Curse

DreamWind · Apr 24, 2009, 07:24 AM // 07:24

I made a similar post to this in another thread, but I realized that it would be more appropriate in this thread so I'm reposting with an addition.

It really stuns me how so many people are ok with all these microtransactions popping up. Stuns me.

The argument I keep seeing pop up is "Anet is a business they need the money so its ok". Fine...I have no problem with them making money. They have been doing so for years WITHOUT microtransactions. The problem? Do I have to make a list of companies and games that give these types of updates out for free? I could do so if neccessary (the list is very large). This isn't content. This is simply an Anet money grab. Not only that, but it is a slap in the face to the players and I don't know why more people don't see that. These are things that players have requested for YEARS. YEARS. What is next, they sell access to an auction house and everybody is ok with that too? Wake up people! How can you support this? If they were selling content such as the MOX quest or Sorrows Furnace or etc, I would be FINE with that because it is content. But this is not that. This is ridiculous.

Don't fool yourself that this is over. Microtransactions are going to be RAMPANT in GW2 if this is any indication. It is making me even more confident and happy in my decision not to buy it.

Finally, the next person to use the "it is optional" or "it doesn't affect gameplay" arguments get the big dunce cap. Please read other threads on this subject where those arguments get destroyed. And those threads were made long before the news that even more microtransactions were coming. Now things are even worse, and they will get even more worse (grammatically bad but who cares).

Dragonire · Apr 24, 2009, 07:42 AM // 07:42

Well, if/when that happens, and if people are really against it, then the game will flop. Let the markets judge; if GW2 does fail in that manner, some other game will take its place (and hopefully learn a lesson from past precedent). Then the circle of life continues.

EPO Bot · Apr 24, 2009, 07:52 AM // 07:52

All you guys who whine about this not being free: No one even expected this feature to ever be in the game in the first place! Once again, if it doesn't influence actual gameplay you have no reason to complain. Only if Anet was selling 100 extra hitpoints for your characters at twenty bucks i would whine like a baby too.

My monkeh looks just fine, thanks. Then again, i couldn't use the in game store because i don't have a VISA.

I wonder how much buyers this little feature is going to get. I think there could be much more then we expect.

RTSFirebat · Apr 24, 2009, 07:57 AM // 07:57

People people! This is good, it makes A.net money which is their right. And this are features people have been asking for.

Quit moaning.

Raccoon · Apr 24, 2009, 08:10 AM // 08:10

I'm more annoyed that something as pathetic as changing the color of you characters hair is going to cost you money. I would have sooner expected them to charge us for participating in event weekends.

Bryant Again · Apr 24, 2009, 08:18 AM // 08:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTSFirebat

People people! This is good, it makes A.net money which is their right. And this are features people have been asking for.

But it, you know, costs $2. Per credit.

For people to experience a single hair-change at all they have to pay the price of 5. I don't think that's what most of those people were asking for.

But it is cool to see it implemented, regardless of how many times they told us it was "impossible".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apollo Smile

I'd like to also note, the devs make the content, not price it. At least send your blame in the right direction.

Who am I blaming?

Empress Amarox · Apr 24, 2009, 08:27 AM // 08:27

Funny idea...

3 months down the line: AUCTION HOUSE just $9.99 per 10 listings!

Toxic OnyX · Apr 24, 2009, 08:29 AM // 08:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTSFirebat

People people! This is good, it makes A.net money which is their right. And this are features people have been asking for.

Quit moaning.

Pretty much sums it up tbh

If you want to use it then pay for it, if you don't then don't.

How people can expect additional content for free is kind of funny, I was against the idea of paying for storage until i realised you do get some additional storage for free (which is enough for me).

If you want more then pay for it, you made your char, so if you want to change it now why should that be for free?

They have added free content as well as the micro transactions and tbh it is the business model of the majority of f2p games now, yes you have to buy the original games and get a LOT of content with them, but these small additions should come at a cost to enable the company to maybe devote more money into further developments.

