Curse

ModTerrik · Apr 20, 2008, 10:44 AM // 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by AshenX

I graduated HS about 20 years ago and I am sure that things have changed since then but even with a full-time job and a family I have quite a bit more self determination of how my time is spent now than I did then. My normal day between the age of 15 and 17 was between 14 and 17 hours long. I had a full load of classes with several hours a day of homework. A part time job, household chores, and physical fitness preparation for my post graduation entry into the USMC rounded out my day.

Of course not all of my classmates had my schedule but too little sleep and too much homework/chores/football practice/et. were very common concerns.

Self determination ofcourse. But actual free time?

GW GF · Apr 20, 2008, 10:44 AM // 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naylyn

Maybe if rather than purchasing gold players purchased the items directly inflation wouldn't occur.

I think that's a really good idea

Shai Lee · Apr 20, 2008, 10:46 AM // 10:46

Quote:

Maybe if rather than purchasing gold players purchased the items directly inflation wouldn't occur.

So far people havn't agreed on what types of items would be purchasable. Some things people have discussed are buying: elite armor, mini pets, rare weapons, exclusive collector's edition items like the mini pets/divine aura, etc. There was another heated thread about it somewhere.

ModTerrik · Apr 20, 2008, 10:49 AM // 10:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoriaOrc

Fair enough, but the point was that the only two options for ANet are:

1. Pricing it very high to protect the player market for non-gold buyers. This gives very few people the realistic choice of buying gold. In this case, most people who want to buy gold would probably still be dissatisfied, since they still wouldn't be able to get anywhere by buying it officially.
2. Price it "reasonably" (that is, most items in the sub-100k area could be bought for a reasonable price). In this case, we would have some degree of the inflation problems some other people have already talked about (depending on how reasonable the pricing is). This is detrimental to non-gold-buyers, as it raises costs for any player economy items that they want.

3. Control the amount by limiting how much can brought into the game in a given week. The US government doesn't throw the entire year's money that it makes into the market at once, it staggers it. You can do that by creating waiting lists to buy the gold. Insert 100m into the game every week and you sign up on a reservation list to purchase a piece of it.

I'm not an economist and I don't think you are either and we've come up with 3 ways to mitigate the amount of inflation. I'm sure someone with a degree in this crap could come up with a hundred more ways.

ModTerrik · Apr 20, 2008, 10:50 AM // 10:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naylyn

Maybe if rather than purchasing gold players purchased the items directly inflation wouldn't occur.

I LOVE THIS IDEA!!!

/sign

MoriaOrc · Apr 20, 2008, 10:52 AM // 10:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naylyn

Maybe if rather than purchasing gold players purchased the items directly inflation wouldn't occur.

It would likely be the opposite. If they don't customize the items on creation, then some players would probably try to sell them on the market for gold (increasing supply that much means lowering costs). Even if they customize RMT items, then it will still lower demand (also lowering costs).

Of course, then they would have to assign fixed values to player-traded items. Easy enough for trader items, but if they want to sell weapons or weapon mods, then it means assigning prices to items that don't currently have a set in game price.

TempusReborn · Apr 20, 2008, 10:53 AM // 10:53

I know for a start an Alliance of about 500 who would leave the game if they started...

Avarre · Apr 20, 2008, 10:55 AM // 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by GW GF

I think that's a really good idea

It would make sense if you could purchase item unlocks to be obtained customized (and hence outside the economy) in PvE, in a similar way that PvP items are created with various skins.

GW GF · Apr 20, 2008, 10:55 AM // 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by TempusReborn

I know for a start an Alliance of about 500 who would leave the game if they started...

I know of an Alliance of 1000 that would play more if they started

ModTerrik · Apr 20, 2008, 10:56 AM // 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoriaOrc

It would likely be the opposite. If they don't customize the items on creation, then some players would probably try to sell them on the market for gold (increasing supply that much means lowering costs). Even if they customize RMT items, then it will still lower demand (also lowering costs).

OOOoo...I like this. then to ramp up inflation you let people buy gold to keep prices stable. Once again, by limiting the amount of supply into the game via a reservation system you could maintain a very stable economy and best of all...ANet makes money hand over fist!!

Ok seriously, I was just laughing about this becuase it's a drastic oversimplification, but still...I' take my Elemental sword costing 10k, because the silver dye would cost 10k too.

Shai Lee · Apr 20, 2008, 10:58 AM // 10:58

Purchase:
Max Armor
Mini's
Titles
Full Guild Halls
Weapons
Faction

Where would the list end? And what would be the point in playing? If that's what people do once they pay for these things.

GW GF · Apr 20, 2008, 10:58 AM // 10:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by ModTerrik

OOOoo...I like this. then to ramp up inflation you let people buy gold to keep prices stable. Once again, by limiting the amount of supply into the game via a reservation system you could maintain a very stable economy and best of all...ANet makes money hand over fist!!

But Anet would hate that because they are a non-profit organization.

Ok.. I'm getting obnoxious again I should probably go to sleep

Omnidragon42 · Apr 20, 2008, 11:01 AM // 11:01

I shouldn't be responding to this thread, but I can't resist.

I've played games where you can buy in-game items with real money. Lets take Flyff, a free mmorpg with an ingame store as an example. You can buy an ingame item for 20 bucks that sells for 100m. A full set of the standard lv 45 assist (think monk) armor is about 900m-1b. Farming for about an hour nets 20-30k. In other words, you can't keep up with the economy unless you buy gold for real money.

