Sneak Preview - Grav Bikes and Free Costume Pieces!

trailturtle · January 2013

Something big is on the way to Millennium City. Over the next two months, starting next week, we'll be releasing new adventures, planned for a release every two weeks.

This mega-event is going to unfold similarly to the Nighthawk event from last year: New missions will be added over time, with new items available to tie in with the theme. Everything's going to culminate at the end of the event, with what's planned to be a custom Alert. Starting next week, you'll be able to get a free costume piece, plus the new Grav Bike Arsenal lockbox.

Read the blog!

flyingfinn · January 2013

So, i'm guessing these new missions aren't something permanent?

bwdares · January 2013

flyingfinn wrote: »

So, i'm guessing these new missions aren't something permanent?

Sadly they did say it would be like the Nighthawk event, but that was fun while it lasted. So hopefully this one will be too.

baroness1980 · January 2013

I hope the new missions are permanent... just disable the extra rewards from the event (After the event is over) in the future, but leave the missions there...

logandarklighter · January 2013

Agreed - I wonder why it was even necessary to remove the Nighthawk event - especially since there are still missions in the game that have one of his imposters in the bank, per one of the opening missions from that event, even now. This game needs new content BADLY. I suggest leaving missions like this in the game permanently unless they are specific holiday or repeat events like Blood Moon.

Still, free costume instead of a Z-store release. That's not too bad. I've yet to see a costume pack I didn't like or find a use for in some way. So a new free costume set is a nice offering.

Main question I have - are there versions of the bikes that will be available from the Z-store? Cause I'm not going to ever open a lockbox under any circumstances.

You make it available to me for direct purchase, I'll buy it. Make me gamble for it? No sale.

If it's initially only available as lockbox but will LATER go to the store, I'm okay with waiting for that. I'm patient.

outofworker · January 2013

thank you for finally giving us some communication

agentgrant · January 2013

So, they're allowed to call one of their grav-bikes Copperhead, yet I can't call my hillbilly moonshining archer the same?

Yes, I'm aware it's also the name of a third-rate DC villain in the past, but I'm still unhappy about it.:mad:

jayleia1 · January 2013

Yay! More Adventures!

I'd like to agree with Baroness's idea to leave them in the game, after all, STO has a similar thing with their featured episodes. Because we do need many more adventures in CO.

sparhawk · January 2013

flyingfinn wrote: »

So, i'm guessing these new missions aren't something permanent?

Unfortunately probably not (which is a bad thing IMO).

logandarklighter wrote: »

Agreed - I wonder why it was even necessary to remove the Nighthawk event - especially since there are still missions in the game that have one of his imposters in the bank, per one of the opening missions from that event, even now. This game needs new content BADLY. I suggest leaving missions like this in the game permanently unless they are specific holiday or repeat events like Blood Moon.

Still, free costume instead of a Z-store release. That's not too bad. I've yet to see a costume pack I didn't like or find a use for in some way. So a new free costume set is a nice offering.

Main question I have - are there versions of the bikes that will be available from the Z-store? Cause I'm not going to ever open a lockbox under any circumstances.

You make it available to me for direct purchase, I'll buy it. Make me gamble for it? No sale.

If it's initially only available as lockbox but will LATER go to the store, I'm okay with waiting for that. I'm patient.

Agreed, and I'm also curious about this.

serendipitynow · January 2013

a new and possibly good event (will have to wait and see if it even works this time) is a welcome addition.

BUT

we need more PERMENENT REAL CONTENT! we havent had any in a whole YEAR and never had much EVER since launch, which was low on content to start with!

mog555 · January 2013

Let just enjoy the event for the time being. we can't rush on things you know............

Anyway I believe it's time for me to prepare some Resource Boosts. Really want that Bike

jaazaniah1 · January 2013

So, are the grav bikes only going to be available from lockboxes? None to purchase from the store? If so, definitely not what I've been waiting for.

theravenforce · January 2013

Um, I cant see the Widow Version of the Grav Bike.

Don't even joke that they arent being put out Q_Q

flyingfinn · January 2013

It's the 200 Salvage one.....
What?

ourlilsecret · January 2013

serendipitynow wrote: »

a new and possibly good event (will have to wait and see if it even works this time) is a welcome addition.

BUT

we need more PERMENENT REAL CONTENT! we havent had any in a whole YEAR and never had much EVER since launch, which was low on content to start with!

