Snow Globe
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Posts
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Quote:Math failure. Old booster packs: $10 (800 points). A 24 pack of these "cards" costs $18 (1,440 points). So about twice as much.Originally Posted by Congelateur
if we take the 24 pack, it s about the price of the old booster pack...
I know... "math is hard".
There have been many cases, and even the developers agree that these cases are accurate, where players have failed to get all the costumes even after 30 packs.Quote:Originally Posted by Congelateur
we have in thse 24 pack:
1 complete costume set
I know... "Statistics is hard".
Actually the subscription time is paying for other things directly, including being able to use the VIP tier for the rewards program. 1 Paragon Reward Token has an estimated value of $4 - $5 based on the regular tier 9 repeatable options.Quote:Originally Posted by Congelateur
if the costume was in tier 9 vip, it would have cost 3 points, so 3 subs or 3 * 1200 point... well 2 time more money.
640 points, actually.Quote:Originally Posted by Congelateur
NCS could sell it at 800 point in the market... but hey... all those things for 600 more points?
At any rate, the established baseline for costume sets on the market is 400 Points. -
Quote:I'd take a screenshot of your billing section, and include it with a support ticket. However I wouldn't use the in-game /petition.Originally Posted by mousedroid
So after getting bored today and reading the last couple of pages of this thread, I decided to go check my account to see if I was having any issues with Paragon Points. And whatta ya know, my master account, has been paid up as VIP through September of this year last recieved its PP VIP stipend on January 4th.
No, just try to keep track of previous months.Quote:Originally Posted by mousedroid
I am greatful that there is at least such an easy method to identify when you are cheated out of the points you are due. I don't suppose there is a similarly easy method to check when your Rewards Tokes are awarded is there? -
Quote:Btw, these require level 30+ according to the promo:Originally Posted by Snow Globe
Arbiter Hawk (for villains, rogues, possibly loyalists) and Jessica Duncan (heroes, vigilantes, and possibly resistance) will have the Red Widow arc. However you might have to "cross over" to Primal Earth for these as well.
http://na.cityofheroes.com/en/news/e...ring_fling.phpQuote:Widow in Red: Jessica Megan Duncan (aka Ms. Liberty) (Heroes) and Arbiter Hawk (Villains) want your help with a secret project involving the infamous Red Widow, Lord Recluse's long-deceased love. This new seasonal mission is available for characters level 30 or higher and awards the Widow Maker badge for completion.
Spring Fling promo page. -
Quote:Which is what I said...Originally Posted by Ironblade
And there's the problem. If I recall correctly, Praetorians don't even HAVE a Tips tab in the contact window. (Until they cross over to Primal Earth.)
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Quote:Yeah, I don't think Praetorians can get any tips until they do the mission to cross over to Primal Earth. Check with Scratch/Ganymede (in your case Ganymede because resistance = hero) hopefully they'll send you to DJ. Zero to get attuned.Originally Posted by RogerWilco
Now I read on the Paragon wiki that there are also Valentine Tip missions. I understand that you need to be level 20, so I just levelled the character who did the box and cauldron and Snaptooth missions to 22, but still no Valentine Tips. What do I need to to do get those, or is it just random bad luck? I'm playing a Rebel in Praetoria if that makes any difference.
Arbiter Hawk (for villains, rogues, possibly loyalists) and Jessica Duncan (heroes, vigilantes, and possibly resistance) will have the Red Widow arc. However you might have to "cross over" to Primal Earth for these as well.Quote:Originally Posted by RogerWilco
My other characters who did the PocketD/DJ Zero thing are Villains below level 20.
I also read there is something about a Red Widow, but the Paragon Wiki doesn't give a lot of info there. Is this also some kind of mission? -
Quote:DfB = Death from Below, the level 1-6 sewer trial that is constantly being run.Originally Posted by RogerWilco
Can someone explain to a real newbie what DfB and DiB are?
Thanks.
DiB = Drowning in Blood, the upcoming new low level trial for Issue 22 (there is also a new Incarnate level trial as well). It will be 4-8 players, level 15+, and deals with the Shivan back story. -
Quote:Originally Posted by Morganite
Oddly, I tend to see using a frying pan as a weapon as more a male thing. I guess Iksel really made an impression on me.
