Is Bethesda becoming another EA?

Recommended Videos

Right Hook

New member
May 29, 2011
947
0
0
PrinceOfShapeir said:
Shotgun Guy said:
Accountfailed said:
Any thoughts? (examples and counter-examples would be welcomed.)
"You see that mountain over there? You can climb it...wait no, that mountain is DLC...I meant that one, you can climb that one. Nope that's just a hill, oh and it's a preorder exclusive hill." - Todd Howard on Elder Scrolls 6.
Yeah, he never said that. Don't post false quotes. If he did ever say anything like that, it was in radically different context than you're putting it.
You're kidding me, right? I can't believe I live in a world where it isn't completely obvious to everyone that what I posted was a joke. Nobody with a shred of sanity would believe that was a real quote, especially considering that ES6 isn't even announced yet, nor will it be for a very long time. You have made me feel awful, how can you just not get it this hard?

OP(because I'm back in this thread anyway): I don't think Bethesda is anything like EA, they might be a little worse for wear but I still think they are a great company and cannot wait for Fallout 4 to be announced, whenever that finally happens.
 

Unsilenced

New member
Oct 19, 2009
438
0
0
One does no simply "become" EA by merely doing shitty things.

One must commit oneself fully to sucking ass, go beyond the boundaries of mere greed and ascend to the heights of utter pants-on-head retardation.

Then, and only then, may a company unlock the glory of the golden poo.




But seriously though, doing a shitty thing isn't "making them EA," though I do like the fact that "like EA" has become a synonym for "shitty." Its like a Godwin for video game companies.

"You like DLC, huh? You know who else liked DLC? Hitl-I mean EA."
 

Terminate421

New member
Jul 21, 2010
5,773
0
0
Zenimax studios aren't cramming DRM into every title, even then, they tend to be relatively quiet about what they do. Also, when they do DLC, its totally optional for the game.

So Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
 

Treblaine

New member
Jul 25, 2008
8,682
0
0
Accountfailed said:
Ok, before I throw myself into this, I need to clarify something.
Please note that I am talking about Bethesda the publisher, not BGS(bethesda game studios) the developers.
But they aren't even top of the pile, Zenimax is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenimax

John Carmack had to go begging to lawyers who work at Zenimax to allow the id-Tech 4 engine's source code to be released, not the bosses of id-software nor the bosses of Bethesda, Zenimax.

Bethesda is a publisher in the purests sense, they "publish" games, print copies and be in charge of marketing and patches and stuff, but Zenimax OWNS everything and ultimately decides what can an cannot happen and what everyone under them will or will not do.

Essentially Bethesda doesn't exist any more. There is Bethesda Games Studio, the talent, then there are the guys above them who pay for everything, take all the money, and decide what everyone should be doing. The buck stops with them.

Yes, Zenimax/bethesda have been kind of dicks... but not EA level of dickery.

They allowed source code of Id Tech 4's release. They are cool with their games being modded even encouraging it.

Yes they fuck up on regional pricing, Dawnguard is $20 in US but 20 Euro is possibly a mistake, it's 14 pounds sterling.
http://www.steamprices.com/uk/dlc/211720/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-dawnguard
But on the other hand they use steam-sales, right now their entire catalogue is 25% off and expect deeper sales for the likes of Skyrim. Hell, New Vegas got 75% off in the winter sales.
 

Kroxile

New member
Oct 14, 2010
543
0
0
The Lazy Blacksmith said:
The only difference is that Bethesda hasn't pissed off consumers in such a relentless fashion as EA. Sure, they made one lackluster DLC overpriced. That doesn't make them the equivalent of gaming's Joseph Stalin.
One lackluster DLC? I have 2 words for you: Horse Armor

Though I agree with your points people need to not just forget that this isn't bethesda's first strike.
 

Brendan Stepladder

New member
May 21, 2012
641
0
0
Kroxile said:
The Lazy Blacksmith said:
The only difference is that Bethesda hasn't pissed off consumers in such a relentless fashion as EA. Sure, they made one lackluster DLC overpriced. That doesn't make them the equivalent of gaming's Joseph Stalin.
One lackluster DLC? I have 2 words for you: Horse Armor

Though I agree with your points people need to not just forget that this isn't bethesda's first strike.
They still haven't struck as hard when they did, though, Sure, the have a penchant for crap DLC, but you don't see them withholding sections of Elder Scrolls games as day 1 DLC, nor does anybody see "Falllout Premium" becoming a viable option. Bethesda is morally on par with every other average publisher, people just exaggerate anything bad they do due the fact that it contrasts with the amazing games they make.
 

