mind but they're not going to give you stuff for free; it's not the way the world works. Those of us who can afford the games will buy them; those of us who can't won't. And I guess I'm just tired of people lecturing BF on the economy whenever something like this comes up when, frankly, I don't know what more they want BF to do.

sillyfeet i agree! it is not big fishes fault that some are going through a hard time! I am one of those that am going through a hard time, i am not working right now, had to move to moms, had to close bank account and had to cancel my bf membership. so i can't buy the ce of mcf, am i sad that i can't yes, but it is not the end of the world and don't feel that an injustice has been done to me. i know that i will get to get the game in dec. will it have the extras no, but i can play the game! and thats what matters to me.

maybe later when i am better off the ce will still be available to purchase and can get the extras but until then i am just content with the fact that i will get to play the game!

ETA: big fish does a great job in making games affordable, giving us the best customer sevice and making this place a fun place to be! they don't have to sell games at the price they do!

I didn't see the post you're talking about, but I agree with what you've said. It's a matter of deferred gratification versus instant gratification. I would love to take part in November promo. Finances don't make that possible. I did take part in Octoberfest.
My financial state is not BF's or any other retailer's problem. The way I see it, they struggle too in this economy. And I'm grateful for the opportunities they make available, whether I can take advantage of it or not.

Well said! and maybe if people can't meet their mortgage payments, or pay their utility bills, then they shouldn't be buying games at all, at any price!

sillyfeet I thought the same thing you did when I saw the "promotion" for the new MCF. How many forums will there be about this and the tough economic times. I too have been out of work since Feb. Just lucky that DH has a decent job and my unemployment benefits were extended. I was able to participate in Octoberfest because BF offered alot of HOG games for $2.99. I wasn't able to get in on the April one. Oh well. Hopefully can get the Felix keyring, mousepad and etc at a later time. What other game site gives you something for belonging for a year? None that I have seen or heard of. Keep up the good work BF. I ya.

Mhhh,l can understand the complain of people, who don´t have a job. And l can understand that they also want to buy games. Sometimes it´s like a gate to other people / friends, a point to talk about, or chichat, have fun etc.

So l´m now a bit sorry for the hype we made and still make for the MCF6 release.
lt must be really hard to take part here, if you know you can´t get the CE or the game at all.
Think some who can´t even purchase the 6,99$ deal will be sad for this.

Otherwise l think some complain about the tough economy is a little excessive.
lf l really want a thing, like a game or many games (like me) there is a way to get them, even if l have less money.
l, for my part, save my money with many little things, that doesn´t hurt anyway. But it has to be an active part! We are so high developed to make ourselves comfortable, that we lost these skills and it needs some time till we get that back. lt´s a bit of brain work, but it is worth to do it. The result is the success to get what you want.
My goodness, l´m for sure not one that saves money excessive, l have many wishes and try to realize them. lt´s a hard work and often l´m on the verve of losing patience, but sooner or later, l´m able to find a way. The biggest skill is to convert the little wish into a goal that will be finished at any time. The "tough economy" is only a stone on your path, but not a reason at all.

And don't forget the recent competition so someone could win a free game!

You're right, weiss...some people can't even afford the $6.99 for the regular version, never mind the collector's edition. But that's not going to stop me from talking about it and it shouldn't stop others from joining in the hype. And I certainly am not going to apologize b/c I want to talk about it or I can afford it and someone else can't. It's called life. And news flash...life isn't always equal or fair.

But thank you to all for understanding my point...I figured I would get slammed for my opinion and I'm happy to see that (so far) I have not.

There is another website, i-W**, that regularly sells their "premium" games, i.e. the ones they develop, for a premium price that is 3 times the regular "club" price, for as long as they have it as exclusive. Will I buy those? Depends on how bad I want it, LOL. So far, I haven't wanted any that bad!

I would, probably, pay $30 for MCF6 if I had to! I used to plunk down $20-$40 for games at the store, before broadband and downloads! If I found a reasonably current game for $10, I was overjoyed.

