Like many on the official forum, I am unhappy at the business decision that Bioware has made that gives any currently subscribing player with a level 50 char a free 30 days of game time.  I feel this is a kick to the teeth to players who may have purchased the CE on day one and have been loyal customers for the entire time the game has been live but did not play enough to get to level 50 on one char.  My opinion is this promotion is the exact same as either of the following:

Situation 1: Two neighbors buy the same Ford Focus, they both pay the exact same amount of money.  Neighbor A drives 100k miles in 4 years while Neighbor B drives 50k miles.  Ford announces that Neighbor A gets a new set of tires and a new paintjob for their car but Neighbor B does not qualify because they drove their car less. 

Situation 2: Two neighbors buy a 2008 Ford Focus, Neighbor A buys a used one in 2010 for $10,000 less than Neighbor B who bought his new in 2008 .  Neighbor A drives 100k miles in 2 years while Neighbor B drives 50k miles in 4 years.  Ford announces that Neighbor A gets a new set of tires and a new paintjob for their car but Neighbor B does not qualify because they drove their car less.  Is that a good business decision? 

All the arguments here in favor of this decision assume something was earned by those that got to level 50.  There was no competition to get to level 50, there was no warning of a penalty for not getting to level 50.  It is just a poor decision based on losing customers and it is the exact same kind of thinking that SOE had when they implemented the NGE.  They are chasing a hypothetical player base in the hopes that 1.2 will make them stay while ignoring the loyal players who have paid since day one.  I got news for you, any level 50 player who was seriously thinking of leaving will work through the new 1.2 content in their free month and be gone regardless of this terrible promotion.

I am not saying the level 50s don’t deserve some nice gift from Bioware.  I am saying to single one group out based NOT on amount of money paid or support to the company but instead to base it on play style is not a good business decision, it’s the same thing as rewarding players on one server but not another because the one server had a low population.  It’s the same thing as rewarding those players who chose to play on the republic side but not the sith.  I am not asking people to act like spoiled children and leave ToR forever.  I am asking that if you feel this current promotion from Bioware is unfair then help us send a message by unsubscribing for a week.   

I think we all agree this promotion was handled poorly by Bioware.  If Bioware had said, "With the release of 1.2 we plan to reward all customers who have a level 50 toon at the end of May with 30 days of gametime."  None of us would be here right now. 

While I agree they shouldnt discriminate based on lvl. Being lvl 50 now hardly takes rushing. Especially if you played since release its an achievement NOT to have hit 50 with atleast 1 character by now.

I commend your initiative.

+1

Originally posted by Talonsin

Apparently level 50's are leaving the game so Bioware decided to give them a free month of gametime.  If you paid the same price and have been a founding member but did not get a char to 50, you are not worthy of the gift.  The only way we can get game companies to see the error of this, is if we drop our subs.

I say, lets all drop our subs for the month of May and send Bioware a clear message that just because some of us dont rush though the content or have 20 hours a week to play, we should be worth just as much since we pay just as much as the other subscribers.  You can resub if you still like the game but dropping the sub for a week or two in May would really help to send the message that all PAYING customers should be treated equally.

If you are on other game forums, please pass this message on.

Thanks

sounds a bit petty and childish to me.

i mean, they're never really going to be able to fix swtor into the mmo a lot of people wanted. they picked the wrong engine for that. but it doesn't mean they're not actually TRYING to make SOMETHING out what they've got.

personally, i think that kind of call to arms belongs to those games where the devs clearly and totally don't care and i don't think that's the case here. i think they just lacked any real experience or understanding of the genre they were leaping into the deep end with.

hopefully they'll figure that out for their next project.

edit: i agree they could have found other ways to address their issue of what to do at 50, but given what they've got to work with, what can they do but pin their hopes on 1.2? i'm not going with it, but there might just be another. does 1.2 have a sister?

(edit) This was in regards to Paithans post above

Seriously, just because I play differently than you and did not get a char to 50 does not mean I am less of a customer.  I have a wife, kids, a job and am working on my masters.  I would love to have 20 hours a week to play but I dont.  I also like to read the mission text and actually listen to the voiceovers in the game.  I admire the artwork and take screenshots and send it to friends.  Just because I didnt hit 50 does not mean I am less of a player.

Doesn't matter to me. Im glad they reward there faithful customers. Always more goodies at a later time. 

Oh a note on the engine, they used portions of several engines. Unfortunately when you mix and match it can be difficult to master a games development early on. 

Originally posted by headphones

sounds a bit petty and childish to me.

