Now, some might know that I am anti cash shop. More anti then most in fact. I hate pay to achieve virtual market spaces... I want play to achieve games.

But... I have been thinking about the real money AH in D3 and have actually changed my way of thinking on it somewhat.

IF we are going to have in game cash shops then I would even go as far to say this is the model that I would like to see across the board.

Let me explain... My problem with cash shop gaming has never been about what the other guy spends his cash on (I don't give a crap about how he uses his own money tbh), it has always been how it effects me- how it blocks me off from content (and yes, fluff is content) unless I shell out more and more, how it always fundamentally impacts on game design in games built for it, and how it in the broadest sense changes the very nature of the games we play.

Well, here we are now with the Blizz real money AH, so whats different?

Well... it's simple; by it's very nature everything must be achievable in the game, which is core to me. I can play for everything, and don't have to buy anything to gain it.

It also seems, right now, to be the system which has the least impact on the design of the game itself. Allowing players to buy and sell their loot for real money dosent require any redesign of the core mechanics.

Also, with no sub attached I might even make some money off selling to the lazy assed shoppers. I mean, I still won't like what they do, but at least they might be working in my favour instead of against it.

So, yes, lets have it. Let Blizz get their cut and I will get mine. If I can't have sub revenue only games then this is what I want, because it's the only model I can see that still promotes Play to Achieve for those that want it.

In fact, both the achievers and the 'pretty hat shoppers' get they kind of game that appeals to them, and that has to be a good thing. It's the closest I feel we will get to keeping everyone happy in the long run.

When you look at it from a different perspective you notice that in all MMO's there is a way to buy your items for real money. EVERY MMO has it. Might as well make it easier for people to do it so they know they won't get scammed in some way, and take a small cut for yourself. In my mind it will keep Blizzard in the money making business as far as D3 is concerned long after it isn't popular. I'm still not sure how I feel about it. I mean.. why grind keys to get organs so you can do ubers when you can just buy them all for a dollar each? 

I'm just worried about the type of community this is gonna bring to games using this model.

They say it's to fight gold sellers, that's just silly. Real money AHs will reel in way more gold farmers than it might scare away.

And I've always said this: mixing addictive gaming with real money is baaaaaaaad.

A few years from now, the homeless peeps we'll see in the streets won't be crackheads or junkies, they'll be ex gamers.

But now stealing a D3 account looks even more lucrative for the hackers: Steal the account, put everything cheap on the AH to sell it fast and let the money flow.

Originally posted by XxGrimmxX

When you look at it from a different perspective you notice that in all MMO's there is a way to buy your items for real money. EVERY MMO has it.

Sure, there has always been ways, but it's a huge leap from illegal trade to devs doing it themselves... I can see why folks are upset about it.

I have never bought gold, items, or accounts for real money. I just havent felt the need. This is where Blizz seems to get it right here imo- I still don't need to. Nothing is locked off from me to play and earn.

In my mind it will keep Blizzard in the money making business as far as D3 is concerned long after it isn't popular.

This is true as well.

I'm still not sure how I feel about it. I mean.. why grind keys to get organs so you can do ubers when you can just buy them all for a dollar each? 

Because I play these games to achieve those keys :)

I actually prefer this model, I should say, to ANet's 'B2P' model (which is really just F2P cosmetic cash shop with a box price attached).

D3 will actually let me play and earn my ALL my game items, where as GW2 will lock some of them off in the hope of tempting some cash from me. (and I say this as a fan of ANet and GW).

Originally posted by XxGrimmxX

When you look at it from a different perspective you notice that in all MMO's there is a way to buy your items for real money. EVERY MMO has it. Might as well make it easier for people to do it so they know they won't get scammed in some way, and take a small cut for yourself. In my mind it will keep Blizzard in the money making business as far as D3 is concerned long after it isn't popular. I'm still not sure how I feel about it. I mean.. why grind keys to get organs so you can do ubers when you can just buy them all for a dollar each? 

