titsup
Strong in the Force
Posts: 819 
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Post by titsup on Dec 10, 2015 6:36:25 GMT
Is a matter of when, not if. Hell, Richard said it himself here and hereand But how do they handle this when they ultimately do? Housing is already a steep price. The game is based on a player driven economy, or supposed to be, so selling purely cosmetic items will have a serious impact on one of the core selling points of the game. Selling weapons with some power attached to them will drive people out because it will move the game into blatantly pay to win, so much so that the arguments over whether housing is pay to win will become moot. Also, going free to play would certainly cut into sales and future kickstarters for episodes 2-5, which they've stated before they would be doing to fund those additional episodes. Is it possible that they've designed the game in such a way that it would be nearly impossible to go free to play, despite the fact that this game has developed a massive add-on store? Is it possible they could have been that short sighted? |
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Post by dewderonomy on Dec 10, 2015 7:07:33 GMT
Is it possible they could have been that short sighted?  They clearly fucked this up. |
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Post by kb on Dec 10, 2015 7:47:44 GMT
It's been pretty clear to me from the start that, regardless of what they sell the game for up front (or if they give it away for free), they plan on incentivizing microtransactions and funneling people toward a F2P model (even if they have portrayed it as "B2P"). Posted awhile back HERE: It's all about selling customers what your game's design has convinced them they need. Make your game grindy enough, make the things one can achieve in it painful enough to achieve via non-monetary pathways, and you will have however many are playing it willingly forking over real $$$'s to cut in line and leapfrog over the pain. Making people pay up front or not is just a formality. Port intends to incentivize the "cheating" model and make the legit method of progressing painful enough to entice people to P2W (or, as they like to call it, "pay to cut in line"/"pay for a shortcut"). What that means for Episodes 2-5 and the future, who knows... but, I see very little reason that they won't go F2P if the game's finances don't pan out the way they need them to. All the framework is already being put in place to funnel players toward the microtransactions. And, despite the best efforts by the water-carriers to argue that the pledge rewards like storage of a house, or bank slots, or expert crafting stations don't matter, you can bet your bottom dollar they will matter enough to those peons who play and have to deal with those limitations amidst all the Lords and Ladies with bottomless pockets. Not sure if I'm making sense or even addressing what Argyle is asking in OP. It's late and I'm tired. Long day. But... suffice it to say, I think Port has been jockeying for F2P/"nickel and diming" microtransactions from the start. There were even early indicators (by quotes that Darkstarr made) that they might sell gold directly. All part of the same pattern: FOR$AKEN VIRTUE$$$$$$$$$$ |
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dodgy
Strong in the Force
Posts: 1,171
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Post by dodgy on Dec 10, 2015 8:46:57 GMT
ITS A FUCKING MOBILE GAME
ITS THAT SIMPLE
THEY DONT CARE ABOUT FUN OR A GOOD GAME THEY JUST WANT PEOPLE BUYING SHIT FOR ABSURD PRICES WHILE KEEPING THEIR COSTS A MINIMUM.
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Caliya
Strong in the Force
People fight to gain things they can't take with them in the end
Posts: 2,121 
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Post by Caliya on Dec 10, 2015 16:09:51 GMT
ITS A FUCKING MOBILE GAME ITS THAT SIMPLE THEY DONT CARE ABOUT FUN OR A GOOD GAME THEY JUST WANT PEOPLE BUYING SHIT FOR ABSURD PRICES WHILE KEEPING THEIR COSTS A MINIMUM. I AGREE DODGY, BUT WHY ARE WE YELLING? heh |
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Post by Mordecai on Dec 10, 2015 17:32:49 GMT
AAAAHHH
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dodgy
Strong in the Force
Posts: 1,171
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Post by dodgy on Dec 10, 2015 18:03:57 GMT
ITS A FUCKING MOBILE GAME ITS THAT SIMPLE THEY DONT CARE ABOUT FUN OR A GOOD GAME THEY JUST WANT PEOPLE BUYING SHIT FOR ABSURD PRICES WHILE KEEPING THEIR COSTS A MINIMUM. I AGREE DODGY, BUT WHY ARE WE YELLING? heh Too much glue wine lol |
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Post by fossil on Dec 10, 2015 18:51:48 GMT
It will be free to play but how soon? Before launch? Lols. I mean you can't charge people AAA title money for this game... I don't want to hear about potential anymore.
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Post by Membrane_on_Vacation on Dec 11, 2015 14:47:05 GMT
It will be free to play but how soon? Before launch? Lols. I mean you can't charge people AAA title money for this game... I don't want to hear about potential anymore. No problems! We're way past potential! We are seeing REGULAR MONTHLY CONTENT RELEASE UPDATES!! And wait for it... Despite still being pre-alpha!!! WIN!!! |
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Post by Membrane_on_Vacation on Dec 15, 2015 3:41:26 GMT
If SotA goes F2P... Whale privileged will explode. The demands for those of them who paid money when now those nasty F2P players are in the game they created... Will be as Insane as I am.
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titsup
Strong in the Force
Posts: 819
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Post by titsup on Dec 15, 2015 3:55:13 GMT
If SotA goes F2P... Whale privileged will explode. The demands for those of them who paid money when now those nasty F2P players are in the game they created... Will be as Insane as I am. I've actually seen posts on this with some saying that the more players the better. I think that story may change were it enacted though. As always, I think Port will struggle with this if it becomes so for exactly the reasons you stated. |
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Post by Membrane_on_Vacation on Dec 15, 2015 4:22:39 GMT
The more players the better, if... If the whales can mercisly strangle them through economy, pvp, housing. If the whales can further leverage their existing positions based on the fact they paid and they didnt. If a great many things.
Typically, and I think I have said F2P would be good for more players in the past also? Can't remember now, but after researching how and when some games have done this I think our whale problem would be too big.
If it was F2P from the beginning with micro transactions it could have worked better but then again, probably wouldn't have been built as no kickstarter would have existed.
Having a kickstarter and then dumping in F2P players could create a massive rift in the community between haves and have-nots... It is odd and interesting both that Portalarium have actually managed to create that rift even without going F2P and just by creating such a huge divide in pledge pricing and whale fostering.
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Caliya
Strong in the Force
People fight to gain things they can't take with them in the end
Posts: 2,121
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Post by Caliya on Dec 15, 2015 11:02:03 GMT
I don't think they have a choice. No one is going to buy this train wreck, they have to give it away and hope people will become hooked and then invest in the add-on store. With the Steam reviews remaining "Mixed," they aren't going to be selling at P2P
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