This fundamentally changes based on what "winning" is to you, and even more so in the context of an MMO. For a lot of folks I play with getting their character to look cool, is "winning", as in that is the part of the game that they really play for.
I get (and appreciate) the point that, at least you don't have spend dollars to be competitive in dungeons. Personally I really need to feel more of a connection with the way my character looks, rather than just being a great bit stat stick.
I always found this to be a bit of a stretch on the term "winning", even though I agree there is some truth to the argument and I am probably biased due to not caring about cosmetics that much.
What I do find much easier to accept though is if a "cosmetic piece" is associated with bragging rights, i.e. clearing some particular very difficult content. In this case, having the piece definitely is a proof of "winning", and being able to buy it with real life money invalidates that victory.
My fiance purchases far more cosmetics than I, and she greatly enjoys adjusting their look to flatter her characters as much as possible.
In a way that is winning for her, assuming the victory condition is maximizing the fun the game provides her in whatever way she chooses.
In this game, you were playing PvP for the ranks and PvE for cosmetics. And the two were intertwined because of GWTV, or so we called it. By pressing "B" (default key) one could indeed watch a stream ingame of the best guilds (up to 100th rank) currently playing.
I did not belong to such a guild, mine was more in the 250th range. Still we were playing against them, so people were watching us! Therefore WE HAD to look good! This is why we were going into PvE elite zone to grind the best looking outfits.
At this time, there was no cash shop yet. Outfits and other emotes were proof of achievements only.
IN-CRE-DI-BLE!!!!!
Yesterday my son was complaining he was meeting bad players with amazing skins in his favorite shooter. I share the same complaint in MMORPGS.
I tend to use customizations for characters a lot. I'm happy to see more MMO's having customizations slots to alter appearances and override regular equipment looks, especially if I tend to use the same set of items at max levels for a very very long time.
Not only use them in ESO, GW2, and STO, but also in Division 2, and Splinter Cell Breakpoint types of games. Off hand I don't remember a game when I won't use them either as cosmetics or addons to freshen-up a game.
"We all do the best we can based on life experience, point of view, and our ability to believe in ourselves." - Naropa "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." SR Covey
@Ungood what you said about how players in Everquest wore some lower level gear that looked cool is true. I just remembered that too. It was my first MMORPG so I guess I was not so conscious about that but I recall wanting to use this deep green robe that looked so cool but I would switch it out during raids though. Normal dungeon diving it was fine though. I just loved how it looked on my high elf.
GW2 I agree had a good system. I remember having too many duplicates of cosmetic only gear on LotRO and having destroyed them to make space. Odd how different my perspective is now.
This fundamentally changes based on what "winning" is to you, and even more so in the context of an MMO. For a lot of folks I play with getting their character to look cool, is "winning", as in that is the part of the game that they really play for.
I get (and appreciate) the point that, at least you don't have spend dollars to be competitive in dungeons. Personally I really need to feel more of a connection with the way my character looks, rather than just being a great bit stat stick.
I always found this to be a bit of a stretch on the term "winning", even though I agree there is some truth to the argument and I am probably biased due to not caring about cosmetics that much.
What I do find much easier to accept though is if a "cosmetic piece" is associated with bragging rights, i.e. clearing some particular very difficult content. In this case, having the piece definitely is a proof of "winning", and being able to buy it with real life money invalidates that victory.
My fiance purchases far more cosmetics than I, and she greatly enjoys adjusting their look to flatter her characters as much as possible.
In a way that is winning for her, assuming the victory condition is maximizing the fun the game provides her in whatever way she chooses.
That's the thing, "having fun" and "winning" are two different things. Example: I do a raid with friends, we fail to clear the content (i.e. we lose), we still have lots of fun.
I feel that this is abusing the term of "winning" while there is another one more suitable for it (and you already use it, "having fun").
I can see both sides. What’s more important to you as a player, assuming (for the sake of conversation) that they are mutually exclusive: Killing the big bad raid boss, or having a good time?
If you had a miserable time killing the boss and got a phat upgrade, did you really win anything worthwhile?
Vault-Tec analysts have concluded that the odds of worldwide nuclear armaggeddon this decade are 17,143,762... to 1.
Cosmetics, by definition, are appearance only. I like my games with sub-surface content. Every $ spent making eyelashes or skin glitter is a waste imo. I don't care if my hammer has a blue X on it or makes sparkles when I dance. The influence of cosmetics does not belong in an in-depth entity. It can accompany it, but it should never be more than an afterthought. I learned that in high school.
