I read somewhere that the cost of making Champions was half of other MMOs...

So how come you have to pay Full box price + Full monthly subscription + have microtransactions?

Its a big scam imo, but I guess Atari/cryptic really needs the money now when they are being sued :)

MT in a MMO subscription only makes sense if you need account adjustments such as switch a character to another sever or something...Having MT in a game to buy game content you allready paid for (box and subscription) The economy already drains so much from people it dose'nt need all that extra money being sucked from you now.

 I was wanting to play this game, but when i heard there was MT in a already paid for service, BLAa (dont get me wrong, MTs is a great idea) you cannot combined them both and get good results...that's just being too greedy. It's like how AT&T works...you pay for the service...but you have to pay more for surcharge's witch should be included in the final statment, or try not to tell you once your contract is up, you have to pay ton's more witch they try not to tell you about. It's called legitimate SCAMing and we should make a Law to prevent Greed in the market arena. Sorry, I Rant about nothing
 

I don't see what everyone's freaking out about, microtransactions aren't anything new. They're not bad either.

WoW has them, and so do most other games. Name Change, Server Transfer, etc. With WoW you can buy their TCG and spend money to get cosmetic items like mounts or capes or things. Ever played Rock Band and downloaded a new song to play? Ever downloaded a song from itunes? Same thing there too.

They're not bad either. Sure you're paying your 50 bucks to buy the game and then 15 bucks a month afterwards, but think about what you compare it to. If you buy another video game, you pay 50 bucks and get what, like 10 hours of play out of it? With an MMO you get hundreds. If you go see a movie it costs roughly around 15 bucks these days (if you get a drink or popcorn too), and that gives you conservatively 3 hours of entertainment. So for the cost of 1 game once, and 1 movie a month, you're getting much more than your money's worth.

Now I know some people say that the devs are just trying to make more money. Well yes technically they are, that's kinda their job. But lets remember that it costs money just to make the game and get it out the door. Then you gotta continually pay for the servers, the dev team to watch balancing, the GMs to deal with player problems, the live team to create new content. If you buy a new costume part through the MT store, you're paying the salary of whoever created that item.

It's a symbiotic relationship really. The more money we give them, the more they want to put in new stuff to keep us happy and bring in more players. The more players and happy people, the more money they get.

Originally posted by Blurr

I don't see what everyone's freaking out about, microtransactions aren't anything new. They're not bad either.

WoW has them, and so do most other games. Name Change, Server Transfer, etc. With WoW you can buy their TCG and spend money to get cosmetic items like mounts or capes or things. Ever played Rock Band and downloaded a new song to play? Ever downloaded a song from itunes? Same thing there too.

 

Bill Ropers used those examples, nobody bought it then either.

Originally posted by jimsmith08

Bill Ropers used those examples, nobody bought it then either.

Then could you explain to me what the problem is with microtransactions? I don't get why people freak out over them.

If you don't want to pay money for an extra character slot, then don't. Why should other people be unable to do that? 

It's not like people are going to have some sort of advantage in the game over you, that you can't get yourself somehow. Sure they may look cooler, but it's not like it's going to break the bank if you do buy something you really want either.

Originally posted by Blurr  Ever downloaded a song from itunes? Same thing there too.

Yes those are MT's but you don't have to subscribe a monthly fee for itunes, you see where were coming from? CO Is Charging you to buy the game (witch includes content), Charging you for subscription (witch is understandable for sever and employee's and content) But charging again for more content? why not just make another expansion later on? Why not charge for a in game friends list....or charge a one time fee to learn a new crafting skill? What's next after MT in a allready fully paid for game. 

 Battlefield Heroes has a good system with MT. F2P and has the Options though not required to enhance yourself. Mabinogi has a good store for MT aswhell. i had my fun...i can still play the game with what i bought a year ago...

but since in CO you have to pay to play for a month to play with your MT buy's......So if your not paying the normal monthly  fee...you will not be able too use MT item's you bought in less you pay for subscription fees....Some of you guys understand yet? This game in no doubt is totaly fun XD but Get basic logic if you don't understand this.
 

P.S. BLurr...More character slots are just a lure for you to pay more. (dumb fish...get it?)

Originally posted by Blurr

Originally posted by jimsmith08

Bill Ropers used those examples, nobody bought it then either.

 

Then could you explain to me what the problem is with microtransactions? I don't get why people freak out over them.

If you don't want to pay money for an extra character slot, then don't. Why should other people be unable to do that? 

It's not like people are going to have some sort of advantage in the game over you, that you can't get yourself somehow. Sure they may look cooler, but it's not like it's going to break the bank if you do buy something you really want either.

