I made a similar post to this in another thread, but I realized that it would be more appropriate in this thread so I'm reposting with an addition.
It really stuns me how so many people are ok with all these microtransactions popping up. Stuns me.
The argument I keep seeing pop up is "Anet is a business they need the money so its ok". Fine...I have no problem with them making money. They have been doing so for years WITHOUT microtransactions. The problem? Do I have to make a list of companies and games that give these types of updates out for free? I could do so if neccessary (the list is very large). This isn't content. This is simply an Anet money grab. Not only that, but it is a slap in the face to the players and I don't know why more people don't see that. These are things that players have requested for YEARS. YEARS. What is next, they sell access to an auction house and everybody is ok with that too? Wake up people! How can you support this? If they were selling content such as the MOX quest or Sorrows Furnace or etc, I would be FINE with that because it is content. But this is not that. This is ridiculous.
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.
Finally, the next person to use the "it is optional" or "it doesn't affect gameplay" arguments get the big dunce cap. Please read other threads on this subject where those arguments get destroyed. And those threads were made long before the news that even more microtransactions were coming. Now things are even worse, and they will get even more worse (grammatically bad but who cares).
In game store now available... Name change, Makeover kit, Storage Pane
DreamWind
Dragonire
Well, if/when that happens, and if people are really against it, then the game will flop. Let the markets judge; if GW2 does fail in that manner, some other game will take its place (and hopefully learn a lesson from past precedent). Then the circle of life continues. 
EPO Bot
All you guys who whine about this not being free: No one even expected this feature to ever be in the game in the first place! Once again, if it doesn't influence actual gameplay you have no reason to complain. Only if Anet was selling 100 extra hitpoints for your characters at twenty bucks i would whine like a baby too.
My monkeh looks just fine, thanks. Then again, i couldn't use the in game store because i don't have a VISA.
I wonder how much buyers this little feature is going to get. I think there could be much more then we expect.
My monkeh looks just fine, thanks. Then again, i couldn't use the in game store because i don't have a VISA.
I wonder how much buyers this little feature is going to get. I think there could be much more then we expect.
RTSFirebat
People people! This is good, it makes A.net money which is their right. And this are features people have been asking for.
Quit moaning.
Quit moaning.
Raccoon
I'm more annoyed that something as pathetic as changing the color of you characters hair is going to cost you money. I would have sooner expected them to charge us for participating in event weekends.
Bryant Again
Quote:
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Originally Posted by RTSFirebat
People people! This is good, it makes A.net money which is their right. And this are features people have been asking for.
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For people to experience a single hair-change at all they have to pay the price of 5. I don't think that's what most of those people were asking for.
But it is cool to see it implemented, regardless of how many times they told us it was "impossible".
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Apollo Smile
I'd like to also note, the devs make the content, not price it. At least send your blame in the right direction.
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Empress Amarox
Funny idea...
3 months down the line: AUCTION HOUSE just $9.99 per 10 listings!
3 months down the line: AUCTION HOUSE just $9.99 per 10 listings!
Toxic OnyX
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Originally Posted by RTSFirebat
People people! This is good, it makes A.net money which is their right. And this are features people have been asking for.
Quit moaning. |
If you want to use it then pay for it, if you don't then don't.
How people can expect additional content for free is kind of funny, I was against the idea of paying for storage until i realised you do get some additional storage for free (which is enough for me).
If you want more then pay for it, you made your char, so if you want to change it now why should that be for free?
They have added free content as well as the micro transactions and tbh it is the business model of the majority of f2p games now, yes you have to buy the original games and get a LOT of content with them, but these small additions should come at a cost to enable the company to maybe devote more money into further developments.
GG A-net on adding paypal too (which was my major gripe about the online store)
Cacheelma
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Empress Amarox
Funny idea...
3 months down the line: AUCTION HOUSE just $9.99 per 10 listings! |
"Zomg thank you11!!!!11!"
"Zomg Anet needs money, ching ching ka ching!11!! Thanks!"
"Zomg it's free in WoW but you pay monthly fee lollolol"
"9.99$ is very cheap! get a job and stop complaining!11!!"
...etc etc.
I really do feel sad for this community nowadays.
