AAA pricing

[Tyggna]

Seems like this will be the hottest issue for this game. $45 is almost AAA pricing, and the deluxe edition certainly qualifies. I hope 11-bit studios is prepared for the expectations that puts on them. AAA pricing means more money, perhaps some stability for the company, and almost implies abuse from the community. Succeed with this, and it sets 11-bit up for the next decade to crank out awesome games.

With the strategic shift of EA going to a dominantly free-to-play model, I actually welcome more indie studios taking this risk. I think, as a long time gamer, that having newer and more-relevant game makers take the place of industry giants is super healthy and good for all of us. There are absolutely some indie titles that I'd dish out $60-100 for, and frostpunk 1, for me, is almost there. I'm not 100% sure of what it's missing, but 11-bit can make this play like a real-time 4x strategy game and keep the core concept of player vs environment, then I think they can pull off the higher price just fine.

I think the deciding factor for me will be progression. I'm a sucker for a good tech tree, and one that fundamentally changes the challenges I'm facing over time is what makes a game great. If a single playthrough has a significantly long progression, then I don't think the asking price is off the mark at all. Like, in frostpunk, once you get good housing and resources to build it for all, then the game gets noticeably easier--but if frostpunk 2 makes that good housing cause or reveal a whole new city-destroying dynamic to the game that then has to be solved by another step in progression, then I know I will absolutely fall in love with frostpunk 2.

[Flavalicious]

Going to need more then 1 solid 10-12 hour main story scenario thats forsure.

Game 1 was great but stupidly short.

[Swervy]

simply depends on how much you enjoyed the first one. If you told me i had to pay another £100 or id never be able to play it again, I would. one of the best games ive ever played, hands down imo. I believe they can charge AAA prices because I feel this is a AAA title. or at least as enjoyable.

[CupCupBaconBox]

45 dollars is nothing for a game like this. It's a perfectly fair price.

[Dillpickle1]

Originally posted by Tyggna:

Seems like this will be the hottest issue for this game. $45 is almost AAA pricing, and the deluxe edition certainly qualifies. I hope 11-bit studios is prepared for the expectations that puts on them. AAA pricing means more money, perhaps some stability for the company, and almost implies abuse from the community. Succeed with this, and it sets 11-bit up for the next decade to crank out awesome games.

With the strategic shift of EA going to a dominantly free-to-play model, I actually welcome more indie studios taking this risk. I think, as a long time gamer, that having newer and more-relevant game makers take the place of industry giants is super healthy and good for all of us. There are absolutely some indie titles that I'd dish out $60-100 for, and frostpunk 1, for me, is almost there. I'm not 100% sure of what it's missing, but 11-bit can make this play like a real-time 4x strategy game and keep the core concept of player vs environment, then I think they can pull off the higher price just fine.

I think the deciding factor for me will be progression. I'm a sucker for a good tech tree, and one that fundamentally changes the challenges I'm facing over time is what makes a game great. If a single playthrough has a significantly long progression, then I don't think the asking price is off the mark at all. Like, in frostpunk, once you get good housing and resources to build it for all, then the game gets noticeably easier--but if frostpunk 2 makes that good housing cause or reveal a whole new city-destroying dynamic to the game that then has to be solved by another step in progression, then I know I will absolutely fall in love with frostpunk 2.

Originally posted by CupCupBaconBox:

45 dollars is nothing for a game like this. It's a perfectly fair price.

45$ for a couple hours of gameplay? are you crazy?

[CupCupBaconBox]

Ah, I see. You're a Zoomer. I bet you're also mad the game isn't openworld.

[Ryu_Sheng]

Given that AAA games are $70 and up these days, $45 is no where near AAA pricing

[Bobby]

$45? are they gone mental?

[GraveTrail]

I couldn't throw my money at this fast enough. If it sped up the release date it would pay more.

[GutMoke]

AAA games - 70$ (games like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Red Dead Redemption 2, Suicide Squad)
AA games - 40$ (A Plague Tale: Innocence, Hi-Fi Rush, upcoming Frostpunk 2)
Dont look at these prices literally, lets say they are average prices.
For example, Cyberpunk 2077 cost 50-55$, which is AAA game, Lies of P cost about 60$, which is AA game.

[Ceoran]

The A-ratings are garbage invented by games industry, gaming newspages and fakefluencer scum. It doesn't matter. Ubisoft just delivered the ultimate proof. All that matters is the relation of fun experienced vs. money invested.
I'l wait until the first people send in their reviews for preorder deluxe access. Maybe there will even be proper detailed reports before release.
And for those who simply think the price is too high there's nothing wrong with waiting half a year until the first discounts are available. Or maybe a year. It's not like there has been a shortage of interesting games recently. (If you feel like you're missing out by not playing it a release, I recommend tuning down your social media intake). Oh, and not to forget getting games late usually makes them more enjoyable because they have less bugs by that time.

[Ban Doga]

Originally posted by CupCupBaconBox:

45 dollars is nothing for a game like this. It's a perfectly fair price.

People acting like they already know how the game will turn out is really cute.

[Blanch Warren]

Originally posted by Almighty Pudding:

Originally posted by hossein77:

the game has announced last year and we still havent got any information about it in any way, shape or form at all.. did you guys just announced the game then started making it from scratch or something? cmon...

No, the game is in development since 2020. But we're making big game. We need time.
And actually, the newspapers tell quite a portion about the lore. There even more between the lines, so to speak ;)

[EleventhStar]

$45 is tricky.

bit on the high side to buy blindly on trust, plenty of good games have bad sequels.

but it's also not a game you want to spoil, so doing research if it's good is difficult/risky.

maybe putting it on radio silence until a sale is smartest.

[M1lh0u53]

It's 10% currently for $98.10AUD for the Deluxe Edition.
It's pricey.

[BlunderingFool]

Originally posted by Blanch Warren:

The game has political factions, so women's equality could be in there somewhere.

I'm reminded that quite a few women opposed the first wave feminist, thinking them to be getting involved in mens games for profit, or that they wanted to shirk more important things like home and family.

The taught history has a fair lack of representation of the views of the time and it's quite the interesting rabbit hole, seeing what Victorians considered important.