Guild Wars Store Ideas-Your opinions - What should and should not be done?

Hello.

Decided to take Inde's advice from the "What would you like to see in the store?" thread, so here it is.

Well, i'll start this off.

Things I want: Character slots-I'd like to have atleast 1 slot for each proffesion + 1 extra for pvp.
Out -game merchandise: Mugs, Mousemats ect-Would be nice

Things I don't want: Gold sold for cash- really bad if this happens, would unbalance economy so much.
Eye candy or uber items sold in the store; what about those who want but cannot get? Another unbalance.

Please discuss WHY you wouldn't and would want certain things in the store? Please give reasons.

Thanks
Ashleigh

I think the entire aspect of the store is something that needs to be carefully looked at. I have not personally paid for a game before where I have been charged for things such as a hairstyle upgrade, an account merge, or anything else. While I have some worries even about the ability to purchase additional character slots there are certain things such as the DirectSong packs that I can certainly see, paying for an emote or special weapon sets off some alarms for me.

I'm not sure if ArenaNet wants the player's feedback to "feel us out" or if they are honestly thinking of putting these type of things in the store. It's not been done before by a game such as this (but then again when has ArenaNet ever conformed )

I would like to see unlocks becomming available - not because I want them personally, but because I know a lot of people do, and the arguments against them just aren't good enough in my opinion. Forcing people to play through PvE is forcing people away from playing Guild Wars. PvE is not the entire game. Marketing statistics show that 80% of repeatable purchases will be those engaged in the competitive aspect of the game. Most of those who play PvE exclusively will tend to quit after 2/3 Months.

I'd also have no problems with cool-looking promotional skins, though I know it would go against what ArenaNet have said in the past (kind of, I guess it's different when it's them selling, and not third-party companies). The same reasoning applies as before. There's no solid argument against allowing it, really. As long as the items don't cause imbalances between PvE and PvP, there's no problem whatsoever.

Too true Inde I highly doubt Anet will put in special greens or such, it would totally destroy the whole aspect of the game. I'd hate for this to be a buy-yourself- better game

I'd support skill unlocks, definately. But even with that, the game would be favouring pve'ers more still. IMO when you join guildwars you should recieve say 50 free skill unlocks of your choice, and say 10 elites of your choice for pvp.

I'm definately against cool skins though, I don't see why the people with inability to pay should watch the "better off" people walk around with really cool skins they just bought from the store, when the people who can't pay themself just feel..leftout, and often the reason they can't pay is theres too little payment options.

Ashleigh

Now, rofl. WoW and FFXI allow you to buy more character slots. ;D (not to be the bearer of bad news or anything, just saying.)

But WoW and FFXI have monthly fees, guildwars does not You've got to give them some credit, there developing ways for more income. More income=better staff +resources= better game entertainment. It's one big circle.

I see the store as an alternative to going down to the local store and having to buy your boxed game there. Though I know that they have agreements with retailers to sell their game through them, I feel that if you can buy directly through the developer it would simplify things for some people. Plus many retailers did not get their shipments of Factions when they were scheduled to get them causing many people to have to wait. This would eliminate that problem. I personally don't need the "box in hand" if I am buying the regular version of a game, the collectors edition may be different.

I would like to see the store sell character slots and regular and collectors edition versions of new and old chapters. For CE's they could mail you the extra physical content. If you want an extra account, you could buy it directly from them instead of having to go to the store to get it.

Thats pretty much all I think the store should offer. Like you guys said above me In-game items=HUGE no no.

Krugz, I wasn't really referring to character slots, or storage. More to the fact that the game doesn't charge a monthly fee, etc. As ashleigh stated above.

Inde, sorry about putting that post in the wrong place. This seems to be the right place...

Shame on Anet if they sell in-game items...

quote from fansite friday #61
i have no issue with the selling of access keys, or real world items.

IMO it would be nice to be able to acquire new skins ingame, like you acquire skills for PvP... As in buying them with ingame currency or unlocking them like the new titles. e.g., if you get all the titles, or a lot of them, you get a new player skin option, OR you go to some priest of some sort and buy them with faction like you buy skills. IMO being able to buy($) anything ingame related is bad.