A11Eur0
Nobody's bitching about having to pay for it. We're bitching about having to pay SO MUCH for it, and being LIED TO saying it was due to an extraordinarily high overhead cost. BULL. They were already paying the devs for their time. The code was already there. 2+2 = 4.
DarkWasp
Changing the market base of a game has an effect on changing the fan base.
Its not as simple as us getting what we wanted, and ArenaNet getting paid.
NOT AT ALL.
Some of us cant/wont buy into this. What does that mean? Our hope of getting these features has been crurshed forever.
It also means we have to endure part of the community running around flaunting these new features in front of our faces, it means we have to put up with uncharacteristic NCSoft advertisements within our RP based game, and it means that we can probably count un getting screwed over even more in the future.
Up until this point, ArenaNet has supplied us with an abundance with FREE ingame content. The pay content was all account based. Now we know that our already overworked Live Team is dedicating it's time to stuff that not everyone can/will take advantage of.
If this carries on to GW2, we'll lose part of the romantic and the frugle(sp?) community. That IS NOT A GOOD THING.
Try and remember that if you don't care about paying, the people who do aren't out to screw you over. They arent asking for the features to be removed, they just want them to be free. The way things used to and should be in GW.
There is really no need to flame them.
If ArenaNet needs more money, thats their problem. They can come to us for help and we'd be glad to. But, that's their job.
Its not as simple as us getting what we wanted, and ArenaNet getting paid.
NOT AT ALL.
Some of us cant/wont buy into this. What does that mean? Our hope of getting these features has been crurshed forever.
It also means we have to endure part of the community running around flaunting these new features in front of our faces, it means we have to put up with uncharacteristic NCSoft advertisements within our RP based game, and it means that we can probably count un getting screwed over even more in the future.
Up until this point, ArenaNet has supplied us with an abundance with FREE ingame content. The pay content was all account based. Now we know that our already overworked Live Team is dedicating it's time to stuff that not everyone can/will take advantage of.
If this carries on to GW2, we'll lose part of the romantic and the frugle(sp?) community. That IS NOT A GOOD THING.
Try and remember that if you don't care about paying, the people who do aren't out to screw you over. They arent asking for the features to be removed, they just want them to be free. The way things used to and should be in GW.
There is really no need to flame them.
If ArenaNet needs more money, thats their problem. They can come to us for help and we'd be glad to. But, that's their job.
Puddingbroodje
The looks of all my characters changed. Do i have to pay now to get my old looks back? Sounds a little bit like a scam to me...
Edit:
nvm, it was only the login screen, when i logged in my looks reset.
Edit:
nvm, it was only the login screen, when i logged in my looks reset.
Empress Amarox
You know... This makeover thing is a blessing, really. I can delete 2 of my warriors now and play my original warrior and I can delete my new monk and play my original monk. Dunno what I'm going to do with those 3 slots...
Maybe make 3 more mules instead of buying storage panes.... lol xD...
Come to think of it, I wish I hadn't gotten that new necro FoW now.... Oh well.
Maybe make 3 more mules instead of buying storage panes.... lol xD...
Come to think of it, I wish I hadn't gotten that new necro FoW now.... Oh well.
upier
Ooops, did I just screw some people over?
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10364879
My bad ...
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10364879
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Originally Posted by upier
Are there any plans for making this into a purchasable feature (where the user selects the new name of choice)?
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Regina Buenaobra
The ability to purchase a name change is a feature that's been requested often. It is definitely not an easy thing to implement, but we're keeping it in consideration.
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mazey vorstagg
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Originally Posted by Raccoon
I'm more annoyed that something as pathetic as changing the color of you characters hair is going to cost you money. I would have sooner expected them to charge us for participating in event weekends.
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GW is a micropayment game, what did you expect? You didn't get the other campaigns for free, why is this any different? GW2 is based on the sameconcept. E.g. you buy the game for £35 but to access newly patched areas or addons (such as storage and character customisation) you have to pay.
They've got to earn money somehow, they're a company. Would you rather that people didn't pay you for whatever service you provide at your work?
(not a direct attack on you, just on everyone moaning it should be free
)
pumpkin pie
makeover for USD9.90, one would expect that
1) you can change your name at the same time
2) can pick and choose any features (hair, face etc) already available in all the campaigns
3) new and unseen/unreleased before features (hair, face etc)
4) pay once and can make over anytime we wish to.
5) sex change operation.
