Quote:
Aside from having designed the game engine (which is why the logo is still on the game) Cryptic hasn't had anything to do with the game since November 2007.|
Originally Posted by Dasher
It's yet another signthat Cryptic values new customers more highly than loyal ones, but there's a whole generation of business majors who think that's the way to go these days, and hey, given the great state of the nation's economy, how could they be wrong?
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That being said, how many points additional, as a VIP, did you pay for Darkness Control? Time Manipulation? The Dark Astoria content? First Ward content? Signature Story Arcs? The new Mid-level story arcs? DFB? DIB? All of the powerset proliferations (17 with just I21).
Oh right. You paid 0 points for all of that new content.
Yes, they've introduced a new business model that has some F2P elements and a microtransactions system. That system now has ala carte items instead of having to wait for them to release a Super Booster with a bunch of stuff you may not want but one or two things you absolutely want.
So, how much money have I spent outside of my subscription to enjoy the game and get goodies from the store? Not a cent. I've bought Super Packs. I've bought powersets. I've bought a German Shepard even though only one character will use him. I've bought emotes. And I've still not spent a cent above my subscription
Yeah, it's obvious that you are right and they only care about new customers. That's why they give me points every month and new rewards in the Paragon Rewards shrub, along with all that free content.
They have released more new powersets in the short time since Freedom launched than they have in any year since at least CoV launch. Even Going Rogue only released 4 new powersets.
If the game spit out 20 dollar bills people would complain that they weren't sequentially numbered. If they were sequentially numbered people would complain that they weren't random enough.
Black Pebble is my new hero.
as a longtime subscriber who's checking back in with a leech account my two main motivations to re-subscribe are character slots & forum access.
I haven't really looked at the store stuff but given the alt-tastic way most people who really get into the game tend to play server slots would seem to be the big incentive.
The Nethergoat Archive: all my memories, all my characters, all my thoughts on CoH...eventually.
My City Was Gone
Incarnates, which is enough to keep many subscribing.
I'd also have to (like someone else said) have to pay to retain use of the EAT's and VEAT's. And even with the character slots I would have access to...it isn't enough. I have nearly 400 toons at present, though only about 250 are on my main, subbed account.
My second account, which is full up on every server has been lasping for almost a year from VIP status. I'm not even full tier 7, so playing it is almost worthless. My IO's don't work, for starters...and I'm not paying 10 bucks or whatever it is just to get them working again. One day I'll reup that account when I have the spare dosh, but to me freemium is not worth it, not even with a full tier 9.
YMMV.
"Certain it is and sure: love burns, ale burns, fire burns, politics burns, but cold were life without them." - Romulan proverb
My Characters
this talk of "tiers" is confusing me- what's the deal, and how do I find out what "teir" I am? I used to be able to figure out my active sub time by checking my vet badges on my PlayNC account, but that page has vanished....
The Nethergoat Archive: all my memories, all my characters, all my thoughts on CoH...eventually.
My City Was Gone
To see what tier you are on the rewards tree, go into the character select screen and click the icon for the reward tokens, it will come up with the tier diagram. You need to be full tier 7 to have working IO's, and I think something like full tier 4 to use channels. Tier 9 is great and all, but it still doesn't keep everything active if you drop your sub. You will lose access to things that you will then have to pay to get back. Dark control was free to VIP's, drop to freemium even at tier 9 complete and you'll be paying 10 bucks to get that toon back.
For me it makes more sense to stay VIP.
"Certain it is and sure: love burns, ale burns, fire burns, politics burns, but cold were life without them." - Romulan proverb
My Characters
You can also see the same thing in game. Menu -> Paragon Rewards will show you basically the same thing as the old list of vet rewards.
Global @StarGeek
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thanks everybody!
It appears I'm 'tier 9', which I guess is a good thing.
=D
The Nethergoat Archive: all my memories, all my characters, all my thoughts on CoH...eventually.
My City Was Gone
Quote:
Yes, we know; it's an absolute slap in the face.|
Originally Posted by Dasher
I'm equally dismayed that, as a VIP subscriber like the OP, I have to "pay" additional points for additional content (Titan Weapons, Beast Mastery) or goodies (the collectible card game mechanic "Hero Packs") or, indeed, ANYTHING else.
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If something is not worth it to you, don't buy it. Or buy it with the free points you get every month. Or did you forget about those?
Paragon City Search And Rescue
The Mentor Project
I tried premium at first...I had 22 character slots. The $15 would buy more...permanently.
Even signature arcs are able to be bought.
So...aside from incarnates and SG creation/rent, I see no point.
Btw...when I was premium before, my incarnate powers worked for some reason.
I still think the 50% discount for VIPers is the solution.
It's yet another signthat Cryptic values new customers more highly than loyal ones, but there's a whole generation of business majors who think that's the way to go these days, and hey, given the great state of the nation's economy, how could they be wrong?
HELP SAVE THIS GAME!
If we can save this game, I promise I will never complain about Travel Power Suppression again! You have my word on it!
"The customer is always right."