Once again, who had the bright idea to remove the original skin/loadout system?

(Mr-Penguin) #1

An update of my original thread, “Who Had the Bright Idea to Remove These?” (January 2016)

Three months ago, I happened to stumble across the original Sparks Update (Closed Beta Testing) patch notes and found a bit of information that revealed a whole bunch about Dirty Bomb’s previous cosmetic system.

Long story short, there used to be merc skins that could be chosen freely of loadout options. While they didn’t change the character model, if it were to be implemented right now, it would be a huge step forwards compared to the current system.

But as of 5 minutes ago, I found a video on the DB Discord server that further sets this evidence in stone. It appears to be footage from an early stage of DB’s development that highlights the skins and merc selection system.
REMOVED
As some long time users of these forums probably know, the merc selection and squad layout are the same as this screenshot that’s been floating around a lot (REMOVED). I’m not saying that SD should return to the original loadout system, but an extensive redesign of the loadout cards to better suit a selectable skin system would help both the players separating skins from loadouts and give SD better items to monetize. Trinkets are a good first step. But we can go further than that.

And for a TL;DR/crackpot theory lifted straight from the original thread:

“Why would SD remove equippable weapon and merc skins?”

Is it because of the loadout card system? Keeping it under wraps so they can sell skins later (just like trinkets)? Other reasons that are unknown to us? Whatever the reasoning behind this decision, I can’t see why SD would ditch a potential money-maker that would also make a ton of players happy, specifically those that want to separate cards and skins.

(Occult) #2

i signed up for cb after seeing that picture of sparks and the skins. i was disappointed when i finally got in. i would love for arty to look like he did, with hair too

(doxjq) #3

It’s kind of irrelevant now any way isn’t it? There’s no going back now that people have put so much money into the current system, unless there was a way to keep both systems in place.

(Matuno) #4

Oh come on, it’s obvious.
They’re going to release this next year and brand it as “a new and exciting feature”.

(doxjq) #5

PS: Don’t get me wrong. I agree it was a stupid move. The current system is not good and the old system would have kept everyone happy and probably more inclined to spend money. It makes no sense at all. But I just don’t see it going back at any point in time.

(Mr-Penguin) #6

Separate skins/rarities (Fragment, Swiss, Woodland, Carbon, etc.) from loadouts. The way I envision it, you’d have a skin card and a loadout card. Then you can combine any two you wish to make something that looks like the cards we have now.

That way, everybody keeps what they payed for in the first place. As a plus, there’s no need for “Second Edition” this and “Special Edition” that. New skin cards and loadouts can be added regularly. Special giveaways would give you skin cards, and the entire thing can be monetized easily.

Of course, you’d need to overhaul the entire system behind the skins and loadouts, but DB is a beta no matter now much some may say it isn’t. Change is acceptable.

(triteCherry) #7

Currently if you want a certain cobalt style you have to chance it on top of getting a card with the augments/gun you want which would require more “purchases” then otherwise.

They would rather you keep spending money on a chance, like a casino, rather then straight purchases. It’s designed to make you think “oh, that’s pretty cheap” while inviting you to spend way more money then you would have. For example, would you rather buy a specific skin for $500 or would you like to buy this shiny chance box for $1 at a rate of 1% (well DB cost is higher and the chance is lower yet people still buy). It also helps when people justify the system by bringing rarity.

It’s not designed for you, it’s designed for profit. They don’t really care about you as long as there are people that will gamble. Considering how many other free to play games do this, it looks like it works quite well.

(JRMC) #8

[quote=“triteCherry;170672”][/quote]

(Cough) Nexon. (Cough, cough)

(doxjq) #9

Change isn’t acceptable if it takes items away we have already paid for with real money. They would either need a way to keep both systems in place or compensation would be required tbh. I for one would be pissed if they ditched the loadout system after the money I’ve spent on elite cases if I was given nothing in return for it.

(solace_) #10

Despite all the other things I can think of saying, all I will say is that if they released this version of the game with this customization, I would shell out $60 in a heartbeat. (Skins and everything included of course, I hate micro-transactions.)

(doxjq) #11

It must have been a recent change any way, I dare say introduced in the open beta? Found some youtube footage from February 2015 and there is an Arty with some kind of blue webbed/camo looking skin and a bright red/maroon Stark. That was pretty late in the closed beta. Can be seen around about 6.32

(KattiValk) #12

Those character skins look so much prettier than some of the ones we have now. :o

[quote=“derpypenguinz19;170661”]
Separate skins/rarities (Fragment, Swiss, Woodland, Carbon, etc.) from loadouts. The way I envision it, you’d have a skin card and a loadout card. Then you can combine any two you wish to make something that looks like the cards we have now. [/quote]Also, people like to call DB P2W after seeing high level skins directly part of cards and immediately assume they are somehow better. Detaching the skin would make the system a bit easier to understand in that aspect.

Also, shameless plug.

(Nail) #13

everything from closed beta is still under NDA

(nokiII) #14

NDAs only apply to people who signed it.

(JRMC) #15

Wasn’t that lifted? It usually is after the initial testing phases.

(SereneFlight) #16

http://forums.dirtybomb.nexon.net/discussion/485/the-nda-has-been-lifted

Also I might point out that bundle of 5 Elite Cases costs the same amount of money as mi internet (4G max 50 Mbit/s, no data cap)… well, actually 5 Elite Cases cost 9 cents more lol but if I would have to compare the value… unlimited porn for a month vs 5 crappy silver cards…

(MilkyBear) #17

I like the old system way better, looked like BFBC2.

(XavienX) #18

That old system in the video is literally what everyone’s asking for and the view system seems amazing as well. And as OP said, separating cosmetics and loadouts not only can make players happy, it will also make more profits for SD at the same time.

(Captain_Forward) #19

My goodness, that was AWESOME!

(Glot) #20

What’s done cannot be undone…

…Unless it is something awesome and great, then it will most definitely be undone…pretty quickly…