^^^^^ This ^^^^^

Also, are those vehicle locked boxes also going to have the "special" item quality like the locked boxes we currently have? You know, that way they, too, can bypass the item rarity threshold for Need/Greed and always need to be rolled on?

Also, any knowledge of whether or not this patch will come with any bug fixes? Or is it just the SOP of releasing a dozen more into the wild, without so much as a glance at those currently existing?

hyperstrikecoh · January 2013

More vehicles and lockboxes.

*SNORE*

Wake me up when there's some real news.

heroshima1 · January 2013

While this sounds exciting at first glance, the reality of having a 3rd lockbox type AND only lockbox gambling chance to get a bike makes me sad.

Hopefully this isn't the full story and bikes will be available in the Z store and the new missions will be a permanent addition to the rather stagnate world we play in now.

cheesehotpockets · January 2013

I doubt Cryptic has considered that these vehicles they are releasing might not fit a toons theme.. I mean i have a dark/infernal toon, having a tank or a grav bike doesn't exactly gel with that.

Soooo.. Hows about some magical themed vehicles?

Until such a time as this, i'll be keeping my money in my wallet. Or moving to The Secret World, due to lack of content in CO. But that's another gripe.

hemslord · January 2013

Please stop releasing more lock box content. You must have lined your pockets by now. Can we have at least one piece of permanent content in 2013, hopefully end game content with decent rewards which do not require things from the zen store.

draogn · January 2013

Woo more lockboxes, while predictable is still disappointing. Especially if this is all that has been in development since the Reloaded patch.

Hopefully we will see a bigger preview of this patch later.

cheesehotpockets · January 2013

hemslord wrote: »

Please stop releasing more lock box content. You must have lined your pockets by now. Can we have at least one piece of permanent content in 2013, hopefully end game content with decent rewards which do not require things from the zen store.

Unfortunately this is Cryptics M.O. and means of making a buck. You should see STO, there's like.. 5 or 6 different lockboxes now. Kinda annoying cause you have to keep emptying out your inventory all the time.

stoopidme · January 2013

cheesehotpockets wrote: »

Unfortunately this is Cryptics M.O. and means of making a buck. You should see STO, there's like.. 5 or 6 different lockboxes now. Kinda annoying cause you have to keep emptying out your inventory all the time.

I'm not to concerned about the inventory thing since they stack too high, I do think the price point for keys is a little bit too high, especially when you consider the lowest possible reward. As far as I'm aware 100 zen is a standard price across all PWE games so it's not like Cryptic can change that.

acrosscat · January 2013

Honestly, I'm more looking forward to costume pieces locked out by On Alert being reinstated or some actual bug fixes.

I can bloody well dream the Operation Demonflame content up and to freeing the Queen Beyond the Pale with the Demon Key bugging out every time.

tfavsb10 · January 2013

Grav bikes will be in the Z shop eventually, I hate lock boxes, they just give you junk most of the time. I'd rather just pay around 2000 zen?

fudgemonsta · January 2013

I'm guessing this is the work that you said you guys would be hammered with...Interesting. Bikes are neat, I know a few people who would like bikes. (Although probably won't like the lockbox idea.)

Does that mean after bike time is done the art team will have free time for a certain Fudgey?

flyingfinn · January 2013

Did you remember to buy the Cosmic Pen?

tfavsb10 · January 2013

flyingfinn wrote: »

Did you remember to buy the Cosmic Pen?

The what? you mean cosmic key?

fudgemonsta · January 2013

flyingfinn wrote: »

Did you remember to buy the Cosmic Pen?

Affirmative. It's here somewhere...Maybe under my lockbox fort...

mrlemming · January 2013

Stop making these stupid lockboxes. There, I said it.

I know there are people who LOVE to gamble and are stupid enough to think they 'are lucky' and gladly take their chances with the keys.

I am not on of these people, I know gambling is stupid (you could open 100 boxes and still don't have what you wanted) and I won't do it out of principle. I rather know what I am buying. I am the type of person that would gladly pay 20 bucks for a cool vehicle or costume set OF MY CHOICE.

-- CL

PS: For people who can't do the math: if a certain item has a 1% chance to be in a box and you open 100 of them, there's still about a 1 in 3 chance you haven't got it.

flyingfinn · January 2013

tfavsb10 wrote: »

The what? you mean cosmic key?

