Quote Originally Posted by Gramul View Post
I get that. But my question is, why have we allowed it? Why are we okay with companies charging us more and more for less and less?
Because we understand that content is expensive. The content in paid-for expansions has actually increased, not decreased. A standard actually set by WoW (which has included, at a minimum, a dozen new zones and dungeons a level cap increase, and a new race and/or class with each expansion) and Guild Wars.
There was a time, an expensive time, when MMOs would charge $30 for an expansion that was basically some new zones and equipment.
For example, EverQuest's Scars of Velious and Shadows of Luclin expansion probably contain between the two of them the amount of content we'll be receiving during 3.0. Each of those retailed for $30, and neither included a level cap increase. In fact the major selling point for SoL was the introduction of new character models, something WoW and DAOC basically just gave away for free.
So yeah, things have gotten better as to what is acceptable to charge $40 for, not worse. We're getting THREE new jobs! The only other game I know of that's done that in a single expansion was FFXI, and they didn't include a new race. Basically, we're getting in one expansion the same number of things WoW players got in three. For about the same price as one.