CXL Pricing-Is Monte Cristo serious?

[jcleary47 0]

lol $10.00/month is pocket change, you guys are tripping.

[Lumbergh 0]

all the hype and what a complete let down it turned out to be. I will not be spending my money on this.

This post has been edited to remove violation of ST Forum General Rules.

--Liv

ST Staff

[astondb9 7]

I wanted to try the demo, but that didnt even work. So I was just going to wait for the full version to come out and buy that, and then if I didnt like it sell it on. But the reviews look bad and that price is just putting me off, you could pay something low for 'extras' but not for what sounds like the main bit of the game. Something in my mind was telling me this was going to be a simcity societies over again.

I guess il just have to wait until the game becomes one of those ones on the backshelf that no one looks at other than last minute gifts.

Simcity 4 ftw.

[ch0c0 13]

Originally posted by: jcleary47

lol $10.00/month is pocket change, you guys are tripping.

quote>

only to those with a mother willing to open her check book to keep her child happy.

[Garek Maxwell 1]

Originally posted by: jcleary47

lol $10.00/month is pocket change, you guys are tripping.quote>

Since the chat window could be replaced with an instant messenger or even a website chatroom, you're paying $10 a month to have what appears (only seen screenshots) to be an 'okay' looking avatar walk around a 3D environment. This avatar does nothing, not even recieve free stuff from special interests, other than walk and maybe run.

The other things such as trade, as many players feel, should be in or simulated somehow in single player. However, it looks like these are multiplayer only. Now you're paying for trade that is just as easily simulated by free browser based MMO's like Cyber Nations ( http://www.cybernations.net/ ). Not only that, but Cyber Nations offers more in regards to warfare, which is not even abstractly simulated in Cities XL. (Before anyone jumps on this, the trade mechanics really aren't that different from Cyber Nations. The only different between that and Cities XL is the pretty stuff that goes on top of all that. The math is the same, the way it looks is different. The only thing that really needs to be sent between you and the servers is the math anyway. )

Also, you're potentially paying for patches as well. Patches are generally considered to be an expectation from companies that release buggy games. No one's perfect, but if they do decide to do it this way then it would be a radical change from the usual model which garners customer support and fixes problems in games to gain even more customers.

I'm probably missing some stuff, but currently this is what you get when you pay them $10 a month.

A Chat Window - Easily replaced with instant messaging, browser based chatrooms, and even forums.

An Avatar - Replaceable with a 1st person camera view and a profile picture. Also available free in a somewhat less quality appearance in free MMO's like Second Life that allow you to do essentially the same things.

Trade - Other free browser based MMOs offer the same thing for free. It could be easily adapted to single player as well, but they decided to stick it in the MMO part.

(Unconfirmed) Patches - Won't even go there, but a big mistake if they do go that route.

Frankly, I get more with other MMO's on certain features, and some of these MMOs are free! On the single player side I get even MORE from SC4, a pretty old game that still looks pretty good after all these years. That's not a very good way to start off a game, regardless of the size of budget.

[Mctittles 0]

@Garek Maxwell

You might agree with my earlier post on the costs of bandwidth vs what you pay (https://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=370&threadid=109601&enterthread=y) that goes into detail some of the things you mentioned.

[Garek Maxwell 1]

That's actually very interesting Mctittles, and it makes me wonder how MC can justify the price. As you point out, they could be just badly programming the interaction between the user and server...but I don't know.

It just seems rather suspicious to me...Well, maybe not suspicious since I know it's motivated by profit. Still, seems...to be questionable as a business decision for the long term. You don't gain more customers when the current likely ones are complaining and souring the image of the product before it hits the market.

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

 

[LordOscar 0]

Originally posted by: abcvs

quote>

What's this? I checked the rules and there's no explanation.

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

Originally posted by: LordOscar

Originally posted by: abcvs

quote>

What's this? I checked the rules and there's no explanation.

quote>

Actually there is.  

4. Simtropolis Staff. Administrators, moderators, and chat-operators are responsible for the smooth and efficient running of the site. The staff reserves the right to take whatever action is deemed appropriate in any given situation, regardless of whether there is a specific rule covering that situation or not.quote>

As we are all aware there have been some problems in this forum.    The forums are being actively monitored by the moderators.     However they don't particularly want to re-read posts that they have read before.

The sheild is simply a marker left for the next moderator, so that they know which threads have been checked and up to which post.

[jcleary47 0]

Originally posted by: ch0c0

Originally posted by: jcleary47

lol $10.00/month is pocket change, you guys are tripping.

quote>

only to those with a mother willing to open her check book to keep her child happy.

quote>

Or a job?

Look - people can either buy the game or not. They can either pay the $10/month or not. Seems pretty straight forward to me. It's not like they aren't telling you that you will have to pay a fee to get certain features.

If you don't have the money to pay the monthly fee, don't buy the game. If people are having an issue finding $10 to try the online features for a few months then purchasing a $40 or $50 game probably shouldn't be on their list of priorities anyway.

[morriswalters 16]

Originally posted by: jcleary47

Originally posted by: ch0c0

Originally posted by: jcleary47

lol $10.00/month is pocket change, you guys are tripping.

quote>

only to those with a mother willing to open her check book to keep her child happy.

quote>

Or a job?

