What's so big deal about selling lead bots? It's not rare loot, everyone can get it with some farming or creds. Anyone can buy creds online, it's not big secret people do it, just instead of cred farmers these money would go to FC and game improvement. Items you can get alone, w/o big raid like ACDC or countless hours of camping doesn't give you any advantage. Skills make player better than others, not loot.
i R not spik engrish
And then? Everyone sitting in Borealis beeing bored and having no content to play?
Come on guys... is this really what you want? Everything buyable? Teaming is hard enough already, because most people are only buying lootrights from mitaar/db/vortexx etc.
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Changes can be many things, not only selling loot in a shop.Originally Posted by Mastablasta
They have and the game has changed quite drastically since its launch in 2001. It's now changing again to accomodate a new view of such games and how they're played, and you're whining about the change as well as requesting it?
I don't mind the concept of selling Social stuff and things that can benefit your leveling speed. But selling stuff in the shop that gives you the opportunity to play even less with/against other players in AO, is not what I consider the best approach.
Besides that I don't think I have whined even once.
I have just given some thought to it, given my opinion and asked Means/FC a question.
... and the game has evolved. The problem is that most customers expectations are unreasonable because for the most part, they are rather ignorant of how things work. Just because the game hasn't taken the direction that exactly meet everyone's expectations doesn't mean that Means need to apologize to forum idiots with unreasonable expectations.
Last edited by Obtena; Nov 29th, 2010 at 01:51:59.
Awwww muffin, need a tissue?
Spoken like true nonsense ... they already bought the game and played it. Any fool can QQ about features that aren't implemented in a game. It takes a special someone to take the next step and quit over it.
Last edited by Obtena; Nov 28th, 2010 at 23:29:10.
Awwww muffin, need a tissue?
That was stated by Sirillion, I made a quote here
And you can see the response of Kintaii here
As you can see the totally put it back on the top shelf.
Oh, btw it was in this thread on page 2
Well said, Sromp.
I'm well aware that it was Sil that said it. Although who said it wasn't the issue, what was is that we were told by someone in charge that real money wouldn't buy in game advantages. Although here we are some years later with renamed Paid Points now doing just that. You even stated as much in the post you referenced.
That's the annoying thing of how they did it. They can just say well Sil isn't in charge anymore so that doesn't matter. They're not Paid Points any more, they're Funcom Points, so what was said about Paid Points in the past doesn't matter. So if they want to sell iBoCs and such they can just change game directors again then rename them shop points or something and go right ahead doing so.
The items shop wouldn't provide power and advantages only if they sold supped up items not obtainable through other means in game is not true at all. They provide advantages and power should what is offered give any sort of extra something that can make a difference in the performance of your char. Which VP, tokens, buyable lvls and such can.
Some VP buyable items are used in solid twink set-ups even at end game as some of it is quite good. So by selling VP they're selling the most time consuming aspect of getting that gear. Especially if it doesn't need upgrades but with those not being nodrop any more the upgrade clumps are the easy part now. I see the new token packages sold in game for creds often along with OFAB gear. As has been said umpteen times already by selling desirable in game items for real money and not applying nodrop tags it's as good as selling creds. Buy level packs, pay real money for VP/tokens, sell to others for creds, pay people to level your chars, buy lootrights for nodrops and your other stuff then bitch on the forums about how easy the game is and that you're quitting.
I'm sure we all get that FC needs more money and that AO needs new ways to get cash to stay afloat. Although this move has served to piss off a lot of long time players in the hopes it may get more from those that don't mind it get others into the game as it's now more approachable, especially if you have plenty of real life money to spend.
Last edited by PhoenixOfAges; Nov 29th, 2010 at 06:42:25.
Funcom has the right to change their mind, just like anyone else. Holding them to something someone said years ago, even if that person was still in the same position of power, is stupid.
The world changes, change with it or live with being left behind and left out. AO/FC is faced with that choice and instead of dying out by sticking to the old way of "grind till your eyes bleed" which, despite the protests of older players who want to keep the game that way, is not good.
Have you noticed that the game is dying? Have you noticed the population is low? Ya... guess what. It was like that before this shop was even announced so it's not the shops fault; something else is to blame. My guess is because the majority of gamers out there today don't want to grind for hours in the hopes of getting something, they want something for their efforts.
