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About a recent Funcom survey, in reguards to them selling credits.
JayBirdz
Member Posts: 1,017
I just found out that they ran this servey not to long ago and appears to still be running. Because as soon as I saw it I took the survey.
I gotta say up front I have never really held/hold a negative attitude towards Funcom. This recent survey where they are entertaining the idea in reguards to them selling credits for money has really got me on uneven ground.
One part of me saying they will never do it, even if they are Entertaining the idea. And another voice is saying they just might do it considering the economey and gameplay is fairly well geared to support it. Since camping or paying for lootrights and someone else to camp seems to be the name of the game due to unique mobs with long spawn times only dropping said items and the OD'ing mechanics that determines who gets said loot.
The negative inpacts this would bring for me as a player would definately be the point of no return (absolute). I have supported AO for a number of years. I subscribe in yearly intervals. I'm not critising the fundementals and ethics behind credit selling. But realizing that if the day should come that they as a company sell them in their own game, That I would not be one of those purchasers so everything I have worked for and save up would be all wasted as player (no matter how old a character is). I also see a nightmare that was once blamed on ingots would now be back in full force 100x over. The value of the credit would drop drastically. And honestly have no value what so ever. Since the market is already enourmousely flooded with them as is.
Now with that said entertaining the idea that they actually do go ahead with the selling of credits. Whats to say this will not carry over to Age of Conan for those who might not be familiar with Anarchy Online but might have interests as far as AoC goes.
Comments
The survey is meaningless funcom made its decision long before they started the poll. AO will be an item mall soon that is certain and I won't be one of the people that give into the PR spin they put into it. They want players to spend real money on in game points to buy items with that is an item mall not a mini-expansion or a booster pack.
original source
Funcom introduces virtual item sales in Anarchy Online
Additional business model introduced as the world's first sci-fi MMO celebrates six years.
Durham, USA June 27, 2007 Funcom is proud to announce the introduction of a additional business model for Anarchy Online, exactly six years after the launch of the world's first sci-fi MMO. Set to launch this summer, Funcom now introduces a point-based system where players can purchase selected virtual items, as well as new content and services. The new approach comes as an addition to Anarchy Online's existing business models, and it is a current Funcom focus to only introduce items which do not affect gameplay balance.
The first virtual items to kick off the program will be the introduction of jetbikes and hover boards, giving players the chance to cruise around Rubi-Ka in an all new fashion. In addition Funcom will offer previously released scout-mechs, luxury apartments, Leet pets and various sets of social clothing. By using points the players can also get access to previous and upcoming expansion and booster packs, as well as new services like changing in-game names or moving to another server.
Funcom has long been a pioneer on new MMO business models, and with the introduction of virtual item sales we are once again moving our game in an exciting new direction, said Trond Arne Aas, CEO of Funcom. Selling virtual items and smaller content upgrades is now a prevalent MMO business model in Asia. This has yet to be fully explored in the west, but we believe that the time is now right to test a limited version of such a model. At the same time we remain committed to the overall evolution of the game, making sure that Anarchy Online will be a success for many years to come.
Celebrating six years is a fantastic milestone for Anarchy Online, and we are genuinely honored to still entertain so many people, said Craig Morrison, Producer and Director on Anarchy Online. As we now introduce a new addition to Anarchy Online we have ensured that our paying customers get certain privileges. At the same time we also want to show our commitment to taking the overall gameplay experience forward. I am therefore glad to announce that we are developing a new graphics engine for the game, replacing our entire server farm, as well as developing exciting booster packs which include new playfields and more.
The Funcom points can at first be purchased in 10 and 20 USD / EUR packages. As an example of the price a new jetbike starts as low as 3 dollars, while a complete set of bikes can be bought for about 10 dollars. Players who are paying subscribers of Anarchy Online will get a set of monthly points included in the subscription price, and longer pricing plans like 6 and 12 months gives extra points. As an added incentive Funcom will send points to the player account upon receipt of subscription dues.
For more information about the game please visit www.anarchy-online.com.
Yeah i was aware of that. I got the impression they were talking about selling Credits for money with the wording of a few of those questions in the survey.
Social item means it bears no benefits except looks typically. Tho a few game items are labeled social so they can not be stacked with other armors, accesories such as grid armor.