Nope. Cosmic Pen.

mrlemming · January 2013

flyingfinn wrote: »

Nope. Cosmic Pen.

I would rather have a Cosmic Bin, to toss all these lockboxes in.

It could look like an a oil drum with a fire that runs on lockboxes. At least I'd have something neat to use them for. You could make it a SG event! Ritual lockbox burning, 20:00 CET at RenCen!

acrosscat · January 2013

Also, less whining about lockboxes being lockboxes being a moneysink. That's how microtransaction-based games make money, outside of the subscriptions of course. We wanted F2P? This is how they make more money.

They've got mouths to feed over at their families, after all.

gingervitos · January 2013

More lockboxes inside I am overjoyed outside I am headbutting a wall.

jonsills · January 2013

TT: "Hey, guys, we've got new missions coming out! And there are FREE COSTUME PIECES this weekend!! Oh, and by the way, the next Lockbox is coming out too."

Far too many posters: "Lockboxes? Is that all we're getting? What about new missions? Or maybe some costumes?"

Reading is FUNdamental, folks...

mrlemming · January 2013

acrosscat wrote: »

Also, less whining about lockboxes being lockboxes being a moneysink. That's how microtransaction-based games make money, outside of the subscriptions of course. We wanted F2P? This is how they make more money.

They've got mouths to feed over at their families, after all.

I am not disagreeing there, I know they have to make money. I am just saying that I want to buy stuff. Not a CHANCE on stuff.

baroness1980 · January 2013

jonsills wrote: »

TT: "Hey, guys, we've got new missions coming out! And there are FREE COSTUME PIECES this weekend!! Oh, and by the way, the next Lockbox is coming out too."

Far too many posters: "Lockboxes? Is that all we're getting? What about new missions? Or maybe some costumes?"

Reading is FUNdamental, folks...

IT is indeed fundamanetal...

Specially cause the question is if the new missions are temporary or permanent... but I guess you prefer to spin it to suit your rhetoric...

wesleytansg · January 2013

acrosscat wrote: »

Also, less whining about lockboxes being lockboxes being a moneysink. That's how microtransaction-based games make money, outside of the subscriptions of course. We wanted F2P? This is how they make more money.

They've got mouths to feed over at their families, after all.

Agreed, there are people who will pay or alternative people can grind, refine and exchange the questionites for zen to buy the keys if they want.

I am no big fan of the boxes because they are troublesome to pick up. It will be good if they are auto-picked like the purple secondary gear. I have opened some boxes before. However that is the main money-making mechanism. We can't have free-everything. Let's just be grateful whenever we have something new.

Of course, they can also put the bike in there for a fixed amount of zen. However, I wonder if people will still buy them if they are 5000zen or will we then have complaints that they are too ridiculously expensive.

I wonder if these boxes will replace the tank boxes just like how the tank boxes replaced takofanes boxes. Shouldn't all 3 types be available in game? I am sure the tako boxes reaped in more income than the tank boxes and a grav bike, as cool as it is unfortunately does not fit across all my toons unlike legion gear.

cascadence · January 2013

Thanks for the free costume pieces, not gonna say no to that =p.

baroness1980 · January 2013

acrosscat wrote: »

Also, less whining about lockboxes being lockboxes being a moneysink. That's how microtransaction-based games make money, outside of the subscriptions of course. We wanted F2P? This is how they make more money.

They've got mouths to feed over at their families, after all.

I have no problem giving them money... but for things that are actually needed in game..

More Zones? I'd pay for that

More costumes? I'd pay for that, and will enjoy the new free pieces

New Powers? I'd pay for that as well

Foundry? Ditto... I'd pay to have that one here

There are many ways they could make money.. but if they only rely on lockboxes then there is something fundamentally wrong here...

flyingfinn · January 2013

You're preaching to empty seats. It's you, we who don't buy Keys to open Lockboxes are considered as people who don't want to give them money.
It's been seen in many threads/posts.

I can't wait to try my luck with the new Bike boxes with my free Zen. Since last 2 "gambles" went quite good. Was it 2x3 boxes and both times a Tank?

ravynfallenstar · January 2013

what happened to the red widow bike? i'm pretty sure it was the copperhead so why the change? its the bike i was waiting for, so i guess i'll just stick with the vehicles i already have.

baroness1980 · January 2013

flyingfinn wrote: »

You're preaching to empty seats. It's you, we who don't buy Keys to open Lockboxes are considered as people who don't want to give them money.
It's been seen in many threads/posts.

