Jo
Skunk
Forest Ranger
Posts: 2,024
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Post by Jo on May 16, 2022 18:38:53 GMT
This "chosen currency" is BS. Can I "choose" to pay in Monopoly money? Or some generic play money? I think you can still get it fairly cheap in dollar stores. How about tiddly-winks or other round gaming pieces? I've got several tubs of that stuff from when I used to play Rummoli and didn't have real poker chips. There was actually a time when Canadian Tire money was worth more than the U.S. dollar. It was hilarious, since that was one of the times when the exchange rate favored Canada, rather than the U.S. (and holy , I bought a lot on eBay to take advantage!). The thing with Canadian Tire money is that it's so ubiquitous in Canada that some other businesses accept it as legal tender for purchases. So you could use it at convenience stores, gas stations, wherever it was accepted. And it was really funny to know that since it was accepted in lieu of normal Canadian currency, it was actually also worth more than the U.S. dollar. Why can't they just be upfront and say, "We don't care that we're screwing over our non-American customers whose countries have unfavorable exchange rates with us." EXactly!
And we're all, regardless of national origin, getting screwed over with the point system. If BF keeps the price of an SE at $6.99 USD and if I were still a Game Club member, I'd have to buy 7 SEs, one extra, to get one FREE SE with my points. Buying a CE at the current price and exchange rate which is 300 points, would leave me 399 points short of getting a FREE SE as compared to the old system. Americans are just getting screwed a little less and I'm not sure the degree to which you're getting screwed is any less painful. A better value my....er...left foot!
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Post by metmichallica on May 16, 2022 18:51:49 GMT
Are Ce's going to be 1399 points?'
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Jo
Skunk
Forest Ranger
Posts: 2,024
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Post by Jo on May 16, 2022 18:58:59 GMT
Are Ce's going to be 1399 points?' Nope!
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Post by metmichallica on May 16, 2022 19:43:48 GMT
, that stinks. Well I'm going to see next week how I like it and if I don't like it I am going to ask my brother for Iwin and cancel Bigfish.
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Post by lurkercat on May 16, 2022 21:46:55 GMT
Actually, based on the response joybelle showed that she got from Customer Service, I got the impression that non-US-currency buyers were not going to be screwed on the new points deal. Instead, it sounded like BFG was always going to calculate prices in U.S. funds, apply points against the US cost, and then assess costs on what was "left over" - i.e., if you bought an SE, it was $6.99US and if you had 699 points, that meant your total cost was $0. which in Aussie or Canadian dollars would still be $0 owed. Similarly, if you bought the same SE and only had 300 points, you'd owe $3.99US and they would then convert THAT to the non-US amount. So you might lose (or gain!) something as currency fluctuates, but as long as things stay stable, you'd come out the same as US customers. Your points therefore apply to US prices, not your non-US price. Well, at least that is what I read in her answer. Also, joybelle, in regard to your question about not getting any "points" on your subscription purchases - as I read the announcement, it implied there was no % bonus on purchases made with points. Ergo, since all you got from your subscription was points, you'd get no 15% bon2us when you actually used those points to buy a game. That's why I think you BFG members ought to be complaining to Customer Service that you should be getting 803 points instead of 699 points for your subscription fee (ie, 115% of your $6.99), to make up for the loss of bonus on subscription money. BTW, just an aside, points round DOWN, not up nor to "nearest" amount, so even the examples they give in their short summary are wrong - eg, you dont get 300 points for a $19.99 purchase (19.99 *.15 = 2.9985, so you only get 299 points). Not a big difference, but still they could have been more upfront. They do the math correctly in some of the examples they show elsewhere in their announcement.
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Jo
Skunk
Forest Ranger
Posts: 2,024
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Post by Jo on May 16, 2022 22:42:22 GMT
Actually, based on the response joybelle showed that she got from Customer Service, I got the impression that non-US-currency buyers were not going to be screwed on the new points deal. Instead, it sounded like BFG was always going to calculate prices in U.S. funds, apply points against the US cost, and then assess costs on what was "left over" - i.e., if you bought an SE, it was $6.99US and if you had 699 points, that meant your total cost was $0. which in Aussie or Canadian dollars would still be $0 owed. Similarly, if you bought the same SE and only had 300 points, you'd owe $3.99US and they would then convert THAT to the non-US amount. So you might lose (or gain!) something as currency fluctuates, but as long as things stay stable, you'd come out the same as US customers. Your points therefore apply to US prices, not your non-US price. Well, at least that is what I read in her answer. Also, joybelle, in regard to your question about not getting any "points" on your subscription purchases - as I read the announcement, it implied there was no % bonus on purchases made with points. Ergo, since all you got from your subscription was points, you'd get no 15% bon2us when you actually used those points to buy a game. That's why I think you BFG members ought to be complaining to Customer Service that you should be getting 803 points instead of 699 points for your subscription fee (ie, 115% of your $6.99), to make up for the loss of bonus on subscription money. BTW, just an aside, points round DOWN, not up nor to "nearest" amount, so even the examples they give in their short summary are wrong - eg, you dont get 300 points for a $19.99 purchase (19.99 *.15 = 2.9985, so you only get 299 points). Not a big difference, but still they could have been more upfront. They do the math correctly in some of the examples they show elsewhere in their announcement. I certainly hope that's the way they do it because it really isn't fair otherwise. I couldn't make sense out of this: How, based on the current pricing structure, would you get 44 or 104 points? Would the points be calculated after the sale price when it appears in their explanation that points are calculated before the Game Club discount?
