They should have made content that increased the level cap.
No. We've seen, over and over and in game after game, what happens when they jack up the cap. The older "cap" content is automatically downgraded and gets less play. It's almost a reduction in total content and also promotes an endless treadmill of "bigger and better!" items, reducing the desirablity of the existing items. Thank heavens CoX has thus far resisted that foolish trend.
That only happens to people who fell they NEED to be at cap and feel that the game doesn't start until they cap.
There are plenty of us out there who enjoy the journey far more then the finish, to us having a longer journey is more fun.
Those who want to always "beat" the MMO are the ones who constantly feel they are on a treadmill getting no where as the game keeps advancing in front of them.
Wait, you are quiting the game not because of gameplay issues, not because of the price, not because lack of enjoyment, but because they decided to sell some purelyfluff and barely cosmetic emotes that you will probably hardly ever see?
Cash shop purist?
I myself am a cash shop purist. I currently do not subscribe to any game which adds any form of cash shop, even if it is cosmetics. And yes I do quit games when they add them if I am currently subbed.
Do I think my 1 subscription will make a difference or change a companies mind? Not at all. But I do like to stick to my principles.
The day may come where all MMOs have a cash shop and I will be forced out of the MMO market, I am completely fine with that and will simply leave the genre when that day comes. I won't fuss or make a bunch of posts to make drama, I will just quietly leave and do other things. I don't care one bit if others are paying for the cash shops, if they enjoy that then they certainly should. I just happen to be one of those people who disagrees with every game adopting that model, there is room for both models.
The day may come where all MMOs have a cash shop and I will be forced out of the MMO market, I am completely fine with that and will simply leave the genre when that day comes. I won't fuss or make a bunch of posts to make drama, I will just quietly leave and do other things. I don't care one bit if others are paying for the cash shops, if they enjoy that then they certainly should. I just happen to be one of those people who disagrees with every game adopting that model, there is room for both models.
Be careful about being too pure. It's not just MMOs that have cash shops. Are you going to throw away all of your single player games that have any downloadable contenet (DLC)? I think this type of thing is going to end up in all video games. Just wait and see: TV shows or movies charge for DLC consisting of alternate endings and deleted scenes.
I suppose MMOs were better in the old days when they would charge you for a box with ALL cash shop items instead of letting players pick and choose which ones to buy (or ignore the entire shop all together). I would rather get playable content free and leave the fluff in the cash shop instead of having to buy it all in an expansion.
The day may come where all MMOs have a cash shop and I will be forced out of the MMO market, I am completely fine with that and will simply leave the genre when that day comes. I won't fuss or make a bunch of posts to make drama, I will just quietly leave and do other things. I don't care one bit if others are paying for the cash shops, if they enjoy that then they certainly should. I just happen to be one of those people who disagrees with every game adopting that model, there is room for both models.
Be careful about being too pure. It's not just MMOs that have cash shops. Are you going to throw away all of your single player games that have any downloadable contenet (DLC)? I think this type of thing is going to end up in all video games. Just wait and see: TV shows or movies charge for DLC consisting of alternate endings and deleted scenes.
I suppose MMOs were better in the old days when they would charge you for a box with ALL cash shop items instead of letting players pick and choose which ones to buy (or ignore the entire shop all together). I would rather get playable content free and leave the fluff in the cash shop instead of having to buy it all in an expansion.
I rarely ever buy consoles games anymore because of the DLC factor. For instance I abandonded the HALO series a long time ago since it was obvious they were going to keep releasing terrible map packs (where the maps kept getting pulled out of rotation because everyone hated them) but FORCING you to buy them if you wanted to keep playing multiplayer. Literally if you wanted to keep playing multiplayer your had to buy the packs that were highly over-priced for a few very unintersting maps.
Take a game like Dragon Age. If a company releases DLC at the same time as the game releases then it obviously could have, and should have, been included in the sale of the game. I will not pay for a product like that.
On the other hand I asked for COD:MW2 as a gift even though it would certainly have map packs released in the future. Most FPS games I give the credit of future map packs being essentially mini-expansions and I have no issue with that, as long as you aren't forced to buy them to keep playing (I have bought map packs for FPS games as I do enjoy having new maps to play if they are quality, I just don't automatically buy them). I got burned out on MW2 before their first map pack released so I don't know if they made it required or not.
There is a significant difference between an expansion, or mini-expansion, and tacked on give us all your money items. I am fine with expansions and always have been. I've been against the money hungry cash shops/DLC since the start and it isn't going to change.