Look - people can either buy the game or not. They can either pay the $10/month or not. Seems pretty straight forward to me. It's not like they aren't telling you that you will have to pay a fee to get certain features.

If you don't have the money to pay the monthly fee, don't buy the game. If people are having an issue finding $10 to try the online features for a few months then purchasing a $40 or $50 game probably shouldn't be on their list of priorities anyway.quote>

How rational, and it's very much to the point.

Enough fun.  Think for yourself , I do.

This is my very humble opinion and not to be confused with truth or the  facts.

[vonhaubitz 5]

Originally posted by: bixel

maybe...but I am sure the support from the French and German community will be huge...I think this game will succeed.quote>

Then you should read the European forums. But that's ok, MC is simply not meeting the demand of he market, so, they will not sell very much.

Edited for derogatory bashing.

--Liv

CXL Forums Moderator

[1of6Billion 0]

tried the demo, very enthousiastic about it. Terrible dissapointment to learn about the monthly fee to get only near the possibilities of SC4...

It's a shame. Awesome graphics!

Wouldn't mind to spend

[Livin in Sim 83]

[soldyne 111]

I still have hope for Cities XL. I cannot go back to the grid and 2.5D view of SC4 so CXL is my only hope (either that or SCS). if they get decent support in the first few months they will put out a few patches, upgrades, and new add-ons (buildings maps, etc) and the game will get much better. all new MMOs feel unfinished at first and that is because they know they will continue to support the game after market. also, we have not even had a chance to try the GEMs which may add quite a bit to the game play.

for those that don't want to spend the money now, thats fine. give it a year and see what happens with it. don't close your eyes to it entirely though, you may miss a lot.

[frdrcklim 139]

Originally posted by: zwr100

The monthly fee will pay for the things you think 'should be in the game.' Don't want to pay? Go play that other new city builder, or that other online city builder.... oh wait there are none.

I can do math too.  $160.99/year = $0.44 a day.  Eat one less candy bar a day, or one less soda or coffee, or maybe skip one $3 purchase a week (is it really that hard?).  If you spend nothing, and have no costs to cut, then go to a parking lot or couch and pick up some spare change.

Most MMOs are online or nothing.  Look at it as an MMO and be glad it has an offline version at all.

They made a bold move by making an online builder, it was neccessary in my opinion.  The best thing about SC4 is the online community that keeps fresh new content.  The worst thing about SC4 is all the custom content/mods/whatever completely bend and break the rules so there basically is no game - it's more like painting a picture than playing a game.  If they made it totally moddable like SC4 it would be the same exact game.quote>

$0.44 = 20~ PHP. I think I'll pass and buy me a lottery ticket. The returns are bigger especially if you win.

But seriously, you can do a lot of stuff with $160.99 already. Why waste it on subscription? You can get L4D2, MW2 and OFP2, games I'm sure to buy. You can buy an Intel E7500 C2D or even an NVIDIA GTS 250. It's also 10~% of the ASUS N81VP-D1, an awesome laptop I'm trying to get. Wouldn't you rather spend that money on big ticket items?

To be honest, I'm really against MMOs of all type and MMOs and City Building games just don't mixed. In fact, back in the day, I remember MC was somehow targeting the SC4 crowd especially with the disappointment that is SCS. We all remember this certain little screenshot back then when CXL was just CU.

The picture had no hint of an MMO as you can see and the eyecandies a city-builder gamer could ever want is in this picture. This picture was also the reasons for our very high expectations of the game, though I have to admit it was too good to be true.

I do agree that SC4 is becoming a bit too complex and that the game is not what it used to be. I have to admit, even I had a hard time trying to get back into it. But I still have those dreams at the back of my head of creating a city that I really planned and these custom content is what keeps me glued to SC4.

[metrobuilder 0]

Originally posted by: jcleary47

Originally posted by: ch0c0

Originally posted by: jcleary47

lol $10.00/month is pocket change, you guys are tripping.

quote>

only to those with a mother willing to open her check book to keep her child happy.

quote>

Or a job?

Look - people can either buy the game or not. They can either pay the $10/month or not. Seems pretty straight forward to me. It's not like they aren't telling you that you will have to pay a fee to get certain features.

If you don't have the money to pay the monthly fee, don't buy the game. If people are having an issue finding $10 to try the online features for a few months then purchasing a $40 or $50 game probably shouldn't be on their list of priorities anyway.quote>

Isn't it a little stupid to be defending a $10 monthly fee nobody really needs to be paying?  If you like blowing your money away, then that's perfectly fine for you, but for the more financially responsible we like to stretch our dollars as much as possible!  It isn't about whether or not people can afford $10 a month, but if it's even worth paying. 

For a video game to charge a monthly fee it has to be an incredibly addictive and rewarding game, or nobody will keep paying.  What's more is that many potential Cities XL customers are not interested playing this game online, and would prefer to stick to the single player mode.  However, Monte Cristo appears to be penalizing people like me that would rather just play the single player game by removing features that otherwise would be available for the online, and costly, version.

