As part of upgrading the Legendary Membership, we've created an entirely new system that all players can utilize in-game to earn rewards. Promethium Lockboxes have a rare chance of dropping from any enemies you defeat anywhere in the world (once you're level 10). Inside, you'll find unique, new, and powerful gear that you can't find anywhere else.
All players can find Promethium Lockboxes, but players with Free or Premium Access will have to purchase a Promethium Key from the Marketplace to open them. With a Legendary Membership, you've got it made. You can unlock any and all Promethium Lockboxes you find, immediately, for free!
So Subscribers can open them without a key and the rest have to buy keys.
So LTS can open them without a key, Gold and Silver players have to buy keys?
No. SOE uses three account types. One being completely free. A second that is a one time purchase that boosts things like how many credits and characters you are allowed to have. Legendary is the monthly subscription.
It is the same as their Everquest F2P system, but with different names.
Bronze = Free (lock on amount of $ characters can have and locked out of Fabled/Legendary gear, but all mastercrafted gear made by players is unlocked)
Silver = $10 one time (adds more inventory, access to exchange, character slots, money)
Gold = $15 Subscription (everything is unlocked)
The boon is that the locked fabled/legendary gear can be unlocked with a micro transaction of $1.50 for a pack of five unlocks.
The main difference between SOE and PWE F2P model is that SOE doesn't seek to rip off it's player base and actually rewards their subscribing members.
Actually it's free for subscribers. DCUO has a 3 tier system instead of 2 tier like STO. Free accounts, Premium, and Legendary. Legendary are paid sub accounts. Premium means that you spent $5 in the cash shop and comes with a few unlocks like a larger inventory, money cap, and character slots. It's in between a Free account and a Legendary. So anyone with a sub doesn't have to pay to open the lockboxes.
It's interesting that people get upset about things that are optional. Nothing is a rip-off if you choose not to participate. Sure, get upset about an increase in Electricity rates or Mortgage Interest rates that you are committed to. Don't get upset about the price of a luxury car that you don't have to buy.
Having said that, I think its a good idea for subscribers to be able to open boxed without a key.
So Subscribers can open them without a key and the rest have to buy keys.
Sounds like a good idea
That would add value to subscriptions, which have almost none since F2P. So you KNOW it's never going to happen here. Follow the trend... expect to get less and less for your subscription, not more.
It's interesting that people get upset about things that are optional. Nothing is a rip-off if you choose not to participate..
Except Golds do participate. they pay/have paid for priority access and special treatment over and above what free players get. So when every single last thing they do treats us the same, we get upset.
Sure, we get Vet rewards, and slots of various kinds,, and the pitiful Stipend, and the EC Cap is higher.. But a Silver can pay for very nearly everything from those, and come out ahead money-wise compared to a Monthly Gold, over time.
And when we see very nearly every other major MMO out there treating their paid subs better than PWE treats us, well.. We get a bit irate. And considering DCUO went F2P before STO did, and still waited to do the Lockboxes, and then decided to make them free for paying Subs.. Well, it's just a kick in the face to those of us who willingly paid into STO for 2 years to be thrown under the bus comparatively.
EDIT: Oh, and don't you just love how a perfectly legitimate General Discussion Topic is "moved" to Ten Forward?
Wow, the OP really missed a great opportunity with this thread. If you hadnt linked to another game's website and just mentioned how their boxes worked it probably could have stayed in STO discussion as a discussion about whether or not STO's boxes could ever work that way. Unfortunately you decided to link to another game's site though.
Wrong. Premium means you've purchased something. Legendary means a sub or LT.
The info is right on the site.
Its strange how people who dont actually know what they are talking about insist they are right rather than simply saying they arent sure and/or checking for themselves isnt it?
Wow, the OP really missed a great opportunity with this thread. If you hadnt linked to another game's website and just mentioned how their boxes worked it probably could have stayed in STO discussion as a discussion about whether or not STO's boxes could ever work that way. Unfortunately you decided to link to another game's site though.
So it's the link, not the fact that Cryptic's business practices are skeevy, that is offensive? GG forum.
Except Golds do participate. they pay/have paid for priority access and special treatment over and above what free players get. So when every single last thing they do treats us the same, we get upset.
