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The Secret World's planned business model

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  • TealaTeala Member RarePosts: 7,627

    IF they do not make it so everything is available or can be gotten in game by some means when you have a premium account, I am all for MT's, when they ask for a sub and then add things that you can get via MT even with a sub that is where I draw the line.   Screw that and the horse it rode in on.

  • FailtrainFailtrain Member Posts: 129

    That's cool, so they want me to pay every month to play their game and then charge me for items I may want on top of that? Saying that they aren't game-changing items or are only for vanity reasons isn't good enough because it just comes down to them being greedy and I'm not going to support that.

  • MalevilMalevil Member Posts: 468

    Originally posted by Piasek

    We are very excited about introducing an in-game store already from launch. Being able to integrate the store into the actual design of the game pre-launch gives us opportunities you do not normally get when introducing a store after you have launched a game.



    We will be revealing more information about the store at a later date, but what we can say for now is that it will focus mostly on character customisation and convenience items such as clothing - of which The Secret World will offer a ton of variety! As developers we are being very careful in making sure that items purchased through the store does not give players any unfair advantage against those who do not use the in-game store.



    Character power in The Secret World will be determined by how well you play the game, not how much money you are willing to put into it.



    We look forward to revealing more about the in-game store as we progress towards launch!



    Sincerely,

    Funcom

     

    Yes i believe Funcom is truly excited about their item shop. Just  for your info Funcom, character power IS NOT only thing i care about in rpg game. Well, one less game in my 'want to play' game list ...

  • Paradigm68Paradigm68 Member UncommonPosts: 890

    Originally posted by Wiezard

    And let the complaining begin. When will players realise that in game shops are not going away and almost every MMO is going to implement it. Hell even Eve Online did it.  It is a part and parcel of MMOS and like it or not but majority like to spend money on these virtual items.

    Am i going to spend money in items shop? nope. No one is forcing me so i will continue to ignore it and enjoy the actual game. People who are against it should just stick to indie titles or quit MMORPGS all together because this business model is here to stay.

    I'll never understand the mindset of: everyone is doing it, so its ok.

    Why do you consider it wrong to stand up or speak out against something you think is wrong?  If you think about it, the fact that it is becoming universal should make people complain more since they are losing the option of going to a different game.

  • tank017tank017 Member Posts: 2,192

    Originally posted by Paradigm68

    Originally posted by Wiezard

    And let the complaining begin. When will players realise that in game shops are not going away and almost every MMO is going to implement it. Hell even Eve Online did it.  It is a part and parcel of MMOS and like it or not but majority like to spend money on these virtual items.

    Am i going to spend money in items shop? nope. No one is forcing me so i will continue to ignore it and enjoy the actual game. People who are against it should just stick to indie titles or quit MMORPGS all together because this business model is here to stay.

    I'll never understand the mindset of: everyone is doing it, so its ok.

    Why do you consider it wrong to stand up or speak out against something you think is wrong?  If you think about it, the fact that it is becoming universal should make people complain more since they are losing the option of going to a different game.

    Yes,people who boycott mmo's with online stores will be losing options and they will continue to lose options becuase most games will be having online stores.

    So basically the only real option that'll be left is to quit MMO's altogether,which most people wont be willing to do.This gives the MMO companies the green light to continue the trend of 'double dipping'.

     

    The exception is basically GW2,which will be B2P with a online store,although you'll still need to buy new content which makes up for the lack of a monthly fee.

     

    Also,Im willing to bet that all these people who are saying "scratch this game off the list" will be playng it at some point or another regardless of what they say on here.

  • PorphyriaPorphyria Member Posts: 11

    I don't understand the level of surprise. FunCom are hardly frontrunners of innovation, and this is clearly a by-the-numbers themepark game. Perfectly predictable sub model.

  • brutality123brutality123 Member Posts: 125

    Surely some game developer has seen a decent sized market segment that would play a good MMORPG that was P2P without a cash shop or MT in preference over others that are out.

  • MadimorgaMadimorga Member UncommonPosts: 1,920

    I won't lie and say it doesn't worry me, because it does.  If they go too far with this, if I feel I'm being ripped off or denied things that should be available to me without accessing the cash shop (a completely subjective measure of the issue, I know), I'll bolt straight for Guild Wars 2, never to be seen or heard from again in TSW.

    image

    I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals.

    ~Albert Einstein

  • JounarJounar Member UncommonPosts: 142

    Originally posted by Madimorga

    I won't lie and say it doesn't worry me, because it does.  If they go too far with this, if I feel I'm being ripped off or denied things that should be available to me without accessing the cash shop (a completely subjective measure of the issue, I know), I'll bolt straight for Guild Wars 2, never to be seen or heard from again in TSW.