 

Unfortunately speaking with your wallet is the only launguage EA/Bioware understands. 

They really should have just given everyone who had a sub some free time.  But level 50's are the ones who are leaving in droves because there isn't much to do once reaching there so they obviously want to keep them.  What I found funny was the wording:

"As a thanks for being one of our most valued players, every active account with a Level 50 character as of April 12th, 2012 at 12:00PM CDT / 5:00PM GMT, will receive thirty (30) days of game time** in appreciation for your support and loyalty."

Sorry Talonsin.  You are not one of their most valued players :(

Originally posted by Talonsin

Seriously, just because I play differently than you and did not get a char to 50 does not mean I am less of a customer.  I have a wife, kids, a job and am working on my masters.  I would love to have 20 hours a week to play but I dont.  I also like to read the mission text and actually listen to the voiceovers in the game.  I admire the artwork and take screenshots and send it to friends.  Just because I didnt hit 50 does not mean I am less of a player.

i have a wife, kids, and a job. i work 50 hours a week, which is unfair because my wife works 53 so i'm unable to complain about working too many hours.

we, too, enjoyed the cutscenes and the story.

we've not enjoyed the pvp, though, which is kind of 90% of our game in other mmos, so we're kind of bored with swtor and i admit to unsubbing this month anyway without your call to build your ego.

i never called you less of a player.

no one did. did they?

What? Why? Tera? Diablo 3?

Originally posted by headphones

sounds a bit petty and childish to me.

i mean, they're never really going to be able to fix swtor into the mmo a lot of people wanted. they picked the wrong engine for that. but it doesn't mean they're not actually TRYING to make SOMETHING out what they've got.

personally, i think that kind of call to arms belongs to those games where the devs clearly and totally don't care and i don't think that's the case here. i think they just lacked any real experience or understanding of the genre they were leaping into the deep end with.

hopefully they'll figure that out for their next project.

edit: i agree they could have found other ways to address their issue of what to do at 50, but given what they've got to work with, what can they do but pin their hopes on 1.2? i'm not going with it, but there might just be another. does 1.2 have a sister?

 

Let me ask you, if they gave the sith side a free month, would that be ok?  Would it be childish of the republic players to voice an opinion and call for justice?  Thats exactly what happened here. 

I would actually think that those that quit before they were lv50 are the ones that are the most valuable to them since SWTOR's strength is the journey from lv1 to 50.  

Originally posted by Talonsin

Seriously, just because I play differently than you and did not get a char to 50 does not mean I am less of a customer.  I have a wife, kids, a job and am working on my masters.  I would love to have 20 hours a week to play but I dont.  I also like to read the mission text and actually listen to the voiceovers in the game.  I admire the artwork and take screenshots and send it to friends.  Just because I didnt hit 50 does not mean I am less of a player.

Well said. I think headphones doesn't quite understand why players are angry (as well they should). A better course of action by BW would have been to give all active players that have been subed since release a free 30 days. Heck, I didn't purchase the game and even I want to unsub! 

Originally posted by Techleo

Doesn't matter to me. Im glad they reward there faithful customers. Always more goodies at a later time. 

Oh a note on the engine, they used portions of several engines. Unfortunately when you mix and match it can be difficult to master a games development early on. 

And this guy is any less faithful?

Nice to see how forgiving you are to professional games developers, hacking a bunch of somebody else's code together and making a bubbling crock of $hit at your expense.

Originally posted by TwoThreeFour

I would actually think that those that quit before they were lv50 are the ones that are the most valuable to them since SWTOR's strength is the journey from lv1 to 50.  

Well there is going to be a free week from April 13-19 for former players, so they can come back and check out 1.2.  The people who have been subbed this whole time and not reached level 50 are not the ones leaving the game.  They still have content to experience.  It's the level 50s that leave because there is fuckall to do except play an alt.

Originally posted by Worstluck

Originally posted by headphones

sounds a bit petty and childish to me.

 

 

Unfortunately speaking with your wallet is the only launguage EA/Bioware understands. 

 

They really should have just given everyone who had a sub some free time.  But level 50's are the ones who are leaving in droves because there isn't much to do once reaching there so they obviously want to keep them.  What I found funny was the wording:

 

"As a thanks for being one of our most valued players, every active account with a Level 50 character as of April 12th, 2012 at 12:00PM CDT / 5:00PM GMT, will receive thirty (30) days of game time** in appreciation for your support and loyalty."

 

Sorry Talonsin.  You are not one of their most valued players :(

that's kind of ridiculous, too.

