Cash shops are evil by their very nature, and should never be in any MMO ... of course this is my opinion.
Here is a bit of information that most people may not really know about cash shops. There are more items in the cash shop that the normal user sees. Cash shops work in many ways like the secret menu at a Chinese food joint. People who have spent $1000 in the last month might have access to special items that all the Free people do not even know about. Spend $10,000 and even more items appear. When you hear stories of people spending $35,000 in a game, you ever wonder what they spent it on? I know of one company that offered the entire catalogue of items to one user that had spent over $100,000 on the game.
We as gamers in a game with cash shop never get to decide what should or should not be there. There will always be people willing to buy something we refuse to, and since the goal of the cash shop it to make money, they will try and sell what they can without going too far into the p2w area for most players. All bets are off for the whales as they get better deals.
The fact tht a cash shop exists in a game means it is only a matter of time before it starts down the dark path.
That's the funniest cash shop fairy tale I've read on these forums in a while.
Us gamers need to invent an interconnected network of computer servers where we could share this information (kind of like an "information superhighway") so this sooper sekret stuff would be public knowledge. If only... Personally, I would call it the "gwybodaeth briffordd" and develop a place where we could connect socially. I would call that FriendFace.
I only wish it were a fairy tale ... I 've worked in the game industry for 15 years, and have programmed a few cash shops ... so I do know how they work, in fact I bet you have played a few of the games I have worked on.
And I am Vladimir Putin and can tell you for a fact that you're not who you say you are as currently all F2P games have a nuclear threat above their head to prevent the scenario you are suggesting (just as your claim to be in the know, mine is no more impossible or unrealistic).
Cash shops are evil by their very nature, and should never be in any MMO ... of course this is my opinion.
Here is a bit of information that most people may not really know about cash shops. There are more items in the cash shop that the normal user sees. Cash shops work in many ways like the secret menu at a Chinese food joint. People who have spent $1000 in the last month might have access to special items that all the Free people do not even know about. Spend $10,000 and even more items appear. When you hear stories of people spending $35,000 in a game, you ever wonder what they spent it on? I know of one company that offered the entire catalogue of items to one user that had spent over $100,000 on the game.
We as gamers in a game with cash shop never get to decide what should or should not be there. There will always be people willing to buy something we refuse to, and since the goal of the cash shop it to make money, they will try and sell what they can without going too far into the p2w area for most players. All bets are off for the whales as they get better deals.
The fact tht a cash shop exists in a game means it is only a matter of time before it starts down the dark path.
That's the funniest cash shop fairy tale I've read on these forums in a while.
Us gamers need to invent an interconnected network of computer servers where we could share this information (kind of like an "information superhighway") so this sooper sekret stuff would be public knowledge. If only... Personally, I would call it the "gwybodaeth briffordd" and develop a place where we could connect socially. I would call that FriendFace.
I only wish it were a fairy tale ... I 've worked in the game industry for 15 years, and have programmed a few cash shops ... so I do know how they work, in fact I bet you have played a few of the games I have worked on.
Without concrete proof (outside of your heresay), I'm going to politely doubt that this is true. Show me something to the contrary.
Cash shops are evil by their very nature, and should never be in any MMO ... of course this is my opinion.
Here is a bit of information that most people may not really know about cash shops. There are more items in the cash shop that the normal user sees. Cash shops work in many ways like the secret menu at a Chinese food joint. People who have spent $1000 in the last month might have access to special items that all the Free people do not even know about. Spend $10,000 and even more items appear. When you hear stories of people spending $35,000 in a game, you ever wonder what they spent it on? I know of one company that offered the entire catalogue of items to one user that had spent over $100,000 on the game.
We as gamers in a game with cash shop never get to decide what should or should not be there. There will always be people willing to buy something we refuse to, and since the goal of the cash shop it to make money, they will try and sell what they can without going too far into the p2w area for most players. All bets are off for the whales as they get better deals.
The fact tht a cash shop exists in a game means it is only a matter of time before it starts down the dark path.
