Microtransaction alternative

[sandkid]

There's a case to be made for 'free through gameplay' cosmetics, but you have to understand how and why it works. First, let's roll with an example:

EX: The Military, Tactical, and Vibrant Paintjobs become purchasable through certain conditions.

These are the most basic paintjobs of Elite and nearly all (new) ships are immediately released with them available. The strategy is that player gets new ship, immediately wants to customize it, spends a little cash and gets what they want *from limited options*. As time goes on, more paintjobs and kits are released, prompting player to buy *again* new cosmetics to replace old cosmetic. It's a tried and true model, nothing insidious per se - just works.

Now then, to the OP...

If we made those three paintjobs 'unlockable' through parameters:
-Reach X rank in Combat for Military Paintset
-Reach Y Rank in CQC for Tactical Paintset
-Reach Z amount of assets for Vibrant Paintset

And you make these parameters fairly easy to attain *but time intensive* - say 20 hours gameplay - you lose out on that first purchase but increase incentive to buy.

Now here's the problem: that increased incentive to buy doesn't translate to repeat purchases like a cheaper model (the existing model) does. So while you'll get a higher conversion rate on purchase *per commander*, total revenue can actually decrease...depending on the existing saturation of purchases.

In laymen's terms: if a lot of the playerbase already buys stuff, this change will actually HARM revenue. If, on the other hand, the majority of players *are not* buying - this change galvanizes turnover at the cost of potential return business...but if you already lack business, this doesn't matter. Games like Elite, which have no subscription, depend on microtransactions to generate substantial revenue. The trickle of paint, decals, and what have you, is all designed to maximize revenue over time. Again, this isn't a 'bad thing' and they aren't taking advantage of you - it's just business.

I would LOVE for there to be unlockable decals and paintsets - but one must recognize these would almost certainly have to be the most boring of the available products. The search and rescue decal (something I'd love to have) makes sense as an unlockable...to a player...but is too valuable of a potential sale to just throw away as an unlockable.

 

[Stigbob]

The plan was always cosmetic sales rather than a subscription. Purchasable space cash was also mentioned way back but pay to win is a particularly toxic batch of marmite and they dropped that idea.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

What ED needs is loot crates....


*Runs away*

 

[BinaryFu]

What ED needs is loot crates....


*Runs away*

ZOMG LEWT KRAITS!!!! I wanna fly one nao.

 

[sandkid]

ZOMG LEWT KRAITS!!!! I wanna fly one nao.

Loot Kraits.

That's solid gold right there. You get rep just for that.


On a more serious note, it is highly unlikely Frontier would incorporate P2W transactions or even randomized (loot crate) transactions as they don't really fit the ethos of the game.

 

[BinaryFu]

Loot Kraits.

That's solid gold right there. You get rep just for that.


On a more serious note, it is highly unlikely Frontier would incorporate P2W transactions or even randomized (loot crate) transactions as they don't really fit the ethos of the game.

Thank you for the +rep! ^_^

True, it really doesn't fit into their ethos...but you know what would? Rewards. Open up the player base of paint jobs and set them to be reward options. That way they could still have the microtrans for the "cooler" paintjobs, and might even encourage them to come up with some better custom items (although I love the new Archer Voicepack. Highly recommend it, almost JARVIS-like).

I'll haul a lot of biowaste to get a sweeeet new paint job for my iCutter...just sayin'.

 

[sandkid]

Thank you for the +rep! ^_^

True, it really doesn't fit into their ethos...but you know what would? Rewards. Open up the player base of paint jobs and set them to be reward options. That way they could still have the microtrans for the "cooler" paintjobs, and might even encourage them to come up with some better custom items (although I love the new Archer Voicepack. Highly recommend it, almost JARVIS-like).

I'll haul a lot of biowaste to get a sweeeet new paint job for my iCutter...just sayin'.

In this I'll agree: player created paints could be pawned off as earnables as the developer time in building them is at least reduced, further reducing the loss incurred. Warframe is well-known for its 'TennoCon' skins and the like - most of which have done very well across the entire playerbase. They're still sold, mind you, but at a reduced cost.

Speaking of Warframe, Elite isn't varied enough in commodities and cosmetics for this but I've always been amazed at the platinum economy of Warframe. By integrating their MT currency (platinum) into just about everything in the game, including the ability to trade it among players, they created a massive revenue generator that still allows scroogish players (like myself) to get a hold of it with in-game resources.

An alternative to OP is the ability to earn Frontier Points through gameplay. Considering the snafus surrounding our buzzword of the month - narrative - tying the earnings of some frontier points, even if it maxed out to just a thousand or less, to narrative could kill two birds with one stone:

-Kill a Thargoid of any kind: 100 Frontier Pts
-Meet Ram Tah and visit a Guardian Site: 100 Frontier Pts
-Craft your first Grade 5 Engineering Mod: "..."
-Reach X Rank in Y Career...
-Buy your first Ship (Sidewinder excluded)
-Buy your first medium ship
-Buy your first large ship
-Travel to Jacques Station
-Travel to Sag A*

Etc...it gets to looking like an achievement list (because it is) but it can be designed to push players towards the hitherto often unknown narrative of the game. FDev keeps writing the story as normal, players get an incentive to visit the Frontier Store, and if it all pans out to l1000 points or so...that only outfits, like, two ships...but further invests the player into the game in a more organic way.

 

[BinaryFu]

In this I'll agree: player created paints could be pawned off as earnables as the developer time in building them is at least reduced, further reducing the loss incurred. Warframe is well-known for its 'TennoCon' skins and the like - most of which have done very well across the entire playerbase. They're still sold, mind you, but at a reduced cost.

