Curse

Roshi_ikkyu · Jul 30, 2007, 06:23 AM // 06:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malice Black

Yeah, but didn't Gaile say they would hand out more?

I'm sure this quote will be branded often in the coming weeks!

I personally don't believe her, (Its nothing personal) just all the PR sound bytes... :'(

-Loki- · Jul 30, 2007, 06:38 AM // 06:38

Yeah, this bodes well for Australia.

LumpOfCole · Jul 30, 2007, 06:40 AM // 06:40

To be honest, the Grawl might be a rare minipet, but it's not all that special nor does it stand out too much like a Kuuna or a Water Djinn. But it was very nice to sell for someone who appreciated its rarity more than I did

Even if the quantities don't increase though, I have a feeling that it's the next Gray Giant.

dwchang · Jul 30, 2007, 08:48 AM // 08:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

Piecing together the info that we have from various sources, I don't see any impropriety. There were three days of the show, and I think the booth folks were smart to keep a few aside for Saturday only. Judging from what I've heard, the keys were distributed, primarily on Thursday, but more were given Friday and Saturday, and the numbers seems pretty ok to me.

I talked with the NCSoft employees in length about this (and other things) and my understanding is there were ~100 keys (now I hear 150) at Comic-Con and they evenly distributed them on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (either 25 or 37 a day).

They specifically said an equal amount was given each day so I'm pretty sure they didn't give a ton of them on Thursday. On Saturday it seemed like there were just about 25 - 30 folks in line and it looked like everyone got one. However, I could just be wrong.

I was unfortunate enough to be 'late' on Thursday, but that's when they told me they were giving out a set amount every day, with the set being even regardless of the day. After all, I asked them if they had more (which they said yes) and if I could have one, but they said they already gave out their quota for the day

.

Frankly even though I missed out on my first chance, I think it was a fair system since it gave con-goers an equal chance on each day. There are a large number of folks who only buy a Saturday-Only badge (or any other day) and to do any other distribution system would be fairly unfair to them.

I guess the only change I'd make is to communicate the actual distribution times clearly since the first day (Thursday), I had no idea when they were distributing and just sort of stumbled upon the booth. If I knew it was at noon sharp, I'd have probably changed my plans slightly. Regardless, I got mine (and skill pins) so I'm happy

.

arsie · Jul 30, 2007, 08:59 AM // 08:59

For a game that sold 3 million copies, I am surprised that the number of minipets on offer is in the 1000 and 1500 range.

I expect the demand for minipets to be in five digit numbers, not three or four.

I've had a booth at Comicon for my company in the past, and any free stuff regardless of value flies out by the thousands a day. I'm sure its even more popular now than when I was there 5 years ago.

seut · Jul 30, 2007, 10:13 AM // 10:13

Special event with limited handout.. NCSoft never learns.
A few people and their friends, who might not even play GW, stand in line each day and get several keys. It's easy to activate them on secondary or accounts of friends and then sell them for 100k+XXXecto sums.

NCSoft is basically handing out free gold.
Don't believe me? Look what happened to the last batch of special asian minis... same seller for several pets down in high-end forum.

Hengis · Jul 30, 2007, 10:29 AM // 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

this Keeper of the Keys will do her best to assure that a key gets into the hands of a lot of Guild Wars players!

Has someone been reading a lot of Harry Potter lately?

LumpOfCole · Jul 31, 2007, 12:20 AM // 00:20

If it was awesome like a Panda, I'd never consider selling it

ElinoraNeSangre · Jul 31, 2007, 04:06 PM // 16:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hengis Stone

Has someone been reading a lot of Harry Potter lately?

:: snicker :: Dude it's not like JK Rowling was the first person to use the words "keeper of the keys" strung together!

... okay so I like google...

And I'm just sayin'.

Did we get confirmation that the actually number is indeed 1000-1500?

I will point out, though: if they're hard to get, people will worry that they're too rare. If they become more common, people will go on about how it's not so special. If there's one constant, it's that ANet/NCSoft can't make EVERYONE happy.

Gaile Gray · Jul 31, 2007, 05:57 PM // 17:57

It's really difficult for me to know exactly what happened but I will be talking to the folks involved in this distribution to strategize how we might make such opportunities better in the future. Reading various forums, there's some confusion about exactly what happened at Comic-Con, and I think there may be a bit of exaggeration in some of what we're reading.

For instance, one attendee said that s/he was told 150 keys were provided, another said 50. Both are incorrect. Someone said all miniature code cards were given out on the first day and that those who tried to acquire one on Friday and Saturday were aced out; another said there were "a few" on Saturday; a third said there was an equal number distributed each day. One non-attendee suggests that someone could stand in line and take multiple keys; that's pretty likely. Can you see why I'm still trying to filter through the various comments to see what really happened?

I sent some suggestions to the team handling the events, and I'll be at PAX myself to do my best to keep things fair and friendly. We don't want people to go away disappointed, but the keys are limited in number and we're unable to offer more.

(Oh, Keeper of the Keys? I'm a Tower of London fanatic. I thought I'd toss in a semi-obscure cultural reference. But yes, I like Harry Potter a lot; I was rereading #6 late last night.)

LumpOfCole · Jul 31, 2007, 09:07 PM // 21:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

It's really difficult for me to know exactly what happened but I will be talking to the folks involved in this distribution to strategize how we might make such opportunities better in the future. Reading various forums, there's some confusion about exactly what happened at Comic-Con, and I think there may be a bit of exaggeration in some of what we're reading.