     

    TSW having a cash shop on top of a monthly subscription gets Funcom added to my list of companies to avoid  along with SOE and Cryptic as having to pay extra for content that should be covered by my monthly subscription is taking the piss. Saying that tho, the P2P + Cash shop model dosen't worry me to much as all the other MMO's that have tried using this business model such as CO, STO and DCU Online have been epic failures and alot of that has to do with the various costs of the product and their customers feeling ripped off. 

    Hopefully a huge game like GW2 with no subscription fee along with it being genuine next gen MMO might show other developers how the industry has changed.

  • VhalnVhaln Member Posts: 3,159

    Was just playing AoC"Unchained" earlier, and getting a sense of just how much of a rip-off their item shop is.  A lot of it is just way overpriced, and just feels very greedy - especially considering that despite it all, they constantly try to pressure thier customers to pay for a "premium account," even if they've already nickle and dimed them into paying more than even a few months subscription would have cost.  Doesn't bode well for them being very fair with TSW's payment model.

     

    It's like they have this idea of how much money they think their games 'deserve' to make, and charge accordingly, without any sense of supply and demand, and how you can't succeed by charging more than a market is willing to pay.  They might net a quick profit spike, but if they don't wise up, they'll just be striking out again.

    When I want a single-player story, I'll play a single-player game. When I play an MMO, I want a massively multiplayer world.

  • brutality123brutality123 Member Posts: 125

    http://i52.tinypic.com/t7yj5x.jpg

     

    This is a post regarding NCSoft and their server costs and outgoings for a collection of MMO's and makes some interesting reading in just how greedy the Sub + MT model is

  • TSWBETAROGSTSWBETAROGS Member Posts: 196

    The gameshop is onely  vanity gear/pets/clothers ore for changing server for your charracters.  I realy dont understand what your problems are. It is like i paying rent for an apartement, and the man that rents is out tells you that you can change the colours and redue the apartement If you like to, but you need to pay for it your self. An the you say shut upp man, in my old apartement they did not allow me to do anthing and it did not cost me a cent.

  • VhalnVhaln Member Posts: 3,159

    Originally posted by TSWBETAROGS

    The gameshop is onely  vanity gear/pets/clothers ore for changing server for your charracters.  I realy dont understand what your problems are. It is like i paying rent for an apartement, and the man that rents is out tells you that you can change the colours and redue the apartement If you like to, but you need to pay for it your self. An the you say shut upp man, in my old apartement they did not allow me to do anthing and it did not cost me a cent.

     

    In most subscription MMOs I've played that had vanity gear/pets/clothers(barbers/tailers?), it came free with the subscription.  It was just about finding them in-game, like any other loot or NPC.  Now suddenly they're considered specialty items we need to pay extra for?

     

    As for server transfers and renaming, I don't see why they need an item shop for things like that - they're not the kinds of things people will be buying all that much, and could just be purchasable at the web page with plain old fashioned money.  I also don't see why they cost so much in AoC ($20 per character, or $60 to consolidate all my characters) and figure TSW's pricing will be similar, or even worse, because it's shiny and new.

    When I want a single-player story, I'll play a single-player game. When I play an MMO, I want a massively multiplayer world.

  • NaturrutanNaturrutan Member Posts: 20

    Personally i´d prefer a 20$ monthly instead and no cash shop. But, for me, not a gamebreaker since I usually don´t feel the nned of "fluff" items.

  • TSWBETAROGSTSWBETAROGS Member Posts: 196

    Server transfers in AoC is not more exspesive than other MMORPGS in same segment.  If people here used there time working and no complaining they would have alot more money to use on what ewer they whanted. Vanity stuff og a burger at McD. 

  • SulaaSulaa Member UncommonPosts: 1,329

    Originally posted by Vhaln

    Originally posted by TSWBETAROGS

    The gameshop is onely  vanity gear/pets/clothers ore for changing server for your charracters.  I realy dont understand what your problems are. It is like i paying rent for an apartement, and the man that rents is out tells you that you can change the colours and redue the apartement If you like to, but you need to pay for it your self. An the you say shut upp man, in my old apartement they did not allow me to do anthing and it did not cost me a cent.

     

    In most subscription MMOs I've played that had vanity gear/pets/clothers(barbers/tailers?), it came free with the subscription.  It was just about finding them in-game, like any other loot or NPC.  Now suddenly they're considered specialty items we need to pay extra for?