Speaking of Warframe, Elite isn't varied enough in commodities and cosmetics for this but I've always been amazed at the platinum economy of Warframe. By integrating their MT currency (platinum) into just about everything in the game, including the ability to trade it among players, they created a massive revenue generator that still allows scroogish players (like myself) to get a hold of it with in-game resources.

An alternative to OP is the ability to earn Frontier Points through gameplay. Considering the snafus surrounding our buzzword of the month - narrative - tying the earnings of some frontier points, even if it maxed out to just a thousand or less, to narrative could kill two birds with one stone:

-Kill a Thargoid of any kind: 100 Frontier Pts
-Meet Ram Tah and visit a Guardian Site: 100 Frontier Pts
-Craft your first Grade 5 Engineering Mod: "..."
-Reach X Rank in Y Career...
-Buy your first Ship (Sidewinder excluded)
-Buy your first medium ship
-Buy your first large ship
-Travel to Jacques Station
-Travel to Sag A*

Etc...it gets to looking like an achievement list (because it is) but it can be designed to push players towards the hitherto often unknown narrative of the game. FDev keeps writing the story as normal, players get an incentive to visit the Frontier Store, and if it all pans out to l1000 points or so...that only outfits, like, two ships...but further invests the player into the game in a more organic way.

Oooo...I like the idea...and Beagle Point for the big win...can't forget that one.

 

[krylite]

I like the idea of the most basic paintjobs becoming available with some attaining of ranks or accomplishments. The powerplay decals could have been segregated where only pledged cmdrs to an exclusive power could have access. Otherwise I'm fine with the majority of the paintjobs in place of a monthly subscription to help Frontier pay for ED's use of AWS. (AmazonWebServices)

 

[Elliot Coleman]

If funding is that big of an issue, just do $10/month gives access to all cosmetics and early access to new ships. Not a pay to play thing, but a subscription to be able to infinitely customize everything and buy (with CR) any newly released ships a month or two earlier than non-subscribers.

 

[XandoBrannigan]

If funding is that big of an issue, just do $10/month gives access to all cosmetics.

That would be cool, it's pretty much what I do now anyway. Although currently $10 doesn't get very much. It's enough for a few paint job options for one ship.

 

[BinaryFu]

That would be cool, it's pretty much what I do now anyway. Although currently $10 doesn't get very much. It's enough for a few paint job options for one ship.

For me, a big thing is the ship's voice. I wasn't overly impressed with Alex, but Archer is amazing as it Celeste. They get a cute Scottish or Irish lass for the ship voice and I'll throw away more money for those.

 

[znôrt]

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

sure. now you just have to convice the board, the investors and the shareholders to change the whole business model they have been planing and pouring millions of $ in for a few years now.

no, i know what you mean. other games have vanity items that can either be bought with cash or earned with excruciating grind. this is a good idea, but i'm not sure it would work for elite. the people who grind are actually valuable in those games because they create critical mass increasing the preceived value of the vanity items to those ready to pay money. these are usually highly populated mmos, shooters or coops. in comparison, elite players hardly ever see each other so ... risky business, it might even devalue those items.

 

[foxpur]

In this I'll agree: player created paints could be pawned off as earnables as the developer time in building them is at least reduced, further reducing the loss incurred. Warframe is well-known for its 'TennoCon' skins and the like - most of which have done very well across the entire playerbase. They're still sold, mind you, but at a reduced cost.

Speaking of Warframe, Elite isn't varied enough in commodities and cosmetics for this but I've always been amazed at the platinum economy of Warframe. By integrating their MT currency (platinum) into just about everything in the game, including the ability to trade it among players, they created a massive revenue generator that still allows scroogish players (like myself) to get a hold of it with in-game resources.

An alternative to OP is the ability to earn Frontier Points through gameplay. Considering the snafus surrounding our buzzword of the month - narrative - tying the earnings of some frontier points, even if it maxed out to just a thousand or less, to narrative could kill two birds with one stone:

-Kill a Thargoid of any kind: 100 Frontier Pts
-Meet Ram Tah and visit a Guardian Site: 100 Frontier Pts
-Craft your first Grade 5 Engineering Mod: "..."
-Reach X Rank in Y Career...
-Buy your first Ship (Sidewinder excluded)
-Buy your first medium ship
-Buy your first large ship
-Travel to Jacques Station
-Travel to Sag A*

Etc...it gets to looking like an achievement list (because it is) but it can be designed to push players towards the hitherto often unknown narrative of the game. FDev keeps writing the story as normal, players get an incentive to visit the Frontier Store, and if it all pans out to l1000 points or so...that only outfits, like, two ships...but further invests the player into the game in a more organic way.

Altho SOME of the idea I like I am not thrilled of 'bonus' items that become unattainable... like the 'kill a thargoid'. I don't do battle unless I really have no other option and it is 95% dead for me, setting a reward that players CAN'T get is just salt in the wound. Aside from that kind of issue I like it.

 

[foxpur]

If funding is that big of an issue, just do $10/month gives access to all cosmetics and early access to new ships. Not a pay to play thing, but a subscription to be able to infinitely customize everything and buy (with CR) any newly released ships a month or two earlier than non-subscribers.

I was a early backer of them game, the no subscription was one of the biggest sales points. Then saying... "THEY are gonna get stuff early to kill you with (if only a short time) that you can't get because you are poor" is pretty damned insulting to those of us who can't suddenly to have those 'edge' ships.

For me, a big thing is the ship's voice. I wasn't overly impressed with Alex, but Archer is amazing as it Celeste. They get a cute Scottish or Irish lass for the ship voice and I'll throw away more money for those.

You do know the voice are from HCS and they do have a Scottish one?