I know we are spoiled, but we also have to be realistic. One way BFG can afford to offer us all the amenities they do is through the high sales volume of their own games, which are some of the best out there! It takes a very long time to develop these games, and a lot of people to work on them. And that costs. I expect BFG's payroll is through the roof, with the cost of living in Seattle.

I think the fact that BFG is going to offer MCF6 at their normal price, with a special edition for more, is the way that they have chosen to make the most people happy. That some are still not, well, that's life, I guess.

The economy is messing with most of us in one way or another. And yes, Picman is rich, with a house on a hill in Seattle that most of us can only dream about. He may be more insulated than most of us from the economic woes. But still, he is a rare bird indeed, that actually rubs shoulders with his customers and listens. Most company mucky-mucks would never dream of it.

BFG has led the way in actually making the recession/depression bearable for a lot of us by giving us an escape hatch - and making it affordable. My hat is off to Picman and all the other execs at BFG for running their company in a human and humane way. As a student of organizational behavior and development, I can only shake my head in amazement at how good a job they do. Wish I had been able to work at a company like that at least once in my life, but I never did.

If you think you are being abused here, you can go to another portal. I assure you, you will be back! I use others, but the CS is getting worse everywhere but here.

I didn't see the post you are referring to. I am aware that BFG is a for profit company. I am also aware the economy is poor. I see no problem with them charging a premium price for a premium item. In this economy or any other. That is a simple business equation.
I do how ever object to the way it is being done.
I feel there has been some hanky panky, bait and switch going on here.
Did any one notice in the information released it states that the $6.99 version will be released when it is finished? Finished? The longer enhanced version is finished but the smaller version is not? Does that mean they are still deciding what material to delete?
Was the "Collectors Edition" a last minute idea? It feels wrong that the "CE" is available on the original release date. It seems to me that if a brick and mortar shop pulled this sort of thing that people would be highly upset.
If Walfart advertised the hottest toy of the season ( lets pretend it's tickle& barf elmo)available on black Friday, but when you got there they only had the tickle barf & poo Collector Elmo at a higher price , you would be understandably upset. It wouldn't make you feel any better about it if a sales clerk told you the variety you came in for would be available later at the sale price.
BFG can't be blamed for wanting to make a higher profit. I just think they should have been honest about it from the beginning.

Well, they did announce that the game would not be available until December after all. I thought that meant I had to wait until December, and I was because I was sooo looking forward to another Turkey Day with MCF, LOL.

Perhaps this has to do with those who say, "What's there for members? What does my membership get me?" Well, in this case, MCF6! Early!! WooHoo! Look at it as a perk of membership, rather than as a slap in the face.

As to the price, I've bought games for that before. I bought Amun Rising way back when from Y'hoo for $20, because I didn't want to wait a few weeks for it to show up at RA, where I belonged at the time. It was worth every penny, and I still play it! And we were in dire straits back then, so I really had to give up some other things, like ice cream, to get it, since it was out of budget.

I don't know. People find money for the things they really want or need, if the money is there at all. I think this will be no exception.

If Walfart pulled that in my state (MD) it would actually be illegal, as are all bait and switch schemes.( Btw tia LMAO!!) But if it's any consolation people, as far as the economy goes, I have been noticing slight upticks here and there, like ING raising their CD rates a bit, etc. Lets just hope for everyone's sake it keeps going in that direction.

But this isn't a bait and switch scheme. BF promised MCF Dire Grove in early December. They are keeping that promise. They never promised we would have it for Thanksgiving and, in fact, went so far as to state on the forums that we wouldn't. Now they have decided to offer a special edition to members only that costs a little more. Nothing illegal there.

A bait and switch would be if they ONLY offered the collector's edition and not the regular low price game, so all would be forced to buy the more expensive version, but that's not what they are doing.

We used to get netflix which costed I think about $18.00. Anyway, we stop that due to my disability and unable to work. Yeah times are hard for everyone! I agree with you sillyfeet, and may I add this to what you said, does not break anyones arm to join or to spend their money!!!!

