Trial Account, such a lonely place

Sorciere · 09-23-2009 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombie Man

If you want a full functioning trial for a month with no restrictions whatsoever, then it will cost you just $20 at the most. Much cheaper if you find a like a $10 copy of the game somewhere.

Well, people are talking about it less because out of a sense of entitlement, but more because they think that if you have a fuller experience (especially when it comes to teaming, which is an important part of the game), you will be more likely to actually purchase a permanent subscription. Functioning tells and group invites are not disabled because Paragon Studios thinks that for having them you should pay the full price or that they go bankrupt because everybody will fanatically get new trial accounts and level countless characters to 14 if only they could use tell with other people; they're disabled because they were being abused by the RMT crowd. If that weren't the case, they'd be put back in in a heartbeat to make for a more attractive sales pitch -- because that's what a trial account is.

GrinningSpade · 09-23-2009 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tormentoso

This has come a few times and I always get the impression a few of us like helping and teaming with Trials.

If I could offer an idea, besides being able to respond to tells, would be to add an icon in the search engine marking the Trial players. This way those of us forming teams can see they are trials and invite them without having to /tell, and show them around.

That is a good idea. Because having experienced how lonely you can feel, I am more eager to help those trial players at my home server.

GrinningSpade · 09-23-2009 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincent Morse

And I couldn't respond to tells. I had to go find the person and tell them my response on local. X_X

Exactly what I did. I managed to get into a sewer team that way. A very good sewer team I might add. Got me to level 10 with raptor

UnSub · 09-23-2009 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombie Man

The reality is that the 'full experience' is limited because it's a *trial* account and it's *free.* It's only meant to give one a taste or a sneak peak at the game. Not give one actual full-functioning game time for two weeks free. It's just enough to let one see if they'd like to upgrade to the full game or pass on it.

The trial account restrictions have always been too severe and I personally have only seen an increase in spam after gold sellers worked out ways around them (such as: using keygens or stolen credit card numbers to generate full accounts).

It might be a sneak peak of CoH/V, but it's a sneak peak while being gagged and segregated. It's like being given a free stay at a resort, but being handcuffed and with duct tape over your mouth so you can't bother the paying guests. I'm sure some people would be into it, but it's a big turn off for others.

Also: CoH/V is not WoW. If CoH/V had the same market popularity as WoW, it could do whatever the hell it wanted. I know several players who trialled CoH/V, couldn't even team up with each other and all quit before their trial period had finished.

Red Valkyrja · 09-23-2009 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tormentoso

This has come a few times and I always get the impression a few of us like helping and teaming with Trials.

If I could offer an idea, besides being able to respond to tells, would be to add an icon in the search engine marking the Trial players. This way those of us forming teams can see they are trials and invite them without having to /tell, and show them around.

I like this idea. Baring an icon in search, how about at least giving the trial accounts a different colour name in the search window.

As for there being more spam since the restriction. My experience has been the complete opposite. No more spam tells, spam broadcasts, and now, no more spam email.

If people were a little more observant and helpful, temp account restrictions can become less of an issue for the new player trying out CoX. I actually went in search of a new player last night, and found one in GC.

He had played the game back when CoV had come out and had started a temp account because he had wanted to try heroes instead.

I explained the merging of the two, and spent the next hour chatting with him, even ex'd down to lvl 3 to run a mish with him.

Good times were had. He's said he was going to restart his old account.

So much of the restrictions temps must endure, are not nearly as bad when someone takes the time to chaperon and impart some of their wisdom.

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kangaroo120y · 09-23-2009 09:23 PM

I still think the trial account restrictions need to be looked at though, a big difference between wow and CoH is that CoH is instanced, ei.. everyone goes into a door and as such, are on their own zone now. Not a whole lot of people street sweep in atlas park.

This design difference is also probably the reason people say the game is like 'empty'.

Chat channels are probably the best if not only way to get on teams. I've had people say they've left one server cause they could never find a team yet im there all the time and its constant TF's and Maria Jenkins arcs

Its almost as they say.. its not what you know but who .

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JJDrakken · 09-23-2009 10:08 PM

How soon ya'll forget about the Spam....

Sure, let em get all durn access you they want

Give it a week, ya'll will be back here like wet hornets equipped with Flame Throwers & Temper of a Badger who just got kicked in his nuts.

