Well, they named the new program after us, so it's gotta be riddled with Awesome.
@TURGENEV - Freedom Server / IRON / B.A.N.E / HORDE
Turg Fiction: Ghost in the Machine Acts III & IV coming 2012!
Turg Fiction: IX is now LIVE on Architect Entertainment!
My prediction is that the elistist snobs will migrate to the new VIP-only server, leaving the kinder side of the Freedom community here at home. I would rather share a server with a host of newbies that a group of elitists any day.
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I don't get the point of the VIP server, honestly. Someone explain it to me. "You guys are so awesome, and are obviously invested in our game, so here's a server where you'll start from scratch for all the resources you spent a better part of a decade building up."|
Originally Posted by Irish Fury
My prediction is that the elistist snobs will migrate to the new VIP-only server, leaving the kinder side of the Freedom community here at home. I would rather share a server with a host of newbies that a group of elitists any day.
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Unless I get hourly massages by Sister Solaris, I just don't see the allure. If I wanted to see other servers, I'd transfer monthly for free, right?
@TURGENEV - Freedom Server / IRON / B.A.N.E / HORDE
Turg Fiction: Ghost in the Machine Acts III & IV coming 2012!
Turg Fiction: IX is now LIVE on Architect Entertainment!
I think the VIP server is just a way to appease the folks who cry about sharing their game with free players. It gives them a place to go and talk about how much more awesome they are than every one else. I welcome the new folks. New free players=potential subsciption players=more money for Paragon Studios to make more awesomesauce.
I can see the transfer of a toon or so but I can't imagine anyone abandoning their home servers entirely just to be part of the 15 bucks a month club. We'll be making a presence there I'm sure. The VIP server will give us a whole new player base to annoy.
I wish the forum limitations were a little more relaxed for the returning players though. Maybe they could allow returning players limited posting privileges in an "announce that you're back" section of the forums.
I think having a section of the forums for free players to access and contribute to is a great idea. The strongest part of this game is the community, and the free folks need to experience that in order to be enticed to hand over thier money.
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That's a better idea. Though if there were a noob only section of the forums, I would never get any work done |
Originally Posted by Irish Fury
I think having a section of the forums for free players to access and contribute to is a great idea. The strongest part of this game is the community, and the free folks need to experience that in order to be enticed to hand over thier money.
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Assuming you keep dropping the subscription fee each month, these are the differences I see from the matrix table:
1. You stop earning Vet Rewards quarterly, but you can buy them with with the Monthly Reward Points. Means no more subscription time badges unless you spend for them (since they specifically mention you keep those badges). But you do get to skip ones you don't want.
2. You don't have to buy the Going Rogue Expansion, VIP members will get this with the subscription. Honestly, greedy me is impressed that they've been collecting cash for box purchases over the last year since they saw this coming. Nice.
3. You have to spend those 400 Paragon Points to get access to these "new improved" content they're producing. I don't like this because they haven't talked about price conversion. It can't be 1 PP = $1 since they're giving us 400 PP per month. A more likely conversion would be $15 = 400 PP or 1PP = ~26 cents. But that doesn't guarantee they're going to use the same pricing model for the store content (booster packs $9.99 = 267 PP). And we have no baseline for what a Power Set, Zone, or in-game item would be in real money. It's entirely possible they could charge 1200 PP or 2000 PP (like Cryptic does) for Zones and Power Sets, the equivalent of 3 months of subscription Paragon Points.
Honestly? I plan to use the VIP server as an "old toons home."
Explorer: 93%. Achiever: 40%. Socializer: 40%. Killer 33%.
Current Heroes and Villains (altitis holding at 50 currents)
To all the devs, past, present, (and may there be) future: /salute
To NCSoft: Understand that you reap what you plant, and you cannot gain what you throw away.
Quote:
Yeah, I'm excited about the concept, but a big part of me thinks this is what is going to happen. Which saddens me greatly.|
Originally Posted by Mister_Laser
I don't like this because they haven't talked about price conversion. It can't be 1 PP = $1 since they're giving us 400 PP per month. A more likely conversion would be $15 = 400 PP or 1PP = ~26 cents. But that doesn't guarantee they're going to use the same pricing model for the store content (booster packs $9.99 = 267 PP). And we have no baseline for what a Power Set, Zone, or in-game item would be in real money. It's entirely possible they could charge 1200 PP or 2000 PP (like Cryptic does) for Zones and Power Sets, the equivalent of 3 months of subscription Paragon Points.
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I hope this change brings back some of the great players we have lost. But I worry that it will probably spell the end of the game.
All that said, I am excited about getting to buy the things that interest me. I started this game 3 years ago, so I'm really far down the vet reward chain. So it's exciting to think I can save my little points and get the darn Reveal Map Power sometime before the game servers shut down
46 Toons on Freedom, 1988+ Levels, 17 Level 50's
The Freedom Horde on Facebook
Globals: @Luna de Nocturne & @Luna Moone
Luna on Facebook (Feel Free to Add!)