You don't do that do you ?

With that said we haven't gone back to netflix and sitting on our butts to watch a movie, instead we sit on our butts and play games!!!!! Thanks for saving us some $$$$$!

I know times are tough and heading into winter for a lot of industries is even tougher.

I don't have any grudge or hard feelings for offering this CE edition early and for a higher price.

As I posted on the Dire Grove thread......I found a npr snippet with Paul being interviewed and it was stated that Drawn cost over $1 million to make. This one has got to far top that as they actually had to fly people to Argentina to film the scenes.

As far as bait and switch......I don't see it that way. More than likely it hasn't been decided what will be trimmed from the game yet on the editing room floor. Movies do the same thing and we never know it unless they have the extra footage in a CE that is for sale as well.

I've been to and have seen some of the people. The super positive experience we have all had with Cust Serv is that same treatment you get with anyone at . We met lewbabes and were given a tour by Picman. How many heads of a company would take the time to do that. Other execs weren't available to meet, but the workers we met with for game evals were just as friendly as we would expect. They make everyone feel important.

is known for creating top of the line, innovative games and I hope to see more of these CE's available so we can continue to see these types of games being produced, if that is what helps recoup costs and make a profit off the games.

I guess it's another case of agreeing to disagree ( as usual) . I do need to state that what counts as bait and switch varies from state to state and that I do not know ( or care ) where silly lives , but some of the statements are wrong in the state where I am.
Here where I am it's implied value and product availability not "promises" that fall under the laws.

I am NOT accusing BFG of anything, I am saying it's suspicious to me ( meaning I feel it could have been handled more openly) the way the "event" has been built up and then the "CE" announcement made. Blogs, forums, hints ,tips etc.have been going on ( with out correction in a moderated format) for months. BFG employees have participated in and encouraged discussions where the consensus was that one ( and only one) version of the game was to be released. Not once was a multiple release even hinted at.

Again a better game at a higher price is fine with me. I just feel it should have been part of the discussion from the beginning.
If I am condemned for having a differing opinion, "MEH BLEH " no skin off my nose.

bedheadkg wrote:Well said! and maybe if people can't meet their mortgage payments, or pay their utility bills, then they shouldn't be buying games at all, at any price!

QUOTED FOR TRUTH

I also don't see a bait and switch tactic here either...

I dont' mind paying the higher price for the souped up version, depending on the gameplay extras, because that is really all that interests me. I would like more information on that aspect .. using the analogy of a directors cut movie, they usually tell you how many minutes have been added to the movie - I would like to know how many levels/minigames have been added.

But most importantly, I just want the option of using my already paid for credits. Credits I pay for every month as a Game club member, NOT free credits, or octoberfest credits, or coupons, but the ones that I purchase every month to stay game club member, which you have to be to get the CE. 3 x 6.99 = 20.97 ... I dont' mind the extra .98 cents.

It would be like using the game credit to buy the 2.99 game - YOU can do that ... you pay extra, but that is your choice, but you can still use your credit.

I want to use my three credits or at least have the option instead of having BFG charge another 19.99 to my CC while I have more than 19.99 worth of credits available.

My other thought is, if you buy the game, no demo, and it doesn't work - how will the refund policy work? will they send you game credit(s)??

As with anything new, I just have questions. I am not upset, or think I am being ripped off, I just have questions. The people that have been keeping the speculation thread open, really don't want this kind of discussion there, it interrupts their sleuthing flow, I understand this and am sorry that BF closed the other threads that were trying to deal with these questions.

I'm holding back on this one. And I most certainly will play the demo. LOVED RTR. But all the hype about 'Drawn'? It was a beautiful game and must have taken ages to make and well worth the money. But the replay value is virtually zilch. I wasn't disappointed. It was a great experience. But I'm not prepared to be 'drawn' into the hype again. Like everyone says (and they deal with it in their own way) these ARE tough times.