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Star Wars: The Old Republic: Pricing May Have "Some Twists"
MikeB
Community ManagerAdministrator RarePosts: 6,555
Kotaku is reporting on some comments by BioWare's Ray Muzyka during their interview at this year's GDC regarding The Old Republic's pricing situation. When asked about the game's pricing plan (which has yet to be announced), Dr. Muzyka replied that it will "be more of the traditional business model with maybe some twists as well."
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Twists? Hm, this would make sense, especially given the story we reported on last year, uncovering evidence of potential microtransactions in the TOR Game Testing application's Terms of Service agreement. Unfortunately, Dr. Muzyka wouldn't elaborate much further on these "twists" other than to explain what EA's high-level goals are for The Old Republic's pricing:
"With Star Wars: The Old Republic, we haven't announced anything yet. But what we're striving to do, to clarify what I said earlier, is to make sure the fans and the audience that we're trying to reach feel they are getting something they understand and feel that it is a good value for their money — and feel that there is a way they actually want to engage in the experience, both in how they play it and how they pay for it. That's our high-level goal."
Via Kotaku.
If The Old Republic turned out to be a bit of a hybrid subscription/micro MMO a'la DDO Unlimited, would you still be interested in playing it? Or would such an implementation be a deal breaker for you? Let us know in the comments below!
Comments
If some people can buy the boxes and keep playing unsubbed with some limits, and I can pay to have those limits removed via monthly I would be fine with it. More people get to enjoy the game and it doesn't effect how I enjoy it because I plan to sub anyway.
BundyTheRipper
As long as it's not subscription + extra I'm ok. I'm ok with paying $15/month, but if I have to pay in addition to that to open new gameplay (other than cosmetic stuff I don't care about), that would suck.
change is the devils work I tell you!
so...
I'd be grumpy if there were microtransactions beyond an industry-average monthly fee, but I'd still play if it was the most enjoyable MMO out at the time.
This is not smart. BioWare could really shoot themselves in the foot if they try to apply single-player RPG mentality (in terms of DLC and such) to MMOs. Don't mess with it, BioWare, just keep it standard and you'll have one less thing to be attacked over.
Edit: From his quote, it sounds like he's not planning anything drastic. But we'll have to wait and see.
ANY kind of MT's/CS and I'm out.
Let me pay my $15/mo and leave it at that. ANY tinkering beyond that is just blatant corporate greed, and I refuse to be manipulated like that. They're making plenty of gd money.
Is it the principle of the thing? Because I would be okay with cosmetic/fickle MT items. They're a nice option for the company to make a little extra cash (if they even need it, I highly doubt BioWare does) while the players benefit by looking cooler. But that's it... just looking cooler. You can't say, "BioWare manipulated me into buying the awesome purple Jedi robes (with no stat bonuses, of course) because they look so awesome, I just had to have them!"
That's stickin' it to the man!
Not really.
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You wouldn't understand
I would be fine with say, $6.99/month for access with frequent adventure packs that are paid for. Having said that, if there are microtransactions for things like XP potions and other items, it's a deal breaker.
Until you cancel your subscription, you are only helping to continue the cycle of mediocrity.
I have no issues with it being a DDO style model in terms of pricing, in fact I would most likely encourage that sort of pricing. I have several friends who have been hit by the economic downturn and have had to cut gaming out to save some extra cash in their pockets. The great thing about the DDO style was you could cut your sub, but still have the ability to keep playing (limited of course) and not have to be unable to log into the game at all.
That being said, if they try to go the cryptic rout and go for $15 a month fee + stuff in the cash shop each month, I would be totally against it and it may drive me away from the game. Im really tired of publishers thinking they can try to squeeze every amount of cash from us as possible. I dont mind if though if they have things such as class changes, race changes, cosmetic etc, but if they try to have addons, things like extra companions, buff potions, content etc in the cash shop, it shouldnt be locked away from people who are paying the full monthly fee.
My Guild Wars 2 Vids
The only way they could get me to spend money w/ micro-transactions is if Bioware sold a Jawa playable character through the store (as I love Jawas).
But really don't do something like that Bioware!
It always starts out with cosmetic items, then it expands into playable races (Star Trek Online), game changing items (Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Pyramid Scheme), Everquest Cash Shops, and so on and so on, where do you draw the line and say enough is enough?
If they just keep it as a x$/month I'm perfectly fine with it. I think Blizzard did pretty well like that.
If they do x$/month + pay for new looks for your character or a new looking mount or something like that fine. (stuff that doesn't affect gameplay) I might play it for awhile, probably NOT going to play it for long.
If I can pay one sub fee that gives me access to all content (even if its a few bucks above the 'standard' membership then I'm fine with it.)
Otherwise any item for sale better be obtainable inside the game with reasonable effort.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
If it is sub+micro transaction that were really only cosmetic then I would still consider playing, but as stated above they never stay that way.
