The reason there are "editions" here is that this was a kickstarter games. Two and a half years ago some of these kickstarter tiers added little extras to try and nudge a few extra dollars out of the backers, and there were a lot of tiers. The different editions are what mapped the easiest to the many different tiers of kickstarter rewards. What some backers are getting would be Hero edition plus a soundtrack maybe, others would get Champion plus a novella, etc. But for easy downloading having 3 editions was straightforward.

This game is also available on DVD in an actual box (huzzah!). Including these extras in the basic set would mean an extra disc and thus extra cost. Possibly one of the reasons, maybe not.

Well if it would only cost $20, nobody would complain. Kickstarter isn't really buying a game, so you can't really compare it. In fact it makes it actually worse that the game was available cheaper on Kickstarter.

I don't remember a "Royal Edition" (AU $102.99) been available when I pre-ordered the "Champion Edition" (AU $68.99)?!?

I don't see any "upgrade" options either?!?

I also notice it's an extra $34 and gives us;
Digital Collectors Book (PDF),
Digital Strategy Guide,
Hi-Rez Concept Art Pieces,
Digital Novella by Chris Avellone.

I don't blame GoG, hell I've even purchased the game here & no-where else, but I do find it surprising that new content simply means a new "edition" at a higher price. I always trusted Obsidian.

Yup. I don't blame GOG for that, the fault presumably lies between dev, pub, Kickstarter rewards (paying extra to get bonus contents), and current gaming trends in general.

I think it comes down to consumers having to make their own tough choices. Don't want to pay $60 for game + bonus content? You will probably have to be patient and wait for a sale. Currently I only get games I'm quite sure I'll play and at sale prices like 2.39 and 3.99.

I want to see someone on this thread spend hours auditioning composers, pay the winners for a few hundred hours work, review and send back the rejects for more work, package it and pay for distribution, and then give it all away for free.

You guys are spoiled by the false economy created by what you can get via pirate torrent. People who create are entitled to set the price for their work. If you don't like it then wait and steal it from them.

How exactly is this a new trend? I mean it has been going on even before digital distribution was a thing as early as in the 90's. Only difference is that more and more of the stuff we saw in standard editions moved to premium/collectors editions until buying standard edition ment we only got game and "manual" that was basically quick start quide and possibly keyboard reference card. OST's were sold separately (unless it was collectors edition) with 20€ price tag even back in the day.

You may not be used to it in GOG because GOG used to only sell old games but it's nothing new in new games. As for price, while I would not be able to afford it, I personally see no problem with it (granded I would never pay 40€ for digital extras but value we put on those is entirely subjective) as price will eventually go down and it'll go on sale eventually so anyone will be able to affort it if they just wait. I much rather have GOG get games on release as it quarantees that game gets here. Things tend to get complicated as time goes on as people here should be well aware.

Lack of upgrade options is bit disconcerting. I hope they'll be added eventully.

Do note that even I would have a problem if parts of ingame content would be exlusive to higher tiers.

As long as it stays the way that the optional extras make no difference to the base game then we dont have a problem, a ring that gives a shitty heal or 2 per rest is not giving you a major boost. I am sure people will have as much fun playing the base game without extras.

At least POE isnt like one of the these Korean play to win MMO's that are not worth playing unless you put your hand in your pocket.

I haven't even bothered to use that ring.

Its helpful at lower levels but no substitute for a proper heal :)

Kind of sounds like you are saying the composer cannot get paid unless there is a special tier to pay for the music, the composer does get paid like everyone else from the price of the game, what they are saying is the OST should be included in the lowest tier price.

There are plenty more than the composer that need to get paid in this f.e. voice overs, perhaps later on you cannot get a voice with your game without buying a higher tier!!

No I am saying that the creator gets to set the price. period. Very obviously, the composer sold his work to Obsidian for whatever price they agreed on. After that, it is Obsidian's to dispense with however they see fit.

Agreed.


:)

I got the normal standard eddition because the simple fact that digital content is not collectable. Its a farce because anybody can download and pirate a copy. Its not something physical like lets say my empire total war collectors which came with the game, a hip flask, a compass dlc all in a pretty cool wooden box. (so you get drunk, navigate your way to the pc and play total war :P)

I think that how easy something is to steal is a completely separate issue from whether someone should give you for free something that they own.

well its not, how can you say something is collectable if you can make a billion copies of it online? Not exactly rare is it.