Curse

Gli · Dec 18, 2009, 11:18 PM // 23:18

I have no problem with these microtransactions in principle. I've shelled out cash for most of them in fact, even the more whimsical ones like makeover tokens.

I just think it's sad that the most recent one is so seriously lacking in substance, despite being the only PvE related thing of any substance at all lately. It doesn't bode well for the future.

Gennadios · Dec 18, 2009, 11:18 PM // 23:18

@Meridon:

I wouldn't classify GW as a Dog, but it's longevity will be directly tied to the success of GW2.

I'm predicting that there will be a huge market for GW1 HoM items in GW2. GW2 fans that never bothered /w GW will likely be buying at least a single campaign+eotn expansion, just so that they can trade GW2 K's and Ectos for swag to furnish their HoM.

That doesn't necessarily mean that people will be playing the game, but I suspect there will be alot of campaign buying and farming done.

Test Me · Dec 18, 2009, 11:25 PM // 23:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gli

I have no problem with these microtransactions in principle.

If they were a side thing I wouldn't have any issue with it either. However they seem to be the *only* thing the live team is able to deliver. As already said, they failed to deliver a skill update in 4 months. This clearly suggests they've prioritized internally the costume feature first (as it's not free) and delayed the already long overdue skill updates (free). Sad but true I guess.

Gennadios · Dec 18, 2009, 11:34 PM // 23:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Test Me

If they were a side thing I wouldn't have any issue with it either. However they seem to be the *only* thing the live team is able to deliver. As already said, they failed to deliver a skill update in 4 months. This clearly suggests they've prioritized internally the costume feature first (as it's not free) and delayed the already long overdue skill updates (free). Sad but true I guess.

There are no graphics artists on the Live team, any new art assets and the hours required to make them would have had to come from someone on the GW2 project. The programming for the costumes in and of itself doesn't seem like a very monumental undertaking. I'm sure this didn't take the live team 4 months to implement. The rest of the wintersday stuff, which is free, may have taken that long.

Rocky Rockstar · Dec 18, 2009, 11:35 PM // 23:35

They are pulling this off the right way. They actually add a space for costume which is empty until you have the costume, which adds pressure on people. Luckily I do not care about that. Same with extra storage, but again I do not care, I was fine with 1 storage pane, now i have 4, and 3 and a half is full with things that I can just sell to merchart.

However, they did add a free update very recentley with new content : the Dhuum update.

Also, Arenanet is a company, and all companies needs a source of income.

If I was the president of Anet I would personally have made more 'pay for "advantages"' than they have, and I would have started way earlier. Money is power.

And last, I do not understand people feeling the need to buy the costumes, they are useless, and they will be common and boring in 1 week or so.

"I don't give a f**k"
-Snoop Dogg

Grunntar · Dec 18, 2009, 11:38 PM // 23:38

GW1, from the perspective of "significant new playable content," was abandoned years ago. They were very up-front about this. GW1 didn't support the directions that they wanted to take the game, so they stopped primary development in favor of a new platform (GW2).

You don't like the absence of any future content updates? Tough Nuggies!

Whining about microtransactions isn't going to change their direction, halt the development of GW2, and force them to restart development of GW1.

You get this, or you get nothing. I prefer this!

Steps_Descending · Dec 18, 2009, 11:38 PM // 23:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Test Me

And last and perhaps the most important, it shows that ANet prefers to stop the "6 months content update expansion/campaign" but move to a new "shinny cosmetics" micro-transaction business model. They don't want to invest in adding real new content to the game (too difficult), however they spend the time of one engineer or so for a couple of weeks to release two costumes that together are as expensive as one full campaign (today).

Actually that model was abandonned between NF and GWEN, because they couldn't keep up with it : it become increasingly difficult to make full training areas (as well as adding new skills for everyone, armor, full zones...), so the game themselves would have become smaller and smaller.
SO they went for GWEN/GW2.

Look at Meridon's post to have another reason why they'd make less actual updates. That being said, another BMP would be nice. even if it is smaller.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Test Me

Obviously they're testing the waters. I also expect we'll see more of these micro-transactions with GW2 even from day one.

That's the scary part. Even tough I think a reasonable size of the community won't be scared away by micro-transaction in GW1, I personally hope they keep them out of GW2. Their original word was that GW2 had a business model similar to GW1, with small expansion instead of campaign (that means no micro). We'll see how close they are to it when it comes out.

HBlix · Dec 18, 2009, 11:38 PM // 23:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meridon

An example of the latter is the creation of the Test Crew (instead of hiring professional game testers)

"Professional" game testers are terrible. No amount of testing will catch as many bugs as the general gaming community. Look at WoW, which has been using public test realms successfully for years. A test crew is a step in the right direction, even if it is a sign of waning resources.

Cuilan · Dec 18, 2009, 11:39 PM // 23:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocky Rockstar

They are pulling this off the right way. They actually add a space for costume which is empty until you have the costume, which adds pressure on people.

I haven't tried, but I hear other masks and such can be used for it. Ones that don't require to pay.

Meridon · Dec 18, 2009, 11:45 PM // 23:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gennadios

@Meridon:

I wouldn't classify GW as a Dog, but it's longevity will be directly tied to the success of GW2.