For instance, one attendee said that s/he was told 150 keys were provided, another said 50. Both are incorrect. Someone said all miniature code cards were given out on the first day and that those who tried to acquire one on Friday and Saturday were aced out; another said there were "a few" on Saturday; a third said there was an equal number distributed each day. One non-attendee suggests that someone could stand in line and take multiple keys; that's pretty likely. Can you see why I'm still trying to filter through the various comments to see what really happened?

I sent some suggestions to the team handling the events, and I'll be at PAX myself to do my best to keep things fair and friendly. We don't want people to go away disappointed, but the keys are limited in number and we're unable to offer more.

(Oh, Keeper of the Keys? I'm a Tower of London fanatic. I thought I'd toss in a semi-obscure cultural reference. But yes, I like Harry Potter a lot; I was rereading #6 late last night.)

they did scan badges, and lines were filled before each day's noon giveaway, so at least repeat key-getters was seamingly impossible.

ElinoraNeSangre · Jul 31, 2007, 09:54 PM // 21:54

One way around the one person getting more than one is to only allow one key for it per account; it's not perfect as some people DO have a number of accounts but it's better than nothing.

(aw so no falling for my chocolate goodness! Darn!) :: cackle ::

-me, who has had too much sugar today

Atlas Ravens · Jul 31, 2007, 10:23 PM // 22:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

It's really difficult for me to know exactly what happened but I will be talking to the folks involved in this distribution to strategize how we might make such opportunities better in the future.

It's the internet. Use it to distribute the keys instead of requiring a player to leave work / school / whatever and travel to a physical location. At least then you would be assured that the minis go to an authentic GW player and not possibly random non GW players at a non GW specific event.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

...but the keys are limited in number and we're unable to offer more.

This I don't understand. It's a computer. Just generate as many keys as necessary so that anyone who wants to get one can have a chance. (Without requiring long distance travel). PC Gamer worked fine for me. How about some reasonably difficult in-game quest to earn one. You already have the distribution method in place with the tournament rewards.

Since Anet seems dedicated to keeping things fair and balanced and making things available to those who want to properly play the game, why would you make something ultra elite, advertise it, and then give it away to random lucky people who can be in the right place at the right time? It really frustrates me.

The Tower of London is cool, isn't it. - Atlas{Ravens}

Thunder79 · Jul 31, 2007, 10:49 PM // 22:49

disappointed...

Why can't you give them out like candy like so much stuff at conventions is given out. Limiting the numbers to so few only serves to get them into the hands of people who wouldn't appreciate it...forcing those of us who are actual collectors have to pay outrageous sums of in game money for one.

Also why weren't details on how they were going to be given out posted beforehand? What if I were actually able to go to it and I could only show up on one day after the time when they were given out.

My boss was going to try and get me one but no doubt said screw it after he learned he would have to wait in line at a certain time of the day. Had I been able to tell him what time and how they were given out I probably would have had a better chance.

Shakti · Aug 01, 2007, 12:10 AM // 00:10

In Anet's defense for a sec, if they went the PC Gamer route again like the Giant and Asura so the Grawl was uber common, people would bitch about that too. Thus far, except the greased lightning, all the uber rare pets are Asian aren't they? So at least Americans get one and hopefully Europe Aus etc soon as well. Not like we all don't have enough commons (up to armpits in Pigs anyone? Those WERE given out like candy remember?)

Fact is, Anet either can make it super common or rare, and we'd all gripe no matter what they do, they can not win. Even if they found a "middle" ground on the rarity, people who had one would whine that they weren't worth enough...

ok resume bitch session in 3...2...1...

-Loki- · Aug 01, 2007, 06:41 AM // 06:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

but the keys are limited in number and we're unable to offer more.

Appeasement: Yes Gaile. Of course, Gaile.

Seriously: Unless they destroyed the hard drive the key generator was on, I doubt it.

Shanaeri Rynale · Aug 01, 2007, 08:43 AM // 08:43

There have been lots of assurances made about the availability of certain mini pets outside of the place where they have been offered, over a year ago we were told that the Asian mini pets would be available outside of Asia, but as yet this has not been the case.

Clearly people feel strongly about their mini pets and would love to expand their collection without having to fly half way across the world or obtain obscene amounts of gold in order to buy them. Especially now it's been revealed that the hall of monuments will celebrate mini pets.

I think maybe the best way of increasing the chances of getting a rare minipet, while stll being fun and limiting the rarity would be to hold something like an in game lottery.

Pay 1K for a ticket(1 per account) on a weekly basis and then offer a set number of mini pets as a prize(say 1 Rollerbeetle as a jackpot, 5 Mallyx's to the next 5,10 Grawl and so on).

This would not decrease the rarity of pets by much, but by a game of chance would allow every player in the game the ability to acquire one of these rare pets.

As was said above, the key generators are already in place, as is the ability to award prizes to an account. Linking them up should be reasonably easy(famous last words).

At least by a lottery, you generate some excitement in the game, create another gold sink and give those who have missed out on these pets a fair chance to get one.

seut · Aug 01, 2007, 09:46 AM // 09:46

fresh from Kamadan ad1:

limited handout = greed wins & fans lose