     

    As for server transfers and renaming, I don't see why they need an item shop for things like that - they're not the kinds of things people will be buying all that much, and could just be purchasable at the web page with plain old fashioned money.

    This.

     


    Originally posted by Naturrutan

    Personally i´d prefer a 20$ monthly instead and no cash shop.

    And This.

     

    So yeah I am sick of having item shops in subscription based games. Fluff , cosmetic items or not. Does not matter.

  • AdamTMAdamTM Member Posts: 1,376

    I'm ok with this as long as the sub-price is reasonable and the customization options are extensive.

     

    I would prefer it in a complete F2P model though, preferably like Turbine with DDO.

    image
  • PalaPala Member UncommonPosts: 360

    Shame I was looking forward to this, but item shops are no go for me with subscription. Oh well, more time for other stuff

  • PaithanPaithan Member Posts: 377

    It really depence on what they sell in an item shot to me. I have no problem with meaningless fluff.

    Though I have alot of mixed feelings with World of Warcraft's version of the item shop, considering the items offered to count towards achievements. Not talking feats of strength here, I dont mind the item per say but it shouldnt count towards any achievements.

  • xm522xm522 Member UncommonPosts: 117

    i am very glad most people disagree with this business model, personally i do as well.

    the prominent defense is "cosmetic items, don't affect gow i play" or "funcom hater"

    are consumers so blind? are you sheep following the herd? is the shepherd too scary for your feeble critical thinking and logic?

    wake up people! this trend in MMO's has gotten out of control. let's all look back at the reasons for the $15 sub "to maintain the game, keeping it operational, maintain balance, turn in a small profit"

    do we (by we i mean YOU) that server infrastructure costs have fallen dramatically in cost? and they still want $15 m/o... and now i see a game releasing with a cash shop... this destroys balance, sure they MAY not sell gear, but when you give players the ability to recieve things not found in the game, it is a spit to the spirit of MMO's.

    now, you, the fanboy, read this with an open mind. for being a rebel may set you free.

    when a game includes a cash shop, they want to turn a profit. they will not create NEW things for that shop, they will just remove old things from the game and place them there. that really cool looking skin they are selling for (.01 9/10 cents) was originally in the game.. now you have to pay this almost 2 cents to get it. see what i am getting at? you are being stolen from (leggally) but stolen from none the less. i was interested in this game, as either a p2p or a b2b... but really funcom... good way to shit on your costumers.

    i really hope that those of you who buy this game enjoy it, and fully do not regret your decision.

  • PaithanPaithan Member Posts: 377

    Originally posted by xm522

    i am very glad most people disagree with this business model, personally i do as well.

    the prominent defense is "cosmetic items, don't affect gow i play" or "funcom hater"

    are consumers so blind? are you sheep following the herd? is the shepherd too scary for your feeble critical thinking and logic?

    wake up people! this trend in MMO's has gotten out of control. let's all look back at the reasons for the $15 sub "to maintain the game, keeping it operational, maintain balance, turn in a small profit"

    do we (by we i mean YOU) that server infrastructure costs have fallen dramatically in cost? and they still want $15 m/o... and now i see a game releasing with a cash shop... this destroys balance, sure they MAY not sell gear, but when you give players the ability to recieve things not found in the game, it is a spit to the spirit of MMO's.

    now, you, the fanboy, read this with an open mind. for being a rebel may set you free.

    when a game includes a cash shop, they want to turn a profit. they will not create NEW things for that shop, they will just remove old things from the game and place them there. that really cool looking skin they are selling for (.01 9/10 cents) was originally in the game.. now you have to pay this almost 2 cents to get it. see what i am getting at? you are being stolen from (leggally) but stolen from none the less. i was interested in this game, as either a p2p or a b2b... but really funcom... good way to shit on your costumers.

    i really hope that those of you who buy this game enjoy it, and fully do not regret your decision.

     Im going to have to ask you.. Do you play world of warcraft?

    Because effectively they are following Blizzards excample.

  • TSWBETAROGSTSWBETAROGS Member Posts: 196

    Originally posted by Pala

    Shame I was looking forward to this, but item shops are no go for me with subscription. Oh well, more time for other stuff

    I realy dont understand what your problems are. It is like i paying rent for an apartement, and the man that rents is out tells you that you can change the colours and redue the apartement If you like to, but you need to pay for it your self. An the you say shut upp man, in my old apartement they did not allow me to do anthing and it did not cost me a cent.

