800,000+ Sign Up for Battlefield Premium as EA Looks to Premium-ify Even More IPs

[spkypwnsuall]

Well personally I think map packs that you need to pay for are bad enough as it is.

Luckily at least 800,000+ people are smart enough to realize money doesn't grow on trees. Creating maps the scale of BF3 means employing artists. Programmers as well in the case of close quarters (new destructible physics etc.) and ongoing support. Then designers and support staff on top. The game has been out for ~8 months now, the initial revenue hit has dissipated, if you want them to maintain support for the game, provide updates and content, then you pay for it.

Or, use your entitled voice, whine about prices, make them stop DLC and watch content support for the game drop 1 month after launch.

Honestly, their "support" isn't that great. Think about how long the dart glitch went on for, and every time you complain about something (a crash or graphical glitch for example), you get a free 25% off coupon for origin and your standard cut and paste "Is your game updated? Have you tried restarting the game?", rather than actual help.
The content is good and its nice to see the game being extended, but saying they are doing it so they have a reason to maintain support is just false. It's purely to keep making money without having to an entirely create a new game.

[Domitian]

800,000 x $49 = $39,200,000

Can we fix all the bugs now?

[diamondd]

Or, use your entitled voice, whine about prices, make them stop DLC and watch content support for the game drop 1 month after launch.

Well if the game worked at launch it wouldn't matter.

Not that I care, I didn't bother with BF3 anyway and judging by my mates experiences I did myself a favour.

[akira675]

800,000 x $49 = $39,200,000

Can we fix all the bugs now?

Small fry... They spent a couple of million on marketing alone, let alone staff salaries for 4-5 years, studio upkeep, support services, Battlelog development, disk pressing, distribution etc etc.

Besides, they're a business. As much as we'd all like games to be made for free out of the developers love and appreciation of us, bills gotta get paid. I've had no issue with the quality of the game for the price I paid, therefore no complaint here. But hey, a lot of other people brought it too, so lets tear these suckers down for daring to be so successful.

[Goric]

I just don't get why people are so against Premium. Its not a "service" like CoD Elite, its a one time payment for DLC not special treatment, or much special treatment. I bet a good 90% of the anti-Premium player base will still go out and by the DLC packs or Premium anyway once they start to feel the pressure to play it. I just think its a better idea to save some money and buy in bulk because I know I’ll be getting them anyway. Moneys tuff enough as it is so why spend more then you have too. I had a look on Origin on Friday and Close Quarters will retail for $23.95. In two expansions Premium has just paid for itself not including the remaining three expansions, extra weapons, dog tags, etc. I did the same for Gear of War 3 and got the Season Pass. ITS EXACTLY THE SAME THING PEOPLE. Its not a con or a scam and DLC has been part of gaming for many many years now. People need to move with the times and realise that DLC is a way to keep games fresh and keep the player base coming back for more and in some cases its player made content which is even better. Its also a chance for the publishers to make a little extra money from games. People should just grow up and stop being a bunch of little trolls.

[Domitian]

800,000 x $49 = $39,200,000

Can we fix all the bugs now?

Small fry... They spent a couple of million on marketing alone, let alone staff salaries for 4-5 years, studio upkeep, support services, Battlelog development, disk pressing, distribution etc etc.

Besides, they're a business. As much as we'd all like games to be made for free out of the developers love and appreciation of us, bills gotta get paid. I've had no issue with the quality of the game for the price I paid, therefore no complaint here. But hey, a lot of other people brought it too, so lets tear these suckers down for daring to be so successful.

Um... you took that a bit more seriously than I intended... my bad maybe.

Was more just a creative way to say how much they'd made out of it and then dropped a message about how the servers are always dumping me randomly and wish they would fix it... I do understand that businesses are for profit and find it hard to imagine how anyone could not know that... I do actually have a job myself and I don't think my weekly wage comes from the sky

[Lord_Apophis]

Or, use your entitled voice, whine about prices, make them stop DLC and watch content support for the game drop 1 month after launch.

