[Column] H1Z1: SOE’s H1Z1 and the Self-Inflicted Wound

BillMurphy

If SOE had simply said, “Hey. We’ve got this really cool feature in airdrops. These are our plans. What do you think?” the message it eventually got would have been loud and clear and the crisis would have been averted.

Read more of Michael Bitton's SOE’s H1Z1 and the Self-Inflicted Wound.

Zetsuei

They tried to pull a fast one over players by adding a massive advantage to the store which they hoped people would buy loads of to gain a advantage and make them loads of money. In this day and age doing something this sneaky it can completely destroy your game in a matter of hours.

mnemic666

http://www.vg247.com/2014/08/16/h1z1-pc-ps4-gamescom-soe-live/

 

Brotip: They did.

 

Though to be fair, they were not very clear about it as many of their, "We won't sell weapons/ammo!" comments conflict with it (unless you lawyer it up and say, "Well, they're not DIRECTLY selling weapons/ammo!"), which what has caused all this confusion.

mnemic666

Originally posted by Zetsuei
They tried to pull a fast one over players by adding a massive advantage to the store which they hoped people would buy loads of to gain a advantage and make them loads of money. In this day and age doing something this sneaky it can completely destroy your game in a matter of hours.

 

How is it an advantage when you die trying to get it and have it stolen?

 

I mean, if anything, it's monetizing actual gameplay (creating events that spawn additional zombies and facilitate player interaction), which is a bit odd. But I don't see what one "wins" or how one "gains an advantage" when it's essentially a crapshoot as to whether or not you will actually be able to secure the drop, much less what's actually contained within it.

vadio123

Real tell me more....

Cmon....

Octagon7711

A lot of MMO's are doing stuff like this now a days.  I can't remember the last time an MMO had forums or surveys about what they were planning to do unless the information was leaked or in the patch notes.

Battlerock

If you're someone still boohooing over airdrops, please do yourself a favor and let it go. Also, why not embrace pay to win here? This is a game of survival, it is actually very fitting to have the imbalance created by pay to win features. There are not many games that pay to win actually fits, but these survival type games, it's fitting, think about it, let's say today ebola starts spreading like wildfire, it's the rich that will be most protected, the question for you Mr Average Joe is will you still survive?

mnemic666

Originally posted by Battlerock
If you're someone still boohooing over airdrops, please do yourself a favor and let it go. Also, why not embrace pay to win here? This is a game of survival, it is actually very fitting to have the imbalance created by pay to win features. There are not many games that pay to win actually fits, but these survival type games, it's fitting, think about it, let's say today ebola starts spreading like wildfire, it's the rich that will be most protected, the question for you Mr Average Joe is will you still survive?

Know what, I actually really like this argument. I mean, I know it will frustrate me when I eventually play the game and some dude will be wrecking me because he's kitted out, but for an open world survival game, it does make sense. Some people on a post-apocalyptic world will simply be better prepared for it than others, leading to a natural imbalance of power between the survivors.

 

Replicating that in the game could actually be quite interesting, as they simultaneously have the most advantages as well as the most to lose, potentially causing them to alter their playstyles heavily to protect their assets where others can take big risks due to the limited penalties for failure. 

Scott_Jeslis

Originally posted by mnemic666

How is it an advantage when you die trying to get it and have it stolen?

 

I mean, if anything, it's monetizing actual gameplay (creating events that spawn additional zombies and facilitate player interaction), which is a bit odd. But I don't see what one "wins" or how one "gains an advantage" when it's essentially a crapshoot as to whether or not you will actually be able to secure the drop, much less what's actually contained within it.

Exactly. Given this I'm not even sure I want to risk $5.00 of my money on something I'm not guaranteed to get.

 

Gitmix

"SOE wanted to release the game to fans early and essentially co-develop it alongside them while taking their MONEY along the way."

Fixed.

When will people get it into their thick skull that all this early access / payed beta nonsense has nothing to do with studios wanting to co-develop their game with the fans. They're only doing it to finance their project, nothing more - I garantee they have a very clear idea of where they're going with their game and the last thing they want is 50k internet nerds commenting on this or that feature. THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR INPUT, all they want is for you to pre-purchase their supposedly FREE game so they have the budget to finish the damn thing.

mnemic666

Originally posted by Benbrada

Originally posted by mnemic666

How is it an advantage when you die trying to get it and have it stolen?

 

I mean, if anything, it's monetizing actual gameplay (creating events that spawn additional zombies and facilitate player interaction), which is a bit odd. But I don't see what one "wins" or how one "gains an advantage" when it's essentially a crapshoot as to whether or not you will actually be able to secure the drop, much less what's actually contained within it.

