You know why cash shops were brought into MMOs, because people were selling in game items anyone on Playerauction and Ebay. Some individuals were making profit off of the property of the gaming company, and yes, your character and his gear is their property, you are just renting him.
This really has no more bearing on the game then if i was to go onto player actions and buy a max level character in full epic gear. I now have an unfair advantage over you because i am starting with the best.
This has been going on for years, the developers are now getting a piece of the pie that they were losing before. Is it great, no, but you cant really blame them either.
Did they lie, yes they did, but that just makes them like pretty much everyone else. You can try to sue them for it if you want but it has been done before and didnt amount to much.
I suppose this is a good point, but even with these situations if the population finds out they can report it, and so these people are risking hundreds of hours/dollars. Just like robbing anything can yield great rewards it also has an element of risk. Of course on the internet that risk is lowered.
I am not reccomending those who are invested in Vanguard quit, but i think avoiding this company would be advisable to players looking for a new game. This is not their first accusation of damaging a game to raise capital gains and actually worsening the situation. If you are as of now in for a penny, you may as well stay because I agree that it is unlikely they will soon damage it. If you are looking for a new game though i would put your penny elsewhere.
Don't buy this game...umm....cause... EQ2 is getting an fluff item cash shop....umm...ok ....sure? Thats good enough logic for me! Might as well stop playing this game now since your crystal ball says VG will not be fun soon. Thanks for saving me from the potential evil that SOE will wrought against me. Now I can sleep at night.
Don't buy this game...umm....cause... EQ2 is getting an fluff item cash shop....umm...ok ....sure? Thats good enough logic for me! Might as well stop playing this game now since your crystal ball says VG will not be fun soon. Thanks for saving me from the potential evil that SOE will wrought against me. Now I can sleep at night.
Think what you like, but it seems pretty clear to me that SOE is looking for new ways to make money.
And VG is their red headed step child; they only give it what it needs to survive and will abuse it as they see fit.
You may want to join the EQ1 and EQ2 communities and voice your opinions now on the official forums, because they certainly won't listen to the sad little VG player base if they try to go it on their own.
This is the last I will say of it here on these forums.
boo freakin hoo, a cash shop doesent matter, so what if they add one? you can get advantages too, if your willing to pay. its there game, and they can add whatever the hell they want. They can also change rules if they want, even the user agreement, as it states in most of them, it can change at any time. Hell, you could afford alot of this stuff for free if you think about it...sell some blood, or plasma, or other things which people dont want me to mention.
the fact is, its their game, their rules, and if they want to add a cash shop, then they can add a cash shop. Hell I would LOVE most games to add cash shops so I could get some pimp gear and advantages to make my leveling easier.
--a real gamer wouldn't let something like this bother them.--
People in MMO's spend far too much time worrying and troubling themselves over what other people in a game are doing.
I really could care less if there is a cash shop or not. It will not affect me or the way I game. I choose not to worry about other people. They can play how they want, I'll play how I want.
Venge Sunsoar
Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it is bad.
Shock horror! you mean to tell me that a company are trying to find new ways to make cash? how wrong is that! dont they realise in ths climate they are meant to be finding ways of making as little cash as possible so that thier company can't survive?
Like a previous poster has already pointed out, it goe's on in virtually every game already illegally. all they have done is organised it and taken thier slice of the pie! which to me seems like sound judgement. does it effect me playing any of my games? not in the slightest! will it make my game any less enjoyable? only if i am a carebear who wants everything that everyone else has for nothing, which i'm not
The fact that we pay for MMO's is stupid. What suckers we are. We buy *copies* of software and then pay $15.00 bucks a month to be allowed to use it. Jesus, how dumb can we get?
Now SOE, seeing just how stupid we all are, is going to have you pay real money for virtual items!
Don't even try to defend their business model. Don't be a tool.
Think about it.
I miss the good ol' days when nerds were actually intelligent.
The fact that we pay for MMO's is stupid. What suckers we are. We buy *copies* of software and then pay $15.00 bucks a month to be allowed to use it. Jesus, how dumb can we get? Now SOE, seeing just how stupid we all are, is going to have you pay real money for virtual items! Don't even try to defend their business model. Don't be a tool. Think about it.
Im not sure if you were being sarcastic with the above or not.
But if not and you actually think SOE are fools because they think this think again.
Hypothically a friend of mine sold 2 EQ characters for 1000 US Dollars a piece. Crazy stupid insane that someone would pay that much for virtual merchandise but sadly they did.
Playerauctions and EBay used to be full of in game items to buy, now mainly just money though. Why would SOE not want to get a piece of this revenue pie that they were missing out on.
