Hi Everyone,
On Behalf of 100.Rub (Anti-Xeno Initiative Overseer and OP of this Post) (Yes I have his permission) I am creating this thread as the original Reddit post is getting a lot of traction.
Click to see the Reddit Post Here!
---------Post Starts Here---------
This is a critique post. If you can't handle a man criticizing corporate decisions - stay away.
Let me begin with the the fact that I am not against ARX system as an idea. Sure, it is mainly designed to increase player retention and obscure the true value of purchases, but it has it upsides as well. Unfortunately the marketing and UI design around it is extremely obnoxious.
Lets look at the exciting new feature that allows you to change your livery from the main menu. You start the game, get to the main menu... and there is nothing there that says livery. You look around for a bit and see the Game Extras button.
Yes, that is a Golden Krait.
If you used the old frontier store you would remember that all ship customization is labeled as "Game Extras", because FDev believes that ability to customize your ship visually should not be a part of the base game you paid $40+ for. Slightly confused you click the button and are presented with this monstrosity:
Designed by maniacs.
The Livery button (the most frequently used one) is placed at the far end of the list and the first one is... Buy ARX! It is followed by the Store (because of course it is) and to get to the option you want you need to press a button twice. I guess it was too risky to place Livery first, because it would make it too convenient and people may not realize they can Buy ARX.
Even if you resisted the temptation to open your wallet this time, FDev is not done with you. When you get to the Livery and look at what you have, it will also conveniently show what you don't have and clicking on those options will inform you that you can Purchase ARX. (For those not following, this is how it more-or-less used to be and I'm entirely fine with the option being here. I'm not ok with all of the others in this post though.)
Appropriate, for once.
Lets imagine your will is strong enough and you finish your livery business and log into the game. You then decide to do anything involving a station (do a mission, restock, sell you data, etc) and open the Starport Services menu:
An eye-sore.
If you are not color-blind (in which case, my condolences, because FDev ignored your needs since release) you should be able to immediately spot the Store button, which is conveniently the only button in this menu highlighted in a special color. I guess it is important to incorporate the outside-of-game store into the in-game menus for added immersion. What is next? When can I expect Imperial stations to advertise Apple products? Or be able to listen to radio-ads from GalNet? Step up FDev, there is so much uncharted potential for monetization here!
But anyway, when the horror of the situation grips you, and you attempt to leave the game, you better watch out...
Just why...
because you might just miss-click and Buy ARX!
In all seriousness, this all screams of desperation, and gives me a feeling I am playing some F2P mobile crap, not a game I spent $100 upfront, roughly the same amount in the store, and will be
expected to spend more on in 2020. I understand costs of development and maintenance (I work in software development myself), but this is extremely ugly and disrespectful towards your customers. I would be happy to support FDev financially (thank god for decent wage), but only when they don't take 2 years to fix major issues, and don't break the game with each patch. Needless to say the September update is more of the same crap - old bugs not fixed, and new ones introduced.
I refuse to believe the playerbase is filled with idiots that will open their wallet if you tell them to do it enough times, but maybe I am mistaken? Get rid of this disgusting design FDev, show us that you care about the game and not just your bottom line. While you still can.
---------End Original Post------------
On Behalf of 100.Rub (Anti-Xeno Initiative Overseer and OP of this Post) (Yes I have his permission) I am creating this thread as the original Reddit post is getting a lot of traction.
Click to see the Reddit Post Here!
---------Post Starts Here---------
This is a critique post. If you can't handle a man criticizing corporate decisions - stay away.
Let me begin with the the fact that I am not against ARX system as an idea. Sure, it is mainly designed to increase player retention and obscure the true value of purchases, but it has it upsides as well. Unfortunately the marketing and UI design around it is extremely obnoxious.
Lets look at the exciting new feature that allows you to change your livery from the main menu. You start the game, get to the main menu... and there is nothing there that says livery. You look around for a bit and see the Game Extras button.
Yes, that is a Golden Krait.
If you used the old frontier store you would remember that all ship customization is labeled as "Game Extras", because FDev believes that ability to customize your ship visually should not be a part of the base game you paid $40+ for. Slightly confused you click the button and are presented with this monstrosity:
Designed by maniacs.
The Livery button (the most frequently used one) is placed at the far end of the list and the first one is... Buy ARX! It is followed by the Store (because of course it is) and to get to the option you want you need to press a button twice. I guess it was too risky to place Livery first, because it would make it too convenient and people may not realize they can Buy ARX.
Even if you resisted the temptation to open your wallet this time, FDev is not done with you. When you get to the Livery and look at what you have, it will also conveniently show what you don't have and clicking on those options will inform you that you can Purchase ARX. (For those not following, this is how it more-or-less used to be and I'm entirely fine with the option being here. I'm not ok with all of the others in this post though.)
Appropriate, for once.
Lets imagine your will is strong enough and you finish your livery business and log into the game. You then decide to do anything involving a station (do a mission, restock, sell you data, etc) and open the Starport Services menu:
An eye-sore.
If you are not color-blind (in which case, my condolences, because FDev ignored your needs since release) you should be able to immediately spot the Store button, which is conveniently the only button in this menu highlighted in a special color. I guess it is important to incorporate the outside-of-game store into the in-game menus for added immersion. What is next? When can I expect Imperial stations to advertise Apple products? Or be able to listen to radio-ads from GalNet? Step up FDev, there is so much uncharted potential for monetization here!
But anyway, when the horror of the situation grips you, and you attempt to leave the game, you better watch out...
Just why...
because you might just miss-click and Buy ARX!
In all seriousness, this all screams of desperation, and gives me a feeling I am playing some F2P mobile crap, not a game I spent $100 upfront, roughly the same amount in the store, and will be
expected to spend more on in 2020. I understand costs of development and maintenance (I work in software development myself), but this is extremely ugly and disrespectful towards your customers. I would be happy to support FDev financially (thank god for decent wage), but only when they don't take 2 years to fix major issues, and don't break the game with each patch. Needless to say the September update is more of the same crap - old bugs not fixed, and new ones introduced.
I refuse to believe the playerbase is filled with idiots that will open their wallet if you tell them to do it enough times, but maybe I am mistaken? Get rid of this disgusting design FDev, show us that you care about the game and not just your bottom line. While you still can.
---------End Original Post------------
Last edited:
