General Discussion

  All I can say is, "Long overdue!"  Way to go NCSoft!  Nice to see some large developer of U.S. games is finally taking the plunge into the RMT- fantastic business model. 

Can't wait to see how they will implement NCcoin in Guild Wars and CoH!

Originally posted by Dracis

 

Actually, you're wrong. The model has only been successful in places like Korea and the Far East, but has proven unsuccessful in the Western markets, which include, N. America and Europe (It may also include other areas, but I'm not absolute on that).

 

So you may ask why would an MMO company want to go this route? Because a few companies who have tried it, and the biggest Western name SOE, have proved that although there is a small market for it, the players who do play and pay for items, actually pay more money than a $15 per month subscription fee. Just Google the John Smedly interview on the Station Exchange and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Right and those who pay more money per month on cash shop items make up for those who play for free.  It is a successful model that we will continue to see more and more. 

It has not proven unsuccessful in Western markets.  Why would you think that? 

Originally posted by Ralsar

 

 

Right and those who pay more money per month on cash shop items make up for those who play for free.  It is a successful model that we will continue to see more and more. 

It has not proven unsuccessful in Western markets.  Why would you think that? 

Not to mention look at the problems with Second Life itself and the problems ownership of virtual property has caused. Do you really think that if the RMT solution is ever truely adopted by Western MMO companies that we won't eventually see lawsuit after lawsuit about the loss of virtual items? Do you really think that if RMT model is successful it won't be taxed like other online goods, with the players paying the majority of the cost?

Maybe I see more into it than most, but I actually do work on games for a living. I see the dollar signs in alot of the company suits eyes. I read all those dev boards where they talk about this stuff. It has already come up several times in Congress on how to tax virtual goods and I sincerely believe that once we actually have to start paying for items, decorations, and extra content via the RMT model, it's we the players who will actually end up paying for it. I know for sure it definately won't be the game companies.

I used to be dead set against this payment model, but after reflecting on it a bit...if there is a game with microtransaction that I am interested in I might be willing to try it.

For example, if they offer raid gear for a reasonable price, I might buy it.  Reason is I don't like to raid.  The idea of being stuck at the computer for 4 to 6 hours every week in the same dungeon over and over and over for several months is a waste of time.  If I make between 50 to 70 bucks an hour at work, I'd rather just buy the gear and put all that time I would have been playing into my real world job.  Then I can play the game, invest some more in my retirement and buy more cool  toys

Ofcourse, some would say, what's the point in owning it if you didn't 'earn' it.  Well, I earn money in the real world.  And my accomplishments that I am most proud of are real world accomplishments.   After SWG and the NGE and some time to reflect, I've come to the conclusion that games are just games. 

maybe I'm missing something, but wouldn't an item mall basically guarantee that crated items would be a waste of time, and thus crafting itself be completely pointless?

Not only does it sound like crafting would be damaged but the entire economy would be out of whack , with way to much money floating around everything would cost a fortune , or at least thats how I would envision it .

Originally posted by Butterball

I can agree with the principals of micropayments, ONLY if the game itself is free to play...

If NCSoft attempt to charge us a monthly fee AND micropayments for games such as CoH/CoV then I shall cancel my account immediately...

They already did that when they added what is currently optional advertising... the difference? You get no items (I wonder if/how long until they start giving extra vet months if you do though?).

  I know it sounds harsh but how many people honestly believe that all the ad revenue generated is actually going to go back into CoX like they said when they have all those free, aging, and in-development games to be attended to? The money must come from somewhere and none of those things generate much of it (go ahead and shrug off the ads, but you are going to deny the coins too?). I personally would have thought that when they first mentioned ads more people would have sat up and taken notice but evidently a lot of customers actually believed them. I'm not normally the naysayer type (I like to think all games and companies have good things about them) but when pretty much every other premium game out can offer updates and improvements on the industry standard of $15 (unless it is an X-pac) then something must surely be wrong when they start saying "we need more money to give you what you are already getting with your current subscription fees" and then turn around and bring in the whole items shop bit (via the NC Coin) and people are STILL supposed to think everything is just fine? Seriously, that is so far beyond a safe bet as to be plainly silly. What I do see happening is that NCSoft is closing ranks and looking to pull money from anything they can. If they can sell something to you in game then don't be surprised if you find it for sale on their online store, if they can't? You'd best pray that the ingame ads in CoX flop and are abandoned or they are quite likely to start showing up in their other games as well. That said NCSoft is a business and like many other people have said (and said best imo) "Vote with your wallet" as it will serve you a good deal more than freaking out on a forum about it.

Personally? I closed my wallet to anything NCSoft as soon as they went through with the ads in COX. Do I feel that I'd like to play some of the games they offer that people have worked so hard to make, improve, and maintain? Yes, I really do. Do I feel like I'm missing out by not playing them? Again the answer is yes but it is my choice as noone is stopping me but me. However, my experiences with their PlayNC CS while I played CoX were lacklustre to say the least then they get involved with trying to bog down a game with ads and thats when I applied the full brake on my accounts with NCSoft. All the NC Coins thing does is to confirm for me that I made the right decision for me as I refuse to pay anyone that I don't have to double(or more) time pay for single time work. Again, this is just how I feel about it personally and I think it is up to others to decide exactly what their position(s) are.

....c'mon NCsoft, there are better ways to pay for rocketfuel

Originally posted by Wharg0ul

maybe I'm missing something, but wouldn't an item mall basically guarantee that crated items would be a waste of time, and thus crafting itself be completely pointless?

C'mon people, this is silly.  NCSoft are not idiots.  This is one of the most successful MMO game companies on the planet.

As for the babble about how rmt works in the East but could never work in the west, that's silly too!  Just because it hasn't been done here before doesn't mean it can't be done.  And just because subscription is the primary way MMO's launched here in the 'west' doesn't mean it's the only legitimate, acceptable pay mechanism.  Again, NCSoft are not idiots.

RMT is here to stay.  It's clean.  It's viable.  It absolutely can and does work.  For all of you who say that you won't play ANY game that uses RMT, you are going to be replaced by a plethora of other people who won't and haven't  played because of a mandatory monthly subscription! 

Implementing RMT is about market expansion, not about maintaining the current market.  Enticing new people to play.