I'm not sure I understand the microtransaction system, because I am not horrified by the pricing model so far.
The game doesn't have a ton of content, so I'll probably play it super-casually. This makes the "pay for a block of hours" system seem pretty nifty to me, as 20 hours would probably last me a little past a month. The 100 RTW points might even be enough for me to spend a few hours making a car or symbol or something, and then I might be able to sell that for just enough points to pay for any clothing I'd want for my duder. At that point I'm done with the microtransactions, except for the urge to drop $5 after a couple months to pick up something new and shiny.
I'm not seeing the problem, I guess. Do we have some concept of how big the microtrans are going to wallet drain people somehow?
I'm not sure I understand the microtransaction system, because I am not horrified by the pricing model so far.
The game doesn't have a ton of content, so I'll probably play it super-casually. This makes the "pay for a block of hours" system seem pretty nifty to me, as 20 hours would probably last me a little past a month. The 100 RTW points might even be enough for me to spend a few hours making a car or symbol or something, and then I might be able to sell that for just enough points to pay for any clothing I'd want for my duder. At that point I'm done with the microtransactions, except for the urge to drop $5 after a couple months to pick up something new and shiny.
I'm not seeing the problem, I guess. Do we have some concept of how big the microtrans are going to wallet drain people somehow?
The main issue really is that crafting and auction houses are, in most MMOs, a standard part of the game that people use for free. It'd be one thing to charge people to use it if was their main/only source of income, but when they're charging almost-full MMO prices anyways...
And it depends on the person. Some people would never use the market, while for some people (think the entire population of Second Life) the design work would be a major part of the game.
Edit: And the specific numbers for items and their cost are out, but afaik they're under NDA.
The prices are on CVG and several other sites in news stories about the game.
Also paying real money to be able to resell an item if you have worn it. Daaaamn. They have this all figured out, buy the game, then pay to make an item using the tools and content you just bought, sell it to some other chump who buys it with their own real money, while the game deducts a part of what he payed (taking a cut of money you already gave them!), and then he decides he doesn't like it and pays more real money to be able to sell it again.
An additional benefit to this evolutionary model is the ability for you to convert your own customisations and rewards to tradable products to give to friends or clan-mates or to place on the Marketplace to earn more RTW points (convertible to game time) or in-game cash. Check back later for more details
I think we're seeing them test the waters with this idea. Since we're seeing the whole 'check back later for more details'. I imagine with the amount of crap they're going to get over this, this whole last statement could change.
Then again, if it doesn't change, there is no way in hell I'm buying this game.
I still don't see the terrifying doom, considering I'll be paying ~$5-8 less a month in sub fees, which if we want to make comparable to a different MMO would result in at least $5 to sink into "points."
This whole system feels way too complicated. I understand they want this to be some kind of virtual world, but forcing you to pay them to add content to their game is a bizarre stand to take.
I can understand they want to prevent people from flooding the game with really shoddy crap. But a rating system would seem like a much better solution. I had assumed that you would be getting a set amount of RWP per month subscription that you could use, or save up for something in the future. Having them separate from the subscription doesn't feel right to me.
The only way they could justify something like this is if you retain the rights to your content, and there is some way to save/export your custom content locally. Otherwise you're just getting robbed both ways. I'd have to check their Terms of Service and see if there are any details regarding this.
Still, I want to play this game and I'd gladly pay $10 a month to do so. But I hope their focus is on the gameplay, because I feel that is what the game is going to have to stand on.
I still don't see the terrifying doom, considering I'll be paying ~$5-8 less a month in sub fees, which if we want to make comparable to a different MMO would result in at least $5 to sink into "points."
But you see, other MMOs have this stuff called 'content'
This is a bit like paying a monthly fee to play TF2 with more complex achievements
I had assumed that you would be getting a set amount of RWP per month subscription that you could use, or save up for something in the future. Having them separate from the subscription doesn't feel right to me.
This is actually a better deal, though. You would end up with some people getting the same number of points no matter what and some buying even more either way, but in this situation people not interested in gussying up their character spend less money. It's better and more casual friendly.
I had assumed that you would be getting a set amount of RWP per month subscription that you could use, or save up for something in the future. Having them separate from the subscription doesn't feel right to me.
This is actually a better deal, though. You would end up with some people getting the same number of points no matter what and some buying even more either way, but in this situation people not interested in gussying up their character spend less money. It's better and more casual friendly.
I had assumed that you would be getting a set amount of RWP per month subscription that you could use, or save up for something in the future. Having them separate from the subscription doesn't feel right to me.
This is actually a better deal, though. You would end up with some people getting the same number of points no matter what and some buying even more either way, but in this situation people not interested in gussying up their character spend less money. It's better and more casual friendly.
They're not spending less than free.
