I just don't see any problem in having CS in a P2P game as long as it really only has cosmetic items. Getting anything that alters gameplay in a P2P game would just be redonkulous.

Well to me one of the cornerstones of the game is building skill decks. I am sure there will be 'viable' builds with a few well chosen skills but at the end of the day its about exping up and unlocking skills. I could be wrong but the impression I get is that it's going to take a bit and time and effort to get a good way into the 500 odd skills. Should things like exp potions find their way into the cash shop that would be pretty bad imho (blatant P2W). The fact they are already in pre-order packs (which obviously does not neccasarily mean they are in the CS) rings alarm bells (to me).

Originally posted by Gorilla

Well to me one of the cornerstones of the game is building skill decks. I am sure there will be 'viable' builds with a few well chosen skills but at the end of the day its about exping up and unlocking skills. I could be wrong but the impression I get is that it's going to take a bit and time and effort to get a good way into the 500 odd skills. Should things like exp potions find their way into the cash shop that would be pretty bad imho (blatant P2W). The fact they are already in pre-order packs (which obviously does not neccasarily mean they are in the CS) rings alarm bells (to me).

 

AoC had such potions aswell. Those were for veteran players with veteran points though.

I'm sure this has all been said... but this is my version.

To the original post...

More or less the pre-order for TSW is very much like the options they had for Rise of the Godslayer (aoc expansion).   They just offer various things hoping someone will go "oooo" and pay more.

At least one of the packs included an EXTRA 30 days of game time.   Which might confuse some people... it simply means that if you buy that pack you will get 60 days (aka 2 months) of gameplay with your overall purchase.

There should be a subscription fee just like any other MMO (unless you buy the grandmaster pack which comes with a lifetime sub).   The cash shop is supposed to be basicly social items... which in Anarchy Online for example you had your gear tab and a social tab.   So you could walk around with your super cool sunglasses etc and still be geared to fight.

So pretty much the cash shop should be appearance or vanity items.   Hard to say for sure until it goes live.

I do think 9.99 for an extra character slot... or name reservation (I don't know if both options are 9.99 for each extra slot... I only looked at one and assumed on the second) is pretty expensive.  

However, I will say this about character slots.    There likely isn't much reason to have more than 3 slots.. or at least I can't personally see one.    As to the name reservations.. I guess that depends on how many names you feel the need to reserve.   I would also point out that the name reservation system may give a reason to why you only get 3 slots.   When you do a pre-order and reserve a name that's it.   You can change the name for 24 hours in case you change your mind... you don't pick a server etc   To me this gives an indication that there will only be one server..... like EvE I guess.   <- I have no clue if that is true but having name reservation with no server reservation.. would not make much sense if you were going to have multiple servers.

Perhaps the better question would be... how long will this game be a P2P game...    I've been pretty positive about TSW.. but somehow after the pre-order went live.. i just have a feeling and its not a good one.

Oh and in case you did or do pre-order... somewhere in the tiny bits of text you will see.... something like this...

"Headstart will last for a maximum of 4 days.   Every pre-order is only guaranteed 1 day of headstart.   The sooner you order and apply your pre-order code the sooner you can enter headstart..."

^^  That might sound kind of familiar to some.

Well, the market is going towards a F2P hybrid model, that's for sure. That model affects little those who choose to pick the subscription model out of the hybrid choice (I'm thinking LOTRO). In LOTRO's case the subscription pretty much covers everything, including free expansions (assuming you're subscribed long enough and active). This can eventually happen to TSW, but it won't be in the first year of the game's launch and if they follow LOTRO's model, won't affect those who choose to remain under the subscription umbrella.

As for GW2 vs GW1 cash shop, I'm afraid you can't compare the two. These are two very different games with diferent maintenance requirements and other associated costs. One is a full fledged mmoprg, the other is a lobby coop game (think diablo 2 with more maps). My guess is that NCsoft will use the same F2P cash shop model they've been using on all their games (pretty much everything they developed is now F2P), with the exception of GW2, which they'll ask for a box price because the game is both new and high profile (in the west).

Originally posted by GeezerGamer

Originally posted by GoldenArrow

The normal pre-order 49,95$ gives you 30 days subscription, 3 character slots, 1 name reservation, 4 day early access, access to beta events from may to launch, combat pet, in-game "founder" t-shirt and exp ring for that helps in the beginning of the game.

Add 59,95$ to this a.k.a "Collectors Edition"

30 days more subscription, 4th character slot, 2nd name reservation, set of top grade beginner armor, 10 account bound exp pots, lifetime 10% discount on cosmetic CS.

Just 3 huh?

Suppose it could be worse. SWG was one.

The CE doesn't look like a bad deal really.

Still waiting until after release.

Not sure why, for this particular game, people are unhappy with 3 character slots.  There are 3 factions, no classes.....you can learn all the skills you want on each character with your experience or ability points, whichever.  I don't really see why anyone would NEED, or even really WANT, more character slots......

Originally posted by just1opinion

Originally posted by GeezerGamer

Originally posted by GoldenArrow

The normal pre-order 49,95$ gives you 30 days subscription, 3 character slots, 1 name reservation, 4 day early access, access to beta events from may to launch, combat pet, in-game "founder" t-shirt and exp ring for that helps in the beginning of the game.

