Another publisher that makes bad Bundles

[Realized]

Here we again, different game same problem.

I waited like 6 months for the sales on the DLC only to not be able to Complete the Bundle with the Living World options because I bought the first two damn DLCs.
A price point of about $27 (there is no Bundle discount, it's literally just to include LW content which doesn't have it's own store page btw) is now $35 because I have to buy the seasons in-game on a lower discount with a higher gem cost.

This is just a malicious business practice and Valve should just remove this bundle style from Steam. The bundles do not state that they are not "Complete the-" and only serve to induce FOMO for not buying it all at the same time (especially when linked with another service that prevents refunding to re-buy altogether).

[RotherHans]

Publicado originalmente por Realized:

Here we again, different game same problem.

I waited like 6 months for the sales on the DLC only to not be able to Complete the Bundle with the Living World options.

No you didn't.
Steam disables the complete bundle when you buy any smaller one.
It should also be in the FAQ.

If they changed it again, then this is a great opportunity to make a proper account on https://www.guildwars2.com/en/shop/
and buy it there.

[Realized]

Publicado originalmente por RotherHans:

If they changed it again, then this is a great opportunity to make a proper account on https://www.guildwars2.com/en/shop/
and buy it there.

Yes, let me just spend the amount I paid so far twice, and lose my in-game progress. Great idea.

No man, there literally is only one bundle for GW2 and it's the one that includes LW seasons. The other 3 options are just DLC, no bundle. Not only is this not possibly the case where I bought a bundle and thus precludes me from buying another, I have bought multiple bundles for the same games before: Vampire Survivors and The Escapists to name a few.

[SinisterSlay]

No mouse next to your name. You don't own the game.

[Nibbie]

I could be wrong, but I believe this issue actually comes from Steam's end, in that they can't require owning DLC to purchase other DLC (I've never seen it at least). Without that functionality, they can't offer Living Worlds on their own, because all except for season 2 require an expansion to access, and thus you could pay for content you can't use without paying more, which would certainly be frowned upon if not straight up disallowed. I'm pretty sure Steam also doesn't have the functionality of checking your GW account for if you bought the living worlds in the gem shop, so you could be paying again for content you already own. The only way they had to prevent both these scenarios is the setup they have now, which is obviously not great either, but probably better than the alternatives they had.

[Sychon]

Publicado originalmente por Nibbie:

I could be wrong, but I believe this issue actually comes from Steam's end, in that they can't require owning DLC to purchase other DLC (I've never seen it at least). Without that functionality, they can't offer Living Worlds on their own, because all except for season 2 require an expansion to access, and thus you could pay for content you can't use without paying more, which would certainly be frowned upon if not straight up disallowed. I'm pretty sure Steam also doesn't have the functionality of checking your GW account for if you bought the living worlds in the gem shop, so you could be paying again for content you already own. The only way they had to prevent both these scenarios is the setup they have now, which is obviously not great either, but probably better than the alternatives they had.

I think you are on the right track. The only LW season they sell even on their official webshop is Season 2, precisely for that reason: all subsequent seasons require expansions. I think this is why the only bundle you have on Steam is the one that includes everything from the Dragon Saga. Even in game, in the Gem Store, you can only view and buy seasons 3-5 if you own the expansions each depend on.

They could create a bundle that only contains the Expansions (HoT-PoF-EoD) but that's about it. And I would argue that it would be much more malicious (OP's word) than the one bundle we got, since buying only the expansions leaves you with large gaps in the narrative content (if that is your thing) and a lot of open world content, including 2 mounts from season 4... So, if someone bought it thinking this is all the content from that period, only to realize that there is further content to buy in the Gem Store, that would be more legitimate grounds to call the devs "malicious"...

What I would have done is, instead of bundling HoT with Pof, I would have bundled the expansions with their relevant LW seasons. So HoT with Season 3, PoF with Seasons 4 & 5 and have EoD on its own, like now. But I would have done this from the beginning, on the official store as well, not just for Steam. Now, they would have to repackage everything and I have no idea how Steam works on the publishing side...

[Sychon]

Oh and yes, if OP actually owns the game, it's not on this Steam account...

[DannyPA]

Not just a Steam issue. No one can buy the Elder Dragon Saga collection if they already own some of the content it includes. With HoT and PoF purchased, you already own most of the Saga collection. You're best bet now is to buy gems with the money you were going to use to buy the collection and purchase EoD separately through Steam and then buy the LW seasons in the Gem Store. A lot of people do it this way.

The LW seasons run 960 gems (the equivalent of $12 USD) per season. For all of them (seasons 2-4 and IBS), that would run $48 USD. But, they are part of the Winter Sale now through the end of the year, discounted 30%, so 672 gems ($8.40 USD) per season for a total of $33.60 USD. Remember, whether they're on sale or not buying an entire season is always a better value than buying individual episodes. EoD is on sale too. Now's a great time to get it all.

Even at regular prices, these content releases are fantastic deals for all the cool features and fun content they provide. Nothing malicious here.

[Realized]

Publicado originalmente por SinisterSlay:

No mouse next to your name. You don't own the game.

Publicado originalmente por Sychon:

Oh and yes, if OP actually owns the game, it's not on this Steam account...

People can have multiple accounts; doesn't detract from my statements, redditors.

Publicado originalmente por Nibbie:

I'm pretty sure Steam also doesn't have the functionality of checking your GW account for if you bought the living worlds in the gem shop [...]

