Curse

Rocky Raccoon · Apr 13, 2009, 06:23 PM // 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASON626

This storage update was a community out cry that we needed with all the stuff that has been added to guild wars over the last year or two; con sets, books, armor,minis, keys, tonics,inscriptions etc. The last time they updated storage it was free but it was based on how many guild wars campaigns you owned. Now they charge you money for all the extras they added since they don't have any more guild wars chapters to charge you for.

Basically its a waste because its going to effect small percentage of guild wars players not every player like free update. I'd rather have a new elite area added to locations of FoW, UW, but under one of the other gods than this or a new weapons mod trader which would get rid of 2 storage tabs instantly on my account. Unlocking pets that have been tamed is a good idea. We get a free character pack slot we'll most likely have to quest for.... holds only certain items.

Please try to use a little sense here. Do you want GW2 to come out in a timely manner? The time it would take to add the new content you would like, would add time on to the GW2 release. Be happy they are still adding something to the game and it is optional.

Fril Estelin · Apr 13, 2009, 06:35 PM // 18:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASON626

Basically its a waste because its going to effect small percentage of guild wars players not every player like free update.

I bet a significant part of the community is not only not poor, but also willing to give the $10 (be it for the convenience of not having to swap chars/GWx2 accounts, "supporting Anet", or because they're rich and $10 is not much compared to other MMO monthly fees, for example).

In the end Anet is the one directly affected by how much people will buy it (they probably are paying for the provision of more space, hoping to get at least a certain number of purchase). We're only indirectly affected by bad sales.

Quote:

I'd rather have a new elite area added to locations of FoW, UW, but under one of the other gods

Linsey already explained (see her wiki journal) the process they'd need for that and it requires a massive amount of resources that Anet hasn't commited to GW1.

Airstu · Apr 13, 2009, 06:42 PM // 18:42

/notsigned

I can't believe this fail thread isn't closed.

How many more times do we have to say OPTIONAL.

Karate Jesus · Apr 13, 2009, 06:43 PM // 18:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Verene

Wrong. It's still $40 (the standard retail price for it) at Gamestop, unless you go to a store that discounts discontinued PC games.

At the Gamestop down the block from me, GW Plat is 9.99 USD. Factions is 14.99 USD, and the rest are a little more. At Walmart, almost all of them are 9.99 USD.

Bad marketing is bad (even Linsey admitted that you're only paying for the convenience of not having to transfer items).

Rocky Raccoon · Apr 13, 2009, 06:46 PM // 18:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karate Jesus

At the Gamestop down the block from me, GW Plat is 9.99 USD. Factions is 14.99 USD, and the rest are a little more. At Walmart, almost all of them are 9.99 USD.

Bad marketing is bad (even Linsey admitted that you're only paying for the convenience of not having to transfer items).

Seems to me whatever way you gain your storage is a win for ANET.

Taddayo Kun · Apr 13, 2009, 06:53 PM // 18:53

I'm actually suprised that there is an issue to begin with since this is a solution to a problem that is long overdue.

To put it simply. Running guild wars costs money. They money from us not from subscriptions, but by selling us content. The issue that we had was not enough storage, the issue they had was not enough server space to give us more storage. The solution is simple, create more server space which will be funded by sales of said storage. The fact that they are planning on giving everyone equipment storage and a slot for a third bag is a plus on it's own.

It's the same issue as extra character slots, if you don't want them, don't buy them, you'll get more storage for free anyway. Judging by the poll so far and ingame talk, most people are overjoyed that they are giving us this option and will happily pay the measly $10 for it.

Furthermore, Plaync are not a third party company. The are a Division of NCSOFT which handles sales and customer service.

Fril Estelin · Apr 13, 2009, 06:58 PM // 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karate Jesus

Bad marketing is bad (even Linsey admitted that you're only paying for the convenience of not having to transfer items).

Are you sure? 1 slot for this convenience forever = $10 = 1 month of WoW or any other monthly-fee MMO

We have no idea what's behind this pricing decision, but there can be a lot of very different scenarios (disclaimer: this is purely hypothetical, I have no insider information):
1) Anet decided to get more money to accelerate the release of GW2;
2) Anet needs this money to be able to release a bigger GW1 update later this year or next year;
3) Anet needs this money to be able to not downside their future GW1 projects;
4) compared to most products of similar features (i.e. not only storage space, but time to move stuff around) it's roughly what people pay;
5) given how people have bought stuff from the online store, $10 seems like a good value for this extra;
6) this is the actual amount +25% that is needed to expand their storage facilities without affecting server performance.

