Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon joining AMD's Radeon bundles

[TapWater]

I think AMDs strategy works.

I have never had a dedicated ATI card. The oldest computer I had which had discrete graphics was (awesome for Doom 3), 7800GTX (nvidia). I then got a computer with GTX295 (nvidia). I also had a GTX260 OC. I then SLI'd the GTX260s. I basically have ran with that for a few of years now. So I'd like to think as someone who doesn't mind spending to get some nice cards when I'm buying them, but I won't do it often so I'd like to think I'm not as hardcore as your every generation upgraders, or someone who will CF/SLI some titans. I could if I wanted too but I have other things I indulge in for now also.

The point I'm trying to make is I think I fit in somewhere between an average computer user and someone who actually cares about having a decent gaming experience.

I have never really tried ATI other than in my 2010 iMac 27. It was there I was impressed by a shitty mobile based ATI card, that could run a BF3 game as well as my GTX295 or GTX260 SLI.

With this deal that AMD offered it has made me switch over and try it, because of the 30% cheaper cards, and then the games, I would be mad to not at least try it. From this, I have now seen first hand that the card delivers, has excellent build quality and most importantly runs games amazingly.

From this deal I have mentioned it to one of my best mates and he is now looking to get in. And now lastly my sister might be getting in on a new card as well because she wouldn't mind tomb raider, as well as a new card.

So when you take some older people (late 20s/early 30s) who are more practical at least in my mind (all simple casual gamers who are working in various fields) I think AMDs marketing has nailed it. It's not desperate at all, I would never had thought to try them over nvidia. But look now I have and am blown away.

 

[Xarick]

AMD's line offers better price/performance ratio for the most part. There are certainly arguments to be made for Nvidia, too. What do you disagree about?




AMD's GPU's are fantastic for mining assuming that you were planning on buying a new video card anyway. If Bitcoin goes under the above is an expensive paper weight. On the other hand if Bitcoin disappears tomorrow, I still have a computer with a Radeon 7970 I can continue to game on. There are plenty of people out there who bought a Radeon to game on first and mine while not gaming and have made a lot of money.


If there is anything funny to me about Bitcoins, it is reading some of the replies in the Bitcoin threads. Some people without a GPU that is good for mining will claim they don't care about making the Bitcoin money (essentially 'free' money with a piece of hardware you already own anyway), but get up every morning and go to work to earn that paycheck.

I will admit to being a little saddened by bitcoins. I had no idea what they were nor that they existed until after I ordered my 670 and would probably have swayed me the other way (I wanted to go Nvidia after my 5850 experience) or at minimum would have kept my 5850. I had no idea why it sold so fast, but was happy... 🙁

 

[thilanliyan]

I think AMDs strategy works.

So when you take some older people (late 20s/early 30s) who are more practical at least in my mind (all simple casual gamers who are working in various fields) I think AMDs marketing has nailed it. It's not desperate at all, I would never had thought to try them over nvidia. But look now I have and am blown away.

That is the idea I guess...hoping to entice buyers with free stuff. If it doesn't put them in the red and it works, why not? nV have done it before as well, so it must be something worth doing. I personally would like to see a 50/50 split in the video card market, but that's just me.

Now if only there was something they could give away to make AMD CPUs more attractive...foreclosed homes maybe? 😛

I will admit to being a little saddened by bitcoins. I had no idea what they were nor that they existed until after I ordered my 670 and would probably have swayed me the other way (I wanted to go Nvidia after my 5850 experience) or at minimum would have kept my 5850. I had no idea why it sold so fast, but was happy... 🙁

Lol yeah I had no idea what it was until one of my comp sci friends told me about it...and to be honest, I still don't fully understand how it works. I'd have been completely oblivious to it and would not have made the money I did. It has kept me with AMD these past 2 gens, and if it continues, I will stick with them.

 

[Cloudfire777]

LOL like 1 GPU is gonna make you any money with Bitcoins. Doesn`t matter if its AMD or Nvidia. You need several of them to make some money

 

[SirPauly]

I personally would like to see a 50/50 split in the video card market, but that's just me.

I have the same ideal view and actually happened for a bit of time with nVidia and AMD/ATI around 50/50 over-all discrete share mid 2010.

With companies having competitive advantages or opportunities, well, their predator fangs show while devouring value at times.

 

[badb0y]

How dare AMD give something away for free.

Screw them.

 

[zaydq]

Will I get the game for free if i bought when the game bundles were the crappy Deus-Ex, Dirt:Showdown, and Nexuiz?

 

[blackened23]

Deus Ex? Crappy ? Not sure if serious. If I had to guess, seeing as this was a 2011 bundle, I would say probably not.

