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C-store to buy or not buy?
purvee1
Member Posts: 360 Arc User
I've been thinking and its put me into a quandary.
Now I said earlier that if the May update brought forth enough Klingon content I'd pay up and get some Zen (My first purchase for 2 years I might add). I'll stand buy that, but I also started wondering about the following scenario.
Simply put there isn't any new KDF stuff, or not enough to satisfy my requirements for the above. But Cryptic do release some extra C-store ships.
That leaves me in a bind. Namely:
A) I do want to support the KDF and want to encourage Cryptic to do more. This means I should buy.
I don't want to reward them for ignoring the main character I play. This of course means my wallet stays firmly closed.
The Problem is I suppose, both start perpetuating the ideas they represent. Buying means Cryptic sees we're happy to cough up for table scraps and carries on as normal. Equally not buying proves its not profitable, so nothing changes.
So has anyone got any thoughts on that? I'm guessing most of us are in a similar boat.
Now I said earlier that if the May update brought forth enough Klingon content I'd pay up and get some Zen (My first purchase for 2 years I might add). I'll stand buy that, but I also started wondering about the following scenario.
Simply put there isn't any new KDF stuff, or not enough to satisfy my requirements for the above. But Cryptic do release some extra C-store ships.
That leaves me in a bind. Namely:
A) I do want to support the KDF and want to encourage Cryptic to do more. This means I should buy.
I don't want to reward them for ignoring the main character I play. This of course means my wallet stays firmly closed.The Problem is I suppose, both start perpetuating the ideas they represent. Buying means Cryptic sees we're happy to cough up for table scraps and carries on as normal. Equally not buying proves its not profitable, so nothing changes.
So has anyone got any thoughts on that? I'm guessing most of us are in a similar boat.
Post edited by purvee1 on
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I have Feds., but spend like 10% of my playtime there, just does not cut it out for me.
So, for my KDF, I buy the stuff that I want to have. The thought had crossed my mind that by purchasing more KDF Z-Store items it might give Cryptic the incentive to release sth. new for KDF in the store, but at the end of the day it's about what I like.
So if I feel like getting a ship, I'll get that ship regardless of what that ment to Cryptic. Wheather they do or don't release sth. new, I'll still play my KDF chars and I'll buy them stuff I want to have when I want.
On another note, I beleive that everyone at Cryptic is well aware that the KDF players would want more. Their development of KDF assets IMO, is not so much based wheather we who play the KDF atm. buy or not buy, but the sheer numbers of players.
I hope that they'll start observing the issue from my perspective - create more content that will bring more players, which will increase sales of KDF Z-Store items as a consequence.
If you ask me, you shouldn't think through this very much. If you feel like spending some money for sth. you'd like to have go for it. Cryptic may or may not add more content to the KDF regardless of the purchases made, at the end of the day it's mostly up to them to decide.
From what I understand, F2P MMO makes their money from microtransactions, not from a handfull of users coughing the big bucks regularly, therefore, speaking with your wallet will only work if it's a grassroot movement with a lot of following, otherwise you're seen as a regular F2P who simply isn't buying.
Especially considering you haven't made a purchase in over two years.
Now, having the opposite, someone who bought everything that states they will no longer buy, will have a bigger impact, but even then, they don't expect players to buy everything and keep buying, it's simply gravy on the side, the meat is the microtransactions, small amounts, but in huge volumes. For that you need a constant intake of new players, so they are looking into what will have new players flocking to try the game, instead of focusing on how to please a small % of the player base who is unhappy.
Thats just my opinion. Probly not worth two cents.
For your question I would say buying what you like has more impact than boycotting. As you said, not buying from the c-store makes it unprofitable for Cryptic to invest development ressources in the KDF, and with my previous theory, the best investment they could make, would be to make it a full faction from level 1, have new players start as KDF.
R.I.P
Basically, save up the money for a big 'reward' purchase if the May update/season is good.
Somewhere I read that devs in f2p games think of cash shop items as simply items for sale rather than as a way for the players to "invest" in any future development. Its clear Cryptic shares this way of thinking, so if you buy something make sure its because you want it and are pretty sure it will bring you satisfaction and joy, not because you want to "support" anything.
If there is both a c-store and fleet version of a ship there are some additional benifits to getting the c-store version.
Typically if you have purchased the c-store version of a ship, then the fleet version typically only requires a single fleet ship module instead of the 4 they normally require.
The downside: you are buying the c-store version and also need to buy a single fleet ship module.
The Upside: generally a console (hello plasmodic leech console!), and in some cases this can actually save you some zen as some of the ships are less then 2000 zen each..
fleet ship modules are 500 zen each, so any ship priced at 1500 zen or less and picking up a single fleet ship module to get the fleet version of the ships is essentially like buying the c-store version and getting the fleet version for what amounts to being free when you do the math. (4 fleet ship modules=2000 zen)
Not all to shabby a deal ya know? Toss the c-store versions console into your fleet version and go have some wowie zowie time! *grin*
BUt, don't do it to encourage Cryptic, because I am kind of agreeing with a few comments I've seen in the thread.. Do it for your self. If Cryptic is encouraged then consider that a nice little bonus.
Khemaraa sends.
Play the faction that u like.
Buy the stuff that u want.
Lets be honest here: whatever u do, it wont change Cryptic's plans.
So just have fun.
You get interested in a game and do some research. You then find out the developers primarily only develop one of the two factions. If I was coming into the game now instead of at launch. I may rethink my time here longterm. I invested a lot into the KDF before they went public about not developing the KDF much. But, I've grown attached and am part of the struggle to help the KDF. (Hence the Empire Veteran)
I do believe if more forumnites used that title, it would show the devs we really do exist.
If they wanted to be good Ferengi's, they wouldn't ignore 20% of the players.
Just like to say its not a "protest" as implied by that, IE: organised boycotts. But Its more a case of the 1% rule. If 1% stop buying of their own free will each time something they don't like happens, then its 2% the next time and so on. Look at Games Workshop for a perfect example.
Awoken Dead
Now shaddup about the queues, it's a BUG