It's also possible that the statements that were quoted on the internet were a "trial balloon" ... something that is becoming quite popular in terms of test marketing and political polling: get an idea out there, "float it", so to speak, and see what the reaction is, before you finalize the plan. That could very well be what EA was doing here as well.
I agree -- I thought of the same possibility
the Bioware people had no clue about this so its certainly possible this was a marketing "test" for polling
This is probably the most shocking news of the year. There is no chance in hell I will participate in a MT game. They might as well make all the characters anime. Pathetic.
It is ridiculous that a western developer would even try something so idiotic.
Item shops work in the Asian countries because they don't pay for the game, they play in a shop (not their own home), and the design of their games are different.
Could you imagine World of Warcraft as an item shop game? Thank you for that 200 dollars here is your full set of tier 9 raid gear. Have a nice day.
Oh some will say that they will make it only fluff items. If that is the case then they will fail miserably. We in the west don't care about "Fluff" like the Asian market does. We won't spend that much on different outfits or a new hair style for our character.
No it is more likely that it would be like EQ's system where you can purchase accounts, items, currency, etc.
Currently playing: LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too: Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
This is the future of online games. Unless you can get the player base that WoW has, you have to find alternate ways of increasing your profit margin. MMOs are now big business, and are following the same historical timelines that computer games have. The difference is that a single player computer game can still be developed by a small independent company or developer, MMOs can't. They are expensive to develop and run, and the costs aren't neccessarily going down. With the reccession here, it's only going to get worst. Companies and Venture Captialists aren't going to fund anything that is "innovative", or different then what is out there.
You can argue until you're blue in the face about what people want, but the truth is you don't know what they want. You know what you want, and that's about as far as you can go. People like WoW that is proven, people don't like Tabula Rasa, that's also been proven. Everything else is idle speculation.
For a lot of the hardcore posters here, the reality is they may have to look for a different hobby.Th
The problem with your post? We are not dealing with an independent developer. We are not dealing with a unknown Intellectual Property. We are not dealing with a game philosophy that is conceptual. Bioware/LucasArts knows exactly what they intend to do with this title.
What we are not talking about is a system where Bioware somehow needs to come up with creative ways to increase developement revenue. They have secured revenue. If anything, your "recession" comment makes games even more attractive (time per dollar).
You said "You don't know what they want. You don't know what they want..." I get it, neither do you. I just know what I want to play. Which mean moving from a Star Wars Universe riffe with possibility to one riffe with nit-picking micro-transactions is nothing more than complete insult.
For the new hobby, if this game is your upcoming hobby, I suggest you find a new one as well, because it is going to change...
First off, IP even as big as Star Wars is not a guarantee of success. A smart investor hedges his bets. Second I'm not going to play this game, I don't like Star Wars (except the film "The Empire Strikes Back") I didn't like KOTR and quite honestly most existing IP games are boderline disasters.
As for the quip about changing hobbies; whatever if you chose to take offense (as your post insinuates) well I can't help that. I was pointing out that in-game transactions using real money is a trend that is coming to all but a couple of games. If it doesn't happen great, but all indications is that it is coming.
He also intimated that the company's $14.99 subscription fee may be on the way out, with an alternative business model stepping in to take its place. Check out the full interview for all the juicy details!
I can only imagine how pissed the people that payed $200 upfront for the lifetime subscription will be.
The full quote actually gives a completely different feel:
Eurogamer: Do you think there's room for other business models in LOTRO's future?
Jeffrey Steefel: I think so... There are some things about the way that we built the game that would allow us to try some different business models. For people that want to have a more casual relationship with the game, and just have fun a couple of hours, a couple of times a week, right now I think we have a difficult value proposition. They're paying a premium price to get a whole bunch more than they actually want. So, maybe there's room to satisfy those people in a slightly different way.
This is a franchise that's going to continue for years and years and years, and there's no way that the singular, monolithic, USD 14.95 a month subscription model is going to last for years and years and years all by itself. I think the answer is, it has to change.