I'll be laughing my **** off

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Heart Attack · 09-24-2009 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tormentoso

If I could offer an idea, besides being able to respond to tells, would be to add an icon in the search engine marking the Trial players. This way those of us forming teams can see they are trials and invite them without having to /tell, and show them around.

Thats a damn good idea and it would also let you know not to /tell them as they can't reply.

Forbin_Project · 09-24-2009 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tormentoso

This has come a few times and I always get the impression a few of us like helping and teaming with Trials.

If I could offer an idea, besides being able to respond to tells, would be to add an icon in the search engine marking the Trial players. This way those of us forming teams can see they are trials and invite them without having to /tell, and show them around.

In addition to a search icon I'd like to see a title under the characters name that simply says "Trial Account" That way we can see who is on a trial and offer help or answer questions if they need it.

There are a lot of players that don't use the search feature to form teams so it might help them if they can spot trials in the crowd or passing by.

GrinningSpade · 09-24-2009 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forbin_Project

In addition to a search icon I'd like to see a title under the characters name that simply says "Trial Account" That way we can see who is on a trial and offer help or answer questions if they need it.

There are a lot of players that don't use the search feature to form teams so it might help them if they can spot trials in the crowd or passing by.

Also a good idea. That and the search icon would make life more easy for everybody to include our visitors in our midst.

MunkiLord · 09-24-2009 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Coming_Storm

Freedom is no longer the most populated as of i16. Virtue is.

Source?

Heart Attack · 09-24-2009 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MunkiLord

Source?

Ketchup please

RottenLuck · 09-24-2009 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forbin_Project

In addition to a search icon I'd like to see a title under the characters name that simply says "Trial Account" That way we can see who is on a trial and offer help or answer questions if they need it.

There are a lot of players that don't use the search feature to form teams so it might help them if they can spot trials in the crowd or passing by.

Okay someone needs to pass this idea to the Devs! It is a good idea and those who do aid the new comers can spot those that need help better.

There was once a thing called Adopt a Newbie not sure if whoever ran it still doing it or not.

Zombie Man · 09-24-2009 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MunkiLord

Source?

It's a meme going around because Virtue is hitting the Yellow status before Freedom.

But since the status buttons/colors are a result of *relative load* and not numbers, the new meme is fallacious. If they had recently upgraded the hardware of the Freedom server, then it can handle a larger load and will hit Yellow long after Virtue does.

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Neuronia · 09-24-2009 12:37 PM

It is pretty rough for trial players.

I bumped into one in Atlas Park while doing a delivery for a Manticore TF.
He was talking in Local all the time, then explained if he got to level 14 his dad would get him full account.

Couldn't really invite him to a team but did point him to Steel Canyon (I keep getting debt, it's so annoying!) and tried to give him some inf but the 50,000 limit kicked in heh.

I would reply to tells, but not tells themselves. Or at least a "Trial" tag for searches...just anythig to make communication easier. :/

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Steele_Magnolia · 09-24-2009 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forbin_Project

In addition to a search icon I'd like to see a title under the characters name that simply says "Trial Account" That way we can see who is on a trial and offer help or answer questions if they need it.

There are a lot of players that don't use the search feature to form teams so it might help them if they can spot trials in the crowd or passing by.

In addition to a search icon I'd like to see a title under the characters name that simply says "Trial Account" That way we can see who is on a trial and offer help or answer questions if they need it.

There are a lot of players that don't use the search feature to form teams so it might help them if they can spot trials in the crowd or passing by.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heart Attack

Thats a damn good idea and it would also let you know not to /tell them as they can't reply.

I agree. This is a fantastic idea. Those of us who lead teams and seek out new players to teach them the fun of the game and encourage them to stay with it would find this invaluable. It would also go far to alleviate the 'loneliness' of a trial.

The trial players I have found and teamed with recently have been so grateful. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to play without being able to ask questions and communicate. I think if my trial period had been like this I would have stayed with EQ.

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SlickRiptide · 09-25-2009 03:24 PM

I have given up trying Trial Subs for games that implement such trials as crippleware.

I'd rather let the newbies have a complete experience than force them to live with artificial and arbitrary limits on their gameplay.