Why charge so excessive for upgrade???

[Fearless]

I Purchased the Black Shark for 49.99 back in Dec 2008 and now wanted to upgrade to Black Shark 2 only to find out that it costs 29.99 for the upgrade.

 

Why soooo expensive when the full download of Black Shark 2 costs only 39.99. Should I purchase the upgrade, my total cost to convert it to Black Shark 2 will be 79.98.

 

If I now purchased Black Shark (now 9.99) and the upgrade (29.99) total expense 39.98. A difference of 40.00.

 

Please advise why the original buyers who purchased when the product first came out are charged so excessive?????????

 

Not happy..

 

Fearless

[Slazi]

You expect a game from 2008 to be supported and upgraded five years later for cheaper? It's a resonable price. You could always wait for a sale or wait for the price to drop if you can't afford it.

[Cedaway]

How much does cost an upgrade from MS Office 2007 => 2010 or 365?

How much does cost a Photoshop upgrade?

How much ...

 

It's not exactly the same but I think you got it: This sim is very long term supported and Black Shark 2 received massive enhancement from the first iteration; and is still supported through DCS-World.

 

But no-one force you to upgrade. You can stick with ver.1 forever if you don't want to upgrade. It's only a matter of choice.

You have the right to choose to upgrade (and pay for) or not. (And you may also take in consideration, or not, that buying the upgrade does support ED)

 

EDIT:

These are the differences between Black Shark 1 and Black Shark 2 AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT of the upgrade. Several other updates were made so far:

 

Black Shark 2 List of New and Improved Features

 

List of changes between Black Shark 2 and A-10C v.1.1.0.9:

 

• Player controlled Ka-50

• Ka-50 cockpit in improved and more efficient EDM format

• Dynamic cockpit shadows

• Adjusted rotor effects for the Ka-50 flight model

• Network compatibility with DCS: A-10C Warthog

• Improved helicopter target engagement AI:

o When analyzing a tactical situation, the HAI will take in account all threats, not only the target that the HAI is engaging.

o If it's possible to engage targets from a safe distance, the HAI will not fly close to threats.

o If it appears that the HAI is not at a safe position, for example too close to enemy air defenses, the HAI will fly away from the threat(s) and then start engaging targets from safe a distance.

o If it appears impossible to engage targets from safe distance, the HAI will make only one short attack (one missile launch / rocket salvo or cannon burst per run) from maximum range of that weapon and then break away to make a new attack if required. This reduces fire effectiveness, but greatly increases HAI survival when engaging targets with cannon or rockets.

o HAI will not hover in an unsafe location.

o If high-priority targets are screened by low-priority targets that make it impossible to attack high-priority targets from safe distance, the HAI will attack low-priority targets first to break the screen. In other words, if you have line of enemy APCs and tanks at 4 km and enemy AAA and SAMs at 12 km, the HAI will engage those APCs and tanks first. No more flying over the enemies' heads.

o Jinking defensive maneuvering has been added. When flying in the WEZ of AAA, tanks, and APCs, the HAI will fly at high speed and jink. Of course, HAI will not jink when aiming at a target.

• New, 15-mission Ka-50 campaign "Medved-2"

• Updated and improved Georgian Oil War campaign

• New voiceovers for Russian radio entities

• Added Abkhazia and South Ossetia factions to the ME

• Added Abkhazia and South Ossetia borders to the ME map

• Added a number of unit skins for Abkhazia and South Ossetia

• Animated cirrus cloud layer

• Higher resolution textures for a number of ground objects

• Improved smoke effects

• Improved FARP texture

• Updated documentation

 

List of changes between Black Shark 2 and Black Shark v.1.0.2:

 

Improved graphics:

 

• High Dynamic Range (HDR)

• Cockpit dynamic shadows

• Soft self-shadows

• Tree shadows

• Normal maps

• Animated cirrus cloud layer

• 3D and transparent water

• Low altitude clutter

• Improved airbases

• Improved FARP texture

 

Improved sound

 

• Implemented surround sound support.

• Many new and revised sound samples provide a more rich and accurate audio environment.

 

Improved gameplay

 

• Network compatibility with DCS: A-10C Warthog.

• Ability to take-off from ships (ships pitch and roll depending on wind strength (sea state)).

• AI radio traffic can be heard when tuned to the correct radio frequency.

• Mission Briefing and Debriefing available in-flight.

 

Expanded theater of operations

 

• The map now covers terrain further east to include the region of South Ossetia, center of the 2008 conflict between Russia and Georgia, as well as additional Russian and Georgian territory. The newly covered area provides a variety of terrain types, 5 new airbases, highly detailed cities, and a number of radio navigation beacons.

 

Mission Editor improvements

 

• Group properties interface that allows for in-depth AI scripting of a variety of behavior options, such as waypoint or trigger-based task execution, rules of engagement settings, readiness states, attack conditions, orbiting and holding points, etc.

• Ability to lock either arrival times or travel speeds for AI routes.

• Ability to copy and paste groups

• New ground group formation options

• Improved trigger menu interface includes cloning, trigger re-ordering, and OR rules.

• 32 new trigger conditions and 19 new triggers actions.

• Ability to set AI aircraft to spawn at mission start, but delay start-up.

• Added Abkhazia and South Ossetia factions with corresponding units, skins, and map borders.

• New active ground units:

o 9B11 Mortar

o Variety of armed stationary objects (house, barracks, blockpost, tower)

Mission Generator

 

• The mission generator utilizes a wide collection of force templates placed throughout the map to generate a randomized mission based on the player's desired mission location and options. Force templates can be edited and created within the Mission Editor.

