Speaking of profit... (Destiny)
Even if Bungie were entirely conscientious and transparent on those figures, the upshot would still be, depending on how they assign costs, that merch subsidizes the game and incentivizes the production of more merch and disencentivizes the less profitable work of... you know, making the game... even with some taken off the top for charity.
Again, I think this is wrong. We can't definitively settle this, because neither of us has access to Bungie's books, but my conversations with people involved suggest that you're incorrect, that the merch sold in the store does NOT subsidize the game (this is different from the merch sold by Eververse, which DOES subsidize the game), and that there is no disincentivization (not a word) for game development because there's almost no link between the two groups. (The money the store makes runs the store. Additional money goes to charity.)
Not saying they do this now, or suggesting that anything in the charity is not above board-- just that someone seeing inflows and outflows could potentially decide it would be advantageous to do it. If Bungie takes no artist costs for those items, that's good! But they likely could if they wanted to, and as far as I can see I'm not even sure those things would show up on a 990 form.
And again, the jumping off point for this thread was the sword, but I was pushing the idea that those items aren't that problematic in and of themselves, but they exist on a spectrum that leads towards depending more heavily on non-game items for revenue, should they choose to do so.
Eververse is way, way more problematic, and if they were to draw a line that says "yeah, we'll do replicas for charity but we're going to close Eververse" I wouldn't really have anything to complain about.
With Eververse persisting I think it's a reasonable worry that its model starts to apply to other items.
Complete thread:
- Finish the Pit of Heresy, you get to buy a sword -
Claude Errera,
2019-10-30, 18:49
- Finish the Pit of Heresy, you get to buy a sword -
cheapLEY,
2019-10-30, 18:53
- Finish the Pit of Heresy, you get to buy a sword -
Xenos,
2019-10-31, 14:34
- Finish the Pit of Heresy, you get to buy a sword - Cody Miller, 2019-10-31, 16:30
- Finish the Pit of Heresy, you get to buy a sword -
Xenos,
2019-10-31, 14:34
- Finish the Pit of Heresy, you get to buy a sword -
Cody Miller,
2019-10-30, 19:37
- Dammit, lol - CruelLEGACEY, 2019-10-31, 07:19
- Wallet!!! NOOO! COME BACK! I NEED YOU FOR FOOD!! -
INSANEdrive,
2019-10-30, 22:10
- So, not only have I been priced out of the market in game... -
Pyromancy,
2019-10-31, 15:45
- So, not only have I been priced out of the market in game... -
narcogen,
2019-11-01, 10:55
- So, not only have I been priced out of the market in game... -
cheapLEY,
2019-11-01, 11:13
- So, not only have I been priced out of the market in game... - Cody Miller, 2019-11-01, 11:27
- Because... -
someotherguy,
2019-11-01, 11:54
- Because... -
Claude Errera,
2019-11-01, 12:15
- lolwut - someotherguy, 2019-11-01, 12:43
- Also -
someotherguy,
2019-11-01, 12:54
- Also -
Kermit,
2019-11-01, 13:05
- Also -
someotherguy,
2019-11-01, 13:12
- whaaa~ -
INSANEdrive,
2019-11-01, 13:18
- o_O -
someotherguy,
2019-11-01, 13:35
- O_o -
INSANEdrive,
2019-11-01, 14:16
- O_o -
someotherguy,
2019-11-01, 15:17
- Whew. God speed brother. -
INSANEdrive,
2019-11-02, 06:53
- Sure -
someotherguy,
2019-11-02, 06:54
- But WAIT! There is more! -
INSANEdrive,
2019-11-02, 07:06
- Genuinely yes -
someotherguy,
2019-11-02, 07:16
- Everybody gets one. -
INSANEdrive,
2019-11-02, 08:11
- Everybody gets one. -
someotherguy,
2019-11-02, 08:42
- Everybody gets one. -
INSANEdrive,
2019-11-02, 10:33
- Everybody gets one. -
narcogen,
2019-11-02, 11:04
- Everybody gets one. -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-02, 11:46
- The point is moot here however -
