Festive countdown in the store!!!!

[Dutchman141]

I do think FDev are exploitative with the pricing and content (and sometimes quality, objectively so re idents and nameplates not fitting neatly onto hulls, lazy kit designs, etc) of updates, especially given 'it's just cosmetic' is a ridiculous defence of such monetisation. Many people, rightly, see customisation as gameplay. And so the only way to customise your ships (in extremely limited ways, no less) is to pay - over and over if you want the same simple palette swap on multiple ships.

They could at least take the, er, P less by having the pack unlock each colour for all ships, not just a single ship. But nope, if the player simply wants two different ships in white or a vivid red, they're forced to pay at least twice. There is no 'choice' about that at all, and FDev obviously know that. In this respect they are not pro-consumer at all.

However, on XB1 Elite has absolutely no direct competition, so they cannot be challenged by competition being less exploitative. I want to support the game, sure, and because I'm a gullible idiot I continue to spend money on lazy palette swaps... but I'd enjoy supporting it more if the monetisation was more fair.

I do like the gold wireframe Sidewinder, but I've not flown that thing since I traded it in for an--- Adder, I think? So that would be a complete waste of money.

Wouldn't that remark seem a tad smarter/less snarky if it hadn't been made just after Chapter 4's release?

Although I understand what you mean and would like to see at least the standard colors for all ships in one but I do disagree with you about Fdev being exploitative.
I call practices by EA and the likes exploitative when you spend money hoping to get the item you want but most likely wont get so you spend more money.
Although pricey in some cases the Frontier store is clear about the costs and what you get, it's up to you or me wether a certain item is worth the cost.
When I order two hotdogs and want ketchup on one of them I pay a little extra, I liked that so I want ketchup on my other hotdog too, I'll have to pay a little extra again, is that an exploit too?
I can't tell the hotdog salesman that he's exploiting me for another portion of the same product, ketchup.

Imho it's just a matter off wether a store item is worth the cost, and that is an individual personal choice.
The items are pure vanity and don't give any advantage in the game to the buyer so it's purely personal taste and is it worth the price to you.
I don't see any exploit here.

 

[Fray]

When I order two hotdogs and want ketchup on one of them I pay a little extra, I liked that so I want ketchup on my other hotdog too, I'll have to pay a little extra again, is that an exploit too?
I can't tell the hotdog salesman that he's exploiting me for another portion of the same product, ketchup.

The analogy doesn't work because the hotdog needs to be constantly changing, and having tiers of payment options, and then there is literally no end of extras... Game design and its monetisation doesn't tend to stand up to direct comparisons outside its own field.

The items are pure vanity and don't give any advantage in the game to the buyer so it's purely personal taste and is it worth the price to you.
I don't see any exploit here.

It is quite literally psychologically exploiting people who feel customisation is an integral part of a game experience (which it is). Limited offers for certain skins are also another form of even more coercive exploitation.

It's nowhere as egregious as, say, Ubisoft designing a game intended to level-gate the player into being frustrated enough to pay for XP boosters, sure (or releasing two hundred super-special uber-limited collectors editions... ), but something doesn't need to be the worst possible example of something to be worthy of criticism.

This clearly isn't a huge issue for me, and as I said, I'm stupidly gullible enough to keep dancing to FDev's tune. But it would be much easier to stomach if a few things changed.

...I deleted the rest of a reasonably lengthy post detailing what I feel would make their culture of microtransactions less unpleasant and more consumer friendly (tldr; some global - solid - colour packs, lower prices across the increasingly numerous range, more discounts/deep sales, semi-regular free skins for those unable or unwilling to cough up coin, better quality of actual work, e.g. skin details/resolution, nameplate/ident placements, kit integration/designs etc... ), but FDev will never change anything, this is an old issue (relatively speaking), and so it's just easier to agree to disagree given those factors.

 

[MaxG10]

cough cough... may I?

The thread is taking an interesting direction, unexpectedly, but rightfully. I am not being cynical, but do you guys really consider three pound sterling to be a micropayment? I don't know the definition, and perhaps it is considered a microtransaction, but I know what three pound sterling buys in the shops.

As I am new to this kind of monetisation, I am somewhat shocked that this works.

Again, don't get it down the wrong tube, it's fine with me when people enjoy customisation of their ships, horses for courses.

We live in a world where a chap that I happen to know booked a suite in the Ritz-Carlton for two weeks, for two because he might pop in for a day in that time frame and wanted to make sure the suite is available for him. He was there for two days and nights. The suite cost 35.000 USD.... per night! He dished out for two weeks upfront, of course.

Horses for courses?

I fully agree with the vanity statement concerning the game extras, and to clarify, I am not pointing fingers at FD because they offer this for a price, I am totally astonished that the shop did not need to close long ago, because of lack of customers.