 

Improved AI

 

• Helicopter AI (HAI)

o When analyzing a tactical situation, the HAI will take in account all threats, not only the target that the HAI is engaging.

o If it's possible to engage targets from a safe distance, the HAI will not fly close to threats.

o If it appears that the HAI is not at a safe position, for example too close to enemy air defenses, the HAI will fly away from the threat(s) and then start engaging targets from safe a distance.

o If it appears impossible to engage targets from safe distance, the HAI will make only one short attack (one missile launch / rocket salvo or cannon burst per run) from maximum range of that weapon and then break away to make a new attack if required. This reduces fire effectiveness, but greatly increases HAI survival when engaging targets with cannon or rockets.

o HAI will not hover in an unsafe location.

o If high-priority targets are screened by low-priority targets that make it impossible to attack high-priority targets from safe distance, the HAI will attack low-priority targets first to break the screen. In other words, if you have line of enemy APCs and tanks at 4 km and enemy AAA and SAMs at 12 km, the HAI will engage those APCs and tanks first. No more flying over the enemies' heads.

o Jinking defensive maneuvering has been added. When flying in the WEZ of AAA, tanks, and APCs, the HAI will fly at high speed and jink. Of course, HAI will not jink when aiming at a target.

• Plane AI (PAI)

o AI-fighters will now always try to launch AA missile when the target has entered into its no-escape zone. However, AI-fighters will fire missile immediately if it appears the fighter is losing first-launch superiority.

• Ground Unit AI

o Ground units are able to cross streams.

o Ground units will by-pass destroyed bridges and seek alternate routes.

o Ground groups will disperse when attacked.

o Some ground groups will pop smoke when attacked.

o NVG capability was removed from MANPAD SAMs.

Dynamic weather

 

• Dynamic weather conditions can be set for the mission based on a number of weather fronts and pressure differentials. Winds and cloud formations are calculated dynamically during the mission based on the fronts settings. This makes it possible, for example, to see precipitation in one part of the map and relatively clear skies in another.

 

New or improved 3D models:

 

• Air units

o A-10A

o A-10C

o An-26

o An-30

o C-130

o E-2

o E-3

o F-15C

o F-15E

o KC-135

o L-39

o Mi-8

o Mi-26

• Ground units

o 9S80 radar vehicle

o HEMTT TFFT fire-fighting truck

o LVTP-7

o Patriot SAM site units

o SA-11 SAM site units

o SA-3 SAM site units

o Russian infantryman

• Naval units

o Pr. 1241.1 Molniya

o Ticonderoga-class cruiser

o Oliver H. Perry-class frigate

• Other

o Fuel tank depot

Active Pause

 

• The active pause feature allows you to pause the simulation, while continuing to work with cockpit controls.

 

Campaigns

 

• A new 15-mission campaign features a variety of missions with some randomization elements and voice-over messages. The campaign takes places in the South Ossetia region and is very loosely based on the 2008 conflict between Russia and Georgia.

• Updated and improved Georgian Oil War campaign.

 

GUI

 

• Added sliders to control tree and ground clutter draw distances.

• Added software Multisample Anti-aliasing (MSAA) settings.

• Added an exporting function to the Input Options menu to export all mapped command to a text file.

• Added Misc. tab with various game options, including view restriction options for multiplayer.

 

Edited March 20, 2013 by Cedaway

[Boberro]

I don't think it is high price. Software is being priced as in other companies. You get nice game with support, that won't cost 30 USD;]

[Fearless]

You expect a game from 2008 to be supported and upgraded five years later for cheaper? It's a resonable price. You could always wait for a sale or wait for the price to drop if you can't afford it.

 

Quite obviously you weren't around back then well matey the program has been patched to 1.0.2 so a bit closer to five years later. The point is that the original game (patched to 1.0.2) now (9.99) plus the upgrade to Black Shark 2 (29.99) is cheaper than my original purchase. Oh, bythaway it is actually cheaper by one cent than the full purchase of Black Shark 2. I may be able to afford it now. :pilotfly:

 

And for all other comments made. Thanks for that. It is a great program and is by personal choice and MHO also.

Edited March 20, 2013 by Fearless

[snuffles]

pew pew, pew pew pew!

[159th_Viper]

The point is that the original game (patched to 1.0.2) now (9.99) plus the upgrade to Black Shark 2 (29.99) is cheaper than my original purchase.....

 

Yes, it's called Depreciation. Look it up.

[Korn]

Black Shark 2 it's another product. ED being nice guys (or trying to solidify their client base :)) offered this upgrade options but truth to be told they did not have to, how many games did you see being offered at a discount just because you bought the previous product in the series?

 

So be happy with this upgrade discount... wait for some other offer (from time to time somebody sells DCS producs at great prices, keep an eye on the forums, not long ago A-10C for 5EUR... BS2 for 17EUR) if money is tight and stop complaining, you're not making any fans. I think you got your money's worth from BS1... if not, then you won't from BS2 either so maybe you don't need it after all.

Edited March 20, 2013 by Korn

[Fearless]

Yes, it's called Depreciation. Look it up.

 

Oh!! is that what it is.....Wow, we have a bright spark here..... I presume you're in the accounting field.. I sooooo hope not.

Edited March 20, 2013 by Fearless

[Fearless]

pew pew, pew pew pew!

 

Yeah I thought something smelled when you turned up or is it a spelling mistake??:pilotfly:

Edited March 20, 2013 by Fearless

[Fearless]

Administrator,

 

Please lock this post..

 

It wasn't worth the effort starting this post in the first place.

 

My apologies if this caused any concerns to you the developers afterall it is a great product.

[sobek]

Yeah I thought something smelled when you turned up or is it a spelling mistake??:pilotfly:

 

Locked. Next time, try without the personal insult.