I do not suffer for making these choices so there is no risk in being "too pure". Literally all enjoyment goes out the window when I see a cash shop, so I am not losing out on fun by not engaging in it.
Im actully thinking of getting this game, from what ive read and seen so far it seems that making a superhero is quite fun and rewarding, though i can see that people say its repetative and that the booster packs do tend to annoy people, i dont mind them that much. Just the thought of beating up badguys and flying away with that awesome character you have just created gives me a good feeling.
It's a very fun game, I can highly recommend it. Even if you don't buy the store items (Btw - LOL at the OP...doh) you are on complete and total equal footing with the people that do. The storylines and writing in the game are fantastic, and even though the game is 6+ years old, I find myself going back to it after every other MMO I try. Enjoy.
The section right below the Going Rogue games. They've been selling emotes and costume packs for.... certainly over a year now. Heck, some of the emote/costume packs even come with temporary powers. These are generally not game breaking; a slightly faster, cooler look sprint at level 4 or so from the Natural pack, a random very minor self buff with a chance to be a crippling debuff from the Science pack, a Self-Destruct power that does insane damage (but obviously kills you) from the Cyborg pack, and the option to change your body type/gender at the Tailor in the Science pack.
These have been in game for a while. I own exactly none of them. My gameplay has been completey unaffected. While I find item shops in P2P games distasteful, I can tolerate them as long as they don't significantly impact gameplay. These, IMO, do not.
But seriously, at this point, what MMOs DON'T have cash shops? Warhammer Online, EVE Online, DarkFall, Fallen Earth, and Age of Conan are the only games that spring to mind without one. So there you go, play one of those.
Also, like I said, welcome to about three years ago. I think that's when the first pack was introduced.
Incidentally, these are far less game-breaking (read, they don't break the game at all) than the crap Cryptic puts in CO and STO, and, ever since Cryptic sold CoH to NCSoft, the quality of content has been of exponentially higher quality.
EDIT: Oh, yeah, the Magic pack gives you a power that will provide an ally with a random buff. These are all positive efffects with no chance of backfire. I don't own the pack, a lot of people do, so I end up benefiting from the money other people spend as opposed to the other way around in most MMOs with cash shops. :P
The day may come where all MMOs have a cash shop and I will be forced out of the MMO market, I am completely fine with that and will simply leave the genre when that day comes. I won't fuss or make a bunch of posts to make drama, I will just quietly leave and do other things. I don't care one bit if others are paying for the cash shops, if they enjoy that then they certainly should. I just happen to be one of those people who disagrees with every game adopting that model, there is room for both models.
Be careful about being too pure. It's not just MMOs that have cash shops. Are you going to throw away all of your single player games that have any downloadable contenet (DLC)? I think this type of thing is going to end up in all video games. Just wait and see: TV shows or movies charge for DLC consisting of alternate endings and deleted scenes.
I suppose MMOs were better in the old days when they would charge you for a box with ALL cash shop items instead of letting players pick and choose which ones to buy (or ignore the entire shop all together). I would rather get playable content free and leave the fluff in the cash shop instead of having to buy it all in an expansion.
Take a game like Dragon Age. If a company releases DLC at the same time as the game releases then it obviously could have, and should have, been included in the sale of the game. I will not pay for a product like that.
So if they secretly keep that DLC in the fridge for a few months, and charge you for it, then it would be ok.
For me, it is the value itself and not the timing. If they offer me a game and a DLC at release, my decision will be on how good is the game by itself, I would consider the DLC part as a expansion.
I am not saying the companies are innocent, they are greedy. It is what business is being about. Consumers and companies are often in a changing world. Maybe today will be RMT, tomorrow p2p, next who knows.
I could understand OP wants to make a stand, but I don't think it is going to make any difference. With so many mmos around the loyalty of gamers have waived a lot. Since, the only advantage of the not so casual gamer was his loyalty, companies goes for the quick cash and cater more and more to the big expender.
Did some checking on the games wiki and the official forums and there are some people who actually buy the packs to support the game. I can see both side; game company is greedy puts a bunch of fluff or actual game changing stuff in online shop just to make more money and a game company that puts stuff out on a regular basis of mostly fluff stuff with a few little enhancements to in game mechanics just as extra stuff. Now you have to make a judgement call is the company putting out excessive amounts of add-ons that cost extra or not. This is up to each individual to make that decision. Of course a company is out to make a profit and some little things like this can help but I also ask my self where can I get the entertainment value that I get out of an MMO for the same money? I figured a $15 sub is roughly $3.46 a week, if you play more than 3 hours a week after the initial opening mouths of the game then the game cost you less then a dollar per hour and who plays only 3 or 4 hours a week? I well leave everyone to their own conclusion drawing now and remember if you are not really having fun playing your game you should probably quit take a break maybe load up an old one that you haven't played in a while and then go in search of a new one.