Reason: then it would become an ad on expansion pack like what GW should be in the first place.
the extreme makeover and name change are not even suppose to be there in the first place.
otherwise its just highway robbery.
1) you can change your name at the same time
2) can pick and choose any features (hair, face etc) already available in all the campaigns
3) new and unseen/unreleased before features (hair, face etc)
4) pay once and can make over anytime we wish to.
5) sex change operation.
Reason: then it would become an ad on expansion pack like what GW should be in the first place.
the extreme makeover and name change are not even suppose to be there in the first place.
otherwise its just highway robbery.
JR
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Originally Posted by DarkWasp
Some of us cant/wont buy into this. What does that mean? Our hope of getting these features has been crurshed forever.
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As long as NCSoft/ArenaNet keeps releasing the actual game content for free, I am happy. They can fund as much of that as they want by introducing optional microtransaction based functionality.
You can nickel and dime the price as much as you want, but if them expanding the store means they have more revenue to fund development of Guild Wars 2 I am 100% happy with that.
pumpkin pie
Hell, i even pay USD15 for the a Make over expansion pack like I explain above if ANet did not turn greedy and wants to use micro-transaction on top of a game we already paid for.
JR
Quote:
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Originally Posted by pumpkin pie
Hell, i even pay USD15 for the a Make over expansion pack like I explain above if ANet did not turn greedy and wants to use micro-transaction on top of a game we already paid for.
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Regardless, I'm fairly sure they aren't just pocketing the money or spending it on massive company parties with champagne and caviar. It is covering the cost of the additional free content for Guild Wars, and helping towards the development of Guild Wars 2.
Fril Estelin
Quote:
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Originally Posted by JR
Why can't/wont you buy into it? Is supporting a game you enjoy not appealing to you?
As long as NCSoft/ArenaNet keeps releasing the actual game content for free, I am happy. They can fund as much of that as they want by introducing optional microtransaction based functionality. You can nickel and dime the price as much as you want, but if them expanding the store means they have more revenue to fund development of Guild Wars 2 I am 100% happy with that. |
1) the bag will require quite some time to get, I hope the daily questing is going to be fun;
2) one free storage pane, very good! a bit of a shame the other ones clutter a little bit the storage;
3) when I look at the menageries, I can't help to wonder if they could have created actual content, rather than a fancy storage+unlock place.
I think it's more a product, than an "update". I also think that there's a lot of marketing spin behind this, a lot more than I initially thought. After getting the actual details of the offer, I feel closer to DreamWind's opinion (but not inline with him). Tbh I'm still a bit confused about what this means for me and GW1.
I don't want to be unfair to Linsey, who was and still is a fantastic lead for the Live Team. She has a lot of <3 for us and the game, and this "product" did require a lot of hard work, there's no doubt about it. Yet I can't help but feel uncomfortable. May be the "heat" on Guru is clouding the issue, or artificially creating one.
I wish Anet a lot of success with this new product and hope it'll mean good for the community in a more or less short term.
EDIT: If Regina doesn't contribute to the various hot discussions and doesn't give us more clear insight into Anet's intention behind this "product", I'd consider this a mistake. I'd even prefer Anet to be frank and talk about getting money to justify their effective costs, I may even consider buying something if it's very convincing. But silence will mean bad things for me.
pumpkin pie
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.
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
Quote:
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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.
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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
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Abedeus
I thought they said it's impossible to change name and make a hair stylist?
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pumpkin pie
Quote:
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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".
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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
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.
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
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.
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
Quote:
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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.
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Fril Estelin
Quote:
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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.
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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
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).
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
Quote:
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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.
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I do agree that the price of a name change seems rather high at the moment.
StormX
CHING CHING KACHING!!! Clever marketing strategy anet!
Too bad 10 USD is a little steep in my currency though...gotta consider the international players...
Too bad 10 USD is a little steep in my currency though...gotta consider the international players...
Demon Drone
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
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
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
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Theocrat
Gaile said a lot of shit that turned out to be entirely untrue.
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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
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
Great updates and ideas, but not for money. make them free, please
Lord Hares
Just to let you know, Anet is now known as ABBA 
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2q...ey-money_music
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2q...ey-money_music
Targren
Quote:
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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. |
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:
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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; |
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? |
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
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.
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
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.