Quote:
Originally Posted by Shodai  I respect your outlook, but I think it is too narrowly focused. I tried to make it clear in my post that this is something that would have implications long term, not short. I absolutely believe that people see these types of practices, and while some (see: small minority) may embrace them, the majority are going to deplore them. If this effects your popular opinion in the MMO community, long-term you will see red. Will you make up potential lost revenue through these new revenue streams? Maybe. But you will be backing yourself into an nonsustaining niche in my opinion. |
I respectfully disagree!
I think we(generic mmo community) hated the selling/buying back in Ultima/EQ whatever "first gen" game you played, because things were different then.
I think we must look at all of it, the cockblocking for raids, the l33t attitude, the cutthroat wrath, all of it. Back then, purchasing something was considered a "bitch move". You didn't earn it, why? Because you couldn't get in a "real guild" etc.
Things have changed, just like most of us can't go back to EQ and get that magic back, other aspects of the games change as well. It's time to face it. Are the Station Exchange Servers the right approach? I honestly don't know, I am neither informed enough or in the position to understand all of information and make a decision. But what I DO know is what I've seen.
Shadowbane, hard core PvP...yes I know it had bugs and crashes and shit in a box beyond most others. But I also know(think I know) that no true hardcore style pvp game will ever make it(without some advances in ideas/technology). Why? Because no one wants to loose a character they are attached to, frustration from so many various aspects of the game, the one guild rules all syndrom etc.. Im sure one day it will be done and someone will quote me, but until major changes occur, there must be rules to all future pvp games to allow for fun play. Read that as fun for ALL, not the one jackass ruining everyone's day.
Wow and gold buying. Many people do it, plain fact. We don't exactly know the break down of age/time spent in game(casual vs hardcore), in game level, in game status(raid guild family guild etc). So any guess work is exactly that. But there were many discussions on this board and probably thousands of others about the topic. And while opinions do vary, it's clear that it happens frequently by various syles of player. Guess what, people arn't quitting WoW in droves. And guess what else, I would put all the money I could gather to place a bet that if WoW openned up Exchange Servers similiar to SOE, no significant % of the population would leave the game in protest. Fuck, I would even presume to think those Blizzard Exchange servers would be more popular than ever. But this is all my uneducated guesswork, so whatever.
Bottom line is shit has changed, buying/selling WILL happen. So I'll regurgate(sp?) the typical answers.
1.) Allow it so you can monitor it, people don't get in trouble, it's safer for buyer and seller etc.
2.) Spend money/time/resources to combat it as much as you can without causing yourself or the game harm
3.) Let it happen and don't give a shit
4.) Try as hard as you can to begin designing future games around the fact that it exists, and therefore make it useless, and as far as I know, no one has done this yet. Not even the best "armchair" designers around this board.
I don't believe they are hurting long term retention or loyalty, especially if they segregate the servers and leave the option to play in the fashion you prefer.
