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When will the community just give up and embrace lockboxes?

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  • diogene0diogene0 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    knuhteb5 wrote: »
    Also, you're completely ignoring people with mental illnesses or diseases. Some people can't control certain desires without the use of medications. I guess people born with irritable bowel syndrome deserve what they get because they can't exercise self-control. In the same way, somebody with a severe case of obsessive compulsive disorder may not know any better when they start opening up lock boxes and can't stop because they didn't even know what they were getting into. The odds aren't stated, so don't tell me they know what they're getting into.

    You don't even need a mental disease to get into such trouble. There are many people who got banned for life from any casino because the mechanics of gambling leads to gambling even more if you start to think that you're owed a success after so many failures. The more you bet the more you'll bet to get that victory you think you're owed. Those people aren't "sick" they just got trapped.

    That's one of the most perverse mechanic ever to make people spending more till they get what they thing they deserve.

    Edit: I'm pretty sure this system would fall under online gambling regulation laws in many european countries (at least in mine), but there's been no lawsuits yet. One day it'll happen though, that's unevitable.
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  • cormorancormoran Member Posts: 440 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    walshicus wrote: »
    Nope, just a social-liberal. People who suffer real unavoidable tragedies and hardships deserve sympathy. People who don't know when to stop pressing the "buy" button... less so.

    It is as unavoidable as any other tragedy. It also hurts more than just that person, it hurts their friends and family both via social and monetary hardships. You show a clear disregard for them too.
  • knuhteb5knuhteb5 Member Posts: 1,831 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    cormoran wrote: »
    It is as unavoidable as any other tragedy. It also hurts more than just that person, it hurts their friends and family both via social and monetary hardships. You show a clear disregard for them too.

    It's easier for some to offer destructive criticism than it is constructive just as it it easier to sweep societies problems under a rug rather than deal with them head on. People who are pro-lock box rather just forget about the moral consequences of them for society and play, even if it means hurting others through their actions indirectly.
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  • weylandjuarezweylandjuarez Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    I don't like them for the simple reason that they've become this game's primary revenue source.

    Since the bulk of Zen that's being spent is on lockbox keys, Cryptic's focus from here on in will always be stimulating the sales of those keys.

    If demand drops because the ships they're putting in there are no longer as desirable then they'll take steps to make them more desirable - what steps?

    Faction ships (they've done it already with the temporal ships)

    More overpowered stats and consoles (look at the Lobi Temporal consoles) - you not only have to be lucky enough to get the ship now, you have to open enough boxes to also buy the Temporal set.

    Things the fans really want but Cryptic can't justify as 'not being allowed to have many of in game' i.e. Tier 5 Connie (it'll happen)

    Arguments about grinding out EC or Dilithium fall flat because the people that would have traditionally bought these from the C-Store (as opposed to say grinding emblems the old way) have the money but perhaps not the time for that.

    Availability is also an issue - sure, you can buy plenty of Wells Class ships right now, but how many Bugs are there for sale?

    I applaud their efforts for making lockboxes more desirable - the contents are improved however, the average result of opening a lockbox is still 4-5 Lobi and a Duty Officer minipack (what, 3 commons and an uncommon?) - how's that remotely worth 125 Zen?

    The one pleasant side effect that is worth noting is all the cheap stuff that turns up in the exchange - I've bought all the Mirror ships for pennies and whilst that's good for me, I can't help but feel bad for those that have spent hundreds of dollars trying to get a Wells or a D'kora and have come away a bunch of stuff that they're forced to sell to recoup a pathetic fraction of their investment.

    It's a greedy, manipulative business model and if I were new to STO, I wouldn't play it because of this - free-to-play or not.
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  • foxfire2000foxfire2000 Member Posts: 160 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    I get sick of lockbox snark infiltrating every thread.

    The jokes aren't funny. The complaints are old. The lockboxes aren't that bad and I think they serve a good role in the game's economy. But even if they were the devil, the complaints about them has lost all novelty for me.

    I get sick of the baseless idea that nothing that isn't a lockbox is getting developed, that lockboxes are somehow harmful to the IP (an IP that is proudly plastered over ACTUAL lottery tickets and slot machines), and most of all, seeing lockbox complaints in threads that aren't about lockboxes, derailing things.