There is no such thing as free. You pay for a normal subscription, or you pay for microtransactions. This is a halfway attempt. The subscription is less than normal, but it doesn't risk the complete failure of games which either A. have game-mandatory microtransactions or B. don't make enough money because they have cosmetic only microtrans.
I don't really think the game is worth 10 dollars/month even without microtransactions. The content is extremely damn limited and the missions get repetitive fast.
If I buy the game I see myself only enjoying the character creator a month down the line, having grown bored of everything else. It's not like the gameplay itself is spectacular, so it would have to rely a lot on variaton and quantity and quality of content, something the game lacks.
I had assumed that you would be getting a set amount of RWP per month subscription that you could use, or save up for something in the future. Having them separate from the subscription doesn't feel right to me.
This is actually a better deal, though. You would end up with some people getting the same number of points no matter what and some buying even more either way, but in this situation people not interested in gussying up their character spend less money. It's better and more casual friendly.
They're not spending less than free.
There is no such thing as free. You pay for a normal subscription, or you pay for microtransactions. This is a halfway attempt. The subscription is less than normal, but it doesn't risk the complete failure of games which either A. have game-mandatory microtransactions or B. don't make enough money because they have cosmetic only microtrans.
I wouldn't call it a halfway compromise so much as a double hit. The sub cost is less than normal MMOs, but it's already more than what APB (far from a normal MMO) is worth. Not letting you do any of the customized trading at all after you use up the handful of initial points is way overpriced.
I wouldn't call it a halfway compromise so much as a double hit. The sub cost is less than normal MMOs, but it's already more than what APB (far from a normal MMO) is worth. Not letting you do any of the customized trading at all after you use up the handful of initial points is way overpriced.
I personally feel the features of the game are already more attractive to me than a "normal" MMO. Hopefully they have more than the two action districts listed on their website by launch. Of course, I'd love them to release another serious podcast before the game goes live to let us know how they are planning improve everything in the future.
The game is going to have to grow. No MMO can coast after launch and expect to survive.
I'm with most of you, at this point not in the buy category. Compared to a game like, say, Red Dead Redemption which I'm also considering, the costs aren't justified. I do hope they have at least one more beta play session where we get a better look at what release might be and see a little more depth, but unless it completely wows me I doubt I'd be willing to pay fees to play this game.
This game is going to have to grow before launch to survive.
Which is why they are offering a head-start if you preorder the game. That way, even Day 1 has a somewhat established cesspool of criminals and enforcers.
This game is going to have to grow before launch to survive.
See Global Agenda for what will happen if it does not. With GA, people can at least get actual gameplay without subscribing, and its user numbers have still fallen dramatically after a couple of months. Without more content and the crazy business model, APB will not retain players even that long.
It's a shame. One would think a GTA-like MMO would be a license to print money if done properly.
This is what they're doing? There is not enough content to charge $10 a month for this game. If not for the NDA I'd go into specifics, but...ugh.
This went from "definite purchase when it comes out in the fall and is hopefully optimized/polished" to "What the hell? $10 fee AND pushed up release date? I'll get it when they abandon the pay model when everyone jumps ship."
Repetitive games have enough trouble holding playerbases when they're free, let alone charging for it.
So, I think I'm going to wait until this game hits $10 new. If the servers are still up and a shutdown hasn't been announced, I may pickup a copy simply for the customization / design aspect. It's a damn shame, but I guess APB was too good to be true from the start.
People might of enjoyed the content more if you could make a 20 person party. Right now, 4 is max and that makes it feel like any other online game that you can play for free. The point of APB is it's a MMO, doesn't feel like it. Feels more like GTA4 with dumb NPCs driving down the road running into you and worse online mode but with more customization and no story mode. Also, GTA4 costs like $35 and has a lot of mini-games and better controls.
I'm trying not to trample the NDA here but when I was given a mission twice today and it played out completely different both times I played it with different groups of people. This whole argument of not enough content or whatever I think is bull because when you group up with folks, get voice chat going and actually have some organization, the game becomes something far more social and dare I say, fun.
This game can't be compared to other MMOs because other MMOs have PvE. This is JUST PvP and customization. I mean, it's half of a game if even that which means the monthly fee if their even was one should be less then $7 a month or free. I mean, $4.99 wouldn't be that bad if they didn't have the micro transaction thing but then when you add the cost of the micro transaction, this game is like four to five times more expensive then it should be. At most, I would pay $7 a month total for this game and I would wait till the retail is under $25. It's just a PvP game period.. you can play a majority of those for free. I mean, compare it to the new GTA game or Modern Warfare 2 and you will see what I mean. Those are both free to play online.
i feel like i just watched a decent idea get strangled.
Pretty much, and it makes me so very sad. Gah.
How can you fuck up "GTA MMO"? It requires a real special level of incompetence to achieve that. We sure they don't work for the government or BP or something?