Us veterans may not mind the grind, we may want to keep it, but the game is not just for us; and keeping it niche is only going to mean it dies sooner.
Shhh... I'm in disguise.
I think we need some form of solo/semi-solo questing model. The way it is now is constant dungeon crawling if on your own (which is damn near impossible), or simply grinding Ely or Ado hex, which is infinitely more boring, although faster.
In my extremely radical view, we need to further streamline SL as the "WoW part" of AO. In other words, make it appeal to the masses. The questlines are brilliant, but sadly they require hours of grinding or high-level escorts to complete anyway. Hex should not be *the* way to level 160. Nor should tiigs be your ticket to 100, or ado hex to get straight to inf. We either need alot more options of gameplay, or to make things doable solo as an alternative.
Someone else said it before and it really fits as a response to your post. Basically FC made the game the way it is and instead of changing the game so the grind for these things is reduced they want us to pay them money to reduce the grind. As has also been said if they want to go the items shop route then like other such games drop the subscription fee. Now FC wants both.
AO is a niche game and is always going to be a niche game. It's also old and only going to get older. Such games tend to live and die on their long time players with new people generally just stopping by for a time. Sure they can change their minds on some things but when they pretty near pull a full 180 degree turn on a long time stance regarding the matter of paying for power it's bound to rub plenty of people the wrong way.
Their hope of course is that money gained from those buying stuff in the items shop will offset the money lost from those no longer paying subscription costs. Of course they're unlikely to gain new players with this change as it's more likely we'll lose more but more people is what we really need. FC milking more money out of those left as the population continues to dwindle isn't going to help keep the game going that well as you really do need actual people in these kinds of games, not just a series of alts. The rebalance and new engine may get some people back and the odd new person but there are plenty of people that just don't like seeing an items shops in a game. To see they also need to pay a subscription fee isn't likely to excite most potential new players either.
Tokens, VP and levels (being the controversial things for sale) were already made considerably easier to get thanks to dailies, tokens especially thanks to AI dailies giving them as well now.
That to me looks like they did change the way the game works to reduce the grind and are selling reductions as well.
(Generic response)
Honestly, I think most of you are just overreacting; there's far to many overbearing "zomg AO will dai!!!1!1!!" kind of posts going around because of these changes. For what? Attention, that's about it. You want people to get behind you because you know what you're talking about and you, somehow, know what's best for the game so you're going to shout and scream and holler until someone does what you want. I could make a correlation to who also does that kind of thing but I think you know already.
I'm not saying that this was the best course of action, I'm not saying that Funcom couldn't have done something else to help the game instead. What I am saying is that the only reason this shop would ever be the death of AO is because you, the overreacting, overbearing, "I know best even if I really don't", loud mouth player are going around screaming about how the game is going to die which is scaring people off, including yourself, for no good reason.
Here's a simple solution to not letting the shop destroy the game:
DON'T USE IT
Wow look at that... now if you're truly the majority (ie a large enough group of people to be worth the attention should you quit due to the shop, thus tipping the scales irreparably towards game termination) and you truly dislike the shop and you don't use it.. the game won't change. Only a few small handful of people (cause you're the majority right?) will use it occasionally (I stress occasionally considering the prices the shop charges, you seen em yet? You bothered to look? Pretty hefty price to pay for something that can be gotten for free) and why should that bother you? Fighting random dude #242 in BS who bought a 2500 board and Spec Ed Ofab Helmet just like #241 before him who got it "legitimately" suddenly causes you to die of a brain aneurysm?
Hell, if you really are the majority and you don't use the shop in some protest boycott perhaps Funcom will learn the error of their ways and remove it. What's the worst that can happen? You realize you really don't speak for the community and that the game will survive with a shop and without you? Tragic thought I'm sure.
Shhh... I'm in disguise.
1. I don't know why Means should apologize to Obtena.
and 2. I will quote this:
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Owned and killed tl1/2 NW for months, time to leave and give chance to clan "twinks".
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What loot are they selling again? No viralbots are being sold despite that being the prime argument going on here.
Thor Mastablasta Hammersmith - Level 220, AI 30, LE 70 Clan Atrox Nano Technician - Setup
The Red Brotherhood
I'm a Nano-Technician, don't ever expect me to fight unbuffed, alone or fair.