I think Monte Cristo is jumping on the MMO bandwaggon assuming their target audience is going to be willing to pay this montly fee, but I think they have greatly over estimated who their target audience is and just what they will be willing to pay to play this game.  This game has to be a SC4 killer in order for this pricing model to be successful, but considering so many SC4 may not be the least bit interested in an online aspect this model seems doomed for failure.

Now again, some people may not mind blowing $10 a month to get all the features that should be included in the single player version, but most people are not going to fork over the cash.  Thus, unless Monte Cristo provides a great, single player game, without restrictions, I can't see how this game will be successful.  It wouldn't surprise me if in a year or two SC4 fans will laugh, (if not with a great bit of dissapointment), at this terrible let down.  Of course, I hope I'm proven wrong.

I do hope they change the pricing, there is no reason gamers interested only in a single player game should have features restricted simply because they don't care for online gaming.  Monte Cristo shouldn't be so greedy, and just give their customers what they want, or they won't have enough customers to fund their game developing installments in the future. 

If they want to add online features, great!  Go right ahead and charge whatever you want for those who are interested, but to remove features from the single player game is absolutely ridiculous!

[gnorman 0]

lol pay for more than 1 month at a time you will get a better rate, that is if your going to get cxl

[Huxleyhobbes 1]

It seems this needs to be reiterated:

Whilst some people have been saying they're against monthly fees on principle, CXL is a great example of why they're not crazy. A game like WoW or EVE requires continued money to exist. Server costs are high, staff costs are high, and the cost of developing new content in order to retain business is high. The majority of people have, however, NOT said that they are opposed to a subscription model in principle, we have said we are opposed to it when we are being charged for things which either should be in the offline game (e.g. mass transit) , or which are trivial and questionably implemented features that can be found for free in many other places (e.g. avatars).

The problem isn't paying $10 a month. The problem is paying $10 a month for something worth zero cents a month.

[rtil 1]

Originally posted by: Huxleyhobbes

The problem isn't paying $10 a month. The problem is paying $10 a month for something worth zero cents a month.quote>

bottom line. anyone trying to refute this has lost their mind. yes, $10 isn't a lot of money in the grand scheme of things, but when you think about what you're spending it on, it's drop dead stupid.

[Dvark 2]

You guys are confused, we aren't all on a budget. There are thousands of people like me who will buy the game and subscribe to PO whether we play it or not.

And seriosuly, if this is a lot of money to you guys there are way more productive things you could be doing than whining about how poor you are over the internet.

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

Simtropolis is a site that is and always has been actively moderated.   This means that there are moderators who have been given the responsibility and are trusted by the administrators and the webmaster of this site to ensure that the rules of the site are followed and to make decisions on appropriate action when those rules are not followed.

In particular:

4.  Simtropolis Staff.   Administrators, moderators, and chat-operators are responsible for the smooth and efficient running of the site. The staff reserves the right to take whatever action is deemed appropriate in any given situation, regardless of whether there is a specific rule covering that situation or not.   If there is a misunderstanding or dispute, then please bring the issue up politely with that staff member in private.   In all matters, the decision of the administration is final.quote>

There have been a number of explainations given as to why the moderators are leaving the sheilds on the thread.

They are simply a marker to the next moderator that comes along, so that they know that a previous moderator has read what has gone before.

Are these forums being watched?   Absolutely.   If any person thinks they can come here and say whatever they like, and continue the flaming, bashing and direct insults that have been flying around in the last while then they need to think again.

As always at Simtropolis any member who does not agree with a moderating decision, is welcome to discuss that decision privately with the moderator concerned.   If they are not satisfied with the answers given, then they are welcome to discuss the matter privately with a site administrator.

What they are not welcome to do is hold that discussion, or to challenge moderating decisions in the public forums.

[metrobuilder 0]

Originally posted by: gnorman

lol pay for more than 1 month at a time you will get a better rate, that is if your going to get cxlquote>

It doesn't matter what the amount is, removing features from the single player game simply because the player isn't interested in online game play is just plane stupid.  Paying for servers is one thing, paying for a mass transit feature that costs Monte Cristo absolutely 0 dollars to leave in the game is quite another!

The bottom line is that without the Planet Offer this game is incomplete.  There is no reason this game needs to be online in order to be functional, this is pure greed on the part of Monte Cristo.  Sim City 4 works just fine offline and it doesn't charge players $75 a year to play. (And $75 is the discounted rate!)

[8elhaj 0]

i find the game is worth 40$ if they keep patching it and sell the features of Planet Offer for a one time fee.

That would give people the choice if they dont want online and it would get MC the money.

Cant wait to try the full game

[geek12 0]

Yea it's not the 10 dollars that's makes me mad, it's what we get (or, don't get) for that money. I mean that doesn't mean that i'm never ever going to play it though. What it means is that right now, at this point in time, there is nothing i'm willing to pay for. I don't care what others say about "oh it's not that much money" or "thats pocket change" It's my money, and i could care less what others say about my spending of it. if i don't feel something is... Complete, i won't buy it. (I'll wait and buy Mw2 or wait even more and get Bioshock 2)

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]