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Liberated Borg Captain: As a Vet Reward?
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With the recent additions to the C-Store (including the latest announcement of the Galaxy-X, which is the topic of another thread), many have been clamoring for the "early bird" Lifetime Subscription Liberated Borg playable Captain to be added to the C-Store as well.
However, a better idea I've heard is to have the Liberated Borg Captain instead be attached to the Veteran Reward system.
Here's the idea: obviously, the success of any subscription based MMO like STO is, of course, subscriptions. In addition to microtransactions, box sales, and possible expansion sales, subscriptions are the primary source of revenue for an MMO's continued existence.
For this reason, a Veteran Reward program was created, to reward players with continued subscription time with extra promotional items. As players continually renew their subscriptions (or purchase Lifetime Accounts), they are rewarded for their continued patronage of the game.
Unlike a referral program with attached benefits, a Veteran Reward program cannot be gamed, even if game time is purchased in adavnce. It merely requires that an account be cumulatively (not continuously) subscribed for X amount of time before the reward is given. There's really no way around it.
This is why some believe that the LT Liberated Borg Captain would be a worthy reward for the Vet Reward program. It's clear that many players who missed out on this reward (which is no longer available through any other means) would like an opportunity to claim one for their account. It's also clear (if the Referral Program is any indication) that Cryptic wants to not only entice new players, but retain them as well.
Although C-Store purchases do benefit the company, they only provide a one-time source of revenue; once a player purchases an account-wide item, that account won't need to purchase it any more. But adding the Liberated Borg Captain at a certain Vet Reward marker (300 days, 400 days, etc.) will ensure that Cryptic can retain a subscriber for that amount of time, and reward them with something great for sticking with the game that long.
Please, post your thoughts on this idea, but try to remain civil, regardless of whether you agree or disagree with the proposition. However, try to keep criticism constructive, if any.
However, a better idea I've heard is to have the Liberated Borg Captain instead be attached to the Veteran Reward system.
Here's the idea: obviously, the success of any subscription based MMO like STO is, of course, subscriptions. In addition to microtransactions, box sales, and possible expansion sales, subscriptions are the primary source of revenue for an MMO's continued existence.
For this reason, a Veteran Reward program was created, to reward players with continued subscription time with extra promotional items. As players continually renew their subscriptions (or purchase Lifetime Accounts), they are rewarded for their continued patronage of the game.
Unlike a referral program with attached benefits, a Veteran Reward program cannot be gamed, even if game time is purchased in adavnce. It merely requires that an account be cumulatively (not continuously) subscribed for X amount of time before the reward is given. There's really no way around it.
This is why some believe that the LT Liberated Borg Captain would be a worthy reward for the Vet Reward program. It's clear that many players who missed out on this reward (which is no longer available through any other means) would like an opportunity to claim one for their account. It's also clear (if the Referral Program is any indication) that Cryptic wants to not only entice new players, but retain them as well.
Although C-Store purchases do benefit the company, they only provide a one-time source of revenue; once a player purchases an account-wide item, that account won't need to purchase it any more. But adding the Liberated Borg Captain at a certain Vet Reward marker (300 days, 400 days, etc.) will ensure that Cryptic can retain a subscriber for that amount of time, and reward them with something great for sticking with the game that long.
Please, post your thoughts on this idea, but try to remain civil, regardless of whether you agree or disagree with the proposition. However, try to keep criticism constructive, if any.
Post edited by Unknown User on
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The problem with making it a Veteren reward is that there's no way to quanitfy how many people will keep an active subscription to get it, who otherwise would not have. Putting it in the C-Store provides a directly measuable cash-flow.
And since it's all about the money, that's the way Cryptic will run it. Nothing about any of this has been to make for loyal, long-term happy customers. It's all about the quatloos. Anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves.
I know people with the big-name (and expensive) exclusives who would have been fine with a 500+ day Vet reward for their items (myself, obviously, included). If they did this in the first place I'm sure that there would have been a lot less outrage. If it were up to me, I would have done it this way. If it were up to me I'd pull all of the C-Store purchased "exclusive" items from the store, taken away all of the items bought, and reimbursed them with CP. Then I would slap them on the Vet program.
Of course, that would be the sensible way to do things. Cryptic's not really known for doing things sensibly.
I don't have a big-name, but I do have a big head!
And I approve of this message!
My stance, from the beginning, put this stuff IN GAME not in wallet. (Vet rewards count as in-game, obviously.)
That is nowhere near a overwelming majority, for this reason I vote no. It is merely the principle of the matter.
This is a an actual "exclusive" for this title that was offered pre-launch and was stated very clearly would not be available after February 2. 2010.
http://crypticstudios.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=284&Itemid=31
I know I'm going to regret this, but I figure I'll give it a go anyhow.
The only thing that was stated on the page you linked as not being available after February 2, 2010, is the 12-month subscriptions. There is no use of the word "exclusive" in front of the Borg option, nor does it say that it would never be offered again (or in a different manner, for that matter).
All about money?! You mean Cryptic isn't a non profit group just trying to bring joy to the impoverished trekies of the world? I'm shocked.