Means: about f'ing time :P
Satenia: heresy <3
Znore: Mastablasta <3
Kinkstaah: I have agro from many mobs ;(
Madarab: we are aoe class, we are supose to use pistols
Marxgorm: the NT toolset does not fit into my raiding tactics
And when it does you can relax and bask in how right you were on his day. Untill then, let's just enjoy the game, eh? And probably we will after we can buy fully equipped 220 characters as well, because after all, playing the game is what's fun, not just grinding for loot. Why else would you have eBay of characters in games be such a big thing?
Thor Mastablasta Hammersmith - Level 220, AI 30, LE 70 Clan Atrox Nano Technician - Setup
The Red Brotherhood
I'm a Nano-Technician, don't ever expect me to fight unbuffed, alone or fair.
Means: about f'ing time :P
Satenia: heresy <3
Znore: Mastablasta <3
Kinkstaah: I have agro from many mobs ;(
Madarab: we are aoe class, we are supose to use pistols
Marxgorm: the NT toolset does not fit into my raiding tactics
QFT
had a discussion with org recently about it, and we had a good laugh how over the years people have cried chicken little over and over again. funny thing is, the reasons that people had years ago (serious bugs, downtime for days due to bad patches, rollbacks, mobs storming main cities etc..) affected almost everyone ingame, and they had reason to run in circles screaming death to ao.
reasons now for the chicken little routine are lame by comparison to some of the older ones of years past. devs should introduce something in game like "afk for 5mins = auto disconnect", and then we'll see some legit "ao is gonna die" threads forming. atm, people fuss over the itemshop because they think funcom is one giant masochist corporation that enjoys destroying itself (lol?).
somehow, the forum trolls know what is good for business in AO more than devs/funcom marketing. and lol, they are a business, and they will go in the direction they want, no matter how much they tell you its a game "by the players, for the players." You think any player can just waltz into oslo and get a job there? who believes that stuff anyhow? as Siyra said, stop scaring away fresh blood with the "ao is dead" routine. and pulllleeease, quit hanging around the forums posting stuff to scare off new players if you've already quit playing ao yourself. its like that bad smell that lingers, even after you've flushed the toilet.
wtf happened to my avatars eyebrows?
I used to listen to Dubstep in the 90's... every time I connected to the internet.
VP, hence, ofab... Call VP loot or currency, it doesn't matter much.
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Many players, including myself, are worried because buying lots of stuff+preleveled chars may lead to the point,t here wont be anyone to team. I would like to take opportunity and syggest something, that might please both part: FC and many players which like to play, aswell as those who want to buy adventages (XP stims are adventage over regular player imho):
~Add XP Buff for player usable only in team.~
How it would work? Player buys nanoprogram and actuivates it as an aura. Each member which receives aura (must be in team, must be in range, lets say 20m) will boost XP for caster by 3%.
So total boost by doing team will get more by 15%. Usable only on RK.
I belive, this would fairly inscreased activity on many areas on RK, would make others want to team for certain assigments and encurage to get full team
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I like that idea.Many players, including myself, are worried because buying lots of stuff+preleveled chars may lead to the point,t here wont be anyone to team. I would like to take opportunity and syggest something, that might please both part: FC and many players which like to play, aswell as those who want to buy adventages (XP stims are adventage over regular player imho):
~Add XP Buff for player usable only in team.~
How it would work? Player buys nanoprogram and actuivates it as an aura. Each member which receives aura (must be in team, must be in range, lets say 20m) will boost XP for caster by 3%.
So total boost by doing team will get more by 15%. Usable only on RK.
I belive, this would fairly inscreased activity on many areas on RK, would make others want to team for certain assigments and encurage to get full team
There is already nobody to team. Unless you put in the /AFK Levels Plz buff that works only while you're teamed, nothing is going to change that fact. Even then, all it would produce is six-loggers with one leveling alt and five xp mules on board to buff him with their extra xp. I don't think anyone would actually pay for that who is likely to use it anyway.
The problem is there aren't new players anymore, only new toons. Ninety-five percent of the player base is veterans. And people who have been in game for 10 years just aren't going to play through ancient content that they've done probably five or ten times already. If they're sticking around at all, it's either for pvp, for the fun of sometimes helping a small number of other players they know, for doing what passes for endgame raids with their m8s, or just trying to stave off the endless boredom by rolling and pwr leveling new toons to twink on.
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