If it was a DDO system with no base fee and buy level cap upgrades on demand then I would look into the game this sort of system seems to work well for more casual games. having said that I don't consider the monthly fee option worthwhile for DDO and would never consider DDO as a primary game to play because of this.
If there is a monthly fee and any sort of XP potion and such then I won't even give the game a chance.
As long as anything that you buy (MT) is also lootable in the game, then I'm okay with it. I just don't want any items to be 'purchase only'... cosmetic or not. I know, I know... for cosmetic items, most will say that it doesn't matter. But seriously... it does matter.
Anything offered exlusively from an 'item shop' (MT) should have an in-game equivalent... with a slight variation. Perhaps a slight color modification to help differentiate the items, but they should be just a tad different. If someone busts their arse in game and obtains an item via achievment, then it should be noteworthy and not diminished by MT's. If they stand side by side with someone that just paid for the same item... there absolutely has to be a way to tell them apart. I'm sorry, but there should be. If a player wants both... so be it.
MT's with small items are nothing more than a gateway to other things, IMHO. Server transfers, renaming characters, faction switches, non-combat pets, clothing items, etc.,.. Once we are 'at ease' with item shops (which the F2P games are pushing hardcore anyway), then they will begin to slip in more and more. It won't happen overnight, but it will happen. With an IP like Star Wars, collectors will pay for just about anything anyway. It's got to be 'governed' in some way, or it will get out of hand.
I swear, if it's anything like STO or CO, I'll lose hope in MMOs.
"The question that sometimes drives me hazy: Am I, or the others crazy?" - Albert Einstein
The problem I see is that it looks like it's EA's call on how to do it. You know... EA? The Sims EA? Basically, we'll have add-ons every month that cost $10 (what used to be called 'updates' and were free in previous MMOs)
I have a feeling EA is moving towards a nickle and dime the consumer model. I have seen it in their NCAA games and the ones for last year really got under my skin.
For those that did not play the NCAA football game here is what they did. They allowed you to purchase add-ons that made it easier to recruit players and improve your team. It was a straight money grab that made the game easier for anyone that paid the extra cash.
This seems really ominous. I do not like the way EA is heading and I personally feel this will end up being a very bad thing.
--John Ruskin
Is it the principle of the thing? Because I would be okay with cosmetic/fickle MT items. They're a nice option for the company to make a little extra cash (if they even need it, I highly doubt BioWare does) while the players benefit by looking cooler. But that's it... just looking cooler. You can't say, "BioWare manipulated me into buying the awesome purple Jedi robes (with no stat bonuses, of course) because they look so awesome, I just had to have them!"
I hate this arguement so much. Cosmetic cash shops are okay because they do not affect gameplay? The items developed for cosmetic cash shops come from the same monthly fee everyone is paying. They are not employing a new dev team to make cosmetic items. Anything in a cash shop for a game that requires a monthly fee has been developed by the same team supported by that monthly fee. Cosmetic or not, cash shops do not belong in a pay to play game. Everyone is entitled to everything as they are paying for it already.
"... add-ons every month that cost $10 (what used to be called 'updates' and were free in previous MMOs)"
Playing with a loaded gun is not a good idea. The subscription model is going to either make or break it for me personally. I will not play a game where gear is purchasable for actual money. It needs to be monthly sub with no strings attached or no deal. Blizzards already crossing the line with me with their pet store. However it does not give other players an edge over me. If they're going to try and milk people please let it be the morons that pay 10 dollars for a pet. Try to milk people like me of money and I will help you aim that gun at your foot.
I really think BioWare has the potential to rise up to number one. Ignorant moves all though small could just as easily destroy them completely. What the Death Star could have done without that exhaust vent.
Knowing EA and how awesome and player loving company they are, we are going to pay for 15 euros a month plus all new content will be with 20 euros price tag, aka new dungeons and small areas.
mmorpg.com, the 4chan of mmo forums.
I still think the DDO route is the way to go. Either a VIP(monthly sub) or regular (free but limited) And while i don't care much if they sell XP-potions i do hope they stay away from selling gear outright,
This have been a good conversation
Is it the principle of the thing? Because I would be okay with cosmetic/fickle MT items. They're a nice option for the company to make a little extra cash (if they even need it, I highly doubt BioWare does) while the players benefit by looking cooler. But that's it... just looking cooler. You can't say, "BioWare manipulated me into buying the awesome purple Jedi robes (with no stat bonuses, of course) because they look so awesome, I just had to have them!"
I hate this arguement so much. Cosmetic cash shops are okay because they do not affect gameplay? The items developed for cosmetic cash shops come from the same monthly fee everyone is paying. They are not employing a new dev team to make cosmetic items. Anything in a cash shop for a game that requires a monthly fee has been developed by the same team supported by that monthly fee. Cosmetic or not, cash shops do not belong in a pay to play game. Everyone is entitled to everything as they are paying for it already.
QFT