Because that's completely contrary to the reasons we all play these fucking games to begin with. Companies allowing an easier space in which to sell you what should normally come through personal achievement or experience aren't only short changing the players who are too clueless or stupid to realize they're being taken advantage of, but are essentially telling the gold farming, item selling markets of the video game industry that it isn't worth fighting their initiative, to keep games about games and not about micro-transactions or RMT, but sends a rather clear message that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. I mean, why bother with hunting out these individual groups of black market game-item/gold salesmen when it's so much more cost effective to codone their behavior? Everyone wins, right?

Originally posted by Scambug

I'm just worried about the type of community this is gonna bring to games using this model.

They say it's to fight gold sellers, that's just silly. Real money AHs will reel in way more gold farmers than it might scare away.

 

Just look at the gaming community as it is currently.  Its not going to get much different other than make it legal and safe to buy/sell items.  They're already doing it and have been for years, so why not make it legal, and the company that owns the IP makes even more money that can be put towards more devs and making bigger/better updates and expansions faster!

And IMO it will help to combat goldsellers actually, sure it'll attract them in droves but in doing so they'll end up driving their own prices down ever more and end up killing themselves off.  When dealing with real money legally, I honestly think the average player will search and possibly wait for the best deal over an impulse purchase.

Also we don't know how rare some of this gear will be yet?  If its as bad as some sets were to collect in D2, like I had trouble piecing together after dozens of runs on the hardest difficulty, I may just get fed up and want to buy whatever to complete the set, but if its not so rare, I may wait until it drops.  And with the new Inferno difficulty, with new sets of gear and the level cap at 60 with enemies at 61+, its always going to be a challenge on every run instead of becoming easier and easier like in D2.  {no more zerg running for mass drops}

Originally posted by vesavius

I actually prefer this model, I should say, to ANet's 'B2P' model (which is really just F2P cosmetic cash shop with a box price attached).

D3 will actually let me play and earn my ALL my game items, where as GW2 will lock some of them off in the hope of tempting some cash from me. (and I say this as a fan of ANet and GW).

You clearly can't have much of an understanding of GW2 - or for that matter GW - since the items available from the cashshop are strictly cosmetic and do not effect game play in the least.

Originally posted by Pangentor

Originally posted by vesavius

I actually prefer this model, I should say, to ANet's 'B2P' model (which is really just F2P cosmetic cash shop with a box price attached).

D3 will actually let me play and earn my ALL my game items, where as GW2 will lock some of them off in the hope of tempting some cash from me. (and I say this as a fan of ANet and GW).

 

You clearly can't have much of an understanding of GW2 - or for that matter GW - since the items available from the cashshop are strictly cosmetic and do not effect game play in the least.

Your dead on for what they said regarding CashShop items in GW2, as for GW1 I did have to pay for extra storage, but that was the only thing I ever bought in the game, and it did not in any way give me an advantage ( it just let me store more sh@t) . =)

Originally posted by Pangentor

Originally posted by vesavius

I actually prefer this model, I should say, to ANet's 'B2P' model (which is really just F2P cosmetic cash shop with a box price attached).

D3 will actually let me play and earn my ALL my game items, where as GW2 will lock some of them off in the hope of tempting some cash from me. (and I say this as a fan of ANet and GW).

 

You clearly can't have much of an understanding of GW2 - or for that matter GW - since the items available from the cashshop are strictly cosmetic and do not effect game play in the least.

 You obviously didn't read all his posts either, he said ALL CONTENT he wants to be able to achieve/grind in game. That is why is liking the RMAH idea. The company gets revenue, the seller gets legitimate cash and the buyer gets what they wanted easier.

On a side note, i'm glad to see someone finally accept the RMAH after being on the other side :p welcome my new brother! lol

Originally posted by Pangentor

Originally posted by vesavius

I actually prefer this model, I should say, to ANet's 'B2P' model (which is really just F2P cosmetic cash shop with a box price attached).

D3 will actually let me play and earn my ALL my game items, where as GW2 will lock some of them off in the hope of tempting some cash from me. (and I say this as a fan of ANet and GW).

