Merc Release as part of DB Business Model? Comments and Suggestions

(RuleofBooKz) #1

Corps are in it for profit is a given. not a bad thing always, got to make coin to thrive, but u just need to be aware.

Mercs are a way DB makes that profit. Tho its unfortunate that the routine is: introduce new merc - merc is seen as op so sells. yay profit! merc goes into free rotation still seen as op, because there are 1 million of them in every game, and so sells. yay profit. Then the merc goes off free rotation and, after a little interlude, the merc its quietly given a nerf so as to appease the people calling it op.

its pretty much happened with every merc release - we also see how it upsets people and crates an uproar. Every time.

Id like to see them do the opposite - release new mercs intentionally a little under whelming. a little nerfed more than they should be and then - if needed - buff after a couple of weeks of doing the rounds in pubs and folks have gotten used to them

that would be best for the community - a soft release.

Id like to see it happen. But will it happen tho cause it wont yield max profits?? what comes 1st? What is best for longevity and community.

(tenderSwordfish) #2

Awesome that your giving it a think.
Unfortunately it wouldn’t happen. There’s just no incentive for them to do that. Results in less money and requires more work.

(RuleofBooKz) #3

one thing im hearing in many threads is “good players of new merc “X” are really dominating and even average players are doing well”. With every new merc release.

u see a good player can make even an average merc play well. So releasing a new merc weak will not effect them - just make them work harder.

And who gets the merc day one? Good players who have saved up in game coin easily or just pay. OR average players who pay and will pay for anything just cause its new.

So no one is missing out by releasing merc’s weak. Good players will make it work but just need to break a sweat to do so but average players will have a hard time BUT then they wont cry about “op new mercs” (and quit - threaten to - the game) etc

(triteTongs) #4

Then why is Kira still my favorite?
Despite all ‘nerfs’ to her?

I bought bush just today, I did excellent with him. To me, he feels OP. In fact, all mercs still feel OP.

They don’t really nerf mercs to the ground… and that’s a really good thing.

(RuleofBooKz) #5

Why is kira, still, your favorite?

How can all mercs be op? we are not seeing forum threads of many people complaining that “all mercs are op”. We routinely - and i intentionally use the word “routine” - see threads about “new mercs ‘X’ is OP” when new mercs are released.

Is anyone wanting mercs to be “nerfed into the ground”?

Im suggesting NEW mercs come out the gate weak, nerfed isnt really the right word cause thats a de-buff down the track, and then buffed later IF needed. atm it seems to be the other way round - which clearly is not working so well in the court of public opinion.

(Aazhyd) #6

This is the way all F2P games work. They release something good and when everybody jumps on the train, they nerf it. Then they release another thing good etc.

Check out AVA, they’ve done that numerous times. Guns that were once considered OP are now mediocre either by nerfing or by better stuff being released.

(RuleofBooKz) #7

so if gamers are becoming aware of this - or its already common knowledge - why not be the new different game on the block? That is what sets game apart from all the generic others and gains a community that plays for ages.

i just got out of a 7v7 server that i played 4 obj games in a row and while the pop joined and d/c’d the overwhelming comment was “new merc OP”. like 10 of the 14 players saying this all the time.

If it is or isnt OP doesnt matter - its the perception that it is.

Wouldn’t it be nice if they brought in a new merc and it was only the “good” players that were unhappy because they couldn’t use it to dominate right out the gate? That ppl were on the forums saying “new merc not so good”?

Then our lovely devs could come in and “fix” it with a buff and people would be happy! Change of pace? Why not?

(frolicsomeCrane) #8

Personally I don’t think any mercs are OP, they’re all strong against each other hence why some people (like me) can just screw around as an Aura with Stilleto and Chopper and knife a Rhino.

My point is that I don’t think they release mercs as OP, I think that people need to get adjusted to the new mercs in order to deal with them properly. I mean I’ve seen some really good phantoms and some really bad ones (that I even knifed as a Skyhammer). Give it time and people will calm down about him being OP.

