The ARX Bamboozle - Cows to the Slaughter

[[VR] Mad Mike]

People did, and that they wanted to be able to obtain cosmetics through gameplay

Ultimately for me this is the start and end of it.... Before Arx i could never earn a cosmetic bean in ED, post Arx I can.

aside from when i deliberately want to give FD money for going above and beyond, to me there is no "game shop". At least now i can earn skins by playing the game which is how it should be... (in olden times it was called gameplay). sadly for multiple (and i have to admit legitimate) reasons, ED will likely never be like classic games where you properly earn skins, but Arx is something at least.

And the bonus now... Next time FD release an update which I personally feel warrants something over and above what i paid for the game, rather than buy skins, (which i now use as in game goals) i can now buy proper guff, and i too can look - even more - of a gamer geek with my very own Elite Dangerous hoodie or summat.***

To be fair i doubt i am the demographic which really matters to Frontier, either pre or post ARX. The amount I spend of cosmetics or other gameshop fluff is negligible.

I would much rather pay more money up front and have a complete game experience - or as close to that as possible. FD made the lions share of their money off me 6 years ago.

 

[Alien]

The problem isn't ARX or FDEV its your lack of self control if you actually did that over video game stuff.

Just stick to the freebies if you don't want to buy ARX.

I skim read your incessant griping since I don't value your opinions.

If you don't like the game stop playing it, if you don't like ARX don't buy them and never spend all your money on video game stuff. Any other incredibly simple things you need urgent help with ?.

You really are a sheep, aren't you? ... let's address your points ...

"I don't value your opinion" Then how do you expect me, or anyone else, to value your opinion? I would state exactly what I think of you, but the moderators wouldn't like it.
"If you don't like the game, stop playing" I have
"If you don't like Arx, don't buy them" I haven't
"Never spend your money on video game stuff" That's easy now, I don't have any.

Serious question, have you ever been declared bankrupt? You may want to consider debt counselling if not because it sounds like you're heading that way.

Of course, if what you mean is 'I spent the portion of my disposable income which I'd set aside for purchasing gaming cosmetics' then you don't need to bother with the counselling but might want to think about editing your drama post to make that clear.

I have not declared myself bankrupt because a) you have to pay to declare bankruptcy (did you know that?) b) it wouldn't solve my problems c) I'm not actually in debt.
I've spent (read: wasted) my disposable income and then some.

I do wish people wouldn't comment on the dangers of virtual currency when they have NO IDEA what they are talking about. You just make yourselves look like idiots and white-knighting sheep. (for clarity, this isn't aimed at anyone specific, but if the cap fits, wear it).

@Stigbob, if you value my opinion so little, either put me on an ignore list, or stop replying to me.

 

[CMDR Karrde Sun]

Increasingly it could be the case that frontier slaughtered their own cow.

Arx is probably just an overture to an anonymous demographic that frontier think are more used to funny money than real money for these things. It could even an technology development exercise they could roll out to all their games and got elite to develop it.

Just noticed another noob thing they did.. why it comes across as so shocking is for their obfuscation they've used HUGE numbers.. thousands.. as as price tags these just look expensive. With the old frontier points system, the numbers were smaller than the actual prices (at least in non pound currencies) so it.. just worked better. If you've never bought arx before and went to the store or dlc.elitedangerous.com.. you look at those numbers and think whoa back up there. Those look expensive. That's probably why so many people here have been lead to believe as well.

 

[Ezren]

What's wrong with offering paintjobs individually AND as part of packs? They're not mutually exclusive you know.

You questioning my logic is a bit rich tbh.

Why would they continue a practice many people did not like and actively asked for the alternative to? Are you sure you know what logic is?

If packs and individual paints existed you would instead be here complaining that individual paints are more expensive, as you already have. Hell, here's you complaining about having paint jobs you don't want, but you apparently want to buy them all "packed" together?

You say you want packs but honestly, who cares? You're in the vast minority and there is no reason they should be catering to you. It's not worth the extra effort to appease you just because you say you want a thing. You keep asking "why not?" like there needs to be a response for when you don't get your way, but you've failed to give any reason why it should change other than "I want".

Logic has nothing to do with your argument.

 

[Ezren]

You really are a sheep, aren't you? ... let's address your points ...

"I don't value your opinion" Then how do you expect me, or anyone else, to value your opinion? I would state exactly what I think of you, but the moderators wouldn't like it.
"If you don't like the game, stop playing" I have
"If you don't like Arx, don't buy them" I haven't
"Never spend your money on video game stuff" That's easy now, I don't have any.


I have not declared myself bankrupt because a) you have to pay to declare bankruptcy (did you know that?) b) it wouldn't solve my problems c) I'm not actually in debt.
I've spent (read: wasted) my disposable income and then some.