The item shop is not the shocker at all I read about it and also saw a few side notes to it that said social item only either in an article or statment on the forum when this was first announced. Its the fact i got the impression from that survey that they are considering selling credits or ingame items Ai armors . )
Those hover boards or dirtbikes are already ingame under different skins. The yalm for the flight veichle. And cars for ground veichles. So those veichle packs are nothing speical. Other than a social/ look cool item. no benefits.
I only see it as a matter of time before they start the selling of items that effect the gameplay. It may start out as just social items but I know fc is too greedy once the money starts pouring in to let the opportunity pass them by to make a killing off all the elitist players with big thick wallets willing to spend all the cash they have to be uber. Their word they won't start selling game effecting items isn't enough given their history of doubletalk and lies.
Another thing that is worrysome is that fc has hired no new devs to work on these new items. If you check fc's job openings they are only hiring for age of conan and the secret world and not one position for ao. This indicates fc will be using the same people to work on these new pay for items while taking resources away from patches, bugfixes and free content. I am willing to predict the qualtity of future patches will turn to piss forcing players to buy these marketing labeled mini-expansions for decent future content.
Yeah.....
I think its great that Funcom is finally giving these gold sellers and powerlevellers some competition. Just in time too, I am seeing more and more spam for websites selling credits cheap. Every single online game out there is pretty much an Item mall anyway because of game money sellers. I applaud Funcom for taking this stand against them.
If every game did this, it may spell the end of online gold sellers.
P.S. Its funny, Ive said the same things about online gold sellers that you guys are saying about funcom right now.
Wow, that put me right on the fence. This would definitely make a positive impact but in only that aspect. But at the same time the only reason why it would put an end to credit sellers in AO is because there would be no value to them. Credit sellers could always sell more with a smaller price tag.
Social items only, including hoverboards and jetbikes, old preorder items, etc.
No credits will be sold.
No items which give an advantage or outperform ingame attainable items will be sold.
I see no problem, as this matter has already been discussed on the official boards.
Sadly, those who hate AO and/or Funcom, use this as another way to bash the game.
Frankly, I don't see Funcom being "greedy" at all, just adding some fun items for the roleplayers and/or those who just want to stand out a little more visually.
As far as goldsellers being able to undercut the prices of these items, it'll be a little hard to do, as they will be nodrops.
And concerning the "taking away of devs from patches, etc. to do these items: 90% of these items are already done and have been around forever, such as leet pets, Jobe luxury apartments, etc.
Also, they don't need new devs for these items. Artist have nothing to do with patches, bugfixes, etc.
Also, they have said that free content will continue, regular expansions will continue, as wll as the ability to buy mini-expansion (i.e. if you only want the mechs from LE but nothing else, you can buy the mechs seperate. Or whatever special items come with the next full expansion that you want, but you're not intersted in everything in the expansion).
As for patches and bugfixes, Sil has been on the ball overtime since taking over as Director. What used to be patching followed by weeks of fixing the patches, has now become patching and then a few minor tweaks, and done.
New servers, new engine, new graphics all announced. That's what the "item mall" is being implemented for. Players get social goodies, and AO stays reliant on it's own funding to pay for the upcoming improvements. It's an investment in brightening and reviving AO's future.
And I'm happy with it.
BOOM.
Totally agree.
If you read it, it states that they are releasing 'social items' that will not 'benefit' your character. Anarchy Online has played a huge role in supporting its social and roleplaying aspects of the game.
As I said, I agree, Funcom has made the right choice. I support them. I'm retuning to AO as of tonight, already all patched and ready to play
- Farseen
Current Game: Panzar
Ummm...
If I was wrong and this post was not about AO making a 'legit' service for players to buy in-game credits for real world cash...
Note the title of the thread: 'About a recent Funcom survey, in regards to them selling credits.'
Farseen, Zorvan: I
AO but this thread is about credit selling...not about selling the items that will be in the booster pack. Of course it is safe to assume that the new vehicles will be NO DROP...of course I didn't mean CREDIT sellers will undercut the price of the vehicles...what I meant (and thought I was clear about) was that CREDIT sellers will undercut Funcom if Funcom chooses to sell in game credits for real world cash. If they do not they will cease to exist. Why not just sell in game monies in other games besides AO? Of course this is done already but when word gets out how Funcom abolished the gold selling market from their game many other games might follow that same trend.
What server do you play on? I'm on RK2...Farseen, 63 Fixer
- Farseen
Current Game: Panzar
You know I agree with you alot on the majority of your posts but this is to much.