EVERY mmo when doing something like this ALWAYS says "most valued players". it's about as meaningful as a meme. it's called marketing. look it up. there isn't a country in existence which doesn't do that. my own retail company i work for continually sends out emails to its "most valued customers" but when those "most valued customers" come into my store, i don't value them. i want to shoot them in the face. they're rude, arrogant, demanding, and believe star trek-style transporter technology is at my fingertips but i'm just refusing to get what they want from the suppliers in the next two minutes out of spite. i hate them. with a passion.

there's not a single one of them i consider a valued customer.

but i still do my best to get what i can and when i can. because that's my job. and i also stretch my teeth into a semi-acceptable smile. which is often very difficult. but i do it. because that, too, is my job. to accept all the insults and snippy comments without biting back.

needless to say, i have much job satisfaction.

so, when someone is making an offer to a select group of customers, it's because they're trying to lure them back, or get them to stick around longer and squeeze more money from them. that's called business. look that up, too. it's in the dictionary. the word you were hoping could be applied to an mmo is called charity, and i've yet to see an mmo running under that fictitious idea.

at least, not for long.

by all means, vote with your wallet. it's your wallet. but how about growing up a little and looking at things with a little more of a critical eye. you might learn a few things about life, the universe and everything. clue: it's 42.

finally, anyone who endured the game long enough to get to 50 DOES deserve a free month. that showed a lot of support and loyalty to go that far in an mmo that really was far, far away from the concept of a good mmo.

give them credit for actually trying.

I was tired of the game within two months but I was able to get to 50 without even trying.

But thinking because one guy gets something free and you don't, is a reason to unsub then I suggest going ahead. Running around with a type of entitlement attitude will never get you any where in life.

I might have been more responsive to your post if you said there was nothing for you to do and you were completely sick of the game because you have already done it all, but face it you still haven't seen any of the hard modes or op's so the game has remained anjoyable to you, has it not? and if it has not then why are you griping about a free month,

Originally posted by Talonsin

Originally posted by headphones

sounds a bit petty and childish to me.

i mean, they're never really going to be able to fix swtor into the mmo a lot of people wanted. they picked the wrong engine for that. but it doesn't mean they're not actually TRYING to make SOMETHING out what they've got.

personally, i think that kind of call to arms belongs to those games where the devs clearly and totally don't care and i don't think that's the case here. i think they just lacked any real experience or understanding of the genre they were leaping into the deep end with.

hopefully they'll figure that out for their next project.

edit: i agree they could have found other ways to address their issue of what to do at 50, but given what they've got to work with, what can they do but pin their hopes on 1.2? i'm not going with it, but there might just be another. does 1.2 have a sister?

 

Let me ask you, if they gave the sith side a free month, would that be ok?  Would it be childish of the republic players to voice an opinion and call for justice?  Thats exactly what happened here. 

*shrug*

wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

you see, you never actually asked if i had a level 50. i don't. and i don't care if level 50s are getting a free month. so what? they deserve it. i'm finding it hard enough to keep my interest through the mid-40s and haven't logged in for weeks.

Originally posted by headphones

Originally posted by Worstluck

Originally posted by headphones

sounds a bit petty and childish to me.

 

 

Unfortunately speaking with your wallet is the only launguage EA/Bioware understands. 

 

They really should have just given everyone who had a sub some free time.  But level 50's are the ones who are leaving in droves because there isn't much to do once reaching there so they obviously want to keep them.  What I found funny was the wording:

 

"As a thanks for being one of our most valued players, every active account with a Level 50 character as of April 12th, 2012 at 12:00PM CDT / 5:00PM GMT, will receive thirty (30) days of game time** in appreciation for your support and loyalty."

 

Sorry Talonsin.  You are not one of their most valued players :(

that's kind of ridiculous, too.

EVERY mmo when doing something like this ALWAYS says "most valued players". it's about as meaningful as a meme. it's called marketing. look it up. there isn't a country in existence which doesn't do that. my own retail company i work for continually sends out emails to its "most valued customers" but when those "most valued customers" come into my store, i don't value them. i want to shoot them in the face. they're rude, arrogant, demanding, and believe star trek-style transporter technology is at my fingertips but i'm just refusing to get what they want from the suppliers in the next two minutes out of spite. i hate them. with a passion.

there's not a single one of them i consider a valued customer.

but i still do my best to get what i can and when i can. because that's my job. and i also stretch my teeth into a semi-acceptable smile. which is often very difficult. but i do it. because that, too, is my job. to accept all the insults and snippy comments without biting back.

needless to say, i have much job satisfaction.

so, when someone is making an offer to a select group of customers, it's because they're trying to lure them back, or get them to stick around longer and squeeze more money from them. that's called business. look that up, too. it's in the dictionary. the word you were hoping could be applied to an mmo is called charity, and i've yet to see an mmo running under that fictitious idea.

at least, not for long.

by all means, vote with your wallet. it's your wallet. but how about growing up a little and looking at things with a little more of a critical eye. you might learn a few things about life, the universe and everything. clue: it's 42.

finally, anyone who endured the game long enough to get to 50 DOES deserve a free month. that showed a lot of support and loyalty to go that far in an mmo that really was far, far away from the concept of a good mmo.

give them credit for actually trying.