I can't wait to try my luck with the new Bike boxes with my free Zen. Since last 2 "gambles" went quite good. Was it 2x3 boxes and both times a Tank?

Am I?

Funny I bought 2 hideouts in 3 months and over 14 costume packs and a few costume slots as wells... things I really want, you know...

cascadence · January 2013

baroness1980 wrote: »

Am I?

Funny I bought 2 hideouts in 3 months and over 14 costume packs and a few costume slots as wells... things I really want, you know...

Not gonna lie that's the very same stuff I buy. The only positive thing I see from all of this lockbox/grab bag business, its that my stipend is piling up rather fast and I am buying all the costume sets that I was missing.

Though I really hope we get a costume set this month... wizard was the last one isn't it?? thats a loooooong time, considering in the past they would add a costume set every month.

serendipitynow · January 2013

Also, less whining about lockboxes being lockboxes being a moneysink. That's how microtransaction-based games make money, outside of the subscriptions of course. We wanted F2P? This is how they make more money.

Wrong. Its how BAD micro transaction games make money.

GOOD ones actually sell items, so you can choose what you want to buy, not force you to gamble for them.

How many stores do you know where you go in and have to buy a lottery ticket to buy things instead of choosing wether you want groceries, a stereo, a car etc...

The clue to how microtransaction funded games work is in the name - microTRANSACTION - which means buying or selling something (they sell, we buy).

They arent called microGAMBLE games, though PW ones should be, since they dont like actually having TRSANSACTIONS instead of GAMBLES

Also if they want money, they should sell things people actually WANT and have been asking for, like CONTENT!

maleb666 · January 2013

Dear Cryptic and PWE:

PLEASE, if the free costumes are going to drop from somewhere, PLEASE make them tradable!!!

Thanks!!

gamehobo · January 2013

*RAAAAAAGE!*

Telepathy NOW!

cheesesloppy · January 2013

I'm sure it's less that people are ONLY looking at the lockbox 'content', and more that people are looking at how the lockbox content is seemingly the only way to get Grav Bikes.

Also, 'Like the Nighthawk event' hints that it'll be temporary. As such to me the only good part about this news is the 'Free costume pieces'.

Wish I could say the whole thing was but over time, using the 'At least it's something' excuse has run its course. It's either new, permanent content and BUG FIXES, or bust.

falchoin · January 2013

Pity this event couldn't have started when CoX went down.

Am I the only one a bit wary since we've not seen this on PTS? This sounds like a big game changing event. Given the last few changes and "fixes" *cough*Imbue*cough* my faith in a smooth release is not high.

Still, yay for more things to actually do. It'd be nice if there will be some sort of permenant addition to CO's content as well beyond a custom alert.

Oh, and here's to hoping the Grav Bike Arsenal lockbox drops less frequently than the hovertank lockbox and as was mentioned earlier is set to an actual quality level that Need or Greed can properly filter.

acrosscat · January 2013

serendipitynow wrote: »

Wrong. Its how BAD micro transaction games make money.

GOOD ones actually sell items, so you can choose what you want to buy, not force you to gamble for them.

But... we can? Vehicles can be bought already. I'm sure Bikes will show up in the shops. Dropboxes are literally the TF2 crates maybe containing an Unusual hat, or Dota's rarer drops from their respective crates. Either way, you get stuff out of them (usually just not what you want out of them, as the aforementioned crates).

Or is such business savvy wrong on Valve's part, too?

serendipitynow · January 2013

But... we can? Vehicles can be bought already. I'm sure Bikes will show up in the shops. Dropboxes are literally the TF2 crates maybe containing an Unusual hat, or Dota's rarer drops from their respective crates. Either way, you get stuff out of them (usually just not what you want out of them, as the aforementioned crates).

Or is such business savvy wrong on Valve's part, too?

They will probably have DIFFERENT ones in the z store, but if like tanks the best ones will be locbox only (directly or via drifter)

Meaning pay to gamble, which is not a transaction, its buying a lottery ticket.

The definition of transaction is buying/selling NOT gambling which is what a lockbox is

zerojad · January 2013

Finally phase 2 is near, right? xp
Good, i'm saving up for bikes (again :rolleyes:), if there isn't one on Z-store, guess i have to gamble on those boxes. :mad:

Sneak Preview - Grav Bikes and Free Costume Pieces!

Comments