Its their game? Its not their game. Its our game. We play it. We are what keeps it running. If we were not here it would not run. If they change it so we no longer like the game, the game dies. We have control over the game. I'm not planning on playing any SoE games unless they get rid of cash shops in all of their p2p games. I'm warning anyone else who dislikes this business model to do the same. If you don't care then the warnring does not apply to you.
P.S. If i wanted a game where others peoples actions didnt affect me at all I would play Oblivion or something. In MMORPGs what others are doing has alot to do with you. We are in the same game. If somone in a soccer game decides to pick up the ball and start running, it affects me. Kthnx?
I came to the Vanguard forum to try and escape the relentless arguments about Station Cash. Waste of time, it seems. If you want to keep arguing about this, then do it on the EQII forums - most people must be sick of this by now.
I came to the Vanguard forum to try and escape the relentless arguments about Station Cash. Waste of time, it seems. If you want to keep arguing about this, then do it on the EQII forums - most people must be sick of this by now.
You are correct that we are sick of Smedley and SOE's underhanded lying actions.
Let me get this straight, You wont buy this game because the people who manage this game also manage another game that charges you money to buy something in that game?
Let me get this straight. You think that the same company that owns and runs Vanguard and is a proven liar to gamers of their other products won't be introducing this item shop to Vanguard?
Smed has already lied to us about thing with this game.
This game is really good, its fun and enjoyable and I Was just about to buy it yesterday. I did the trial and its by far one of the best games iv ever played mmorpg wise, great community and the game itself is really fun! DO NOT BUY THIS GAME! or any SoE game for that matter, Look what they did to EQ2, they added a cash shop ON TOP of the subscription fee, I can tell you this move right there made me reconsider buying and starting on vanguard, no matter how fun or good the game is I will not support a company that backstabs and slaps their player base like they did to the EQ fans. I hope people realize what SoE is doing and protest all their games.If they did it to EQ what keeps them from doing it to Vanguard in the future?
You seem confused.
Not buying Vanguard on account of their owner ,SOE, is illogical. Sigil created and developed Vanguard. Many of the same developers are still with Vanguard though its now run by Sony.
Vanguard is a great game. One the only mmo's available right now that is immersive and open ended. There's tons of stuff to do in Vanguard and you aren't on a linear treadmill that dictates where you go and what you do like in all big mmo titles. Its challenging and a gamers MMO, not one of these hybrid mmos trying to integrate everyone into one platform. The world is huge and creates a real feeling of immersion that few games have been able to create since Everquest. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that if (and this is a big IF) Vanguard would have released in the state it is now, LotR/AOC/War wouldn't stand a chance against what Vanguard has to offer.
The only real problem with Vanguard at this point is that they don't have the playerbase and money to develop new content at a pace that keeps up with the progression. This is the result of their bust early release due to fiancial issues. Theres a lot of empty places that could be filled with awesome content, but without the population I doubt they will ever be able to pick up the development pace. Thats a reason to not buy Vanguard - not because SOE is involved.
The fact that we pay for MMO's is stupid. What suckers we are. We buy *copies* of software and then pay $15.00 bucks a month to be allowed to use it. Jesus, how dumb can we get? Now SOE, seeing just how stupid we all are, is going to have you pay real money for virtual items! Don't even try to defend their business model. Don't be a tool. Think about it.
You should go play f2p games for a while and after 6 months when there is no new content or fix patches offered, you will then understand why paying for a game is necessary.
MMOs require constant maintenance and development. Go back to your console games, this is too complicated for you.
Let me get this straight, You wont buy this game because the people who manage this game also manage another game that charges you money to buy something in that game?
Let me get this straight. You think that the same company that owns and runs Vanguard and is a proven liar to gamers of their other products won't be introducing this item shop to Vanguard?
Let me get this straight. Who the hell cares? If someone wants to spend real money to get in-game items in a game that is PVE-oriented, who cares? There is no advantage that player A has over me regarding PVP especially in a game like Vanguard so who the hell cares? If my main healer in a raid bought his gear so he can keep me alive better, GOOD FOR HIM!
The only place a cash store kills a game is in regard to PVP. Games like WoW, WAR and EVE could (or at least should) never try this model.
For EQ1, EQ2, Vanguard, etc if someone with money can make my group better because of their gear then I am all for it. I personally have never needed to pay for something because I like to take my time in a game but for someone with limited playtime and a good financial backing I give a big thumbs up. Thank you for buying the uber tank gear so I don't get pounded! Thank you for buying the holy healing super stuff so I don't get dead!
