I have a feeling Cashshop-Items won't be as affordable as you all are hoping for

leo

I mean let's face it. It is a US server after all. The developers are probably seeing us as "spoiled american kids with lots of $$$$$." Everyone seems to look at the positive and neglecting the negative aspects. I'm sure that this game will have better quality in terms of GM services among other regional servers and I have no doubts in that. But i can't help to think that is going to be"affortable-but-a-lil-more-than-others-because-we-have-a-better-up-to-date-version"

devotion

Im fine with that, I dont spend much money on games so ill just earn it.

karmelia

Maybe... maybe not.

Remember that when you buy cubis, you cannot buy them directly from Cubinet. You have to buy through a reseller that need to make a profit too. And Bejing PW Co also take a part of the profit on everything that is bought in the cash shop.

So you have 3 companies that takes it's cut when you buy cubigolds.


Here, you will buy ZEN directly form PWE. And remember that PWE is a subsidiary of Beging PW Co....

Meaning there's only one company that takes all the money when you buy ZEN. By eliminating the middlemen, they could afford to sell the ZEN lower than what you pay for cubis.

Big question is : will they do it, or will they choose to make a bigger profit....

Sell low - sell a lot - make profit

or

Sell higher - sell less - make profit


If I were the boss, I would choose the first solution. More players buy ZEN, and even if I make less profit on each, I'll end up with more money in the end since I would sell more. Clients are happy. A happy client is a client that come back. Happy clients buy ZEN again. Company make even more profits. Company is happy too.

But I'm not the boss of Bejing PW Co...

leo

karmelia wrote: »

Maybe... maybe not.

Sell low - sell a lot - make profit

or

Sell higher - sell less - make profit



But I'm not the boss of Bejing PW Co...

I definately support the first one.!!

merulz

No, it's an International server.

shnuggles

leo wrote: »

I mean let's face it. It is a US server after all. The developers are probably seeing us as "spoiled american kids with lots of $$$$$." Everyone seems to look at the positive and neglecting the negative aspects. I'm sure that this game will have better quality in terms of GM services among other regional servers and I have no doubts in that. But i can't help to think that is going to be"affortable-but-a-lil-more-than-others-because-we-have-a-better-up-to-date-version"

We definately know this is a concern for our players and are trying to make it as fair as possible. Announcements regarding pricing will come in due time. Pricing based on version will NOT be a factor is the most I can assure you so we can nix that thought right now . As far as the customer service side goes, you will definately see a difference from [insert version here] that you may have played. All of us here are gamers ourselves and know what concerns players as far as these things go. Let me assure you we will be doing whatever we can to make sure that your experience with PWI will be the best it can possibly be.

-Your friendly neighborhood Shnuggs-

ence

Well as for "rich spoiled American kids" I don't know.. the USA economy is continuing to drop...meaning not as much money to spend in general. I dunno but I work for my $$ and I do know that with the rise in gas price, my spending on PW did drop significantly.

june

ence wrote: »

Well as for "rich spoiled American kids" I don't know.. the USA economy is continuing to drop...meaning not as much money to spend in general. I dunno but I work for my $$ and I do know that with the rise in gas price, my spending on PW did drop significantly.

Yay for high gas prices! (For those who work in the oil industry, which I don't :P) It used to cost $18 to fill up the car just a few years ago, and now it costs $55. This kind of crippled summer vacation plans, and extraneous expenditure. (Not only that, rice that was $6 for 20lb is now like $12 for 20lb.) The only fear is if they increase the price of Zen to match the increase in inflation.

On the other hand, 1 U.S. dollar = 6.86219343 Chinese yuan right now, so maybe Zen prices will be a balance between the two.

Or if PWE is more interested in increasing market share, they set a Zen price where they would expect to break even. (i.e.- setting a price below a market equilibrium in order to increase quantity and demand at the expense of gross profit.) Increasing their customer base in that manner, sets them in a good position to introduce the other MMOs that PWRD has available.

hong

If cash shop items aren't expensive, they'd earn a lot. Cause people would actually pay, especially in this game, amazing fashion. Sell cheap clothings, wings, mounts and boom the money flies. If they are expensive, only desperate people wants it imo = less profit.

aetu

karmelia wrote: »

Sell low - sell a lot - make profit

or

Sell higher - sell less - make profit

If they're going to make profit either way, I hope that they might just go with the way that will actually make the customers happier. I think just having more customers who buy stuff more often would make the first way more profitable, wouldn't it?

ganja

I'm not from America, but if I was i'd feel offended with the 'spoiled kids full of $$$$$' you must really have the wrong idea lol, not everyone is spoiled nor full of money, you should really think twice bout talking something you prolly dont know.

ark

Obviously not everyone. Just most.

tastevengance

hong wrote: »

If cash shop items aren't expensive, they'd earn a lot. Cause people would actually pay, especially in this game, amazing fashion. Sell cheap clothings, wings, mounts and boom the money flies. If they are expensive, only desperate people wants it imo = less profit.