Currently playing: LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too: Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
Hey everyone, sorry for not chiming in right with this but I wanted to confirm the accuracy of what I was going to say before posting it.
This unfortunately was a big misunderstanding and I want to be clear: we have made no official statements about the business model for Star Wars™: The Old Republic™.
When we do have information as to business model for The Old Republic, we will definitely share it with all of you and you’ll find that information here on the official website.
Same here. I will never play an item mall game. Takes all the fun out of playing for me.
Log on, hand the company a thousand bucks, look at your new shiny character with all the cool stuff in the game, log out, done in 5 minutes, no need to ever play again. Great game.
I've already seen the updates, but the mere fact that they even mentioned it (no way in hell this was a misunderstanding) makes me want to stay far far away from this game.
Already from what I've seen nothing about this game is even close to remarkable or interesting. The same old crap with a different skin. But hey, you build your own lightsabers!
Screw it. I'm tired of these games.
------------------- If ever there was a time to rise if ever there was a time to join hands with our brothers that time is now. At this exact junction in history we have within our grasp the means to loosen our tormentors hold and win freedom for our kin. Opportunities are there to be taken.
I'm right behind this idea. I think it's time that I, as a working class man with limited time on his hands, can make up for my lack of playing time with an option to buy the gear I need. Hey, I'm not saying that it's great, but it just offers a way to have the office workers, as well as the kids, playing the game.
I'm right behind this idea. I think it's time that I, as a working class man with limited time on his hands, can make up for my lack of playing time with an option to buy the gear I need. Hey, I'm not saying that it's great, but it just offers a way to have the office workers, as well as the kids, playing the game. This has WoWkiller written all over it.
I don't get it. Then why bother to play the game? Just log on, buy everything, and log off. Or is that the game, shopping for virtual items, like the virtual edition of the shopping channel.
I don't need to actually do anything, except log on, and shop for shiny stuff for my character. Bleh.
I'm right behind this idea. I think it's time that I, as a working class man with limited time on his hands, can make up for my lack of playing time with an option to buy the gear I need. Hey, I'm not saying that it's great, but it just offers a way to have the office workers, as well as the kids, playing the game. This has WoWkiller written all over it.
I don't get it. Then why bother to play the game? Just log on, buy everything, and log off. Or is that the game, shopping for virtual items, like the virtual edition of the shopping channel.
I don't need to actually do anything, except log on, and shop for shiny stuff for my character. Bleh.
take a look at the newest F2P on the block, Atlantica Online. Its not like that at all, you only buy stuff that helps you in a way, like licenses, and some of those Ive gotten as drops. The armor, weapons, I dont even see those for sale, you have to quest them.
When I said i had "time", i meant virtual time, i got no RL "time" for you.
I will never touch a game with a cash shop for items , fluff or gamebreaking otherwise...I feel instead of being lazy I can go do the game content and get it myself but instead the MMO industry thinks this is the future of gaming well if that is so then I wont be a part of it , time to turn to the indie developers and hope they produce a solid sandbox game now, cause it looks like this game is going to bomb if they are going to do this...
Then again this game is looking more fail cause of its solo -friendly, jedi-lovin, next to nothing crafting, spaceless Star Wars game... how much does it take to get it into peoples heads dont buy into this games hype cause its SW? And a update the EMU is very close to being done.... I suggest go play that and its free...
I'm right behind this idea. I think it's time that I, as a working class man with limited time on his hands, can make up for my lack of playing time with an option to buy the gear I need. Hey, I'm not saying that it's great, but it just offers a way to have the office workers, as well as the kids, playing the game. This has WoWkiller written all over it.
The last 2 big name games labelled as "WoW Killers" were Age of Conan and Warhammer Online. If you want your TOR game going that same route of glory, by all means...
