From the CO forums.

http://forums.champions-online.com/showthread.php?t=23349

I know everyone has questions about microtransactions – what are they, how much are they, etc. I’m sorry we didn’t post something earlier; we’re really heads down in development right now. We’re going to release a WHOLE lot of information in the very near future about not just about microtransactions, but pricing in general. That said, here’s some basic principles about microtransactions to at least answer some of your concerns:

1) Microtransactions enable us to have a larger development team
2) Microtransactions are mostly aesthetic (costume pieces, pets, etc.)
3) If a microtransaction does have any sort of in game effect, then it can be also be earned in game.

I promise we'll read this thread, note any questions, and answer them more in depth soon. Heck, I'll try to answer the easy ones today/tomorrow/this week.

In my opinion, which is all that matters as far as I'm concerned, this is how microtransactions should be handled.  Allowing a player to skip some grind, allowing them to buy some custom clothes or a pet, is how it should be done.  And I think it's how it will be done in most games in the future.

Now, before the whining starts, nowhere did they include an option to buy a max level character with uber gear that will dominate everyone else. 

For me and many others, this crosses a line.

And it raises questions about the decision makers for this game. The people who really want MTs don't want subscriptions. Many who prefer subscriptions would rather chew their own foot off than play a game with MTs.

This model will have limited appeal.

This killed my interest in the game. It's been imparted that certain perks that can affect or increase a character's ability in play will be available for purchase as well as being available in game by putting in extra effort. The game has both PvE and PvP. On the side of PvE, certain perks may make a player more desired for a group, or allow the player to perform at a slightly higher level or allow for sharper min maxing in character creation and advancement. This will be possible IMMEDIATELY after paying a fee that is extra and apart from the monthly subscription.

On the side of PvP, certain perks that increase character performance will be highly desired without a doubt. So someone wanting the perks RIGHT NOW can simply throw some money at the company and have that edge over other players without it until they put the work in.

There are other reasons why Microtransactions are undesirable and set a bad tone for a game company in assuring the fairness of play to their potential customers. It's also completely assinine of the company rep to state that the microtransaction fees will directly assist with development staff salaries. Any money a game makes from ALL sources are lumped into a general profit account for the month, and no snake oil salesman is going to convince me otherwise.

I just don't understand the reasoning for microtransactions in this game other than the company wants to make more money.

Where is the benefit to the player?  Removing or simply not putting something as an ingame reward and selling it for cash doesn't make the game better.  It just lets people pay to not play the game which doesn't make much sense.

Originally posted by green13

3) If a microtransaction does have any sort of in game effect, then it can be also be earned in game.

That right there is key, and if micro-transactions are included in an MMOG this is how it should be done... Still, not terribly thrilled with it, but it's better than it could have been, and it's certainly not a deal-breaker IMO.

Considering we don't know what the monthly cost will be, it's too soon to start belly-aching about MTs. If it's $15/month and the ability to purchase all the best gear to make your character uber with working for it, then that would be a problem, I think. But until that announcement is made, I'll wait and see.

Originally posted by Puuk

Considering we don't know what the monthly cost will be, it's too soon to start belly-aching about MTs. If it's $15/month and the ability to purchase all the best gear to make your character uber with working for it, then that would be a problem, I think. But until that announcement is made, I'll wait and see.

Cryptic haven't said anything official on this score other than there will be a subscription, but timecards have been advertised for sale for quite some time now and it looks like the standard $15 a month.

http://www.amazon.com/Champions-Online-PC-Time-Card-Days/dp/B00286R3LI

Originally posted by Daffid011

I just don't understand the reasoning for microtransactions in this game other than the company wants to make more money.

Where is the benefit to the player?  Removing or simply not putting something as an ingame reward and selling it for cash doesn't make the game better.  It just lets people pay to not play the game which doesn't make much sense.

The only thing I can think of to make sense of their decision, is that they've looked at the game and the market, and determined that their appeal is limited and the game won't ever escape niche status.

From the viewpoint of the financial bottom line, subscription + MTs makes sense for that - because the players who desperately want to be in that niche will tolerate an otherwise unpopular financial model.

I would have thought the game would be better than that, but they must disagree.

 We've finally evolved ....

Now games are just like RL, more money = cooler stuff. I refuse to play a game that has a monthly AND MT's regardless of the significance it may or may not add to gameplay. F2P games are looking better and better every day ........

Originally posted by Bama1267

 We've finally evolved ....

Now games are just like RL, more money = cooler stuff. I refuse to play a game that has a monthly AND MT's regardless of the significance it may or may not add to gameplay. F2P games are looking better and better every day ........

"Evolve"? Customers dictate what they want to consume, the key is to not support this kind of commercial game, especially when it crosses a line to provide an item mall while also being a P2P game.

If you disagree with this kind of commercial model, then do not play it. It's not like this will be the only MMO to be released soon. And in a market with many MMOs, only few will survive "above average".

Originally posted by Darkholme

Originally posted by green13

3) If a microtransaction does have any sort of in game effect, then it can be also be earned in game.