Are you directing this post at me?  Relax dude.  I don't need you to explain marketing to me.  I certainly don't need go get a dictionary to look up the word business or 'grow up'.  I am really happy you enjoy your job, that means a lot to me :D 

I just found it funny, the use of the phrase 'most valued'.  I don't play the game currently and have relatively no opinion about it. 

I've stated this in the past myself and once I reached my peak of disatisfaction I unsub'd from the game. I suggest anyone else who is finding themselves at a point of frustration with this game "financially" as far as giving them money and not getting what you feel its worth to do the same.

It makes no sense to keep handing them money month in and month out just to watch them pull the bait and switch tactic. They clearly made enough money off the title at this point to further develope so whats the issue in cutting the faucet and actually seeing what they produce?

Now that they've blantantly and in not so surprising EA/Bioware fashion have slapped customers who have been in the game since the begginning. Just because someone has a level 50 doesn't put them ahead of the "dedicated" playerbase that has been part of the game since early Dec.-Jan. It's quite possible many of them do not have any level 50 toons yet and if they've been overshadowed and overlooked then thats a fault by Bioware once again.

They let you get a snip of the carrot in 1.2, but then turn around and punish you for taking that very same bite..

These dudes are getting super bold with their disrespect..

Originally posted by Worstluck

Originally posted by headphones

Originally posted by Worstluck

Originally posted by headphones

sounds a bit petty and childish to me.

 

 

Unfortunately speaking with your wallet is the only launguage EA/Bioware understands. 

 

They really should have just given everyone who had a sub some free time.  But level 50's are the ones who are leaving in droves because there isn't much to do once reaching there so they obviously want to keep them.  What I found funny was the wording:

 

"As a thanks for being one of our most valued players, every active account with a Level 50 character as of April 12th, 2012 at 12:00PM CDT / 5:00PM GMT, will receive thirty (30) days of game time** in appreciation for your support and loyalty."

 

Sorry Talonsin.  You are not one of their most valued players :(

that's kind of ridiculous, too.

EVERY mmo when doing something like this ALWAYS says "most valued players". it's about as meaningful as a meme. it's called marketing. look it up. there isn't a country in existence which doesn't do that. my own retail company i work for continually sends out emails to its "most valued customers" but when those "most valued customers" come into my store, i don't value them. i want to shoot them in the face. they're rude, arrogant, demanding, and believe star trek-style transporter technology is at my fingertips but i'm just refusing to get what they want from the suppliers in the next two minutes out of spite. i hate them. with a passion.

there's not a single one of them i consider a valued customer.

but i still do my best to get what i can and when i can. because that's my job. and i also stretch my teeth into a semi-acceptable smile. which is often very difficult. but i do it. because that, too, is my job. to accept all the insults and snippy comments without biting back.

needless to say, i have much job satisfaction.

so, when someone is making an offer to a select group of customers, it's because they're trying to lure them back, or get them to stick around longer and squeeze more money from them. that's called business. look that up, too. it's in the dictionary. the word you were hoping could be applied to an mmo is called charity, and i've yet to see an mmo running under that fictitious idea.

at least, not for long.

by all means, vote with your wallet. it's your wallet. but how about growing up a little and looking at things with a little more of a critical eye. you might learn a few things about life, the universe and everything. clue: it's 42.

finally, anyone who endured the game long enough to get to 50 DOES deserve a free month. that showed a lot of support and loyalty to go that far in an mmo that really was far, far away from the concept of a good mmo.

give them credit for actually trying.

 

Are you directing this post at me?  Relax dude.  I don't need you to explain marketing to me.  I certainly don't need go get a dictionary to look up the word business or 'grow up'.  I am really happy you enjoy your job, that means a lot to me :D 

 

I just found it funny, the use of the phrase 'most valued'.  I don't play the game currently and have relatively no opinion about it. 

i just spent a few hours skating the hills around my house. i'm as relaxed as i'm gonna get. :P