(RuleofBooKz) #9

oh im sure thats a part of it - they might not be releasing new mercs intentionally op at all. In fact they prob are not! What is and what is percieved as is - same thing tho. Might just be new merc is balanced but folks need time to adjust their play style and learn the new merc so until then they cry “OP”!!

But if that is so. IF u see a new merc will cause this effect. Then releasing balanced (let alone op) is going to make ppl think it is OP ok? Right? That is the logic.

Only by intentionally bringing out a new merc as, a little weak, intentionally on purpose does DB counter that public opinion.

(or by every player in the game getting “good” and thus not being fazed by a new merc cause they have learned to just adapt - but thats not going to happen)

(triteTongs) #10

[quote=“RuleofBooKz;41353”]Why is kira, still, your favorite?

How can all mercs be op? we are not seeing forum threads of many people complaining that “all mercs are op”. We routinely - and i intentionally use the word “routine” - see threads about “new mercs ‘X’ is OP” when new mercs are released.

Is anyone wanting mercs to be “nerfed into the ground”?

Im suggesting NEW mercs come out the gate weak, nerfed isnt really the right word cause thats a de-buff down the track, and then buffed later IF needed. atm it seems to be the other way round - which clearly is not working so well in the court of public opinion.[/quote]

I remember posts about KIRA’s orbital laser being too good. It still is today, especially on the map church. I get comments all the time.

Same with rhino. Everyone is complaining like CRAZY about rhino. Then the free weekend ends and I barely hear a single comment about him? If everyone was so upset that he is so overpowered… why do I barely see him?

Fragger is still amazing too. Yet it’s blatantly clear when a good player uses fragger verses a bad player. Should fragger continue to be nerfed because good players use him?

All the mercs need to ‘feel OP’ when you master them. Otherwise, there are other merc choices for you that ARE more powerful.

I don’t care for adjustments to mercs as long as they do small tweaks at a time (So far, that’s how they handle balance nerfs/buffs). Just don’t nerf a merc to the point where it’s useless to play.

(MTLMortis) #11

This entire thread is pointless till the game is officially released. Everything is subject to change till then. Once the devs have made all their tuning passes for map, merc, augment and loadout and released to version 1.0 then we can start a discussion about how their business model is going to be the downfall of the game (which seems what all these threads are warning/threatening).

It’s like complaining about the 85 million that RSI has raked in with Star Citizen.

(RuleofBooKz) #12

its not pointless to care what the community thinks

(ebonyMountain) #13

Early Access ( and this beta is not much else ).
https://medium.com/@galyonkin/some-things-you-should-know-about-steam-5eaffcf33218

For months Early Access was lauded by developers as having two launch events on Steam — one for an incomplete version of the game and the second one for the final version.

Well, I’ve got bad news for you: Every game still has only one launch event and if you’re going to release it in Early Access that date will it be.

Of course some games might be able to get the attention from the media and gamers alike the second time, but even heavy-hitters like Double Fine’s “Broken Age” often fail here.

People, who don’ stay, will probably not come back. DB already got its media coverage. The release will be silent.

(RuleofBooKz) #14

Yeah “this is still beta/ early access etc”, where have i heard that before??? doesnt really fly as much as game producers might want it to. And its not just “these days” like people are only now catching on.

Does anyone remember the ET QW demo? Came out before the game as demo’s used to do? Bad map choice and the game mechanics, classes etc were just not polished. It would need 5 big patches / updates on release, and over a few months, to actually be a tight good FPS.

By the time that rolled around the community was in tatters, the deno had just turned too many people off, and by the time it was a good many (read most FPS gamers) people swearing never to play QW ever. QW was trashed on forums and by many openly and some of that carries on to today.

But ok its Beta - If it is beta then releasing mercs “lite” and then giving the a beef up after a few weeks wouldn’t really matter would it - except to make for a much happier community. Unless its a commercial profit driven model that is to have it this way