Unless you've made a marketing analysis of this yet-to-be-released offer (and you share it with us), it's just empty words.

Karate Jesus · Apr 13, 2009, 07:03 PM // 19:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fril Estelin

Are you sure? 1 slot for this convenience forever = $10 = 1 month of WoW or any other monthly-fee MMO

We have no idea what's behind this pricing decision, but there can be a lot of very different scenarios (disclaimer: this is purely hypothetical, I have no insider information):
1) Anet decided to get more money to accelerate the release of GW2;
2) Anet needs this money to be able to release a bigger GW1 update later this year or next year;
3) Anet needs this money to be able to not downside their future GW1 projects;
4) compared to most products of similar features (i.e. not only storage space, but time to move stuff around) it's roughly what people pay;
5) given how people have bought stuff from the online store, $10 seems like a good value for this extra;
6) this is the actual amount +25% that is needed to expand their storage facilities without affecting server performance.

7) They want to make a profit.

I don't blame them, but don't kid yourself. The mark-up is more than 25%.

LifesRestorer · Apr 13, 2009, 07:03 PM // 19:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by spamslayer

You fail to recognize that when you have 32 characters you don't have that option anymore and you fail to see the convenience of having those tabs in the storage.

I was talking about the O'Brian quote; I was saying Diablo, Warcraft and Starcraft are still alive.

if you have 32 characters and all of them are full on storage you seriously need to think about doing some cleaning...

DreamWind · Apr 13, 2009, 07:04 PM // 19:04

I have to get involved in this thread.

Selling extra storage is just another step in Anet's movement to completely selling everything in the game for real money. They have already begun selling in game items/skills/slots and now they have moved on to selling "conviences". People need to stop with this "conviences" argument and get into their head that this nothing more than selling players a way to get around the game shortcoming of low storage capacity. We have moved far beyond the days of them just selling accounts.

I will not be shocked at all if many things in GW2 will be available for purchase from the beginning. This is the direction Anet has chosen.

Many people here are using the argument that it is ok because it is optional. This is a stupid argument for several reasons. What if god mode was optional for purchase? Would that be ok too? Also, it was optional for Anet to give us extra storage for free and they didn't. The idea that being optional in and of itself makes it ok is dumb. You have to give us better reasons.

Other people are saying that since there is no monthly fee it is fine for Anet to charge us for optional conviences. Hmm ok...but lets think for a second. For starters Anet lied to us because they explicitly stated in the past on numerous occasions that they would never sell in game items/conviences/etc. I will pull the quotes if I must, but it shouldn't be neccessary.

They should just come out and admit that they have changed their stance due to need of more money. They should come out and admit to us that their marketing system wasn't good enough on its own and they changed it along with everything else.

There are a lot of people who bought this game with the idea that in game crap wouldn't be sold for real money. I remember the good old days when skill was supposed to be the determining factor of everything in the game. Now I can spend real money to get anything I need in the entire game without even having to play. I can get infinite zaishen keys, infinite characters, infinite storage, infinite skills and items, and hell I can even buy a gold cape if I want to (not directly from Anet but I can sure as hell trade the items I bought from Anet and put in my bought storage from Anet to trade for one).

The worst part is the conviences (such as UAX and storage) should have been in the game from the beginning. The fact that they are being sold and it is ok is just sad to me. Anet selling storage is the equivalent of Blizzard selling an update that allows you to select more than 12 units in Starcraft. There would be a public outrage, but with Guild Wars it is ok! Anet has suckered all of you. Yes I know this post has went on several tangents, but I am trying to get my point across. I personally did not buy Guild Wars for all these optional purchases. If I wanted a game where I could buy everything in the game I have plenty of other options. Selling storage is just another step in Anet's path to selling everything. To me this is not what Guild Wars was supposed to be.

Fril Estelin · Apr 13, 2009, 07:17 PM // 19:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamWind

Selling extra storage is just another step in Anet's movement to completely selling everything in the game for real money.

If I'm not mistaken, this new "MMO business model" was forecast about 2 years ago as the one that would be dominant in the future. Given the current economic climate, it becomes even more important to make money in the short term, if GW2 has to have any chance of not being "handicaped" (Anet has no monthly fee to be protected from the current economic climate, see Activision Blizzard Q4 2008 loss but profit over a year).