 

[Dankk]

LOL like 1 GPU is gonna make you any money with Bitcoins. Doesn`t matter if its AMD or Nvidia. You need several of them to make some money

Last time I checked, you only need one GPU to make money. (More than one if you want to make money faster 😛 ).

Will I get the game for free if i bought when the game bundles were the crappy Deus-Ex, Dirt:Showdown, and Nexuiz?

Deus Ex = crappy? Does not compute.

It only applies to the Never Settle Reloaded bundle (The Bioshock+Tomb Raider+Far Cry 3 one). Sorry.

 

[futurefields]

What I want to know is how much does it cost per game for AMD to do this? Anybody have any insight on that? Do they pay a flat rate upfront to secure the promotion, or for each card sold are they sending 2K and EA some money?

 

[DarkKnightDude]

What I want to know is how much does it cost per game for AMD to do this? Anybody have any insight on that? Do they pay a flat rate upfront to secure the promotion, or for each card sold are they sending 2K and EA some money?

They probably bought the keys in bulk like nvidia. Doesn't cost as much money as one would think. Since the games that AMD and Nvidia give are base versions of the game, people have to buy dlc for whatever versions, which is a clever way of pushing sales.

 

[Riceninja]

this is ridiculous. i already sold my bioshock and crysis 3 keys for $56 on ebay, about $50 after merchant fees. if i can sell far cry key for $25, this sapphire 7950 would have cost me less than $200.

its absolutely blowing my mind how well it runs everything i throw at it too. deal of the year.

 

[Silverforce11]

LOL like 1 GPU is gonna make you any money with Bitcoins. Doesn`t matter if its AMD or Nvidia. You need several of them to make some money

If you sold coins a few days ago, 1 gpu would have made you $300 a MONTH.

Thats enough to pay for the internet, gas, water and mobile phone bills.

Ppl have been dissing bitcoins for awhile, but it continues to deny the naysayers.

 

[Will Robinson]

LOL like 1 GPU is gonna make you any money with Bitcoins. Doesn`t matter if its AMD or Nvidia. You need several of them to make some money

LOL..like you have a clue...🙄
And it DOES matter if you have NVDA...they suck so hard at BitCoin you'd need a trailer of them following you around at work all day to earn enough BTC to buy a paper clip.^_^

Please go back to spamming Microstutter or whatever was listed on this weeks HQ's action memo.
BitCoin and it's implementation are beyond your pay grade.:twisted:

 

[VulgarDisplay]

LOL like 1 GPU is gonna make you any money with Bitcoins. Doesn`t matter if its AMD or Nvidia. You need several of them to make some money

I sold my bitcoins at the peak, my one GPU made me 1600 bucks.

 

[Will Robinson]

If Folding@Home generated even 1cent a week you would never hear the end of it from the NVDA fanboy legions.

$1600 generated from a card + handling your gaming needs was an awesome investment that NVDA owners can only drool over.:thumbsup:

But let's not give credit where it's due right?
They apparently don't have an app for that back at HQ...:whiste:

 

[SirPauly]

What I want to know is how much does it cost per game for AMD to do this? Anybody have any insight on that? Do they pay a flat rate upfront to secure the promotion, or for each card sold are they sending 2K and EA some money?

Excellent questions and would be interesting to know the finer details.

 

[Cloudfire777]

If you sold coins a few days ago, 1 gpu would have made you $300 a MONTH.

Thats enough to pay for the internet, gas, water and mobile phone bills.

Ppl have been dissing bitcoins for awhile, but it continues to deny the naysayers.

I sold my bitcoins at the peak, my one GPU made me 1600 bucks.

According to the calculator and with the value today you will make $115 on an entire month with a 7970 running 24/7.

If you sold it at around 30 March you would have made $279 for an entire month. Which was a all time high which won`t happen ever again anyway so no point in including it. Bitcoin is being down regulated.

If you look at the average for over a month, BTC have a value of around $90. If that is the value which the Bitcoin will come down to, 1 month with a 7970 running 24/7 (You cannot use it for anything else, NO gaming), that will net you around $110 for an entire month.

Wohooo, big deal.

That is why I said you need several GPUs if you are gonna Bitcoin. And most ideally have a dedicated Bitcoin machine.

 

[Final8ty]

According to the calculator and with the value today you will make $115 on an entire month with a 7970 running 24/7.

If you sold it at around 30 March you would have made $279 for an entire month. Which was a all time high which won`t happen ever again anyway so no point in including it. Bitcoin is being down regulated.

