Curse

pumpkin pie · Apr 24, 2009, 10:32 AM // 10:32

no, JR,

they should have make the make over something like the mission pack, you pay for it and get to use it forever instead of going the micro-transaction way.

i am saying an expansion pack that can do make over and name change like this update would be worth USD15.

I support the game even thou i don't play it anymore , but i won't support it to go the micro-transaction way.

Fril Estelin · Apr 24, 2009, 10:40 AM // 10:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by pumpkin pie

I support the game even thou i don't play it anymore , but i won't support it to go the micro-transaction way.

I think you've got 2 things confused: micro-payment and the actual value of the goods. I've got no problem with micro-paying, as long as it's content that's worth the money. It's very subjective of course, but don't blame the form of payment. Since there's no monthly fee in GW1, many things they'll ask us to pay may look "micro-payment".

It's like what happened with online music. If the price is right, micro-payment is just another way to make business. If it's wrong, this is not the micro-payment's fault.

I would never, ever pay for changing name, gender or appearance. Never, ever. I'm even pretty sure I wouldn't use it if it was free. BUT, I've got no problem with people wanting it, and even buying it.

What worries me really is that "big" update doesn't look big to me. Big deal, I'm not the centre of the world. Yet I feel strange about it.

Rollerbeetle race will make me feel better!

Faer · Apr 24, 2009, 10:41 AM // 10:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abedeus

I thought they said it's impossible to change name and make a hair stylist?

Gaile said a lot of shit that turned out to be entirely untrue.

pumpkin pie · Apr 24, 2009, 10:53 AM // 10:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fril Estelin

I think you've got 2 things confused: micro-payment and the actual value of the goods. I've got no problem with micro-paying, as long as it's content that's worth the money. It's very subjective of course, but don't blame the form of payment. Since there's no monthly fee in GW1, many things they'll ask us to pay may look "micro-payment".

I've seen a lot of micro-transaction type of mmorpg for the past few months and this is exactly what it is, micro-transaction. I didn't get confused, and the worse thing is we had to pay for the game in the first place, a micro-transaction games don't even need you to pay for the game. The best one that I've come across (when i say best, i mean, GW aside, non have come close yet, okay) is Requiem-Bloodymare, its totally free, and they recently have a totally new profession/class added to the game, with new weapons, armors, the whole deal and is working on another profession/class, and guess what its still free. And if you look at what they offer you in the micro-transaction store, its really just vanity and lazy item, like costumes, and level up faster stuffs. and they don't make you run out of storage in the first place so that you need to buy extra storage. I have 5x25 slots bag free and one bank also 25 slots, and there are lots of slots to buy, but its nothing like GW you really don't need it. And you have to pay to reset your attributes/build/skills, but its also not necessary as there are practically no need to change your attributes/build if you plan ahead.

Whatever, you know, if they do micro-transaction, i'll just play like i normally play (if GW2 is what I expect it to be and more) - not bother with the extra stuffs that one might think one wants, that actually don't need.

Fril Estelin · Apr 24, 2009, 11:00 AM // 11:00

Micro-transaction or micro-payment is simply a general financial model. People make it bad press because it's been sort of abused by many MMO companies, the same way it was abused by music companies when they started selling music online.

If tomorrow Anet changes all its prices to the range $1-5 you'll immediately see it as good, but it's the same financial model. The financial model is NOT the problem, the pricing is.

But I agree with you that I'll continue to play without the things to buy. What worries me is that this is actually showing a tiny bit of change in the way Anet is doing business. Fair enough, economic crysis + make sure GW2 is great. But I'd like more transparency here, and in particular from the CR/Ms.

pumpkin pie · Apr 24, 2009, 11:06 AM // 11:06

no, Fril, I will not support Anet going the micro-transaction way, end.

Even if the price is USD1-5, its still not good, because its micro-transaction, and if we give in, it will become worse, pretty soon, everything and anything that can be added will be sold on the in-game store.

Yarly · Apr 24, 2009, 11:09 AM // 11:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoomFrost

Hey if people have the money to blow, let them. I'm practically fine with the way my character looks. Though I really think that all accounts should have gotten a free make-over credit. It would have been another nice gift.

Completely agree with this. By bringing this update live i think anet have upset alot more people than previously expected.

Fril Estelin · Apr 24, 2009, 11:19 AM // 11:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by pumpkin pie

if we give in, it will become worse, pretty soon, everything and anything that can be added will be sold on the in-game store.

This is not what experience shows. IF, and it's a really very big "if", Anet makes the mistake of selling game-affecting stuff, in GW1 and GW2, you know as much as I do that they're going to completely change the GW community. I'll leave to other MMO shores like you will, and many many others. But there are a lot of GW players that are not here on Guru, or any other fansites, that play casually and have a very different opinion than ours. And if they're ready to pay and Anet has evidence of that, then it may make business sense. What worries me is the kind of "hidden message" they're sending to the community.

Back on micro-transaction, you can see that:
1) this updates sells non-game-affecting stuff, you're free to get it or continue to enjoy the free little bits;
2) many other micro-transaction models are now working, see online music and videos. At the start, it takes a lot of money, may be that's the reason why it looks to us so expensive?

Micro-transaction has been used as a bad word because of bad businesses, similarly to how the word "PvEr" is used by some PvPers.

I WILL give the benefit of the doubt to Anet, after all I'm here for the fun, not blow my head on what may, might, must, will or would happen. But I'm expecting more transparency, more "community relationship", better explanations. I know that saying in the clear that your prices would reflect your financial strategy, including GW2, could have bad effects on Anet, nevertheless I'm not satisfied at all by how "big" this update is and how small the communication on it is. It's fine to make nice explanations like how Nicholas The Trader returns from his trips or how the moss spider comes from pre to post-searing, BUT I want to know a tiny bit more behind this "product".