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
As previewed, the emote pack doesn't do it for me and I'll pass on it. But, given this is work that artists and animators are doing, perhaps the booster pack revenues are one of the ways that Paragon can retain those people? Not saying it is, but I can see these people possibly being idle for periods of time while waiting forthe rest of the development team. Rather than lose them, let them be creative, expand their portfolio, add value to the game, and earn a small percentage of sales. Or it could be a cash grab. ( ' :
Either way, I think if sales are terrible, they will rethink how they package a booster pack. But, at least in the eyes of Paragon, a more telling metric would be the ratio of people actively playing and have purchased the emote pack to the number of people actively playing. I say this because, just dropping off the face of the earth (or the servers in this case) doesn't send a clear message of why you stopped playing whereas percentage of sales would. Cash shop purists can vote with their wallet while still enjoying their game AND send a clear message -- just don't buy the cash shop items.
Yeah, the packs are for sale, but nobody is twisting your arm to buy them. I enjoyed this one, but there comes a time when I want to get away from the repetition of an MMO. I haven't found that niche I belong to without getting bored whatsoever, but I keep bouncing between this and FFXI. I definitely loved the character creation, but I may wait a few months before trying out Going Rogue. Hope you find what you enjoy playing
Wait, you are quiting the game not because of gameplay issues, not because of the price, not because lack of enjoyment, but because they decided to sell some purelyfluff and barely cosmetic emotes that you will probably hardly ever see?
Cash shop purist?
Actually, I'm not a cash shop purist. I bought a few of the booster packs they put out because they had some pretty cool costume pieces.
You know..YOUR the reason why they keep adding more right? You purchased them. And you wonder why the put more in? Are you nuts or just plain oblivious to the world around you? You just debunk any rational argument you may of been able to produce by purchasing "a few" of the boosters. MMO's are a business first and foremost. For everyone one customer they lose, they need to gain another or find another revenue source. Cash shop is that source. Your acknowledged that dilemma and decided to help the game by means of your wallet. Now you change your mind. Fair enough, but next time you play a game that introduced cash shop(if they already aren't using it) speak only from a sub fee and not additional wallet on the side.
This has probably been the best response to the OP in this thread, and deserves to be repeated.
-===- -===- DJ Cavalier -- Gamer Radio Initiative -==- Gamer Radio Initiative (www.gri-network.com) - Serious About Gaming
Comments
That only happens to people who fell they NEED to be at cap and feel that the game doesn't start until they cap.
There are plenty of us out there who enjoy the journey far more then the finish, to us having a longer journey is more fun.
Those who want to always "beat" the MMO are the ones who constantly feel they are on a treadmill getting no where as the game keeps advancing in front of them.
I myself am a cash shop purist. I currently do not subscribe to any game which adds any form of cash shop, even if it is cosmetics. And yes I do quit games when they add them if I am currently subbed.
Do I think my 1 subscription will make a difference or change a companies mind? Not at all. But I do like to stick to my principles.
The day may come where all MMOs have a cash shop and I will be forced out of the MMO market, I am completely fine with that and will simply leave the genre when that day comes. I won't fuss or make a bunch of posts to make drama, I will just quietly leave and do other things. I don't care one bit if others are paying for the cash shops, if they enjoy that then they certainly should. I just happen to be one of those people who disagrees with every game adopting that model, there is room for both models.
Be careful about being too pure. It's not just MMOs that have cash shops. Are you going to throw away all of your single player games that have any downloadable contenet (DLC)? I think this type of thing is going to end up in all video games. Just wait and see: TV shows or movies charge for DLC consisting of alternate endings and deleted scenes.
I suppose MMOs were better in the old days when they would charge you for a box with ALL cash shop items instead of letting players pick and choose which ones to buy (or ignore the entire shop all together). I would rather get playable content free and leave the fluff in the cash shop instead of having to buy it all in an expansion.
I rarely ever buy consoles games anymore because of the DLC factor. For instance I abandonded the HALO series a long time ago since it was obvious they were going to keep releasing terrible map packs (where the maps kept getting pulled out of rotation because everyone hated them) but FORCING you to buy them if you wanted to keep playing multiplayer. Literally if you wanted to keep playing multiplayer your had to buy the packs that were highly over-priced for a few very unintersting maps.