    The jokes aren't funny. The complaints are mostly baseless or tired or baseless and tired at this point and the principal complaints left are about the idea of lockboxes, not the execution. The complaints seem to generally be paranoid and pessimistic.

    It's all been said. Can we as a community just acknowledge they're here and they're a vital part of the game and that the jealousy over the dev attention they receive, overstatement of their impact, and paranoid, knee-jerk, endless badgering over the issue doesn't and will never do one iota of good for anything.

    Am I crazy about them? I have mixed feelings. But I'm past the turning point where I find lockboxes less annoying than people who dislike lockboxes.

    When this game starts to recieve regular content on a regular basis then i will start to think that the boxes are in part a good thing and are indeed helping the game evolve and grow.......until then the boxes seem to be nothing more than max profit for min effort while the game stagnates and goes nowhere.

    You may like them and that's fine, others dont, but just like you they are entitled to voice that opinions....so if its gotten to the stage that you have to make threads telling people to stop then i suggest in future you make life easy for yourself, go enjoy the lockboxes and steer clear of threads where people are unhappy with them.

    This way everybody wins dont they. ;)
  • daan2006daan2006 Member Posts: 5,346 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    When this game starts to recieve regular content on a regular basis then i will start to think that the boxes are in part a good thing and are indeed helping the game evolve and grow.......until then the boxes seem to be nothing more than max profit for min effort while the game stagnates and goes nowhere.

    You may like them and that's fine, others dont, but just like you they are entitled to voice that opinions....so if its gotten to the stage that you have to make threads telling people to stop then i suggest in future you make life easy for yourself, go enjoy the lockboxes and steer clear of threads where people are unhappy with them.

    This way everybody wins dont they. ;)

    i here by support this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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    macronius wrote: »
    This! Their ability to outdo their own failures is quite impressive. If only this power could be harnessed for good.
  • vesterengvestereng Member Posts: 2,252 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    I think you are reaching

    Should we outlaw food because 70 % of gen pop (prison term) is fat ?
    Of course not

    Or an analogy you ought to be sympathetic to, should we outlaw gaming because a few get addicted ?

    You can have an unhealthy relationship to anything including sex, work or exercise.
    Common for all of those is naturally the fact it's an internal problem in the addict.

    It's sort of reversed logic and desperate to point out a minority for a rule of thumb

    More than that it's also a waste of time since you know aswell as anyone people buying ships from lockboxes are keep the servers up - so even in a fantasy world where the developers agreed with everything you said, it would never happen
  • knuhteb5knuhteb5 Member Posts: 1,831 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    When this game starts to recieve regular content on a regular basis then i will start to think that the boxes are in part a good thing and are indeed helping the game evolve and grow.......until then the boxes seem to be nothing more than max profit for min effort while the game stagnates and goes nowhere.

    You may like them and that's fine, others dont, but just like you they are entitled to voice that opinions....so if its gotten to the stage that you have to make threads telling people to stop then i suggest in future you make life easy for yourself, go enjoy the lockboxes and steer clear of threads where people are unhappy with them.

    This way everybody wins dont they. ;)

    +1 for common sense. We don't even have to talk about ethics to say that lock boxes are no good. Where is the regular content that the hundreds of dollars they're bringing in is supposed to help pay for?
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  • daan2006daan2006 Member Posts: 5,346 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    knuhteb5 wrote: »
    Where is the regular content that the hundreds of dollars they're bringing in is supposed to help pay for?

    this is just one of my theory there new upcoming mmo neverwinter
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    swimwear off risa not fixed
    system Lord Baal is dead
    macronius wrote: »
    This! Their ability to outdo their own failures is quite impressive. If only this power could be harnessed for good.
  • anazondaanazonda Member Posts: 8,399 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    You pray to Grab-bags, I hate them... As long as I am in this game, I will reserve my right to be against them, and I will continue to do so.