And yet... Other companies provide constant patches over the course of 14 years without you having to pay for DLC, Premium stuff, Map packs etc'. (Aka. StarCraft 1.)
Not to mention they have kept the servers online that entire time...

Voting with my wallet.

[Early_Grayce]

Starcraft makes money in a lot of different ways just not so much in Australia.
Devs that support games for a long time for "free" are not being altruistic they are just being reative with their revenue generation.

[Snazz]

As a discounted bundle of expansion packs it's quite appealing, unfortunately they called it 'Battlefield Premium' which makes it sound like an expensive service.

And yet... Other companies

Game companies make their money in a number of ways and their games vary in scale and complexity.

[unspoken]

I'm one of those 800,000.. and it was an excellent purchase for me. BF3 is the only game I’m currently playing so the decision was not that hard. Also the kicker, it’s a ONCE of payment and it includes ALL the future DLC - 3 remaining.

As for close quarters, it’s a change of pace and was fun for a while, the destruction and damage you can do on some maps is awesome but I'm back to 64/48 player conquest.

[spkypwnsuall]

I just don't get why people are so against Premium. Its not a "service" like CoD Elite, its a one time payment for DLC not special treatment, or much special treatment. I bet a good 90% of the anti-Premium player base will still go out and by the DLC packs or Premium anyway once they start to feel the pressure to play it. I just think its a better idea to save some money and buy in bulk because I know I’ll be getting them anyway. Moneys tuff enough as it is so why spend more then you have too. I had a look on Origin on Friday and Close Quarters will retail for $23.95. In two expansions Premium has just paid for itself not including the remaining three expansions, extra weapons, dog tags, etc. I did the same for Gear of War 3 and got the Season Pass. ITS EXACTLY THE SAME THING PEOPLE. Its not a con or a scam and DLC has been part of gaming for many many years now. People need to move with the times and realise that DLC is a way to keep games fresh and keep the player base coming back for more and in some cases its player made content which is even better. Its also a chance for the publishers to make a little extra money from games. People should just grow up and stop being a bunch of little trolls.

For starters, Premium IS special treatment. Lets start with the fact that you get Queue Priority. Every person without it ends up waiting 4 times as long. Then there are the stat resets, double Xp weekends for premium players only, etc.
Had it been just a case of "Get all DLCS and a few extra guns and such for $50" maybe. But people without it end up at a loss due to other players being considered better just for paying an extra half the game's price (presuming you bought retail and pre-ordered.).
Seasons passes are different, as yes they keep support up on the game, generate new revenue and provide more content, but they do so without making the players without the content feel at a loss; They do it without adding perks that make the non-premiums feel at a disadvantage, whether it be in game or waiting to join a game.

This entire premium fiasco has most of the community divided for many different reasons...

[realOne]

I own every Battlefield game and all the expansions BF1942 - The Road to Rome, Secret Weapons of WWII, BF2 - Special Forces, Euro Force, Armored Fury, BF2142 - Northern Strike, BC2 - Vietnam, so really it was an easy choice to purchase BF3 Premium for only $50 buckaroonies.

[The_Pharoah]

well all up the retail price for BF3 and Premium on release was $130 ($79.99 + $49.99 AUD) but I paid all up AUD $67 ($43 + $24) so meh... thank goodness for the internet (oh and $43 from g2play.net in singapore and $24 from Origin India).

[The_Pharoah]

put it this way...think of vanilla BF3 as 'economy' and Premium BF3 as 'Business Class' - nothing more, nothing less. You don't complain about business class do you? no...you know you've paid the minimum price for a ticket to fly on the same airplane, but you board last, eat crappy food with little choice, have smaller seats, etc etc..

If I could fly bus class...I would...same with premium.

[LeX]

As long as they keep patching and adding content I'll keep supporting them.

Imagine how much better BF2 would of been if they kept fixing the bugs and adding maps, I would of paid $50 for that to happen too.