Feels like a scumbag moment from GGG

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ShamelessWhiteknight#7976 wrote:

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Half_Ear#4806 wrote:

The original argument is that the game is listed by GGG as free to play.
The original argument ignores that GGG never said early access would be free to play. The original argument ignores that PoE 1 EA charged for EA.

The original argument of the post argues that PoE 2 EA should be free.

The issue isn't whether GGG promised that early access would be free or not, it's that they market PoE2 as free-to-play while selling the only version of it that you can get your hands on, effectively breaking their free-to-play promise. Whether PoE1 charged for early access is irrelevant, that was over a decade ago under different conditions, and repeating a questionable practice doesn't automatically justify it.

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Half_Ear#4806 wrote:

The game can only be "free" for many players if there are enough other players paying in to GGG's "support" system

That's how free-to-play works, and if the free-to-play model isn't viable for the game, then stop pretending that it is and adopt to a pay-to-play monetization instead.

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Delythyx#5706 wrote:

You can't run fully f2p game, something needs to cost money.

Of course something costs money but spending should be optional. If you must enforce spending, then the free-to-play model is not meant for your game.

The original poster doesn't make much of an argument for why it should be free. Arguing that it should be free because "They stand to make a lot of money, and the release version will be free" isn't an argument. The original game was always being developed with the end goal of being a free to play game. The released product has always been free. They had a closed beta where you could buy in, they had to make money somehow. I've been playing since 2011, the mtx shop was pretty barren back then so that wasn't it.

The success of the first game doesn't demand access to the second game be free from the first build. They are developers making a product. If they choose to charge for closed beta access, that's their decision, you're not owed anything, you don't deserve anything. They have outlined the terms again, just as they did 14 years ago. The game will be free when they decide the closed beta is finished.

Spending is optional you're not required to spend anything. You're also not entitled to access the content until they've decided to release it. The game is not complete, a paid entry closed beta test is beginning. You're just a perfect example of how people will always complain though. It doesn't matter what choice they make, someone will complain and make baseless entitled statements about the decision when it doesn't benefit them enough, or in the way they want it too, or if it isn't enough.

Someone could charge 10$ for a box with 20$ in it, and there would still be people that complain about it.

Game is free, EA is not. Can you even read?

20 pages of arguing over semantics :D

imho, even if poe is free, they expect you to pay the same amount as you would have to pay for a subscription based game (120$ per year).

ggg's devs get the same payment as those in other companies and the building and taxes ain't free either.

so after three years and something playing poe you should be entitled for the lifetime support anyway.

As many have said,it's early access. If you want to play for free, wait until full release. Frankly I'd be fine with paying a full box price that gave me stash tabs and all QOL and means I don't have to purchase anything else except future cosmetics. Games cost money, especially games that have to be online 24/7. It's just $30 dollars for goodness sakes. Stop being so cheap.

I'm just confused why people are surprised. They did the exact same thing last time around, made the betas cost money, but once released it was all free.

Like, I get it, I'm eager to get into the game too. And a 6 month beta will feel like forever for people who can't afford it (especially after the region cost changes). But that doesn't mean that GGG is pulling a fast one, or tried to deceive anyone.

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AintCare#6513 wrote:

I thought about this and I don't think this is about cost but the misleading advertising. EA doesn't mean much these days ... This is a massive l(a)unch that was advertised to the titts, so calling this closed beta equivalent is so so wrong lol

Just because other companies are running EA (sometimes for YEARS) EA is suddenly a "massive launch"? How is that, when it's only half the campaign, half the classes, not all ascendancies and not all the possible ways to ascend?
Strange thought.

Excited for this none the less! $30 bucks might be out of reach for some, but i'm willing to pay.

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AintCare#6513 wrote:

yeah i dunno, i think a massive convention, numerous advertisement campaigns, trailers and hyped up content over the years seem like a pretty big deal. but you clearly know more than me and i'm probably making a big deal out of nothing.
just to give you an idea- when poe came out of closed beta- which would be the equivalent of poe2 1.0 release in terms of free/paid content, it was none of that. and when poe went into closed beta- equivalent of dec 6th, it was rather niche news to put it kindly. so anyone comparing the two is lying, and they know it. every game out there is slapping EA tag just to avoid scrutiny and get game testing for free, or better yet, get some money. not here to judge this, but anyone saying its EA, its not 1.0 as it somehow makes a diff these days is in some form of denial here

Another thing worth noting is that poe2 is essentially poe1-rebranded, meaning the current version is more like v4.0 than v1.0 all over again, but that's of minor importance.

At the end of the day, actions speaks louder than labels. If it looks like a launch, feels like a launch, and is marketed like a launch, then it is a launch.

This isn’t early access, it’s monetized access, carefully crafted to avoid accountability, and no amount of semantic gymnastics can change that.

I get your argument, and for the sake of it let's just say you're all correct.

What is it that you want to achieve by antagonising GGG for bad marketing? Do you just want them to charge more for their game and align their advertising as such?
Even if it's not free, GGG is the cheapest game in this category. Is chastising them for their marketing going to achieve anything other than making them increase their prices? All this posting is probably giving them ideas. Do we want another Diablo Immortal, but they advertise it as P2W?

Personally, the reason I have spent more on POE than any other game in my life is because their developers are the best I have ever seen. It had nothing to do with their skills in marketing.

20 Pages of troll-bait indeed ;)