Add 59,95$ to this a.k.a "Collectors Edition"

30 days more subscription, 4th character slot, 2nd name reservation, set of top grade beginner armor, 10 account bound exp pots, lifetime 10% discount on cosmetic CS.

Just 3 huh?

Suppose it could be worse. SWG was one.

The CE doesn't look like a bad deal really.

Still waiting until after release.

 

Not sure why, for this particular game, people are unhappy with 3 character slots.  There are 3 factions, no classes.....you can learn all the skills you want on each character with your experience or ability points, whichever.  I don't really see why anyone would NEED, or even really WANT, more character slots......

Well the first X number for ability points and skill points are faster to get. So basically if you wanted quickly to see all the weapon and magic types making alts would be the way. Although you can just delete one after the other :j

Originally posted by GoldenArrow

I just don't see any problem in having CS in a P2P game as long as it really only has cosmetic items. Getting anything that alters gameplay in a P2P game would just be redonkulous.

It's not entirely clear yet what Items Funcom will be stocking in TSW cash shop. We just don't know.

Originally posted by GoldenArrow

Originally posted by TROLL_HARD

Originally posted by Cthulhu23  So when they say that there will only be cosmetic items in the cash shop, there is no reason not to believe them now.  In fact, because it's a sub-based game, there is even MORE reason to believe that the cash shop will mainly be cosmetic items and some small quality-of-life things because if it's even remotely close to P2W, people will drop this game so fast, Funcom's head will spin.  Nobody is going to pay a sub price AND pump money into a cash shop to be competitive.  

Now, that doesn't mean that we won't see an AoC-like cash shop a couple years down the road, but that will only happen if the game tanks, and they change the payment model to a freemium model like AoC.  Otherwise, don't expect the TSW cash shop to be too intrusive.  

Emphasis added.

 

I definitely wouldn't say "nobody" will pay a sub and pump money into a cs to be competitive. People WILL do it, for sure.

 

Here is just one example:  This in-game pet will bestow a buff that increases your combat ability in the early parts of the game!

 

And the game isn't even out yet.

 

People have paid already and will continue to do so. A lot. Let's see if Funcom can keep these people happy.

 

There is already stuff that makes the game easy, like xp pots, "powerful pet," weapon set, etc. Is it just for  convenience? I guess so. Winning is very convenient, if you ask me. Winning assures the highest quality-of-life. 

 

But you know what? It's a game -- if  people want to spend money on that stuff and it's fun for them, then what can you say? There should be a niche where people can play the kind of game they want and if they have more money than time, then someone will fill that niche for these people. 

 

That's what is happening here. If Funcom can satisfy this group of players with the product they put out, they will be successful. That's the question now. We know what Funcom is about and who their target market is. Let's see if they can get it.

 

Other gamers who want a "fair playing field" or who want to "work for what they get," maybe there are games out there like that, but I don't see them being big sellers anymore. It's going to be up to the indy companies to  provide a game like that. If that's what you want to play, you might have to put up with bugs, small populations, not-s0-glossy graphics, and such, but that's how it is now.

And suddenly a pre-order bonus item evolves into a cash shop item.

Well played.

http://forums.thesecretworld.com/showthread.php?t=20339

Forget the basic package preorder perks everyone gets, since they don't cost any extra.  How about:

Initiate pack $15 - extra weapons -"these high end beginner weapons will catapult you into combat". They sound superior to what people only paying for the box will get.

Master pack $60 - talismans - "one high end talisman for every slot (seven total)!   This will allow all your characters to immediately be geared up and ready for the most challenging fights".  This sounds way P2W to me.

These aren't "cosmetic" items you are paying extra for.  They most certainly influence your characters' combat ability.

I wouldn't pay much mind to TSW. I have a feeling it is going to be a flop.

As a GW2 fan who has become very tired of this whole pay2win debate....

I feel sorry for TSW fans now too. Sorry there is a sub on top of this nonsense.

As a great pony once said. Its b2p2p2w

Originally posted by just1opinion

Originally posted by GeezerGamer

Originally posted by GoldenArrow

The normal pre-order 49,95$ gives you 30 days subscription, 3 character slots, 1 name reservation, 4 day early access, access to beta events from may to launch, combat pet, in-game "founder" t-shirt and exp ring for that helps in the beginning of the game.

Add 59,95$ to this a.k.a "Collectors Edition"

30 days more subscription, 4th character slot, 2nd name reservation, set of top grade beginner armor, 10 account bound exp pots, lifetime 10% discount on cosmetic CS.

Just 3 huh?

Suppose it could be worse. SWG was one.

The CE doesn't look like a bad deal really.

Still waiting until after release.

 

Not sure why, for this particular game, people are unhappy with 3 character slots.  There are 3 factions, no classes.....you can learn all the skills you want on each character with your experience or ability points, whichever.  I don't really see why anyone would NEED, or even really WANT, more character slots......

Eh I would never use more than tthree slots.  I just personally think it's kind of lame that character slots are already being monetized before the game even comes out.  I don't like getting nickel and dimed and since this is already happening pre-release, I don't really want to find out what the cash shop is like when the game comes out ;p