What's next?

A virtual ...ahem, Nose job?... for your Oculus Rift personality at a "festive discount"?

 

[Iskariot]

Not wanting to be the party pooper, but I am not your normal gamer.... rather just started to enjoy a few games.... hence I wondered...

You're serious, really?

These guys make real money for a virtual paint job in a game? Good Lord!!!!!:O

The web is about 27 years now. I am on the internet since late 70s, that was way before web browsers were invented. - Archie anyone? - So you could say, I 've been around the block a few times and I mean... well...

Hmm...ok, I shut up now...



unfeckinbelievable lol

FDev only sells paintjobs to help finance the ED project.
You do not have to support them in any way, because none of these paints are mandatory.
If you do not want it, ignore it.

I am selective myself too. I do not consider 3 pound sterling for a single skin to be a micro payment either, but sometimes I see something I would like to have and... what the heck... it's my favourite spacegame.

 

[Iskariot]

What's next?

A virtual ...ahem, Nose job?... for your Oculus Rift personality at a "festive discount"?

You can buy tatoos for your cmdr .
Really, I 'm not joking.

 

[MaxG10]

You can buy tatoos for your cmdr .
Really, I 'm not joking.

As long as they don't sell tatoos of the NDL... but honestly, I thought you were taking the mickey.

You might be right that the cashflow from this shop goes into development, of course, but I wonder whether development would stop if the shop closes down due to lack of interest. I doubt it....

 

[Le-Betz]

Last year I missed the chance to get a chrome paintjob for the sidey, hope to get another chance this year to make my suicidewinder look a bit more like James Dean's Porsche. Perfect color to do that would be aluminium silver, but at least chrome is much better than gold.

 

[Dutchman141]

The store has been a point of discussion as long as I can remember, some points I agree with, like the horrible quality of some paints, and some points I disagree with.
It's each to it's own wether you want to buy something or not.
Personaly I just make a balance, how much do I spend and how many hours of fun do I have, ED is quite cheap when you look at it that way imho.

As said before, it's best to agree to disagree.

 

[Deleted member 110222]

Iridescent gleam Vulture.

 

[Batterby76]

Fingers crossed for cobra3 wire frame (white not gold)

 

[Deleted member 110222]

Fingers crossed for cobra3 wire frame (white not gold)

Never gonna' happen. You think people get defensive over the Cobra Mk IV...

 

[Cupsuki]

Here I am waiting for some love for large ships. Camo corvette? Chrome Cutter? Cow skin for the Type-9!? So much potential...

 

[Batterby76]

Well i was tryin not to mention the mk4 situation but as it out in the open MORE MK4 SKINS please santa

 

[FixMeNow]

I dont mind FD charging for skins, but atleast price these festive regurgitated skins correctly.

£3 for one gold/silver skin is the same price as a pack of six on any normal pack.

"Oh but they limited time!"

Yea until next year when they regurgitate them again.

Its basically paint bucket in paint how they make these skins.

 

[znôrt]

any iridescent bugfix yet?

 

[OHMSS]

any iridescent bugfix yet?

FDev are teasing us. Selling a gold wire frame sidewinder and then not putting any other ships on.

Ships with this paint look amazing with white ship ID's and name plates. Last time they were on I bought the Cobra, Asp and Anaconda but missed out on the Python as I didn't have one at the time. Checking daily and ready to grab a ship I actually fly.

Yeah yeah gold and chrome.........whatever

 

[ebbrell]

im hoping for chrome Krait (bother versions), T9, Challenger and gunship

I would buy all of them right away
then my entire fleet is chrome


p.s. throw in a Mamba I may buy one

 

[Dutchman141]

im hoping for chrome Krait (bother versions), T9, Challenger and gunship

I would buy all of them right away
then my entire fleet is chrome


p.s. throw in a Mamba I may buy one

Yup, only paints I'm waiting for are the chrome Kraits both versions.
Oh and a Krait Phantom ship kit.

 

[EagleOne]

Is the Chrome Viper showing up in the store for anyone on xbox?
I opened the store through the game and selected the festive filter and it only shows the sidewinder, cobra and the dolphin.
[h=2][/h]

Same here.
I'm a little disappointed because it's the only one I need.

 

[Pinkeye69]

FDev are teasing us. Selling a gold wire frame sidewinder and then not putting any other ships on.

Ships with this paint look amazing with white ship ID's and name plates. Last time they were on I bought the Cobra, Asp and Anaconda but missed out on the Python as I didn't have one at the time. Checking daily and ready to grab a ship I actually fly.

Yeah yeah gold and chrome.........whatever

I'm in the other boat. I bought the cobra, asp and python but not the annie as i didn't have one at the time.
Fingers crossed for white wireframes, they do look the mutts.