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Guild Wars 2: Microtransaction Goals & Systems Detailed

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  • ambvaiambvai Member Posts: 17

    [For the purposes of simplicity, Dollar is real world currency, Gem is purchased in-game currency and Gold is, er, game currency.]

    I play on three games that have existed for 5+ years that has a similar system of Dollar->Gem<->Gold and I have to say that it works remarkably well as long as there's enough leaving the economy to prevent spiraling inflation.

    Having said that, it does not entirely eliminate resellers, but it does discourage the vast majority. Those who do work in resellers, it helps by giving an official price so both the buyer and seller can be assured of getting fair value. (One person I know on one of them gives a 10% discount so if it's something like $10->100Gem/10000Gold at current prices, he offers $10->110Gem/11000Gold.)

    With or without the resellers though, people are still going to be buying Gems from ANet since, well-- that's the only place they come from. Without them, resellers are going to have a headache of a time pricing competitively.

    Personally, I believe this system to be among the best-- however, the devs do kind of have to be careful with exactly what Gems can do. I've gone mostly dormant or retreated out of competitive play on a few games where I personally felt that the effort required to obtain the Gold required to purchase Gems from other players became too extreme and diminished the fun. I doubt GW2 will fall into that, given what I've seen in GW and what they're saying right now, but... I really hope those 'time-saving convenience items' don't become effective necessities. (I have a special hatred for the EotN consumables. Powerstones, Grails, etc...)



     

  • TbkrulezTbkrulez Member Posts: 42

    I love this system.

  • dzoni87dzoni87 Member Posts: 541

     


    Ok but since Mike O'Brien writes "They(Players) should also be able to spend money on account services and on time-saving convenience items." Does it mean that i will be able to buy items that boost my karma farming ? I can understad its not mandatory but still its P2W.

    First of all, neither you or me dont know if will karma boost be in Cash Shop. Even if its true, on which way is getting karma boost pay to win? By definition, pay to win is the situation when one player will have unfair advantage OVER another player. Since there is no traditional gear threadmill, even the gear obtainable via Karma (let me state again) wont be much mandatory, hence wont give much of advantage OVER others. If you count the time spent in advantage argument, i always say one thing: if one want to rush trough game content faster, its his loss anyway. In PvP, everyone will have the same gear anyway, so there is less point.

    People need to do some search about how gear worked in GW. If the GW2 keep the same gear system (which i am certain) im not worried a bit. If, something strange happens, and they suddenly accept traditional gear threadmill, then we will have a real problem there.

    Main MMO at the moment: Guild Wars 2
    Waiting for: Pathfinder Online

  • causscauss Member UncommonPosts: 666

    I like this system a lot actually. The only thing I want to know, what convenience items will they sell?

  • RaekonRaekon Member UncommonPosts: 531

    Originally posted by solarine

    No way is this right, let alone "the perfect system"...

    Right would be doing everything they say they're doing without letting players trade gems for gold. Buying cosmetic stuff with money + account services. That's the right way.

    Whereas what they have here practically means:  Rich in real life => Rich in game.

    I don't know about you, but that just doesn't ring fair with me. Call me old-fashioned, but I believe in-game success must only be achievable with in-game effort. It's what gaming is all about.  

    And he actually calls this a "level playing field"? Color me amazed. 

     

    So you would call someone "rich in game" only because they have a item mall costume that doesn't give them any advantages only because you couldn't buy it? O_o

    Really don't understand your complain here.

    The way they are doing it helps all players being equal since:

    - players that don't wanna or can't spend money for item mall cosmetical stuff or a extra character slots can invest in game time to gather enough gold and exchange it for item mall currency so they can buy this extra slot or costume they would like to have.

    - players that doesn't have much time to play (weekend players or similar) and want to spend some money to get these things can do it directly.

    They have additionaly the option to exchange item mall currency to gold and grab materials or other in game stuff they don't have the time to farm due to their limited gaming time.

    This type of transaction helps both parties and makes the game more fun and more rewarding while at the same time increases the community interaction.

    I saw this type of system in Jade Dynasty years ago (I think perfect world and battle of the immortals has it to but I don't remember anymore) and even there were only 2 types of currency instead of 3 in GW2, the system worked great!

    Example: I'm a pets nerd ("catch them all" ;p ) and I wanted to have all these little pets that interested me for my characters(each character having many different ones but not the same).

