I've been thinking about this over the last few days. we pay 15 dollars a month, and that should cover, the server farm, pay, overhead, and royalties that you guys have to deal with, and I know other MMOs have game item stores, but between the F2P, and the Pay2Play, it seems the the F2P has more items ( to support the game ) and the others have less, or ( in the case of SWG TCG ) have a separate team working on it.
My question is, What are we paying you for? it seems we are getting a lot of C-store Items, but at the same time it can also seem like your working on that more then you do on your normal game.
So do you have your own group that is working on the C-store?
is it because of the size of the license that you have to pay more to CBS out of the profits?
Are we going to free to play?
What is it that we pay you for?
I will give credit where credit is due, the add character slot is something I love, in my past MMOs I had to pay for another sub, just to get more characters. my guild leader from SWG had 5 or 6 accounts. ( I'm not kidding, she had a total of 12 toons ) active at one time, she way paying around 75 dollars, to 90 dollars. So it does save us money.
But I, and maybe some of us here want to know why are we paying the 15 dollars, and having to pay for C-store Items? ( granted none of the items right NOW effect the game ) and we just want an honest answer.
*edit * just so people don't get the wrong idea.
I like to get feed back, and one of the best ways it to play the other side. how do I really feel about the C-store. I have no problem with it, as long as it doesn't effect the game other then looks then I say keep at it. but if they start added other game changing items, that to me is a big NO NO.
Zodi, I did some research into this issue a while back. So, I want to interject before the flames get to high.
There are some things to consider. The prices of subscriptions have pretty much remained constant over the years. Proceeding from 9.99 to the current 15.99. What is important in that, is that it hasn't kept up with the raise in inflation. What a person payed 14.99 for several years ago would now be like 17.99.
Market research done by EA, Activision and others have shown that most players don't see themselves paying to much more over the 15.99 a month price point. So the companies have been having to find new revenue streams to supplement the costs of an mmo. Over the years the margin per sub has shrank considerably. Several reason for this. One is inflation as I mentioned. Others include the price of energy, increased hardware requirements, larger cooling systems etc.
To give an example. The cooling for a moderate server farm can cost upwards to 500K+ a month. (Variables depending of course)
The introduction of the mictotransaction was to supplement the income of the mmo. Yet, in order to do that the companies must provide a value for that MT. Such as we see like, costume items, extra slots etc. Something that some players want but not all players want. Most companies agree that MTs are an excellent way to add value with out increasing the sub price per user which would drop the amount of subs they would normally obtain.
Some interesting information that I have found is like in DDO. There the majority of users spend very little on the MTs but a small minority (Less than 5 percent from what I read) spend a great deal on the MTs. Yes, I know DDO is F2P but you will see more and more sub mmos going to this type of set up. EA is extremely interested in using this type of model and there are rumors this situation might occur in TOR.
I made a thread way back on this forum that covers MTs more indepth. I know some people are against MTs and I can respect that and to a degree see where they are coming from. However, currently I support the use of MTs because I like the future alternatives even less, i.e. higher sub prices.
in my small little world i like to think that more money to cryptic means more money for development. now that might be hoping for too much, but this is one of the only things i actually like paying for. i want this game to succeed and im happy to give them money, as long as the sub price stays reasonable and the c-store is optional and mainly cosmetic, im cool with it
There are some things to consider. The prices of subscriptions have pretty much remained constant over the years. Proceeding from 9.99 to the current 15.99. What is important in that, is that it hasn't kept up with the raise in inflation. What a person payed 14.99 for several years ago would now be like 17.99.
Market research done by EA, Activision and others have shown that most players don't see themselves paying to much more over the 15.99 a month price point. So the companies have been having to find new revenue streams to supplement the costs of an mmo. Over the years the margin per sub has shrank considerably. Several reason for this. One is inflation as I mentioned. Others include the price of energy, increased hardware requirements, larger cooling systems etc.
To give an example. The cooling for a moderate server farm can cost upwards to 500K+ a month. (Variables depending of course)
The introduction of the mictotransaction was to supplement the income of the mmo. Yet, in order to do that the companies must provide a value for that MT. Such as we see like, costume items, extra slots etc. Something that some players want but not all players want. Most companies agree that MTs are an excellent way to add value with out increasing the sub price per user which would drop the amount of subs they would normally obtain.