You totally missed the point that the discussion came to. Hoverboards = yalms big whoop. So they might sell a very small fration of these. Dirtbikes = already in game in the form of those cars and utterly worthless for traveling rubika. Since they are the same as dirtbikes they have very big limitations in usefullness. New mini expansions? How are these gonna be the answer if they aren't game inhancing. Besides all this your missing the fact that Funcom reguardless what anyone can say does not have a steller track record with delivering quality, ontime expansions, fixes, and upgrades. I think they do the best they can with what they have. But far from what it should be.
The point being if new income is what they are after. Fluff items will definately not be it, in whats turned into a more PvP focused game. So the concern is where does it stop. You show me 1 spot in that article where he says " they will not introduce game effecting items in the mall at some point". Now the new quest lines for higher lvls do seem a bit better. But again whats the purpose of buying these mini expansions if they don't have game effecting rewards in them. With the way new items get introduced at a phenominal rate which outpower previous items hands down/ no competition. I really find that hard to believe and you can see where the concern came from.
I don't know where the taking away from the dev patches came from. But pretty sure that wasn't me.
And about your going off constantly about the new servers, new engines, and all this fluff. I agree good stuff there. But this is way bigger than LE ever was and how late on delivery was LE? You rant and rave like its next week. The first announcement we can expect about the new rendering engine is sometime next year. This is taken straight from his post that you keep referneceing that says "there will be no game enhancing Items in the item mall". I clearly did not see CZ or Silirrion say that anywhere in that post.
I am not trying to degrade or talk Funcom into the dirt here. They posted the bloody survey, not me. If they are that out of touch with their community, excuse me..... whats left of their community that a few of the questions had to reference them to gold selling. Then they are in worse shape than I ever expected. We loose professionals at a phoenominal rate, simply because most of them say the communcation is just non-exsistant between them and Funcom. Its clear they are probably getting strapped for cash with all these planned upgrades, and a dwindling community (a fraction of what it use to be late last year.). So clearly you should be able to see where I am coming from concerning this item mall.
Edited in this bit not realizeing your were making a post already on my reply Zorvan.
I already pay my monthly fees for this game. On top of that they are now introducing a 3rd income ploy that has yet to be seen on the market with a subscription based model. Its not my fualt they twiddle their thumbs while their flourishing community started crashing while I payed my fees. Theres other games out there that are just as old and argueabley started out in the same shape AO did. And they have a healthy stable playerbase. Because they kept their game up to date, not riding it out untill it redlined and deemed time to make drastic changes that are still along ways off. Ao's a good clean currently one of a kind game considering what happened to SWG. But its almost becoming enough for me as a player exspeacially with 3 new sci - fi games slated for the near future in the same time frame this rendering engine upgrade is looking at.
When?http://forums.anarchy-online.com/showthread.php?t=498971
It's a long thread, and Sil posts in different spots throughout, addressing concerns and whatnot.Toward the middle somewhere, Sil mentions that their first focus will be the servers and engine, and then they will look at how much they can upgrade the graphics. He also let's people know, that yes, some will need to upgrade their comps, as the game will no longer be cpu intensive but instead utilize directx9/gpu's for the graphics and will require more memory, as is to be expected with a full overhaul.
Yes, the title of the survey is what set alot of people off on the official forums, including myself. However, we all realized pretty quickly that goldselling was a small focus of the actual survey, and those parts were mainly along the line of how does goldselling/farmers affect us as players? It was more of a tool to get ideas of what to watch for when it comes to the farmers themselves, than anything. A research tool with an ill-chosen name.
Sorry, My bad , Thomas 'Cz' Johnsen
= former community manager
not sure why I said his name tbh.
Just a side note, I kinda chuckled when I saw your reply to the pvp part. I set myself up for the pvp comment and was totally expecting it. I didn't mean for it to come out like it did and realized after I posted that it was worded wrong.
Heheh, no problem. I remember CZ now. As far as the PvP, I do understand where you were coming from, as the last expansion was , for the most part, purely PvP driven. But then, SL was pure PvE, as well as Alien Invasion, as far as total content. And I am one of the ones who believe LE should have been labeled a booster pack, same as Notum Wars, rather than an expansion.
And thanks for the reference. You got me quited on the subject unless further developments occur which contradict Silirrions statement.