    There are some item mall pets and some in game catchable pets so, what I did since I didn't had the time for farming was spending a small amount of money on the item mall, buying 2 pets, then trading at the bank my remaining item mall money and buying with the in game currency the other pets I wanted from the players that sold them.

    These players on the other side could buy item mall currency through the in game money I spend on them by buying their pets.

    Through this they could buy a item mall pet for themselves or something else they needed.

    A great thing in my opinion cause they had the time and invested it in that case "for me" while I "payed for their invested time" by buying their pets and making it possible for them to enjoy item mall stuff in the progress.

    A Win/Win situation that made us both happy!

     

  • k-damagek-damage Member CommonPosts: 738

    This sounds good. I don't see where having day-1 gold millionaires from cash shop is different from having day-1 gold millionaires from heavy farming.

    (because yes, this system means you can indirectly buy gold with cash)

    There are always those huge farmers in any MMO that you will never be able to match in term of wealth. It's the case in WoW, where there's no cash shop (yet). Some people are stacking hundreds of thousands of gold on each alt because they have a ton of primary resources to sell, but yet this doesn't break the game. That's absolutely no different from one gw2 player who doesn't know any better thing to do with his dollars but to buy a ton of gems and sell it for gold to anyone.

    ***** Before hitting that reply button, please READ the WHOLE thread you're about to post in *****

  • engellenengellen Member UncommonPosts: 83

    Originally posted by k-damage

    This sounds good. I don't see where having day-1 gold millionaires from cash shop is different from having day-1 gold millionaires from heavy farming.

    (because yes, this system means you can indirectly buy gold with cash)

    There are always those huge farmers in any MMO that you will never be able to match in term of wealth. It's the case in WoW, where there's no cash shop (yet). Some people are stacking hundreds of thousands of gold on each alt because they have a ton of primary resources to sell, but yet this doesn't break the game. That's absolutely no different from one gw2 player who doesn't know any better thing to do with his dollars but to buy a ton of gems and sell it for gold to anyone.

    your neglecting to talk about the people who arent rich and dont have the time to farm so much gold you have to put it on alts, i played wow for 7 years and i always wished i had money to buy the items and super fast mounts they offered but just never had time enough to farm gold, now people with the money to spend on it will always have a leg up on me. end of discussion

    played a million mmo's

  • tripleetriplee Member Posts: 8

    Originally posted by engellen

    your neglecting to talk about the people who arent rich and dont have the time to farm so much gold you have to put it on alts, i played wow for 7 years and i always wished i had money to buy the items and super fast mounts they offered but just never had time enough to farm gold, now people with the money to spend on it will always have a leg up on me. end of discussion

    It's not the end of discussion, because you have no clue what you're talking about. Having more gold does not equal having a "leg up". Example: I never had more than 5k gold in Warcraft, my buddy on the other hand never had less than 30k. We had the same tier armor, same pvp armor, same skills, same flying speed, same mount speed. What advantage did he have on me? He could buy more cosmetic stuff to look cooler?! Wow, hell of a leg up there.

    Until the best armor and weapons in the game become buyable by in-game gold, this is not a leg up. 

    End of discussion, you know, until the next person posts behind me, because just saying it doesn't cause it to happen.

  • RaekonRaekon Member UncommonPosts: 531

    Originally posted by LazerChicken







    Originally posted by dzoni87





    BEST GEAR WILL BE OBTAINABLE FOR KARMA WHICH IS NON-TRADEABLE, NOT GEMS OR GOLD AND GEAR IS NOT MANDATORY ANYWAY






















     





    Ok but since Mike O'Brien writes "They(Players) should also be able to spend money on account services and on time-saving convenience items." Does it mean that i will be able to buy items that boost my karma farming ? I can understad its not mandatory but still its P2W.






     






    Second thing is that Mike writes that GW2 system will have "the similarities to EVE Online’s PLEX system", wich in my opinion is a fail one. If you have enough rly money you can provide super-boost for you char/corp. Buy mass PLEX and sell it for ISK, and buy shpis/ammo/resources. Finnaly making any war depend on how much money players would spend in order to win.

    Time Saving Convencience Items in GW1:

    - Unlock all Pets except of the "Elite Special ones"

    - Unlock all PvE Skills (except of elite skills I think)

    - Unlock all PvP Skills

    - Unlock all Skills of Prophecies Or Factions Or Nightfall OR EotN (as far as I remember)

    Nothing game breaking there in my opinion.

    Someone that has very limited game time can pay a buck or two and get these things unlocked while others that have the time and don't wanna spend just unlocking the stuff in the game.

