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One question about station cash
Daffid011
Member UncommonPosts: 7,945
I was just curious if anyone could come up with one valid reason for SOE to do this, other than "SOE wants more money". Please explain why it is somehow ok for these items to not be added as quest rewards or player crafted items as they have been in the past, but instead SOE simply decided to start adding price tags to these items instead.
Looking objectively at what is being offered is there any valid reason why these are not just simply put in game without adding a cash price tag to them? Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't these types of items normally given out free with the game updates?
What is the valid rational for the change?
Before anyone says that it isn't a big deal, that isn't an answer, because there is zero guarentee that things will not go into a direction that you do consider a big deal. Odds are pretty good that it will based on company history, but that is for another discussion.
Comments
you can ask the same thing for ...
why is WOW charging players $15.00 to change their face or skin color?
www.massively.com/2008/12/10/world-of-warcraft-launches-paid-character-re-customization/
- something you can already do in EQ2 at the ingame barber
I think its a greedy move on both SOE and Blizzards part
-- altho what SOE did annoys me much more
EQ2 fan sites
Well I can't really say I agree with what Blizzard is doing there, but it isn't the same thing as micro transactions. Let alone microtransactions of items that were typically added to the game on a free basis.
So my question still stands.
I fully agree with you
but both are a sad sign of things to come in mmos as Cash transactions
(and to emphasize -- ingame Microtransactions suck!)
I personally believe cash transactions in MMOs should be *limited* to Server xfers and name changes
use ingame cash, special events/anniversaries , quests etc -- for the rest, including getting fluff stuff
as to why SOE is back-adding this feature to their older games?
I have no clue
EQ2 fan sites
It is, I think, obvious that this is a revenue-generating decision by SOE.
Now, I don't begrudge them the opportunity to make more money, and to be honest, the in-game selling of items that do not affect game play (ie. visual upgrades only such as formal clothing, items for houses/guild halls, etc.) while distasteful to me, is something I can live with.
The problem, of course, is immediate in that SOE is selling experience-boosting potions for real cash. This does two things: it affects game play by allowing those who pay to be able to level quicker than those who do not, and it demonstrates that SOE is willing to offer game-changing items for sale. It is important to note that these same potions are available as a reward that is earned by being a veteran of the game.
A lot of people, customers and non-customers, do not trust SOE. They have reason not to do so, from the SWG fiasco to the revelation that developers were giving out stratagies to overcome new content in the game to the guilds that they belonged to in-game, to the quotes from the head of SOE that this very thing would never happen.
It's possible that had SOE not included those potions in the game, this would all have been a minor issue.
But they did, and people are now rightfully suspicious that SOE will implement a policy to include game-changing items for sale for real dollars. I can't blame them at all for that.
So we wait and see.
Agreed Nadia..but how long before the barber feature is taken out and bingo up it pops on the cash shop..
according to Smed,
one of the reasons is to give SOE experience with doing a digital wallet before newer games launch
www.massively.com/2008/12/12/smedley-station-cash-rollout-pt-2/
We're now going to understand this system better because of the rollout of Station Cash. It's enormously complicated to build a digital wallet and all the implications of that;
we're going to have that behind us by the time Free Realms launches.
as I've said before,
I dont agree with what SOE did but life goes on
EQ2 fan sites
according to Smed,
one of the reasons is to give SOE experience with doing a digital wallet before newer games launch
www.massively.com/2008/12/12/smedley-station-cash-rollout-pt-2/
We're now going to understand this system better because of the rollout of Station Cash. It's enormously complicated to build a digital wallet and all the implications of that;
we're going to have that behind us by the time Free Realms launches.
as I've said before,
I dont agree with what SOE did but life goes on
Yes life goes on playing non SOE and non RMT/MT MMOGS.
Aside from a few attempts to deflect the issue on to WoW I still can't see one reason this is justifiable.
Essentially SOE is taking items that would normally be introduced for free and instead selling them. So many people seem ok with this and I just don't understand why.
both SOE and Blizzard disappointed me this week
both Pay to Play mmos are creating more ways to charge the player beyond the monthly fee
WOW may be charging for only fluff things (no exp potions)
but they are also charging for Skin color and Face changes that I can get in EQ2 for FREE
I also find it weird that these 3 companies made news *the same week* about cash transactions
- EA and KOTRO microtransaction rumors
- SOE and Station Cash
- Blizzard and charging for Character customization
does this make Station Cash any better? hell no
Pay to Play mmos should not be charging players beyond Server Transfers and Name changes
EQ2 fan sites
So, we just staying away from soe products now. I was looking foreward to their latest game too.
This isn't a signature, you just think it is.
both SOE and Blizzard disappointed me this week
both Pay to Play mmos are creating more ways to charge the player beyond the monthly fee
WOW may be charging for only fluff things (no exp potions)
but they are also charging for Skin color and Face changes that I can get in EQ2 for FREE
I also find it weird that these 3 companies made news *the same week* about cash transactions
- EA and KOTRO microtransaction rumors
- SOE and Station Cash
- Blizzard and charging for Character customization
does this make Station Cash any better? hell no
Pay to Play mmos should not be charging players beyond Server Transfers and Name changes
Blizzard has been talking about their changes for a while now and it is part of the name change service. I'm a not a fan of this and hope it goes away, but it is a very very long ways away from selling in game items directly to players.