That's the funniest cash shop fairy tale I've read on these forums in a while.
Us gamers need to invent an interconnected network of computer servers where we could share this information (kind of like an "information superhighway") so this sooper sekret stuff would be public knowledge. If only... Personally, I would call it the "gwybodaeth briffordd" and develop a place where we could connect socially. I would call that FriendFace.
I only wish it were a fairy tale ... I 've worked in the game industry for 15 years, and have programmed a few cash shops ... so I do know how they work, in fact I bet you have played a few of the games I have worked on.
And I am Vladimir Putin and can tell you for a fact that you're not who you say you are as currently all F2P games have a nuclear threat above their head to prevent the scenario you are suggesting (just as your claim to be in the know, mine is no more impossible or unrealistic).
Oh there probably are some games that are doing that, but those are the exceptions, the outliers. Claiming anything about a system because a few bad apples is foolish.
Doesn't gwybodaeth briffordd just mean information highway?
Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it is bad.
I am fine with content/areas (like paying for an expansion), transfers (yeah they dont do much, but most people don't HAVE to transfer, so if its a couple bucks I can live with it), cosmetics.
I do not like xp potions, items that are not cosmetic, you can sell mounts that are cool looking, as long as it isn't better than what I can buy in game and such.
Their are not many f2p mmo games that I like their set-up. I would think b2p should be a little better, because they got money from you initially, so they do not need to whore themselves out as much in the shop, with subscription being the option that I like the most. I like knowing what I am spending on a game, and I hate the feeling that someone is constantly trying to get into my wallet with items in a shop.
Some sub games try to double dip too much also, and operate like they are a f2p game, on top of a sub game, which is bs.
Things I'd like to be in a cash shop. limit unlocks. You have a wallet that only holds 200k, let me buy an unlock so I can add a bigger wallet. Not being able to do that really does piss me off.
Ah yes, that reminds me of an other one - Bag / Bank unlocks. It pissed me off big time when EQ2 locked all mu bags & bank slots when I canceled sub and was not able to unlock them anymore (other than subscribing to the game again). Good thing EQ2 has made these all available recently thugh...
Oh there probably are some games that are doing that, but those are the exceptions, the outliers. Claiming anything about a system because a few bad apples is foolish.
Doesn't gwybodaeth briffordd just mean information highway?
Yes, not every cash shop is configured that way. It is not that hard to add that functionality in at a later date (if a cash shop really wanted it), so the only way to find out which games are configured that way would be to spend $1000 or $10000.
My feelings about cash shops stem more from things like bug fixes, content updates, and special events being shelved by new cash shop items as well as a few other things.
Your list is taken straight out of Neverwinters cash shop, and therefore a too narrow to be a general list.
OK:
Dungeons/zones/adventure/stories.
Expansions, (races/classes tied to expansions).
Anything cosmetic, housing, furniture, cuddly bears and unicorns, spell effects, bigger boobs, go nuts.
Renaming chars, server switching, character slots.
Bag/bank slots, if it is practically possible to play the full extent of the game without them.
DUBIOUS:
Currency that is also obtained by playing.
Consumables that gives unfair advantages over those who don't have, such double xp, damage or in pvp.
Instantly finish tasks that is part of the games competetive, instant level (why are you playing, go buy the win token and get out).
GAMEBREAKERS:
Items and anything that effects your characters power.
Limitations on stuff that is effectively needed to play the full extent of the game.
Permanent stats or abilities otherwise not available.
Stuff that gives advantages related to competetive components, ai pvp, levelling, items and ability to find those, and anything that normally is used to compare your (subjective) skills with other players.
Anything that will force other players to buy the same in order to be a part of the full extent of the game, such as instant teleporting, faster cooldown on essential spells and the likes, required key/currency/whatever to enter, forcing other players to wait silly amount of time if you dont have this or that.
Any smartass crap that will cost players unreasonably amount of money to keep playing at any level as much as they like.
I only wish it were a fairy tale ... I 've worked in the game industry for 15 years, and have programmed a few cash shops ... so I do know how they work, in fact I bet you have played a few of the games I have worked on.