Some interesting information that I have found is like in DDO. There the majority of users spend very little on the MTs but a small minority (Less than 5 percent from what I read) spend a great deal on the MTs. Yes, I know DDO is F2P but you will see more and more sub mmos going to this type of set up. EA is extremely interested in using this type of model and there are rumors this situation might occur in TOR.
I made a thread way back on this forum that covers MTs more indepth. I know some people are against MTs and I can respect that and to a degree see where they are coming from. However, currently I support the use of MTs because I like the future alternatives even less, i.e. higher sub prices.
ah ha that is what I was looking for, and it is the million dollar answer. inflation. that is why smaller companies are doing this, the 15 bucks a month doesn't really cover it anymore. it is the wave of the future, that or as you stated the price would have to go up 17 to 18 dollars. ( I was hoping one of the devs would come out and say that. )
This is the first time I have posted about the C-store.
back to the C-store, so the people who agree on it, do you think it should stay just appearance items, or would it be ok to branch out?
Speaking only for myself, and based on things I have read the answer would be no. It would not be ok to branch out so to speak. Even the majors (EA, Activision, Sony etc) have said that the items available for MTs should not be game breaking. For example, there should be no "super weapon" that totally alters game play on the MT store.
Now, I need to add, that that definition is subjective based on what a person considers game altering. There shouldn't be anything akin to a BFG 9000 that just pwns all but fluff items like costumes, skins, races, furniture (Sims) etc is fine.
I do expect that sooner or later a company is gonna make the mistake of putting an item like that on a MT store. They are gonna have to learn the lesson the hard way.
This is the first time I have posted about the C-store.
back to the C-store, so the people who agree on it, do you think it should stay just appearance items, or would it be ok to branch out?
whatever it is. It should never be game changing items. There should never be items needed for a quest. Or ships that have extra abilites that make them desirable for PVP..ect. skins are fine cloths are fine. Respecs are fine. things like that. But actual ships that have configurations that are not avaible in game should never be on the c-store IMO. In a F2P it is fine. But in a Pay per month game noway. I think the c-store is prefectly fine in this game as long as it is items that will never effect my gameply.
This is the first time I have posted about the C-store.
back to the C-store, so the people who agree on it, do you think it should stay just appearance items, or would it be ok to branch out?
No game-affecting items!
Aside from not wanting MMO companies to decide it's fine to have their cake and eat it too (pay to play and item cash shop on top of that), there's the endless blandishments offered by Cryptic during the MT complain threads that there would be no game-affecting items in the C-store that can't also be earned in-game.
This is the first time I have posted about the C-store.
back to the C-store, so the people who agree on it, do you think it should stay just appearance items, or would it be ok to branch out?
Any item that gives one player a huge advantage over another should NEVER be put in the C-store. There is no question or discussion about it. It is unfair to those who cannot afford to get it.
I think the C-store is fine the way it is. No changes need to be made.
My question is, What are we paying you for? it seems we are getting a lot of C-store Items, but at the same time it can also seem like your working on that more then you do on your normal game.
You are paying Cryptic to play their game. That's it. Whatever happens with the money after that is not your concern UNLESS Cryptic does not deliver what they promise, and all they promise is that for $15 a month you can play this game.
C-store items are a lot easier to create then content. You CANNOT expect content to just appear over night. If you have any programming/graphic design experience you would know that these things take a long time to plan, create, debug, and test.
So as long as it doesn't effect the game then most of us are fine with it.
what about stuff like the WOW pet store? where you can get in game pets.
Where on the other hand the SWG TCG store you can get buffs, armor and other game changing items. ( even if it is at random. ) that would not be ok.
I can see non combat pets. However, it would be more fun to obtain them in game. I would not like it if buffs were offered though. As I was saying as long as we have a monthly they should never add items that can assit your gameply. Of course that is just my personal opinion.
So as long as it doesn't effect the game then most of us are fine with it.
what about stuff like the WOW pet store? where you can get in game pets.
Where on the other hand the SWG TCG store you can get buffs, armor and other game changing items. ( even if it is at random. ) that would not be ok.
The WOW pet store I am personally ok with, save I think 10 buck for a pet is crazy. I think the mount is kind on the line. I say that because I don't know how Cat will effect flying yet.
The TCG store in SWG... that is just right out. (IMHO)
C-store items are a lot easier to create then content. You CANNOT expect content to just appear over night. If you have any programming/graphic design experience you would know that these things take a long time to plan, create, debug, and test.
Ding ding ding part two, quests don't appear over night. ( now were thinking. ) But you re-skin fairly quickly.
Those games have been out much longer than STO, you cannot compare them.