Many players do as evidenced by the EQ/EQ2 boards. Because you don't care or even play said games doesn't mean that it's to be ignored.
The way you reason is the way SoE reasons, which is quite ignorant. Vanguard is quite close to EQ in terms of gamplay and this will just lead to the same type of cancellations of players because....they do care.
Many players do as evidenced by the EQ/EQ2 boards. Because you don't care or even play said games doesn't mean that it's to be ignored.
The way you reason is the way SoE reasons, which is quite ignorant. Vanguard is quite close to EQ in terms of gamplay and this will just lead to the same type of cancellations of players because....they do care.
I'll tell you when I did care. Back during my 6 years playing EQ1, I cared about people who bought eBayed accounts and had no clue how to play in the end-game.
I stand firm. If a player who knows how to play their character can afford some in-game items with real money, I say let them. It's already been debated that most items are ornamental or xp buffs (to already max level players). I know if I was working on a 4th alt, I'd pay for xp potions. I lived through the low content 3 times before I should get fast-forwarded in my opinion.
they added a cash shop ON TOP of the subscription fee
I browsed a couple threads that are ranting over this, but would someone please explain why this is such a evil thing that has caused the lynch mob to form?
Does what you say mean SOE is somehow getting more money from it's subscribers and failed to tell them until 2 weeks after TSO went live?
I've cancelled my EQ2 account shortly before WAR went live so I haven't really been following the actions of SOE..
Rallithon Oakthornn (Retired Heirophant of the 60th season)
I'll tell you when I did care. Back during my 6 years playing EQ1, I cared about people who bought eBayed accounts and had no clue how to play in the end-game. I stand firm. If a player who knows how to play their character can afford some in-game items with real money, I say let them.
WOW, I just had to comment on this statement! I really really really HATED those rich spoiled newbs who would rather purchase $1000 + high level accounts as opposed to working their way up from scratch like everyone else. There was nothing worse than to see a levle 60 Warrior who literally had no idea how to tank and play his character, or a levle 60 cleric that thought he was a dpser instead of a healer.. OMG, those ebayers were the worst! But hey, I did love it when they would overpay for accounts I sold, lol.. Having a manastone and powerleveling myself with my druid to level 50 in under a week made me some nice rl cash, so I guess it evened out in the end, lol. :P
Rallithon Oakthornn (Retired Heirophant of the 60th season)
Fluff items. House pets, appearance armor with no stats. Clearly game breaking items that'll ruin the game for life.
People have been burned by other games RMT shops and so are up in arms. But RMT's are evolving like other elements of online gaming. I think SOE realizes that if they add game balance items in the RMT Shop they'll grossly affect their carefully created item balance and player base. Rather then do that, they're offering fluff and appearance items.
When Legends of Norrath came out people cried that you'd get fabled raid loot swords out of card packs, but so far all you get is fluff items like shrink capes, flaming eyes, and alternate shadered mounts already available in game. The same will be true with the StationCash shop. But go on and cry doom and gloom, it won't change the facts which are that the game won't be affected by the stationcash store as much as you want to wish it will be.
Comments
You know why cash shops were brought into MMOs, because people were selling in game items anyone on Playerauction and Ebay. Some individuals were making profit off of the property of the gaming company, and yes, your character and his gear is their property, you are just renting him.
This really has no more bearing on the game then if i was to go onto player actions and buy a max level character in full epic gear. I now have an unfair advantage over you because i am starting with the best.
This has been going on for years, the developers are now getting a piece of the pie that they were losing before. Is it great, no, but you cant really blame them either.
Did they lie, yes they did, but that just makes them like pretty much everyone else. You can try to sue them for it if you want but it has been done before and didnt amount to much.
I suppose this is a good point, but even with these situations if the population finds out they can report it, and so these people are risking hundreds of hours/dollars. Just like robbing anything can yield great rewards it also has an element of risk. Of course on the internet that risk is lowered.
I am not reccomending those who are invested in Vanguard quit, but i think avoiding this company would be advisable to players looking for a new game. This is not their first accusation of damaging a game to raise capital gains and actually worsening the situation. If you are as of now in for a penny, you may as well stay because I agree that it is unlikely they will soon damage it. If you are looking for a new game though i would put your penny elsewhere.
Don't buy this game...umm....cause... EQ2 is getting an fluff item cash shop....umm...ok ....sure? Thats good enough logic for me! Might as well stop playing this game now since your crystal ball says VG will not be fun soon. Thanks for saving me from the potential evil that SOE will wrought against me. Now I can sleep at night.
Its funny because it does make sense.
