Steam payment HUGE price increase!

[Zarabeth]

A lot of people in Brazil don't have air conditioning or reliable access to electricity or running water in their homes, so that lowers the price of utilities considerably.

The people who play the game are probably upper or middle class metropolitan residents. But like a high-end income for them would be like $800-600 monthly.

Well if they do have electricity, as obviously everyone on this board has what does it cost? And what is the average rent? And food? ummm like how much is a gallon of milk? I'm really curious now, I like to learn about other countries.

[Thayllan]

Well, if they keep it at this price, I'm definetely quitting. I think I still have like 90 days left, but after seeing this I just don't want to play anymore.

If only there was a way to refund Stormblood... This is so disrespectful I can't even... arrrgh

It was good being a part of this community tho. Only good memories. Well, RIP Behemoth server.

[Texa]

I am hearing some people saying Yoshida this and that, but I thought Yoshida was just another employee or is he part or the producers? Or the executive directives?

This kind of thing is likely far out of Yoshi-P's control.

Like, he's mentioned that he doesn't get the final say on how the mogstation is run "the queen of the mogstation" does. SE has a reputation for making all of kinds of poorly advised executive decisions in general from top to bottom and doing everything they can to milk every single last penny out of their fans with odd overpriced merch. They're not on Konami's level in terms of putting their shareholders above their staff, but stuff like what happened with Hideo Kojima isn't that unusual when it comes to making video games for Japanese publishers because of how the entertainment business functions in Japan.

[Luxerion]

Well if they do have electricity, as obviously everyone on this board has what does it cost? And what is the average rent? And food? ummm like how much is a gallon of milk? I'm really curious now, I like to learn about other countries.

Electricity, Renting, Food and Milk's prices depends on the place you're buying them. But if you rent a common apartment inside the city centre, you're paying between 800R$/2000R$. Electricity is dependant on how much you use, so the price can go from roughly 50R$ to 200R$.
Milk is quite expensive as well, with one liter going to almost 4R$ around here; And a normal meal can go from 15R$ to 30R$, all depending on where you buy it.

[Avatre]

SE has a reputation for making all of kinds of poorly advised executive decisions in general from top to bottom and doing everything they can to milk every single last penny out of their fans with

All companies do. Someone high enough in the chain wants something a certain way, despite the people who actually handle that normally saying it is a bad idea/will create more work/cause people to leave the company(both internal and external customers), but what the higher up says goes 99% of the time. And this comes from personal experience(I do payroll for the company I work for, and I tell them how bad the timing of things is...they don't care and want it done now)

[Zarabeth]

Electricity, Renting, Food and Milk's prices depends on the place you're buying them. But if you rent a common apartment inside the city centre, you're paying between 800R$/2000R$. Electricity is dependant on how much you use, so the price can go from roughly 50R$ to 200R$.
Milk is quite expensive as well, with one liter going to almost 4R$ around here; And a normal meal can go from 15R$ to 30R$, all depending on where you buy it.

So the average person there can't even rent an apartment?!? That's so awful

[gustavray]

So the average person there can't even rent an apartment?!? That's so awful

Apartment is considered luxury here. Well, housing is luxury. A lot of ppl build in their parents' plots. So there isn't even room for a garden. I know ppl who just build 6 houses in the same plot, coz they cant afford rent or buying a new house

[Zarabeth]

All companies do. Someone high enough in the chain wants something a certain way, despite the people who actually handle that normally saying it is a bad idea/will create more work/cause people to leave the company(both internal and external customers), but what the higher up says goes 99% of the time. And this comes from personal experience(I do payroll for the company I work for, and I tell them how bad the timing of things is...they don't care and want it done now)

I've been playing Squeenix games since FFXI was a couple years old land imo they have gotten much worse over the years as to money grubbing. That said, I highly doubt Yoshida has any input into their financial moves. To be honest, I was shocked that they put a cash shop in a pay to play game, but that does seem to be the trend now. I also think that pulling this trick one month after releasing Stormblood is a pretty horrible move.

[Avatre]

Apartment is considered luxury here. Well, housing is luxury. A lot of ppl build in their parents' plots. So there isn't even room for a garden. I know ppl who just build 6 houses in the same plot, coz they cant afford rent or buying a new house

It's things like that which make me wonder if the world should just go onto one currency, and be done with exchange rates(though I'm not sure how well it will work for local economies...one can hope it would help improve them). Unfortunately, that will likely never happen in our life times, or that of our great-great-great-great grandchildren.

I've been playing Squeenix games since FFXI was a couple years old land imo they have gotten much worse over the years as to money grubbing. That said, I highly doubt Yoshida has any input into their financial moves. To be honest, I was shocked that they put a cash shop in a pay to play game, but that does seem to be the trend now. I also think that pulling this trick one month after releasing Stormblood is a pretty horrible move.

I definitely agree that the way they did it was VERY shady. And as someone had stated, their own ToS state they are supposed to give 30-day notice of changes like this.

[Xandos]

I have some questions that I have not been able to find a good answer for.

1. Before any changes what was the cost and currency used for the recurring subscription when purchased through the Mogstation?
1a. What was that price converted to USD?

2. Before any changes what was the cost and currency used for the recurring subscription when purchased through Steam?
2a. What was that price converted to USD?

3. After the change what was the cost and currency used for the recurring subscription when purchased through the Mogstation?
3a. What is that price converted to USD?

4. After the change what was the cost and currency used for the recurring subscription when purchased through Steam?
4a. What is that price converted to USD?

There is one thing that don't think I have seen anyone take into account in this thread or on SidAlpha's video, the cost to SE per character. A long time ago SE decided that their costs per character and desired profit margin to be $13 USD. That is the price of the "entry" subscription option for US NA players. Anyone paying less than that price is either costing SE money or providing them with less profit. It doesn't matter where you live in the real world, your character costs SE the same amount of money to maintain and produce content for. I am almost certain that this is the largest factor SE used to adjust their prices.

Does the price increase hurt? You bet it does! Is this going to cause players to stop playing? I'm sure it will. I may actually lose a friend by this, I'll have to talk to them and see if they can still pay/play. Should players request a refund from Steam or SE? If you feel like you have been taken advantage of you should absolutely request a refund. I wish you all luck.

In the end SE made a business decision and while it does affect some people negatively it was not meant as a personal slight to any one person, race, country, or ethnic group. SE is a business and their primary goal is to generate income, and their secondary goal is to create games people enjoy. I suggest everyone here that feels slighted makes a business decision and takes their business to another company. Profit and loss are the only things that will make a difference on a companies decisions.

Good luck and take care everyone!
KL