*edit*
Dumb post. And, I hope you get reveal soonest, Luna!
Explorer: 93%. Achiever: 40%. Socializer: 40%. Killer 33%.
Current Heroes and Villains (altitis holding at 50 currents)
To all the devs, past, present, (and may there be) future: /salute
To NCSoft: Understand that you reap what you plant, and you cannot gain what you throw away.
Quote:
I don't think that will happen. I firmly believe that going f2p will not make the game get worse.| But I worry that it will probably spell the end of the game. |
My proof is:
Dungeons and Dragons Online
Champions Online
Anything made by Perfect World
These games have proven that f2p can flip the game and make it 40x more successful then it was as a subscription. Considering that CoH is doing the exact same format as Champions Online, and CO had 10k people playing it over steam on the weekend. There is no place to go but up.
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If only that power worked in the Lambda trial...
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Originally Posted by Luna de Nocturne
So it's exciting to think I can save my little points and get the darn Reveal Map
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Quote:
Edit: This whole plan looks very familiar to the one LotRO has. They just switched the columns around for Free and VIP. Not as ground breaking as they're selling it.|
Originally Posted by legendaryjman2
My proof is:
Dungeons and Dragons Online Champions Online |
Those both have lifetime subs for their top tier memberships. If CoH goes that way, then they need to adopt that model. I've already dropped 5 years worth of subs on these guys.
Assume $13.95 per quarter for the first 3 years = $669.60
Two years on 6 month subs = $310.80
Total for around 5 years = $980.40
If they want to start nickel and diming me for "free to choose" content, they need to offer something in the $150-$200 price point for a lifetime sub with the 400 Paragon Points monthly. At least that's what the going rate for a lifetime sub is (unless you have the Star Trek IPO to cover cost on).
That price is (unfortunately) what they're offering for the 12 month sub. Price points need to be re-evaluated if they want to jump into this market. Honestly, I'd spend more on their new form of currency for stuff if I don't have to worry about my recurring sub fee. More than I would if I had that and the content price to worry about. I know I do that with my STO account.
From the VIP list of benefits: priority queuing
WTH is this? Being on Freedom for my entire sub, I hate when que comes up since we've been hit pretty hard on high volume events. Even that "server crash" party turned into a slideshow, which wasn't playable.
IF however, that means we get to boot some n00b off the server so we can get on, I'm all for it! Lift the red crushed velvet rope for the VIP Lounge!
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Heh, I have a feeling that's what that means.... Like VIP's get pushed to the front of the line if the server is full enough to warrant a queue. I had been wondering why on earth they were developing the queue system in the first place since the only remote time we need it is if you're trying to get on the test server for the first day of open beta, or if it's double xp weekend. |
Originally Posted by Mister_Laser
From the VIP list of benefits: priority queuing
WTH is this? Being on Freedom for my entire sub, I hate when que comes up since we've been hit pretty hard on high volume events. Even that "server crash" party turned into a slideshow, which wasn't playable. IF however, that means we get to boot some n00b off the server so we can get on, I'm all for it! Lift the red crushed velvet rope for the VIP Lounge! |
After reading all 80+ dev posts that popped up in my Google Reader acct yesterday, I'm feeling better about the change. I'm not too worried about the monthly fee versus the charges for cool content I specifically want (although I will be interested in the pricing structure of the extra stuff). I view CoH as entertainment. *I* get my $1ish worth of entertainment a day out of the game (2 accounts). And the same way I view digital downloads, and other games I've played in the past with virtual content..... I'll spend money on occasion if there is something I want. I view it as entertainment. I waste money on going to the movies, at least this is something I can enjoy more than once (versus the cost of buying a movie ticket).
I like the fact the dev's appear to really be listening to what their dedicated customers are saying about this, and I think they will continue to evolve the system to fix any exploits or annoyances that pop up (from griefers on free accts).
Basically they are taking the 2 week/level 14 max free trial and turning it into the basic free to play tier. If people like the game enough, they can shell out some cash, and become a premium or VIP member.
Vets who have money problems, or busy lives can come and go as they want. Which makes me happy cause it's been very sad to see so many of my friends in game drift away.
I think my initial reaction was to the stigma attached in the past with Free to Play games. In the past, it's been viewed as the death knoll of the game. And I enjoy this game, and the community and friends I have made from it. I am not ready to give that up yet. So it did worry me at first that they were marking the beginning of the end of the game.
But after reading the dev posts last night, and what some of the people I know have to say about the situation, I feel much more optimistic. The world (especially the business world) continues to revolve around us. If this game wants to survive and grow, it needs to change to compete.