I can compare them and i did compare them. they are all relevant., because they are older MMOs moving to have a forum or the Store, because it is the wave of the future. but we have two ends of the spectrum, one just added minor items, and one that is a free all with buffs, armor, and other game changing items.
This is the first time I have posted about the C-store.
back to the C-store, so the people who agree on it, do you think it should stay just appearance items, or would it be ok to branch out?
You personally? Sure. But players have been complaining about the C-Store and about 'game-changing' items being sold off and on for eons along with Klingon players complaining about Feddie cloak, Feddie players about not having cloak and a thousand other arguments that are being regurgitated again and again.
So as long as it doesn't effect the game then most of us are fine with it.
what about stuff like the WOW pet store? where you can get in game pets.
Where on the other hand the SWG TCG store you can get buffs, armor and other game changing items. ( even if it is at random. ) that would not be ok.
What affect do the WoW pets have besides looking different? Edit: Checked FAQ. No effect. Kosher.
SWG's TCG on the other hand is the most awful MT model I have ever heard of and whoever thought of it is an absolute tool.
As soon as one BOff power or mechanical item becomes locked to a C-Store purchase I'm removing my payment info and never buying C-Points or another Cryptic product again. If they want to release a paid expansion it had better be something nigh unto a separate game, like CoV was to CoH.
I like the C-Store, its not all that expensive to get icing on your cake.
another good point. look at the character slots, it comes down to 6 bucks to get two more characters. that is not bad compared to 15 bucks a month for another account. but will the price go up if they add pets, and other items.
Something else to add. A lot of times each section is having to wait on a dependency from another section. Art section is waiting for coding for animations etc. (Not every place works like that but you get the idea) So during this "down time" the art department creates little fluff stuff to put on the c-store etc. It also keeps them busy during times they would normally be just waiting. So in that sense it also helps with team productivity as these items that were created during this time can now add revenue directly to the game.
You personally? Sure. But players have been complaining about the C-Store and about 'game-changing' items being sold off and on for eons along with Klingon players complaining about Feddie cloak, Feddie players about not having cloak and a thousand other arguments that are being regurgitated again and again.
I like to get feed back, and one of the best ways it to play the other side. how do I really feel about the C-store. I have no problem with it, as long as it doesn't effect the game other then looks then I say keep at it. but if they start added other game changing items, that to me is a big NO NO.
You personally? Sure. But players have been complaining about the C-Store and about 'game-changing' items being sold off and on for eons along with Klingon players complaining about Feddie cloak, Feddie players about not having cloak and a thousand other arguments that are being regurgitated again and again.
I never got the impression Zodi was complaining about it. Seems he's jsut trying to see what people think. and how far they feel the c-store should be allowed to go.
Ding ding ding part two, quests don't appear over night. ( now were thinking. ) But you re-skin fairly quickly.
Exactly, because re-skin is easier to do than missions. First of all missions need to be designed. Then they have to be approved by CBS. Third they have to actually program the missions and create any graphics needed. Finally they can debug and test it on their local servers first. After that it makes its way to Tribble where we get to test it. Finally it comes to Holodeck. That is an extremely long process.
I can compare them and i did compare them. they are all relevant., because they are older MMOs moving to have a forum or the Store, because it is the wave of the future. but we have two ends of the spectrum, one just added minor items, and one that is a free all with buffs, armor, and other game changing items.
Both of those games are established and have been out for a while. STO has only been out for 3 months. There is no comparison UNLESS you compare those games when they were 3 months old to how STO is now. What you are essentially doing is comparing something old and stable to something that is new and unstable. It just can't be done.
Its like comparing an elderly person to a 5 year old. The elderly person is wise, why can't the 5 year old be just like him? Because the 5 year old hasn't been around as long as the elderly person.
What affect do the WoW pets have besides looking different? Edit: Checked FAQ. No effect. Kosher.
SWG's TCG on the other hand is the most awful MT model I have ever heard of and whoever thought of it is an absolute tool.
As soon as one BOff power or mechanical item becomes locked to a C-Store purchase I'm removing my payment info and never buying C-Points or another Cryptic product again. If they want to release a paid expansion it had better be something nigh unto a separate game, like CoV was to CoH.
It's for this reason that I've strongly opposed the Galaxy-X being offered in the C-Store. Not to open that particular can of wormholes here, but any sort of in-game functionality needs to be NOT in the C-Store.