This fundamentally changes based on what "winning" is to you, and even more so in the context of an MMO. For a lot of folks I play with getting their character to look cool, is "winning", as in that is the part of the game that they really play for.
I get (and appreciate) the point that, at least you don't have spend dollars to be competitive in dungeons. Personally I really need to feel more of a connection with the way my character looks, rather than just being a great bit stat stick.
I always found this to be a bit of a stretch on the term "winning", even though I agree there is some truth to the argument and I am probably biased due to not caring about cosmetics that much.
What I do find much easier to accept though is if a "cosmetic piece" is associated with bragging rights, i.e. clearing some particular very difficult content. In this case, having the piece definitely is a proof of "winning", and being able to buy it with real life money invalidates that victory.
My fiance purchases far more cosmetics than I, and she greatly enjoys adjusting their look to flatter her characters as much as possible.
In a way that is winning for her, assuming the victory condition is maximizing the fun the game provides her in whatever way she chooses.
I think that is an excellent definition of winning when it comes to MMORPGs or other games without a definitive end.
/Cheers, Lahnmir
'the only way he could nail it any better is if he used a cross.'
Kyleran on yours sincerely
'But there are many. You can play them entirely solo, and even offline. Also, you are wrong by default.'
Ikcin in response to yours sincerely debating whether or not single-player offline MMOs exist...
'This does not apply just to ED but SC or any other game. What they will get is Rebirth/X4, likely prettier but equally underwhelming and pointless.
It is incredibly difficult to design some meaningfull leg content that would fit a space ship game - simply because it is not a leg game.
It is just huge resource waste....'
Gdemami absolutely not being an armchair developer
I can see both sides. What’s more important to you as a player, assuming (for the sake of conversation) that they are mutually exclusive: Killing the big bad raid boss, or having a good time?
If you had a miserable time killing the boss and got a phat upgrade, did you really win anything worthwhile?
You are mixing things up though. If I had a miserable time killing the boss, I still won, I just did not have fun. Or (like in my example) I might lose and still have fun.
Plus winning can sometimes affect having fun (some people do not have fun if they do not win). Still two separate things affecting one another.
Plus plus they are not always mutually exclusive, and that just takes the conversation to a direction that is irrelevant to the point I was trying to make. I am not trying to argue whether winning or having fun is more important (i.e. to me, having fun is paramount, to a professional player winning is), just that they are two separate things.
Winning? Fun? Is this the moment I introduce Difficulty again? That way can we have the holy trinity of discussion in one single thread. Or perhaps I could ask a little question about the definitive quality of the term Massively when it comes to Multiplayer..... Either way, my body is ready.
/Cheers, Lahnmir
'the only way he could nail it any better is if he used a cross.'
Kyleran on yours sincerely
'But there are many. You can play them entirely solo, and even offline. Also, you are wrong by default.'
Ikcin in response to yours sincerely debating whether or not single-player offline MMOs exist...
'This does not apply just to ED but SC or any other game. What they will get is Rebirth/X4, likely prettier but equally underwhelming and pointless.
It is incredibly difficult to design some meaningfull leg content that would fit a space ship game - simply because it is not a leg game.
It is just huge resource waste....'
Gdemami absolutely not being an armchair developer
Often cosmetics have little bonuses attached that add up so they are not only cosmetics
Are you thinking of BDO here? I noticed that myself, very small bonuses are still P2W, not OK because they are very small. Once that's accepted there is only one direction, bigger bonuses, more P2W.
BDO is one of the only games I know of which took that route, but I don't get around much in newer MMOs so is it more common these days?
Are you thinking of BDO here? I noticed that myself, very small bonuses are still P2W, not OK because they are very small. Once that's accepted there is only one direction, bigger bonuses, more P2W.
I see them more like an entry fee or "DLC". For example, If I want to do processing in BDO I have to buy the corresponding costume. In this sense, the activity is not that different from the notion of the game with a handicapped free trial. Then it's just a matter of seeing whether the price is worth it for that activity.
We need a MMO butterfly to answer that one, in fact more articles on cash shops would help to. It may well have spread from BDO, we have seen that the spreading of worst practice in cash shops is the norm. But I think some MMOs might see the BDO model as to slow, why not just sell hugely P2W outfits with big buffs?