I'm telling you, the company WILL make it's money off you despite the game being "Free to Play." That's the first hook they get you with. Then there's subtle, low cost benefits you can get here and there from a Cash Shop sort of deal. These benefits / buffs / whatever will be good. Next thing you know you're picking up more and more of thing in a short amount of time.
One example: You start the game brand new. You progress at a rapid pace. You notice in the cash shop that there's a Buff to 20% experience gained for a duration that you can pay for. You're moving along nicely, so you don't need it. Then you get to a certain level where the grind begins. The XP requirements SKYROCKET to progress to each level. You're questing and grinding, but progress is slow. It's brutal. Oh, but wait... you just remembered that XP buff you could buy for a few $$$. Nah, you'd never buy that. You're playing for free.
You get to the next level finally. It took forever, and you're about halfway to another one. The grind was horrendous (well, not quite Lineage 2 horrendous). Not looking forward to grinding like this the rest of the time. But then you remember the XP buff you can buy. They also have some stuff to boost your HP / MP by a considerable amount. Oh look, there's something there to buy in-game currency from the company also. Wait, look at that nice piece of armor / weapon in the cash shop.
(Tempted)
Nah, I'll just get the XP buff for now.
BAM
Got you.
Hook, line, and sinker. Break out your wallet and bend over, and get ready to take it from behind while screaming "But it's Free To Play."
"I have only two out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by machine gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and only a few on my right. I will hold." (First Lieutenant Clifton B. Cates, US Marine Corps, Soissons, 19 July 1918)
The sad thing is that every other industry is beginning to offer their services for flat fees while the video game industry, in regards to MMOs, is moving towards dividing up the service (that we've paid for with flat fees for the past decade) into chunks each with their own fee.
Until you cancel your subscription, you are only helping to continue the cycle of mediocrity.
$OE lies list http://www.rlmmo.com/viewtopic.php?t=424&start=0 " And I don't want to hear anything about "I don't believe in vampires" because *I* don't believe in vampires, but I believe in my own two eyes, and what *I* saw is ******* vampires! "
I think my soul will die just a little bit more if this actually happens. F2P Item Mall games have their place...Triple A titles made by big companies like EA, SOE, Bioware are NOT one of them. If Bioware wants to give us some cheap shotty grind game like Most Item Mall games then I can see this model working....but a Triple A title you know they'll charge us for the software? Fuck that.
Don't be terrorized! You're more likely to die of a car accident, drowning, fire, or murder! More people die every year from prescription drugs than terrorism LOL!
Face it guys and gals, the moment bioware was sold to EA they ceased to become and independant entity. They have no control over what they do anymore, EA owns them lock, stock and barrel and has the final say over everything. After numerous mmo failures and EA's love of micro-transactions it should be no surprise that EA is going via this route, it means that they get to include the massive casual (and I'm not talking about mmo gamer casual) and kiddy audiances as potential customers. This will not be a mmo connosoirs game, I think EA has given up on that market after recent disasters.
In future when you see the word Bioware read it as Electronic Arts.
I was pretty interested in playing this game. Seeing the news about the most recent issue with micro transaction, it is definitely a turn off. I think I will stay pay the 50 bucks to try the game IF the game looks promising before release. However, just like other games that requires player to pay for "elite" items, I just do not know how long it will hold my interest. It is likely that I will pay for the excitement of a new game, and perhaps give up after dissatisfaction of not being able to achieve the same level of success of those that pays for items. I am certainly not going to spend one red cent more than the box.
EA made a smart move to make it F2P by the looks of it and intro RMT main reason they look upon the state of the global market not just fans.
Beocz of this recessison and global slowdown... msot peeps wont be playing 15$ games per month as they wont have a regular cut on their hard earned cash for fun ...but if they are fans if will bring them on to a F2P ...before the BOTS enterd SRO ...itself made huge amounts of Money though it was F2P ...and the game was designed in such a way that IT isnt like a Person who keeps buying stuff from ITEM Mall will have extreme edgge.