Reading AtomicFB's post does underline for me how the revenue stream has been drying up for all MMOs a little bit, but I feel that STO is in a slightly different situation. Without going into a rant about the content the game started with, I will say that the devs appear to be working hard to deliver a lot of new stuff; some of it is kind of subtle, though.
I would very much like to see the projected ratio that Cryptic is working with, of content released in the C-Store versus content released into the game. Is it 50-50? 20-80? 80-20? What is Cryptic's plan with regard to the C-Store and future content?
Both of those games are established and have been out for a while. STO has only been out for 3 months. There is no comparison UNLESS you compare those games when they were 3 months old to how STO is now. What you are essentially doing is comparing something old and stable to something that is new and unstable. It just can't be done.
Its like comparing an elderly person to a 5 year old. The elderly person is wise, why can't the 5 year old be just like him? Because the 5 year old hasn't been around as long as the elderly person.
you are missing the argument, it's not about the game, but how they have implemented their store. yea there established, and yet the have opened up there game store. one has an active team, and maybe one of the worst MT stores, the other has less and it's only fluff, both of them are on the opposite end of the spectrum, and both of them is kind of close to how we mite end up. ( I'm not saying card game, I'm saying game changing items. )
Micro transactions are the future. Unless you are Blizzard Entertainment, then its MACRO transactions.:mad:
I like the C-Store, its not all that expensive to get icing on your cake.
MT is NOT the future, it is the present. It will ultimately replace all other subscription model types.
The best solution would be to drop the subscription to no more than $5 and then change the C-store to hold items which directly affect gameplay. You start with a free ship and can get other ships through in-game play, but the C-store would allow you to purchase items which directly affect game-play. You could buy additional device slots and weapon slots, weapon power boosters, shield types, etc. These would be significantly different than the ones available in-game.
The entire purpose of the MT model lacks benefit if it isn't going to be used to enhance the game instead of the paper-doll approach which has extremely limited viability.
Both of those games are established and have been out for a while. STO has only been out for 3 months. There is no comparison UNLESS you compare those games when they were 3 months old to how STO is now. What you are essentially doing is comparing something old and stable to something that is new and unstable. It just can't be done.
Its like comparing an elderly person to a 5 year old. The elderly person is wise, why can't the 5 year old be just like him? Because the 5 year old hasn't been around as long as the elderly person.
I disagree a bit with this. If we were comparing gameplay, mechanics, patches, polish etc then yeah I agree but the scope is limited to microtransactions. Which should or should not have an effect on the things mentioned. Comparing MTs to other MTs is a valid comparison. Even comparing the implementation of said MTs is a valid comparison since you aren't comparing the games themselves.
MT is NOT the future, it is the present. It will ultimately replace all other subscription model types.
The best solution would be to drop the subscription to no more than $5 and then change the C-store to hold items which directly affect gameplay. You start with a free ship and can get other ships through in-game play, but the C-store would allow you to purchase items which directly affect game-play. You could buy additional device slots and weapon slots, weapon power boosters, shield types, etc. These would be significantly different than the ones available in-game.
The entire purpose of the MT model lacks benefit if it isn't going to be used to enhance the game instead of the paper-doll approach which has extremely limited viability.
I honestly don't see it replacing all the other sub models. I say this because some games have a much higher development costs than others. Take the projected Battlestar G game which is browser based verse SW:TOR. A F2P with a MT is fine for BSG but for TOR the sub model with a probable MT support structure would be more warranted to recoup the costs involved. (TOR needs a million subs to break even. See EA)
The other problem with your suggestion is that you create a game divide between the haves and the have nots. A game like the one you describe would end up putting off players. Something like you have suggested has been tried in the pen and paper/CCG genre. Take for example that Magic the gathering lost its impetus fast when it because a bigger bank for the buck game. Same thing happened to WarHammer 40K before the rule revisions and model revamps.
Comments
There are some things to consider. The prices of subscriptions have pretty much remained constant over the years. Proceeding from 9.99 to the current 15.99. What is important in that, is that it hasn't kept up with the raise in inflation. What a person payed 14.99 for several years ago would now be like 17.99.
Market research done by EA, Activision and others have shown that most players don't see themselves paying to much more over the 15.99 a month price point. So the companies have been having to find new revenue streams to supplement the costs of an mmo. Over the years the margin per sub has shrank considerably. Several reason for this. One is inflation as I mentioned. Others include the price of energy, increased hardware requirements, larger cooling systems etc.