If Anet thinks we want more character slots, they should offer 2-3 for free, that way it's fair for all players regardless of how much they are willing to spend to get new characters. I just don't want the game to become spoiled because some guy who has 20 characters can hold more then twice the materials I can. It might not seem like much, but it's got to be easier to make a trade when you've got more materials then your competition. Also I gaurntee you there will be some sort of glitch that the players with many char slots will learn of and exploit. Obviously, I can't predict what it will be but I'm sure they will find something.

If you can't gain something ingame through skill and determination, it shouldn't be available IMO.

I ok with a store for some things. Hope gold is not sold there. Also I think to change the character apperance ie. hair, face and skin should be done in-game and for some amount of gold, not through a store for real $$. The reason is we bought the game and paid for the character already should not have to buy a new character that we already on.

I do hope that the store will sell the up coming games and CE also. I would probalbly buy it from there instead of running to the store. The One thing I would really like to see is to purchase an upgrade for current account and receive the benifits. I want to upgrade my orginal GW to CE and Fraction to CE, but don't want to pay the full price. That would be good in the store. Also would like to buy Mini pets but not the ones for gifts, new and different. That would be fun.

Agreed. I think that the store should offer things that enhance gameplay experience, rather than actual gameplay. For example, added character slots allow you to play the game as more professions, allowing you to experience more of what the game has to offer. Adding things like direct song packs would make the atmospheres more enjoyable (although the music is already great!). Those are the types of things that I think would make the store a success. On the other hand, adding things like weapons/gold/unlocks are essentially letting you skip playing the game, and it would be no different than allowing people to buy gold/accounts third party. Adding upgrades for storage/hairstyles/etc should be universal, no purchase neccesary global updates. It would be unfair to offer things like guild/improved storage to those that can afford a more expensive game.

Real world items like soundtracks, posters, bobble-heads would be great! I've no problem with people(me) investing(wasting money) on something to prove how nerdy they(I) are(am)!

So in short, Enhancements to experience = good. Ugrades to gameplay = bad, unless its free to all.

It greatly annoys me the people who say auras and similar shouldnt be available for sale because it would 'no longer make them unique'. As far as Im concerned its screwing over the people that COULDNT pay the extra in the start to get it. What is really the difference between paying then and paying now for it? The money still goes to support our favorite game and even if it is avaliable not everyone and their puppy dog will buy it. Make the buyable aura look a bit different then so the original ones will still be "unique".

Plus since I play as necro and monk I would love dancers or something similar for them, which future games will not likely offer because they are core. Maybe a command that would summon a ghost minion that does a random trick like begging, a short dance, laying down and playing dead before it dissapears.

By selling any kind of in game items A-net would clearly state that selling for real world money is ok, and Bot's would be legit, might as well let e-bay open up a shop in LA and Kainang.

And, A-Net if you do decide on selling ingame items, could you develop and sell a bot program in the shop, so ppl don't have to worry about keyloggers and such.

Kiya. I agree with the altered aura. Maybe have one for your head or something, would look pretty cool, and would go well by itself or WITH the old aura. Pre-order items should never be for sale though, there not good stat wise, but there good sentimental wise, like a rememberance from when they started the game

What's everyone think about merchandise? Ie: Mugs, Mouse mats ect. In the picture I saw of the store, there was a note at the bottom saying *Items bought will be credited on the account it is purchased on- no shipping is needed*..or something like that.

I think it'd be nice to have them, but I highly doubt they would be put in because of all the mess involved- shipping, distribtuion ect. It probably wouldn't be worth the small prophit.

Ashleigh.

Actually, I think selling items is forbidden in the Terms of Service because anet is the one who "owns" the item. Third party sellers are not allowed to sell anets property. Since the store is official, anet is allowed to sell all they want.