I agree with you.

sealed

hong wrote: »

If cash shop items aren't expensive, they'd earn a lot. Cause people would actually pay, especially in this game, amazing fashion. Sell cheap clothings, wings, mounts and boom the money flies. If they are expensive, only desperate people wants it imo = less profit.

I agree, if cash shop items would be a little cheaper to pay then their would be more buyers and more in game, therefore theirs more cash shop items in game so the economy will be balanced, but if they will be expensive, then be prepared for a corrupted economy system in PW.

tofu

sealed wrote: »

I agree, if cash shop items would be a little cheaper to pay then their would be more buyers and more in game, therefore theirs more cash shop items in game so the economy will be balanced, but if they will be expensive, then be prepared for a corrupted economy system in PW.

theres something im just not getting.. how would how come if theres more fashion in game the economy would be balanced and less fashion makes it corrupt..
plz elaborate :D

arcane

Spoiled americans?!

My computer is a rock in disguise..

sealed

tofu wrote: »

theres something im just not getting.. how would how come if theres more fashion in game the economy would be balanced and less fashion makes it corrupt..
plz elaborate :D

More demand = expensive, less demand = less expensive

This is where your LOGIC kicks in =D

sealed~

arcane

Economics 101.

nounours

i think we can all agree with something; pw-my is extra cheap

100 cubi-gold = 100myr = 30.3$ (USD, with rate 1myr=0.3$) = 19.9 euros.

wich is extra cheap, the last flying board for 99cubi-gold will cost you ONly 19.9euro or 30.3$.
Fashs are even cheaper, when you see their price, like 1cubi-gold, 12cubi-gold.

12cubi-gold = 12myr (Malaysian Ringet)t= 3.63$ = 2.3 euros (price of last fashion!)
25cubi-gold= 25myr = 7.57$ = 4.9euro (price of a jaguar)

Well buying "ingots" confuse a bite, but 100myr = 10 000ingots = 100 cubi-gold.

And i read in pw europe forum, that it will be as cheap!
So i think that international version shouldnt put price up, otherwise, they will end up losing a huge part of players.

convertions done with GCI"Real-Time Currency Converter": http://www.gcitrading.com/fx-converter.htm

devotion

nounours wrote: »

i think we can all agree with something; pw-my is extra cheap

100 cubi-gold = 100myr = 30.3$ (USD, with rate 1myr=0.3$) = 19.9 euros.

wich is extra cheap, the last flying board for 99cubi-gold will cost you ONly 19.9euro or 30.3$.
Fashs are even cheaper, when you see their price, like 1cubi-gold, 12cubi-gold.

12cubi-gold = 12myr (Malaysian Ringet)t= 3.63$ = 2.3 euros (price of last fashion!)
25cubi-gold= 25myr = 7.57$ = 4.9euro (price of a jaguar)

Well buying "ingots" confuse a bite, but 100myr = 10 000ingots = 100 cubi-gold.

And i read in pw europe forum, that it will be as cheap!
So i think that international version shouldnt put price up, otherwise, they will end up losing a huge part of players.

convertions done with GCI"Real-Time Currency Converter": http://www.gcitrading.com/fx-converter.htm

I dont think 30$ for a giant sword that is a bit faster is worth it..

ence

shnuggles wrote: »

We definately know this is a concern for our players and are trying to make it as fair as possible. Announcements regarding pricing will come in due time. Pricing based on version will NOT be a factor is the most I can assure you so we can nix that thought right now . As far as the customer service side goes, you will definately see a difference from [insert version here] that you may have played. All of us here are gamers ourselves and know what concerns players as far as these things go. Let me assure you we will be doing whatever we can to make sure that your experience with PWI will be the best it can possibly be.

-Your friendly neighborhood Shnuggs-

Well as says here, they are trying to make as "fair as possible" meaning, seriously. If you're running a company like this you're not completely gone as far as intelligence goes. At the very least you're trying to balance that supply/price/cost/demand deal for as much profit as you can get. I'm sure they'll at least try to take that into consideration. (Question then becomes whether or not they will follow through with what most people at least believe to be the best course of action)

severan

it's an international version and the us economy is atm pretty bashed up.
Hmmm... the part about rich kids is a bit non-logical.

1. kids = no job
2. no job = no money

logical sense would be "kids from a rich family"

anyway, i just hope they sell those hieros and "those things used to drop when you're pk, some doll or something" for like 1Cent~10 Cents each. everyone's gonnabe buying loads of those. personally if they sell 1 hiero = 1~10c they can make 1 million Cent per day (assuming aproximate 10,000 players buy 100 hiero each per day) than 1 hiero = 1$ where they could only sell 100 per day
(it's all theory btw)

as for the flying swords, bleh... gift me!

kelo

nounours wrote: »

i think we can all agree with something; pw-my is extra cheap

100 cubi-gold = 100myr = 30.3$ (USD, with rate 1myr=0.3$)
wich is extra cheap, the last flying board for 99cubi-gold will cost you ONly 19.9euro or 30.3$

Well I guess it is extra cheap for you... but I can't agree. 30$ for ONE ingame item, barely better than many other items is not extra-cheap =_= I play another game where the maximum you can pay for one ONE item is around 12-15USD, which is pretty reasonable. Anything over 15-20$, I won't bother to look at. I mean, I'd buy one of these, and I'd be 8-12 months not buying anything else in this game.

acrimony

The initial prices will depend imho on the number of people their marketing department (or the person who's doing the market research if that's case - and if it is - small companies -> I LOVE YOU!) expects to see.