GG A-net on adding paypal too (which was my major gripe about the online store)

Cacheelma · Apr 24, 2009, 08:31 AM // 08:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Empress Amarox

Funny idea...

3 months down the line: AUCTION HOUSE just $9.99 per 10 listings!

BFBs defending Anet:

"Zomg thank you11!!!!11!"
"Zomg Anet needs money, ching ching ka ching!11!! Thanks!"
"Zomg it's free in WoW but you pay monthly fee lollolol"
"9.99$ is very cheap! get a job and stop complaining!11!!"

...etc etc.

I really do feel sad for this community nowadays.

A11Eur0 · Apr 24, 2009, 08:32 AM // 08:32

Nobody's bitching about having to pay for it. We're bitching about having to pay SO MUCH for it, and being LIED TO saying it was due to an extraordinarily high overhead cost. BULL. They were already paying the devs for their time. The code was already there. 2+2 = 4.

DarkWasp · Apr 24, 2009, 08:37 AM // 08:37

Changing the market base of a game has an effect on changing the fan base.

Its not as simple as us getting what we wanted, and ArenaNet getting paid.

NOT AT ALL.

Some of us cant/wont buy into this. What does that mean? Our hope of getting these features has been crurshed forever.

It also means we have to endure part of the community running around flaunting these new features in front of our faces, it means we have to put up with uncharacteristic NCSoft advertisements within our RP based game, and it means that we can probably count un getting screwed over even more in the future.

Up until this point, ArenaNet has supplied us with an abundance with FREE ingame content. The pay content was all account based. Now we know that our already overworked Live Team is dedicating it's time to stuff that not everyone can/will take advantage of.

If this carries on to GW2, we'll lose part of the romantic and the frugle(sp?) community. That IS NOT A GOOD THING.

Try and remember that if you don't care about paying, the people who do aren't out to screw you over. They arent asking for the features to be removed, they just want them to be free. The way things used to and should be in GW.

There is really no need to flame them.

If ArenaNet needs more money, thats their problem. They can come to us for help and we'd be glad to. But, that's their job.

Puddingbroodje · Apr 24, 2009, 08:42 AM // 08:42

The looks of all my characters changed. Do i have to pay now to get my old looks back? Sounds a little bit like a scam to me...

Edit:
nvm, it was only the login screen, when i logged in my looks reset.

Empress Amarox · Apr 24, 2009, 09:44 AM // 09:44

You know... This makeover thing is a blessing, really. I can delete 2 of my warriors now and play my original warrior and I can delete my new monk and play my original monk. Dunno what I'm going to do with those 3 slots...

Maybe make 3 more mules instead of buying storage panes.... lol xD...

Come to think of it, I wish I hadn't gotten that new necro FoW now.... Oh well.

upier · Apr 24, 2009, 09:51 AM // 09:51

Ooops, did I just screw some people over?
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10364879

Quote:

Originally Posted by upier

Are there any plans for making this into a purchasable feature (where the user selects the new name of choice)?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regina Buenaobra

The ability to purchase a name change is a feature that's been requested often. It is definitely not an easy thing to implement, but we're keeping it in consideration.

My bad ...

mazey vorstagg · Apr 24, 2009, 10:03 AM // 10:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raccoon

I'm more annoyed that something as pathetic as changing the color of you characters hair is going to cost you money. I would have sooner expected them to charge us for participating in event weekends.

Did you know in WoW a char recustomisation (which gives you ability to rechoose gender, a new face from a choice of 6, a new skin tone from a choice of 6, new hair from a choice of 6 and new facial piercings from a choice of 6) costs £9.99?

GW is a micropayment game, what did you expect? You didn't get the other campaigns for free, why is this any different? GW2 is based on the sameconcept. E.g. you buy the game for £35 but to access newly patched areas or addons (such as storage and character customisation) you have to pay.