Posts
The game doesn't have a ton of content, so I'll probably play it super-casually. This makes the "pay for a block of hours" system seem pretty nifty to me, as 20 hours would probably last me a little past a month. The 100 RTW points might even be enough for me to spend a few hours making a car or symbol or something, and then I might be able to sell that for just enough points to pay for any clothing I'd want for my duder. At that point I'm done with the microtransactions, except for the urge to drop $5 after a couple months to pick up something new and shiny.
I'm not seeing the problem, I guess. Do we have some concept of how big the microtrans are going to wallet drain people somehow?
The main issue really is that crafting and auction houses are, in most MMOs, a standard part of the game that people use for free. It'd be one thing to charge people to use it if was their main/only source of income, but when they're charging almost-full MMO prices anyways...
And it depends on the person. Some people would never use the market, while for some people (think the entire population of Second Life) the design work would be a major part of the game.
Edit: And the specific numbers for items and their cost are out, but afaik they're under NDA.
Also paying real money to be able to resell an item if you have worn it. Daaaamn. They have this all figured out, buy the game, then pay to make an item using the tools and content you just bought, sell it to some other chump who buys it with their own real money, while the game deducts a part of what he payed (taking a cut of money you already gave them!), and then he decides he doesn't like it and pays more real money to be able to sell it again.
I think we're seeing them test the waters with this idea. Since we're seeing the whole 'check back later for more details'. I imagine with the amount of crap they're going to get over this, this whole last statement could change.
Then again, if it doesn't change, there is no way in hell I'm buying this game.
I can understand they want to prevent people from flooding the game with really shoddy crap. But a rating system would seem like a much better solution. I had assumed that you would be getting a set amount of RWP per month subscription that you could use, or save up for something in the future. Having them separate from the subscription doesn't feel right to me.
The only way they could justify something like this is if you retain the rights to your content, and there is some way to save/export your custom content locally. Otherwise you're just getting robbed both ways. I'd have to check their Terms of Service and see if there are any details regarding this.
Still, I want to play this game and I'd gladly pay $10 a month to do so. But I hope their focus is on the gameplay, because I feel that is what the game is going to have to stand on.
But you see, other MMOs have this stuff called 'content'
This is a bit like paying a monthly fee to play TF2 with more complex achievements
This is actually a better deal, though. You would end up with some people getting the same number of points no matter what and some buying even more either way, but in this situation people not interested in gussying up their character spend less money. It's better and more casual friendly.
They're not spending less than free.
There is no such thing as free. You pay for a normal subscription, or you pay for microtransactions. This is a halfway attempt. The subscription is less than normal, but it doesn't risk the complete failure of games which either A. have game-mandatory microtransactions or B. don't make enough money because they have cosmetic only microtrans.
If I buy the game I see myself only enjoying the character creator a month down the line, having grown bored of everything else. It's not like the gameplay itself is spectacular, so it would have to rely a lot on variaton and quantity and quality of content, something the game lacks.
I wouldn't call it a halfway compromise so much as a double hit. The sub cost is less than normal MMOs, but it's already more than what APB (far from a normal MMO) is worth. Not letting you do any of the customized trading at all after you use up the handful of initial points is way overpriced.
I personally feel the features of the game are already more attractive to me than a "normal" MMO. Hopefully they have more than the two action districts listed on their website by launch. Of course, I'd love them to release another serious podcast before the game goes live to let us know how they are planning improve everything in the future.
The game is going to have to grow. No MMO can coast after launch and expect to survive.
Which is why they are offering a head-start if you preorder the game. That way, even Day 1 has a somewhat established cesspool of criminals and enforcers.
Critical Failures - Havenhold Campaign • August St. Cloud (Human Ranger)
Also, imo
See Global Agenda for what will happen if it does not. With GA, people can at least get actual gameplay without subscribing, and its user numbers have still fallen dramatically after a couple of months. Without more content and the crazy business model, APB will not retain players even that long.
It's a shame. One would think a GTA-like MMO would be a license to print money if done properly.
This is what they're doing? There is not enough content to charge $10 a month for this game. If not for the NDA I'd go into specifics, but...ugh.
This went from "definite purchase when it comes out in the fall and is hopefully optimized/polished" to "What the hell? $10 fee AND pushed up release date? I'll get it when they abandon the pay model when everyone jumps ship."
Repetitive games have enough trouble holding playerbases when they're free, let alone charging for it.
Pretty much, and it makes me so very sad. Gah.
Unless i'm also using it, then there's a time warp and the version in my hands is the terrible version.
How can you fuck up "GTA MMO"? It requires a real special level of incompetence to achieve that. We sure they don't work for the government or BP or something?
I know i'm still planning on getting it. Screw the payment model and the "lack of content" cries. I'll let the game itself prove if it keeps my cash.
You can blame it all on m :whistle: - oh
You never left. Wow, this is awkward. Not exactly what I had in mind.
You could at least change your pants or something.