To be honest Tzervo you seem to be finding excuses for Pearl Abyss to do this, the only saving grace is the bonuses are small and as far as I know have never been increased. It is possible that Pearl Abyss has no intention of increasing the bonuses, I am just going on typical cash shop evolution here.
I can see both sides. What’s more important to you as a player, assuming (for the sake of conversation) that they are mutually exclusive: Killing the big bad raid boss, or having a good time?
If you had a miserable time killing the boss and got a phat upgrade, did you really win anything worthwhile?
You are mixing things up though. If I had a miserable time killing the boss, I still won, I just did not have fun. Or (like in my example) I might lose and still have fun.
Plus winning can sometimes affect having fun (some people do not have fun if they do not win). Still two separate things affecting one another.
Plus plus they are not always mutually exclusive, and that just takes the conversation to a direction that is irrelevant to the point I was trying to make. I am not trying to argue whether winning or having fun is more important (i.e. to me, having fun is paramount, to a professional player winning is), just that they are two separate things.
Winning? Fun? Is this the moment I introduce Difficulty again? That way can we have the holy trinity of discussion in one single thread. Or perhaps I could ask a little question about the definitive quality of the term Massively when it comes to Multiplayer..... Either way, my body is ready.
/Cheers, Lahnmir
For some reason when you said this, my mind jumped to "The Holy Trinity of Cosmetics" which then snowballed into "Ass, Accessory, Weapon" only when you have combined all 3 perfectly will you look the ultimate badass!
Egotism is the anesthetic that dullens the pain of stupidity, this is why when I try to beat my head against the stupidity of other people, I only hurt myself.
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
For these games it's ALL about gameplay first. If the game is really fun and not P2W then I first spend on essentials like stash space and such assuming they don't feel overpriced. Once I have all of the essentials then I'll spend on skins, mounts, pets ...
The only time I got mad at cosmetics locked behind a paywall was Marvel Heroes fortune cards. The only way to guarantee that you got what you wanted from a type of card was to buy 100 of them and turn in a currency. (On a side note I assumed POE used a similar system, minus the guarantee, and so I wasted a lot of money early on with their overpriced loot boxes)
Actually, I was really annoyed that Marvel Heroes had some cool costumes forever locked behind a $200 price point. If you played that game at launch you'll know why spending $200 on it was a massive risk.
B2P with SUB
I expect to ALL cosmetics, including pets and mounts, to be obtainable in game. I think they should either be a way to show off what you've accomplished or clever collection of items in game with dye choices.
WOW locks way too much stuff behind their cash shop. It's a massive turnoff honestly. As was their Blizzcon exclusives like this cool mount.
Other Models
It depends on how nickel and dimey it feels. The worse it is, the more immersion breaking it is and the more likely I am to quit.
In the end it's all about gameplay first and foremost. Just don't take advantage of players, especially with gambling. I'm more than happy to let whales keep a game running as long as it doesn't go too far.
Cosmetics, well as in looks is somewhat important to me, but not the way you think about it. Cosmetics from a shop and/or as a skin has zero meaning to me, but gear with a special look represents an adventure an achievement - To me and to those who see it and recognize it.
So that means a certain piece of gear must own its looks, no faking it. I am open to alterations of certain parts for personalization as long as it doesn't change the basic look of that item....this could be coloring or changing metal parts or similar.
It is all part of that totally outdated mmorpg fundamental that no longer exist, called "feeling of accomplishment". From a time where it took great effort to get certain pieces of gear, and so by looking at it you were reminded of your achievement, and others were inspired to reach for it too or simply acknowleding your achievement.
Obviously buying some looks in a shop is the complete opposite, and complete changing the looks of a piece of gear by any means also goes against it.
Instant gratification mentality and f2p is why our mmorpgs are not like I would like them to be (for some part of it at least), it is just an observation and you are welcome to disagree all you want.
it matters... but only to me... i don't wanna look like every other player... my character has a history that is different to every other character that has ever been played... so it should not look the same as every other.
I find cosmetics to be one of the least important features of a game, if its something you gotta pay for, or its complicated, I'm going to ignore it all together. If its easily accessible, I might dye my outfit or purchase a cheap outfit that matches, and then move on with that for the rest of my gameplay.
Progression, be it gaining skills, levels, spells, crafting, knowledge, or money is what's most important to me. Cosmetics might fall somewhere after all of that.
It is all part of that totally outdated mmorpg fundamental that no longer exist, called "feeling of accomplishment". From a time where it took great effort to get certain pieces of gear, and so by looking at it you were reminded of your achievement, and others were inspired to reach for it too or simply acknowleding your achievement.