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Quote:Very, very few.Originally Posted by Erhnam
Are there any badges that are only atainable as Hero (not as Vig) or as Villain (not as Rogue)?
I tried checking the wiki, but didnt found anything (granted, I didnt checked every single of the 1300+ badges :P )
Thanks!
Hero:- Gallant Complete a Hero Morality mission
- Heard the Call: Maintain a Hero alignment for 7 days
Vigilante:- Above the Law: Complete a Vigilante Morality mission
- Fearsome: Maintain a Vigilante alignment for 7 days
Villain:- Dastardly: Complete a Villain Morality mission
- Frenzied: Maintain a Villain alignment for 7 days
Rogue:- Scoundrel: Complete a Rogue Morality mission
- Trickster: Maintain a Rogue alignment for 7 days
Undergo several change to either pure hero or pure villain:- Ascended: Shift alignment from Villain to Hero
- Descended: Shift alignment from Hero to Villain
- Come Full Circle: Return to your original alignment (Hero or Villain)
There are also lists of heroic badges that rogues cannot get and villainous badges that vigilantes cannot get:
Quote:Originally Posted by Snow Globe
With some badges you have to switch fully to the other side to get them.Quote:My vigilante/rogue has met the requirements for several badges from the opposite side, why are they not awarded?
Heroes/Vigilantes:
- Isolator
- Multidimensional
- Button Man Gunner
- Fire Thorn Caster
- Nebula Elite Buckshot
- Arachnophobic
- Wrangler
- Poltergeist
- Sandblasted
- Shark Hunter
- Lost Savior
- City Official
- Law Enforcer
- Commuter
- Shop Keeper
- Dimensional Explorer
- Intern
- Police Chief
- Security Chief
- Traveler
- Entrepreneur
- Scientist
- Heroic
- Received the Atlas Medallion*
- Conspiracy Theorist*
- Portal Jockey*
- Freedom Phalanx Reserve Member*
- Archmage*
- Vanguard*
- Geas of the Kind Ones*
- Task Force Commander*
Villains/Rogues:
- Bloodletter
- Mirage
- Spider's Kiss
- The Stinger
- Usurper
- Crab Spider Longfang
- Efficiency Expert
- Night Widow
- Wolf Spider Tac Ops
- Wailer Queen
- Wolf Spider Enforcer
- Oppressor
- Destroyer
- Dead-eye
- Interrogator
- Breakneck
- Uppercut
- Pilot
- Crey Employee
- Arachnos Official
- Arachnos Agent
- Smuggler
- Demagogue
- Black Ops
- Brood Leader
- Crey Scientist
- Web Weaver
- Profiteer
- Villainous
- Marshal*
- Headline Stealer*
- Born in Battle*
- High Pain Threshold*
- Demonic*
- Megalomaniac*
- Force of Nature*
- Invader*
* A note on Accolades: When they fully switch sides, characters will receive the corresponding accolade badge and power to any they already own. -
Quote:The crates, the containment chambers, and Maelstrom all can kill decoys. I'm not sure about the nightmares or other aspects in the MoM trial.Originally Posted by DreadShinobi
I'm not sure if the crates actually kill PA or not (instead of just damaging them), but as long as the crates aren't outright killing them, then I don't see it as a big issue, since nothing else can damage them to finish them off. If the crates are actually killing the PA then I'd say it's something worth fixing.
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Quote:I was talking about the Retail package itself. A player could not buy the package outside of Wal-Mart for 6 months. As to the contents, those were available as a separate purchase after the Wal-Mart exclusive period. Funny you mention the costumes though, as they are no longer available (ie. not in the market).Originally Posted by EarthWyrm
Then you make the GVE one item when in fact it included the Jump Pack, the Pocket D teleporter, the Pocket D gold club VIP badge, and two full costume sets, all of which were originally GVE exclusive if memory serves.
That wasn't my intention, but fine. I've edited my 2nd post with a breakdown.Quote:Originally Posted by EarthWyrm
If you get to break out everything in the individual offerings that hasn't been made available again to support your count, failing to do so for all of the other things you list seems a lot like selective counting.