They've got to earn money somehow, they're a company. Would you rather that people didn't pay you for whatever service you provide at your work?

(not a direct attack on you, just on everyone moaning it should be free

)

pumpkin pie · Apr 24, 2009, 10:04 AM // 10:04

makeover for USD9.90, one would expect that

1) you can change your name at the same time
2) can pick and choose any features (hair, face etc) already available in all the campaigns
3) new and unseen/unreleased before features (hair, face etc)
4) pay once and can make over anytime we wish to.
5) sex change operation.

Reason: then it would become an ad on expansion pack like what GW should be in the first place.

the extreme makeover and name change are not even suppose to be there in the first place.

otherwise its just highway robbery.

JR · Apr 24, 2009, 10:14 AM // 10:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkWasp

Some of us cant/wont buy into this. What does that mean? Our hope of getting these features has been crurshed forever.

Why can't/wont you buy into it? Is supporting a game you enjoy not appealing to you?

As long as NCSoft/ArenaNet keeps releasing the actual game content for free, I am happy. They can fund as much of that as they want by introducing optional microtransaction based functionality.

You can nickel and dime the price as much as you want, but if them expanding the store means they have more revenue to fund development of Guild Wars 2 I am 100% happy with that.

pumpkin pie · Apr 24, 2009, 10:19 AM // 10:19

Hell, i even pay USD15 for the a Make over expansion pack like I explain above if ANet did not turn greedy and wants to use micro-transaction on top of a game we already paid for.

JR · Apr 24, 2009, 10:22 AM // 10:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by pumpkin pie

Hell, i even pay USD15 for the a Make over expansion pack like I explain above if ANet did not turn greedy and wants to use micro-transaction on top of a game we already paid for.

That doesn't make a great deal of sense, you are saying you would pay $15 for a make over expansion pack if Anet hadn't made you pay for the game?

Regardless, I'm fairly sure they aren't just pocketing the money or spending it on massive company parties with champagne and caviar. It is covering the cost of the additional free content for Guild Wars, and helping towards the development of Guild Wars 2.

Fril Estelin · Apr 24, 2009, 10:29 AM // 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR

Why can't/wont you buy into it? Is supporting a game you enjoy not appealing to you?

As long as NCSoft/ArenaNet keeps releasing the actual game content for free, I am happy. They can fund as much of that as they want by introducing optional microtransaction based functionality.

You can nickel and dime the price as much as you want, but if them expanding the store means they have more revenue to fund development of Guild Wars 2 I am 100% happy with that.

You're mostly right JR. But, and it's an important "but" IMHO, this "big" update doesn't look big anymore if you're not willing to pay money for these features. Sure, it's cool to have a few things but:
1) the bag will require quite some time to get, I hope the daily questing is going to be fun;
2) one free storage pane, very good! a bit of a shame the other ones clutter a little bit the storage;
3) when I look at the menageries, I can't help to wonder if they could have created actual content, rather than a fancy storage+unlock place.

I think it's more a product, than an "update". I also think that there's a lot of marketing spin behind this, a lot more than I initially thought. After getting the actual details of the offer, I feel closer to DreamWind's opinion (but not inline with him). Tbh I'm still a bit confused about what this means for me and GW1.

I don't want to be unfair to Linsey, who was and still is a fantastic lead for the Live Team. She has a lot of <3 for us and the game, and this "product" did require a lot of hard work, there's no doubt about it. Yet I can't help but feel uncomfortable. May be the "heat" on Guru is clouding the issue, or artificially creating one.

I wish Anet a lot of success with this new product and hope it'll mean good for the community in a more or less short term.

EDIT: If Regina doesn't contribute to the various hot discussions and doesn't give us more clear insight into Anet's intention behind this "product", I'd consider this a mistake. I'd even prefer Anet to be frank and talk about getting money to justify their effective costs, I may even consider buying something if it's very convincing. But silence will mean bad things for me.