    I could turn the Title question around "When will "grab-bag" lovers give up, and start seeing that they are wrong"...
    Don't look silly... Don't call it the "Z-Store/Zen Store"...
    Let me put the rumors to rest: it's definitely still the C-Store (Cryptic Store) It just takes ZEN.
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  • rtk142rtk142 Member Posts: 613 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    I accepted them a long time ago, I got the point of them from the beginning. My biggest problem is I hate having to decide between buying keys or saving my zen for something else I want. I've wanted the Odyssey pack since it came out, but 5000 zen takes a long time to earn. I'd also like to pick up an Atrox but that's not high priority. And that doesn't even take into account the fact I need more ship slots. So, how am I supposed to justify dropping 125 per key, or the more sensible 1125 for 10? I'd really like a D'Kora, a Wells, and probably an Orb Weaver too, I'm pretty sure I have enough boxes stored to open, I just don't want to spare the zen on the keys and I really can't afford to use real money for them
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  • lucianazetalucianazeta Member Posts: 740 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    While I'm not one of those who complains about them in every thread, I sure as hell am not embracing those things either because of my own bitter experience with them.
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  • mbomberdavidmbomberdavid Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    In the spirit of the prime directive and other non-interference policies, it would be nice if people were a little less rabid about their anti-gambling fanaticism; not that it is applicable here as the learned lockbox apologists have proven. Let people choose their own morality and you can have yours...
  • liquidraven26liquidraven26 Member Posts: 94 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    My only problem with them is 145 and nothing worth a damn...And putting great stuff in the Lobi store?! Ok if the odds are going to be so low put the stuff in the lobi store in the boxes as well. Ie the Mobius and the 3 temporal consoles.
  • solomacesolomace Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    I get sick of lockbox snark infiltrating every thread.

    The jokes aren't funny. The complaints are old. The lockboxes aren't that bad and I think they serve a good role in the game's economy. But even if they were the devil, the complaints about them has lost all novelty for me.

    I get sick of the baseless idea that nothing that isn't a lockbox is getting developed, that lockboxes are somehow harmful to the IP (an IP that is proudly plastered over ACTUAL lottery tickets and slot machines), and most of all, seeing lockbox complaints in threads that aren't about lockboxes, derailing things.

    The jokes aren't funny. The complaints are mostly baseless or tired or baseless and tired at this point and the principal complaints left are about the idea of lockboxes, not the execution. The complaints seem to generally be paranoid and pessimistic.

    It's all been said. Can we as a community just acknowledge they're here and they're a vital part of the game and that the jealousy over the dev attention they receive, overstatement of their impact, and paranoid, knee-jerk, endless badgering over the issue doesn't and will never do one iota of good for anything.

    Am I crazy about them? I have mixed feelings. But I'm past the turning point where I find lockboxes less annoying than people who dislike lockboxes.

    I'm sick of the foundry people telling others, that this game has tons of content and to stop moaning and play the great missions. Should I tell everyone embrace the foundry then when a lot think Cryptic should be making the content.

    Where is all the money going from the lockboxes? Certainly not on content.

    All you have done with your thread is prove once again, that the CDFers really are a blinkered lot and how dare anyone post any dislike to the overlords.

    The fact remains, some people love the lock boxes, some hate them, some hate them but still feel compelled to buy them and others think it's bring the Star Trek name into the gutter, and etc, etc, etc.

    I think from now on you will find your future posts will always be viewed with tinge of "get with the program".

    I think my sig say's it better...
    Straight from the mouth of one of the leaders of the CDF - "I tell you what, Haven't spent any money either - I'm a lousy freeloader" - Jonsills 17/12/2014
  • srspellssrspells Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    solomace wrote: »
    I'm sick of the foundry people telling others, that this game has tons of content and to stop moaning and play the great missions. Should I tell everyone embrace the foundry then when a lot think Cryptic should be making the content.

    Where is all the money going from the lockboxes? Certainly not on content.

    All you have done with your thread is prove once again, that the CDFers really are a blinkered lot and how dare anyone post any dislike to the overlords.

    The fact remains, some people love the lock boxes, some hate them, some hate them but still feel compelled to buy them and others think it's bring the Star Trek name into the gutter, and etc, etc, etc.

    I think from now on you will find your future posts will always be viewed with tinge of "get with the program".