Most people are worried they are to add that stuff later.
Others don't like the idea because it should be part of the monthly fee.
I think this, yet I still bought the game. I still won't touch the MT stuff... my way of saying it was a stupid idea.
 

I understand some people think that they should get all the MT items as part of the monthly fee, but that's just not practical. For things like Character Slots or Name Changes or stuff like that, other companies charge extra for those. The costume parts and other cosmetic things, other companies charge you for those too, they just don't give them to you until you buy an expansion.

Perhaps they could save up all their costumes and release them in an expansion, but I don't think you'd really want that either. That way you'd have to pay for everything, not just the ones you want. You'd have to wait until the whole expansion was done instead of just the piece you want.

If you look at most other games, they don't actually give you any new content between expansions either. WoW has their big update patches but what people forget is those things like Ulduar and the Tournament are actually things that were unfinished from their previous expansion. The monthly fee doesn't get you any new content (in most games) so you shouldn't expect it here. What you're getting with the MT store is the ability to pick and choose which pieces of new content you want rather than having to buy a whole expansion. The monthly fee is getting you access to their servers and their support team and so on. Think of it like cable tv. Some channels you get for free. Basic cable packages are a monthly fee, but if you want HBO you gotta pay extra.

Realistically, microtransactions are everywhere in our daily lives. Your cable company, your car, any of the monthly services you use. Cellphones are a perfect example. You have to pay for the phone, and then a monthly fee just to use it. If you want to send text messages you might have to pay more. Why is it bad in CO and not on your cell phone?

Originally posted by Blurr

I understand some people think that they should get all the MT items as part of the monthly fee, but that's just not practical. For things like Character Slots or Name Changes or stuff like that, other companies charge extra for those. The costume parts and other cosmetic things, other companies charge you for those too, they just don't give them to you until you buy an expansion.

Perhaps they could save up all their costumes and release them in an expansion, but I don't think you'd really want that either. That way you'd have to pay for everything, not just the ones you want. You'd have to wait until the whole expansion was done instead of just the piece you want.

If you look at most other games, they don't actually give you any new content between expansions either. WoW has their big update patches but what people forget is those things like Ulduar and the Tournament are actually things that were unfinished from their previous expansion. The monthly fee doesn't get you any new content (in most games) so you shouldn't expect it here. What you're getting with the MT store is the ability to pick and choose which pieces of new content you want rather than having to buy a whole expansion. The monthly fee is getting you access to their servers and their support team and so on. Think of it like cable tv. Some channels you get for free. Basic cable packages are a monthly fee, but if you want HBO you gotta pay extra.

Realistically, microtransactions are everywhere in our daily lives. Your cable company, your car, any of the monthly services you use. Cellphones are a perfect example. You have to pay for the phone, and then a monthly fee just to use it. If you want to send text messages you might have to pay more. Why is it bad in CO and not on your cell phone?

 That's a lot to explain that MT's exist lol. What are you debating? they don't exist? To be honest in your mini poll, I would rather pay it all then have tid bits of item's i wish came with the whole game...and they got to make them cooler too so you feel left out. It's a Mind thing Blurr.
 
 The problem presented is the fact that CO is turning off A lot of players for MT item's (not the ones that make sense like wow with character transfurs and such...this is a little different) Estamation, You would be paying 14.99 a month + let's say an extra $20 for MT your paying 34.99 a month. And if you are a die hard fan, possibly more. If you keep a budget, you may play 1-3 mmo's or more and know you have a bill comming with 45.00 bucks (example) But with a MT...think...if you played 3 mmo's in the future that all of them have MT,  your looking near to 150+. Just like my phone...

 You might have money to blow, you might have not. But Point is they are Tempting...If people like you who support this feature keep it up...Your just going to get SMT -Sub Miro Transaction besides the MT...and if you give in more...your going to get MTF -Mirco transaction Fee's-

 If you ever dream to become a good developer...You would relize this is a mistake as you are going to Loose Interest's of Thousand's of players...I would'nt want to loose those players for greed. Heck if i lost them...i lost A lot of money...MT makes up for it though a little bit for a little time. But if you can't keep players with your games with monthly fee's...Give them alittle more content to keep them happy and stay with you yes? (Wrong) the game will still get boring. I hope this is not what they thought when creating the game. If it is its Doomed.

 But you kind of get the idea now blurr? i know you must have some kind of link of fanness to the CO game..but your likes blind you from the truth. Take the red pill blurr and stop taking the blue pill you've been addicted to.