If they're expecting an initial playerbase of 2-300k players (yes I know I'm being overly hopeful, bare with me!), let's say 30% will be people willing & able to pay, that leaves you with about 90k paying customers.

If each customer forks out an average of 40$/month (this may seem unrealistic, but keep in mind there WILL be players spending 1-200$ / month, which will even out with the ones spending just 10$) then they are looking at HUGE profits for a new business (obviously they will not get to use all of the profit, as part will go to the money-operating partners, there's taxes, wages and other such expenses to cover, not to mention the bank loan ).

HOWEVER 2-300k is really pushing it imo (in the NA/European market, on the asian market that'd be a good starting figure!). I honestly see 30-40k people as an EXCELLENT platform to build on. If we follow the same 30% ideea, that just leaves ~10k paying customers, and a significantly lower profit margin.

Now option A lends itself perfectly to the - sell TONS of cheap stuff, you'll make good money, while option B will favour a cautios aproach of selling their goods for a "medium" price (perhaps +15% compared to the MY-EN version?).

And hell if the game becomes more popular then WoW we can buy the Zen for lunch money!

PS: I so do wish this game version will hit it big, really I do. If they GM the game properly, and if they have all the translations done well, this game rocks, especially for the people who can't raid 8hrs/day + farm raiding mats another 3hrs/day.

karmelia

acrimony wrote: »

PS: I so do wish this game version will hit it big, really I do. If they GM the game properly, and if they have all the translations done well, this game rocks, especially for the people who can't raid 8hrs/day + farm raiding mats another 3hrs/day.

I think this is something they don't mention enough : that even players who can only play a few hours a week will be able to level up at a reasonnable rate compared to other games where playing a few hours a week will get you nowhere.

ren

kelo wrote: »

Well I guess it is extra cheap for you... but I can't agree. 30$ for ONE ingame item, barely better than many other items is not extra-cheap =_= I play another game where the maximum you can pay for one ONE item is around 12-15USD, which is pretty reasonable. Anything over 15-20$, I won't bother to look at. I mean, I'd buy one of these, and I'd be 8-12 months not buying anything else in this game.

Low end cs mounts are like $5, the mid are like $15, high is like $35.
The high end ones aren't particularly worth it: they just look cool...

ranthe

If the prices for CS items are like they are in Flyff you can count me as one of the "will never buy anything" group. however if they're relatively cheaper like the MY-EN version i might be able to spare $10 every week or so for CS items like Heiros, dolls, and maybe a ground or flying mount eventually.

karmelia

You must also understand that many items on the cash shop are not essential to play, and are mostly for show. And to allow them to make money so the server may keep running.

You can very well play all the time with the basic flying device you get for free. Those who decide to buy the more advanced ones will fly a bit faster than you.

The speed difference between the lower priced pet ride and the higher one is not that much either.

Wedding is absolutely not essential.

Fashion is absolutely not essential either.

Like in real life. Will you ask Ferrari to sell their car at $12.000 because you cannot afford them at $150.000? No. The used Honda you paid $5.000 can do the job. It's just not as flashy.

I'm certain there will have high priced items. It's part of what keeps the game running. If someone wants to pay $30 for a mount, good for him.

tenkei

Really most of this sounds like it boils down to two overall focuses. Either they base price to Product oriented or Customer oriented.

Yes, product oriented gives you a big bang up-front on net gain as a business. Customer retention though is horrendous, you'll get a customer make a purchase like 1 time every 2+ years with most of the product my company sells. My company is in the process of moving from product oriented to customer oriented.

What is seen with customer oriented is that retention is sickening high, so even though your net gain is less your retention has customer coming in anywere from quarterly, monthly, weekly, and even with a select few going daily. For the gamer industry they don't really have to huge a choice, you've got to be a bit more customer oriented then product oriented.

My vote would be the price falls more in the middle of most of the people's thinking here.

koz

I don't think the MY version understood that if we can get more for our money, we will spend more of it. I mean the MY version charges $30 for just the mid flying mounts and land mounts like the seraph wings and the dragon thing. If I could get 500 cubi for $30 instead of 100 cubi, I would spend my cubi more carelessly and end up buying more. Since this game is pretty cash shop heavy, I would buy much more if the cash shop was cheap. If it turns out to be expensive again, I would probably only end up spending around $30 on the game rather than $200-300 if the cash shop was cheaper. I want to see results for my money, not 1 item or 2. I think it would benefit both the company and the players if the cash shop was cheaper.

ence

Just an interesting note concerning "rich USA kids"...again as stated previously, its the parents that are rich, not the kids.

And...I was listening to ABC News last night.

According to economy news, wholesale and costco gained profits (Bulk items)

but...

Stores such as Target and Wal-Mart posted less-than-expected gains and most teenage oriented retails reported 10% or greater losses for the quarter

Hmm....