Quote:

People need to stop with this "conviences" argument and get into their head that this nothing more than selling players a way to get around the game shortcoming of low storage capacity.

I believe what Linsey said, and to me that seems the only reason why I'd buy this, because I'm seriously fed up of swapping char and exchanging items in my Xunlai Storage. GWx2 may be convenient but it's eating my comp resources, and the prospect of simply sharing everything via the Xunlai Storage is worth some money (I haven't bought anything GW-wise in a while, people would shout that this is a blasphemy to the concept of f2p game are unrealistic or greedy).

Quote:

Anet selling storage is the equivalent of Blizzard selling an update that allows you to select more than 12 units in Starcraft.

Very bad comparison: the storage brings no game advantage whatsoever. It's a feature that allows you to spend less time swapping chars/accounts. Every1 has been playing for years without it, it was difficult but perfectly doable. It was about the way you have to manage your storage. Now you're offered an easier way to do it.

all13d · Apr 13, 2009, 07:32 PM // 19:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhavv

I say that Anet should go the extra mile and sell extra bag slots for $4.99 as well on a per character basis.

If you were to delete such a character, or it gets /nameban, then the next one you make gets an extra bag slot or something.

They need money. Durrrr!!!

We already know this can't happen. Linsey said that they can't further expand the inventory window (F9) because it will result in an increased minimum resolution requirement.

Fril Estelin · Apr 13, 2009, 07:38 PM // 19:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by all13d

We already know this can't happen. Linsey said that they can't further expand the inventory window (F9) because it will result in an increased minimum resolution requirement.

Incorrect. This is what she said:

If we decide to increase bag sizes (which we would like to do at some point) we will need to increase the minimum resolution available.

So they'll attempt at one point to increase it, together with the game requirements.

DreamWind · Apr 13, 2009, 07:45 PM // 19:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fril Estelin

If I'm not mistaken, this new "MMO business model" was forecast about 2 years ago as the one that would be dominant in the future. Given the current economic climate, it becomes even more important to make money in the short term, if GW2 has to have any chance of not being "handicaped" (Anet has no monthly fee to be protected from the current economic climate, see Activision Blizzard Q4 2008 loss but profit over a year).

Fine...I just want Anet to come out and say everything is different now, because I am going by all previous accounts of what they said.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fril Estelin

Very bad comparison: the storage brings no game advantage whatsoever.

I disagree. I think it can offer advanges in many situations for many people.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fril Estelin

Every1 has been playing for years without it, it was difficult but perfectly doable.

Same thing with the example I gave.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fril Estelin

Now you're offered an easier way to do it.

Instead of being given an easier way to do it. They are selling a way around a game shortcoming and something people have been complaining about for years! That is even worse than selling something that is more than neccessary like character slots (which are often used specifically for more storage I might add). But what if they were selling everything else people have been wanting for years now? Auction house? Name changer? Hair stylist? Blah blah blah. When do you draw the line? Its either all or nothing, there is no in between.

Arduin · Apr 13, 2009, 07:48 PM // 19:48

Minimum resolution, as in 1024*768?

Yawgmoth · Apr 13, 2009, 07:52 PM // 19:52

/BOYCOTT this bs or say goodbye to the good old GW business model.

Starting with EotN they're giving us much less for much more and this trend is only expanding, getting to absuridiculous proportions with this new offer.

Next step if you support it: Single storage slots for $1 each, buy as many as you want!

Next step: GW2 with very very little features, slots and storage space if you buy just the base game. Whole game designed in a way so you HAVE to buy A LOT of OVERPRICED $10 microtransactions crap to be able to comfortably play the game. So you'll end up paying as much as for a monthly fee game, but you'll be still playing game supported and updated like a FREE game, because it's all OPTIONAL.
ultimate failure.

It should stop NOW - it may be a point of no return. A point of Death.

Nodakim · Apr 13, 2009, 07:59 PM // 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamWind

I have to get involved in this thread.

Selling extra storage is just another step in Anet's movement to completely selling everything in the game for real money. They have already begun selling in game items/skills/slots and now they have moved on to selling "conviences". People need to stop with this "conviences" argument and get into their head that this nothing more than selling players a way to get around the game shortcoming of low storage capacity. We have moved far beyond the days of them just selling accounts.