someotherguy,
2019-11-02, 15:03
- The point is moot here however -
MacAddictXIV,
2019-11-04, 08:37
- Speaking of profit... -
Ragashingo,
2019-11-04, 09:00
- Speaking of profit... - Cody Miller, 2019-11-04, 09:29
- Speaking of profit... -
narcogen,
2019-11-04, 09:30
- Speaking of profit... -
Claude Errera,
2019-11-04, 09:54
- Speaking of profit... -
narcogen,
2019-11-04, 13:21
- Speaking of profit... -
Claude Errera,
2019-11-04, 13:40
- Lying. - narcogen, 2019-11-07, 09:14
- Speaking of profit... -
Claude Errera,
2019-11-04, 13:40
- Speaking of profit... -
narcogen,
2019-11-04, 13:21
- Speaking of profit... -
Ragashingo,
2019-11-04, 10:31
- +1 - CruelLEGACEY, 2019-11-04, 11:51
- Speaking of profit... -
Claude Errera,
2019-11-04, 09:54
- Yes. Yes? Yes. - someotherguy, 2019-11-04, 14:28
- Speaking of profit... -
Ragashingo,
2019-11-04, 09:00
- The point is moot here however -
MacAddictXIV,
2019-11-04, 08:37
- YOU get a sword and YOU get a sword and YOU get a sword - narcogen, 2019-11-04, 07:11
- The point is moot here however -
someotherguy,
2019-11-02, 15:03
- Ai-yi-yi-yi-yi! - INSANEdrive, 2019-11-02, 12:05
- Everybody gets one. -
someotherguy,
2019-11-02, 15:39
- I guess I'll answer it here, for whatever good it will do. - INSANEdrive, 2019-11-02, 16:47
- Cody is this you - narcogen, 2019-11-04, 07:12
- Everybody gets one. - MacAddictXIV, 2019-11-04, 08:42
- Everybody gets one. -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-02, 11:46
- Speaking of emotionally compromised... -
someotherguy,
2019-11-02, 15:27
- /thread -
INSANEdrive,
2019-11-02, 15:37
- Kinda :s - someotherguy, 2019-11-02, 15:39
- Is this thread what Death Stranding is? -
cheapLEY,
2019-11-02, 16:42
- k. - INSANEdrive, 2019-11-02, 16:49
- Is this thread what Death Stranding is? - narcogen, 2019-11-04, 07:17
- Speaking of emotionally compromised... -
Robot Chickens,
2019-11-03, 06:55
- Thank you -
someotherguy,
2019-11-03, 08:02
- Thank you -
Robot Chickens,
2019-11-03, 10:15
- Psh! Poppycock! -
INSANEdrive,
2019-11-03, 13:43
- Psh! Poppycock! -
someotherguy,
2019-11-03, 13:52
- Oof. Ya got me. x_x Bleh. :P - INSANEdrive, 2019-11-03, 15:03
- Um... -
Claude Errera,
2019-11-03, 18:25
- Oh RIGHT! - INSANEdrive, 2019-11-03, 18:51
- Psh! Poppycock! -
someotherguy,
2019-11-03, 13:52
- Psh! Poppycock! -
INSANEdrive,
2019-11-03, 13:43
- On that note - MacAddictXIV, 2019-11-04, 08:48
- Thank you -
Robot Chickens,
2019-11-03, 10:15
- Thank you! - INSANEdrive, 2019-11-03, 13:36
- Thank you -
someotherguy,
2019-11-03, 08:02
- /thread -
INSANEdrive,
2019-11-02, 15:37
- Everybody gets one. -
narcogen,
2019-11-02, 11:04
- Everybody gets one. -
INSANEdrive,
2019-11-02, 10:33
- Everybody gets one. -
someotherguy,
2019-11-02, 08:42
- Everybody gets one. -
INSANEdrive,
2019-11-02, 08:11
- Genuinely yes -
someotherguy,
2019-11-02, 07:16
- But WAIT! There is more! -
INSANEdrive,
2019-11-02, 07:06
- Sure -
someotherguy,
2019-11-02, 06:54
- Whew. God speed brother. -
INSANEdrive,
2019-11-02, 06:53
- O_o -
someotherguy,
2019-11-01, 15:17
- o_O -
narcogen,
2019-11-02, 06:27
- Excuse me? @Narcogen I think there's been a misunderstanding -
someotherguy,
2019-11-02, 06:50
- In fact... - INSANEdrive, 2019-11-02, 06:56
- Excuse me? @Narcogen I think there's been a misunderstanding - narcogen, 2019-11-02, 10:20
- Excuse me? @Narcogen I think there's been a misunderstanding -
someotherguy,
2019-11-02, 06:50
- O_o -
INSANEdrive,
2019-11-01, 14:16
- o_O -
someotherguy,
2019-11-01, 13:35
- Are you wearing Wormhusk Crown? -
Ragashingo,
2019-11-01, 13:24
- Fair cop -
someotherguy,
2019-11-01, 13:29
- Thanks. :) -
Ragashingo,
2019-11-01, 13:32
- Np! Apologies for the snark. I'm told its a British thing - someotherguy, 2019-11-01, 13:50
- Kermit's Last Post -
Kermit,
2019-11-02, 17:25
- Good Post. - Ragashingo, 2019-11-02, 17:32
- +1 ... And, a great closing line. - SteelGaribaldi, 2019-11-02, 20:17