Any way, I'd be ok with seeing the borg in the c-store.
The difference is you didn't buy a life time sub, to a game you don't want to play, just to get an outfit in this game.
I do like having the Liberated Borg, but I certainly don't feel the need to think of myself to be special because of it. I'm sure I'm not the only pre-launch lifetime subscriber who feels this way, so please don't project your view on the subject by saying "we," gomikey111.
Umm... What does that have to do with the fact we both dumped a lot of money into Cryptic's hand for a LtS and an accompanying exclusive item for doing so? The case in point is the fact that the CO LtS exclusive item is for sale in the store and ours is not is my point. Desire to play or not play is irrelevant in the scheme of things I'm addressing.
DO NOT assume that the Borg Captain will not enter the C-Store.
(I'd stress this point, but only Cryptic is allowed to type something more than once...still miffed about that guys sorry...)
I have 0 doubt in my mind that it will be in the C-Store. It will, it will, it will, it will.
I don't care about "magic" words, or ideas. I don't care about "exclusive" or "unique" (redundancy is awesome).
It will enter the C-Store. I have no "hard proof" and I need none, if you don't believe me; you will see.
(This is an attempt to curb the whining that will also happen when the Borg Captain is released to the C-Store)
I am so sure they are going to do this, I am starting my Fleet's first "Un-official" contest about it
Guess the date, win: a run-a-bout shuttle + 2mill credits + 10 quatloos + 1 choice of console.
Mhmm...
July
13.
2010
And i will add a Set of 5 breedable tribbles of your choice to the pot
If you are serious, make a list of the tribbles you are throwing in. I will be creating a thread soon, still trying to figure out where to place it (Ten-Forward?)
I say
August 1, 2010
I'll throw in a set of science, tactical, engineering consoles from the Exploration vendors or the PvP vendors to the winner. I'll get whatever 3 they want from the vendors and forward them to him/her.
Take advice from the one from Ten Forward, it'll either get a lot of support from the folks there, be ignored completely, or turned into a dance party. More than likely, it should go over good there.
While I agree with you in principle (being that the COLTS people such as myself were basically lied to), it is too late for them to reverse policy now. They have opened Pandora's box and it will be on the C-store. Having a STOLTS as well, I have just resigned myself to the fact that they will never have an ounce of credibility to come and all is fair game.
I am going to wager that they will put it up...... July 4... as a weekend special with the AGT Galaxy X.
Why not.....
Go the full 9
But... it doesn't matter, Liberated Borg are going up on CStore no matter what the playerbase says. Why? Why not? Everything else is.
I'm still not trusting anything Cryptic says and the only people who can convince me to feel otherwise are Cryptic. All the weasel wording out of the player base isn't going to convince me at all. Heck, the fact that those who disagree seem to only have weasel wording at their disposal just further solidifies my distrust.
I think in a game that lacks content they shouldn't be holding anything back from any body. I didn't even hear about this game till I saw ads on TV for it. And while I was signing up for my lifetime sub in march, I was a little bummed that I missed out on the Borg captain but not as much as missing out on the discount.
Now I don't care about the Borg character and I won't buy it from the C store. I do think they should put it up there though, and you should to. Having a stuck up elitist attitude isn't some thing worth protecting, and if cryptic wants to sell your favorite gimmick to the rest of the little people so be it.
I am both a STO lifer and a CO LTSer. I also have the collectors edition and the pre-order from Best Buy. I have been adamantly against the C-storeafacation of any of the exclusive items but have never had a problem with them being vet rewards. That only makes sense. Putting any of these things in the c-store was a serious friken mistake! Cryptic has utterly destroyed their credibility. Their pathos and ethos is tanked and trashed.
This TRIBBLE combined with their past and recent blunders has seriously damaged Cryptic's public image. I have lost all confidence in their ability to do business in a way that can be described as "good faith practice" which is the way a business gains and keeps loyal customers. If I did not have a LTS for either game I would have canceled my subs for their products even if I had nothing they put in the c-store.
In light of all of that the least they could do is put the liberated Borg in the vet program instead of the c-store though I don't think they should do even that.
That being said I do hope that the Lib Borg Captain stays out of the C-Store and is set as a two year veteran reward. I think letting the pre-order lifetime members being the only ones to have access to them for the first 2 years of the game is fair. Because then the Lib Borg Captains would still only be available to the dedicated fans that make a long term commitment to the game.
Word... Preachin' to the choir brother....
On principle I agree with you and would like to see it so if it is an option. That of course does not give any justice to the Co LtS people however. Cryptic could at least give them 10k points or refund minus the monthly fee until now or something along those lines. Something...
The captain's table is very cool but it's something that needs some work. If anything, that should get more functionality and then it should become a veteren reward. For now though they should keep the borg captain or else they may run the risk of losing some more lifers.
But here's the dilemma. Since we already paid for the lifetime subscription, it doesn't matter to Cryptic whether we decide to stop playing STO or not. It only makes sense that Cryptic listens more attentively to the subscribing base now. I doubt there's any significant number of lifetime subscribers anyway.
Do you really want veiny skin and implants THAT bad?
:rolleyes:
says the Lifer