Khazoth

New member
Sep 4, 2008
1,229
0
0
All game companies have some level of scumbaggery, but there is only one unholy king of darkness and that remains EA.
 

Ryotknife

New member
Oct 15, 2011
1,687
0
0
Draech said:
Ryotknife said:
Draech said:
Ryotknife said:
Yea dawngaurd is overpriced, but still a better deal than any DLC that comes from EA (15 dollars a few hour DLC in mass effect). Not to mention, their DLC will go down in price unlike EA.

EDIT: derped and put COD DLC instead
Here is a wild suggestion.

If you dont think the DLC is worth the money... dont buy it?

I mean are they evil for offering it?

I have a brain in my skull. I can go "Yay" or "Nay" to it. Do you not have that privilege?
I am not buying it. EA is evil if they offer something that is worth significantly less for more money AND give no alternatives. If they want to cash in on the idiots with more money than brains, that is fine.

Even with Dawnguard at 20 dollars, it WILL go on sale just like other bethesda expansions. So even if the price irkes you, there are alternatives other than never buying it. I will probably never buy EA or activision DLC because most of the time they are a blatant ripoff meant to squeeze every ounce of money from their loyal fans with absolutely no regard to their image.

course, by your logic a company can never do anything evil. If a company released a game for full price with over half of its content locked that you have to shell out 60 dollars more....well by golly you can just say nay!

also, i could have easily reported you for implying that i do not have a brain. I wont because it would serve no real purpose. But there are other posters on these forums who would start a crusade against you for such demeaning behavior.
I never implied you didn't have a brain in your skull. I insisted that I would use my mind and free will to determine value and act accordingly. That I wasn't a sheep that needed everything and only bought things I have figured out was worth it. The priviledge I am talking about is choice. But if it offend you by all means report it rather than threaten with it. If I broke the rules then report it, otherwise it is just a childish threat.

But your logic is still flawed.

EA sells overpriced DLC = meant to squeeze every ounce of money from their loyal fans.
Bethesda sells overpriced DLC = They will sell it cheaper later. Therefore ok.

First of all. Both companies are trying to get as much money from you as possible. EA is just less competent at it.
But more importantly aren't you trying to get as much game as possible for your money?
Why does your definition of greed only go one way?
Furthermore where do you have do you have that crystal ball from? You seem to know the future. More importantly EA did lower Prices on their games. Why aren't they getting the same treatment as Bethesda in your equation?

Also no, a company can be evil. Just not by overpricing. That just makes them stupid.

It is a free market, and it is DLC. You talk about it as if it was insulin (if it was insulin yes, then it would be evil). If they are telling you black on white what they are selling then you have the choice to buy it. You always have the choice.
you have a choice, but EA and Activision are the only companies that i know of that take away your OPTIONS. So while i may disagree with dawnguards current worth, it will eventually sink to a value which i consider reasonable. No such thing exists for EA DLC, because they very rarely, if ever, go down in price.

honestly, the DLC thing is a drop in the ocean when it comes to EA evil.

as for my crystal ball....well i see New vegas DLC on sale again on steam for about 1.50. hmm.....so it looks like history proves me right.

your options with EA are shell over way too much money or dont play it ever. There is practically no middle ground.
 

Absolutionis

New member
Sep 18, 2008
420
0
0
Bethesda can just be silly and incompetent at times.

They were the ones that practically invented pverpriced garage DLC with the horse armor thinking they could nickel-and-dime us. Then they play it off as if it were a joke and release Dawnguard.
They want money, but they're not doing an intentionally malicious effort. They're just prone to slip-ups.

EA on the other hand does this all intentionally, and more.

EA buys companies, milks money out of their franchises by releasing trash, and throws everything away. Bethesday simply bought the Fallout license, pissed off fans by making it nothing like the originals, but at least released something acceptable; they put effort into it.

EA kicks Zynga when they're down. Bethesda apologizes when they're legally obligated to challenge Mojang for a word.

Bethesda charged us for bad DLC and horse armor. EA charges us for overpowered in-game items and Day1 Disc-Locked Content.