Special Treatment? I did not see this on the F2P matrix? Its very defined what you get as a subscriber. Special Treatment implies ongoing pampering. Sorry, this is a "kid in a candy story" mentality. You give a kid a special lolly and they cry for more-more-more. These are benefits are for the 'Subscription'. Don't expect more than that is mentioned on the F2P matrix.
EDIT: Oh, and don't you just love how a perfectly legitimate General Discussion Topic is "moved" to Ten Forward?
Surprised that they did nto create a new "Dungeon" forum category
There was a time when, if you were not satisfied with a product a company offered, you simply did not contribute to helping that company thrive. If enough people were not satisfied, that company would then most likely go out of business. I know this comes as a shock to some of you youngsters out there, since you're so used to "disposable life", but these kinds of things did used to happen. Now, most companies don't care about things like good customer service and a quality product because they know if there are enough suckers out there, there is money to be made. The world is full of suckers. I'm a sucker, I sub this game. That's only because I am satisfied with what I do in this game, which really isn't much since my time is usually pretty limited.
Unfortunately, Cryptic isn't the problem, PWE and their iron-fisted Ferengi Accountants are.
Ferengi? My good Sir....I don't agree with the Ferengi...but comparing PWE to them is insulting to their entire race....those poor Ferengi aren't even close to what PWE does.
Ferengi? My good Sir....I don't agree with the Ferengi...but comparing PWE to them is insulting to their entire race....those poor Ferengi aren't even close to what PWE does.
Well, to be fair, the Ferengi consider Wall Street akin to a religious holy site, something I think PWE is in agreement with.
Except Golds do participate. they pay/have paid for priority access and special treatment over and above what free players get. So when every single last thing they do treats us the same, we get upset.
Sure, we get Vet rewards, and slots of various kinds,, and the pitiful Stipend, and the EC Cap is higher.. But a Silver can pay for very nearly everything from those, and come out ahead money-wise compared to a Monthly Gold, over time.
And when we see very nearly every other major MMO out there treating their paid subs better than PWE treats us, well.. We get a bit irate. And considering DCUO went F2P before STO did, and still waited to do the Lockboxes, and then decided to make them free for paying Subs.. Well, it's just a kick in the face to those of us who willingly paid into STO for 2 years to be thrown under the bus comparatively.
EDIT: Oh, and don't you just love how a perfectly legitimate General Discussion Topic is "moved" to Ten Forward?
DCUO went F2P because it was a massive flop - probably on par with what people are saying ToR was. Going F2P was the only way SOE could salvage the title. STO didn't flop so poorly it had to go F2P mere months after its release.
STO didn't flop so poorly it had to go F2P mere months after its release.
I think that has more to do with the skeleton dev team keeping costs as low as possible while they milk the remaining population as hard as they can. That's something for the executives to be proud of, sure, but not the playerbase.
probably on par with what people are saying ToR was.
Yeah, and that turned out to be totally true didn't it, what with its continually growing player base, active community, and the recent successful Guild Summit. Take most of what you hear on the internet, especially about the success/failings of games, with a grain of salt.
I think that has more to do with the skeleton dev team keeping costs as low as possible while they milk the remaining population as hard as they can. That's something for the executives to be proud of, sure, but not the playerbase.
Except comparatively, STO didn't flop at all. Cryptic was Ataris one performing asset, consistently generating impressive profits even as Ataris other properties became increasingly unprofitable..
Cryptis was such a good performer PWE payed forty million dollars to buy it. Even if you assume half of that was for the Cryptic Engine (noted in the industry for it's adaptability) then they paid twenty million dollars for Champions and STO. In an industry when an entire Dev team can be bought for two million dollars, that's incredible.
STO has consistently, even before F2P, even during the ten month content drought, been in the black, profitable, mostly with a Subscription model.
F2P has generated even more profits, but we don't see it in content development. We see it in microtransaction development. Instead of buffing the size of the Map making team, or the story writers, or the animation department.. They've buffed the item creators and the system programmers, and the ship teams.. All the things they can hock on the C-Store get invested in.. While mission creation has been cut down to a shoestring, and now even FEs are on the chopping block as they "re-evaluate" their ROI..
