Microtransaction alternative

[Linventor]

So, I don't like the fact that E has microtransactions. I'm somewhat fine with Horizons being paid DLC, but making it so that you have to pay for the paint jobs and bobbleheads and whatnot seems a bit cash grabby. However, just making it so that all the cosmetics are unlocked by default might not be a good alternative. My suggestion is to make it so that you have to unlock each item by doing something. Just got a new ship? You get a bobblehead of it. Travelled a certain distance using it? Paintjob. Use it for it's designed purpose a lot? Paintjob. Etc. And, if you earn (not buy) all the cosmetics for it, you get a gold bobblehead of the ship!
And here's the biggest selling point. The microtransaction system that's currently in place doesn't have to be removed! Everyone wins, even the people without disposable income.

Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?

 

[Doggie]

I really like this idea. I think the micro-transactions though have been a bit of a lifeline for ED and probably pay to keep the servers running, so I'd probably say have both. Even if it is something simple like Decals, which could be triggered like any old achievement system and would be considerably cheaper to develop than paint jobs.

 

[foxpur]

Basically micro-transaction allows the game to not have a monthly subscription. So personally, keep them.

 

[Lestat]

Basically micro-transaction allows the game to not have a monthly subscription. So personally, keep them.

I have to agree with you. If I buy Paint job It support Elite Dangerous and later updates. instead of unlocking a paint job and have Elite vanish for everyone.

 

[GreyAreaUK]

I'm not sure if it's an officially sanctioned meaning, but to me the term 'micro transactions' involves paying for stuff that gives you some sort of in-game advantage. Whereas what we're dealing with here is cosmetic items.

Might be nice if Frontier made a couple of the plainer ones free, as a sort of incentive.

 

[foxpur]

I'm not sure if it's an officially sanctioned meaning, but to me the term 'micro transactions' involves paying for stuff that gives you some sort of in-game advantage. Whereas what we're dealing with here is cosmetic items.

Might be nice if Frontier made a couple of the plainer ones free, as a sort of incentive.

"micro transaction' mean exactly as it reads... a 'small selling'... I can't see how you get in-game advantage out of that concept. They ARE selling cosmetic changes, true. But that is still a 'small selling' where you pay for something ie: transaction.
FDEV have actually stated several times that game items in the Store are cosmetic only and will never be a pay-to-play benefit.
You are looking for a custom meaning to something that is using the actually correct usage of the phrase.

Frontier often offers items for a cost of £0 in the store as incentive, and they give them away at events that are custom for that event.

 

[iofhua]

I don't mind cosmetic micro-transactions.

What bothers me is anything with a useful purpose in game not being included in the game or in a paid expansion for it.

I've heard rumors they won't be doing another season pass when Horizons is over and going to a microtransaction model for future game content. That would me off. I would rather pay one lump sum for an expansion (season pass).

Also no more exclusive ships. On one hand they say they are committed to never selling ships in the store to keep the game balanced, but on the other hand the Cobra Mk. IV is exclusive to a small percentage of the player base, which means the game isn't balanced anymore. By handing out an exclusive ship they broke the cosmetics-only premium sales model.

 

[Linventor]

I'd probably say have both. Even if it is something simple like Decals, which could be triggered like any old achievement system and would be considerably cheaper to develop than paint jobs.

You've got a point there about the dev costs of the paintjobs. Even still, being able to pretty up a ship is always a nice thing to be able to do.

Basically micro-transaction allows the game to not have a monthly subscription. So personally, keep them.

Yeah, you've got a point there. I'd be fine with keeping them in, just so long as there's an alternative for those of us who don't have very much disposable income.

I don't mind cosmetic micro-transactions. What bothers me is anything with a useful purpose in game not being included in the game or in a paid expansion for it..

Also a good point. I like Horizons, but I'm not sure if it would be worth paying the equivalent of a full copy of the base game for. Yes, I did get it on sale.

 

[[VR] CMDR TYRTHEMIS]

cosmetic micro transactions are fine, get over it. unless you want to be forced to pay a monthly subscription that is.

I don't mind cosmetic micro-transactions.

What bothers me is anything with a useful purpose in game not being included in the game or in a paid expansion for it.

I've heard rumors they won't be doing another season pass when Horizons is over and going to a microtransaction model for future game content. That would me off. I would rather pay one lump sum for an expansion (season pass).

Also no more exclusive ships. On one hand they say they are committed to never selling ships in the store to keep the game balanced, but on the other hand the Cobra Mk. IV is exclusive to a small percentage of the player base, which means the game isn't balanced anymore. By handing out an exclusive ship they broke the cosmetics-only premium sales model.

Cobra Mk IV is garbage, you aren't missing out.