     

    Account Services :

    - Additional Character slots

    - Hero slots for your main characters so you can take them with you as heroes

    - Character makeover (change the looks of your character like face, hair and so on again)

     

    Cosmetical Stuff:

    - various costumes

     

    Pretty sure it will be the same in GW2 cause by the "flat" leveling line in GW2 it won't take ages to have a character up to max level (still depending on your gaming time though).

    After you reached max level you will probably gain further levels in form of skill points like in GW1 with which you can unlock more skills of the ones that we will be able to unlock through a npc (weapon skills are unlocked by using the weapons only).

    Due to this I highly doubt they will add double xp or double gold  and similar items in the item mall.

    The so called end game gear will be probably like the elite armors in GW1 which are not totally needed but good to have for your hall of monuments. 

    So if someone wants lets say to have all skills from the beginning for his profession because they  dont want to invenst time in unlocking them, they have the chance to do so.

    This doesn't give them any real advantage in pvp since personal skill has always been a factor in GWs PvP and in pve everyone will be getting rewards when involved in a event so no problem there either.

     

  • Runes Of Magic has been using this system for years and it works very well. They use diamonds and u can buy diamonds with real money and put them on the ah and sell them for gold.

  • ZeroxinZeroxin Member UncommonPosts: 2,515



    Originally posted by engellen




    Originally posted by whisperwynd






    Originally posted by Thane

     

    [quote]Even if there is an consumable in the microtransaction shop, that gives players a +10% boost to all damage, everyone can purchase it.[/quote] 

    sounds alot like p2w to me tho :)

    Not really P2W as you can buy with ingame gold. Kinda moot point and said several times over many threads. Buy a gem with RL money and get it or grind some gold, buy a gem from player then get it. Equal opportunity. Nothing P2W about it.

    i dont think you understand it at all, you buy gems online with real money then sell them for gold and be able to buy anything you want in game, how is that not P2W?






     

    P2W is not the fact that you can by gems and exchange them for gold but the fact that you can buy an item that increases your damage by 10% in the cash shop. That isn't right and that shouldn't be part of their "things to sell". Those types of things should only be attainable in-game if you ask me.





     

    This is not a game.

  • evilastroevilastro Member Posts: 4,270

    Originally posted by baykes112

    Guys please please open your eyes. You guys really think this will not be a P2W game?.

     

    Every1 was thinking that it was going to B2P. Believe me Micro transactions=always p2w. It starts with costumes (looks), and after a couple of weeks, exp boost,speed boosts, character stat boosts, Armors, Pets,Mounts.

     

    You think they gonna make game only for B2P??. Very bad move of GW2 . Didnt expect this. REAL MONEY=WIN ECONOMY+EQUIPMENT VERY EASYY. It has nothing to do with time etcc.

     

    And dont talk about convencience items... Yes IT STARTS with these kinds of items but after some time it will be a copy of AOC or LOTRO or even Lineage2 hahah.

    BYe Bye GW2 i prefer play a p2p game then a item mall(p2w) game. 

     

    Its the rich against the poor.

    What a load of rubbish.

    Pay to win indicates that you are more powerful for buying gems than someone who doesnt. This isnt the case. The best gear in the game  at max level, in terms of power and not appearance, is very very very easy to obtain. Basically if you spend RL money on buying level 80 gear, you are an idiot and deserve to be ripped off. All level 80 armor sets are the same, just differing in appearance. Go play GW1 to see how it works.

    ANet prides the GW franchise being competitive PvP. There wont be any stat boosts, speed boosts or damage boosts. Appearance gear? Yep thats almost a certainty. Non-combat pets? Probably. The game wont have mounts at all (shows how much you know about it).

    You would prefer to play a game where you have to pay to be competitive than a B2P game with convenience and appearance gear? Each to their own I guess. I know that I would rather play a game where I am on the same playing level as everyone else (GW2).

     

  • evilastroevilastro Member Posts: 4,270

    Originally posted by Zeroxin



    Originally posted by engellen






    Originally posted by whisperwynd








    Originally posted by Thane

     

    [quote]Even if there is an consumable in the microtransaction shop, that gives players a +10% boost to all damage, everyone can purchase it.[/quote] 

    sounds alot like p2w to me tho :)

    Not really P2W as you can buy with ingame gold. Kinda moot point and said several times over many threads. Buy a gem with RL money and get it or grind some gold, buy a gem from player then get it. Equal opportunity. Nothing P2W about it.

    i dont think you understand it at all, you buy gems online with real money then sell them for gold and be able to buy anything you want in game, how is that not P2W?






