"Cosmetic items" should be part of the game

[Olaf Olafson]

Hey Frontier,

I have been following the development of this game since 2014, when I bought into the original beta. Personally, I think the development of Elite: Dangerous is finally, with the arrival of the Commander Creator and the new cam, heading into a pretty interesting direction. However, there is one thing I am very concerned about: The store and it's microtransactions.
I would like, and I'm sure that I am not the only one, that there were at least some Skins, Shipkits etc. earnable ingame. Maybe as a reward for completing missions or engaging with engineers. I mean, Elite will be an RPG, can you imagine an RPG where you have to buy cloths or skins in a store, because they are considered "Cosmetic Items"?

Don't get me wrong: I know that there are servers that need to be maintained. But do you really need to put all the visual costumisations behind a massive paywall? Because I, as a student, consider 10€ as a massive price for a skin. I just want you guys to consider that you need visual feedback in a game like this. You need to see a difference between your A-rated cobra and a brand new ship. You need to see the shipname on the hull. Maybe charge for fancy fonts and colours. But it is time to step back and introduce earnable "cosmetics" into the game.
I have the fear that, once all the possible customisation options are brought to the store, Elite: Dangerous will be missing an important element of reward.

 

[rucky]

InB4 white knights attacking...


on a serious note,
you won't change the direction FD is heading (to F2P with microtransactions en masse). They were extremely successful with that (I mean 6€ for some BASIC(!) colors) why should they change that model?

 

[JosiahD]

I'm inclined to agree - I've always thought that certain basic cosmetics should be available by default (like we've essentially just gotten with the Powerplay decals for example). Nothing wrong with Frontier earning income from the bulk of the cosmetics (and I'm more than happy to buy some from time to time to support them), but I reckon there should be a few basic ones that don't require payment through the store.

 

[lysan]

InB4 white knights attacking...


on a serious note,
you won't change the direction FD is heading (to F2P with microtransactions en masse). They were extremely successful with that (I mean 6€ for some BASIC(!) colors) why should they change that model?

Not really, I think it should be a fine balance, yes there should be in game items everyone can get, and yes there should be "special" items you can only get with real money.

Balance is the keyword here.

 

[Lateralus]

Hey Frontier,

I have been following the development of this game since 2014, when I bought into the original beta. Personally, I think the development of Elite: Dangerous is finally, with the arrival of the Commander Creator and the new cam, heading into a pretty interesting direction. However, there is one thing I am very concerned about: The store and it's microtransactions.
I would like, and I'm sure that I am not the only one, that there were at least some Skins, Shipkits etc. earnable ingame. Maybe as a reward for completing missions or engaging with engineers. I mean, Elite will be an RPG, can you imagine an RPG where you have to buy cloths or skins in a store, because they are considered "Cosmetic Items"?

Don't get me wrong: I know that there are servers that need to be maintained. But do you really need to put all the visual costumisations behind a massive paywall? Because I, as a student, consider 10€ as a massive price for a skin. I just want you guys to consider that you need visual feedback in a game like this. You need to see a difference between your A-rated cobra and a brand new ship. You need to see the shipname on the hull. Maybe charge for fancy fonts and colours. But it is time to step back and introduce earnable "cosmetics" into the game.
I have the fear that, once all the possible customisation options are brought to the store, Elite: Dangerous will be missing an important element of reward.

It's not just server maintenance though... FDev have got to pay all the staff salaries, taxes, third party software licenses etc. Developer salaries alone are not trivial amounts of money.

Charging for cosmetic items is fine by me, as they are not essential.

 

[The Tick]

Hey Frontier,

I have been following the development of this game since 2014, when I bought into the original beta. Personally, I think the development of Elite: Dangerous is finally, with the arrival of the Commander Creator and the new cam, heading into a pretty interesting direction. However, there is one thing I am very concerned about: The store and it's microtransactions.
I would like, and I'm sure that I am not the only one, that there were at least some Skins, Shipkits etc. earnable ingame. Maybe as a reward for completing missions or engaging with engineers. I mean, Elite will be an RPG, can you imagine an RPG where you have to buy cloths or skins in a store, because they are considered "Cosmetic Items"?

Don't get me wrong: I know that there are servers that need to be maintained. But do you really need to put all the visual costumisations behind a massive paywall? Because I, as a student, consider 10€ as a massive price for a skin. I just want you guys to consider that you need visual feedback in a game like this. You need to see a difference between your A-rated cobra and a brand new ship. You need to see the shipname on the hull. Maybe charge for fancy fonts and colours. But it is time to step back and introduce earnable "cosmetics" into the game.
I have the fear that, once all the possible customisation options are brought to the store, Elite: Dangerous will be missing an important element of reward.

There were quite a few customizations that were handed out for free, if I remember correctly, through CGs, especially around Christmas. So FDev is actually doing what you are asking for.

 

[Auditore]

I also support the 'basic customization for free - the rest you need to pay for' model when it comes to cosmetics, at least on full-price server based games like E: D. Honestly, I don't think it would even make much of a financial difference, but it sure as hell would earn them more 'good-faith' points. The current model is more suited to completely Free-to-play games IMO.

 

[Cosmos]

Hey Frontier,

I have been following the development of this game since 2014, when I bought into the original beta. Personally, I think the development of Elite: Dangerous is finally, with the arrival of the Commander Creator and the new cam, heading into a pretty interesting direction. However, there is one thing I am very concerned about: The store and it's microtransactions.
I would like, and I'm sure that I am not the only one, that there were at least some Skins, Shipkits etc. earnable ingame. Maybe as a reward for completing missions or engaging with engineers. I mean, Elite will be an RPG, can you imagine an RPG where you have to buy cloths or skins in a store, because they are considered "Cosmetic Items"?