My one "semi" complaint is the introduction of the Reward Tokens and Paragon Points. It seems too overly complicated to introduce two separate systems (Reward Tokens for vet reward type powers, and Paragon Points for in game loot, costumes, what would have been a booster pack type of stuff). Just introduce one system, and let me as a player choose how I want to spend the points or tokens I earn each month. If I want something bad enough, I'm going to drop the money on it if I don't have enough points saved up.
Okay, that's my thoughts of the matter on this. Sorry if they seem a bit jumbled up, I'm fighting a really bad headache and I've already caught a ton of words come out wrong as I've been typing.
46 Toons on Freedom, 1988+ Levels, 17 Level 50's
The Freedom Horde on Facebook
Globals: @Luna de Nocturne & @Luna Moone
Luna on Facebook (Feel Free to Add!)
Quote:
I lold. Oh heck yes, good sir.
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Originally Posted by Turgenev
Well, they named the new program after us, so it's gotta be riddled with Awesome.
|
Quote:
Aye; my main concern has to do with the economy of those two systems, and the affect of RMT upon each.|
Originally Posted by Luna de Nocturne
Heh, I have a feeling that's what that means.... Like VIP's get pushed to the front of the line if the server is full enough to warrant a queue. I had been wondering why on earth they were developing the queue system in the first place since the only remote time we need it is if you're trying to get on the test server for the first day of open beta, or if it's double xp weekend.
After reading all 80+ dev posts that popped up in my Google Reader acct yesterday, I'm feeling better about the change. I'm not too worried about the monthly fee versus the charges for cool content I specifically want (although I will be interested in the pricing structure of the extra stuff). I view CoH as entertainment. *I* get my $1ish worth of entertainment a day out of the game (2 accounts). And the same way I view digital downloads, and other games I've played in the past with virtual content..... I'll spend money on occasion if there is something I want. I view it as entertainment. I waste money on going to the movies, at least this is something I can enjoy more than once (versus the cost of buying a movie ticket). I like the fact the dev's appear to really be listening to what their dedicated customers are saying about this, and I think they will continue to evolve the system to fix any exploits or annoyances that pop up (from griefers on free accts). Basically they are taking the 2 week/level 14 max free trial and turning it into the basic free to play tier. If people like the game enough, they can shell out some cash, and become a premium or VIP member. Vets who have money problems, or busy lives can come and go as they want. Which makes me happy cause it's been very sad to see so many of my friends in game drift away. I think my initial reaction was to the stigma attached in the past with Free to Play games. In the past, it's been viewed as the death knoll of the game. And I enjoy this game, and the community and friends I have made from it. I am not ready to give that up yet. So it did worry me at first that they were marking the beginning of the end of the game. But after reading the dev posts last night, and what some of the people I know have to say about the situation, I feel much more optimistic. The world (especially the business world) continues to revolve around us. If this game wants to survive and grow, it needs to change to compete. My one "semi" complaint is the introduction of the Reward Tokens and Paragon Points. It seems too overly complicated to introduce two separate systems (Reward Tokens for vet reward type powers, and Paragon Points for in game loot, costumes, what would have been a booster pack type of stuff). Just introduce one system, and let me as a player choose how I want to spend the points or tokens I earn each month. If I want something bad enough, I'm going to drop the money on it if I don't have enough points saved up. Okay, that's my thoughts of the matter on this. Sorry if they seem a bit jumbled up, I'm fighting a really bad headache and I've already caught a ton of words come out wrong as I've been typing. |
Other than that, bring the freeks along... although, I think it'll mean I'll have to commit to being at the site of the Monday runs an hour early, to talk with our future freek and preemer people. Veeps will still be able to sign up on the forums and such, but the freeks and preemers will have (understandable) problems with communication.
Explorer: 93%. Achiever: 40%. Socializer: 40%. Killer 33%.
Current Heroes and Villains (altitis holding at 50 currents)
To all the devs, past, present, (and may there be) future: /salute
To NCSoft: Understand that you reap what you plant, and you cannot gain what you throw away.
Quote:
I think I saw reference that they might consider a limited forum access to the Premier people to let them interact more with us VIPs. One thing we can do is to start promoting the Facebook group more as a way for Premier people to interact with us for events that we schedule. I think the launch will be fall at the earliest, so I think we have a while to start brainstorming ways to include our returning friends =)
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Originally Posted by Myrdinn
Aye; my main concern has to do with the economy of those two systems, and the affect of RMT upon each.
Other than that, bring the freeks along... although, I think it'll mean I'll have to commit to being at the site of the Monday runs an hour early, to talk with our future freek and preemer people. Veeps will still be able to sign up on the forums and such, but the freeks and preemers will have (understandable) problems with communication. |
46 Toons on Freedom, 1988+ Levels, 17 Level 50's
The Freedom Horde on Facebook
Globals: @Luna de Nocturne & @Luna Moone
Luna on Facebook (Feel Free to Add!)
Which isn't today! Seriously, could someone with insight on free to play games explain what this could mean to our fair server? CoH is the only MMO I play so I have no idea.