And I didn't mention them in either post. Though if I had, I'd put the ones that are still exclusive in one post and those that were made available in the other.Quote:Originally Posted by EarthWyrm
And that's independent of things like the con-specific costume codes, some of which remain exclusive, but which we have every reason to believe should all make their way to the market (at least for a limited time) eventually.
Good, because it is clear that we have different definitions of "exclusivity" and "made available".Quote:Originally Posted by EarthWyrm
I don't believe that it's meaningful to include in the discussion, because even if it's only 2 weeks out of a year I can earn those on anyone I want, but I'm willing to agree to disagree on this.
Contrary to your opinion, I do look at both sides. I also look at bias of the poster, but I don't let that change my opinion either way.Quote:Originally Posted by EarthWyrm
Because, frankly, I don't believe that you have any intention of looking at the overall balance of information and giving anyone the benefit of a doubt on this. -
Quote:Let's see.Originally Posted by EarthWyrm
Why don't you also list out the items that started out exclusives and later became available? You and I both know it's way longer than what you just provided.
- Good Vs. Evil Edition. (once a wal-mart exclusive)
- Edit: I meant the full retail package. For 6 months it was exclusive to Wal-Mart, after that it was widely available and available from the NCsoft store.
- Curiously enough, the costume items (Justice and Sinister) are no longer available for separate purchase since Issue 21.
- Pocket D VIP power
- Pocket D VIP badge
- Good vs Evil Jumpjet.
- Pre-Order sprints
- Edit: 4 Sprints.
- Pre-Order Arachnos Helmets
- Edit: 4 Helmets, +1 color shifted helmet.
- Going Rogue Pre-Order Enhancements.
- Edit: 5 enhancements.
The account wide unlock of the Hellenic Sandals and Victory Laurel actually was introduced at the same time, and for 1 month later. The fact that you can unlock them on an individual basis (for 2 weeks of the year, if you don't have access to the missions) doesn't negate the fact the account unlock is exclusive to those few players that convinced someone else to subscribe that one Valentine's Event.Quote:Originally Posted by EarthWyrm
two of which can be earned by anybody in-game on a per-character basis, which to me keeps them from being "exclusive" in any meaningful sense
Care to provide a list of exclusives that were made available at a later date? I don't count the previous booster packs as exclusive as they were never marketed that way. Same goes for the Valkyrie set.Quote:Originally Posted by EarthWyrm
If you really want to stick your head in the sand by listing out seven items (two of which can be earned by anybody in-game on a per-character basis, which to me keeps them from being "exclusive" in any meaningful sense) that do nothing to disprove my general statement about the track record, that's of course your right. - Good Vs. Evil Edition. (once a wal-mart exclusive)
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Quote:That was already answered by several players, and having past experience with those games (no pokemon personally, but I have past experience with M:tG and other CCGs) was the reason why many players didn't want to see these packs on this game.Originally Posted by LordTenma
Makes me wonder how many play or played Magic the Gathering or Pokemon or any CCG, and are complaining about this.
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Quote:Agreed, and I asked Synapse about Decoys taking damage, and he looked a bit surprised. As near as he could say was that some untyped damage is affecting them.Originally Posted by TheXor
For what it's worth - Maelstrom also does this in the last phase of TPN where he "channels energy/focus/eats a lizard" ...whatever he does.
Decoy death a few seconds after they're spawned seems kinda bunk. Thought the were untouchable. :\ -
Quote:Having the GM put the target of your harassment petition put the offender on your ignore list is a bit of overkill too.Originally Posted by Aggelakis
Petitioning harassment does not require me to reiterate what my /petition text says. It does not require me to tell the GM what the name of the knob goblin was, or the time it happened, or any of that.