Exactly. Given this I'm not even sure I want to risk $5.00 of my money on something I'm not guaranteed to get.

 

Which is totally fair, and I'm in the same boat. But some folks will find that the risk is worth it or may find that whatever encounters it creates between them and players/zombies is worth the $5. So if they want to spend it, that's totes cool. I'll just try to sneak in and steal it when I start playing after the game goes F2P : P

Octagon7711

Originally posted by mnemic666

Originally posted by Benbrada

Originally posted by mnemic666

How is it an advantage when you die trying to get it and have it stolen?

 

I mean, if anything, it's monetizing actual gameplay (creating events that spawn additional zombies and facilitate player interaction), which is a bit odd. But I don't see what one "wins" or how one "gains an advantage" when it's essentially a crapshoot as to whether or not you will actually be able to secure the drop, much less what's actually contained within it.

Exactly. Given this I'm not even sure I want to risk $5.00 of my money on something I'm not guaranteed to get.

 

Which is totally fair, and I'm in the same boat. But some folks will find that the risk is worth it or may find that whatever encounters it creates between them and players/zombies is worth the $5. So if they want to spend it, that's totes cool. I'll just try to sneak in and steal it when I start playing after the game goes F2P : P

It's pretty much the same as buying a chest in other games.  "This is what you could get." type of thing.

mnemic666

Originally posted by Octagon7711

Originally posted by mnemic666

Originally posted by Benbrada

Originally posted by mnemic666

How is it an advantage when you die trying to get it and have it stolen?

 

I mean, if anything, it's monetizing actual gameplay (creating events that spawn additional zombies and facilitate player interaction), which is a bit odd. But I don't see what one "wins" or how one "gains an advantage" when it's essentially a crapshoot as to whether or not you will actually be able to secure the drop, much less what's actually contained within it.

Exactly. Given this I'm not even sure I want to risk $5.00 of my money on something I'm not guaranteed to get.

 

Which is totally fair, and I'm in the same boat. But some folks will find that the risk is worth it or may find that whatever encounters it creates between them and players/zombies is worth the $5. So if they want to spend it, that's totes cool. I'll just try to sneak in and steal it when I start playing after the game goes F2P : P

It's pretty much the same as buying a chest in other games.  "This is what you could get." type of thing.

Well, there's actually two layers.

 

First is, as you said, "Here's what you could get in this lockbox!"

 

The second being, "But you may not even actually get the lockbox, as you may die or have it stolen from you!"

 

Actually pretty interesting concept, IMO, even if it's not super consumer friendly.

Battlerock

Originally posted by mnemic666

Originally posted by Battlerock
If you're someone still boohooing over airdrops, please do yourself a favor and let it go. Also, why not embrace pay to win here? This is a game of survival, it is actually very fitting to have the imbalance created by pay to win features. There are not many games that pay to win actually fits, but these survival type games, it's fitting, think about it, let's say today ebola starts spreading like wildfire, it's the rich that will be most protected, the question for you Mr Average Joe is will you still survive?

Know what, I actually really like this argument. I mean, I know it will frustrate me when I eventually play the game and some dude will be wrecking me because he's kitted out, but for an open world survival game, it does make sense. Some people on a post-apocalyptic world will simply be better prepared for it than others, leading to a natural imbalance of power between the survivors.

 

Replicating that in the game could actually be quite interesting, as they simultaneously have the most advantages as well as the most to lose, potentially causing them to alter their playstyles heavily to protect their assets where others can take big risks due to the limited penalties for failure. 

 

Thanks, I like your take on "risk" as well.

Nemesis7884

people are ridicoulos - soe announced air drops WAY WAY WAY back shortly after h1z1 was announced - everybody knew it was coming, nobody complained....

ohgodtherats707

What paying money in hopes to win only to have someone else grab it? Now what does that remind me of... Oh yeah the lottery!! how many times did you spend 5, 10  of ur dollars only to give it away to some stranger? get used to wasting money. Chances are you all ready have many times before. Stop blaming the man selling snake oil cause you fell for it get smart people!!!!

 

observer

Originally posted by Nemesis7884
people are ridicoulos - soe announced air drops WAY WAY WAY back shortly after h1z1 was announced - everybody knew it was coming, nobody complained....

People aren't upset about the air drops.  It's actually a really good feature.  It's the p2w aspect that they implemented inside of them.

This article pretty much sums up all that went wrong with H1Z1's launch, and yes, it was a launch, because the alpha/beta excuse no longer applies when it's being sold for money.

svandy

MMO websites really probably should stop covering H1Z1, they seem to expect an experience drastically different from what it is. Like Everquest with zombies or someting.