As it might appear differently. I am honestly not hostile towards the game or Funcom. Just concerned. Exspeacially when I didn't see a 50 page long thread on the subject. It was hard to track down all the smaller threads and get all the info that was posted since I was taking a break when the majority of these disscussions went on. I even mistakenly necroed a 3 year old thread in reguards to this crap. which was humorously pointed out to me on the main forums.
I am just a bit pissed Funcom all of a sudden deciedes its time for a change after the majority of people I know in game have left and probably will never return due to Funcoms inactions. And all of a sudden when the games at it worst point. They are screaming from the top of their lungs about all these new and planned changes that will make the game second generation. They are very neat and wanted changes. Just should have happened awhile ago.
For example, people were complaining because threads made with helpful suggestions weren't being responded to by FC. Then they found that what they were asking for was being implemented in the patch. So, now, you have people making long threads and keeping them bumped, because they know FC is listening.
As Sil stated, he doesn't encourage replies to suggestion threads so much, because they just turn into flame wars. He just looks at the suggestion, sees that it's a viable option, doesn't single any one group out, and can be done with the available tools. And then he just has it done. But I have seen him respond to suggestions that are off-the-wall or just not feasible under the current system, and said "No, and here's why". Personally speaking, more than anything or anyone, Sil is the greatest hope AO has had in a long time.
For example, people were complaining because threads made with helpful suggestions weren't being responded to by FC. Then they found that what they were asking for was being implemented in the patch. So, now, you have people making long threads and keeping them bumped, because they know FC is listening.
As Sil stated, he doesn't encourage replies to suggestion threads so much, because they just turn into flame wars. He just looks at the suggestion, sees that it's a viable option, doesn't single any one group out, and can be done with the available tools. And then he just has it done. But I have seen him respond to suggestions that are off-the-wall or just not feasible under the current system, and said "No, and here's why". Personally speaking, more than anything or anyone, Sil is the greatest hope AO has had in a long time.
I do have some party alts on RK2
I wonder if this idea will spill over into other FC games, like AoC? Or if it just being used to milk a little more out of AO.
For example, people were complaining because threads made with helpful suggestions weren't being responded to by FC. Then they found that what they were asking for was being implemented in the patch. So, now, you have people making long threads and keeping them bumped, because they know FC is listening.
As Sil stated, he doesn't encourage replies to suggestion threads so much, because they just turn into flame wars. He just looks at the suggestion, sees that it's a viable option, doesn't single any one group out, and can be done with the available tools. And then he just has it done. But I have seen him respond to suggestions that are off-the-wall or just not feasible under the current system, and said "No, and here's why". Personally speaking, more than anything or anyone, Sil is the greatest hope AO has had in a long time.
I have to agree Sil is the best game director ao has had. Znore if I remember the name correctly let the game go to hell under his watch while Sil has demonstrated in just a short while he intends to correct long standing flaws in the game design.
I was also the one that said no new people are being brought in to work on ao. Since Sil took over he has been pushing the devs to repair the faults left from past mistakes and at the same time announced the creation of an item shop & future items it will come to have, server upgrades and graphics engine updates. This is a very large amount of work when you add on patches and bug fixes and ao has always had a skeleton crew of devs working on it. Now their workload has essentially been doubled and as anyone that has worked in management knows the more work handed out the more the quality and productivity of your employees drops. Without any new people to take on these new assignments it will be left to the same skeleton crew and something will have to give somewhere and since fc is a business it is safe to say they will make the focus of their work on the new items they plan to sell in their point shop. Fc has also stated they will release new items too the shop approx every 2 months and will need to continuously develop new items too keep this business model going. If fc intends to see through all these changes they will have to give the current crew working on ao more manpower.
I still keep in contact with many former friends from ao and chat with them when I get the time and for the most part they seem to share the same skepticism on the future of ao as a viable game. For one thing these new item will not all be social items you forgot they will be charging for future raid fields which is disturbing to some. Many veteran players also feel betrayed by fc over the announcement of pay for items and raid fields. Lost eden was just released last December and stated as an expansion and was far from it. Fc has always had a business model of selling unfinished expansions and finishing them with patches over the course of the year they debuted and many players while not liking this have come to accept it. Months have passed since LE and its remaining content is still being put in and some of the vets are pissed and believe that fc is trying to double charge them for content that should have been included with LE. Even AI content for the matter is still not completed sector 10 only recently appeared when fc promised such content when AI was first released. This new business model gives fc the ability to choose what becomes free patched content and what becomes pay for content such as these new raid playfields. So where is fc going to draw the distinction what will become free content and pay for content and how will it effect quality of future patches when even now they want too sell raid playfields?