The problems with MTs, specifically in CO:

1. We don't really know what they are going to sell. There have been posts, invteviews, blah blah blah. Until a demo "shop" is set up, it is all conjecture and promises. The proof will be when it goes in-game, which there is NO coincidence this will be happening AFTER launch (Bill Roper is a crafty little SoB)
2. Long-term implications. Sure, maybe they start out with name changes and typical MTs, but who is to say they won't change their minds and look for new ways of making money. EQ2's "Adventure Packs" were "optional" content that you had to pay for, which was absurd. Either release free content or package it into a cohesive expansion - don't ask for my money unless you are providing a clear benefit and justifying the cost

For now, I pre-ordered and enjoyed Beta. I think the game is good and has a ton of potential. With the concepts that evolved with CoX, I can see a bright future for CO. I fully expect a CO-Nemesis expansion allowing you to play as the "darker" heroes, complete with generating your own "good guy" arch-nemesis. It would be interesting if you could select a player character as your nemesis at that time; perhaps whomever has killed you the most in PvP....

But I digress.... I expect an PR nightmare when the MT shop opens, but if Cryptic is smart, they will start with the basics. Going beyond that could create AoC/Vanguard-like lasting infamy.

It's a Cryptic game, as fun as it will be, it will be tiny.

I'll have finished it within the first month. They will get no micro-transactions from me and no sub either.

Far to cynical of them to include them in the first place.

Micro-transactions for extra costume?

Dressing up is a major feature of this game, if not THE major feature. How is that not affecting gameplay?

The addition of new costume options in COH COV is something players often speak highly of round here. Well, from now on, knowing how much you enjoy it, they are going to charge you extra for it.

It's not a question of how that affects your competativeness with other players, it's a question fo how it affects your bank balance and whether you feel the company you are dealing with is offering you value for money.

For myself it boils down to the same thing everytime with Cryptic, it doesn't affect my desire to play the game, only my desire to keep playing it.

When the content runs dry I'm off. Gone.

I'll be playing WoW or Wolfenstein or down the pub. Not paying them more money every month for doing sod all.

Gee didn't know that WOW was a F2P game now. It's not!! guess you will be paying monthly then. Wolfenstein probably  finish that in a month too.

What type and how, those micro-transaction will be we don't know as yet. Perhaps in WOW the same thing would take place with the ability to modify your outfits, if they to did microtransactions. Bottom line is after release, graphic designers go on to other games as most outfits and landscapes are done with. Under the MT plan additionals items can be added and player feedback will more then likely have an affect on it.

Right now we have no idea how MTs will affect gameplay, give it time. 

Originally posted by baff

It's a Cryptic game, as fun as it will be, it will be tiny.

I'll have finished it within the first month. They will get no micro-transactions from me and no sub either.

 

Far to cynical of them to include them in the first place.

 

Micro-transactions for extra costume?

Dressing up is a major feature of this game, if not THE major feature. How is that not affecting gameplay?

The addition of new costume options in COH COV is something players often speak highly of round here. Well, from now on, knowing how much you enjoy it, they are going to charge you extra for it.

 

It's not a question of how that affects your competativeness with other players, it's a question fo how it affects your bank balance and whether you feel the company you are dealing with is offering you value for money.

 

For myself it boils down to the same thing everytime with Cryptic, it doesn't affect my desire to play the game, only my desire to keep playing it.

 

When the content runs dry I'm off. Gone.

I'll be playing WoW or Wolfenstein or down the pub. Not paying them more money every month for doing sod all.

you should come play Aion ;) I've played the close beta a few times and going to download the open beta, you should atleast try the open beta coming out here soon if you have'nt ;) As a formal WoW player i highly suggest it :) time to get some more fun for your money instead of the same stuff from wow right now :) the music sucks...but thats about it lol

Originally posted by AJ2ME

Gee didn't know that WOW was a F2P game now. It's not!! guess you'll be paying monthly then.

that makes no sense o.0

I haven't tried Aion, it seems very popular right now though. I have a disabled friend who wishes me to go and play WoW with him while he recovers.

Ultimately I'm not really looking to spend much time in an MMO until mid winter at the earliest. I'll certainly look into Aion, it's got a buzz around it.

Originally posted by AJ2ME

Gee didn't know that WOW was a F2P game now. It's not!! guess you will be paying monthly then. Wolfenstein probably  finish that in a month too.

What type and how, those micro-transaction will be we don't know as yet. Perhaps in WOW the same thing would take place with the ability to modify your outfits, if they to did microtransactions. Bottom line is after release, graphic designers go on to other games as most outfits and landscapes are done with. Under the MT plan additionals items can be added and player feedback will more then likely have an affect on it.

Right now we have no idea how MTs will affect gameplay, give it time. 

WoW is a subscription game matey.
 