Everyone that makes stuff up on the internet is always an expert in that field. We wouldn't really expect someone to say I have no idea what I'm talking about but..... ( enter BS story here )
You read these things enough times and you just assume it.
Originally posted by birdycephon Thats a good question. F2P is a slippery slope. I mean, once you make something free, people will always want more, and so where do you stop? You cant make everything free.
The invisible hand of supply & demand will figure that out.
Your list is taken straight out of Neverwinters cash shop, and therefore a too narrow to be a general list.
Honestly I've not played Neverwinter yet, so that is just a bizarre coincidence if it's true. I just made a list of things that came to mind when I thought of browsing a cash shop.
I only wish it were a fairy tale ... I 've worked in the game industry for 15 years, and have programmed a few cash shops ... so I do know how they work, in fact I bet you have played a few of the games I have worked on.
Everyone that makes stuff up on the internet is always an expert in that field. We wouldn't really expect someone to say I have no idea what I'm talking about but..... ( enter BS story here )
You read these things enough times and you just assume it.
Hahaha you got me, well I goess that makes you an expert on everyone.
Edit: I almost feel bad for people who assume that game companies and publishers are honest and would never do anything to take advantage of people who can control their spending.
Out of the following list of items I've seen put up in cash shops, which of the following do you think are most and least acceptable in a free to play MMO?
Content packs/Expansion Packs
Races
Classes
Global chat tokens
Experience potions
Revival items
Ability to use higher-tier weapons/armor/spells
Lock box keys
Mounts
Cosmetic pets
Cosmetic equipment
In-game currency
Enchantment items / Ability to enchant equipment
Name/gender/appearance changes
Server changes
Instant level-ups (never seen this before, but it surprises me that I haven't)
Character slots
In-game housing/Other non-combat elements
Again, which of these would you consider most and least acceptable in a free to play MMO? For the sake of some semblance of consistency, let's assume the cost of each of the above isn't a relevant factor (i.e. "Instant level is okay if it's expensive"); we're just evaluating rather or not the ability to buy the above cash-shop items (and conversely the ability to be locked out of those things by not buying) make or break the game for you. Also let's assume you can't earn cash shop money through any sort of in-game means.
That's it really.
There is NO miracle patch.
95% of what you see in beta won't change by launch.
Hope is not a stategy. ______________________________ "This kind of topic is like one of those little cartoon boxes held up by a stick on a string, with a piece of meat under it. In other words, bait."
Out of the following list of items I've seen put up in cash shops, which of the following do you think are most and least acceptable in a free to play MMO?
Content packs/Expansion Packs
Races
Classes
Global chat tokens
Experience potions
Revival items
Ability to use higher-tier weapons/armor/spells
Lock box keys
Mounts
Cosmetic pets
Cosmetic equipment
In-game currency
Enchantment items / Ability to enchant equipment
Name/gender/appearance changes
Server changes
Instant level-ups (never seen this before, but it surprises me that I haven't)
Character slots
In-game housing/Other non-combat elements
Again, which of these would you consider most and least acceptable in a free to play MMO? For the sake of some semblance of consistency, let's assume the cost of each of the above isn't a relevant factor (i.e. "Instant level is okay if it's expensive"); we're just evaluating rather or not the ability to buy the above cash-shop items (and conversely the ability to be locked out of those things by not buying) make or break the game for you. Also let's assume you can't earn cash shop money through any sort of in-game means.
That's it really.
How are you differentiating content packs from expansion packs? I lumped them together, because I wasn't sure there would really be any sort of difference.
I only wish it were a fairy tale ... I 've worked in the game industry for 15 years, and have programmed a few cash shops ... so I do know how they work, in fact I bet you have played a few of the games I have worked on.
Everyone that makes stuff up on the internet is always an expert in that field. We wouldn't really expect someone to say I have no idea what I'm talking about but..... ( enter BS story here )
You read these things enough times and you just assume it.
