Would you like a monetization system based on cosmetic items and not on mercs ? (ie CS GO, TF2)

(Neni) #41

As long as it’s all cosmetic stuff there shouldn’t be an issue with a cash shop, it becomes an issue when you start moving away from the cosmetic only side and to the fast tracking and equipment items that have an impact on gameplay.

Merc skins, weapon skins / cosmetic addons (such as key chains and the like mentioned above) would work nicely to give each player their own little customization if they wanted while not giving them a leg up over the rest of the F2P players.

But not over the top with the whole flashy flashy, just lil bits here and there so it doesn’t get all HATS!.HATS!.HATS! and take away from the current look / feel of the game.

(srswizard) #42

I think that a trading system is essential, if you have a cosmetic-based monetization plan.
People are more willing to buy cosmetics/crate keys, if they are able to trade/sell them away later.
Some other F2P games have failed, because the publishers wouldn’t/couldn’t get it done, but apparently steam has recently made it easier to implement such systems, so maybe there’s hope for having this in DB.

(Ruvan) #43

I’d definitely like to see cosmetics offered an option for monetization. Nevertheless, I think you’re being unrealistic if you expect Splash Damage to only monetize via cosmetics.

Valve can do it because they’re Valve. They’ve got a great reputation, high profile and control of the industry standard digital distribution platform.

Games like TF2 and CS:GO can make Valve lots of money off of cheap cosmetics because of their colossal player count.

I love playing this game but I don’t think it’s ever going to reach the level of popularity of TF2 or CS:GO, especially considering UT4 and Overwatch are going to be released in the not-so-distant future. Hence, I don’t think monetization via cosmetics only is ever going to be a viable option.

(appreciativeBuster) #44

Or make the jump to Unreal Engine 4 and make use of the marketplace.

(riptide) #45

[quote=“Ruvan;17873”]I’d definitely like to see cosmetics offered an option for monetization. Nevertheless, I think you’re being unrealistic if you expect Splash Damage to only monetize via cosmetics.

Valve can do it because they’re Valve. They’ve got a great reputation, high profile and control of the industry standard digital distribution platform.

Games like TF2 and CS:GO can make Valve lots of money off of cheap cosmetics because of their colossal player count.

I love playing this game but I don’t think it’s ever going to reach the level of popularity of TF2 or CS:GO, especially considering UT4 and Overwatch are going to be released in the not-so-distant future. Hence, I don’t think monetization via cosmetics only is ever going to be a viable option. [/quote]

Grinding Gear Games did it with Path of Exile and they are much smaller. What really matters is how the customers feel. There are people that will spend tens of thousands of dollars on cosmetics. Simply because they believe in the dev team and want to show their appreciation.

That comes from how the devs interact with the player base and frankly GGG is the best in that regard. They are transparent with their vision of the game and aren’t afraid to say no. You know the direction of the game at all times. I feel like that is where they trump SD.

(ZGToRRent) #46

Skins confirmed in game files: http://steamcommunity.com/app/333930/discussions/0/620712999974798393/

(Hack) #47

Merc skins and cosmetics would be my choice, gating content behind a paywall is never good.

(Hack) #48

Merc skins and cosmetics would be the way to go IMO, I don’t like the idea of gating content behind a paywall.

(DB Genome editor) #49

The skins mentioned in the file were all in the game earlier during the Beta (or was it still in Alpha at the time…?), so that file may be a leftover or they may be back later, there is no way to conclude from that.

In fact, everything mentioned there was in the game at one point or another in the past except for Domination and PVE modes, and Turtle (the only one of the 20 we never got to play).

(Kouken) #50

Make all mercs free, take away the rng element of loadout card crafting
Then allow us to buy a huge variation of skins at whatever price you wish to charge, we will buy them!

(Thai-San) #51

“Team Deathmatch is coming”

(triteTongs) #52

Not exactly the reason that game got deserted.

Also, what I really, really enjoyed about Tribes Ascend was the VIP feature.
Basically if you paid ANY money in the game, you were a VIP for LIFE. VIPs got I think a 15-25% credit boost.

That system felt so right. That’s something Dirty Bomb should do. Not paying anything in a f2p game = a trial of sorts. But all it takes is to buy one thing in the game to activate it and then you get your TRUE credit rate to help you unlock more mercs.

(kittenishBlender) #53

[quote=“triteTongs;18748”][quote=“kittenishBlender;10507”]

I’m worry about the fact that this game may end exactly like Tribes Ascend, which was a great game but with a bad monetization system, because you had to pay for new classes || types of gameplay. Thus this game was eventually deserted.
[/quote]

Not exactly the reason that game got deserted.

Also, what I really, really enjoyed about Tribes Ascend was the VIP feature.
Basically if you paid ANY money in the game, you were a VIP for LIFE. VIPs got I think a 15-25% credit boost.

That system felt so right. That’s something Dirty Bomb should do. Not paying anything in a f2p game = a trial of sorts. But all it takes is to buy one thing in the game to activate it and then you get your TRUE credit rate to help you unlock more mercs.[/quote]

Well, the credit boost was indeed a good idea, but the based price you had to pay to become a VIP was quite expensive. And if I’m not wrong the VIP status was no longer awarded after a certain update.

(Runeforce) #54

Would I like a full quality game for free, without ever having to pay a dime? You bet!

But with cosmetics only, I would never use a dime, so I think SD should stay with the current model, if they want to make money.

(vdll) #55

Perhaps you won’t pay for cosmetics, but there are plenty of people who will given the opportunity.
Same as everywhere, ability to stand out from the crowd is priceless for many.

(Nail) #56

he’s a Founder, he already has at least a couple Obsidian skins

(Runeforce) #57

Six in fact, like you.

(Nail) #58

B)

wish I could do something with them

(MissMurder) #59

Skins are being consistently worked on and nothing is out of the question right now. More ways to earn credits incoming, etc.

(Ardez1) #60

Awesome ~ Any word on what those might be(ways to earn credits)? Or are lips still sealed?

One thing I am noticing is that incoming changes/notes are rarely communicated to the players until after the change hits or the servers already go down. Any word on if this might change? Many games announce the new rotations and patch notes half a week+ in advance.

Thanks.