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Quote:That early adopter penalty is what will keep these exclusive.Originally Posted by EarthWyrm
I guess we'll see. I'd rather been assuming that if you only want the costume pieces and "hold your nose" to get them by buying the packs, you're paying the equivalent of an early-adopter penalty
Quote:Originally Posted by EarthWyrm
The company has more of a track record for taking exclusives and making them non-exclusive, when it comes to in-game items, than they do with keeping items impossible to get after a restrictive release.- VIP/Destined One Badge
- Prestige Power Slide
- Cape of the Four Winds
- Arachnos Chest Symbol
- Arachnos Cape
- Account wide Hellenic Sandals
- Account wide Victory Laurel
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Quote:I fully expect them to discount the packs first, after 6 months. Even then the discount will be 20% off. I seriously don't think they will ever have the costume parts or pet outside of these packs, no matter how much players disagree with that choice.Originally Posted by EarthWyrm
I'm sorry, did I miss something? I know Zwill said it wouldn't happen "in the immediate future," but that's not quite the same as "never." Was there something in a Ustream I don't have the time to listen to?
Why? It is because of the players who "held their nose" and bought the packs anyway to get the costume parts. -
Quote:Actually, it goes even deeper than that. They will also try to be "helpful" and add the offender to your global ignore list while letting the offender continue to do their thing.Originally Posted by DumpleBerry
It's the /help channel. I hang out in there from time to time dispensing wisdom, inf. (lots of it!), and generally helping any people I can. There are a lot of other forum regulars in there as well, doing the same thing. The other night, I pretty much walked someone (via /tells) through the entire Incarnate system. I enjoy helping people. I like seeing people enjoy the game as much as I do.
But as we all know, much like Atlas /broadcast, bad things happen. The smart player knows to report these few bad apples, and to /ignore them. Makes the game a better place for everybody. Except that might not be worth doing any more.
The other night, I encountered two individuals characterizing gay people as child predators, molesters, and pedophiles. Crazy talk that is easily dismissed, but not before the old-school /petition and /ignore. /help is seen by everyone, from VIP to F2P. It's important that we keep it as quality as possible for a great first impression. It takes two seconds, and you can get back to enjoying the game.
Within an hour or so, I got, "Hi, this is GM-A, what seems to be the problem?" But there wasn't a problem. I've reported RMT folks, power-leveling companies, exploiters, racists, sexists, bigots, etc. before--but I never had a GM show up. And what did they want? Well, they didn't seem to know. Maybe they had my /petition and they just wanted to hear what happened again--but that was pretty frustrating. /help chat moves pretty fast. I had to scroll back quite a ways to find the offending parties. So yes, I patiently explained and repeated everything all over again. Who were they? What were the globals? What did they say? Where did this happen? Everything I had put into the petition. The GM was polite, but clueless. "May I put them on your ignore list?" Seriously? I included that bit in my /petition as well. I know how it works, and it was clear by now that they hadn't read any of it at all. "You should really put them on your ignore list in the future." Um, okay? "I have placed them on your ignore list, thank you!" Fine, whatever. "Thank you for taking the time to contact the City of Heroes Support Team. We will use the information provided to determine whether a violation of the rules has occurred." Yes, I know. That's how it used to work. I'd just get that e-mail in the morning. When one player complains about another, you just get, "Thanks for the info, we'll look into it, but we can't let you know how it turns out." That's fine. That's fair.
When suddenly, "Hi, this is GM-B, what seems to be the problem?"
Are you kidding me? I had sent a /petition with the relevant data for each offender. I was now dealing with two GMs simultaneously? And again, "...what seems to be the problem?" Head, meet desk. It was a rundown of everything I'd experienced not moments ago. Now I had to scroll back even farther. So yes, I patiently explained and repeated everything all over again. Who were they? What were the globals? What did they say? Where did this happen? Everything I had put into the petition. "Is it okay if I place this player on your /ignore list?" *bonk bonk bonk* "Okay, they are on your ignore list, thank you!" *bonk* So by now, of course, I'm tired of this. I tell them, "Thank you for taking the time to contact the City of Heroes Support Team. We will use the information provided to determine whether a violation of the rules has occurred." Yes, moments later, they responded with the same thing. I deserved that, they're just doing their job.
Later, I checked my e-mail. So as not to quote anything, because they don't like that, the e-mail explicitly states that petitions will now summon a GM to file out, basically, an incident report with you. They want all the information all over again, in the interest of "accuracy."