To give an example. The cooling for a moderate server farm can cost upwards to 500K+ a month. (Variables depending of course)
The introduction of the mictotransaction was to supplement the income of the mmo. Yet, in order to do that the companies must provide a value for that MT. Such as we see like, costume items, extra slots etc. Something that some players want but not all players want. Most companies agree that MTs are an excellent way to add value with out increasing the sub price per user which would drop the amount of subs they would normally obtain.
Some interesting information that I have found is like in DDO. There the majority of users spend very little on the MTs but a small minority (Less than 5 percent from what I read) spend a great deal on the MTs. Yes, I know DDO is F2P but you will see more and more sub mmos going to this type of set up. EA is extremely interested in using this type of model and there are rumors this situation might occur in TOR.
I made a thread way back on this forum that covers MTs more indepth. I know some people are against MTs and I can respect that and to a degree see where they are coming from. However, currently I support the use of MTs because I like the future alternatives even less, i.e. higher sub prices.
ah ha that is what I was looking for, and it is the million dollar answer. inflation. that is why smaller companies are doing this, the 15 bucks a month doesn't really cover it anymore. it is the wave of the future, that or as you stated the price would have to go up 17 to 18 dollars. ( I was hoping one of the devs would come out and say that. )
This is the first time I have posted about the C-store.
back to the C-store, so the people who agree on it, do you think it should stay just appearance items, or would it be ok to branch out?
Speaking only for myself, and based on things I have read the answer would be no. It would not be ok to branch out so to speak. Even the majors (EA, Activision, Sony etc) have said that the items available for MTs should not be game breaking. For example, there should be no "super weapon" that totally alters game play on the MT store.
Now, I need to add, that that definition is subjective based on what a person considers game altering. There shouldn't be anything akin to a BFG 9000 that just pwns all but fluff items like costumes, skins, races, furniture (Sims) etc is fine.
I do expect that sooner or later a company is gonna make the mistake of putting an item like that on a MT store. They are gonna have to learn the lesson the hard way.
whatever it is. It should never be game changing items. There should never be items needed for a quest. Or ships that have extra abilites that make them desirable for PVP..ect. skins are fine cloths are fine. Respecs are fine. things like that. But actual ships that have configurations that are not avaible in game should never be on the c-store IMO. In a F2P it is fine. But in a Pay per month game noway. I think the c-store is prefectly fine in this game as long as it is items that will never effect my gameply.
I'd like to see extra ship slots in there.
No game-affecting items!
Aside from not wanting MMO companies to decide it's fine to have their cake and eat it too (pay to play and item cash shop on top of that), there's the endless blandishments offered by Cryptic during the MT complain threads that there would be no game-affecting items in the C-store that can't also be earned in-game.
no abilities or powers
what about stuff like the WOW pet store? where you can get in game pets.
Where on the other hand the SWG TCG store you can get buffs, armor and other game changing items. ( even if it is at random. ) that would not be ok.
Any item that gives one player a huge advantage over another should NEVER be put in the C-store. There is no question or discussion about it. It is unfair to those who cannot afford to get it.
I think the C-store is fine the way it is. No changes need to be made.
To answer your other question
You are paying Cryptic to play their game. That's it. Whatever happens with the money after that is not your concern UNLESS Cryptic does not deliver what they promise, and all they promise is that for $15 a month you can play this game.
C-store items are a lot easier to create then content. You CANNOT expect content to just appear over night. If you have any programming/graphic design experience you would know that these things take a long time to plan, create, debug, and test.
Those games have been out much longer than STO, you cannot compare them.
I can see non combat pets. However, it would be more fun to obtain them in game. I would not like it if buffs were offered though. As I was saying as long as we have a monthly they should never add items that can assit your gameply. Of course that is just my personal opinion.
The WOW pet store I am personally ok with, save I think 10 buck for a pet is crazy. I think the mount is kind on the line. I say that because I don't know how Cat will effect flying yet.
The TCG store in SWG... that is just right out. (IMHO)
Ding ding ding part two, quests don't appear over night. ( now were thinking. ) But you re-skin fairly quickly.
I like the C-Store, its not all that expensive to get icing on your cake.
I can compare them and i did compare them. they are all relevant., because they are older MMOs moving to have a forum or the Store, because it is the wave of the future. but we have two ends of the spectrum, one just added minor items, and one that is a free all with buffs, armor, and other game changing items.
Access to the game. That's it. Plain and simple. Read the terms which you agree to every time you log in.
Cryptic does not work for YOU.
They work for ATARI.