It wud be a small edge like Faster in lvl up's or skill based a few items that give them a simple edge wioch can be always be counterd down to 2 vs 1 easily..2 free players agsint teh paid guy.
ANd those who usally pay 15 dollars a month wont have much probvlems coz the game devs hell sure wont make a huge difference...it would be more like SRO type being a free palyer will take a long time to equalise but u pay a little u get all the stuff u need .
in category format. i cud put it as 3 states:
* Rich guys prolly having best gear in 2 months
* Some payment guys in 4 months
* Free guys 8-10 months to reach equal to rich guys stuff.
Comments
I agree -- I thought of the same possibility
the Bioware people had no clue about this so its certainly possible this was a marketing "test" for polling
EQ2 fan sites
Well said.
Microtransaction game and I won't even play it.
It is ridiculous that a western developer would even try something so idiotic.
Item shops work in the Asian countries because they don't pay for the game, they play in a shop (not their own home), and the design of their games are different.
Could you imagine World of Warcraft as an item shop game? Thank you for that 200 dollars here is your full set of tier 9 raid gear. Have a nice day.
Oh some will say that they will make it only fluff items. If that is the case then they will fail miserably. We in the west don't care about "Fluff" like the Asian market does. We won't spend that much on different outfits or a new hair style for our character.
No it is more likely that it would be like EQ's system where you can purchase accounts, items, currency, etc.
Currently playing:
LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too:
Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
The problem with your post? We are not dealing with an independent developer. We are not dealing with a unknown Intellectual Property. We are not dealing with a game philosophy that is conceptual. Bioware/LucasArts knows exactly what they intend to do with this title.
What we are not talking about is a system where Bioware somehow needs to come up with creative ways to increase developement revenue. They have secured revenue. If anything, your "recession" comment makes games even more attractive (time per dollar).
You said "You don't know what they want. You don't know what they want..." I get it, neither do you. I just know what I want to play. Which mean moving from a Star Wars Universe riffe with possibility to one riffe with nit-picking micro-transactions is nothing more than complete insult.
For the new hobby, if this game is your upcoming hobby, I suggest you find a new one as well, because it is going to change...
First off, IP even as big as Star Wars is not a guarantee of success. A smart investor hedges his bets. Second I'm not going to play this game, I don't like Star Wars (except the film "The Empire Strikes Back") I didn't like KOTR and quite honestly most existing IP games are boderline disasters.
As for the quip about changing hobbies; whatever if you chose to take offense (as your post insinuates) well I can't help that. I was pointing out that in-game transactions using real money is a trend that is coming to all but a couple of games. If it doesn't happen great, but all indications is that it is coming.
My interest in this game just gone out of the window.
I can only imagine how pissed the people that payed $200 upfront for the lifetime subscription will be.
The full quote actually gives a completely different feel:
Eurogamer: Do you think there's room for other business models in LOTRO's future?
Jeffrey Steefel: I think so... There are some things about the way that we built the game that would allow us to try some different business models. For people that want to have a more casual relationship with the game, and just have fun a couple of hours, a couple of times a week, right now I think we have a difficult value proposition. They're paying a premium price to get a whole bunch more than they actually want. So, maybe there's room to satisfy those people in a slightly different way.
This is a franchise that's going to continue for years and years and years, and there's no way that the singular, monolithic, USD 14.95 a month subscription model is going to last for years and years and years all by itself. I think the answer is, it has to change.
Currently playing:
LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too:
Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
It's like they listened to me talking about my Ideal MMO in ventrilo.......and then did the exact opposite.
God this game will blow.
The Official God FAQ
Originally Posted by SeanDahlberg
Hey everyone, sorry for not chiming in right with this but I wanted to confirm the accuracy of what I was going to say before posting it.
This unfortunately was a big misunderstanding and I want to be clear: we have made no official statements about the business model for Star Wars™: The Old Republic™.
