Champions Online to have item sales?

mlauzon

Cryptic may be considering including microtransactions in its forthcoming suerphero MMO Champions Online, going by the beta test.

Eurogamer gained access to the Champions Online beta last weekend. We noticed that the game's menu features an option called "Champions Store". When selected, this brings up an error message mentioning the word "microtransactions".

We contacted Cryptic for comment. "As you may have noticed in the recent play test for Champions Online, we are currently testing functionality for in-game transactions," the developer replied in a statement.

"Virtual asset sales are a necessary component of the greater Cryptic platform since we plan on working on a number of different titles using our technology platform. At present we do not have any finalised plans for how and if these will be implemented in future releases."

Cryptic plans to release Champions Online as a standard subscription MMO when it makes its North American and European debut on PC on July 14th. And chief creative officer Jack Emmert has previously made his dislike of microtransactions a matter of public record, telling a GDC panel last year that "they make me want to die".

But it now seems that the developer is open to supplementing subscriptions with revenue from item sales -- as Sony Online Entertainment has done with EverQuest -- or perhaps employing them in less subscription-friendly markets like Asia.

Incidentally, we very much enjoyed our brief run around the first few levels of the game, and will bring you a comprehensive beta report on Champions Online in the coming weeks.

Source: Eurogamer

Dameonk

Interesting is all I have to say about this.

Microtransactions seem to be the wave of the future for MMO games... unfortunately.  I'm not going to get on my soap box just yet, though.  I for one will wait and see how it plays out once the game is released.

alakram

In my opinion it would be a good idea offering the game in every market the way people is used to receive it; that means, sub based in USA, Euro, Australia and Item Mall based in Asia. that makes sense for me, maybe they were testing that. But I fear the worst, they maybe considering sub+item mall.

mlauzon

They should think about making it F2P + Item Mall....

Greek_Matt

 Hardly surprising... Cryptic's previous MMO City of Heroes/Villains has featured a limited microtransaction 'store' for some time now, which has been steadily expanding since NCSoft (now Paragon Studios) took over from Cryptic. If the CoX model is anything to go by, the Item Store will likely feature services such as purchasing Rename Tokens (to rename your toon), Server Transfer Tokens and extra Character Slots.

They may also start bringing out mini costume packs too (as NCSoft have begun introducing) with new 'premium' costumes, extra emotes and mini-powers with very minor in-game effect. They've certainly proved very popular on the EU English servers (not sure about elsewhere), no reason not to continue with the successful business model.

Leethe

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Originally posted by Greek_Matt
 Hardly surprising... Cryptic's previous MMO City of Heroes/Villains has featured a limited microtransaction 'store' for some time now, which has been steadily expanding since NCSoft (now Paragon Studios) took over from Cryptic. If the CoX model is anything to go by, the Item Store will likely feature services such as purchasing Rename Tokens (to rename your toon), Server Transfer Tokens and extra Character Slots.
They may also start bringing out mini costume packs too (as NCSoft have begun introducing) with new 'premium' costumes, extra emotes and mini-powers with very minor in-game effect. They've certainly proved very popular on the EU English servers (not sure about elsewhere), no reason not to continue with the successful business model.

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I bought a few of those magic and cyborg packs myself. Seems to fit the current trend especially when it comes to eye candy and extra slots. Alt-itis is going strong.

Dameonk

Originally posted by Greek_Matt


 Hardly surprising... Cryptic's previous MMO City of Heroes/Villains has featured a limited microtransaction 'store' for some time now, which has been steadily expanding since NCSoft (now Paragon Studios) took over from Cryptic. If the CoX model is anything to go by, the Item Store will likely feature services such as purchasing Rename Tokens (to rename your toon), Server Transfer Tokens and extra Character Slots.
They may also start bringing out mini costume packs too (as NCSoft have begun introducing) with new 'premium' costumes, extra emotes and mini-powers with very minor in-game effect. They've certainly proved very popular on the EU English servers (not sure about elsewhere), no reason not to continue with the successful business model.

 

These practices did not start until after Cryptic no longer had control of the franchise.  Not saying that they won't steal the idea but it was NCSoft that started them.

Czzarre

Not knocking Eurogamer

BUt the officisal forums has no such information on it. In fact this is the first mention of microtransactions ive even heard from this game. To my knowledge there are no other press reviews (now that the press NDA is lifted) that says anything close

Xiaoki

I played CoH again for the free week and imagine my surprise when I get bombarded with all these extras that cost money. Especially the costume packs for $10?! What the hell.

Now Champions Online may implement the same thing and it is met with cautious optimism.

Blizzard was called "greedy" here because of it having payed services and no matter what SOE does they get called "evil".

Im not boycotting CoH because of this(I have different reasons for not playing CoH) but having microtransaction for vanity items(like costumes) is fine but annoying(especially in a game that prided itself on offering these for free in the past).

Im going to wait atleast 6 months on Champions, this hint at microtransactions makes that wait even easier.

Ihmotepp

I will buy all the items and be more uber and cool than you.

Sovrath

Originally posted by Leethe


 

Originally posted by Greek_Matt

 Hardly surprising... Cryptic's previous MMO City of Heroes/Villains has featured a limited microtransaction 'store' for some time now, which has been steadily expanding since NCSoft (now Paragon Studios) took over from Cryptic. If the CoX model is anything to go by, the Item Store will likely feature services such as purchasing Rename Tokens (to rename your toon), Server Transfer Tokens and extra Character Slots.

They may also start bringing out mini costume packs too (as NCSoft have begun introducing) with new 'premium' costumes, extra emotes and mini-powers with very minor in-game effect. They've certainly proved very popular on the EU English servers (not sure about elsewhere), no reason not to continue with the successful business model.

I bought a few of those magic and cyborg packs myself. Seems to fit the current trend especially when it comes to eye candy and extra slots. Alt-itis is going strong.

 

 

I have always been for purchasing costume packs or just items for visual customization as I've never truly been happy with my character's appearance in most of these games.

As long as they are of high quality I would be satisfied with it.

Elikal

I am fundamentally against microtransactions. Not so much for moral reasons, but I know I would not be able to resist to have fun stuff, no clothing, trinkets of fluff nature and I would spend WAY more than with a mere monthly fee. I know when it comes to visual fluff I am too weak, lol. So I hope they wont have it.

Brain-dead

If the CoX model is anything to go by, the Item Store will likely feature services such as purchasing Rename Tokens (to rename your toon), Server Transfer Tokens and extra Character Slots.

Which I always thought was a great idea. It discourages casual re-naming, server migration, ect.

They should think about making it F2P + Item Mall....

...if they want to kill it as quickly as possible.