Hahaha you got me, well I goess that makes you an expert on everyone.
Edit: I almost feel bad for people who assume that game companies and publishers are honest and would never do anything to take advantage of people who can control their spending.
State sources and examples so we can either start checking or we can start laughing. Your choice.
Out of the following list of items I've seen put up in cash shops, which of the following do you think are most and least acceptable in a free to play MMO?
Content packs/Expansion Packs
Races
Classes
Global chat tokens
Experience potions
Revival items (only for PVE)
Ability to use higher-tier weapons/armor/spells
Lock box keys (this appears to be a necessary evil, but i don't mind as long as they don't include any P2Win items)
Mounts (if there are ways of obtaining one without paying real cash, i don't mind 'fancier' cash-shop versions)
Cosmetic pets
Cosmetic equipment
In-game currency (only if the trade works both ways, ala GW2 gem-trade)
Enchantment items / Ability to enchant equipment
Name/gender/appearance changes
Server changes
Instant level-ups (never seen this before, but it surprises me that I haven't) (i guess they'd be fine, if someone doesn't want to play the game)
Character slots
In-game housing/Other non-combat elements (only if it's not entirely limited to cash-shop)
Again, which of these would you consider most and least acceptable in a free to play MMO? For the sake of some semblance of consistency, let's assume the cost of each of the above isn't a relevant factor (i.e. "Instant level is okay if it's expensive"); we're just evaluating rather or not the ability to buy the above cash-shop items (and conversely the ability to be locked out of those things by not buying) make or break the game for you. Also let's assume you can't earn cash shop money through any sort of in-game means.
Out of that list you put up, here's my opinion.
Acceptable in GREEN
So-so's in YELLOW
Not Acceptable in RED
Originally posted by jalexbrown How are you differentiating content packs from expansion packs? I lumped them together, because I wasn't sure there would really be any sort of difference.
I think content packs could be considered fex. A dungeon, thus not an expansion, but just a small addition(s) that are usually part of patches, where as expansions generally add alot of stuff.
Out of the following list of items I've seen put up in cash shops, which of the following do you think are most and least acceptable in a free to play MMO?
Content packs/Expansion Packs
Races
Classes
Global chat tokens
Experience potions
Revival items
Ability to use higher-tier weapons/armor/spells
Lock box keys
Mounts
Cosmetic pets
Cosmetic equipment
In-game currency
Enchantment items / Ability to enchant equipment
Name/gender/appearance changes
Server changes
Instant level-ups (never seen this before, but it surprises me that I haven't)
Character slots
In-game housing/Other non-combat elements
Again, which of these would you consider most and least acceptable in a free to play MMO? For the sake of some semblance of consistency, let's assume the cost of each of the above isn't a relevant factor (i.e. "Instant level is okay if it's expensive"); we're just evaluating rather or not the ability to buy the above cash-shop items (and conversely the ability to be locked out of those things by not buying) make or break the game for you. Also let's assume you can't earn cash shop money through any sort of in-game means.
That's it really.
How are you differentiating content packs from expansion packs? I lumped them together, because I wasn't sure there would really be any sort of difference.
Some one else has said it. An expansion to me is like an expansion of the game which includes a major new story advancement as well as new art ans space to explore. Content to me is just content. A few dungeons or a class or a mission/co-op map. Stuff that should be in game.
The yellow stuff is dependent. Slots are OK provided I have enough to begin with. Currency can be OK if it's generated by players efforts and mounts if an equivalent is available in-game. Server changes may be low cost but it can have a major effect on server viability and price discourages whimsy, as long as change are for player desire and not a tanking pop. That's the dev's fault, not the player's. Housing? Depends on how meaningful it is. if it's my bread and butter then I want to earn it. If it's a forgetable base then yeah sure sell them.
Oddly, if I don't need it i'm more likely to buy it.
There is NO miracle patch.
95% of what you see in beta won't change by launch.
Hope is not a stategy. ______________________________ "This kind of topic is like one of those little cartoon boxes held up by a stick on a string, with a piece of meat under it. In other words, bait."
acceptable only. rest is not-acceptable. I don't feel like ranking.