I can only speak for myself and my group, but as fans of the survival genre we are LOVING H1Z1, I am losing countless hours to it, especially after the loot fix. Great game, well worth the $20. The naysayers about airdrops probably A) never used one or dont even own the game. Such is the gaming world these days though, everyone has an axe to grind or just wants to be a troll. 

Side note: I have not called in a single airdrop, yet already have plenty of items from them. I'm sure the guys that bought them would agree with everyones pay to win argument!

stevebombsquad

Nobody seems to be too upset about the airdrops. Sales must be going well. It has over 38,000 people playing right now, and it it is still the work day here on the East Coast. I think the only people who are complaining are the ones who haven't played. They really are insignificant.

lugal

Will be interesting to see what happens when players start doing charge-backs on the airdrops. Really don't think the bank is gonna care for SOE's explanation. A customer used a merchant and with real money, purchased virtual items with the understanding they would receive them. Due to mechanics within the game, the customer was denied the virtual items.
My guess, the banks will take the money from SOE.

svandy

Originally posted by lugal
Will be interesting to see what happens when players start doing charge-backs on the airdrops. Really don't think the bank is gonna care for SOE's explanation. A customer used a merchant and with real money, purchased virtual items with the understanding they would receive them. Due to mechanics within the game, the customer was denied the virtual items.
My guess, the banks will take the money from SOE.

Considering there is absolutely nothing stating you WILL get those items (in fact, quite the contrary) I'm not really seeing your point. I guess that means if you buy a lockbox in other F2P MMOs, your bank will let you charge back if you dont get the vanity item you wanted? Ridiculous.

Ozmodan

Originally posted by mnemic666

Originally posted by Zetsuei
They tried to pull a fast one over players by adding a massive advantage to the store which they hoped people would buy loads of to gain a advantage and make them loads of money. In this day and age doing something this sneaky it can completely destroy your game in a matter of hours.

 

How is it an advantage when you die trying to get it and have it stolen?

 

I mean, if anything, it's monetizing actual gameplay (creating events that spawn additional zombies and facilitate player interaction), which is a bit odd. But I don't see what one "wins" or how one "gains an advantage" when it's essentially a crapshoot as to whether or not you will actually be able to secure the drop, much less what's actually contained within it.

You don't seem to get it.  That is their intent for it to be a crapshoot.  If you don't get it, you will have to buy another.  When you get down to it, it will be just like those random boxes the rest of the f2p games sell.   

How Smedley thought this abomination was anything like SWP is just laughable.  That kind of tells you he really has little knowledge of the games his company makes.

Hrimnir

I want to give Michael Bitton massive props for this article.  This is one of the first articles i've read on this site in probably a good solid year that was not only well written, but clear, concise, unbiased (as much as possible of course).  It actually looked like real honest to god journalism from the days of yore.  I actually enjoyed reading this.  No sarcasm there.

mnemic666

Originally posted by Ozmodan

Originally posted by mnemic666

Originally posted by Zetsuei
They tried to pull a fast one over players by adding a massive advantage to the store which they hoped people would buy loads of to gain a advantage and make them loads of money. In this day and age doing something this sneaky it can completely destroy your game in a matter of hours.

 

How is it an advantage when you die trying to get it and have it stolen?

 

I mean, if anything, it's monetizing actual gameplay (creating events that spawn additional zombies and facilitate player interaction), which is a bit odd. But I don't see what one "wins" or how one "gains an advantage" when it's essentially a crapshoot as to whether or not you will actually be able to secure the drop, much less what's actually contained within it.

You don't seem to get it.  That is their intent for it to be a crapshoot.  If you don't get it, you will have to buy another.  When you get down to it, it will be just like those random boxes the rest of the f2p games sell.   

How Smedley thought this abomination was anything like SWP is just laughable.  That kind of tells you he really has little knowledge of the games his company makes.

I do get it, though. It's their design that these air drops are risky for those calling them in, so that there is always a "risk/reward" calculation that they need to make before buying or using one.

 

And no, it's not just like those boxes, as this features two layers of RNG. What's in the box, and whether or not I will have it stolen from me/I'll be killed trying to get it. There's no guarantee that you'll even get the box in H1Z1, which no other game that I know of does.

 

I agree, why he ever brought this and SWG up in the same though confuses me. I guess he thought about the crafting element, but even that's a stretch that Stretch Armstrong would be cautious to make.

Vonatar

#SmedleyShouldBeFired

IggiePuff

As TotalBiscuit pointed out in a video a few days ago that SOE was upfront about it. There were a number of posts months ago stating you could have a chance to get weapons and ammo and others things in the airdrops.

 

Here is the video!

 

http://youtu.be/ZdjvahRHdAg?t=7m54s