I'm predicting that there will be a huge market for GW1 HoM items in GW2. GW2 fans that never bothered /w GW will likely be buying at least a single campaign+eotn expansion, just so that they can trade GW2 K's and Ectos for swag to furnish their HoM.

That doesn't necessarily mean that people will be playing the game, but I suspect there will be alot of campaign buying and farming done.

Well, that would depend on the exact functionality of your GW1 HoM in GW2. As far as I'm aware of (and correct me if I'm wrong here), the only thing that's been disclosed is that your GW1 HoM will have *some sort of use or role* in GW2. Personally, I don't think this means that every item you put into your HoM is transferable to GW2. I'm predicting something more along the lines of a special title, emote, item or character appearance (like Aion wings) to show that you played GW1 up to a certain level.

If I'm correct, it would mean no surge after the release of GW2. Also, the problem I have with your theory is that it would in that case be more beneficial for Anet/NCSoft to just give all the GW2 HoM implentation details right now (assuming they do already have big plans for HoM in GW2), so everyone buys their EotN expansions now instead of over 2 years, making the revenues come in faster.

Rocky Rockstar · Dec 18, 2009, 11:49 PM // 23:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuilan

I haven't tried, but I hear other masks and such can be used for it. Ones that don't require to pay.

That will be all.

Gennadios · Dec 18, 2009, 11:52 PM // 23:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meridon

Well, that would depend on the exact functionality of your GW1 HoM in GW2. As far as I'm aware of (and correct me if I'm wrong here), the only thing that's been disclosed is that your GW1 HoM will have *some sort of use or role* in GW2. Personally, I don't think this means that every item you put into your HoM is transferable to GW2. I'm predicting something more along the lines of a special title, emote, item or character appearance (like Aion wings) to show that you played GW1 up to a certain level.

If I'm correct, it would mean no surge after the release of GW2. Also, the problem I have with your theory is that it would in that case be more beneficial for Anet/NCSoft to just give all the GW2 HoM implentation details right now (assuming they do already have big plans for HoM in GW2), so everyone buys their EotN expansions now instead of over 2 years, making the revenues come in faster.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I fully expect a mass of completely irrelevant eye candy to come out of the HoM. But as the wintersday costumes, and the number of ppl currently wearing them proves, fans will spend a huge amount of resources on that sort of stuff.

You'd be surprised what lengths people will go to to distinguish themselves from other players.

HBlix · Dec 18, 2009, 11:54 PM // 23:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gennadios

You'd be surprised what lengths people will go to to distinguish themselves from other players.

At the end of the day, the people who make no effort whatsoever stand out the most. How many people do you see walking around EotN with grey died ascalon armor?

Meridon · Dec 19, 2009, 12:51 AM // 00:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gennadios

You'd be surprised what lengths people will go to to distinguish themselves from other players.

I have to admit I tend to look at things in a too practical way, you're probably right about the amount people still willing to spend money if it doesn't have any practical use.

In that case, the reason for them not announcing the details has to mean that they either have no final function for it yet, or that they are purposely withholding the information, so they can continue to squeeze out revenue from costume packs like these. That would mean though that they are still actually making a certain amount of profit from GW1

Arduin · Dec 19, 2009, 12:55 AM // 00:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuilan

I haven't tried, but I hear other masks and such can be used for it. Ones that don't require to pay.

There has been both a headgear and a costume space added.

Lishy · Dec 19, 2009, 01:00 AM // 01:00

Hi, I herdz Arenanet is a business trying to earn a profit after a loss in Guild Wars sales

My roflcopter goes ch ch ch ch ch ch

Nothing new. It's purely cosmetic.

Aleta · Dec 19, 2009, 01:11 AM // 01:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Test Me

Therefore it is understood you agree with the "no real updates" but "armor skins for $6 each" direction. Or? You don't want more for your money? You don't think GW1 could get awesome content updates? You're just happy with what you have been offered so far. Right?

There were never any plans for anymore "updates" not sure where you even got the idea they would consider even working on one

DreamWind · Dec 19, 2009, 02:10 AM // 02:10

Anybody who thinks microtransactions won't be in GW2 is an idiot. Of course they will be. Likely on release.

Also the people saying "Anet is a company they have to make money too blah blah" is stating the obvious and probably an idiot as well. Of course they have to make money. They made money before microtransactions. If they aren't making money now without microtransactions, don't you think they would have thought of that when they came up with their marketing model without microtransactions?

I personally think microtransactions are trash, I think people buying them are wasting their money, and I think they shouldn't exist. But its not my money/game.

Eragon Zarroc · Dec 19, 2009, 02:29 AM // 02:29

i smell a QQ thread....

anet has to make some money some way. if people are willing to pay money for the stupid cosmetic stuff in the ingame store, then lucky anet, lmao. getting money for some programming = win

snowman relic · Dec 19, 2009, 03:05 AM // 03:05

so let me guess you think that areanet should pay their employes out of imaginary money? because these changed keep this game running without these changed they would probably have taken it off the market because they only profit when we buy copies of the game or from the in-game store/ncSoft now i for one want guildwars to stay funtioning idk about you but whatever dont like the changes then quit damnit life changes get over it