Pre-Purchase, Microtransactions, & In-Game Purchases

[Vayne]

Yea I understand how you could be worried about that, but when it comes to items that could actually effect someones stats and abilities, wouldn't that make it an unfair advantage? Why would Arenanet Go back on what they Quoted "it’s never OK for players who spend money to have an unfair advantage over players who spend time."

Why is it never ok? because it would be unfair... Who in their right minds would want to destroy a fairly balanced game (To my knowledge) like Guild wars 2, by adding armor sets, and skill boosts in the cash shop? Nobody.. it just doesn't seem like a good idea.

I'm pretty sure the Devs at Arenanet have talked this over, they aren't going to try and make any unfair decisions like you think will come if they don't make as much as they hoped..

If you don't trust Arenanet, why spend money on a their game?

TBH: This topic shouldn't even be here, it doesn't help anyone because it's stuff that has already been stated in previous threads. Though it seems to be the most emotional..

Actually, I think we're all calming down a bit. I know I am. I agree it's a scary thing to trust a company that seems to have gone back on its word...at least a bit. I'm sort of sitting on the fence now...hoping I"m right, but realizing that the other points are valid too.

So this thread may have served some purpose at least for me.

[Malcolm Phoss]

Actually, I think we're all calming down a bit. I know I am.

Really? hard to tell...

I agree it's a scary thing to trust a company that seems to have gone back on its word...at least a bit. I'm sort of sitting on the fence now...hoping I"m right, but realizing that the other points are valid too.

So this thread may have served some purpose at least for me.

I don't understand? how did they go back on their word dealing with Guild wars 2? ~I'm confused if something has recently happened that I wasn't aware of.

What I was trying to say, is if you don't trust the makers of the game your investing both money and time in, why Purchase it?

[Vayne]

Really? hard to tell...



I don't understand? how did they go back on their word dealing with Guild wars 2? ~I'm confused if something has recently happened that I wasn't aware of.

What I was trying to say, is if you don't trust the makers of the game your investing both money and time in, why Purchase it?

I'm not so sure they went back on their word so much as their choice of phrasing didn't reflect reality, which was my purpose for this post.

The original concept was there would be nothing in the Guild Wars 2 cash shop that wasn't cosmetic, just like the GW 1 cash shop. The problem is, some of the stuff leaked from the current beta shows non-cosmetic stuff, like a bonus to experience, not cosmetic at all.

Recently they had changed their stance to saying nothing but stuff that's cosmetic or stuff that gives no one advantage for money that you can't get spending time...which is not quite the same thing.

But I was pointing out in this thread that even in the GW 1 shop there were things sold that weren't cosmetic, it's simply the words they've been using all along aren't quite reflecting the reality of the shop.

So, my contention is, they didn't intentionally mislead, but they sure chose words wrong. Surely the skill unlock packs in GW 1 do give you some small advantage, but it's not a game-breaking one.

The stuff they've shown in the cash shop likewise. You can look at it two ways. A difference that makes no difference is no difference or, they've lied to me.

I don't think they've lied, I think they've mispoke which is not the same thing. I also think it's possible that when they first annouced the shop, they had every intention of only having cosmetics, but as time has gone on and they've seen the demand for outfits falter in Guild Wars 1, they became scared that just cosmetics wouldn't give them enough income to keep providing content, something they'd need to do to stay competitive in this day and age.

So the question comes back to, did they intentionally lie to us, did they misspeak or did they actually intend to do what they said, but the situation changed (something I personally don't consider a lie, btw).

That's the issue. A lot of people feel betrayed. Honestly I never thought they could have only cosmetic stuff and still be successful long term..viable may be a better word...so I wasn't quite as put off as other people. I also realized a lot of the stuff in the GW 1 shop wasn't cosmetic a long time ago, even though they continued to use the word, so I was ready for it not to be quite what they said.

In the end, I still trust certain people in the company...and I will buy the game. I don't think they've come this far to screw themselves. The people who are the most vested in the company and defended them the most are more likely to be hurting right now than those who haven't been around as long.

[Centaur]

Yep, I had to step away. I just am too emotional about the whole thing. Particularly because I have such respect for you and Centaur...it throws me. Obviously your opinions are valuable to me...it sorta makes my opinion less valuable. lol

I feel that I have the same problem. I do see a couple of problems with this system, and I get very upset about that. Especially as it goes against everything ArenaNet promised us earlier on... and against everything I have come to expect from them. If they are already changing their wordings on earlier promises so that they can break those promises and make more money... where will it end? Anyway, I do not want to vent my anger on this issue on you people (and I know that's exactly what happened earlier on), so I will stay away from topics like these from now on. You know where I stand on this. We'll see how it turns out in the game.

[Ruse]

Is it group hug time yet?

[Vayne]

Is it group hug time yet?

Well past time! lol

[Cletus]

For me, this is the only reason I'm ok with the current cash store:


"In Guild Wars 2 we have three currencies: gold, karma, and gems. Gold is the common in-game currency. Karma, which players earn in-game but cannot trade, is used for unique rewards. And gems are the currency that’s bought and used to purchase microtransactions.
We have a new player-driven market that allows players to trade gold for gems and gems for gold. If you want something, whether it’s an in-game item or a microtransaction, you ultimately have two ways to get it: you can play to earn gold or you can use money to buy gems. We think that’s important, because it lets more players participate on a level playing field, whether they use their free time or their disposable income to do it."

[SeniorFrog]

I was hoping to see if someone had posted this. Come on people, can you just wait! Why are people busting a nut? It's like Mass effect 3 "It has multiplayer" LOLZ NOT GUNNA BUY THE GAME.

A month later... It's being made by another team not bioware. If you people wait for more info, it's probably better and "less" emotional.

[Ruse]

If you people wait for more info, it's probably better and "less" emotional.

We've had an official blog post on it, official comments on Facebook and leaked cash shop contents. The last could admittedly change, but honestly how much more information do we need?

And again...for me it's more fear of what they add in the future than a huge issue with current items. If you're going to respond, you should at least read the thread to get a feel for people's objections.

Also I have no idea where you're going with the whole Mass Effect 3 bit.

[Cletus]

And again...for me it's more fear of what they add in the future than a huge issue with current items. If you're going to respond, you should at least read the thread to get a feel for people's objections.

Also I have no idea where you're going with the whole Mass Effect 3 bit.

I have read the thread, and I get were people are coming from but I just can't get that upset. Sure ANet didn't do exactly what they said, but they did say recently that the store would hold certain time saving items. Nothing here is going to provide too big of an advantage, and if you want something bad enough just grind the gold in game. Offering people to trade in game gold for gems and gems for gold might not be bulletproof, but it provides a comfort blanket for me. Plus it'll make things pretty interesting for people who want to buy/sell online gold because they'll have to compete with the cash shop.