Proposal Discussion Micro-transactions

[Beermachine]

Actually they mentioned cash for credits during the kick start and there was an uproar. To quell the noise FD claimed that items would be rating locked. (Like levels in a game) During the reddit AMA they confirmed this again to quash the Pay2Win fears.

FD have done a 180 on rating locked items and now introduced MT for other things (which is a new thing to us all)

What you cite isn't accurate.

It is my opinion that they split the topic into 2 to get ideas on how to use vouchers (and that is still a dumb thread IMO) so as not to cloud the 2nd, which by the way is one of the heaviest replied to thread since the DDF. It's the one thread that had irked me the most.

Thanks for the information. Quite worrying for the multiplayer component, and I agree fully on the penny arcade link (except for vanity items, which doesn't bother me at all if they cost a lot) you posted earlier which repeatedly mentioned that cash4power is a big no no. Cash to credits to buy advanced weapons / ships with no reputation or rank restrictions sounds exactly that sadly.

Couple that with a large in game grind for credits and or ultra expensive high level ships / equipment, which is common in the MT model, and I can see a lot of the average casual gamers who don't want to fork out a bundle for a game being massively turned off. End result, a pretty empty universe.

Time will tell how it turns out, and at least there will be the single player.

 

[Out2lunch]

I'm late to this party, I have always been against micro transactions etc. But I still backed ED knowing that Frontier are looking into ways to keep revenue pouring in to cover server expenses and wages etc.

I just read you first post on this thread Alien and I want to commend you with wing a very balanced post on this very touch subject.

In any game where you have many people playing you will sideways find someone who had more than you, as they have more time to pump into playing the game. Add I have 2 young children if I get more than a few hours a week then I will be very happy, but on the flip side I will be left behind in most areas of the game very quickly.

Add for immersion breaking get over your self, see my paragraph above people will always be better than you unless your one of the few best.

Frontier have to pay their way this need revenue, what will be will be, you will always be able to pay single player for the cost of the game if you don't like it.

Personally I say vanity items are the way to go, just my 2p worth. Not sure if it will be sustainable though, but who knows...

 

[Medi2121]

I would use the Blizzard model in World of Warcraft and stick to paying for only vanity items. Even they realise paying for in game advantage will not work.

 

[avow555]

1. As long as there is nothing I-Win to be purchased.
2. Cash for Credit monthly spending cap.
3. Combat rating required to purchase/mount advanced weapons, ships and equipment.

Point 3 being of particular note which will prevent people buying success.

 

[Seonid]

3. Combat rating required to purchase/mount advanced weapons, ships and equipment.

Point 3 being of particular note which will prevent people buying success.

It will also prevent those that choose the Trading path, for example. Genius.

 

[Memnoch]

3. Combat rating required to purchase/mount advanced weapons, ships and equipment.

Point 3 being of particular note which will prevent people buying success.

Couldn't agree more.

It will also prevent those that choose the Trading path, for example. Genius.

No, you can trade in any ship to some degree. Some paid so they could start with a Cobra which would be a leg up but note, that none of the Kickstarter alternative starts were anything bigger than that.

Did you perhaps want to start your journey in a Panther Clipper?

 

[Seonid]

Did you perhaps want to start your journey in a Panther Clipper?

Did my Combat Rating decide whether or not I could buy my first one after a lot of trading?

 

[Memnoch]

No but your trade rank might.

 

[Seonid]

And that I'm fine with, tying it all to Combat Rating seems a bit silly given the breadth of the potential game-play, especially as we have no idea what, or even if, micro-transactions are in the game.

 

[Memnoch]

The one thing about the MT stuff that concerns me most is the cash for credits thing. Cosmetic stuff is cool. But throwing £20 to get yourself a hulking warship is way too far and the only thing I can think of to stop this would be to gate ships behind some rank, or other counter, that can only be achieved by playing the game.

 

[Aewarin Jameson]

1. As long as there is nothing I-Win to be purchased.
2. Cash for Credit monthly spending cap.
3. Combat rating required to purchase/mount advanced weapons, ships and equipment.

Point 3 being of particular note which will prevent people buying success.

Point 3 was 180'd by FD .. Not going to happen.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

Point 3 was 180'd by FD .. Not going to happen.

Not really 180'd by FD - they mentioned everything in that email. As long as there will be strong opposition - which I see there is - I don't think they will do it.

 

[Aewarin Jameson]

Not really 180'd by FD - they mentioned everything in that email. As long as there will be strong opposition - which I see there is - I don't think they will do it.

They 180'd.

