Heeeeeey Cryptic, wanna make 25 bucks?

spinnytop · January 2015

I finally got a build I like and am going to keep into that 5th freeform slot. Sooooooo liiiiiiike.... if you hurry up and have a FF slot sale soon, I will totally buy another slot cause I totally need that one FF slot that I have no idea what to do with and just perform wild experimentation on

flyingfinn · January 2015

Sellspeech like that, they're expecting you to spend $50 to it.
...

spinnytop · January 2015

flyingfinn wrote: »

Sellspeech like that, they're expecting you to spend $50 to it.
...

I won't tho.

nepht · January 2015

spinnytop wrote: »

I won't tho.

You go girl \o/

arimikami · January 2015

flyingfinn wrote: »

Sellspeech like that, they're expecting you to spend $50 to it.
...

They expect too much.

novaninja555 · February 2015

They should let us build a FF slot after playing a long time. Like in warframe, either buy it one time at 10 dollars or so; or grind for days and make one. Makes it less P2W (though CO isn't P2W; only P2PVP-for-more-than-5-percent-chance-of-winning)

spinnytop · February 2015

novaninja555 wrote: »

They should let us build a FF slot after playing a long time. Like in warframe, either buy it one time at 10 dollars or so; or grind for days and make one. Makes it less P2W (though CO isn't P2W; only P2PVP-for-more-than-5-percent-chance-of-winning)

But grinding for FF slots is a perk of gold membership u3u

guyhumual · February 2015

The pricing in the Z-store is Cryptic at best.

crypticbuxom · February 2015

I agree. Freeform slot price should just be changed to $25. That's what we're asking for, right?

nepht · February 2015

crypticbuxom wrote: »

I agree. Freeform slot price should just be changed to $25. That's what we're asking for, right?

That and justice for Red Bull Up Arse Cat.

#justiceforredbulluparsecat

wingedkagouti · February 2015

crypticbuxom wrote: »

I agree. Freeform slot price should just be changed to $25. That's what we're asking for, right?

Well, if you buy them in a bundle you get 16 for $18.75 each (and a bunch of costumes and other goodies as an added extra). And after buying that bundle the cost drops down to $14 for 2 freeform slots.

sterga · February 2015

+1 for a new FF price of $25 over 50. Also: LTS is only a good deal if you want a boat load of characters. Personally don't want a bunch of toons and will likely only end up with 3 or 4 total FFs. Options are nice and stuff.

decorumfriends · February 2015

"$50, same as in town, Father." :biggrin:

bacnn · February 2015

crypticbuxom wrote: »

I agree. Freeform slot price should just be changed to $25. That's what we're asking for, right?

wingedkagouti wrote: »

Well, if you buy them in a bundle you get 16 for $18.75 each (and a bunch of costumes and other goodies as an added extra). And after buying that bundle the cost drops down to $14 for 2 freeform slots.

sterga wrote: »

+1 for a new FF price of $25 over 50.

I hope you'll all forgive me for any bitterness I may have towards this game, but you are all being far too generous towards this payment model. Let me try to explain.

Typically in games with Champion's payment model the game forces players to pay for 'required' pieces of the game(such as your character slot/class) at regular intervals, the alternative of playing without such content being closer to an extended demo. I would argue that freeform characters are a prime example of this as it was originally how the game was meant to be played before the payment model switch and it's a major feature that is flat-out removed from people who have not payed for it. Given that, here's how the game stacks up price-wise to some of it's contemporaries.

Everquest: 8$ per character slot
Everquest 2: 10$ per character slot, 25$ per class(only 2 are locked)
City of Heroes: 6$ per character slot, no information for price of classes but only a handful were locked
DC Universe Online: 5$ per character slot, classes bundled with 10$ DLC packs

None of these games come anywhere close to the insanely steep 50$ that Champions asks for a single character slot with freeform enabled. 50$ would be a steep price to pay for an entire MMO, let alone a single slot in a game so eager to ask for your money at every opportunity.

I understand that most of you are dedicated fans of this game and are happy to pay that cost, but Champions need to be cheap enough for new people to consider playing. Champions Online has very little value to most consumers and it can not have the popularity that it and its fans deserve until its prices are more competitive.

ruuki · February 2015

bacnn wrote: »

I hope you'll all forgive me for any bitterness I may have towards this game, but you are all being far too generous towards this payment model. Let me try to explain.