- Kermit's Last Post -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-03, 00:12
- Kermit's Last Post -
Kermit,
2019-11-03, 01:21
- Kermit's Last Post -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-03, 08:21
- Kermit's Last Post -
Kermit,
2019-11-03, 09:20
- Kermit's Last Post -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-03, 10:01
- Kermit's Last Post - Kermit, 2019-11-03, 11:46
- Kermit's Last Post -
narcogen,
2019-11-04, 07:16
- Buying engrams -
MacAddictXIV,
2019-11-04, 09:34
- Buying engrams - cheapLEY, 2019-11-04, 09:37
- They just hide it in the back of the store. -
Claude Errera,
2019-11-04, 10:00
- I could be mis-remembering -
someotherguy,
2019-11-04, 14:34
- I could be mis-remembering -
Claude Errera,
2019-11-04, 15:02
- A gamble - narcogen, 2019-11-07, 09:10
- I could be mis-remembering -
Claude Errera,
2019-11-04, 15:02
- I could be mis-remembering -
someotherguy,
2019-11-04, 14:34
- Buying engrams -
MacAddictXIV,
2019-11-04, 09:34
- Kermit's Last Post -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-03, 10:01
- Kermit's Last Post -
Kermit,
2019-11-03, 09:20
- Kermit's Last Post -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-03, 08:21
- Kermit's Last Post -
Kermit,
2019-11-03, 01:21
- Kermit's Last Post -
cheapLEY,
2019-11-03, 19:33
- Kermit's Last Post -
CruelLEGACEY,
2019-11-04, 15:51
- Kermit's Last Post -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-04, 15:58
- Kermit's Last Post -
cheapLEY,
2019-11-04, 16:45
- Capital! -
narcogen,
2019-11-07, 09:28
- Capital! -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-07, 09:37
- Well, yeah - someotherguy, 2019-11-07, 11:53
- Capital! -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-07, 09:37
- Capital! -
narcogen,
2019-11-07, 09:28
- Kermit's Last Post -
cheapLEY,
2019-11-04, 16:45
- Hahaha wait what -
kidtsunami,
2019-11-05, 11:27
- A climate emergency - kidtsunami, 2019-11-05, 12:19
- Hahaha wait what -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-05, 12:24
- WOOP WOOP STRAWMAN ALERT WOOP WOOP -
someotherguy,
2019-11-05, 12:28
- Heh -
Claude Errera,
2019-11-05, 12:59
- haha yeah - kidtsunami, 2019-11-05, 13:20
- Heh -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-05, 13:39
- Cody didn't make a straw man argument. -
Kermit,
2019-11-05, 20:28
- Might have got my fallacies mixed up -
someotherguy,
2019-11-06, 02:21
- I'm now wondering if Cody was just joking.... -
kidtsunami,
2019-11-06, 06:14
- Possibly. Terrible execution though - someotherguy, 2019-11-06, 06:44
- I'm now wondering if Cody was just joking.... -
Kermit,
2019-11-10, 18:00
- sounds good - kidtsunami, 2019-11-11, 06:59
- I'm now wondering if Cody was just joking.... -
kidtsunami,
2019-11-06, 06:14
- Might have got my fallacies mixed up -
someotherguy,
2019-11-06, 02:21
- Cody didn't make a straw man argument. -
Kermit,
2019-11-05, 20:28
- Heh -
Claude Errera,
2019-11-05, 12:59
- WOOP WOOP STRAWMAN ALERT WOOP WOOP -
someotherguy,
2019-11-05, 12:28
- Kermit's Last Post -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-04, 15:58
- Kermit's Last Post -
CruelLEGACEY,
2019-11-04, 15:51
- huh? - kidtsunami, 2019-11-04, 06:12
- Thanks. :) -
Ragashingo,
2019-11-01, 13:32
- Fair cop -
someotherguy,
2019-11-01, 13:29
- whaaa~ -
INSANEdrive,
2019-11-01, 13:18
- Also -
someotherguy,
2019-11-01, 13:12
- Also -
Kermit,
2019-11-01, 13:05
- Silent Hill is now a pinball machine. -
narcogen,
2019-11-02, 06:25
- +1000 - someotherguy, 2019-11-02, 06:52
- Silent Hill is now a pinball machine. -
cheapLEY,
2019-11-02, 07:31
- Tess Everis as a strike boss -
narcogen,
2019-11-02, 10:32
- Tess Everis as a strike boss -
INSANEdrive,
2019-11-02, 10:39
- Tess Everis as a strike boss -
narcogen,
2019-11-02, 11:05
- Darn you MOON WIZARDS! DARN YOOOOU! - INSANEdrive, 2019-11-02, 12:12
- Tess Everis as a strike boss -
narcogen,