It's interesting; other than being a "standard charge" of the MMO industry, I sometimes wonder why almost everyone is okay with paying for server transfers. Other than moving bits of character information from one database to another (which I suspect is highly automated and requires no manpower whatsoever), the company is doing absolutely nothing to get that money.
If you want a real head scratcher, ask this crowd what they don't like about F2P and then ask them if they would pay for an expansion.
I just logged into SWToR after quite a long time and realized that I couldn't see most of my skills. After some rummaging around it seems that I must buy an action bar (s?) in order to have access to most of my skills.
Unless there is something I'm missing.
They had them locked down, now you will have to open them up again in the settings.
Kyleran: "Now there's the real trick, learning to accept and enjoy a game for what
it offers rather than pass on what might be a great playing experience
because it lacks a few features you prefer."
John Henry Newman: "A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault."
FreddyNoNose: "A good game needs no defense; a bad game has no defense." "Easily digested content is just as easily forgotten."
LacedOpium: "So the question that begs to be asked is, if you are not interested in
the game mechanics that define the MMORPG genre, then why are you
playing an MMORPG?"
I personally don't dislike F2p games as a type. If you think all F2P games are the same, though, you're (non-specific) delusional. Some devs have got it right and some horribly, horribly wrong. I've been playing one that's still in a genuine beta and so far they haven't put a foot wrong. They're pushing a big eSport angle so it's important to them to keep it real. It also depends on what the player wants. I have a wonderous abilty to be totally incurious about what other players are doing. As such others advancing faster does not trouble me for the most part. When it's wrong though you have to make a judgement call. You have to balance your desire/frustration with their greed/need-to-get-paid, the difference being your fun. If that starts to dip, i'm gone.
There is NO miracle patch.
95% of what you see in beta won't change by launch.
Hope is not a stategy. ______________________________ "This kind of topic is like one of those little cartoon boxes held up by a stick on a string, with a piece of meat under it. In other words, bait."
Out of the following list of items I've seen put up in cash shops, which of the following do you think are most and
Classes
Global chat tokens
Ability to use higher-tier weapons/armor/spells
In-game currency
Instant level-ups (never seen this before, but it surprises me that I haven't)
Of your list, these items should NOT be in a cash shop.
Classes, should be obvious. A F2P game has its base game free, if you are selling classes then you should not be calling yourself a F2P game.
Chat...no game should limit its playerbase's ability to speak to each other either via tokens in a cash shop or something like EQ2 limiting F2Pers to local chat only...how do you expect new players to get into your game by blocking them from entering the community?
locking weapons/armor/spells tells a player that this F2P game is going to cost far more than any sub could ever cost, paying in F2P games should always be OPTIONAL.
Currency? Hell no, the economy would end up getting screwed up even more than they normally do.
Races (though MAYBE if it doesn't give an 'advantage')
Global chat tokens
Experience potions (given leveling is the major thing in game. )
Revival items
Ability to use higher-tier weapons/armor/spells
Lock box keys
Mounts (with better speed)
In-game currency
Enchantment items / Ability to enchant equipment
Instant level-ups (never seen this before, but it surprises me that I haven't)
Mostly for me I feel it should mostly be cosmetics or odd services that should be cash shopped. Server changes SHOULD be given a free option given the need . A lot though is in moderation. A system that lets you 'earn' things for playing can get away with a bit more strict things in place though. That being said too, I can see some resictions in place for gold bots (basically paying you need to do to get larger numbers of stuff) though there needs to be a way to support players who are honest and just want to play legit without needing to pay.
Still, I do miss at the same time those cosmetic goodies being stuff you earn too so in a way some of those elements I'd be unsure of. Games need to make money, and unfortunately it feels like mroe and more of a push can be put towards giving advantages as thats what people are far more likely to buy.
Comments
And I am Vladimir Putin and can tell you for a fact that you're not who you say you are as currently all F2P games have a nuclear threat above their head to prevent the scenario you are suggesting (just as your claim to be in the know, mine is no more impossible or unrealistic).
