Jack "Jackalope" Emmert took some time to clarify the hot-button issue of microtransactions in Star Trek Online. Given the fact that Champions Online will be receiving microtransactions, naturally, Star Trek Online fans are a bit nervous as well.

In a post on the official Star Trek Online forums, Mr. Emmert reassures us that like Champions Online, the microtransaction offerings will be mostly aesthetic in nature, and for the ones that do have a gameplay effect, they will also be attainable through in-game means.

Jack on micro:

• The vast majority are aesthetic items, such as costume pieces, action figures, emblems, etc.
• A very few are account-level management tools, such as being able to rename a character
• Micro-transactions should never limit your ability to enjoy the game or reach the level cap
• Any micro-transaction that has a game effect can also be earned in the game through play

The full post is available here.

The only clarification I want to hear about micro-transactions is that there will be none.  As long as they are in game, I doubt I will be playing it.  Saying the MT purchases are purely cosmetic doesn't change that fact for me.  Aesthetics are a huge part of MMOS, at least they are for me.  Imagine in you could dye your armor in your current game of choice, the NPC vendors will sell you gray, beige, mauve and baby-shit green for in-game currency, but for just a buck ninety-nine you can buy red or black dye...

Micro-transactions simply lead to developers holding back high demand content or services, so they can charge real money for it. 

Jack is a hypocrtical, flippiant moron.

"Cryptic Studio’s Jack Emmert: Microtransactions are the biggest bunch of nonsense. I like paying one fee and not worrying about it – like my cellphone. The world’s biggest MMO isn’t item based, even though the black market item GDP is bigger than Russia … microtransactions make me want to die.”

GDC ’08 source:
http://www.mmogamer.com/02/25/2008/future-of-mmos-roundtable-at-gdc08-recap
 

• Account-level management tools, such as being able to rename a character or move a character to a new account

This would be the only things I'd find acceptable.

Or something like optional theme music.  The total I don't care, won't effect anyone's game (advantage vs non-advantage) item.  Basically the kind of stuff you'd find in a client side mod and have it only effect / be seen by the account that buys it.  That way you know they'll be no game breaking stuff.

Originally posted by Jpizzle

Jack is a hypocrtical, flippiant moron.

"Cryptic Studio’s Jack Emmert: Microtransactions are the biggest bunch of nonsense. I like paying one fee and not worrying about it – like my cellphone. The world’s biggest MMO isn’t item based, even though the black market item GDP is bigger than Russia … microtransactions make me want to die.”

GDC ’08 source:
http://www.mmogamer.com/02/25/2008/future-of-mmos-roundtable-at-gdc08-recap
 

Heh, he must of took it right out of the book of MMO sellouts, which include the like of Gaute and SOE.

As for the "Account management" thing, thats practically mandatory in any MMO with multiple servers, no clue why they felt like the specifically felt li...

Sh**!! I figured it out. It isn't going to be as simple as paying. Nope, they going the route of Microsoft Points. You only can buy in increments of 800($10), with cards coming out later that only come in size 1600 (20 bucks there). So no matter what, you'll have wasted points, and thus wasted cash on it.

Originally posted by Jpizzle

Jack is a hypocrtical, flippiant moron.

"Cryptic Studio’s Jack Emmert: Microtransactions are the biggest bunch of nonsense. I like paying one fee and not worrying about it – like my cellphone. The world’s biggest MMO isn’t item based, even though the black market item GDP is bigger than Russia … microtransactions make me want to die.”

GDC ’08 source:
http://www.mmogamer.com/02/25/2008/future-of-mmos-roundtable-at-gdc08-recap
 

Ha!  Excellent quote there.  Man, talk about a turn-about.  What a lying hypocrite. 

Champions Online and STO are now off of my watch list.

omg you know whats so funny? THEY WONT EVEN READ OUR COMMENTS ON THE MATTER AND IF THEY DID THEY DONT CARE!    cryptic you dissapoint me so much, have fun going BANKRUPT

You guys have to get over it, this is the way of the future for MMO, Even WoW does it. If you read, it says, everything that has a game effect can also be earned in the game through play.

Jack, whoever you are,

I dont post here often. I read a lot though. Let me be one of the usually silent ones to let you know that if STO has microtransactions beit for fluff, or game altering anything in it, you will anger the many followers that this game has had since its early conception before you guys got your hands on it. Dont ruin it before it even gets out.