Everyone read Smedleys Blog: http://stationblog.wordpress.com/ the future of MMO gaming for SOE is Microtransactions.
Think what you like, but it seems pretty clear to me that SOE is looking for new ways to make money.
And VG is their red headed step child; they only give it what it needs to survive and will abuse it as they see fit.
You may want to join the EQ1 and EQ2 communities and voice your opinions now on the official forums, because they certainly won't listen to the sad little VG player base if they try to go it on their own.
This is the last I will say of it here on these forums.
Enjoy your gaming (while it lasts)...
FINBAR
-------------------------------------------
boo freakin hoo, a cash shop doesent matter, so what if they add one? you can get advantages too, if your willing to pay. its there game, and they can add whatever the hell they want. They can also change rules if they want, even the user agreement, as it states in most of them, it can change at any time. Hell, you could afford alot of this stuff for free if you think about it...sell some blood, or plasma, or other things which people dont want me to mention.
the fact is, its their game, their rules, and if they want to add a cash shop, then they can add a cash shop. Hell I would LOVE most games to add cash shops so I could get some pimp gear and advantages to make my leveling easier.
--a real gamer wouldn't let something like this bother them.--
As someone said earlier in another post:
People in MMO's spend far too much time worrying and troubling themselves over what other people in a game are doing.
I really could care less if there is a cash shop or not. It will not affect me or the way I game. I choose not to worry about other people. They can play how they want, I'll play how I want.
Venge Sunsoar
Shock horror! you mean to tell me that a company are trying to find new ways to make cash? how wrong is that! dont they realise in ths climate they are meant to be finding ways of making as little cash as possible so that thier company can't survive?
Like a previous poster has already pointed out, it goe's on in virtually every game already illegally. all they have done is organised it and taken thier slice of the pie! which to me seems like sound judgement. does it effect me playing any of my games? not in the slightest! will it make my game any less enjoyable? only if i am a carebear who wants everything that everyone else has for nothing, which i'm not
I have to agree with the OP, avoid anything SOE is involved with
that gluttonous bastard smedley is always up to no good
The fact that we pay for MMO's is stupid. What suckers we are. We buy *copies* of software and then pay $15.00 bucks a month to be allowed to use it. Jesus, how dumb can we get?
Now SOE, seeing just how stupid we all are, is going to have you pay real money for virtual items!
Don't even try to defend their business model. Don't be a tool.
Think about it.
I miss the good ol' days when nerds were actually intelligent.
Im not sure if you were being sarcastic with the above or not.
But if not and you actually think SOE are fools because they think this think again.
Hypothically a friend of mine sold 2 EQ characters for 1000 US Dollars a piece. Crazy stupid insane that someone would pay that much for virtual merchandise but sadly they did.
Playerauctions and EBay used to be full of in game items to buy, now mainly just money though. Why would SOE not want to get a piece of this revenue pie that they were missing out on.
If you were in fact being sarcastic then ignore.
Its their game? Its not their game. Its our game. We play it. We are what keeps it running. If we were not here it would not run. If they change it so we no longer like the game, the game dies. We have control over the game. I'm not planning on playing any SoE games unless they get rid of cash shops in all of their p2p games. I'm warning anyone else who dislikes this business model to do the same. If you don't care then the warnring does not apply to you.
P.S. If i wanted a game where others peoples actions didnt affect me at all I would play Oblivion or something. In MMORPGs what others are doing has alot to do with you. We are in the same game. If somone in a soccer game decides to pick up the ball and start running, it affects me. Kthnx?
I came to the Vanguard forum to try and escape the relentless arguments about Station Cash. Waste of time, it seems. If you want to keep arguing about this, then do it on the EQII forums - most people must be sick of this by now.
You are correct that we are sick of Smedley and SOE's underhanded lying actions.
Let me get this straight. You think that the same company that owns and runs Vanguard and is a proven liar to gamers of their other products won't be introducing this item shop to Vanguard?
Smed has already lied to us about thing with this game.
Your topic title would have been more helpfull and saved me $50 a couple years ago...
You seem confused.
Not buying Vanguard on account of their owner ,SOE, is illogical. Sigil created and developed Vanguard. Many of the same developers are still with Vanguard though its now run by Sony.
Vanguard is a great game. One the only mmo's available right now that is immersive and open ended. There's tons of stuff to do in Vanguard and you aren't on a linear treadmill that dictates where you go and what you do like in all big mmo titles. Its challenging and a gamers MMO, not one of these hybrid mmos trying to integrate everyone into one platform. The world is huge and creates a real feeling of immersion that few games have been able to create since Everquest. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that if (and this is a big IF) Vanguard would have released in the state it is now, LotR/AOC/War wouldn't stand a chance against what Vanguard has to offer.