Once Station cash is in play SOE can add anything they want to it. It is direct RMT for items no matter how you slice it. Just like SOE said they would not do the same thing with their virtual card game they did in fact start adding items, buffs and such. Everything says they will do the exact same thing here.
It is very clear where SOE is heading with this. RMT on top of subscriptions. Just like they tried breaking up expansions and selling them little bits at a time in the guise of adventure packs for $5, then raised it to $8. Just like they tried to thrust RMT on all the players of EQ2 with station exchange. Just like they tried to put advertising in their games. Just like they never talk to the community before thrusting these things on them, because SOE just doesn't care what their players think and they know time and time again they will stick around no matter how bad they are treated.
I can't think of one single initiative in any of these money initiatves introduced by SOE that has actually been a benefit to players. Every one of them translates into paying more money for something they were already getting in some form or another.
This is just a dirty underhanded way to indirectly raise the subscription rates.
both SOE and Blizzard disappointed me this week
both Pay to Play mmos are creating more ways to charge the player beyond the monthly fee
WOW may be charging for only fluff things (no exp potions)
but they are also charging for Skin color and Face changes that I can get in EQ2 for FREE
I also find it weird that these 3 companies made news *the same week* about cash transactions
- EA and KOTRO microtransaction rumors
- SOE and Station Cash
- Blizzard and charging for Character customization
does this make Station Cash any better? hell no
Pay to Play mmos should not be charging players beyond Server Transfers and Name changes
I would have to ask why you assume the above is the case?
Just because historically it has been the case doesn't make it iconoclast. Companies will do what they need to to stay in business and collect revenues they need to be successful. I don't know what the cash flow situation is on these games or how much is needed for investment in new game development. I think we will see games looking at things they can do to increase revenue from their games, maybe trying to offset some loss in customers as games age?
I'm not saying it is the best thing to do or that it enhances the game in any way. I'm just suggesting that their is no reason why they can't do what they are doing or even a reason why it is necessarily bad.
like I said I don't like it... So I ask myself why? Well I guess because it feels unfair that someone can pay extra money and get a potion or item that advances them in the game more quickly. Again I ask why? Is it because I feel competative and work hard to level my character and I'm jealous?? Well if I do this why thing several times it really comes down to competition. Doesn't it??
I guess if I put that asside I can't think of a real reason why this matters as long as the game without the items in question doesn't become a bad game. If you take this stuff away is EQ2 still a fun game? As long as I can answer yes to this then I don't think it matters. If it gets to the point that the game is incomplete or seriously lacking then I'd say it is time to vote with my $$ and if it is pay to play and there is another competative game that is better then it is time to move.
I guess if it were a new game and they had xp potions for sale and the game felt grindy or felt like you had to buy the potions to play the game I'd be rather pissed if they also charged you a monthly fee. I don't think this is the case with EQ2....
So the real question you gotta consider is WHY does this matter to you?
---
Ethion
in the end,
I wont boycott mmos with added "features" that cost beyond monthly fee
but it also doesnt mean that I like it - and wont speak out against it
EQ2 fan sites
I won't boycott them UNLESS they are feature/function deficient compared to other options forcing you to purchase additional features. Kinda like sellling me a car with pedals and making me pay extra to put the engine in. If it costs the same as a comparable car that already has an engine I'm not gonna buy it :P
---
Ethion
The one reason they are doing this besides the money is because they think they can get away with it and most of you will just suck it up and keep subscribing and probably end up buying items from the item shop. If you had a backbone you could prove them wrong.
If your company is going to remove free content and reintroduce it as a pay only feature, you better have a product that is strong enough to withstand your competition. Doing something like this might garner a profit, but it also makes your subscriber base vulnerable to any other game that offers the same or more features and is now a better value. This is not a value added service at all.
I don't think that this will somehow make SOE successful and in the long run I bet it costs them overall revenue as has many of their decisions along these lines over the years. Also the way they handle introducing these features isn't the best way to build strong relationships with your customers.
I won't boycott them UNLESS they are feature/function deficient compared to other options forcing you to purchase additional features. Kinda like sellling me a car with pedals and making me pay extra to put the engine in. If it costs the same as a comparable car that already has an engine I'm not gonna buy it :P
you and your kind are the reason they think they can and probably will be getting away with this
you are paying a monthly fee to play this game - this game is a MMO - it cannot remain stagnant so new stuff is added to the game (not for "free" like so many have posted) - these items, fluff or not should be created by crafters or given as rewards for a job (in game) well done or through an event - YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THIS - it is that simple - unless they are cancelling the monthly subscription fee (hahahahaha)
even if you do not spend any extra money you are aiding and abetting this money grab if you do not cancel your subscription
Yes, but I don't have a backbone. I am an invertibrate, and i suck at MMORPGs. Ah, who am I kidding, I suck at life in general. I am 35 years old, still live in my parents basement, and my mommy forces my daddy to give me a credit card so that I can buy platinum to feel that I can compete with all you uber gamers.
The only naked women I see is when I log onto my female WOW toon. Yes, I downloaded the nude module for WOW, and now my night elf is sooooo friggin hot.
I hope they do more things in EQ 2 for cash shop. I would like to see a nude module for EQ 2 female avatars too. I would like to buy my plat direct from SOE and not risk getting my nude female avatars banned. I would like to buy all that uber raid loot and status items so that they other players will not know that I am a dork when it comes to pushing buttons on hotbars.
That way my self esteem will not suffer, and I can be leet too.
THANK YOU John Smedley for designing games with people like me in mind. You know how we feel, you must be one of us!