The developers get paid a salary which does not change based on how many people are subscribed.
You personally? Sure. But players have been complaining about the C-Store and about 'game-changing' items being sold off and on for eons along with Klingon players complaining about Feddie cloak, Feddie players about not having cloak and a thousand other arguments that are being regurgitated again and again.
What affect do the WoW pets have besides looking different? Edit: Checked FAQ. No effect. Kosher.
SWG's TCG on the other hand is the most awful MT model I have ever heard of and whoever thought of it is an absolute tool.
As soon as one BOff power or mechanical item becomes locked to a C-Store purchase I'm removing my payment info and never buying C-Points or another Cryptic product again. If they want to release a paid expansion it had better be something nigh unto a separate game, like CoV was to CoH.
another good point. look at the character slots, it comes down to 6 bucks to get two more characters. that is not bad compared to 15 bucks a month for another account. but will the price go up if they add pets, and other items.
I like to get feed back, and one of the best ways it to play the other side. how do I really feel about the C-store. I have no problem with it, as long as it doesn't effect the game other then looks then I say keep at it. but if they start added other game changing items, that to me is a big NO NO.
I never got the impression Zodi was complaining about it. Seems he's jsut trying to see what people think. and how far they feel the c-store should be allowed to go.
Exactly, because re-skin is easier to do than missions. First of all missions need to be designed. Then they have to be approved by CBS. Third they have to actually program the missions and create any graphics needed. Finally they can debug and test it on their local servers first. After that it makes its way to Tribble where we get to test it. Finally it comes to Holodeck. That is an extremely long process.
Both of those games are established and have been out for a while. STO has only been out for 3 months. There is no comparison UNLESS you compare those games when they were 3 months old to how STO is now. What you are essentially doing is comparing something old and stable to something that is new and unstable. It just can't be done.
Its like comparing an elderly person to a 5 year old. The elderly person is wise, why can't the 5 year old be just like him? Because the 5 year old hasn't been around as long as the elderly person.
It's for this reason that I've strongly opposed the Galaxy-X being offered in the C-Store. Not to open that particular can of wormholes here, but any sort of in-game functionality needs to be NOT in the C-Store.
Reading AtomicFB's post does underline for me how the revenue stream has been drying up for all MMOs a little bit, but I feel that STO is in a slightly different situation. Without going into a rant about the content the game started with, I will say that the devs appear to be working hard to deliver a lot of new stuff; some of it is kind of subtle, though.
I would very much like to see the projected ratio that Cryptic is working with, of content released in the C-Store versus content released into the game. Is it 50-50? 20-80? 80-20? What is Cryptic's plan with regard to the C-Store and future content?
you are missing the argument, it's not about the game, but how they have implemented their store. yea there established, and yet the have opened up there game store. one has an active team, and maybe one of the worst MT stores, the other has less and it's only fluff, both of them are on the opposite end of the spectrum, and both of them is kind of close to how we mite end up. ( I'm not saying card game, I'm saying game changing items. )
MT is NOT the future, it is the present. It will ultimately replace all other subscription model types.
The best solution would be to drop the subscription to no more than $5 and then change the C-store to hold items which directly affect gameplay. You start with a free ship and can get other ships through in-game play, but the C-store would allow you to purchase items which directly affect game-play. You could buy additional device slots and weapon slots, weapon power boosters, shield types, etc. These would be significantly different than the ones available in-game.
The entire purpose of the MT model lacks benefit if it isn't going to be used to enhance the game instead of the paper-doll approach which has extremely limited viability.
I disagree a bit with this. If we were comparing gameplay, mechanics, patches, polish etc then yeah I agree but the scope is limited to microtransactions. Which should or should not have an effect on the things mentioned. Comparing MTs to other MTs is a valid comparison. Even comparing the implementation of said MTs is a valid comparison since you aren't comparing the games themselves.
I honestly don't see it replacing all the other sub models. I say this because some games have a much higher development costs than others. Take the projected Battlestar G game which is browser based verse SW:TOR. A F2P with a MT is fine for BSG but for TOR the sub model with a probable MT support structure would be more warranted to recoup the costs involved. (TOR needs a million subs to break even. See EA)
The other problem with your suggestion is that you create a game divide between the haves and the have nots. A game like the one you describe would end up putting off players. Something like you have suggested has been tried in the pen and paper/CCG genre. Take for example that Magic the gathering lost its impetus fast when it because a bigger bank for the buck game. Same thing happened to WarHammer 40K before the rule revisions and model revamps.