I do wish people wouldn't comment on the dangers of virtual currency when they have NO IDEA what they are talking about. You just make yourselves look like idiots and white-knighting sheep. (for clarity, this isn't aimed at anyone specific, but if the cap fits, wear it).

@Stigbob, if you value my opinion so little, either put me on an ignore list, or stop replying to me.

You keep saying things like "white knights" and "sheep" which I guess is supposed to be in place of you having anything meaningful to say.

You had a microtransaction issue with some other game but you blame Elite for your problems?

You defend the game you wasted your money on, but you're accusing others of being "white knights"?

You blew through money purchasing things with irresponsible consumerism but you're calling other people "sheep"?

Maybe you should project somewhere else.

 

[Stigbob]

I've spent (read: wasted) my disposable income and then some.

I have not declared myself bankrupt because a) you have to pay to declare bankruptcy (did you know that?) b) it wouldn't solve my problems c) I'm not actually in debt.
I've spent (read: wasted) my disposable income and then some.

I do wish people wouldn't comment on the dangers of virtual currency when they have NO IDEA what they are talking about. You just make yourselves look like idiots and white-knighting sheep. (for clarity, this isn't aimed at anyone specific, but if the cap fits, wear it).

You're the one who's moaning about having squandered loads of dosh, I've never paid any money for a video game cosmetic in my life. Maybe that's the reason you can't even afford to declare yourself bankrupt and I can afford to do it, but very significantly don't need to.

if you value my opinion so little, either put me on an ignore list, or stop replying to me.

And miss out on comedy gold like your financial advice ?. No way.

 

[Ezren]

And miss out on comedy gold like your finacial advice ?. No way.

Why does your question mark always have a period after it?.

 

[Stigbob]

Why does your question mark always have a period after it?.

Its a full stop you heathen.

 

[zimms]

Why would they continue a practice many people did not like and actively asked for the alternative to? Are you sure you know what logic is?
[...]

It's not an xor question though. Do you even know what logic is?

Wow, being condescending is fun.

 

[Rat Catcher]

Why does your question mark always have a period after it?.

Its a full stop you heathen.

Pure gold! English as spoken over several continents
(particularly in the UK where 'period' has another, entirely unrelated, meaning)

 

[znôrt]

"they rise the alarm once they detect that you're not only spending your income, but somebody else's too"

take it as a rumor, this was told by some insider of a monetized game industry leader. that was supposed to be their ethical threshold beyond strictly adhering to state regulations: when a customer starts to spend over his predicted income, which means the addiction is not just a burden anymore but may start to actually and actively destroy a household. time to notify social services. up to that point, milking all the way.

now these were mobile games, aimed at mass and mostly low income/education population, certainly at one extreme of the spectrum. it appears to me that frontier is much closer to the other extreme and while the arx shop goes in the same direction and uses basically the same exploit, the trickery is pretty soft in comparison.

i've played computer games since they exist and find the development of this nowadays blooming industry utterly sad and worrying, specially because games target primarily (granted, not only) kids and suck them into this consumerist mentality. it also is in detriment of the actual games when the mechanics and content become just instruments to promote spending. but this crap is excellent business, people are naive enough to play along, and it's literally everywhere now. i despise this model and rarely contribute (only contributed sporadically to 2 titles (elite included) and not anymore for different reasons. so far, of ... hundreds? that i have played).

on the positive side, a funny aspect of monetization in elite is that people still keep floating the "support the developers" meme around today, like they weren't already swimming in cash.

 

[Ezren]

Its a full stop you heathen.

 

[Stigbob]

"they rise the alarm once they detect that you're not only spending your income, but somebody else's too"

take it as a rumor, this was told by some insider of a monetized game industry leader. that was supposed to be their ethical threshold beyond strictly adhering to state regulations: when a customer starts to spend over his predicted income, which means the addiction is not just a burden anymore but may start to actually and actively destroy a household. time to notify social services. up to that point, milking all the way.

now these were mobile games, aimed at mass and mostly low income/education population, certainly at one extreme of the spectrum. it appears to me that frontier is much closer to the other extreme and while the arx shop goes in the same direction and uses basically the same exploit, the trickery is pretty soft in comparison.

i've played computer games since they exist and find the development of this nowadays blooming industry utterly sad and worrying, specially because games target primarily (granted, not only) kids and suck them into this consumerist mentality. it also is in detriment of the actual games when the mechanics and content become just instruments to promote spending. but this crap is excellent business, people are naive enough to play along, and it's literally everywhere now. i despise this model and rarely contribute (only contributed sporadically to 2 titles (elite included) and not anymore for different reasons. so far, of ... hundreds? that i have played).

on the positive side, a funny aspect of monetization in elite is that people still keep floating the "support the developers" meme around today, like they weren't already swimming in cash.

Couldn't agree more its really odd.

The thing I find most baffling about video game monetisation is the "get the same thing but for more money" manoeuvre which has recently not only become a thing, but against all common sense it actually works.