Without concrete proof (outside of your heresay), I'm going to politely doubt that this is true. Show me something to the contrary.
Oh there probably are some games that are doing that, but those are the exceptions, the outliers. Claiming anything about a system because a few bad apples is foolish.
Doesn't gwybodaeth briffordd just mean information highway?
I am fine with content/areas (like paying for an expansion), transfers (yeah they dont do much, but most people don't HAVE to transfer, so if its a couple bucks I can live with it), cosmetics.
I do not like xp potions, items that are not cosmetic, you can sell mounts that are cool looking, as long as it isn't better than what I can buy in game and such.
Their are not many f2p mmo games that I like their set-up. I would think b2p should be a little better, because they got money from you initially, so they do not need to whore themselves out as much in the shop, with subscription being the option that I like the most. I like knowing what I am spending on a game, and I hate the feeling that someone is constantly trying to get into my wallet with items in a shop.
Some sub games try to double dip too much also, and operate like they are a f2p game, on top of a sub game, which is bs.
Ah yes, that reminds me of an other one - Bag / Bank unlocks. It pissed me off big time when EQ2 locked all mu bags & bank slots when I canceled sub and was not able to unlock them anymore (other than subscribing to the game again). Good thing EQ2 has made these all available recently thugh...
Yes, not every cash shop is configured that way. It is not that hard to add that functionality in at a later date (if a cash shop really wanted it), so the only way to find out which games are configured that way would be to spend $1000 or $10000.
My feelings about cash shops stem more from things like bug fixes, content updates, and special events being shelved by new cash shop items as well as a few other things.
Your list is taken straight out of Neverwinters cash shop, and therefore a too narrow to be a general list.
OK:
Dungeons/zones/adventure/stories.
Expansions, (races/classes tied to expansions).
Anything cosmetic, housing, furniture, cuddly bears and unicorns, spell effects, bigger boobs, go nuts.
Renaming chars, server switching, character slots.
Bag/bank slots, if it is practically possible to play the full extent of the game without them.
DUBIOUS:
Currency that is also obtained by playing.
Consumables that gives unfair advantages over those who don't have, such double xp, damage or in pvp.
Instantly finish tasks that is part of the games competetive, instant level (why are you playing, go buy the win token and get out).
GAMEBREAKERS:
Items and anything that effects your characters power.
Limitations on stuff that is effectively needed to play the full extent of the game.
Permanent stats or abilities otherwise not available.
Stuff that gives advantages related to competetive components, ai pvp, levelling, items and ability to find those, and anything that normally is used to compare your (subjective) skills with other players.
Anything that will force other players to buy the same in order to be a part of the full extent of the game, such as instant teleporting, faster cooldown on essential spells and the likes, required key/currency/whatever to enter, forcing other players to wait silly amount of time if you dont have this or that.
Any smartass crap that will cost players unreasonably amount of money to keep playing at any level as much as they like.
"I am my connectome" https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HA7GwKXfJB0
Everyone that makes stuff up on the internet is always an expert in that field. We wouldn't really expect someone to say I have no idea what I'm talking about but..... ( enter BS story here )
You read these things enough times and you just assume it.
What happens when you log off your characters????.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFQhfhnjYMk
Dark Age of Camelot
The invisible hand of supply & demand will figure that out.
Honestly I've not played Neverwinter yet, so that is just a bizarre coincidence if it's true. I just made a list of things that came to mind when I thought of browsing a cash shop.
Hahaha you got me, well I goess that makes you an expert on everyone.
Edit: I almost feel bad for people who assume that game companies and publishers are honest and would never do anything to take advantage of people who can control their spending.
That's it really.
There is NO miracle patch.
95% of what you see in beta won't change by launch.
Hope is not a stategy.
______________________________
"This kind of topic is like one of those little cartoon boxes held up by a stick on a string, with a piece of meat under it. In other words, bait."
How are you differentiating content packs from expansion packs? I lumped them together, because I wasn't sure there would really be any sort of difference.