 

[space voyager]

I'm not sure if it's an officially sanctioned meaning, but to me the term 'micro transactions' involves paying for stuff that gives you some sort of in-game advantage. Whereas what we're dealing with here is cosmetic items.

Might be nice if Frontier made a couple of the plainer ones free, as a sort of incentive.

Well, those are problematic. I like the store as is and I'm glad so many people are buying cosmetics and perpetuating the game. Hell, even I bought some items.

 

[GreyAreaUK]

You are looking for a custom meaning to something that is using the actually correct usage of the phrase.

Not really, I just genuinely thought that was what it meant, based on the fact that every time I’ve encountered it outside of Elite it has meant that. But if that’s not the case then that’s cool.

 

[Ronzer]

I like this idea, plus the idea of being able to purchase certain livery and outfits, etc, at certain stations. To do that, sure, take us into an in-game purchase board that you have to log into, but all within the game environment. And, still, the only things available would be cosmetic. I could see having Iridescent livery only available for a few weeks each year, only at Jaques Station.

 

[XandoBrannigan]

I'm ok with micro transaction for skins and vanity type things. But I would boycott any game that had pay-to-win micro transactions that gave the player an in-game advantage.

Elite is not cheap it's 30usd for the base game and 30usd for horizon. But at the same time they don't have subscription fees.

I've been known to buy the occasional skin here and there. But I limit myself to what I think I would be happy to pay for a monthly subscription.

 

[space voyager]

I'm ok with micro transaction for skins and vanity type things. But I would boycott any game that had pay-to-win micro transactions that gave the player an in-game advantage.

Agree.

 

[Wyldwiisel]

Just sell credits prob solved if people don't want to grind they can just buy credits

 

[Sylow]

I'm ok with micro transaction for skins and vanity type things. But I would boycott any game that had pay-to-win micro transactions that gave the player an in-game advantage.

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Exactly this. No skin and no ship kit makes me kill any faster and die any less. Thus I am perfectly fine with what FD sells.
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I am in full support of the current item store. The OP for me reads a bit like "I want everything, I want it for free". Which I can understand, I also like free things without spending money. But as FD needs money to finance the games development, it's either this or a subscription. Between those, I prefer what we currently have.
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[Daish]

I can understand the sales point of view being a cash grab for frontier, but I wish they would spend more time of actually fixing mechanics and bugs than making more silly paint jobs all the time. it's lazy development.

 

[Sylow]

I can understand the sales point of view being a cash grab for frontier, but I wish they would spend more time of actually fixing mechanics and bugs than making more silly paint jobs all the time. it's lazy development.

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I guess we see the actual problem here: the programmers make all the models and skins, instead of doing the coding. The graphics people usually do all the accounting and tax stuff and the accounting stuff still figure out how to add VAT to the code and that's why development is so slow. Is that the gist of it? The alternative is, that we're at the usual fallacy of not understanding roles and tasks here.
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Unless the games code is abysmally bad, the programmers invest zero time when a new skin or ship kit are added to the game. At the same time, new skins and ship kits do make money, keeping the game alive. I'd rather have that, than the art people sitting around and do nothing. (Or even worse, have the art people start some coding. Just like i couldn't make good art if my life depended on it, many art people struggle with making good code, which is still well maintainable in a few years. )
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[XandoBrannigan]

@Sylow, I read your first sentence and I was getting ready to reply until I realised you were being sarcastic

Yes, the skins are to make money to allow them to hire coders to add features to the game. Not, as some people are saying, a distraction for the coders away from adding features.

 

[BinaryFu]

So, I don't like the fact that E has microtransactions. I'm somewhat fine with Horizons being paid DLC, but making it so that you have to pay for the paint jobs and bobbleheads and whatnot seems a bit cash grabby. However, just making it so that all the cosmetics are unlocked by default might not be a good alternative. My suggestion is to make it so that you have to unlock each item by doing something. Just got a new ship? You get a bobblehead of it. Travelled a certain distance using it? Paintjob. Use it for it's designed purpose a lot? Paintjob. Etc. And, if you earn (not buy) all the cosmetics for it, you get a gold bobblehead of the ship!
And here's the biggest selling point. The microtransaction system that's currently in place doesn't have to be removed! Everyone wins, even the people without disposable income.

Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?

That's not a dream, it's a nightmare. They're already undercharging for this game in comparison to any game out there that could compare...of which, I do not believe there are any.

It's sad, really. This game could be a *lot* more, but in order for that to happen, we'd kind of have to suck it up and deal with a monthly fee (as most MMORPGs are). Of course, that would also mean that Frontier would have to not go swimming in the new cash pool, but actually hire some top-notch programmers to help fix the dozens of bugs and add new content on a regular basis.

Until such a deal is struck between community and company, the current model seems to keep the heathens on both sides content. Don't rock the boat!