     

    P2W is not the fact that you can by gems and exchange them for gold but the fact that you can buy an item that increases your damage by 10% in the cash shop. That isn't right and that shouldn't be part of their "things to sell". Those types of things should only be attainable in-game if you ask me.





     

    10% damage boost would be P2W, and I doubt they would implement that.

  • NightkinNightkin Member UncommonPosts: 48

    It's same as like in Star Trek online. Players are able to sell dilithium for cryptic points what are usable in the Cryptic store.  In STO it was stinky because the developers (or the members of the marketing) are manipulated the market because who the hell have thousands of bucks to do this?:)

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  • Scripture1Scripture1 Member UncommonPosts: 421

    “… it’s never OK for players who spend money to have an unfair advantage over players who spend time"

    Wow, I never thought these gaming companies would ever it it right. I think this game will finally be the winner the gaming community has been looking for. At least it will show all the rest in what direction they should all go.

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  • FindarielFindariel Member UncommonPosts: 222

    This sounds like the EVE PLEX system? :O

     

  • OzmodanOzmodan Member EpicPosts: 9,726

    Anyone attempting to call this microtransaction system a pay-to-win system has some bats in the belfrey.  It is just not a pay-to-win system in any shape or form.  Anything available in the shop is also easily available via playing the game except for possibly some fluff items.

  • NightkinNightkin Member UncommonPosts: 48

    Originally posted by Skycomet

    It sounds to me like you can actually just buy gems and become instantly rich ingame... no $$ from me for Anet... for now at least.




     

    Guys.. being rich in a game is not advantage. Even not in Guild Wars. Your money can't save you from my sharp blade n true skill:) GW is based on skills not on gears.

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  • dageezadageeza Member Posts: 578

    If Anet holds true to this model as i suspect they will then it is as mike says "everyone wins" done in this way nobody is at a disadvantage and all can partake in cash shop items by buying gems with in game gold if they so choose..

    I assume the best stuff will have to be purchased with karma which has to be earned...

     

    Playing GW2..

  • IllyssiaIllyssia Member UncommonPosts: 1,507

    Originally posted by Deleted User

    It is pure win because I can elect to either spend my time or my real money for items in the cash shop.  I can't imagine a fairer system.

    Cash shop is just another way for games companies to make more money.  The option to use in-game currency at a lot of your own time is just camoflague, players cut corners... thats why we have gold farmers. 

     

    ArenaNet are trying to make as much money as possible at launch folks. Thats why EU players pay so much more for the game box than NA players. Cash Shop at launch is to generate money for the games company. It isn't progressive just cynical. There may be no sub, folks, but you betya that ArenaNet have other ways to generate money from the game at launch.

     

     

    GW2 has been hyped to max level in the online world, and the reality isn't as good as the fantasy in many peoples heads.

  • itgrowlsitgrowls Member Posts: 2,951

    It's pure win to me because often end game the things i'd like to get like mounts or cosmetic clothing or whatnot end up costing too much and my characters have usually been poor because the market in the AH tends to be flooded with resource gatherers who undercut every post. So it's nice to see a game maker who sees this problem and fixes it. I can buy a single gem and get gold for what i want in game (outside of what is normally earned like dungeon sets or crafted weapons).

    it's a nice addition.

  • IllyssiaIllyssia Member UncommonPosts: 1,507

    If a games company was progressive they would say tie a quest to get the mount of your dreams. If it is tied to currency or rep then it is a time sink to make you play the game. If it can be got from a cash shop then it is simply a way to make the company more money. Gamers are very naive about this type of thing.

  • reanorreanor Member UncommonPosts: 441

    This is a good system, unless gold sellers sell gold for less than the rate on the gem trade.

  • IshkalIshkal Member UncommonPosts: 304

    That is one of the most ridiculous and low functioning responses i've ever heard in defense of microtransactions.  Hey Dumb ^&& how bout you sell us a game that is fun for the price of the box or a refund if we're not having fun cause you should not have to double down  on your video game when it was designed around you needing to make microtransactions >.<

  • IllyssiaIllyssia Member UncommonPosts: 1,507

    Originally posted by reanor

    This is a good system, unless gold sellers sell gold for less than the rate on the gem trade.

    No its not. If the game was just box price they would give you simple quest to complete for whatever item. Cash Shop option means that it is an out of game cash purchase way to avoid in game grind. So GW2 has  alot of grinding in it as well at launch.

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