Snaps Tremor
The Tritan Industries
RISE of LEGION
61
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Posted - 2013.04.15 07:10:00 -
[1] - Quote
Iron Wolf Saber wrote:1. What items do you feel is absolutely need or want to spend Aurum on? Give reasons on current, or even new options if you need to.
None, and it's essential that it is kept that way so the game stays on the legit side of the Free To Play model. Looking at other games in the same field, it seems that from a purely mathematical level it's very difficult for devs not to run the numbers and start cashing in on helpless players for short term gains, but in the long term that just leads to resentful players (who'll still pay the money, make no mistake) and a slow negative shift in reputation that'll be very hard to come back from.
As a player, the more time you put into a game, the easier it is to rationalise spending money on it. With the level of competition within the FPS genre, and the current quality of the game, I feel that a mandatory fee to begin playing would kill Dust overnight. Unlike shadier FTP games, Dust doesn't immediately go out of its way to please you (not a bad thing!), so any barriers in place to prevent you from learning how Dust works on your own terms would remove the chance for players to become invested in the game world. That said, once they're 'in', even a player who resolves to stick to an ISK-only build will want some Aurum in the back pocket to test an upcoming suit or weapon, join a corp chat or splash out on a blueprint if they decide it makes sense strategically.
Iron Wolf Saber wrote:2. Do you think there is a Dust 514 equivalent to a 'subscription?' Explain why you must purchase these items regularly. Explain so explain what purchases are 'subscription like' or part of that subscription then the price point you would like to pay for it.
This is obviously alluding to the boosters, but I feel like those are going to become less meaningful the longer the game is around. Right now everyone is still running away from that day zero moment of the open beta and trying to stay out front, but as new players join and people start lapsing due to the limited scope of play, the idea of there being a 'front' SP-wise is going to mean nothing to all but the most dedicated players.
Iron Wolf Saber wrote:3. What items you consider extra purchases? Things outside the 'subscription' and would buy on a whim of need or wants? How long do you see paying for these items? What price factors would they be in order for you to continue to pay them?
This is just a reversal of the first question, so: Everything. The ideal situation for a free to play game is a market that doesn't force any real money items on you at all, but instead makes them reveal their potential (to you, personally) during the course of play. The games I consider 'legit' within the FTP category are ones that make you feel like you're the one making the decision to pay money, rather than being funnelled into an artificial situation where opening the wallet is the only real choice offered.
*** I can only quote five times and I'm not sure I even understood question 4 so I'm skipping it, but anything that's a quantifiable dollar amount a week in losses seems like a pretty bad time. ***
Iron Wolf Saber wrote:5. Are you more willing to pay for more expensive permanent items or enhancements over a much cheaper consumable items? Items like a market licence which can double the amount of items you can sell? Or with current examples the BPOs of militia items?
I bought a keyboard I didn't need, to get a shotgun blueprint that has no advantages over the level one shotgun except to confuse people in the killfeed who don't know it's a European exclusive offer and not available anywhere else. I think that answers that question.
Iron Wolf Saber wrote:6. Would you feel okay if dust 514 had a 'membership' subscription program? What items would make it worth it at the prices you imagine? Should all items int he membership pack be buy able by non members? Should membership be discounted vs the normal aur store?
On Playstation it's going to be a tough ask, since most people are already signing up to Plus (with good reason, it's a great deal) and so will see any sub Dust has as a sub on top of a sub. I maintain that the game needs to keep the bar for entry as low as possible and do as much as it can to suck people into the Eve universe by making them see and interact with Eve through Dust instead of just throwing them into an endless series of mediocre Unreal deathmatches. Get them involved, treat them fairly, and the money will roll in while making sure both sides feel good about that. Oh, also, like, fix the game. Obviously. 5-27fps gameplay does not mix well with far-reaching consequences for failure. |