And then there's this: Looks like that's the end of the free coupon code if you have a complaint.
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Post by lurkercat on May 17, 2022 0:12:38 GMT
How, based on the current pricing structure, would you get 44 or 104 points? Ah, I think I see: Assuming the person bought an SE on 4/6, an SE on 4/7, and the Daily Deal on 4/8, it would all work out ($6.99 * 15% = 1.0485, or 104 points, and $2.99 * 15% = .4485, or 44 points) Looks like that's the end of the free coupon code if you have a complaint. This is even worse than "end of a free coupon code". Not only do you wind up with a game that doesnt work, you lose the value of the points you used to purchase it...so in effect you lose money in the process. I dont see how that could possibly be fair.
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Jo
Skunk
Forest Ranger
Posts: 2,024
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Post by Jo on May 17, 2022 1:06:23 GMT
lurkercat, That makes perfect sense now. I never even think about the Daily Deals because I never bought one. But that does raise a question: Under the old system, did you get a punch card credit if you bought the Daily Deal?
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Post by lurkercat on May 17, 2022 1:19:32 GMT
As far as I know, under the old system you got a punch code for every game you bought except those bought with a PCC (unless you were smart enough to use your PCC on Bonus Punch Monday, when you got the bonus punch but still none for the PCC). Always used to amaze me that they even gave a punch on the game you got for free as part of a BOGO. (That bennie is gone with the new points system too, I think, as is full credit for a game bought on sale). I even managed a time or two where BFG mistakenly did a BOGO on Bonus Punch Monday, so I got TWO punches for the game I paid nothig at all for!
When I first joined BFG, I got most of my games via the Daily Deal. Never been important to me to get the "latest, greatest" game & since I was new to the process, there were tons of really good older games I did not own. By the time PCCs came in, I already had lots of unused GCCs, so just exclusively bought via BOGOs.
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Jo
Skunk
Forest Ranger
Posts: 2,024
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Post by Jo on May 17, 2022 1:33:55 GMT
I bought my first BF game in 2007. I'm an old adventure gamer so I was used to paying $30 to $40 for a game, when I could find one, at Best Buy, Media Play or CompUSA. My sister introduced me to BF and I thought it was a great bargain. I bought nearly every HOPA that came out for years. And when CE started, that's what I got. I've never had any sense when it came to games. And I guess I still don't.
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Post by metmichallica on May 17, 2022 1:55:02 GMT
You get a punch if you buy the daily deal and two if it is bonus punch day under the old system.
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Post by Valkara on May 17, 2022 3:37:03 GMT
I bought my first BF game in 2007. I'm an old adventure gamer so I was used to paying $30 to $40 for a game, when I could find one, at Best Buy, Media Play or CompUSA. My sister introduced me to BF and I thought it was a great bargain. I bought nearly every HOPA that came out for years. And when CE started, that's what I got. I've never had any sense when it came to games. And I guess I still don't.
When the "play apart together" promotion was going on, someone realized that we were still getting punches for all these free games. Then they realized that we'd also get the punches for downloading the Mac version (or the PC version for those who owned Macs). Of course those games wouldn't play, but the point was to download, without installing. Holy , did those punch cards fill up fast! With all those PCCs, FREEGAME codes floating around, and the usual BOGO/Gameclub discounts, there was one time when I cleaned up with something like 15 games that I got for next to not much. The only computer game I've ever considered worth paying $$ for is Civilization. I can't fathom why anyone would pay $20 for a game from BFG. My first BFG purchase was The Count of Monte Cristo. It was on sale for less than $2, and I've replayed it at least a couple of dozen times. I liked the game, so I decided to buy the book (hadn't read it). And when it proved hard to find an unabridged edition in English, I put my local second-hand book dealer to work on finding me a copy. In the meantime I contemplated working my way through it on the Project Gutenberg website (it's posted there, in French). Luckily my book dealer came through, and I didn't have to try it in French.
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joybelle
Rabbit
Park Ranger
Posts: 1,688
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Post by joybelle on May 17, 2022 8:26:47 GMT
Valkara, lurkercat, oh boy I did it again lol. It was lurkercat's post. Anyway..all good info thanks Cheesing
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joybelle
Rabbit
Park Ranger
Posts: 1,688
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Post by joybelle on May 17, 2022 8:33:59 GMT
Valkara , lurkercat , yes..that's what I thought...the monthly membership is just automatically transferred to becoming 699 points rather than a 'credit'? I hope that is the case. I will still pay $8 per month membership (slightly more than some but not the full exchange difference according to BFG)..so that's always been good. They tell me my $8 is worth 699 points so that's the same thing. I just freaked out when I saw that 'subscription' fees can't be used to gain % points toward a new game on @lurkercats old post and wondered if it was true. C'mon lurkercat..how do you think the fee for membership will be used on what they told you? I know we got the run around back then..that's why I am still not clear. Guess it won't be long till we all find out eh!