Is it fair for the people who can afford to buy ingame gold to destroy my playing experience, just because I have better things to spend money on? I enjoy farming, these days it accounts for over half the time I'm on guildwars, at least. I feel a sense of pride when I look at my gold max damage weapons, my 15k armors, my minipets, or whatever else I've earned for myself through farming. To think that someone who has played for a week could duplicate my accomplishments of two and a half years just because they spend real money? Absurd.

I work a full time job, I have bills, rent, food, etc to take care of. I've got money left over, do I want to spend it on guildwars gold? No! Why should I be forced to spend my hard earned money just to keep up with other people? I'd rather buy a pizza than 100k, to be honest. You can't farm pizza.

ModTerrik · Apr 20, 2008, 11:02 AM // 11:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shai Lee

Purchase:
Max Armor
Mini's
Titles
Full Guild Halls
Weapons
Faction

Where would the list end? And what would be the point in playing? If that's what people do once they pay for these things.

I'd play for builds and because like my wife, I like to watch the little numbers float over the bad guys head. I play for the gameplay, but I'm starting to think I'm in the minority and that everyone plays just for their leets loot

Avarre · Apr 20, 2008, 11:04 AM // 11:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shai Lee

Purchase:
Max Armor
Mini's
Titles
Full Guild Halls
Weapons
Faction

Where would the list end? And what would be the point in playing? If that's what people do once they pay for these things.

You already purchase most of those, only you do it with in-game currency. Is it any different that someone sat in front of the screen blowing griffons up and then bought them all, or someone typed in their credit card number?

At the end, both players aren't experienced at actually playing Guild Wars (killing the same mobs over and over does not make you experienced), one just wasted less time. That would irritate older players most likely, but might encourage newer ones.

I doubt ANet would go fully into selling their own gold, but I wouldn't be surprised if unlockable things became more commonly available through the store.

Omnidragon42 · Apr 20, 2008, 11:07 AM // 11:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avarre

At the end, both players aren't experienced at actually playing Guild Wars (killing the same mobs over and over does not make you experienced)

I'd like to say something about this statement. Learning about skill timing, chaining certain spells, aggro patterns, and baiting interrupts certainly are skills you gain while killing the same mobs over and over.

Bug John · Apr 20, 2008, 11:09 AM // 11:09

If there's an offer and a demand for in game gold or other in game items, I don't see where the problem is.

ModTerrik · Apr 20, 2008, 11:11 AM // 11:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omnidragon42

I shouldn't be responding to this thread, but I can't resist.

I've played games where you can buy in-game items with real money. Lets take Flyff, a free mmorpg with an ingame store as an example. You can buy an ingame item for 20 bucks that sells for 100m. A full set of the standard lv 45 assist (think monk) armor is about 900m-1b. Farming for about an hour nets 20-30k. In other words, you can't keep up with the economy unless you buy gold for real money.

Is it fair for the people who can afford to buy ingame gold to destroy my playing experience, just because I have better things to spend money on? I enjoy farming, these days it accounts for over half the time I'm on guildwars, at least. I feel a sense of pride when I look at my gold max damage weapons, my 15k armors, my minipets, or whatever else I've earned for myself through farming. To think that someone who has played for a week could duplicate my accomplishments of two and a half years just because they spend real money? Absurd.

I work a full time job, I have bills, rent, food, etc to take care of. I've got money left over, do I want to spend it on guildwars gold? No! Why should I be forced to spend my hard earned money just to keep up with other people? I'd rather buy a pizza than 100k, to be honest. You can't farm pizza.

I haven't played so this is complete conjecture on my part, but I would say the game is poorly managed. With correct management, you can appeal to both sides.

I totally see your point here. I'd go back to what everyone was telling GW GF, your 5k armor is just as good as the leet.

Here's another point, you mentioned that you wouldn't want to spend your pizza money on GW gold, the good news is, you wouldn't have to to remain competitive. It wouldn't hurt you one way or the other as far as your items go.

really, it sounds like your main issue is that it would piss you off that someone could come in and duplicate your feat with a credit card. I don't really know what to say to that without being a dick. Maybe give you a consolation prize? Make cash items look normal and earned items glow your favorite color? *shrug*

GW GF · Apr 20, 2008, 11:12 AM // 11:12

Honestly, money or no money, I don't really care how they do it.. I just would love to see MMORPG's (especially GW) more accessible for all.

It would be so cool if more working adults would play online.. it would mean more fun and larger variety of games for all.

However, until MMORPGS figure out a way to not take up so much darn time, the masses will never be able to play. SO if Anet really wants to strike it big, they will find a way to make everyone happy. I think that many valid concerns and suggestions have been brought up.

Please please please Anet... please find a way that I can enjoy a MMORPG that appeals to everone and doesn't take up too much time to advance. Heck, I can log off my computer and go play a game of Rock Band online but I like GW better.

Just my 2 cents

MoriaOrc · Apr 20, 2008, 11:13 AM // 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by ModTerrik

3. Control the amount by limiting how much can brought into the game in a given week. The US government doesn't throw the entire year's money that it makes into the market at once, it staggers it. You can do that by creating waiting lists to buy the gold. Insert 100m into the game every week and you sign up on a reservation list to purchase a piece of it.

I'm not an economist and I don't think you are either and we've come up with 3 ways to mitigate the amount of inflation. I'm sure someone with a degree in this crap could come up with a hundred more ways.

That's similar to #1 (although not as bad for gold-buyers I'll admit). But it has the same problems. Either the limit is very low, and the economy is protected but gold buying only works for "the basics," or the limit is high enough that it takes a few weeks, but the inflation still kicks in.

Number crunching for this policy:
500,000 active GW players (this is a conservative estimate, considering 5m copies sold as of February)
20k cap/week/player
10% players buy gold
-----------------
1,000,000,000 new gold that will be spent into the economy in one week.