State sources and examples so we can either start checking or we can start laughing. Your choice.
Out of that list you put up, here's my opinion.
Acceptable in GREEN
So-so's in YELLOW
Not Acceptable in RED
I think content packs could be considered fex. A dungeon, thus not an expansion, but just a small addition(s) that are usually part of patches, where as expansions generally add alot of stuff.
Some one else has said it. An expansion to me is like an expansion of the game which includes a major new story advancement as well as new art ans space to explore. Content to me is just content. A few dungeons or a class or a mission/co-op map. Stuff that should be in game.
The yellow stuff is dependent. Slots are OK provided I have enough to begin with. Currency can be OK if it's generated by players efforts and mounts if an equivalent is available in-game. Server changes may be low cost but it can have a major effect on server viability and price discourages whimsy, as long as change are for player desire and not a tanking pop. That's the dev's fault, not the player's. Housing? Depends on how meaningful it is. if it's my bread and butter then I want to earn it. If it's a forgetable base then yeah sure sell them.
Oddly, if I don't need it i'm more likely to buy it.
There is NO miracle patch.
95% of what you see in beta won't change by launch.
Hope is not a stategy.
______________________________
"This kind of topic is like one of those little cartoon boxes held up by a stick on a string, with a piece of meat under it. In other words, bait."
Is an odd one, isn't it.
They had them locked down, now you will have to open them up again in the settings.
Epic Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAigCvelkhQ&list=PLo9FRw1AkDuQLEz7Gvvaz3ideB2NpFtT1
https://archive.org/details/softwarelibrary_msdos?&sort=-downloads&page=1
Kyleran: "Now there's the real trick, learning to accept and enjoy a game for what it offers rather than pass on what might be a great playing experience because it lacks a few features you prefer."
John Henry Newman: "A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault."
FreddyNoNose: "A good game needs no defense; a bad game has no defense." "Easily digested content is just as easily forgotten."
LacedOpium: "So the question that begs to be asked is, if you are not interested in the game mechanics that define the MMORPG genre, then why are you playing an MMORPG?"
There is NO miracle patch.
95% of what you see in beta won't change by launch.
Hope is not a stategy.
______________________________
"This kind of topic is like one of those little cartoon boxes held up by a stick on a string, with a piece of meat under it. In other words, bait."
Of your list, these items should NOT be in a cash shop.
Classes, should be obvious. A F2P game has its base game free, if you are selling classes then you should not be calling yourself a F2P game.
Chat...no game should limit its playerbase's ability to speak to each other either via tokens in a cash shop or something like EQ2 limiting F2Pers to local chat only...how do you expect new players to get into your game by blocking them from entering the community?
locking weapons/armor/spells tells a player that this F2P game is going to cost far more than any sub could ever cost, paying in F2P games should always be OPTIONAL.
Currency? Hell no, the economy would end up getting screwed up even more than they normally do.
Instant level up = pay to win.
For me (personally)
Acceptable:
Completely unacceptable would be:
Any items with stats that can't be obtained in the game, or an item of equal stat value, the classic P2W item.
Access to basic things like:
Chat channels - EQ2 is guilty of this
UI features like hotbars - SWTOR is guilty here
Anything rediculously petty that makes you want to drag the guy responsible outside and punch his face in, like a headgear toggle - SWTOR again.
Inventory - Too many to mention
Bank Space - Again too many
Access to the AH
Access to mail
Ability to use dropped items or quest rewards due to high quality - SWTOR yet again, seriously fucked up F2P model
Boosters that give too much of a boost, like 50% xp
Lock box keys - complete rip off
Acceptable things would be:
Anything cosmetic
Pets
Mounts
High level content like raids
Expansions / Adventure packs added after release
Boosters that give a moderate boost, like 10% xp
Account services: Name/Server/Appearence Change etc
On the fence about character slots. Some take the piss and give you 2 slots, other you can get 4 which is more reasonable.
Same applies with Races, I can't make my mind up on this one.