Let Funcom sell credits, accounts, items!
OK, first see what I posted elsewhere on BlackSnow:
_______________________________
Check out Part 6 of www.unknownplayer.com 's article on Exploiters!!!
Looks like Phim and Caldwell were sued by the FTC way back in Oct 2000! In 1999 they had what looked like a legit business, fell on hard times and started keeping customer funds without delivering the goods. At least $77K worth it seems.
Just recently, in Oct 2001 and in this month FTC received a default judgments vs. various defendants.
Looks like Phim had filed bankruptcy in Jan 2001 and was the FTC could not serve process on him for months.
Keeps getting weirder and weirder. I'm waiting for a Mafia connection soon. Which is what we will get if we allow the lucrative sale of these items.
___________________________________________
I'd like to float this idea around. Why not let Funcom sell credits, accounts and stuff directly to the players? Heck they have our credit card numbers already. I think there are definitely players out there that do not have alot of time to play and need to buy their way in but I think they add to the community not detract from it. Who should make money off of this? I think Funcom if anyone.
Buy a level 20 char with Ql 20 armor/implants/weps and 10mil in credits but no IP's used. Why not? I don't care if I play with someone who did this. (It will be weird to have newbie questions coming out of a lvl 100 char but it happens today already ;))
What about players who want to sell stuff? I think Funcom should let players sell stuff back to them for free playtime at least. (Keeps inflation in check)
OK, support this or flame away! If not BlackSnow, it will be someone else and for $60K/month the Mafia will be interested sooner or later.
Anyone want to make $2000?
For $2000 I'll make you a lvl 200 soldier :D
Seriously, if there is a demand for char like that, money can be made. I'm just saying we can't stop the demand but we can decide who should be making the money.
Have you seen the Fraud forums in www.playerauctions.com? It's pathetic yet it shows what can happen in addition to BlackSnow.
Re: Your Effort vs. Buying
Quote:
Originally posted by SeraphFire
But should you really care so much about how another player got his stuff? Heck, I know alot of people who were born rich or got an inheritance but I don't resent them. It seems like... jealousy basically.
Not so much jealousy in my case as the fact that I would then have to compete with them. Unique items/mobs, finding groups, bidding on hard to get gear, finding good hunting areas (outside of missioning), PvP, etc.....
I have no problem competing with someone who worked their way to 150 and now is standing next to me competing for the kill, or taking a spot that I could have had in a group.
But if that same 150 bought his character yesterday.....
Project Entropia? Underlight?
Maybe you were thinking of Project Entropia where they offer a free game but make money by selling credits? Or Underlight which offers a premium character (abilities?!) based on a higher subscription rate.
Project Entropia is probably what you are thinking of. But that is going to be one messed up game. They envision you can actually redeem your credit BACK for money and you will loot ppl you kill for their credits. Now that is going be a griefer's paradise.
(See noob who just bought $10 of credit, kill, loot, redeem credits for $10! Just another form of theft in my opinion!)
I think the Underlight game is offering the premium accounts just recently and are successful. So if Funcom does it right, it could be possible. Unlike EQ Legends, the Underlight accounts are in the same server.
Well, let me put this issue in one light, Funcom can:
1) Ban all selling of accounts/credits/items. Going to be very hard to police especially since this will drive up prices in the "Black Market" and give ppl more incentive.
2) Roll with it as I suggested and make some money with some grief from players.
3) Do nothing and let BSI-types do as they please.
I don't think you will ever prevent credit/account selling, it's impossible and you'd waste so many resources police-ing it. I have heard of hackers stealing account passwords from legit players, loot the char naked or try and sell them. Horrible.
Are we in effect "legalizing drugs" here? Maybe. The analogy may be close, same type of arguments for and against. And in a democracy, it is up to the people (or players here) to make that call.