PWE hasn't done anything out of desperation, or to keep STO alive. Every move, every addition, has been calculated to get more money. The revamps? To make STO more F2Per friendly to keep them here long enough for them to spend money. The latest FE? Put in so soon after F2P in order to cause a secondary F2Per surge and "hook" as many of them as possible. Notice that they put a shuttle on sale on the C-Store right before a shuttle mission went live, think that was plucky coincidence?
PWE themselves haven't made a single move with the pure intent to make STO a better game, or to keep STO afloat over the long term, or to cater to the fans (you know, the main target audience), but to maximize profit in the here and now, to bring in the grinding pay to win MMO junkies, long term consequences be ****ed.
DCUO barely lasted 10 months before they went F2P.
Say what you will about Cryptic - they've done an impressive job. Also considering that Perpetual sat on the STO license for years, and nearly let it run out before giving it to Cryptic, leaving them about a year or so to get a working game in order.
DCU is adding lockboxes and the standard $5 a month stipend that most of the recent F2P games have had for lifers and subbers.
The difference is, their lockboxes are free for lifers and subscribers to open and keys are only required for free players.
The F2P market seems quite competitive, with everyone copying eachother's business models. The $5 a month point stipend was a Cryptic feature.
Now, Sony accounting isn't stupid. They probably know what they're doing here and have run the numbers to determine that more subscriptions would be more profitable than more lockbox keys.
So if they're right, why wouldn't the same be true for STO?
DCU is a much bigger budget game than STO so it isn't likely charity on their part.
DCU is adding lockboxes and the standard $5 a month stipend that most of the recent F2P games have had for lifers and subbers.
The difference is, their lockboxes are free for lifers and subscribers to open and keys are only required for free players.
The F2P market seems quite competitive, with everyone copying eachother's business models. The $5 a month point stipend was a Cryptic feature.
Now, Sony accounting isn't stupid. They probably know what they're doing here and have run the numbers to determine that more subscriptions would be more profitable than more lockbox keys.
So if they're right, why wouldn't the same be true for STO?
DCU is a much bigger budget game than STO so it isn't likely charity on their part.
Its been a while since I checked but last I looked DCUO also offered a discount for lifers/subs to their cash store. If that is still the case, then with a stipend and no keys for unlocking things... your darn toot'n its a competitive industry... Cryptic's been broad-sided?
Comments
Unfortunately, Cryptic isn't the problem, PWE and their iron-fisted Ferengi Accountants are.
That's just plain old hew-mon greed....
So Subscribers can open them without a key and the rest have to buy keys.
Sounds like a good idea
Actually, for DCUO anyway, it's saying F2P and subs have to pay for keys. LIFETIMERS get to open them for free.
I think. I'm pretty sure "Premium" is the sub accounts in DCUO however.
No. SOE uses three account types. One being completely free. A second that is a one time purchase that boosts things like how many credits and characters you are allowed to have. Legendary is the monthly subscription.
It is the same as their Everquest F2P system, but with different names.
Bronze = Free (lock on amount of $ characters can have and locked out of Fabled/Legendary gear, but all mastercrafted gear made by players is unlocked)
Silver = $10 one time (adds more inventory, access to exchange, character slots, money)
Gold = $15 Subscription (everything is unlocked)
The boon is that the locked fabled/legendary gear can be unlocked with a micro transaction of $1.50 for a pack of five unlocks.
The main difference between SOE and PWE F2P model is that SOE doesn't seek to rip off it's player base and actually rewards their subscribing members.
Having said that, I think its a good idea for subscribers to be able to open boxed without a key.
That would add value to subscriptions, which have almost none since F2P. So you KNOW it's never going to happen here. Follow the trend... expect to get less and less for your subscription, not more.
Except Golds do participate. they pay/have paid for priority access and special treatment over and above what free players get. So when every single last thing they do treats us the same, we get upset.
Sure, we get Vet rewards, and slots of various kinds,, and the pitiful Stipend, and the EC Cap is higher.. But a Silver can pay for very nearly everything from those, and come out ahead money-wise compared to a Monthly Gold, over time.
And when we see very nearly every other major MMO out there treating their paid subs better than PWE treats us, well.. We get a bit irate. And considering DCUO went F2P before STO did, and still waited to do the Lockboxes, and then decided to make them free for paying Subs.. Well, it's just a kick in the face to those of us who willingly paid into STO for 2 years to be thrown under the bus comparatively.