Here we go again.  While I don't really care about fluff items, if they have anything in the item store that affects character advancement this will be a no play for many of us.  I don't care if I can get them in game.  I won't play a game that I have to undergo a hard quest to get an item when someone can waltz into the item store and purchase it.   There is no sense of accomplishment in such.

 

• The vast majority are aesthetic items, such as costume pieces, action figures, emblems, etc.
• A very few are account-level management tools, such as being able to rename a character
• Micro-transactions should never limit your ability to enjoy the game or reach the level cap
• Any micro-transaction that has a game effect can also be earned in the game through play

 

I'm not bothered by this. If this helps them to be profitable and therefore to continue supporting and expanding a fun game, then it's a good thing. If it isn't a fun game then I really don't care--in other words, I won't be playing.

 

In the few games I've tried that had micro-transactions, I was only bothered by it when I ran into something during the game that I couldn't do unless I bought something, or if there was a constant link to the online store as part of the UI. I would suggest keeping it in the background.

 

I would also point out that that last bullet, "Any micro-transaction that has a game effect can also be earned in the game through play", is not so re-assuring. For instance, you gain experience through game play, does that mean it will be OK for them to sell experience in the store?

 

Costume pieces? I Star Trek? Hello?? Isn't everyone wearing a uniform and a rank based on accomplishment? So wow, I can buy Galaxy Class starship and make myself Fleet Admiral right away for just an extra $49,99. Yowza. What a piece of bull. X__X

Originally posted by Jpizzle

Jack is a hypocrtical, flippiant moron.

"Cryptic Studio’s Jack Emmert: Microtransactions are the biggest bunch of nonsense. I like paying one fee and not worrying about it – like my cellphone. The world’s biggest MMO isn’t item based, even though the black market item GDP is bigger than Russia … microtransactions make me want to die.”

GDC ’08 source:
http://www.mmogamer.com/02/25/2008/future-of-mmos-roundtable-at-gdc08-recap
 

Nice finding, what a hipocrit.

The funny thing is that if this is "the way of the future" why are there so many people against it? Virtual item sales is something that is not so widely accepted, so how can it be "inevitable"?  It might be when they are "free to play", but when you're talking about a monthly fee AND item malls, it can get exceedingly abusive (as if item malls alone aren't, heh).

What I currently see is a failure Mythic trying to go the easy way in money making, my money is not so easy to grab with virtual items, that's just stretching the concept of virtual items beyond my acception.

Blah, I'm not surprised after seeing Champions. I will be waiting at least 3 to 6 months after release to see what happens before I pick it up, if I do. What a buzz kill.

I have seen many developers for mmo's recently talk about how items in Item Shop can also be obtained by playing the game. The sad part is, most of these games are free to download and F2P, NOT games that you must purchase AND pay monthly fees on.

The bottom line is if it takes 5 minutes to purchase some items through the item mall, but it takes a week (or even a month) of gameplay to gain the same items, this gives an unfair advantage to those using the item mall.

I personally like games where you get ahead by your own achievments, not by the size of your wallet. I don't care if it's a cosmetic item or not. If you just buy an item because your too lazy to earn it than it takes the fun out of a game. I will not touch STO when it releases. Good luck to those who do.

Scratch another game off the list. Developers better learn we don't want microtransactions in our MMOGs.

The ones that stay loyal to the virtual world concept will get all our business.

Well in jacks defense i don't think i can see him as a hypocrite especially since Atari now owns them and probably is making them do it.  Could he quit in protest perhaps, but i don't think its really worth losing your job over.

Originally posted by Jpizzle

Jack is a hypocrtical, flippiant moron.

"Cryptic Studio’s Jack Emmert: Microtransactions are the biggest bunch of nonsense. I like paying one fee and not worrying about it – like my cellphone. The world’s biggest MMO isn’t item based, even though the black market item GDP is bigger than Russia … microtransactions make me want to die.”

GDC ’08 source:
http://www.mmogamer.com/02/25/2008/future-of-mmos-roundtable-at-gdc08-recap
 

Doh!  Busted or change of heart?!?  I'm gonna have to go with the sell out, flippant, busted moron.  Well strike one more game off my list... these guys are making it difficult to get excited about any game in development.