DUST Search - Alternative to Ludvig's Subscription Idea (Follow Up)

Maken Tosch wrote:

Ludvig's Original Thread:
https://forums.dust514.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=85873

To spare readers the pain of having to catch up with six pages of debate on this idea, I like to continue the topic here starting with alternative to his idea. This idea of mine may have been brought up by someone else in the past so please let me know if this idea is old already.

What I propose is a hybrid of the two models. Free-to-download-and-play and Subscription. This concept borrows a page from the PLEX system already established in Eve Online and in fact utilizes PLEX for Dust. It stands to bring benefits to those who are willing to pay cash, CCP games, as well as players who don't want to pay cash all at once. Here is how my idea goes.

Right now in Eve Online, subscription members are already given the option of paying ISK for PLEX which stands for 'Pilot License Extension' and thus allows an Eve player to extend their game time without having to cough up more cash to do it because another player had already paid cash to CCP for PLEX before selling it in the secondary market for ISK. As of right now, there are players in Eve who have been playing for years now without paying a single penny. Trial members can also activate their accounts with PLEX as well assuming they are able to come up with enough ISK to buy one in the allotted time of 14 days (21 days if they use the invite system). It is possible in Eve to come up with enough ISK in that time assuming you know where and how to grind efficiently as well as working the market in your favor.

This can be applied towards Dust, but first CCP needs to make sure that the market for Dust has expanded to include a full-fledged secondary market with a solid merging of the Eve secondary market to allow interchanging of PLEX. As an additional prerequisite, the markets for both games must be balanced to point where ISK in Dust is relatively close to the value of ISK in Eve Online. The reason for this additional prerequisite is so that the disparity of the ISK value between Eve and Dust don't cause too much problems should ever PLEX be allowed to be used in Dust.

Once the prerequisites are met and the system is in place, a free-to-play Dust merc would be able to pay ISK to a player for PLEX. Once the Dust merc has the PLEX, he/she would be able to redeem that PLEX so that he/she can get certain perks like the following:

1. Ability to passively train up a second character on the same account even while the main is passively training.

2. Ability to access the test server (Singularity) that Eve players use to try out experimental concepts of their own without putting their assets at risk while also checking out upcoming features.*

3. Ability to convert PLEX into AUR via the Noble Exchange (NeX) system that Eve Online players already have access to and use the AUR for their own needs and desires.

4. Ability to buy a Merc Pack with PLEX.

5. Ability to buy Fanfest Tickets and Livestreams in HD with PLEX which Eve players can already do.

6. Ability to give PLEX for causes which Eve players can already do.

NO! Respecs should NOT be included. CCP said there will be no more respecs anyways and Eve players don't get respecs anyways.

Optionally, the Dust merc can simply purchase PLEX directly from CCP with CASH and choose one of the two options:

1. Redeem the PLEX for the perks stated above.

2. Sell the PLEX to another player (whether an Eve Player or a Dust Merc) for ISK in the secondary market.

*Eve Online players often use the test server to practice massive fleet engagements in preparation for coming battles as well as for Tournaments.

Who stands to benefit?

CCP because their revenue source has grown due to demand for PLEX as buyers scramble to take advantage of the increased ISK value of PLEX.

Players willing to pay cash to be able to gain the perks mentioned above.

Players not willing to pay cash because the ISK in their wallet has more use other than to purchase dropsuits and equipment.

This will ensure two things. Increased revenue for CCP Games and flexible payments options for Dust players just like Eve Online players have without being forced into paying cash. However, please keep in mind that more money doesn't always translate a better game. As I have said in Ludvig's thread, more money doesn't create better games. Creative developers create better games.

What do you think, Ludvig?