EDIT: Oh, and don't you just love how a perfectly legitimate General Discussion Topic is "moved" to Ten Forward?
Wrong. Premium means you've purchased something. Legendary means a sub or LT.
The info is right on the site.
Agreed. Cryptic is getting more & more skeevy.
Its strange how people who dont actually know what they are talking about insist they are right rather than simply saying they arent sure and/or checking for themselves isnt it?
Special Treatment? I did not see this on the F2P matrix? Its very defined what you get as a subscriber. Special Treatment implies ongoing pampering. Sorry, this is a "kid in a candy story" mentality. You give a kid a special lolly and they cry for more-more-more. These are benefits are for the 'Subscription'. Don't expect more than that is mentioned on the F2P matrix.
Surprised that they did nto create a new "Dungeon" forum category
Ferengi? My good Sir....I don't agree with the Ferengi...but comparing PWE to them is insulting to their entire race....those poor Ferengi aren't even close to what PWE does.
Well, to be fair, the Ferengi consider Wall Street akin to a religious holy site, something I think PWE is in agreement with.
DCUO went F2P because it was a massive flop - probably on par with what people are saying ToR was. Going F2P was the only way SOE could salvage the title. STO didn't flop so poorly it had to go F2P mere months after its release.
No all subscribers can...anyone who is Legendary status get to open for free.
Sounds competent. Sigh.
I think that has more to do with the skeleton dev team keeping costs as low as possible while they milk the remaining population as hard as they can. That's something for the executives to be proud of, sure, but not the playerbase.
Yeah, and that turned out to be totally true didn't it, what with its continually growing player base, active community, and the recent successful Guild Summit. Take most of what you hear on the internet, especially about the success/failings of games, with a grain of salt.
Except comparatively, STO didn't flop at all. Cryptic was Ataris one performing asset, consistently generating impressive profits even as Ataris other properties became increasingly unprofitable..
Cryptis was such a good performer PWE payed forty million dollars to buy it. Even if you assume half of that was for the Cryptic Engine (noted in the industry for it's adaptability) then they paid twenty million dollars for Champions and STO. In an industry when an entire Dev team can be bought for two million dollars, that's incredible.
STO has consistently, even before F2P, even during the ten month content drought, been in the black, profitable, mostly with a Subscription model.
F2P has generated even more profits, but we don't see it in content development. We see it in microtransaction development. Instead of buffing the size of the Map making team, or the story writers, or the animation department.. They've buffed the item creators and the system programmers, and the ship teams.. All the things they can hock on the C-Store get invested in.. While mission creation has been cut down to a shoestring, and now even FEs are on the chopping block as they "re-evaluate" their ROI..
PWE hasn't done anything out of desperation, or to keep STO alive. Every move, every addition, has been calculated to get more money. The revamps? To make STO more F2Per friendly to keep them here long enough for them to spend money. The latest FE? Put in so soon after F2P in order to cause a secondary F2Per surge and "hook" as many of them as possible. Notice that they put a shuttle on sale on the C-Store right before a shuttle mission went live, think that was plucky coincidence?
PWE themselves haven't made a single move with the pure intent to make STO a better game, or to keep STO afloat over the long term, or to cater to the fans (you know, the main target audience), but to maximize profit in the here and now, to bring in the grinding pay to win MMO junkies, long term consequences be ****ed.
STO took about 2 years to go F2P.
DCUO barely lasted 10 months before they went F2P.
Say what you will about Cryptic - they've done an impressive job. Also considering that Perpetual sat on the STO license for years, and nearly let it run out before giving it to Cryptic, leaving them about a year or so to get a working game in order.
I don't think cryptic is as innocent in this whole deal, as you seem to think
The difference is, their lockboxes are free for lifers and subscribers to open and keys are only required for free players.
The F2P market seems quite competitive, with everyone copying eachother's business models. The $5 a month point stipend was a Cryptic feature.
Now, Sony accounting isn't stupid. They probably know what they're doing here and have run the numbers to determine that more subscriptions would be more profitable than more lockbox keys.
So if they're right, why wouldn't the same be true for STO?
DCU is a much bigger budget game than STO so it isn't likely charity on their part.
Only time will tell...