When it comes to selling vanity equipment, I'm fine with it as long as:
-The skin can't be found normally (This makes it obvious that the buyer's rich and that newly generated items won't distort demand for the skin in the economy)
-The stats are easy to find: like collector, weaponsmith or green stats (Again, so it won't distort the economy)
-The item is customized (Yeah, to protect the economy again)

Yes, It will make a few people angry that they can't have them. However, anet won't lose anything from this. It's not like people will quit because they can't have the *LOOK AT ME I'M RICH* skins. You also won't find anyone going "I was going to buy Guild Wars until I found out you need to pay to get the tengu costume!"

And no, I'm not planning on buying vanity skins.

Good point Azun, although I disagree with buying skins.

For those few who are saying Gold should be buyable in the store- heres why it definately won't be for sale; all prices will most definately raise by atleast 15k. As people will have so much money, they don't buy cheap. The chain carrys on, those who can't buy gold remain poor, whilst those who can remain rich, and whenever they are feeling poor they can simply buy more gold.
So the people who can't buy it have a very low chance of getting good items, as they would become so highly priced. It's a good job Anet are shutting down bot farmers and shutting down gold auctions on ebay, otherwise GW would turn out like runescape- things selling for 25 mil.


Ashleigh

What is wrong with you people who hope gold is not sold on there?

Do you think keeping it on eBay with a bunch of bot farmers is going to help you any?

Seriously, people are going to buy gold whether you like it or not. What you really want is a way for GW to control the supply of gold in the economy. To control the gold supply in game, wouldn't it be nice if you could sell gold to Anet to earn $ usuable towards the game store. So instead of having to plunk down $10 for a character slot you could sell X amount of gold it GW. GW could in turn use this gold as the supply the sell gold from and have a substantial markup on it for those lazy people who won't work for it. In the end you get stuff for "free" because you choose to farm. People who want to buy gold will do so and pay a higher price for it than what the GW store exchange rate is and bot farmers have lost their customer base unless they can undersell ANet. So what is the result of this: ANet gets money, you get "free" upgrades by selling gold to ANet, people who want to buy gold pay a higher price than what GW economy says it worth, and ANet could put a dent in the bot farming in general.

There are some in game economic impacts that I need to think through but can't atm (I'm at work).

Ideally, here is how I would like to see GW protect the in game economy against inflation spikes caused by ppl who buy gold: If a rare mat. spiked in price have the game increase the drop rate on that item until it is back within a reasonable price range (it may still be high in price but not outrageous). This way those that want to buy the materials for their vanity armor can do so but won't hurt people like you or me who actually farm for it and we actually get the benefits of increased drop rates during the spike period. But this rough idea gives you a way to have ANet earn money, solve the bot problem, and reward players who earn their gold the hard way.

FYI, I've built up a sizeable stash through farming but I am still using Droks armor for all my chars. I'd be poor if I wanted the 15k gear and I personally refuse to buy gold. However, I do understand why people do it.

The only things that should be in the store are:

1. Purchases, such as character slots or game (keys). For example, we should be able to buy Nightfall through the store. It should actually be less than retail because of the lack of distribution and seller costs.

2. Real world items. Your coffee cups, mousepads, Kurzick vs Luxon Chess Set (with pieces carved from amber and jade... ), etc.

3. In game pure novelty items, stacks of 250 for 99 cents. Such as the snowman summoners, Ghosts-in-the-boxes, etc. They have no effect in the game but are entertaining in towns.

That should be it... but that can also encompass a lot.

Things that should NOT be sold...

Storage or character improvements. The ability to change hairstyle should be universal, as should future storage upgrades, if any.

Anything sellable! Non-customized minipets, gold, materials, weapons, etc.

UAX.

Was it not stated by Jeff Strain in an interview that they could not make things apear on the game server? (correct me if i'm wrong)
So in order for A-net to sell in game items and gold they would have to remove that "safe guard", opening the game to manipulation. Unless they run Bot's to collect the gold and other Items thats for sale.
And plz don't say it can't be hacked, they hack anything they want, given time and it would make it profitable to do. It would make it impossible for a-net to counter this without having to do rollbacks every time they get hacked.