May be that's what makes me feel strange, the fact that it's not an update but a product, and not one for me. As I said before, GL Anet, if they make money, I may get the fruits of that in their future updates and GW2.

zwei2stein · Apr 24, 2009, 11:21 AM // 11:21

Theese features are normal for P2P MMO.

In fact, It looks like anet went from attempting to mimic cashshop (with likes of imp or bonus weapons) to offer more standardized set of offerings in line with P2P MMOs (like name change).

JR · Apr 24, 2009, 11:29 AM // 11:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by pumpkin pie

i am saying an expansion pack that can do make over and name change like this update would be worth USD15.

That's ridiculous. I have one character who's name I want to change. There is no way I would pay $15 permanent functionality I don't need, but I will certainly pay a lower price for a one off.

I do agree that the price of a name change seems rather high at the moment.

StormX · Apr 24, 2009, 11:34 AM // 11:34

CHING CHING KACHING!!! Clever marketing strategy anet!

Too bad 10 USD is a little steep in my currency though...gotta consider the international players...

Demon Drone · Apr 24, 2009, 11:35 AM // 11:35

Last time I checked GW was successful because it wasn't like WoW. This whole "Let's imitate WoW" shit is killing this game. Well it already has but you get my point. Epic fail from Anet.

Tullzinski · Apr 24, 2009, 11:51 AM // 11:51

Coming Attractions
The Live Team is now designing the first big content update of 2009, which we expect to release in April. We had many discussions towards the end of last year and ended up with a major wish list and a plan for what it would take to make that list a reality. At this point, we have a clear idea of what is ahead of us and we hope everyone will be as excited about these prospects as we are.

Here are a few features we are currently developing for April:

Increases to account-based storage
Improvements to character-based storage
Account-based changes to the Hall of Monuments

Has anyone been to the Hall of Monuments yet???? Those changes were also part of this update.

Nevermind found it in the release notes

SerenitySilverstar · Apr 24, 2009, 12:11 PM // 12:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theocrat

Gaile said a lot of shit that turned out to be entirely untrue.

You guys just hate being surprised, dontcha?

What was said in years past would have been entirely true. The CR team were operating on the information they were given in good faith. Yes, before there weren't the resources or time to devote to these features. Now that they've been able to sit down and figure out "hey we CAN actually do it" you're calling them liars? Eesh. These people can't freakin win.

NEOgeo · Apr 24, 2009, 12:25 PM // 12:25

these prices are insanly high , to buy 5 storage planes it would cost me the best part of £30 .... i could buy 3 copies of any campaign for this, giving me 18 char slots and 3 "full" xunlai storage's >_< W . T . F . !

Dronte · Apr 24, 2009, 12:30 PM // 12:30

Great updates and ideas, but not for money. make them free, please

Lord Hares · Apr 24, 2009, 12:38 PM // 12:38

Just to let you know, Anet is now known as ABBA

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2q...ey-money_music

Targren · Apr 24, 2009, 12:41 PM // 12:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamWind

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.

I don't think we will actually SEE a GW2. Ever. Assuming the fanbois are right and it's because they "need the money" then for these prices to be reasonable, they must be hemorrhaging it and won't be around long enough to finish GW2.

If they're wrong, and ANet is trying to turn into Maple Story where you pay for the client (a "feature" lacking in most pay-for-everything-except-subscription games) because they're just plain greedy, then I can foresee them making more crap decisions.

And if I'm wrong, yeah, I've changed my mind about buying it too. I figured I could deal with a crappy WoW-clone without a monthly fee to support ANet. A WoW-clone that charges you real world money for everything? Pass.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fril Estelin

Back on micro-transaction, you can see that:
1) this updates sells non-game-affecting stuff, you're free to get it or continue to enjoy the free little bits;

The storage is definitely game-affecting. The Menagerie + Unlock pack is game-affecting.

Quote:

2) many other micro-transaction models are now working, see online music and videos. At the start, it takes a lot of money, may be that's the reason why it looks to us so expensive?

None of the above are micro-transaction models, nor is this. The "micro" prefix is not just a buzzword meaning "we nickel and dime you to death for every possible feature," it means transactions using amounts too small to be affordable processed via CC merchant accounts, a la Xbox Live points/Wii points. Those are microtransactions. These are not.

And as mentioned by others, most of the other games that require you to buy things with real-world money don't charge you for the game itself (Runescape, Maple Story, etc...). ANet's sales are slipping and now they're trying to double-dip. Screw that.

Red-Tide · Apr 24, 2009, 12:43 PM // 12:43

This is a load of shit, the big update is all "pay to use" features (at insane prices to boot). Nice job Anet! I was hoping this update would prevent me from retiring Guild Wars, but no. Im done.

This also scares the hell out of me in regards to GW2, are they setting the bar now? will there be a ton of little purchases to make you toons better instead of monthly fees? This is a lame way to get around monthly fees.

revelation · Apr 24, 2009, 01:40 PM // 13:40

You guys are so boring with all the whining, like all of you want to change your name and appearance.. It's for the people who have been asking for it for years and really want to change it, so it won't be so hard to save 10$ for the thing they wanted so long. ANet must have invested a lot of effort in all of this and you just expect it free. Would like to see you working for free for other people day after day, and when you give half of it for free, you see them cry again that they didn't get everything free.. Everyone can just continue to play the game like they used before, just they got some new and fun features and more options if they need to use them.