Typically in games with Champion's payment model the game forces players to pay for 'required' pieces of the game(such as your character slot/class) at regular intervals, the alternative of playing without such content being closer to an extended demo. I would argue that freeform characters are a prime example of this as it was originally how the game was meant to be played before the payment model switch and it's a major feature that is flat-out removed from people who have not payed for it. Given that, here's how the game stacks up price-wise to some of it's contemporaries.

Everquest: 8$ per character slot

Everquest 2: 10$ per character slot, 25$ per class(only 2 are locked)

City of Heroes: 6$ per character slot, no information for price of classes but only a handful were locked

DC Universe Online: 5$ per character slot, classes bundled with 10$ DLC packs

None of these games come anywhere close to the insanely steep 50$ that Champions asks for a single character slot with freeform enabled. 50$ would be a steep price to pay for an entire MMO, let alone a single slot in a game so eager to ask for your money at every opportunity.

I understand that most of you are dedicated fans of this game and are happy to pay that cost, but Champions need to be cheap enough for new people to consider playing. Champions Online has very little value to most consumers and it can not have the popularity that it and its fans deserve until its prices are more competitive.

50 bucks is a pretty large sum of cash for something like that. Especially considering that there are games out there like Guild Wars 2 that charge 50 for a one time purchase with full access to the game and no sub. Hell, I'd be fine if they knocked the subscription fee down a few bucks. Honestly, I think that'd be a better way to get people back into the game as well as letting them enjoy all that it has to offer. As much as I love this game (it was my first long-term MMO) I can't see myself paying that much for a sub again or spending 50 dollars for one character slot in the condition that it's in at the moment.

And it sucks because I miss this game. I keep checking in hoping that SOMETHING has changed but it never really does. lol

draogn · February 2015

Have they changed the purchasable FF slot so it can be used on existing characters? Or does it still only apply to unused character slots.

wingedkagouti · February 2015

bacnn wrote: »

Everquest: 8$ per character slot

Everquest 2: 10$ per character slot, 25$ per class(only 2 are locked)

City of Heroes: 6$ per character slot, no information for price of classes but only a handful were locked

DC Universe Online: 5$ per character slot, classes bundled with 10$ DLC packs

None of these games come anywhere close to the insanely steep 50$ that Champions asks for a single character slot with freeform enabled.

And none of them provide the flexibility of a freeform character. If you just want extra character slots, you get 2 for $14 in CO.

novaninja555 · February 2015

wingedkagouti wrote: »

And none of them provide the flexibility of a freeform character. If you just want extra character slots, you get 2 for $14 in CO.

Then again, those games mentioned AREN'T based on the FF slot.
For a player to enjoy equal to others, he would have to pay the aforesaid amount.
In CO, the same would cost $50.

These aren't my words / opinion but it is what I interpreted from bacnn's words.

spinnytop · February 2015

The price is actually 50$ minus however much free questionite you converted into zen. So basically, the more you're willing to "work" for it, the less it costs.

One thing that keeps driving me away from other MMOs is when I start playing and I realize I can't farm cash shop currency, or that it's a big pain in the butt compared to CO's ezmode cash farming system. CO has spoiled me in that regard.

sterga · February 2015

bacnn wrote: »

I understand that most of you are dedicated fans of this game and are happy to pay that cost, but Champions need to be cheap enough for new people to consider playing. Champions Online has very little value to most consumers and it can not have the popularity that it and its fans deserve until its prices are more competitive.

I'm not paying for any of my FF slots, someone else is. I'm buying all their Q-Crates and magically turning it into zen. Frankly, I don't agree with what some of those games try to sell customers. PoE is the only game I believe has a nearly perfect cash shop. Outside of a few things, CO has decent prices for stuff. But I could say the same for most other game's cash shops.

And I don't play those other games because they're icky.

chaelk · February 2015

ok,
FF slot $50- purchase- you have it regardless.

FF gold $15 per month- RENTAL- you only have them while you pay the rent.

we want FF slots
ok here you are.
they cost too much.
Why can't I use it on an existing character?
Because it's a NEW slot.

we want colour tinting and emanation points.

oh and last week;
why don't silver get a free slot at 40?
why don't silver get a free retcon at 40?

because you're not paying the rental.

xydaxyda · February 2015

I'm in. C'mon cryptic... each day you don't do this is a day you could instead potentially be making at least $50.

jonsills · February 2015

I got my FF slots for only $12.50 each. Of course, I had to buy the bundle of sixteen, but it did come with a bunch of other benefits...

spinnytop · February 2015

I got my FF slots for 10$ each.

5 slots, 50$ total spent. 50 / 5 = 10.

