Epos Nix on 5/4/2006 at 17:59
I think the greater implication here is how it will affect game development in the future: Miss a release date? NO! Charge full price for the unfinished game and charge for the extra content at a later date! Win-win for Bethsoft, but we get screwed.
Jmac9186 on 5/4/2006 at 18:00
The whole thing just smells like a scheme to make a quick buck. Why is it that Valve adds complete mods in their patchs and Bethesda is trying to sell me a new model.
Do they have a right to try? Yes
Do I have a right as a customer to feel I'd rather give my money to a developer that continues to add content to their games post-release? Absolutely
Tuco on 5/4/2006 at 18:51
I'd tell all of you sandy vaginas to gtfo if the mod was worth anything.
If they included a large ass dungeon with a quest, fine. Something that occupied 60/2 = one 30th of the content of Oblivion? Cool.
But horse armor? hahahaha
Xelion on 5/4/2006 at 18:52
Let's not forget that if Oblivion hadn't been released on consoles, we would most likely be getting this mod for free. It's only because of the availability of xbox live marketplace that Bethesda has been tempted into charging a small fee for something that once was free. They must have figured it is so easy for a console user to buy the content, why bother doing it for free? But to be fair, they had to charge PC users too. It is thanks to MS that this whole situation has arisen.
Also, if you are looking for a good game with a lot of free post-release content, give (
http://www.galciv2.com) Galactic Civilizations 2 a try.
Myoldnamebroke on 5/4/2006 at 19:53
Quote Posted by Xelion
Let's not forget that if Oblivion hadn't been released on consoles, we would most likely be getting this mod for free. It's only because of the availability of xbox live marketplace that Bethesda has been tempted into charging a small fee for something that once was free. They must have figured it is so easy for a console user to buy the content, why bother doing it for free? But to be fair, they had to charge PC users too. It is thanks to MS that this whole situation has arisen.
And that's probably true. If you look at it in the context of the price of stuff on XBL, it's really good value. You pay that much for a little picture to put on your Gamer Tag.
RyushiBlade on 5/4/2006 at 20:08
Again, I will restate my opinion as it seems to have gone on unheard.
Morrowind had only eight Official plugins. Only two had a quest line.
Already, Oblivion has five plugins. Yes, they are about the same quality than the free Morrowind plugins, but these are only the start.
Bethesda's goal is to continue making Official, top-quality plugins. Plugins take time to create. Time is money. Scripters, modellers, voice actors: They all have to get paid. Morrowind only had eight mods because Bethesda wasn't getting paid to produce and distribute them. Microsoft didn't make Bethesda charge PC users. Microsoft has little to do with it. MS has been used as a scapegoat for everything from petty theft to alien abduction; Bethesda will do whatever they deem appropriate. And if they want to deliver 200 official mods to the people, they need a plan to do so. They have one.
The reason Official Plugins can't be 25 cents is because not every plugin will be guaranteed to sell to everyone. Pretend there are 1,000 people ready to pay for Official Plugins. Only 600 buy the Horse Armor mod. That's a whopping $1200 profit. Lose taxes. Lose some directly to Bethesda. Then the man behind the Horse Mod will get what's left.
I'm getting slightly aggrivated that everyone is making a deal out of this. Bethesda has shown much pride in Morrowind's modding community, saying that the fans managed to do things 'we [Bethesda] had never dreamed of.' They won't cut out modding in the future. And they're going to continue producing more mods of better quality and, eventually, you're going to see something you like and buy it, like you're supposed to do.
I see kalamari for sale all the time in my supermarket. I don't like it. (Nasty rubbery stuff.) So I just don't buy it. But the fish next to it? Yeah. Totally getting that.
Epos Nix on 5/4/2006 at 20:44
Quote:
They won't cut out modding in the future.
Of course they won't. That would mean they'd have to fix their own bugs and imbalances rather than leave it to the modding community ;)
Stitch on 5/4/2006 at 20:57
Those reminding us that developing mods is costly seem to forget the fact that Bethesda is absolutely raking in the cash at the moment. Free mods extend the life of the game and keep the user base happy, which is crucial.
I don't inherently have a problem with Bethesda charging for additional content, but asking any amount of money for horse armor is ludicrous. It's a minor enhancement, and asking us to pay for it is borderline insulting. A better plan at this point would be to include it in a future downloadable mini-expansion pack that would cost, say, $5.
Also: most of the suggestions Tuco makes for things he'd be willing to pay for (customizable UI, max NPC levels) would cause even more public outrage if Bethesda decided to charge for them. People are already pissed that Bethesda is asking $2 for an utterly disposable cosmetic mod, could you imagine what would happen if they wanted money to fix some of the broken aspects of the game? THE NERD RIOTS OF 2006
RarRar on 5/4/2006 at 21:33
Quote Posted by Stitch
I don't inherently have a problem with Bethesda charging for additional content, but asking any amount of money for horse armor is ludicrous.
Actually, the one on the left is fairly exotic and rather fetching. Not that I'd EVER be seen riding something with a getup like that. Can you imagine the ribbing I'd get from the guys? (and somebody oughta make a mod for that). It's attractive in that models on the runway, Oscar gown sort of way, admiring things you'd never be caught dead actually wearing.
The one on the right makes the horse's butt look too big.
Inline Image:
https://obliviondownloads.com/Images/product/obliv_horsearmor_SM.jpgTeh-Builder on 5/4/2006 at 21:49
The armor isn't even keeping your horse alive. Maybe it takes 10% less damage or something, but if it was going to die before you got the armor, it'll still die.
