Steam payment HUGE price increase!

[JunseiKei]

I'm not sure what kind of contract they might have specifically with each other, but generally the way Steam works is that Valve just charges a percentage of what the developer makes.

Yes, its the classic case of "this is why we can't have nice things". The majority losing good stuff because some people abuse it. The article you mentioned on your post is very interesting, but I don't think it hits straight to the point of why we are upset. Alright, the price raised, but why did they do this the first patch after the expansion, without any blog post or previous notice? This is the main reason a lot of people are upset. They spent money on the expansion they might not play now because its on a price range they might not be willing to pay. Its just too shady.

Hrng, the only thing I can rightly call off the top of my mind as to way you would not give notice for something like this is when you wish to prevent a response to the situation already at hand. To put it bluntly, Square Enix cannot simply issue and cease and desist, but unless they can track down the individuals and/or company and get the law involved, it becomes words. Instead, they take away the ability to purchase and stockpile these items ahead of time by simply giving no notice. Which, again, leads me to point out that the subscription price has not changed; the conversation rate on these two areas has changed.

The fact the site in question (yay for Discord history) mentions Steam and Square Enix and the price hike makes me believe that this is, indeed, an instance of people(s) abusing a system lends me to believe it may be a culprit to the situation. i don't know why the wait. I also don't know how long it took for them to find out about the site or where it was originating from. I also don't know how much the sales of story-skip potions might have affected this, which became available after early access, could have made them watch closer. Those are things only SE can answer, and I do also question the timing; it should have been done sooner, thanks to the constraints of Steam's guidelines.

Like I said, I'm not saying it's there's no fault to be had on SE. However, I'm also not saying there wasn't something out there to catch SE's ire.

So there is this revolutionary solution. Like. I just came up with it. I must be a genius. But. BUT! Hear me out.

What if we increase prices for cosmetic items? Like, we're already selling Jump potions for a full price, so why not do the same thing for other items.

That way we can get more money from RU and BR, kill reselling market, and keep thousands of players from waging holy war against us!

A-MA-ZING. SE needs to hire me right now.

A simple Google search revealed the issue of buying items through Steam Wallet can be circumvented with incognito status on a browser. You can then buy crysta, still, using the browser. The issue therein lies with the rates on Steam Wallet.

Again, I don't use Steam, Steam Wallet, nor am I in a location that could test this to see the validity of the claim. Only stating possible reasons.

Yknow whats the problem with your theory, Junsei? At this point, its just speculation. Thats exactly why we need more transparency from SE about this issue.

We are fully aware of the many possible reasons to change the rate. The few FACTS we have so far are: most of the userbase from these regions are dealing with more than a little increase on how much the game costs now. The timing was terrible, people just spent money on SB and doubling the amount they have to pay monthly in order to enjoy it is baffling. The lack of communication, prior and even now, just puts salt in the wound.

We understand you like the game (we do to, believe!) but as customers, we are allowed to share our opinions and do what we can in order to be heard. T
I am really sorry if this subject upsets you but hat lost single post isn't enough when the damage was silent done.

Of course it's all speculation nor am I trying to silence anyone. On the contrary, I am trying to stimulate conversation than just throwing fits. It's more enjoyable, and therapeutic, to talk and debate on the hows and whys, even if theory, than to simmer with a bunch of angry people. I hope SE does reply in a timely manner on the issue, but until then, there's no reason to continuously stir a pot.

[Rofel]

I am trying to stimulate conversation than just throwing fits. It's more enjoyable, and therapeutic, to talk and debate on the hows and whys, even if theory, than to simmer with a bunch of angry people.

And I agree. Thankfuly this topic has been pretty civil for how upset people are - and with reason, or it would be locked by now. Thats why I dont agree with the part about stiring the pot. We are providing what we can of information, and thats about it since is going to deafening ears.

Now if SE could join us and provide us with something more practical than speculations about the problem when they should be thinking about a better solution, TALKING to the playerbase thats supporting the game way before the regional prices, that would be a blast for us.

[Princess_Momoka]

It's the other way around. It got extremely unfavourable. We went from 30rub to 55rub per dollar, while salaries remained the same. So everything got 2 times more expensive.

talking about the point of view of the USD, i know that.

[IzumiOgata]

Well, about the whole thing with people abusing the system to sell mogstation item codes for cheaper: It could be circumvented by simply not allowing gifts to be paid for with the steam wallet or removing the regional pricing from all of the mogstation items, and leaving only the sub pricing as regional. I'm pretty sure that there wouldn't be such a uproar if only the optional items had been adjusted. And knowing that regional pricing is set per item (cause I tried to buy a jump pot when it came out and it had no regional pricing, but the broom mount I bought a few days later still had it) it shouldn't be that hard.

[EriShvakh]

A simple Google search revealed the issue of buying items through Steam Wallet can be circumvented with incognito status on a browser. You can then buy crysta, still, using the browser. The issue therein lies with the rates on Steam Wallet.

Again, I don't use Steam, Steam Wallet, nor am I in a location that could test this to see the validity of the claim. Only stating possible reasons..

Jesus, you have literally zero idea how payment with steam work.

It's just another payment method. But on steam's end price was converted to regional price, set by SE. So prices on cosmetic items were converted to regional price without any restrictions on gifting, which allowed people to resell them.

If SE really wanted to kill reselling market all they had to do was to remove regional pricing on cosmetic items. It's that easy and they were already doing it with certain services and items.

[Legewiel]

Well, about the whole thing with people abusing the system to sell mogstation item codes for cheaper: It could be circumvented by simply not allowing gifts to be paid for with the steam wallet or removing the regional pricing from all of the mogstation items, and leaving only the sub pricing as regional. I'm pretty sure that there wouldn't be such a uproar if only the optional items had been adjusted. And knowing that regional pricing is set per item (cause I tried to buy a jump pot when it came out and it had no regional pricing, but the broom mount I bought a few days later still had it) it shouldn't be that hard.

Exactly! World of Warcraft does that too, the other services are normal price but the monthly fee is regional price (and please include retainers on that T_T XD)

[JunseiKei]

Jesus, you have literally zero idea how payment with steam work.

It's just another payment method. But on steam's end price was converted to regional price, set by SE. So prices on cosmetic items were converted to regional price without any restrictions on gifting, which allowed people to resell them.

If SE really wanted to kill reselling market all they had to do was to remove regional pricing on cosmetic items. It's that easy and they were already doing it with certain services and items.

Once it's converted to crysta, there would be no limitations. That is where the loophole lies. What you're saying is if you could continue to buy items on the Mogstation directly using Steam Wallet, simply limit those items through that method. That's why I brought up the ability to buy crysta via Steam Wallet and using that method.

[Rofel]

Is crysta the middle man now?

[UnstablePersonality]

Is it just the subtime price that changed for you guys? Or did mogstation optional items change too?

[JunseiKei]

Is crysta the middle man now?

It's always been for me >_< since SE is picky about what cards it accepts for direct debit.