When we do have information as to business model for The Old Republic, we will definitely share it with all of you and you’ll find that information here on the official website.
http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=9509&page=25
BOYCOTTING EA / ORIGIN going forward.
Lame.
Same here. I will never play an item mall game. Takes all the fun out of playing for me.
Log on, hand the company a thousand bucks, look at your new shiny character with all the cool stuff in the game, log out, done in 5 minutes, no need to ever play again. Great game.
I've already seen the updates, but the mere fact that they even mentioned it (no way in hell this was a misunderstanding) makes me want to stay far far away from this game.
Already from what I've seen nothing about this game is even close to remarkable or interesting. The same old crap with a different skin. But hey, you build your own lightsabers!
Screw it. I'm tired of these games.
-------------------
If ever there was a time to rise if ever there was a time to join hands with our brothers that time is now. At this exact junction in history we have within our grasp the means to loosen our tormentors hold and win freedom for our kin. Opportunities are there to be taken.
Brothers, we must rise.
-Malaetu Shakor
this is an unsubstantiated roumor...
http://www.massively.com/2008/12/09/star-wars-the-old-republic-to-be-microtransaction-based/
I'm right behind this idea. I think it's time that I, as a working class man with limited time on his hands, can make up for my lack of playing time with an option to buy the gear I need. Hey, I'm not saying that it's great, but it just offers a way to have the office workers, as well as the kids, playing the game.
This has WoWkiller written all over it.
I don't get it. Then why bother to play the game? Just log on, buy everything, and log off. Or is that the game, shopping for virtual items, like the virtual edition of the shopping channel.
I don't need to actually do anything, except log on, and shop for shiny stuff for my character. Bleh.
I don't get it. Then why bother to play the game? Just log on, buy everything, and log off. Or is that the game, shopping for virtual items, like the virtual edition of the shopping channel.
I don't need to actually do anything, except log on, and shop for shiny stuff for my character. Bleh.
take a look at the newest F2P on the block, Atlantica Online. Its not like that at all, you only buy stuff that helps you in a way, like licenses, and some of those Ive gotten as drops. The armor, weapons, I dont even see those for sale, you have to quest them.
When I said i had "time", i meant virtual time, i got no RL "time" for you.
I will never touch a game with a cash shop for items , fluff or gamebreaking otherwise...I feel instead of being lazy I can go do the game content and get it myself but instead the MMO industry thinks this is the future of gaming well if that is so then I wont be a part of it , time to turn to the indie developers and hope they produce a solid sandbox game now, cause it looks like this game is going to bomb if they are going to do this...
Then again this game is looking more fail cause of its solo -friendly, jedi-lovin, next to nothing crafting, spaceless Star Wars game... how much does it take to get it into peoples heads dont buy into this games hype cause its SW? And a update the EMU is very close to being done.... I suggest go play that and its free...
The last 2 big name games labelled as "WoW Killers" were Age of Conan and Warhammer Online. If you want your TOR game going that same route of glory, by all means...
I'm telling you, the company WILL make it's money off you despite the game being "Free to Play." That's the first hook they get you with. Then there's subtle, low cost benefits you can get here and there from a Cash Shop sort of deal. These benefits / buffs / whatever will be good. Next thing you know you're picking up more and more of thing in a short amount of time.
One example: You start the game brand new. You progress at a rapid pace. You notice in the cash shop that there's a Buff to 20% experience gained for a duration that you can pay for. You're moving along nicely, so you don't need it. Then you get to a certain level where the grind begins. The XP requirements SKYROCKET to progress to each level. You're questing and grinding, but progress is slow. It's brutal. Oh, but wait... you just remembered that XP buff you could buy for a few $$$. Nah, you'd never buy that. You're playing for free.