Perhaps some or even many gamers find no real sense of "accomplishment" from in game achievements or see no need to lord it over, err wait, I meant "inspire" others to achieve similar.
They just want to play games and look cool while doing so....
Kind of my attitude these days as I've come to understand how pointless "achievement" is in games, though will confess to still endlessly chasing progression like a good little hamster.
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
Let me put this into a perspective on how i view gaming.
I have VERY distinct ideas of how i want to see variosu genres developed.I wait patiently maybe 5...10 years to finally see a game with ideas that are somewhat "encouraging"I am like FINALLY a game that i want to play.
So then i wait anotehr 2..3..4 5 maybe another 10 for a develoepr to take those FIRST amazing steps/designs from the previous genres and make them BETTER,take the games to the NEXT level.
Ok i got that out of the way.Now here we are talking about "COSMETICS"lmao i couldn't care less about such a minute part of a game,i want to see these games LEAP forward into the next generation,i want to start a game and immediately think "WOW this looks like a professional team built this game",this looks great.
Instead i see crap like Genshin "my god" and then Cyberpunk selling itself with what...a lightshow?Now i see Valheim a game that takes the genre BACKWARDS about 5 steps ,i am like WTF QUIT supporting these devs that do NOTHING to improve the genres.
COSMETICS do...NOT improve the genres,they change almost nothing.Yes i enjoy nicer looking armor,nicer looking characters.OF COURSE i do but build me the GAME first before getting into ANY cash shop or any talk of cosmetics.
Never forget 3 mile Island and never trust a government official or company spokesman.
I like cosmetics fine I suppose but I dislike cosmetics that have no functionality other than fluff. I do not like dyes or meaningless gear appearance changes that have no statistical properties. Something like custom player housing is the middle ground is serves a purpose and it allows for self expression.
If you're playing an mmorpg, it's unfathomable for me to read that it's not important to some people.
It's of gargantuan importance to me. If i don't click with my character on some level it won't be playable for me, i don't care how amazing the gameplay is.
Every single character i put extreme care in to them and how they look, and that's to me, i really don't give a care what other people think. They all have a tiny backstory of why they are there in the world as well.
I mean i didn't buy a grand expedition yak just for repairs, lol. My latest creation is wearing a basic mix of starter gear cause i like it and a few other pieces, and the second i get a replacement piece of gear i transmog it to my look. It's capped and still looks the same since leverl 1. I mean my weapon is a plain old stick. Sure the look is plain but amazing af to me. I really don't go for the all flashy looks.
In my green days as i was exploring EQ2 and met peeps i would rock the server to it's core with for 4 years, i remember showing up at my first raid with them and they be like My Dude you're a paladin why are you wearing cloth and leather, i think you all know my answer to them, but here it is anyway, cause i like how it looks. lmao obv i had to change but at the time it showed how important it is to me and still is to this day.
This is you in the world in whatever form you desire, represent.
Of my two boys now high end raiders and mythic, one loves to farm mounts and transmogs, he is very particular about how he looks, the other he cares but is of not a huge importance to him once he has a look down, stats is his thing, i mean he's ranked top 4 on his server ffs.
I was out farming mounts on the weekend with my transmog son and asked why don't you get a yak as you're so into transmog and told him that the microsecond i get a new piece of gear i trans, he answered that he rarely gets new gear, and yeah ok i didn't think of that, lmao.
ESO i always had a hard time getting a look i like and proably one of the reasons i don't play it, Secret World Legends OMG probably the best game for appearances, wow is second best (for me) i have 12 classes on Horde and 8 on Alliance, of 20 characters they all look completely different, and ofc awesome!
My faith is my shield! - Turalyon 2022
Your legend ends here and now! - (Battles Won Long Ago)
Secret World Legends OMG probably the best game for appearances,
Earlier Sovrath had the notion of independent looks and stats, for which I said CO and TSW are the best in that. Gear has only stats, no visual appearance. Costumes give the look, and they're easy to change and adjust.
I don't play Legends (the bane and killer of TSW...), for what I remember from the time during beta and launch it has a weaker, "more f2p" version of TSW's dressing room.
It has a clunkier search option, has a lot more "stupid" pieces (like the reintroduction of Sight for Sore Eyes, Mankini, etc.), and ofc it has a fully integrated cash shop.