The only real problem with Vanguard at this point is that they don't have the playerbase and money to develop new content at a pace that keeps up with the progression. This is the result of their bust early release due to fiancial issues. Theres a lot of empty places that could be filled with awesome content, but without the population I doubt they will ever be able to pick up the development pace. Thats a reason to not buy Vanguard - not because SOE is involved.
You should go play f2p games for a while and after 6 months when there is no new content or fix patches offered, you will then understand why paying for a game is necessary.
MMOs require constant maintenance and development. Go back to your console games, this is too complicated for you.
Let me get this straight. You think that the same company that owns and runs Vanguard and is a proven liar to gamers of their other products won't be introducing this item shop to Vanguard?
Let me get this straight. Who the hell cares? If someone wants to spend real money to get in-game items in a game that is PVE-oriented, who cares? There is no advantage that player A has over me regarding PVP especially in a game like Vanguard so who the hell cares? If my main healer in a raid bought his gear so he can keep me alive better, GOOD FOR HIM!
The only place a cash store kills a game is in regard to PVP. Games like WoW, WAR and EVE could (or at least should) never try this model.
For EQ1, EQ2, Vanguard, etc if someone with money can make my group better because of their gear then I am all for it. I personally have never needed to pay for something because I like to take my time in a game but for someone with limited playtime and a good financial backing I give a big thumbs up. Thank you for buying the uber tank gear so I don't get pounded! Thank you for buying the holy healing super stuff so I don't get dead!
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/28371832@N02/2648951313/[/url]
Many players do as evidenced by the EQ/EQ2 boards. Because you don't care or even play said games doesn't mean that it's to be ignored.
The way you reason is the way SoE reasons, which is quite ignorant. Vanguard is quite close to EQ in terms of gamplay and this will just lead to the same type of cancellations of players because....they do care.
Many players do as evidenced by the EQ/EQ2 boards. Because you don't care or even play said games doesn't mean that it's to be ignored.
The way you reason is the way SoE reasons, which is quite ignorant. Vanguard is quite close to EQ in terms of gamplay and this will just lead to the same type of cancellations of players because....they do care.
I'll tell you when I did care. Back during my 6 years playing EQ1, I cared about people who bought eBayed accounts and had no clue how to play in the end-game.
I stand firm. If a player who knows how to play their character can afford some in-game items with real money, I say let them. It's already been debated that most items are ornamental or xp buffs (to already max level players). I know if I was working on a 4th alt, I'd pay for xp potions. I lived through the low content 3 times before I should get fast-forwarded in my opinion.
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/28371832@N02/2648951313/[/url]
I browsed a couple threads that are ranting over this, but would someone please explain why this is such a evil thing that has caused the lynch mob to form?
Does what you say mean SOE is somehow getting more money from it's subscribers and failed to tell them until 2 weeks after TSO went live?
I've cancelled my EQ2 account shortly before WAR went live so I haven't really been following the actions of SOE..
Rallithon Oakthornn
(Retired Heirophant of the 60th season)
WOW, I just had to comment on this statement! I really really really HATED those rich spoiled newbs who would rather purchase $1000 + high level accounts as opposed to working their way up from scratch like everyone else. There was nothing worse than to see a levle 60 Warrior who literally had no idea how to tank and play his character, or a levle 60 cleric that thought he was a dpser instead of a healer.. OMG, those ebayers were the worst! But hey, I did love it when they would overpay for accounts I sold, lol.. Having a manastone and powerleveling myself with my druid to level 50 in under a week made me some nice rl cash, so I guess it evened out in the end, lol. :P
Rallithon Oakthornn
(Retired Heirophant of the 60th season)
You are terrible, seriously.
It's because of people like you that SoE can do this. Disgusting.
Fluff items. House pets, appearance armor with no stats. Clearly game breaking items that'll ruin the game for life.
People have been burned by other games RMT shops and so are up in arms. But RMT's are evolving like other elements of online gaming. I think SOE realizes that if they add game balance items in the RMT Shop they'll grossly affect their carefully created item balance and player base. Rather then do that, they're offering fluff and appearance items.
When Legends of Norrath came out people cried that you'd get fabled raid loot swords out of card packs, but so far all you get is fluff items like shrink capes, flaming eyes, and alternate shadered mounts already available in game. The same will be true with the StationCash shop. But go on and cry doom and gloom, it won't change the facts which are that the game won't be affected by the stationcash store as much as you want to wish it will be.
Arioc Murkwood
Environment Artist
Sad but true.