I win.

foxyperson · February 2015

Freeform slots go for $50 because the Gold members are petty and start crying bloody murder if they're sold for any less. That's why.

If I had my way, FF slots would be sold at $10 each.

jennymachx · February 2015

foxyperson wrote: »

Freeform slots go for $50 because the Gold members are petty and start crying bloody murder if they're sold for any less. That's why.

If I had my way, FF slots would be sold at $10 each.

Riiiiight, obviously gold players are to blame. PWE and Cryptic actually hold private meetings with the Champions Online Gold Players Labor Union to make sure that the demands of gold players are met and that their rights are being protected.

Tinfoil hat much?

decorumfriends · February 2015

Why would Gold players even care? It doesn't affect them in any way. Conspiracy theories that make no sense whatsoever are the BEST! :biggrin:

ashensnow · February 2015

foxyperson wrote: »

Freeform slots go for $50 because the Gold members are petty and start crying bloody murder if they're sold for any less. That's why.

If I had my way, FF slots would be sold at $10 each.

You are a Gold member. Are you petty and have your cried bloody murder if FF lots are sold for less than $50 ?

biffsmackwell · February 2015

foxyperson wrote: »

Freeform slots go for $50 because the Gold members are petty and start crying bloody murder if they're sold for any less. That's why.

If I had my way, FF slots would be sold at $10 each.

Before Freeform Slots were an actual thing (there was a time when they weren't) there was a huge thread on the forums about how there should be Freeform Slots. Most of the people arguing for the existence of Freeform Slots agreed that a fair price for them was $30 to $50.

I know the forum users don't make up a huge amount of the playerbase, but if people want their voice heard, avoiding the forums is not the best way to go around that. It's quite possible that the developers took their cue from the players that were asking for the Freeform Slots, and gave them what they wanted.

Let's not arbitrarily blame people for things they had nothing to do with.

Also, I don't think anyone at all cried bloody murder when the slots went on sale for 50% off.

So... good times.

spinnytop · February 2015

foxyperson wrote: »

Freeform slots go for $50 because the Gold members are petty and start crying bloody murder if they're sold for any less. That's why.

If I had my way, FF slots would be sold at $10 each.

Really? Cause I'm not gold... and I was one of the people saying that Free Form slots should have a high price.

So... am I petty for saying that something I would be buying should be expensive? At which point in this would I be crying bloody murder... and would I be crying it at myself? n.n

sterga · February 2015

biffsmackwell wrote: »

Before Freeform Slots were an actual thing (there was a time when they weren't) there was a huge thread on the forums about how there should be Freeform Slots. Most of the people arguing for the existence of Freeform Slots agreed that a fair price for them was $30 to $50.

I know the forum users don't make up a huge amount of the playerbase, but if people want their voice heard, avoiding the forums is not the best way to go around that. It's quite possible that the developers took their cue from the players that were asking for the Freeform Slots, and gave them what they wanted.

Let's not arbitrarily blame people for things they had nothing to do with.

Also, I don't think anyone at all cried bloody murder when the slots went on sale for 50% off.

So... good times.

I remember that. Even then I thought the price was stupid. It's worse now since I think it can be safely assumed that FF slot sales are not the big money maker for CO by a long shot.

avianos · February 2015

Whoever had the idea to sell the FF Slot for 5000 Zen is a Freaking Moron
and if that desision was taken from Feedbacks the Vocal Minority of the CO Forum Community gave, it make things ever WORSE

For Starters, It cost more than a Monthly Sub

It has no option to change power colours/Pets' Skin and without that feature it DOESN'T Deserve that Price

Another horrible Cryptic Marketing Decision which I hope Cryptic will reconsider

In my opinion, it should have been 2000-2500 Zen

doomedluke1 · February 2015

2 character slots cost about 1400Z if I'm not mistaken, and a new AT costs 1150Z... If my opinion matters in any means, I think a fair price for a FF would be something like Avianos said, between 2000 and 2500Z. Obviously, I'd prefer 2000. I'd probably already have a lot more than the 2 FF slots I have now, which I bought last year, during the sales that happened.

I think it would be also nice if silvers finally got access to power tinting. Strangely, getting the Globals cap raise gave me hope that this could happen in a near future.

chaelk · February 2015

jonsills wrote: »

I got my FF slots for only $12.50 each. Of course, I had to buy the bundle of sixteen, but it did come with a bunch of other benefits...

ok where do I give this the uptick?

Heeeeeey Cryptic, wanna make 25 bucks?

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