During the KS and AMA it was clearly stated that items would be rating locked to combat the potential pay-2-win. (DB himself)

Now that has been overturned by the Devs who clearly said they were against rating locking items.

 

[Barns]

They 180'd.

During the KS and AMA it was clearly stated that items would be rating locked to combat the potential pay-2-win. (DB himself)

Now that has been overturned by the Devs who clearly said they were against rating locking items.

I'm torn, myself. I think I would like it so that :

• Some items can only be bought when you have the appropriate rating with the relevant faction / organisation / whatever.
• But if you obtain those items another less legitimate way (canister drop from player or NPC, black market trading, straight out donated by a friend, whatever), you're not stopped using them.

This way, purely buying credits for cash won't let you quickly buy the best stuff, as you'd still need ratings to buy easily. But it won't break the immersion side of things where you scoop a canister containing UberLazorIV and you just can't use it for no particular reason other than "game says no".

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

They 180'd.

During the KS and AMA it was clearly stated that items would be rating locked to combat the potential pay-2-win. (DB himself)

Now that has been overturned by the Devs who clearly said they were against rating locking items.

Can you quote them? All I have seen general proposal of MT.

Also there weren't many rating locked items in FE2.

 

[avow555]

They 180'd.

During the KS and AMA it was clearly stated that items would be rating locked to combat the potential pay-2-win. (DB himself)

Now that has been overturned by the Devs who clearly said they were against rating locking items.

I have to say I always avoid games with even a whiff of this kind of pay2win mentality as it always attracts the same kind of player and players may I add who killjoy every game they sign up for.
What a shame my favourite all time game will have this element in-game, which kinda makes me regret the 100 quid I paid for Beta now.
I suppose there is some solace in solo playing ED but it's not what I signed up for.
Wow that is unbelievably dissapointing!

 

[Aewarin Jameson]

I have to say I always avoid games with even a whiff of this kind of pay2win mentality as it always attracts the same kind of player and players may I add who killjoy every game they sign up for.
What a shame my favourite all time game will have this element in-game, which kinda makes me regret the 100 quid I paid for Beta now.
I suppose there is some solace in solo playing ED but it's not what I signed up for.
Wow that is unbelievably dissapointing!

I will say in their defence that nothing is set in stone; there will be faction linked items; we in the DDF are presently debating the MT debacle. Give up if you need to after FD post what they intend to do - untl then it's pure speculation.

Can you quote them? All I have seen general proposal of MT.

Should be able to but will take some time - ipad is not best hardware for extensive forum stuff .. Hand on.

 

[Slawkenbergius]

Should be able to but will take some time - ipad is not best hardware for extensive forum stuff .. Hand on.

Is this the one you're looking for?

http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showpost.php?p=103534&postcount=381

"...Somewhat importantly though, these items are likely to be gated by additional mechanisms that prevent players from obtaining them too "early", when the cash boost would be most unbalancing. For example, perhaps there is very little/no chance of encountering the "star-hammer rail cannon" from pirates until my trading reputation is so high that I am seen as a fuel-burning meal ticket by the most infamous pirate lords, and so on.

"...On a related, related note: I'm cautious of using arbitrary "ranks" to gate equipment and the like. I prefer a similar system using permits/licenses, the acquirement of which might require successful resolution of events/missions as well as potentially lots of cash. The important distinction would be that not having a permit would not stop you from using items, but would make it a crime to do so: freedom with consequence."

 

[Aewarin Jameson]

Is this the one you're looking for?

http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showpost.php?p=103534&postcount=381

"...Somewhat importantly though, these items are likely to be gated by additional mechanisms that prevent players from obtaining them too "early", when the cash boost would be most unbalancing. For example, perhaps there is very little/no chance of encountering the "star-hammer rail cannon" from pirates until my trading reputation is so high that I am seen as a fuel-burning meal ticket by the most infamous pirate lords, and so on.

"...On a related, related note: I'm cautious of using arbitrary "ranks" to gate equipment and the like. I prefer a similar system using permits/licenses, the acquirement of which might require successful resolution of events/missions as well as potentially lots of cash. The important distinction would be that not having a permit would not stop you from using items, but would make it a crime to do so: freedom with consequence."

Really sorry but I can't rep you yet.

Yes .. Exact quote I needed. Thank you

In short, without a permit you can get things early with enough credits as long as you don't mind the legal issues in game.

 

[Cmdr Eagleboy]

Really sorry but I can't rep you yet.

Yes .. Exact quote I needed. Thank you

In short, without a permit you can get things early with enough credits as long as you don't mind the legal issues in game.

Doesn't sound like 180, more like refining, and somehow I think it sounds even better.