Really good video games(to me) are worth about £50, I'll also happily shell out the same sort of amount for DLC if I've played and enjoyed the base game.

Most of the time I only ever pick up GOTY packs that include all the DLC ever for that game and I set up an alert I only follow if they drop to the £19.99 mark. They also come fully (mostly) bug tested and patched and with mods.

Yet people are spending thousands to get exactly the same games and saying things like "I support development". The obvious most extreme example being SC which seems to be all optional extra cash and no product whatsoever.

I like driving fords as decades ago I worked on them so I can do a lot of maintenance myself, I have brand loyalty to ford. I'd never chuck them an extra few thousand quid for a car though.

 

[Ezren]

Couldn't agree more its really odd.

The thing I find most baffling about video game monetisation is the "get the same thing but for more money" manoeuvre which has recently not only become a thing, but against all common sense it actually works.

Really good video games(to me) are worth about £50, I'll also happily shell out the same sort of amount for DLC if I've played and enjoyed the base game.

Most of the time I only ever pick up GOTY packs that include all the DLC ever for that game and I set up an alert I only follow if they drop to the £19.99 mark. They also come fully (mostly) bug tested and patched and with mods.

Yet people are spending thousands to get exactly the same games and saying things like "I support development". The obvious most extreme example being SC which seems to be all optional extra cash and no product whatsoever.

I like driving fords as decades ago I worked on them so I can do a lot of maintenance myself, I have brand loyalty to ford. I'd never chuck them an extra few thousand quid for a car though.

SC is a whale magnet. It's a high-profile game and people want to be in the big ships right out of the gate to show off and feel extra especially special.

I was once very excited about SC, before I learned that they were selling ships. Nowadays, it seems like they're selling an imaginary game. But it's a great example of unfocused development - they keep trying to add new things and it keeps sidetracking, bloating the scope and making it hard to focus on really getting something to be real.

I think about that when people point at all the things ED could do; SC is a case study in not trying to do everything.

 

[StuartGT]

I made that mistake with SWTOR. I've spent way way way too much on SWTOR.

Why did I stop giving money to SWTOR? Because I ran out of money.

Now please do justify Frontier doing that to people.

I think you should write an Open Letter asking Frontier to stop making products (games, expansions, DLCs, and cosmetics) available for purchase - it's the only way to protect individuals from over-spending.

There are clearly many people with fragile dispositions lacking the willpower and shopping-control, and they need to be saved from themselves.

Don't stop with just Frontier though: write Open Letters to all companies that make products for purchase - they should all be stopped.

Only last week in Tesco I saw an offer on Jammie Dodgers and I nearly maxed my credit card buying them all! The only reason I didn't starve was the nutritional value of Jammie Dodgers

Fight capitalism!

 

[Screemonster]

I think you should write an Open Letter asking Frontier to stop making products (games, expansions, DLCs, and cosmetics) available for purchase - it's the only way to protect individuals from over-spending.

There are clearly many people with fragile dispositions lacking the willpower and shopping-control, and they need to be saved from themselves.

Don't stop with just Frontier though: write Open Letters to all companies that make products for purchase - they should all be stopped.

Only last week in Tesco I saw an offer on Jammie Dodgers and I nearly maxed my credit card buying them all! The only reason I didn't starve was the nutritional value of Jammie Dodgers

Fight capitalism!

Such crass and blatant lack of will.

Should have held out for an offer on the fox's jam&creams.

 

[znôrt]

I'll also happily shell out the same sort of amount for DLC if I've played and enjoyed the base game.

besides the bad connotations of the name, dlc are fine for me when they are an actual expansion of the game, although that can get blurry too.

sc is just ... bat crap crazy. an oddity. anecdote: i tried it on a free weekend, didn't like it at all (it actually also fried my pc but that was probably just coincidence! ). i will probably have another look at some point but what i'm really waiting for is the "making of" mockumentary someday

 

[Ezren]

I think you should write an Open Letter asking Frontier to stop making products (games, expansions, DLCs, and cosmetics) available for purchase - it's the only way to protect individuals from over-spending.

There are clearly many people with fragile dispositions lacking the willpower and shopping-control, and they need to be saved from themselves.

Don't stop with just Frontier though: write Open Letters to all companies that make products for purchase - they should all be stopped.

Only last week in Tesco I saw an offer on Jammie Dodgers and I nearly maxed my credit card buying them all! The only reason I didn't starve was the nutritional value of Jammie Dodgers

Fight capitalism!

I refuse to look up what I assume is a very British food.

 

[Rat Catcher]

I refuse to look up what I assume is a very British food.

Bloomin' foriegners... (sadly I don't know your local delicacy... but rest assured, Jammy Dodgers, just like elite, is a niche market - real Brits eat Hobnobs!)

 

[StuartGT]

Such crass and blatant lack of will.

Should have held out for an offer on the fox's jam&creams.

Please forgive me!