On the plus side (if it's a plus, since it causes clutter... at least it can be toggled off) there's only the unowned pieces on the list - and it ain't some added feature either, just a side-effect of the cash shop integration.
But probably even with those drawbacks it's one of the better systems out there, especially with modern day setting. Not too many games offer you the chance to wear your everyday sneakers-jeans-tshirt combination
Secret World Legends OMG probably the best game for appearances,
Earlier Sovrath had the notion of independent looks and stats, for which I said CO and TSW are the best in that. Gear has only stats, no visual appearance. Costumes give the look, and they're easy to change and adjust.
I don't play Legends (the bane and killer of TSW...), for what I remember from the time during beta and launch it has a weaker, "more f2p" version of TSW's dressing room.
It has a clunkier search option, has a lot more "stupid" pieces (like the reintroduction of Sight for Sore Eyes, Mankini, etc.), and ofc it has a fully integrated cash shop.
On the plus side (if it's a plus, since it causes clutter... at least it can be toggled off) there's only the unowned pieces on the list - and it ain't some added feature either, just a side-effect of the cash shop integration.
But probably even with those drawbacks it's one of the better systems out there, especially with modern day setting. Not too many games offer you the chance to wear your everyday sneakers-jeans-tshirt combination
Come visit me in FO76 where I'll be happy to show you a few different combinations of sneaker, jeans and t-shirts.
Oh yeah, and my Power Armor collection...bet SWL doesn't have such.
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
Absolutely 0 is how much I care about my characters looks. But then I normally don't want to play games with cosmetics anyway. It is often cash shoppy.
Also item identity is very important. Players should be able to tell what another player is wearing at a glance...and thus know what it took to acquire those items.
There are many reasons why the mmorpg genre is in such a decline. This type of fluff is one of them
Comments
My fiance purchases far more cosmetics than I, and she greatly enjoys adjusting their look to flatter her characters as much as possible.
In a way that is winning for her, assuming the victory condition is maximizing the fun the game provides her in whatever way she chooses.
In this game, you were playing PvP for the ranks and PvE for cosmetics. And the two were intertwined because of GWTV, or so we called it. By pressing "B" (default key) one could indeed watch a stream ingame of the best guilds (up to 100th rank) currently playing.
I did not belong to such a guild, mine was more in the 250th range. Still we were playing against them, so people were watching us! Therefore WE HAD to look good! This is why we were going into PvE elite zone to grind the best looking outfits.
At this time, there was no cash shop yet. Outfits and other emotes were proof of achievements only.
IN-CRE-DI-BLE!!!!!
Yesterday my son was complaining he was meeting bad players with amazing skins in his favorite shooter. I share the same complaint in MMORPGS.
Not only use them in ESO, GW2, and STO, but also in Division 2, and Splinter Cell Breakpoint types of games. Off hand I don't remember a game when I won't use them either as cosmetics or addons to freshen-up a game.
"We all do the best we can based on life experience, point of view, and our ability to believe in ourselves." - Naropa "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." SR Covey
Stats over style any day!
Vault-Tec analysts have concluded that the odds of worldwide nuclear armaggeddon this decade are 17,143,762... to 1.
The influence of cosmetics does not belong in an in-depth entity. It can accompany it, but it should never be more than an afterthought. I learned that in high school.
/Cheers,
Lahnmir
Kyleran on yours sincerely
'But there are many. You can play them entirely solo, and even offline. Also, you are wrong by default.'
Ikcin in response to yours sincerely debating whether or not single-player offline MMOs exist...
'This does not apply just to ED but SC or any other game. What they will get is Rebirth/X4, likely prettier but equally underwhelming and pointless.
It is incredibly difficult to design some meaningfull leg content that would fit a space ship game - simply because it is not a leg game.
It is just huge resource waste....'
Gdemami absolutely not being an armchair developer
Winning? Fun? Is this the moment I introduce Difficulty again? That way can we have the holy trinity of discussion in one single thread. Or perhaps I could ask a little question about the definitive quality of the term Massively when it comes to Multiplayer..... Either way, my body is ready.
/Cheers,
Lahnmir
Kyleran on yours sincerely
'But there are many. You can play them entirely solo, and even offline. Also, you are wrong by default.'
Ikcin in response to yours sincerely debating whether or not single-player offline MMOs exist...
'This does not apply just to ED but SC or any other game. What they will get is Rebirth/X4, likely prettier but equally underwhelming and pointless.
It is incredibly difficult to design some meaningfull leg content that would fit a space ship game - simply because it is not a leg game.