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Ludvig Enraga KILL-EM-QUICK RISE of LEGION 226	Posted - 2013.06.09 17:33:00 - [1] - Quote Maken Tosch wrote: Ludvig's Original Thread: https://forums.dust514.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=85873 To spare readers the pain of having to catch up with six pages of debate on this idea, I like to continue the topic here starting with alternative to his idea. This idea of mine may have been brought up by someone else in the past so please let me know if this idea is old already. What I propose is a hybrid of the two models. Free-to-download-and-play and Subscription. This concept borrows a page from the PLEX system already established in Eve Online and in fact utilizes PLEX for Dust. It stands to bring benefits to those who are willing to pay cash, CCP games, as well as players who don't want to pay cash all at once. Here is how my idea goes. Right now in Eve Online, subscription members are already given the option of paying ISK for PLEX which stands for 'Pilot License Extension' and thus allows an Eve player to extend their game time without having to cough up more cash to do it because another player had already paid cash to CCP for PLEX before selling it in the secondary market for ISK. As of right now, there are players in Eve who have been playing for years now without paying a single penny. Trial members can also activate their accounts with PLEX as well assuming they are able to come up with enough ISK to buy one in the allotted time of 14 days (21 days if they use the invite system). It is possible in Eve to come up with enough ISK in that time assuming you know where and how to grind efficiently as well as working the market in your favor. This can be applied towards Dust, but first CCP needs to make sure that the market for Dust has expanded to include a full-fledged secondary market with a solid merging of the Eve secondary market to allow interchanging of PLEX. As an additional prerequisite, the markets for both games must be balanced to point where ISK in Dust is relatively close to the value of ISK in Eve Online. The reason for this additional prerequisite is so that the disparity of the ISK value between Eve and Dust don't cause too much problems should ever PLEX be allowed to be used in Dust. Once the prerequisites are met and the system is in place, a free-to-play Dust merc would be able to pay ISK to a player for PLEX. Once the Dust merc has the PLEX, he/she would be able to redeem that PLEX so that he/she can get certain perks like the following: 1. Ability to passively train up a second character on the same account even while the main is passively training. 2. Ability to access the test server (Singularity) that Eve players use to try out experimental concepts of their own without putting their assets at risk while also checking out upcoming features.* 3. Ability to convert PLEX into AUR via the Noble Exchange (NeX) system that Eve Online players already have access to and use the AUR for their own needs and desires. 4. Ability to buy a Merc Pack with PLEX. 5. Ability to buy Fanfest Tickets and Livestreams in HD with PLEX which Eve players can already do. 6. Ability to give PLEX for causes which Eve players can already do. NO! Respecs should NOT be included. CCP said there will be no more respecs anyways and Eve players don't get respecs anyways. Optionally, the Dust merc can simply purchase PLEX directly from CCP with CASH and choose one of the two options: 1. Redeem the PLEX for the perks stated above. 2. Sell the PLEX to another player (whether an Eve Player or a Dust Merc) for ISK in the secondary market. Eve Online players often use the test server to practice massive fleet engagements in preparation for coming battles as well as for Tournaments. Who stands to benefit? CCP because their revenue source has grown due to demand for PLEX as buyers scramble to take advantage of the increased ISK value of PLEX. Players willing to pay cash to be able to gain the perks mentioned above. Players not willing to pay cash because the ISK in their wallet has more use other than to purchase dropsuits and equipment. This will ensure two things. Increased revenue for CCP Games and flexible payments options for Dust players just like Eve Online players have without being forced into paying cash. However, please keep in mind that more money doesn't always translate a better game. As I have said in Ludvig's thread, more money doesn't create better games. Creative developers create better games.* What do you think, Ludvig? Yeah, I like it. I think that would be a good way to put a subscription hybrid in place even in the current ittiration of the game. My ultimate hope is that this would not be seen by CCP as a service to the player community in and of itself but a way for them to feel more comfortable that the game generates more revenue than the f2p system in place now. And with that knowledge they could commit more to development so that we are not stuck with 'SOON(tm)' and 'we are aware of the problem and are looking for ways to resolve it' around each corner but rather get timely and reliable patches to all the glaring holes that CCP left in the game that they decided to call a release version. So, yes I definitely like your proposal.