    I think my sig say's it better...

    lets see if I get this right conent doesnt include:
    New hiveSTF
    New Advancement system
    Molbile app for doffs(yes wont be fully opt at launch.)
    Char change screen
    new sector
    new ships

    also thats just a few but let me tell you how business works my friend.
    people who own rights (CBS) gets a cut, PWE gets a big cut for advertising and going to conventions(they set that up for cryptic) cryptic gets a cut and then some of the money goes to Q/A testers, coders when theres an issue. and finally might I say to buy new rights for other startrek related stuff.

    hope this sums up business 101 for ya.
    Unfortunately yes some content is horrid but dont say there isnt any.
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  • cormorancormoran Member Posts: 440 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    srspells wrote: »
    lets see if I get this right conent doesnt include:
    New hiveSTF
    New Advancement system
    Molbile app for doffs(yes wont be fully opt at launch.)
    Char change screen
    new sector
    new ships
    I wonder how much of that will turn out to be "Side Projects".
  • srspellssrspells Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    probably were but its still content and takes money to do so. XD
    -Spells
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  • daan2006daan2006 Member Posts: 5,346 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    srspells wrote: »
    lets see if I get this right conent doesnt include:
    New hiveSTF
    New Advancement system
    Molbile app for doffs(yes wont be fully opt at launch.)
    Char change screen
    new sector
    new ships

    also thats just a few but let me tell you how business works my friend.
    people who own rights (CBS) gets a cut, PWE gets a big cut for advertising and going to conventions(they set that up for cryptic) cryptic gets a cut and then some of the money goes to Q/A testers, coders when theres an issue. and finally might I say to buy new rights for other startrek related stuff.

    hope this sums up business 101 for ya.
    Unfortunately yes some content is horrid but dont say there isnt any.
    -Spells
    cormoran wrote: »
    I wonder how much of that will turn out to be "Side Projects".
    well the new ships will not be for sure for they will most likely be the frist thing to a lock box and to the Cstore :)
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    swimwear off risa not fixed
    system Lord Baal is dead
    macronius wrote: »
    This! Their ability to outdo their own failures is quite impressive. If only this power could be harnessed for good.
  • weylandjuarezweylandjuarez Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    srspells wrote: »
    New hiveSTF
    New Advancement system
    Molbile app for doffs(yes wont be fully opt at launch.)
    Char change screen
    new sector
    new ships

    The Hive has been in development for two years and when it gets here, however good it is, it's not going to be two years in the making good - patching up old content to work does not impress me.

    The new advancement system is modelled on the Fleet advancement system and anyone that's in a fleet know's that that's just a big time and resource sink for some mediocre rewards. 2D UI's to gouge players of resources are not content.

    Even assuming the reputation system adds some nice enhancements (new skills, STF sets etc.) - that's not content i.e. playable missions - it's just additional fluff that I'd rather not have at the expense of new things to do.

    Mobile App - yes - people have been asking for it. I'm the meantime, I've levelled all my Doff ranks to 4 and only run Doff missions to accrue Fleet Marks. Big Whoop.

    Char change screen - content? WTF?

    New Ships. Again - fluff - what's the point in having new ships if there's no new mission or PvP content to fly them in? And stuff like the Fleet missions doesn't count - it's basic Foundry level grinding (for worse rewards than the STFs).

    Content - pfft.
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  • daan2006daan2006 Member Posts: 5,346 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    The Hive has been in development for two years and when it gets here, however good it is, it's not going to be two years in the making good - patching up old content to work does not impress me.

    The new advancement system is modelled on the Fleet advancement system and anyone that's in a fleet know's that that's just a big time and resource sink for some mediocre rewards. 2D UI's to gouge players of resources are not content.

    Even assuming the reputation system adds some nice enhancements (new skills, STF sets etc.) - that's not content i.e. playable missions - it's just additional fluff that I'd rather not have at the expense of new things to do.

    Mobile App - yes - people have been asking for it. I'm the meantime, I've levelled all my Doff ranks to 4 and only run Doff missions to accrue Fleet Marks. Big Whoop.

    Char change screen - content? WTF?