So if you have nothing to do, help clean up the game by using /petition and get rid of people who ruin it for the rest of us. Wait for your CS rep to show up, because they will.
But if you want to keep playing, hit /ignore and just don't bother. :/
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In a related CS problem, I recently had to send a petition to get my paragon points stipend.
I had to deal with the GM with a matter that I knew that particular GM could not solve. Instead this GM gave me the template for when paragon points should be given out. I've withheld the names of the GMs, but the if anyone at Paragon Studios wants to check, it was [Incident: 120210-000896].
This was my petition:
This was the response:Quote:Windows: I'm a tier 9 VIP, I am on the third month of a 12+2 month plan starting on December 7th 2011. I've received my paragon point stipend on December 8th and January 8th. I did NOT receive my stipend on February 8th. I would appreciate this being looked into. I realise that this cannot be handled by in game support.
02-09-2012 22:56:25 [Tell] GM: Hello
02-09-2012 22:56:31 [Tell] -->GM: hello
02-09-2012 22:56:36 [Tell] GM: This is GM XXXX from the City of Heroes Support Team.
02-09-2012 22:57:22 [Tell] -->GM: I think there is a problem with my paragon points not being awarded this month
02-09-2012 22:57:55 [Tell] GM: You will receive a base stipend of 400 Paragon Points for every month you continue your subscription and remain VIP.
02-09-2012 22:58:53 [Tell] GM: Keep in mind that the Paragon Points were granted early in September and October.
02-09-2012 22:58:55 [Tell] -->GM: I'm on a 12+2 month plan that started in december 2011. I'm also a Tier 9 VIP, so I should get an extra 150 Paragon Points per month as well.
02-09-2012 22:59:05 [Tell] GM: Keep in mind that the Paragon Points were granted early in September and October.
02-09-2012 22:59:21 [Tell] GM: This means that everyone with a VIP subscription on October 12 received 400 points on or about October 12, regardless of their true stipend date.
02-09-2012 23:00:25 [Tell] -->GM: I realise this. I also know by looking at my account's billing that I was awarded my stipend on December 8th and January 8th.
02-09-2012 23:01:18 [Tell] -->GM: and by looking at my account billing, I did not receive the stipend yesterday.
02-09-2012 23:02:02 [Tell] GM: Okay, I am escalating your issue to a Senior Game Master.
02-09-2012 23:02:27 [Tell] -->GM: I am also aware that would have to happen. thank you for your time for this response.
02-09-2012 23:02:41 [Tell] GM: Thank you for contacting the City of Heroes Support Team.
02-09-2012 23:02:50 [Tell] GM: Take care, bye
The second level GM gave me an incorrect date and gave me a link to the knowledge base entry for the Paragon Stipend.
Only when I replied back with a screenshot of my last two award dates and my subscription renewal date (Dec 7th) did I get a long time GM to actually look into it. The final GM (also a senior GM) corrected the issue (6 days after I was supposed to have the points awarded), and said it should be fixed for next month. -
Quote:People have, since the packs were announced at the player summit. That has not worked. I'd be completely satisfied if the costume bundle and vanity pet were to be made available separately.Originally Posted by WAterTriAd
Instead of asking for a method to obtains what you want through other means
That, according to the red names, isn't on the table. I doubt there will ever be a chance to get the costume set in another way. At best, they'll likely discount the pack price via a sale. -
Quote:The 3D glasses are already uncomfortable (no "probably" about it, I wear prescription glasses) and the ones that TonyV recommend look to be in the same form-factor.Originally Posted by SerialBeggar
And it'd probably be uncomfortable for those who are already wearing prescription glasses.
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Quote:If the developers are looking at it like you are presenting, they need to go back to business school.Originally Posted by Lothic
Again to answer your questions all that I will say is that you need to look at things from the Devs' point of view.