It is just huge resource waste....'
Gdemami absolutely not being an armchair developer
To be honest Tzervo you seem to be finding excuses for Pearl Abyss to do this, the only saving grace is the bonuses are small and as far as I know have never been increased. It is possible that Pearl Abyss has no intention of increasing the bonuses, I am just going on typical cash shop evolution here.
Might have found yourself a new career highlighting the best in gaming fashion both high end (cash shop) and on a budget (earned in game)
"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
F2P with Cash Shop
For these games it's ALL about gameplay first. If the game is really fun and not P2W then I first spend on essentials like stash space and such assuming they don't feel overpriced. Once I have all of the essentials then I'll spend on skins, mounts, pets ...
The only time I got mad at cosmetics locked behind a paywall was Marvel Heroes fortune cards. The only way to guarantee that you got what you wanted from a type of card was to buy 100 of them and turn in a currency. (On a side note I assumed POE used a similar system, minus the guarantee, and so I wasted a lot of money early on with their overpriced loot boxes)
Actually, I was really annoyed that Marvel Heroes had some cool costumes forever locked behind a $200 price point. If you played that game at launch you'll know why spending $200 on it was a massive risk.
B2P with SUB
I expect to ALL cosmetics, including pets and mounts, to be obtainable in game. I think they should either be a way to show off what you've accomplished or clever collection of items in game with dye choices.
WOW locks way too much stuff behind their cash shop. It's a massive turnoff honestly. As was their Blizzcon exclusives like this cool mount.
Other Models
It depends on how nickel and dimey it feels. The worse it is, the more immersion breaking it is and the more likely I am to quit.
In the end it's all about gameplay first and foremost. Just don't take advantage of players, especially with gambling. I'm more than happy to let whales keep a game running as long as it doesn't go too far.
So that means a certain piece of gear must own its looks, no faking it. I am open to alterations of certain parts for personalization as long as it doesn't change the basic look of that item....this could be coloring or changing metal parts or similar.
It is all part of that totally outdated mmorpg fundamental that no longer exist, called "feeling of accomplishment". From a time where it took great effort to get certain pieces of gear, and so by looking at it you were reminded of your achievement, and others were inspired to reach for it too or simply acknowleding your achievement.
Obviously buying some looks in a shop is the complete opposite, and complete changing the looks of a piece of gear by any means also goes against it.
Instant gratification mentality and f2p is why our mmorpgs are not like I would like them to be (for some part of it at least), it is just an observation and you are welcome to disagree all you want.
"I am my connectome" https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HA7GwKXfJB0
Progression, be it gaining skills, levels, spells, crafting, knowledge, or money is what's most important to me. Cosmetics might fall somewhere after all of that.
Mess with the best, Die like the rest
They just want to play games and look cool while doing so....
Kind of my attitude these days as I've come to understand how pointless "achievement" is in games, though will confess to still endlessly chasing progression like a good little hamster.
Sometimes though I wish
A self made hell I do realize.
"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
I have VERY distinct ideas of how i want to see variosu genres developed.I wait patiently maybe 5...10 years to finally see a game with ideas that are somewhat "encouraging"I am like FINALLY a game that i want to play.
So then i wait anotehr 2..3..4 5 maybe another 10 for a develoepr to take those FIRST amazing steps/designs from the previous genres and make them BETTER,take the games to the NEXT level.
Ok i got that out of the way.Now here we are talking about "COSMETICS"lmao i couldn't care less about such a minute part of a game,i want to see these games LEAP forward into the next generation,i want to start a game and immediately think "WOW this looks like a professional team built this game",this looks great.
Instead i see crap like Genshin "my god" and then Cyberpunk selling itself with what...a lightshow?Now i see Valheim a game that takes the genre BACKWARDS about 5 steps ,i am like WTF QUIT supporting these devs that do NOTHING to improve the genres.
COSMETICS do...NOT improve the genres,they change almost nothing.Yes i enjoy nicer looking armor,nicer looking characters.OF COURSE i do but build me the GAME first before getting into ANY cash shop or any talk of cosmetics.
Never forget 3 mile Island and never trust a government official or company spokesman.
Oh yeah, and my Power Armor collection...bet SWL doesn't have such.
We know how to play "dress-up."
"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
Also item identity is very important. Players should be able to tell what another player is wearing at a glance...and thus know what it took to acquire those items.
There are many reasons why the mmorpg genre is in such a decline. This type of fluff is one of them