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Post by lurkercat on May 19, 2022 12:21:32 GMT
Sheesh! I was hoping for one last BOGO sale to use up my remaining GCC before the new change goes into effect, but all they had were 2 CE-only BOGOs (and I only buy SEs). While I've been checking lately for a BOGO, it seems like they are skipping sales entirely in the lead-up to the changeover, since seems like previously there used to be a sale of some sort nearly every day, but nothing recently. Then again, maybe I'm just noticing more since I was anxiously awaiting the chance to use up my credits before the deadline.
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Post by SynthpopAddict on May 19, 2022 14:05:51 GMT
I read elsewhere that BF isn't going to the new system until June 7 now.
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joybelle
Rabbit
Park Ranger
Posts: 1,688
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Post by joybelle on May 19, 2022 14:16:58 GMT
SynthpopAddict ,Yes...it said that today??? But maybe May date....(in two or three days?)....is still the cut off date for filling a punch card up?? I didn't read it through. Has that date changed too?
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pennmom
Bear
Chief Ranger
[TI0] IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK AND ALL'S WELL
Posts: 16,570
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Post by pennmom on May 19, 2022 15:10:11 GMT
Jo, metmichallica, lurkercat, Valkara, joybelle, SynthpopAddict, I said this a while back...BF would not go to all this trouble if it wasn't beneficial to BIG FISH Big Fish Eats Little Fish ...I also said they seem desperate, they are obviously losing money (before Ukraine) Remember about a year and a half ago when rumors were spreading about BF becoming a "clearinghouse" kind of site? I also believe the BF reviews are on the chopping block next! Think about it, they ditched CCC and then the forums, then FREEGAME codes, then the nearly daily sales MO, then Bonus Punch Monday...
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Jo
Skunk
Forest Ranger
Posts: 2,024
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Post by Jo on May 19, 2022 16:43:24 GMT
I said this a while back...BF would not go to all this trouble if it wasn't beneficial to BIG FISH ...I also said they seem desperate, they are obviously losing money (before Ukraine) Remember about a year and a half ago when rumors were spreading about BF becoming a "clearinghouse" kind of site? I also believe the BF reviews are on the chopping block next! Think about it, they ditched CCC and then the forums, then FREEGAME codes, then the nearly daily sales MO, then Bonus Punch Monday... You're exactly right - BF would not do anything if it wasn't beneficial to BF. I did a thread on PF a few years ago before BF was sold to Aristocrat Leisure showing their financial reports. Churchill Downs is a publicly owned US company so all of the their financial reports are available on line which included info on BF. I can't find financial reports for Aristocrat. Anyway, the reports showed that the premium, CEs, sector of the company was losing profit - it was still showing a profit but not nearly as much as previous years. In September 2020, they laid off nearly 50% of their workforce immediately after losing the class action law suit, to the tune of $155 million, for illegal online gambling. You can see the gradual erosion of the premium sector if you look at the disappearance of dozens of developers and the loss of commitment to quality in their games over the last few years. The mobile market was doing pretty well with Churchill but I have no idea how profitable it is now. It appears that gambling is now the main focus which is understandable because Aristocrat is a gambling machine manufacturer.
So, with the launch of the new point system, my point is that we are seeing the end of the BF that we knew. There is very little reason for me to ever rejoin BF as a paying Club member. I rarely find a game at BF that I want and there is little incentive for buying anything there. BF games are being released at Steam with the same BF Club membership price. For example, Crossroads: On a Just Path Collector's Edition was released on December 30, 2021 at BF for $13.99/$19.99 and on January 18, 2020 at Steam for $13.99 for all regardless of BF membership. Many of the older BF games are $9.99 and there are frequent sales. Granted, I can't demo a BF game at Steam but I still can at BF if I want. And if I add a BF game to my wishlist, Steam will let me know when it goes on sale. More devs are retaining the rights to their games and selling them at Steam as developer and publisher like with Tearstone 2 or many of the 5BN games except those still owned by Alawar (House of 1000 Doors series, for example).
I think the changes coming with the new BF point system stink (I almost said "suck the big one" but decided that was too crude) and do nothing at all for the average loyal member.
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Post by SynthpopAddict on May 20, 2022 16:02:51 GMT
Don't remember where I saw it...maybe it was one of the videos posted on how to get started on Steam...which said Steam has 75% of the PC gaming market? I'm not surprised. We can't control what a business wants to do, but we can decide where we want to spend our money. BF was a great place for casual games at one time and Steam didn't use to offer those, but how things have changed. The thing that astonishes me (which I see elsewhere regularly) are those who go on about how bad BF is, yet refuse to migrate to another site.
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