 

You clearly can't have much of an understanding of GW2 - or for that matter GW - since the items available from the cashshop are strictly cosmetic and do not effect game play in the least.

Cosmetic or not isnt the point thats being made. Do me a favour, and maybe reread the OP to better understand before we carry on.

GW has a cash shop that locks off content from me unless I spend extra on top of the box. Thats just a fact.

In D3 it will all be in the game for me to play to achieve it.

Thats why I prefer the D3 model.

Originally posted by Aori

Originally posted by Pangentor

Originally posted by vesavius

I actually prefer this model, I should say, to ANet's 'B2P' model (which is really just F2P cosmetic cash shop with a box price attached).

D3 will actually let me play and earn my ALL my game items, where as GW2 will lock some of them off in the hope of tempting some cash from me. (and I say this as a fan of ANet and GW).

 

You clearly can't have much of an understanding of GW2 - or for that matter GW - since the items available from the cashshop are strictly cosmetic and do not effect game play in the least.

 You obviously didn't read all his posts either, he said ALL CONTENT he wants to be able to achieve/grind in game. That is why is liking the RMAH idea. The company gets revenue, the seller gets legitimate cash and the buyer gets what they wanted easier.

On a side note, i'm glad to see someone finally accept the RMAH after being on the other side :p welcome my new brother! lol

Well, if it makes sense then I will agree, and this to me does. :)

Originally posted by AKASlaphappy

 

 

Originally posted by vesavius

 

 

Cosmetic or not isnt the point thats being made. Do me a favour, and maybe reread the OP to better understand before we carry on.

GW has a cash shop that locks off content from me unless I spend extra on top of the box. Thats just a fact.

In D3 it will all be in the game for me to play to achieve it.

Thats why I prefer the D3 model.

Just curious when companies release DLCs do you have a rage induced blackout? 

What about my post suggested rage and blackouts to you? Seems just a cheap jibe and a bit trollish tbh.

Forgive me if I don't answer you and just add you to ignore.

Originally posted by vesavius

 

 

What about my post suggested rage and blackouts to you? Seems just a cheap jibe and a bit trollish tbh.

Forgive me if I don't answer you and just add you to ignore.

I wonder how many employees will be playing D3 and selling their characters for a profit. I wonder...

I was completely pro RMAH when I first read about Blizzard doing it for D3.  Now I am even more pro it, I never even thought of it the way the OP mentioned.  I just liked the idea of being able to sell stuff i play for if I want to.  Makes it actually feel like its my character not the games.

I actually have sold items in the past for real money, and it was a hassle.  I sold 3 items for cash in Asheron's Call, and 2 in WOW.   I dont care that its illegal, thats not the point.  If someone wants to send me real cash for an ingame item that I was gonna auction for fake cash so be it, that should be my choice.

Add me to the brotherhood

RMAH FTW

Originally posted by SaintViktor

I wonder how many employees will be playing D3 and selling their characters for a profit. I wonder...

Probably a ton.

But, tbh, it will never effect my game so more power to them.

Originally posted by Myrdynn

I was completely pro RMAH when I first read about Blizzard doing it for D3.  Now I am even more pro it, I never even thought of it the way the OP mentioned.  I just liked the idea of being able to sell stuff i play for if I want to.  Makes it actually feel like its my character not the games.

I actually have sold items in the past for real money, and it was a hassle.  I sold 3 items for cash in Asheron's Call, and 2 in WOW.   I dont care that its illegal, thats not the point.  If someone wants to send me real cash for an ingame item that I was gonna auction for fake cash so be it, that should be my choice.

Add me to the brotherhood

RMAH FTW

Well the op started on the correct path,he strayed to the dark side,claiming it would be ok IF he can profit off it.

My take is the same as what the OP started saying,i don't mind cash shops,IF everything CAN be attained in the game.By that i also mean,don't go making that attainable stuff carry ridiculous times sinks to make it unrelasitic to attain w/o using the cash shop.It should fall strictly into the LAZY category,if someone is super lazy,then let them have the direct approach as long as it doesn't ruin the game for everyone else.