I will not be shocked at all if many things in GW2 will be available for purchase from the beginning. This is the direction Anet has chosen.

Many people here are using the argument that it is ok because it is optional. This is a stupid argument for several reasons. What if god mode was optional for purchase? Would that be ok too? Also, it was optional for Anet to give us extra storage for free and they didn't. The idea that being optional in and of itself makes it ok is dumb. You have to give us better reasons.

Other people are saying that since there is no monthly fee it is fine for Anet to charge us for optional conviences. Hmm ok...but lets think for a second. For starters Anet lied to us because they explicitly stated in the past on numerous occasions that they would never sell in game items/conviences/etc. I will pull the quotes if I must, but it shouldn't be neccessary.

They should just come out and admit that they have changed their stance due to need of more money. They should come out and admit to us that their marketing system wasn't good enough on its own and they changed it along with everything else.

There are a lot of people who bought this game with the idea that in game crap wouldn't be sold for real money. I remember the good old days when skill was supposed to be the determining factor of everything in the game. Now I can spend real money to get anything I need in the entire game without even having to play. I can get infinite zaishen keys, infinite characters, infinite storage, infinite skills and items, and hell I can even buy a gold cape if I want to (not directly from Anet but I can sure as hell trade the items I bought from Anet and put in my bought storage from Anet to trade for one).

The worst part is the conviences (such as UAX and storage) should have been in the game from the beginning. The fact that they are being sold and it is ok is just sad to me. Anet selling storage is the equivalent of Blizzard selling an update that allows you to select more than 12 units in Starcraft. There would be a public outrage, but with Guild Wars it is ok! Anet has suckered all of you. Yes I know this post has went on several tangents, but I am trying to get my point across. I personally did not buy Guild Wars for all these optional purchases. If I wanted a game where I could buy everything in the game I have plenty of other options. Selling storage is just another step in Anet's path to selling everything. To me this is not what Guild Wars was supposed to be.

Well,i cant disagree.
If things like this keep happening more and more,and you get to a point where there is a "premium account",means one thing.

Amnel Ithtirsol · Apr 13, 2009, 08:00 PM // 20:00

/notsigned.

(Didnt read the whole QQ fest, dont care. Just here for my vote and 2c )

I appreciate that there went a lot of work into this and that people who did this draw salaries every month. I do think the $9.99 tag is a bit heavy for some peeps though. $4.95 would have been so much more like it...

Anyway, more than happy about the other stuff I saw in the update notes.
A

slowerpoke · Apr 13, 2009, 08:02 PM // 20:02

It is optional.

Buy it or not.

If you dont, you'll have as much storage as you do now.

When it goes live, you still get an equipment slot per character for free.

I didnt play guild wars because theres no monthly fee, but reading this thread, it appears alot of folks do.

Fril Estelin · Apr 13, 2009, 08:05 PM // 20:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamWind

Fine...I just want Anet to come out and say everything is different now, because I am going by all previous accounts of what they said.

Stricly speaking, nothing is different. When they offered the BMP for buying stuff in the online store or character slots, the game itself still followed the same model. We're talking about little things (althoug, as I said before, I'd prefer a "smaller" price tag on these storage tabs).

Quote:

I disagree. I think it can offer advanges in many situations for many people.

What advantages?

Quote:

Same thing with the example I gave.

You mean uber-mode? This is ridiculous, storage tabs aren't the same as game mechanics element (unless you show a convincing "advantage", see above).

(EDIT: if they did that, even me, that people will label me "fanboy" undoubtedly, will quit GW1 and not buy GW2)

Quote:

They are selling a way around a game shortcoming and something people have been complaining about for years!

They're going to offer everyone something free, probably the equipment pack. Plus a one-time promotional offer on the storage tabs.

What were you expecting? "Free 5 storage tabs for all"?

Quote:

Auction house? Name changer? Hair stylist? Blah blah blah. When do you draw the line? Its either all or nothing, there is no in between.

We're customers, we'll collectively judge that and Anet's marketing decision directly affect them. It's how things work, not following some theoretical model (look for example at how many pages it took for people to start listen to the "convenience" explanation instead of solely invoking the "it costs less to buy a char slot/account").

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yawgmoth

It should stop NOW - it may be a point of no return. A point of Death.

Anet may be risking the future of their company by not taking action. I said "may" because it's only one possibility. As customers, we're not in a position to judge the economic health of Anet.