Take a game like Dragon Age. If a company releases DLC at the same time as the game releases then it obviously could have, and should have, been included in the sale of the game. I will not pay for a product like that.
On the other hand I asked for COD:MW2 as a gift even though it would certainly have map packs released in the future. Most FPS games I give the credit of future map packs being essentially mini-expansions and I have no issue with that, as long as you aren't forced to buy them to keep playing (I have bought map packs for FPS games as I do enjoy having new maps to play if they are quality, I just don't automatically buy them). I got burned out on MW2 before their first map pack released so I don't know if they made it required or not.
There is a significant difference between an expansion, or mini-expansion, and tacked on give us all your money items. I am fine with expansions and always have been. I've been against the money hungry cash shops/DLC since the start and it isn't going to change.
I do not suffer for making these choices so there is no risk in being "too pure". Literally all enjoyment goes out the window when I see a cash shop, so I am not losing out on fun by not engaging in it.
It's a very fun game, I can highly recommend it. Even if you don't buy the store items (Btw - LOL at the OP...doh) you are on complete and total equal footing with the people that do. The storylines and writing in the game are fantastic, and even though the game is 6+ years old, I find myself going back to it after every other MMO I try. Enjoy.
Fallen earth has one as well...
So if they secretly keep that DLC in the fridge for a few months, and charge you for it, then it would be ok.
For me, it is the value itself and not the timing. If they offer me a game and a DLC at release, my decision will be on how good is the game by itself, I would consider the DLC part as a expansion.
I am not saying the companies are innocent, they are greedy. It is what business is being about. Consumers and companies are often in a changing world. Maybe today will be RMT, tomorrow p2p, next who knows.
I could understand OP wants to make a stand, but I don't think it is going to make any difference. With so many mmos around the loyalty of gamers have waived a lot. Since, the only advantage of the not so casual gamer was his loyalty, companies goes for the quick cash and cater more and more to the big expender.
Did some checking on the games wiki and the official forums and there are some people who actually buy the packs to support the game. I can see both side; game company is greedy puts a bunch of fluff or actual game changing stuff in online shop just to make more money and a game company that puts stuff out on a regular basis of mostly fluff stuff with a few little enhancements to in game mechanics just as extra stuff. Now you have to make a judgement call is the company putting out excessive amounts of add-ons that cost extra or not. This is up to each individual to make that decision. Of course a company is out to make a profit and some little things like this can help but I also ask my self where can I get the entertainment value that I get out of an MMO for the same money? I figured a $15 sub is roughly $3.46 a week, if you play more than 3 hours a week after the initial opening mouths of the game then the game cost you less then a dollar per hour and who plays only 3 or 4 hours a week? I well leave everyone to their own conclusion drawing now and remember if you are not really having fun playing your game you should probably quit take a break maybe load up an old one that you haven't played in a while and then go in search of a new one.
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
Groucho Marx
As previewed, the emote pack doesn't do it for me and I'll pass on it. But, given this is work that artists and animators are doing, perhaps the booster pack revenues are one of the ways that Paragon can retain those people? Not saying it is, but I can see these people possibly being idle for periods of time while waiting forthe rest of the development team. Rather than lose them, let them be creative, expand their portfolio, add value to the game, and earn a small percentage of sales. Or it could be a cash grab. ( ' :
Either way, I think if sales are terrible, they will rethink how they package a booster pack. But, at least in the eyes of Paragon, a more telling metric would be the ratio of people actively playing and have purchased the emote pack to the number of people actively playing. I say this because, just dropping off the face of the earth (or the servers in this case) doesn't send a clear message of why you stopped playing whereas percentage of sales would. Cash shop purists can vote with their wallet while still enjoying their game AND send a clear message -- just don't buy the cash shop items.
Yeah, the packs are for sale, but nobody is twisting your arm to buy them. I enjoyed this one, but there comes a time when I want to get away from the repetition of an MMO. I haven't found that niche I belong to without getting bored whatsoever, but I keep bouncing between this and FFXI. I definitely loved the character creation, but I may wait a few months before trying out Going Rogue. Hope you find what you enjoy playing
This has probably been the best response to the OP in this thread, and deserves to be repeated.
-===- -===-
DJ Cavalier -- Gamer Radio Initiative
-==-
Gamer Radio Initiative (www.gri-network.com) - Serious About Gaming