You get to the next level finally. It took forever, and you're about halfway to another one. The grind was horrendous (well, not quite Lineage 2 horrendous). Not looking forward to grinding like this the rest of the time. But then you remember the XP buff you can buy. They also have some stuff to boost your HP / MP by a considerable amount. Oh look, there's something there to buy in-game currency from the company also. Wait, look at that nice piece of armor / weapon in the cash shop.
(Tempted)
Nah, I'll just get the XP buff for now.
BAM
Got you.
Hook, line, and sinker. Break out your wallet and bend over, and get ready to take it from behind while screaming "But it's Free To Play."
"I have only two out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by machine gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and only a few on my right. I will hold." (First Lieutenant Clifton B. Cates, US Marine Corps, Soissons, 19 July 1918)
I love your sig. That is all...
BOYCOTTING EA / ORIGIN going forward.
The sad thing is that every other industry is beginning to offer their services for flat fees while the video game industry, in regards to MMOs, is moving towards dividing up the service (that we've paid for with flat fees for the past decade) into chunks each with their own fee.
Until you cancel your subscription, you are only helping to continue the cycle of mediocrity.
hehe run whiners, RUN!
$OE lies list
http://www.rlmmo.com/viewtopic.php?t=424&start=0
"
And I don't want to hear anything about "I don't believe in vampires" because *I* don't believe in vampires, but I believe in my own two eyes, and what *I* saw is ******* vampires! "
I think my soul will die just a little bit more if this actually happens. F2P Item Mall games have their place...Triple A titles made by big companies like EA, SOE, Bioware are NOT one of them. If Bioware wants to give us some cheap shotty grind game like Most Item Mall games then I can see this model working....but a Triple A title you know they'll charge us for the software? Fuck that.
Star Wars: The Old Republic has one weakness....
Item Mall
Don't be terrorized! You're more likely to die of a car accident, drowning, fire, or murder! More people die every year from prescription drugs than terrorism LOL!
Face it guys and gals, the moment bioware was sold to EA they ceased to become and independant entity. They have no control over what they do anymore, EA owns them lock, stock and barrel and has the final say over everything. After numerous mmo failures and EA's love of micro-transactions it should be no surprise that EA is going via this route, it means that they get to include the massive casual (and I'm not talking about mmo gamer casual) and kiddy audiances as potential customers. This will not be a mmo connosoirs game, I think EA has given up on that market after recent disasters.
In future when you see the word Bioware read it as Electronic Arts.
I was pretty interested in playing this game. Seeing the news about the most recent issue with micro transaction, it is definitely a turn off. I think I will stay pay the 50 bucks to try the game IF the game looks promising before release. However, just like other games that requires player to pay for "elite" items, I just do not know how long it will hold my interest. It is likely that I will pay for the excitement of a new game, and perhaps give up after dissatisfaction of not being able to achieve the same level of success of those that pays for items. I am certainly not going to spend one red cent more than the box.
EA made a smart move to make it F2P by the looks of it and intro RMT main reason they look upon the state of the global market not just fans.
Beocz of this recessison and global slowdown... msot peeps wont be playing 15$ games per month as they wont have a regular cut on their hard earned cash for fun ...but if they are fans if will bring them on to a F2P ...before the BOTS enterd SRO ...itself made huge amounts of Money though it was F2P ...and the game was designed in such a way that IT isnt like a Person who keeps buying stuff from ITEM Mall will have extreme edgge.
It wud be a small edge like Faster in lvl up's or skill based a few items that give them a simple edge wioch can be always be counterd down to 2 vs 1 easily..2 free players agsint teh paid guy.
ANd those who usally pay 15 dollars a month wont have much probvlems coz the game devs hell sure wont make a huge difference...it would be more like SRO type being a free palyer will take a long time to equalise but u pay a little u get all the stuff u need .
in category format. i cud put it as 3 states:
* Rich guys prolly having best gear in 2 months
* Some payment guys in 4 months
* Free guys 8-10 months to reach equal to rich guys stuff.
-----
c/d it can get more complicated than this