    New Ships. Again - fluff - what's the point in having new ships if there's no new mission or PvP content to fly them in? And stuff like the Fleet missions doesn't count - it's basic Foundry level grinding (for worse rewards than the STFs).

    Content - pfft.

    i here by support this add :)
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    swimwear off risa not fixed
    system Lord Baal is dead
    macronius wrote: »
    This! Their ability to outdo their own failures is quite impressive. If only this power could be harnessed for good.
  • srspellssrspells Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    Please read definition of content anything created is content weather you accept that or not.
    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/content

    i think what you want is pure missions my friend, but nonetheless this all takes money and paying off people isnt that cheap. and all I said is stated as content.
    -Spells
    || Open Door Policy ||
    | Dues Ex Mechina |
    Fleet Leader
  • meimeitoomeimeitoo Member Posts: 12,594 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    I don't like the lottery aspect of the lockboxes. At an average of $250, to get the temporal ships with all the lobi-store trimmies, lockboxes suck.

    They would, of course, suck even more if it were *certain* you had to pay $250.

    So, lottery it is, then.

    And only area where lockboxes will really harm the game, is when they only make real content/designs, for the lockbox stuff. And that is a real risk. If you can sell a c-store ship or $25, or a lockbox ship for $250, hmm, which one do you think the devs will be likely to develop?
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  • weylandjuarezweylandjuarez Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    srspells wrote: »
    Please read definition of content anything created is content weather you accept that or not.
    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/content

    i think what you want is pure missions my friend, but nonetheless this all takes money and paying off people isnt that cheap. and all I said is stated as content.
    -Spells

    From your link:
    The substantive or meaningful part: "The brain is hungry not for method but for content, especially content which contains generalizations that are powerful, precise, and explicit" (Frederick Turner).
    all that is contained or dealt with in a discussion, piece of writing, etc.; substance
    (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Art Terms) the meaning or significance of a poem, painting, or other work of art, as distinguished from its style or form

    Stop making excuses for Cryptic - they have the resources - what they don't have is the incentive - as long as people are merely content to spend money on the latest shiny then that's all Cryptic has to do to make money.
    Please join our peaceful protest to help make STO a better game
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  • shaddam01shaddam01 Member Posts: 28 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    Stop making excuses for Cryptic - they have the resources - what they don't have is the incentive - as long as people are merely content to spend money on the latest shiny then that's all Cryptic has to do to make money.

    ppl in this game are like girls they are attracted to shinys and shoping NEW lock box ship GOT to HAVE IT!!!!! new Cstore ship OH I GOT TO HAVE IT new something got to have it Dan said in the last 6 months they had put out 40 new ships why cant we have one mission a month? every other month? nah we lucky to get one Featured Series now but yet we can put out 40 new ships in 6 months
  • skyranger1414skyranger1414 Member Posts: 1,785 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    hippiejon wrote: »
    Grab bags are not gambling.
    People can make a choice to not play.

    Its gambling. Whether we can legaly name it as such or not.

    As to the OP:
    Lockboxes will forever bring up snark and derision until the day Cryptic discloses their odds AND the bizarre server side algorithm that I'm convinced exists alongside it.
  • purplegamerpurplegamer Member Posts: 1,015 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    Oh, I get it. Because YOU'VE accepted lockboxes, everyone else should.

    I'm so glad one of the most vocal members of the community is one who settles for less. :rolleyes:
  • xenor002xenor002 Member Posts: 424
    edited October 2012
    Those who like Star Trek tend to have morals maybe?
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  • srspellssrspells Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited October 2012
    all that is contained or dealt with in a discussion, piece of writing, etc.; substance
    -The new system they worked on the fact they gave us fleet base(none of which is not substance) so stop whining cause you dont get everything you want.

    2.(Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Art Terms) the meaning or significance of a poem, painting, or other work of art, as distinguished from its style or form

    this has been suceeded as they have brought classic ships back and also other things like clothing.



    3. Just state you want missions and this will all be over.

    also noone likes lockboxes but thier here to stay so why complain? wont do much except add some more goodies in them.

    this whole forum reminds me of every other gaming forum. people will always complain about something.
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