Don't get me wrong: I know that there are servers that need to be maintained. But do you really need to put all the visual costumisations behind a massive paywall? Because I, as a student, consider 10€ as a massive price for a skin. I just want you guys to consider that you need visual feedback in a game like this. You need to see a difference between your A-rated cobra and a brand new ship. You need to see the shipname on the hull. Maybe charge for fancy fonts and colours. But it is time to step back and introduce earnable "cosmetics" into the game.
I have the fear that, once all the possible customisation options are brought to the store, Elite: Dangerous will be missing an important element of reward.

Yeah, £10 isn't exactly a micro transaction..

 

[B1rdy]

There were quite a few customizations that were handed out for free, if I remember correctly, through CGs, especially around Christmas. So FDev is actually doing what you are asking for.

It was the first time they did something like this. I liked it. I am still with OP.

 

[rucky]

Yeah, £10 isn't exactly a micro transaction..

not sure if serious...

10€ for one skin (or a pack of skins) IS a lot of money.
For 4 Skins (or skin packs) you get a whole AAA Game.
That's not micro.
Not all people are billionaires (especially in real life)

 

[Rakaposhi]

The rank decals are earned in game and are free.
And we have Power decals too now.

 

[Nutter]

I'd like to see some gear made available for achievements in-game that are unlocked, it's a pity getting to Elite has been made so easy for explorers now, but with that said, would be nice to have some unlocks that showed you achieved something in-game, not just your wallet.

Elite laser colour / uniform... but returning to the OP, no items are pay to win and therefore it does not bother me, I have bought a few items but not much.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

And there is poor me spending $10 on lunch and not thinking about it! I should go buy a paint job.

OP - FD do do giveaways from time to time. Since beta i've picked up a whole slew of free paintjobs from FD and some decals, as well as the recent free powerplay decals.

So not all custom stuff is behind paywalls. Also looks like some basic clothing options will also be for free with 2.3.

If you want them to go further than that then i don't think that's likely, they are a business and they are out to make money. As long as FD keep it at cosmetics i have no problem with the store.

 

[Bran Tse Mallory]

I also support the 'basic customization for free - the rest you need to pay for' model when it comes to cosmetics, at least on full-price server based games like E: D. Honestly, I don't think it would even make much of a financial difference, but it sure as hell would earn them more 'good-faith' points. The current model is more suited to completely Free-to-play games IMO.

In what way are the current store items to be considered F2P game type times? There is absolutely nothing that helps you to play the game or improve your performance. The model being followed seems to resemble that of ESO, B2P (Buy to Play). The micro-transactions are optional, if you don't want them don't buy them but for the sake of letting people earn a living don't be getting all entitled over cosmetic only items. As for it not making much financial difference - you and I have no idea how much money the store generates but I suspect it is quite substantial as has been the case in almost every other game that has followed this route, companies like Zenimax, Turbine, Cryptic and many others rely on this type of model and makes them money, a lot of money.

 

[B1rdy]

Also looks like some basic clothing options will also be for free with 2.3.

Thank god, not being naked! Otherwise my spine would start breaking through my neck because in VR I had to look down my female CMDR while being otherwise bored in Supercruise.

 

[GreyAreaUK]

In what way are the current store items to be considered F2P game type times? There is absolutely nothing that helps you to play the game or improve your performance. The model being followed seems to resemble that of ESO, B2P (Buy to Play). The micro-transactions are optional, if you don't want them don't buy them but for the sake of letting people earn a living don't be getting all entitled over cosmetic only items. As for it not making much financial difference - you and I have no idea how much money the store generates but I suspect it is quite substantial as has been the case in almost every other game that has followed this route, companies like Zenimax, Turbine, Cryptic and many others rely on this type of model and makes them money, a lot of money.

Exactly. These are vanity items, nothing more.

 

[Kerrash]

Don't like? Don't buy.
simples

 

[GreyAreaUK]

Also worth pointing out that they tend to give away paint packs during the (typically) twice-weekly live streams.

 

[Olaf Olafson]

Exactly. These are vanity items, nothing more.

I tend to disagree with that, and by "'Cosmetic items' should be part of the game" I didn't mean they should be there from the get go. They should be found along the way, earned as mission rewards and the like. That would give you a lot more reasons to play the game. Vanity items? I do not think so. You do need visual feedback for your progression, not only stats. I know, others may think different, but this is my opinion.

Interesting sidenote: On the subreddit, the frontier forums are generally regarded a pretty negative place. Well, I yesterday posted this topic on r/elitedangerous and I was downvoted/whiteknighted to oblivion. Thanks for the so far very toughtful answers.

- - - Updated - - -

Don't like? Don't buy.
simples

I think thats the point! I do like visual optimisations ingame, because I like RPGs and games like this. I also did like the original Elite ( a version on a nintendo console I think?) where you swapping modules/upgrading your ship actually made a difference. This should be the case with Elite: Dangerous. Sadly, all the fun of having a ship that is truly yours is reserved to people who are willing to spend lots of money on feigned "vanity items".

 

[GreyAreaUK]

I tend to disagree with that, and by "'Cosmetic items' should be part of the game" I didn't mean they should be there from the get go. They should be found along the way, earned as mission rewards and the like. That would give you a lot more reasons to play the game. Vanity items? I do not think so. You do need visual feedback for your progression, not only stats. I know, others may think different, but this is my opinion.

You can get visual feedback with the free decals that show your rank.