But ArenaNet can make it so that you had to use the steam store to buy LW, just like they did with the xpacs, precluding this issue. The rest is valid, since they didn't do this and allowed such a potential for double-paying (but then again I'd blame the consumer for not paying attention).

Publicado originalmente por DannyPA:

they are part of the Winter Sale now through the end of the year, discounted 30%, so 672 gems ($8.40 USD) per season [...]
Even at regular prices, these content releases are fantastic deals for all the cool features and fun content they provide. Nothing malicious here.

I know the price of them because I just bought them through the store, and one of them was over 900 gems. The cost was $35 USD + (currently) 60g converted to gems in-game.

Also, the fact there is content available and whether or not someone finds that content "cool and fun" has nothing to do with the anti-consumer practice of locking people out of deals because they bought into the project early.

[armyguy]

Publicado originalmente por Realized:

Here we again, different game same problem.

I waited like 6 months for the sales on the DLC only to not be able to Complete the Bundle with the Living World options because I bought the first two damn DLCs.
A price point of about $27 (there is no Bundle discount, it's literally just to include LW content which doesn't have it's own store page btw) is now $35 because I have to buy the seasons in-game on a lower discount with a higher gem cost.

This is just a malicious business practice and Valve should just remove this bundle style from Steam. The bundles do not state that they are not "Complete the-" and only serve to induce FOMO for not buying it all at the same time (especially when linked with another service that prevents refunding to re-buy altogether).

I agree, Valve should remove this practice from Steam. What I find absolutely hilarious is the fact that the sycophants, fan bois, white knighters all with their panties in a knot because you posted this in here and attacked their deity. They can't see this an example of the bad faith policy on a lot of company's part. As a result of their blind spot, they're all probably banging away trying to get you banned.

[Realized]

Publicado originalmente por armyguy:

I agree, Valve should remove this practice from Steam. [...] this an example of the bad faith policy on a lot of company's part.

Enjoy your points from said boot-lickers who, for cognitive dissonance reasons, can't fathom how a set-up that avoids consumer pitfalls is a Good model to strive for, and one that enables it (even if lazily-accomplished) should be done away with in favor of a better model.

I think Louis Rossman recently talked about a topic like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWIRCBNG3q0

[Hefutoxin]

Publicado originalmente por Realized:

But ArenaNet can make it so that you had to use the steam store to buy LW, just like they did with the xpacs, precluding this issue. The rest is valid, since they didn't do this and allowed such a potential for double-paying (but then again I'd blame the consumer for not paying attention).

Ah yes.

ArenaNet should prevent Steam users from utilizing Gems to pay for LW seasons just so "Realized" can save a few bucks.

It'd be great if steam prevented people who complained about FOMO and "malicious" business practices to buy anything on discount, thereby protecting them from said FOMO and "malicious" business practices.

After all, a discount is a FOMO offer and therefore a "malicious" business practice.

[Zhaeph]

Publicado originalmente por Realized:

Here we again, different game same problem.

I waited like 6 months for the sales on the DLC only to not be able to Complete the Bundle with the Living World options because I bought the first two damn DLCs.
A price point of about $27 (there is no Bundle discount, it's literally just to include LW content which doesn't have it's own store page btw) is now $35 because I have to buy the seasons in-game on a lower discount with a higher gem cost.

This is just a malicious business practice and Valve should just remove this bundle style from Steam. The bundles do not state that they are not "Complete the-" and only serve to induce FOMO for not buying it all at the same time (especially when linked with another service that prevents refunding to re-buy altogether).

I just went to the store page (I also bought HoT and PoF because for 7.5 euros it was a good choice and bought the LWS 4 for 330g made from christmas event and my friend giving me 160g) and saw the pack for 50 euros...too bad that they don't have the LWS 1-4 as a DLC which is like every other DLC where you can buy and is only included in the pack....

[Gopher]

There should at least be a warning if you buy the other expansions you can't buy that one. I gifted the two sale items (24.99) to a buddy and now he can't get living world on sale in the bundle. It's very misleading

[Realized]

Publicado originalmente por Hefutoxin:

Ah yes.

ArenaNet should prevent Steam users from utilizing Gems to pay for LW seasons just so "Realized" can save a few bucks.

It'd be great if steam prevented people who complained about FOMO and "malicious" business practices to buy anything on discount, thereby protecting them from said FOMO and "malicious" business practices.

After all, a discount is a FOMO offer and therefore a "malicious" business practice.

You're an absolute clown, and it hurts to know you get a vote when you think so fallaciously.

Publicado originalmente por Sweaty Gopher:

There should at least be a warning if you buy the other expansions you can't buy that one. I gifted the two sale items (24.99) to a buddy and now he can't get living world on sale in the bundle. It's very misleading

My condolences to your friend. Feels bad to do harm with an open hand. There really should, at the absolute minimum, be an indicator that owning any part of a bundle would preclude the purchase of said bundle. Maybe even an indicator that says "this is part of This Bundle," which would both advertise the bundle to someone who may not know of it and allow the warning to be seen.

[Hefutoxin]

Publicado originalmente por Realized:

You're an absolute clown, and it hurts to know you get a vote when you think so fallaciously.

A swing and a miss.

When selfish people don't get everything they want, they blame others. When it comes to companies, it's always "FOMO" "Bad Business Practices" "Anti-Consumer" and whatever other slogans are en vogue at that point in time.

Just like the state lottery is not responsible for your gambling problem, gaming companies are not responsible for your fear of missing out.