EA forces itself into the spotlight by trash-talking competitors (and still makes an inferior product) while Bethesda stays in the limelight by just making good games for their fans.
 

RhombusHatesYou

Surreal Estate Agent
Mar 21, 2010
7,595
1,914
118
Between There and There.
Country
The Wide, Brown One.
Treblaine said:
Yes they fuck up on regional pricing, Dawnguard is $20 in US but 20 Euro is possibly a mistake, it's 14 pounds sterling.
http://www.steamprices.com/uk/dlc/211720/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-dawnguard
At least Steam rips you off in your own currency. Aussies and Kiwis get massively ripped off in USD... and the lazy fucks can't even be bothered sticking in a little conversion window to show you what the price is in the local money (unlike GoG who, while still pricing in USD, also show what that equals in your own cash... and GoG don't do regional pricing).
 

SonOfVoorhees

New member
Aug 3, 2011
3,509
0
0
Dont like the price, dont buy it. It's our choice to make whether we feel the add on is worth that price. Me? I say wait till the GOTY addition. Cant moan at Bethesda, it is there property, they can charge what they want for it.

End of the day its DLC, just an extra add on and not at all important to the overall story of Skyrim. Personally some crappy vampire dlc isnt worth paying for. Now something akin to Shivering Isles or Bloodmoon would be worth paying for.
 

RhombusHatesYou

Surreal Estate Agent
Mar 21, 2010
7,595
1,914
118
Between There and There.
Country
The Wide, Brown One.
lacktheknack said:
Valve and CD Projekt are the very rare exception (and Valve is starting to slip).
Not even CD Projekt are without a blemish... that fuck up over suing supposed Witcher 2 pirates didn't do them any favours even if most of the issues were the result of the behaviour/tactics of the legal firm they hired to handle it.

Valve are in sort of a tricky position when it comes to Steam... if they want to keep their position as the biggest digital distributor for PC games they have to keep publishers happy or the number of titles they can offer will quickly drop. They're still no where big enough to start dictating terms that don't directly affect their distribution model to the publishers but too big to start taking risks of having publishers pull out.
 

BarbaricGoose

New member
May 25, 2010
796
0
0
I don't own Dawnguard, or plan on getting it, but $20 for it doesn't sound like too big a deal. They said they were going to focus on less frequent, bigger DLC, and it seems they are. It's a much better deal than the $10 - $15 you spend on most 1-3 hour DLC.
 

RhombusHatesYou

Surreal Estate Agent
Mar 21, 2010
7,595
1,914
118
Between There and There.
Country
The Wide, Brown One.
Draech said:
If the product they are selling has more value (to me) than what they are charging, ill buy it. If not I wont. Why is this so bloody complicated to so many people.
Because GIMME GIMME GIMME NOW NOW NOW

If even half the people bitching about the state of the industry had any fucking backbone and strength to their convictions the industry would have never gotten into the state it is.
 

Tollo

New member
Aug 4, 2012
27
0
0
BarbaricGoose said:
I don't own Dawnguard, or plan on getting it, but $20 for it doesn't sound like too big a deal. They said they were going to focus on less frequent, bigger DLC, and it seems they are. It's a much better deal than the $10 - $15 you spend on most 1-3 hour DLC.
I'm glad they are focusing on a few big DLC packs every few months or so, unlike the THQ plan of releasing something every week for 800-1200 points or for ps3 users 9.99 a week. If you don't like the price of DLC don't buy it same can be said for the recent Capcom DLC disaster.
 

Treblaine

New member
Jul 25, 2008
8,682
0
0
RhombusHatesYou said:
Treblaine said:
Yes they fuck up on regional pricing, Dawnguard is $20 in US but 20 Euro is possibly a mistake, it's 14 pounds sterling.
http://www.steamprices.com/uk/dlc/211720/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-dawnguard
At least Steam rips you off in your own currency. Aussies and Kiwis get massively ripped off in USD... and the lazy fucks can't even be bothered sticking in a little conversion window to show you what the price is in the local money (unlike GoG who, while still pricing in USD, also show what that equals in your own cash... and GoG don't do regional pricing).
Ahh, good old good old games games

But inter-regional pricing in general:


PS: how does taxation work when you are buying something online in foreign currency?!?