What or who is GR.A.C.E. ?

[Genele]

We are currently in the process of evaluating and testing an optional subscription method. This is in the early phases of testing and will not necessarily reflect what goes live.

This new method is based on an item called GR.A.C.E. which when used will add 30 days of game-time to your account. GR.A.C.E. can only be used and traded in the market (GMI). In order to receive GR.A.C.E you need to buy a key from the billing pages. This key can be used in the market (GMI) to convert it to a GR.A.C.E. item.

This patch will contain new GUI functionality related to GR.A.C.E; however, the billing side of things will not be available at this time.

[Awikun]

Whats the point ???
It looks like opening door to credit sellers and exploiters and for sure not something that would benefit FC as company...

[Metafizis]

Careful with Itemstore and GMI thingers, we know where that lead to!

[Traderjill]

Whats the point ???
It looks like opening door to credit sellers and exploiters and for sure not something that would benefit FC as company...

It's actually something some players have been asking for.
http://forums.anarchy-online.com/sho...d.php?t=604465


Anyway, what does GR.A.C.E. stand for?

[Gorathon]

I'd like to buy less than 0 of them, please.

[Tikra]

Whats the point ???
It looks like opening door to credit sellers and exploiters and for sure not something that would benefit FC as company...

To my understanding, the gametime (code for it) has to be bought with real cash.
<edited out stuff cos of lack of knowledge>

[Traderjill]

To my understanding, the gametime (code for it) has to be bought with real cash.
It sure will boost the activity of credsellers, but FC will still get real $$ for 30 days playtime.

I've been up since 4am working so think I'm missing something due to lack of sleep. How does this serve as a boost for the credsellers?


- Last time I saw a spam, credits were being sold by a 3rd party at the rate of about $13 USD/billion.

- One month of game time (paid monthly) is about $15 USD

I think it is safe to assume that someone isn't going to go pay $13 USD to buy a billion credits then sell those credits to another player in game for an item worth $15 USD.

If the price of credits on the black market went up or down (in USD) I'd think it would have a similar effect on the cost of GR.A.C.E. (in credits) to balance out.

I'm guessing there's some unknown variable here between the cost of credits from 'gold spammers' and the cost of GR.A.C.E. that you're taking into consideration. Care to explain?

[Genele]

Anyway, what does GR.A.C.E. stand for?

I will post the current item description for GR.A.C.E. :

Grid Access Credit Extension, or GRACE, is a popular currency among wealthy traders. This item is also sought after by poor citizens on Rubi-Ka as it can be used to extend their insurance policy directly from the market.

WARNING: Due to the delicate nature of this valuable item, it can't be withdrawn from the market system.

This item, once used, adds 30 days of full access to Anarchy Online and all expansions. This time is added to any current game time. This operation cannot be reversed!

Any player who is currently on a "Free to play" subscription plan will have to upgrade their account in the account pages in order to obtain or use this item.

[Traderjill]

Well I think it is a great addition to the game. I bumped the thread in the item suggestion area and I'm glad to see that it is getting close to being implemented. Now I'll finally have something to do with all the credits I have laying around.

[Ahndracorvid]

Whats the point ???
It looks like opening door to credit sellers and exploiters and for sure not something that would benefit FC as company...

The point is that the door has already been open for years. This legitimate method gives FC a way to compete, hopefully drawing people away from the 3rd party credit sellers.

• People who want to can buy in-game credits with IRL cash.
• People who don't want to buy playtime with IRL cash can instead use in-game credits.
• FC gets a new source of revenue.
• AO gets an extra source of funding.

Everyone wins. Unless you're a credit seller loitering in Bor on a level 1 toon and annoying everyone with your spam. In which case you can have some level 7 rollerrats and chaindeaths as a consolation prize.

Personally, the possibility of a PLEX-like system in AO has me unusually optimistic.

[Tikra]

I'm guessing there's some unknown variable here between the cost of credits from 'gold spammers' and the cost of GR.A.C.E. that you're taking into consideration. Care to explain?

Uhm k.. woke up an hour later and your brain seems to be in a better state than mine. Since i dont see any cred spam since the introduction of /filter im not aware what the current rate is. So, just ignore that part of my post

[Misat0]

I see this as a valuable addition.

Also I'd like to see any example of where the addition of a similar feature in other games has ever lead to worse the problem of credit sellers.

[Ekarona]

What will be the price of this plex to buy in EUR, USD and GBP?

[Metafizis]

What will be the price of this plex to buy in EUR, USD and GBP?

Whatever it is - we gonna make some profit!

[Rikaria]

woot AO "PLEX" something to spend creds on

btw would this item also end up in the vet machine for tho's who have vet points and nothing to spend them on?

[Traderjill]

woot AO "PLEX" something to spend creds on

btw would this item also end up in the vet machine for tho's who have vet points and nothing to spend them on?

Heya Rik. I doubt they could do that since vet points are per character and you get a fresh set every time you roll a new toon.

[Genele]

Heya Rik. I doubt they could do that since vet points are per character and you get a fresh set every time you roll a new toon.

I agree, this sounds like a bad idea

What will be the price of this plex to buy in EUR, USD and GBP?

My guess is that it will match the price you would normally have to pay for one month of game time. But this is for the people in the marketing/billing department to decide.

[hokutonoken]

so can GR.A.C.E. key be bought with FC Points???? say you've alreayd $15 of FC points you can get a GR.A.C.E. key buy it with your FC points?

[Genele]

so can GR.A.C.E. key be bought with FC Points???? say you've alreayd $15 of FC points you can get a GR.A.C.E. key buy it with your FC points?

This is another question I can't answer because it will be in the hands of the marketing/billing departments.
My guess though is that you have to buy it directly from the billing pages as this would limit the risks of exploitation.

[semisentient]

this is a really great upcoming change!

first of all, this was a hugely popular suggestion on the item store forums and it actually got implemented!

second of all, players now have the option to not have to pay a monthly subscription to get full content basically being sponsored by fellow whale players putting in more money than time.

let the free market reign so to speak.

a simultaneous crackdown/threat on cred seller/buyers while there is such an easy legal and beneficial alternative will hopefully mean the end of those spammers in borealis. that is if the economics of this don't just outright obsolete cred sellers.