That right there is key, and if micro-transactions are included in an MMOG this is how it should be done... Still, not terribly thrilled with it, but it's better than it could have been, and it's certainly not a deal-breaker IMO.

 

It is a Dealbreaker for the playerbase the microtransactions target.

Just because you're not part of that playerbase, doesnt mean that it is not a dealbreaker.

I was so excited for this game.  Not anymore.  Hey, at least it'll make deciding between this, FFXIV and TOR easier.  Heck, if I need a super hero MMO there is always hope in DCUO too. 

Oh well.

Originally posted by EricDanie

If you disagree with this kind of commercial model, then do not play it. It's not like this will be the only MMO to be released soon. And in a market with many MMOs, only few will survive "above average".

Just say NO to CO.

Mmmmm'kay.

 I was looking forward to this game myself but with this news, I will put it on the back burner... I have nothing against microtransactions in games as long as the basic game is free to play. If i am already paying a monthly fee for a game then I dont want to be nickled and dimed for conetent which should be included for the subscribtion price.

This issue was one of the reasons I left COH, once they started trying to milk me for more cash for thier xtras like custom parts ect I left.

I still might play the game , but I will wait till they offer a free trial now for sure.

Is it known if it's sub + MT or is it an either/or model, like DDO has implented?  If it is sub + MT I won't be playing :(

This is a deal-breaker for me.   Count me in the group that despises even the thought of  MT in a subscription game.

Originally posted by CodenameXen

I was so excited for this game.  Not anymore.  Hey, at least it'll make deciding between this, FFXIV and TOR easier.  Heck, if I need a super hero MMO there is always hope in DCUO too. 

Oh well.

DCUO will have MT, SOE has already confirmed it.

Originally posted by Skooma2

This is a deal-breaker for me.   Count me in the group that despises even the thought of  MT in a subscription game.

Hope you plan on finding a new hobby, in the future almost all games will contain some form of RMT/micro transactions.

Originally posted by veritas_X

DCUO will have MT, SOE has already confirmed it.

Do you have a link for that?

Last time I checked on this they said it was possible but too early to comment on their financial model and that they were watching industry developments.

Originally posted by error_404

Is it known if it's sub + MT or is it an either/or model, like DDO has implented?  If it is sub + MT I won't be playing :(

Their are subscription time cards already for sale on Amazon and they have confirmed in interviews that there will be a subscription.

They've separately confirmed the MTs.

Originally posted by Kyleran

Originally posted by Skooma2

This is a deal-breaker for me.   Count me in the group that despises even the thought of  MT in a subscription game.

 

Hope you plan on finding a new hobby, in the future almost all games will contain some form of RMT/micro transactions.

 

I actually am finding new hobbies, lol.  Between this bullshit in the MMORPG space and the cloud computing bullshit courtesy of OnLive and Gakai in the single-player game space (not to mention C&C 4 requiring internet and Starcraft 2 abolishing LAN play), I'm pretty much resigned to doing other things with my time and money.

I've rarely seen such greed as I'm seeing from game publishers and developers in the last year or so, it seems they really do expect me to pay progressively more while at the same time churning out retread after retread.

Sad panda.

Originally posted by green13

Originally posted by veritas_X

DCUO will have MT, SOE has already confirmed it.

Do you have a link for that?

Last time I checked on this they said it was possible but too early to comment on their financial model and that they were watching industry developments.

I don't have a link at the moment, only a memory of an interview on Massively a while back that mentioned it.

Honestly though, with John 'RMT' Smedley at the helm, the way they've shoe-horned item shops into most of their games (EQ2, VG, SWG's card game) and the success of their Free Realms model, do you really think they aren't going to have RMT in all of their titles going forward?

Originally posted by Daffid011

I just don't understand the reasoning for microtransactions in this game other than the company wants to make more money.

 

Where is the benefit to the player?  Removing or simply not putting something as an ingame reward and selling it for cash doesn't make the game better.  It just lets people pay to not play the game which doesn't make much sense.

There's nothing wrong with a game company wanting to make more money.  Not everything can be done on principal alone.  But, if they can make more money off of this game then the next time a brilliant idea with limited appeal comes by them they may take a chance on it and "float" it just to have it made. 

Don't forget that companies, no matter what industry, all need to make money to stick around and be successful.

Originally posted by veritas_X

Originally posted by Kyleran

Hope you plan on finding a new hobby, in the future almost all games will contain some form of RMT/micro transactions.

I actually am finding new hobbies, lol.  Between this bullshit in the MMORPG space and the cloud computing bullshit courtesy of OnLive and Gakai in the single-player game space (not to mention C&C 4 requiring internet and Starcraft 2 abolishing LAN play), I'm pretty much resigned to doing other things with my time and money.

Same here.

MMO'ing is fun, but I remember life before it so if the whole market does go south like this, I can see an upside.

There's still lots of single player offline games being produced and who doesn't have a couple of hobbies they always wanted to try but never had the time for?