2019-11-02, 11:05
- Tess Everis as a strike boss -
cheapLEY,
2019-11-02, 10:57
- Tess Everis as a strike boss -
narcogen,
2019-11-02, 11:07
- Tess Everis as a strike boss -
cheapLEY,
2019-11-02, 11:13
- Tess Everis as a strike boss -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-02, 11:52
- Tess Everis as a strike boss - cheapLEY, 2019-11-02, 12:15
- THIS ^ - narcogen, 2019-11-04, 07:19
- Tess Everis as a strike boss -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-02, 11:52
- Tess Everis as a strike boss -
cheapLEY,
2019-11-02, 11:13
- Tess Everis as a strike boss -
narcogen,
2019-11-02, 11:07
- On slippery slopes - someotherguy, 2019-11-02, 15:09
- Tess Everis as a strike boss -
INSANEdrive,
2019-11-02, 10:39
- Tess Everis as a strike boss -
narcogen,
2019-11-02, 10:32
- I think this argument is wrong. -
Claude Errera,
2019-11-03, 13:12
- I think this argument is wrong. -
narcogen,
2019-11-04, 07:23
- I think this argument is wrong. -
cheapLEY,
2019-11-04, 07:45
- I think this argument is wrong. -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-04, 08:32
- I think this argument is wrong. -
narcogen,
2019-11-04, 08:54
- I think this argument is wrong. -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-04, 09:27
- I think this argument is wrong. -
narcogen,
2019-11-04, 09:36
- I think this argument is wrong. -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-04, 09:43
- I think this argument is wrong. - Harmanimus, 2019-11-04, 12:37
- I think this argument is wrong. - narcogen, 2019-11-04, 12:38
- I think this argument is wrong. -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-04, 09:43
- I think this argument is wrong. -
cheapLEY,
2019-11-04, 09:36
- I think this argument is wrong. - narcogen, 2019-11-04, 09:43
- I think this argument is wrong. -
narcogen,
2019-11-04, 09:36
- I think this argument is wrong. -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-04, 09:27
- I think this argument is wrong. - someotherguy, 2019-11-04, 14:25
- I think this argument is wrong. -
narcogen,
2019-11-04, 08:54
- I think this argument is wrong. -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-04, 08:32
- I think this argument is wrong. -
cheapLEY,
2019-11-04, 07:45
- I think this argument is wrong. -
narcogen,
2019-11-04, 07:23
- Because... -
Claude Errera,
2019-11-01, 12:15
- Thar be whales in them tharr hills -
narcogen,
2019-11-02, 06:21
- Thar be whales in them tharr hills -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-02, 08:18
- Thar be whales in them tharr hills -
narcogen,
2019-11-02, 10:39
- Thar be whales in them tharr hills -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-02, 11:40
- Thar be whales in them tharr hills -
narcogen,
2019-11-04, 07:32
- Thar be whales in them tharr hills -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-04, 09:39
- Thar be whales in them tharr hills -
narcogen,
2019-11-04, 09:44
- Thar be whales in them tharr hills - Cody Miller, 2019-11-04, 09:46
- Thar be whales in them tharr hills - Harmanimus, 2019-11-04, 12:42
- Thar be whales in them tharr hills -
narcogen,
2019-11-04, 09:44
- Thar be whales in them tharr hills -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-04, 09:39
- Thar be whales in them tharr hills -
narcogen,
2019-11-04, 07:32
- Thar be whales in them tharr hills -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-02, 11:40
- Thar be whales in them tharr hills -
narcogen,
2019-11-02, 10:39
- Thar be whales in them tharr hills -
Cody Miller,
2019-11-02, 08:18
- So, not only have I been priced out of the market in game... -
cheapLEY,
2019-11-01, 11:13
- So, not only have I been priced out of the market in game... -
narcogen,
2019-11-01, 10:55
- So, not only have I been priced out of the market in game... -
Pyromancy,
2019-10-31, 15:45
- Finish the Pit of Heresy, you get to buy a sword -
cheapLEY,
2019-10-30, 18:53