I don't mind paying subscriptions if I feel I am getting good value. I don't mind paying Micro Transactions instead either if feel I am getting my monies worth.

I won't pay either if I don't and I certainly won't pay both and buy the box! do I have sucker tattoed on my forehead or something? A missing eybrow perhaps? or a sign on my back that says "kick me please"?

My player feedback is simple, if the game didn't take long to make, don't charge a lot for making it. If the game took half as long to make as other games, don't charge twice as much for it. If the game didn't take long enough to get more than a months worth of content, expect no monthly subscritption fee's on the second month.

This player feedback will have no effect on anything. So I will treat the game the same as I will treat Wolfenstein. 1 months fun for £25.

If there is one thing I have learnt from playing Cryptic and Bill Roper games before, "giving it time" works against me. Their time isn't free and neither is mine.

I think Guild Wars is the best example of this kind of thing. Make a real game, and expect a serious, immediate return on your investment in the purchase of the game itself. Instead of "free content patches" which of course are not free because the players are paying each month you give the players large expansions or stand alone games for a real purchase price. You then give them a store to purchase things that are cosmetic, involve storage, or otherwise to not change the gameplay. I will admit that I think some F2P games handle this okay, but their games are crappy because they are F2P and there is no original purchase price. They cannot get any good investors, the community is full of the poor saps that cannot buy a game in the first place, and the development cycle has to be very quick in order to get any return for the developers. I think perhaps Champions Online has the correct in some ways, but are very wrong in others I am quite interested to see how this game works out in the coming months.

I don't understand when you pay for GAME BOX and pay MONTHLY SUB how they can add microtransctions to this on top. You should be able to access to all the features in the game since your already paid enough imo. This is a clear money scam by an untrustworthy company and i will not fall for it,

Originally posted by Perfection66

I don't understand when you pay for GAME BOX and pay MONTHLY SUB how they can add microtransctions to this on top. You should be able to access to all the features in the game since your already paid enough imo. This is a clear money scam by an untrustworthy company and i will not fall for it,

Muhuhahahaha

This will seperate the employed from the unemployed! You will lose face and be considered a lower caste subject! Your life is over!!!

j/k

Now that sounds stupid right? Please stop making a big deal out of it.

Originally posted by Horkathane

Originally posted by Perfection66

I don't understand when you pay for GAME BOX and pay MONTHLY SUB how they can add microtransctions to this on top. You should be able to access to all the features in the game since your already paid enough imo. This is a clear money scam by an untrustworthy company and i will not fall for it,

Muhuhahahaha

This will seperate the employed from the unemployed! You will lose face and be considered a lower caste subject! Your life is over!!!

 

 

j/k

Now that sounds stupid right? Please stop making a big deal out of it.

Being employed has nothing to do with it. In other words it separates the wasteful from the unwasteful, the gullible from the sharp,

Its like saying those complaining about unnaturally high medical insurance cost must therefor be unemployed. Is the act of wasting money or rather, getting poorer in order to claim higher status a sign of intelligence? I think not.

MT for any game content is a horrible business model that not only effects the design of a game, but also the fact that no one has the chance of being equal unless they spend more money. That situation is like a gasoline on a pile of hay, its just ripe for disaster or in this case... exploitation.

A character transfer is a service, a fee is not exactly classified as a MT within the game. Unlocking more content that you already payed for but have to pay even more for is a form of exploitation, its not a service... it clearly separates those who are willing to get taken advantage of and those who are not. This is not healthy for any online competitive game.

I think it is important to show that this type of behavior regarding MT in these types of sub based games should not be taken lightly, its not making a big deal out of nothing, rather showing where the line can be drawn for a specific title. 

If CO goes full out with in game MT for any content while having a sub... i do hope the game fails. I would rather not encourage this type of business model in future games.

Originally posted by Blurr

Then could you explain to me what the problem is with microtransactions? I don't get why people freak out over them.

Because we don't work for the companies using them and don't stand to profit from them?

If you don't want to pay money for an extra character slot, then don't. Why should other people be unable to do that? 

I can have 50 characters on one WoW account. How many on CO? Without paying more, I mean. If CO is a success, then soon MMOs are going to offer fewer 'free' slots, until we are all getting ONE for no charge and the rest we will have to pay for.

It's not like people are going to have some sort of advantage in the game over you, that you can't get yourself somehow. Sure they may look cooler, but it's not like it's going to break the bank if you do buy something you really want either.

For some things like account services, yeah, it's not a competitive disadvantage if you don't pay. There will be game-changing advantages, though, and they will become more important and common if the system works for the company. Eventually, most of the options we get for free now, will cost extra, and some people won't be able to afford them. That is my biggest complaint - it's unfair.