Shortsightedness is a long running Paragon Studios problem, I agree. The thing is the need to know that their resources are being well spent. Account-wide unlocks are only good for the packs until those unlocks drop. After that, players are seeing a different product and are probably less inclined to purchase the packs. This isn't good for the packs, this isn't good for those that want the costumes, and this isn't good for Paragon Studios' bottom line.Quote:Originally Posted by Lothic
If the marketing guy saw that the Super Packs were selling well the ONLY thing he/she would care about is that the company was doing something right for them to make money. The "distinction" you're trying to draw here is only something that a player might care about - the Devs couldn't care less. What does it matter to Paragon Studios if people are buying them because they like the generic random mechanic of the packs or because they feel obligated to in order to get something exclusive? Either way people are buying them.
Conversely, if they offered the costumes as a separate bundle and the super packs as they are, they would know which would sell better. At that point they can have a firm basis as to judge the packs success or failure.
Actually a friend of mine recently was shopping around for a $50,000 car... He told the dealer what options he wanted and didn't want. They tailored the deal to those options. The deal fell through when it came to payments (for a few months at least while he saved more of a down payment), but both parties were clear as to what options motivated the deal.Quote:Originally Posted by Lothic
To use a real world example car companies these days usually try to throw in all sorts of extra features into their cars like rear view cameras, built-in GPS, satellite radio and so on to make them distinctive in the marketplace. When a customer comes in to buy they might be motivated to buy for all sorts of reasons. For all the dealer knows maybe the ONLY reason a customer ends up buying his/her car was that it had a feature that couldn't be found anywhere else. Same goes for this game's Super Packs.
And if the developers don't know which of the features is selling the packs, then they are wasting resources that could be focused elsewhere.Quote:Originally Posted by Lothic
The Super Packs of this game offer an array of features any one of which might motivate someone to buy them. Some people might like the ATOs, others the costume items, still other might only want to chase the Wolf. Some of these things you can get via other methods, some of them you can't.
Actually, you don't. Voting implies action, not inaction. Voting also offers choices, there is no choice between buying the costume set outright and buying them through the packs. If that was a choice, I'd actually buy the points and buy the costume set directly to vote.Quote:Originally Posted by Lothic
You vote with your money
Yes, they are charging around 2-3 times the price for the costume sets as they'd get releasing the set on its own. They are hoping that after players buy enough packs to get the costume or vanity pet that people will continue to buy the packs.Quote:Originally Posted by Lothic
Basically the company is going to make more money off of selling his new costume set via super packs than they ever would via direct sales.
WotC has an extremely broad customer base and a high turnover of new customers. Paragon Studios has neither to that degree.Quote:Originally Posted by Lothic
It worked for Wizards of the Coast - it'll work for Paragon Studios as well. The people who hate Collectible Card Games don't buy them and WotC still laughs all the way to the bank. *shrugs*
It is vital information for marketing and business management. For marketing, they can build a brand. For business management, they need to know that resources are being used wisely.Quote:Originally Posted by Lothic
You're right in one respect: they might not know exactly which element of their multi-featured Super Packs was more important to their overall sales than another. I simply contend that that kind of elemental information might not really be as important as you think it is.
Maybe for pack #4 or beyond, but set #2 is already in a late stage of development (according to this week's UStream), and I don't think I'm guessing that pack #3 has already been feature set. This is before any sales figures are known.Quote:Originally Posted by Lothic
The Devs are going to look at the overall sales of these Packs as an indicator as to what will come in Super Packs set #2, #3 and so on.
Which is why there are a glut of advertising laws the world over.Quote:Originally Posted by mousedroid
By that line of thinking almost all advertising is predatory. Any advertiser worth his or her salt is going to use psychological tricks to get people to buy their products.
I think there is a case for that, actually.Quote:Originally Posted by Doctor Roswell
Market flooding might be an issue simply because we get something new to spend our points on every single week (especially with so many things lately being limited-time offers).
Super Pack #2 is in the works already. Talk to Zwillinger, Beastyle, Synapse, or just watch the UStream from Feb 15th.Quote:Originally Posted by Lothic
The proof of course will come on whether or not we ever see a Super Pack #2 regardless of the form it'll take. If Super Pack #2 turns out to be radically different or never happens at all then I'll be willing to lend your position on this more credence. -
Quote:Actually, both are unethical. However I've not said that the developers are deceiving anyone. That you think I am saying that they are out to lie to their customers is your fabrication, not mine.Originally Posted by Tyger42
Yes. One is unethical, the other isn't. In spite of your weak attempts to word it in a way to make it sound like it is.