If you look at the average for over a month, BTC have a value of around $90. If that is the value which the Bitcoin will come down to, 1 month with a 7970 running 24/7 (You cannot use it for anything else, NO gaming), that will net you around $110 for an entire month.

Wohooo, big deal.

That is why I said you need several GPUs if you are gonna Bitcoin. And most ideally have a dedicated Bitcoin machine.

Cool! give me $110 a month out of your pay packet 😀

 

[Cloudfire777]

Its still a pretty MEH profit to me. Build a rig with 4 7970s, then it starts to get interesting.

Or the miners from Butterfly Labs which never ship out anyways

 

[SlowSpyder]

And you can't live off bit coins so what is your damn point? Oh you don't have one there? The mortgage, property taxes, insurance, car payments, and my internet fees will never be paid this way so yes I get up and go to work. Cause unlike some people I don't live off someone else.

Quit acting like your gonna get rich with your video card, you won't. You know it.

The very last thing on my mind when I bought my first 670 was how I can make money. If I was that hurting for cash I would never be buying cards that cost $400 when they launched. Its simple, I bought it because amd was no value at all when the 670 launched. I really don't understand what you have against people who don't give a crap about making a couple extra bux by racking up a bigger electric bill.

Way to put a ton of words in my mouth. Show me where I've ever said you'll get rich if you mine bitcoins. I said there are a lot of people who have made money at bitcoins. Could you tell me where I've shown that I hold anything against those who choose not to mine bitcoins?

So you've never cut out a coupon, considered a part time job for spending money, sold a piece of used hardware, etc? If you've done any of those things, why? What's the damn point? You can't pay your mortgage, property taxes, internet, etc. by doing those things, right? <-- This is essentially the argument you made, correct? That whole argument you made is just plain silly.

I'm glad you've made your post, though. It shows how strong fanboyism really can be. Here are a couple of your arguments, let's go over them.

-Making money is pointless unless you can completely live off the money you make at any single money-making venture.

-It is better to work then make money for nothing (why can't someone do both, especially with a 'set it and forget it' money maker like bitcoins)


For the record, I was replying to one person who replied to Will. That person posted a link to a $2500 piece of hardware that is made for one thing only, mining bitcoins. Buying that could be very risky, those devices cost a good bit of money and could be worthless overnight if bitcoin crashes. A video card bought primarily for gaming (bitcoin mining while not gaming) is an entirely different animal.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Way to put a ton of words in my mouth. Show me where I've ever said you'll get rich if you mine bitcoins. I said there are a lot of people who have made money at bitcoins. Could you tell me where I've shown that I hold anything against those who choose not to mine bitcoins?

So you've never cut out a coupon, considered a part time job for spending money, sold a piece of used hardware, etc? If you've done any of those things, why? What's the damn point? You can't pay your mortgage, property taxes, internet, etc. by doing those things, right? <-- This is essentially the argument you made, correct? That whole argument you made is just plain silly.

I'm glad you've made your post, though. It shows how strong fanboyism really can be. Here are a couple of your arguments, let's go over them.

-Making money is pointless unless you can completely live off the money you make at any single money-making venture.

-It is better to work then make money for nothing (why can't someone do both, especially with a 'set it and forget it' money maker like bitcoins)


For the record, I was replying to one person who replied to Will. That person posted a link to a $2500 piece of hardware that is made for one thing only, mining bitcoins. Buying that could be very risky, those devices cost a good bit of money and could be worthless overnight if bitcoin crashes. A video card bought primarily for gaming (bitcoin mining while not gaming) is an entirely different animal.

1) you aren't making money for nothing. Your power bill goes up.
2) you did indeed bash those who thought it was pointless. refer to your post which I quoted in mine.

 

[blastingcap]

People gloat over making money mining but those who bought bitcoins at $3 and sold at $250 made more than TEN TIMES what a miner made in the last year or so. Buying coins straight up is so much more lucrative than mining. Riskier, too, esp. if you use a mining card to game on as well, but the potential profit being >10 times higher can't be ignored.

Thats if we assume its actually costing AMD in addition cash expenditure. Who knows, it could simply be part of GE where they supply engineers, knowhow and hardware to developers and the games get included in new radeons for "free", additional publicity & lower development costs offset potential lost sales etc.

My comment was not about AMD's costs, my question was how much in possible foregone revenue the game companies are giving up. They might get a few more DLC sales from people who would not otherwise buy the game in the first place, but they probably sell them for much cheaper than retail price. I'm curious because as one example, SquareEnix said that Tomb Raider 2013 didn't meet sales expectations, in what I think were dollar terms and not unit sales, and I wonder if getting packaged with AMD cards helped or hurt their sales numbers.