I have to agree Sil is the best game director ao has had. Znore if I remember the name correctly let the game go to hell under his watch while Sil has demonstrated in just a short while he intends to correct long standing flaws in the game design.I was also the one that said no new people are being brought in to work on ao. Since Sil took over he has been pushing the devs to repair the faults left from past mistakes and at the same time announced the creation of an item shop & future items it will come to have, server upgrades and graphics engine updates. This is a very large amount of work when you add on patches and bug fixes and ao has always had a skeleton crew of devs working on it. Now their workload has essentially been doubled and as anyone that has worked in management knows the more work handed out the more the quality and productivity of your employees drops. Without any new people to take on these new assignments it will be left to the same skeleton crew and something will have to give somewhere and since fc is a business it is safe to say they will make the focus of their work on the new items they plan to sell in their point shop. Fc has also stated they will release new items too the shop approx every 2 months and will need to continuously develop new items too keep this business model going. If fc intends to see through all these changes they will have to give the current crew working on ao more manpower.
I still keep in contact with many former friends from ao and chat with them when I get the time and for the most part they seem to share the same skepticism on the future of ao as a viable game. For one thing these new item will not all be social items you forgot they will be charging for future raid fields which is disturbing to some. Many veteran players also feel betrayed by fc over the announcement of pay for items and raid fields. Lost eden was just released last December and stated as an expansion and was far from it. Fc has always had a business model of selling unfinished expansions and finishing them with patches over the course of the year they debuted and many players while not liking this have come to accept it. Months have passed since LE and its remaining content is still being put in and some of the vets are pissed and believe that fc is trying to double charge them for content that should have been included with LE. Even AI content for the matter is still not completed sector 10 only recently appeared when fc promised such content when AI was first released. This new business model gives fc the ability to choose what becomes free patched content and what becomes pay for content such as these new raid playfields. So where is fc going to draw the distinction what will become free content and pay for content and how will it effect quality of future patches when even now they want too sell raid playfields?
The new playfields you are refering to are meant for people who want to learn more about the storyline. The items given in those playfields are items that are available in the rest of the game. They are not intended as "raiding playfields", other than just being a place for a group to have fun. They are setup more like "private missions" than anything else. Again, for RP and for something to extra to do if you are into the storyline. Nothing valuable or gamebreaking.
Welles, with all due respect, I'd suggest playing the game and reading on the official boards when these discussions come up, instead of relying on former friends from AO. You should know as well as I, there are jaded vets in ALL games, who tire of the game and then refuse to see past their noses when it comes to that games state and where that ganme is headed.
Furthermore the things you bring up with unfinished expansions, etc. were all done during Znore's time, not Sil's. LE was the last major item produced during Znore's uninspiring lead, with Sil having to take the brunt of it when it was released. The new content being pushed out to add to AI and LE has been done under Sil.
Now, as far as hiring new devs, I wouldn't be surprised if they did hire more. In fact, they'll probably end up hiring some of the guys from AoC over to AO once AoC is launched, since these are the guys that are responsible for the reworking and upgrading done to the Dreamworld engine for AoC, won't be needed there anymore. And I'm sure they'd like to stay employed.
We also know that they just got a grant for $30 million dollars. Which is probably where the new server structure came from, and where those new devs will likely be paid from. However, that $30 million grant was given to Funcom as a whole, not for AO exclusively. So, that is why they just don't spend the entire grant on AO ( this isfor those who will surely say "$30 million? They don't need to make more money, then.", not you Welles).
All in all, Welles, I don't know what else to say. I cannot, and will not try, to tell you to just have blind faith and have no concerns. All I can say, is give Sil the time to repair what others (Znore for one), quite frankly, shit on and ignored. If Sil fails to deliver what he's promised, in the way he's promised it, I think the game will be sunk. And I really do think Sil does not want that to happen. All we can do, when the arguing and discussing is over, is wait and see.
Edit: Also, here is the preview of the free content being added in the 17.5 patch, which comes with the server upgrade:
http://www.anarchy-online.com/content/game/inproduction/features/17_5_content.html