Edit:
If I have said that the developers are trying to deceive players with these packs, please point it out.
And for the record, I consider both lying to the customers and to make a predatory scheme like this to be both morally and ethically bankrupt. -
Quote:I think both CCGs and slot machines are predatory in nature.Originally Posted by seebs
Could you clarify whether you think both CCGs and slot machines are predatory, or just one, or what?
These packs are more obvious and directly cost more money than a base subscription. Other random drops in the game don't cost money, though they do cost time.Quote:Originally Posted by seebs
I guess the reason I have a hard time buying this is simply that the entire MMO industry is built around patterns known to be addictive, such as random drops. Like, say, the way you get recipes occasionally and sometimes they're really valuable. That's addictive.
Being predatory doesn't necessarily involve misleading people. However these packs do exploit some player's weakness (psychological "thrill" of opening surprizes) or vulnerabilities (trying to fit in when others have "the cool stuff", and costumes, ATOs, and the wolf all fit with this).Quote:Originally Posted by seebs
I think of "predatory" in the sense of predatory business practices, where the nature of the thing implies exploiting a weakness or vulnerability and misleading people.
As I've said, it doesn't always imply lying to people or misleading them about the deals being offered.Quote:Originally Posted by seebs
Predatory lending typically involves lying to people about the deals they're being offered, or at the very least misleading them.
Edit:
And it would be far more honest to simply have every pack:- Take the costumes and the wolf out of the random tables entirely.
- Set the card rarities to 2 Commons, 1 Uncommon, 1 Rare, 1 Very Rare
- Unlock 1 costume part for each of the first 11 packs.
- On the 15th pack bought give the account the black wolf pet.
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Well, I finally found a group to do the MoM trial that didn't bring 1/2 the group at +0 -and- listened to instructions, so I got Mental Voyager and Daylight Saver at the same time getting badges 1,300 and 1,301. Funny enough, with all the -failed- MoM trials I've been on, I'm at 11/16 Nightmares. I thought I'd be closer to getting that one.
Quote:Well, my account anniversary and the old Veteran Rewards anniversary are two different things in my case. Going by the Veteran Rewards program I should have got the 7 year badge 4 days ago, while my actually 12 months of play is sometime in May. So either I am affected by this bug currently or I still have a few months to go.Originally Posted by Lothic
Yeah it's starting to get fairly annoying that they haven't figured out some kind of solution to that annual veteran badge problem yet. I'll be hitting my 8th in April so I'll probably be joining everyone else who hasn't gotten one yet. I understand it's not a super-top priority as far as bugs go, but the longer they wait the more people it's going to affect.
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Quote:I'm not implying anything of the sort with that statement. The statement is clear: No one, not even the developers, can say with certainty how much the Elemental Order costume set actually costs. The same goes for the Black Wolf pet.Originally Posted by Tyger42
And my statement that you're desperately reaching remains. You're implying with that statement that they're somehow deceiving the customer, which is utter ( udder? ) BS.
However deceiving the customer and preying on psychological habits of the customer are two completely different things.
The developers know that players would pay for the costume set, but that wouldn't satisfy the company's need for on-going sales. The developers know that players would pay for the ATOs, but again that wouldn't satisfy the company's need for on-going sales.
The developers know that the "potions" or consumables are not very popular in this game, and they know that it is a steady revenue stream in other games. So they are combining unpopular products with a random chance to get the popular (but one-off) products in hopes to make a continuous revenue stream. It is self-serving, and it is presented in a similar fashion to other known addicting model(s): Collectible Card Games and, after a fashion, slot machines.
That is, to put it bluntly, predatory. -
Quote:Is Black Pebble actually Nemesis in disguise? In other words, is this some kind of Nemesis plot?Originally Posted by Zwillinger
We've actually been planning this for awhile. You can thank Black Pebble for it. I think he needs to level some alts.