  • PaithanPaithan Member Posts: 377

    Originally posted by TSWBETAROGS

    Originally posted by Pala

    Shame I was looking forward to this, but item shops are no go for me with subscription. Oh well, more time for other stuff

    I realy dont understand what your problems are. It is like i paying rent for an apartement, and the man that rents is out tells you that you can change the colours and redue the apartement If you like to, but you need to pay for it your self. An the you say shut upp man, in my old apartement they did not allow me to do anthing and it did not cost me a cent.

     To me it seems more about the company doing it. The majority of these ney sayers have been willingly and knowingly supported another company doing the very same thing. Im sure they where not the first. But they are the best and most supported of them all. 

  • xm522xm522 Member UncommonPosts: 117

    Originally posted by Paithan

    Originally posted by xm522

    i am very glad most people disagree with this business model, personally i do as well.

    the prominent defense is "cosmetic items, don't affect gow i play" or "funcom hater"

    are consumers so blind? are you sheep following the herd? is the shepherd too scary for your feeble critical thinking and logic?

    wake up people! this trend in MMO's has gotten out of control. let's all look back at the reasons for the $15 sub "to maintain the game, keeping it operational, maintain balance, turn in a small profit"

    do we (by we i mean YOU) that server infrastructure costs have fallen dramatically in cost? and they still want $15 m/o... and now i see a game releasing with a cash shop... this destroys balance, sure they MAY not sell gear, but when you give players the ability to recieve things not found in the game, it is a spit to the spirit of MMO's.

    now, you, the fanboy, read this with an open mind. for being a rebel may set you free.

    when a game includes a cash shop, they want to turn a profit. they will not create NEW things for that shop, they will just remove old things from the game and place them there. that really cool looking skin they are selling for (.01 9/10 cents) was originally in the game.. now you have to pay this almost 2 cents to get it. see what i am getting at? you are being stolen from (leggally) but stolen from none the less. i was interested in this game, as either a p2p or a b2b... but really funcom... good way to shit on your costumers.

    i really hope that those of you who buy this game enjoy it, and fully do not regret your decision.

     Im going to have to ask you.. Do you play world of warcraft?

    Because effectively they are following Blizzards excample.

    i did play, and stopped before they merged with activision. but it's obvious from my above post, that i do not see that as something 'proper'... so yeah, my opinion does not change because of the game or developer. infact, i prefer AOC to WoW.

    and with all respect... they shouldnt follow blizzard's example... they do not have the sheer number of zombies that WoW and all of the other titles blizzard releases have.

  • PaithanPaithan Member Posts: 377

    Originally posted by xm522

    Originally posted by Paithan


    Originally posted by xm522

    i am very glad most people disagree with this business model, personally i do as well.

    the prominent defense is "cosmetic items, don't affect gow i play" or "funcom hater"

    are consumers so blind? are you sheep following the herd? is the shepherd too scary for your feeble critical thinking and logic?

    wake up people! this trend in MMO's has gotten out of control. let's all look back at the reasons for the $15 sub "to maintain the game, keeping it operational, maintain balance, turn in a small profit"

    do we (by we i mean YOU) that server infrastructure costs have fallen dramatically in cost? and they still want $15 m/o... and now i see a game releasing with a cash shop... this destroys balance, sure they MAY not sell gear, but when you give players the ability to recieve things not found in the game, it is a spit to the spirit of MMO's.

    now, you, the fanboy, read this with an open mind. for being a rebel may set you free.

    when a game includes a cash shop, they want to turn a profit. they will not create NEW things for that shop, they will just remove old things from the game and place them there. that really cool looking skin they are selling for (.01 9/10 cents) was originally in the game.. now you have to pay this almost 2 cents to get it. see what i am getting at? you are being stolen from (leggally) but stolen from none the less. i was interested in this game, as either a p2p or a b2b... but really funcom... good way to shit on your costumers.

    i really hope that those of you who buy this game enjoy it, and fully do not regret your decision.

     Im going to have to ask you.. Do you play world of warcraft?

    Because effectively they are following Blizzards excample.

    i did play, and stopped before they merged with activision. but it's obvious from my above post, that i do not see that as something 'proper'... so yeah, my opinion does not change because of the game or developer. infact, i prefer AOC to WoW.

    and with all respect... they shouldnt follow blizzard's example... they do not have the sheer number of zombies that WoW and all of the other titles blizzard releases have.

     To be perfectly honoust Im no big fan of item stores, I have alot of mixed feelings about them.

    But I dont really mind them either, personally I wouldnt pass a game up because of it. Though I probebly wont buy from the item store.

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