52 replies to this topic

[Faenwulf]

I guess long term money can and will only come by releasing new mechs with higher prices and new mech storages in the mech bays.
Just look at how fast Riot is popping out new Chamions and Skins for League of Legends.

[Tterrag]

Anyone else hoping that you won't be able to trade currency or mech between players? Maybe its just me but i don't want to have to worry about my account being hacked or having people going ****QUICK CASH NOW YOU GIVE ME MONEY*** all the time.

[Faenwulf]

I think such an economic factor will be left out.
Selling Mechs "second Hand" won't really work. And gifting people with C-Bill would destroy the balance between newer players too strongly if they know someone who has played the game for a long time.

[Volthorne]

HOLD ON FOR ONE SECOND, PEOPLE.

Okay, now that I have your attention, I would like to point out some of the bullshit that's been flying around in this thread, and call it out.

You will NOT be able to buy C-Bills with real money. You CAN buy Mech Credits.

Mech Credits CANNOT be used to purchase weapons. They CAN be used to purchase 'mechs chassis' and C-Bill/XP boosters though. Most likely cosmetics (read: items that have ZERO influence in a fight, as they are only visual) as well.

The Founder's Package Elite 'mechs are NOT superior to their standard counter-parts in any way, except they do have a permanent C-Bill booster attached (read: you want something bad, you grind with this 'mech).

You CANNOT trade ANYTHING. PERIOD.

Heavier 'mech DOES NOT equal instant win. A Light 'mech can flank an Assault and blow him away via butter-soft rear armor.

That is all. Please read the Dev Blogs and Q&A's if you need any additonal info.

[Faenwulf]

Thank you so much, although most of this has already been said. Some people just don't read it.

Especially thanks for the C-Bill and Mech Credits clarification.

[Sable]

I think everyone is worrying for nothing. This isn't the first free to play game ever made. i'm sure they've looked at other successful f2p games and not successful f2p games in order to make their own game an enjoyable experience. And if you've ever played a f2p game before i'm reminded of a joke one of the devs told in the forum of one of those games...

"F2p games are like seducing your mom, with enough time and effort you can make it happen... but its a lot easier to just pay $5"

Although its a joke the point is that the appeal of f2p is that you don't have to pay anything and you CAN earn it all with enough effort. But i don't see a problem with people pumping money into the game in order to buy mechs and weapons. It won't make them better players until they get out there and get some experience piloting their mechs, managing their heat well, turning your mech to spread damage out, targeting specific parts of their opponents mechs, knowing when to fight and when to run. All that stuff you still have to learn through experience. I'll be going for an atlas right away myself but that doesn't mean 1 or 2 catapults won't be able to kill me with showers of missles while ducking behind cover as i walk the 1000 yards to get in range of them. Smart tactics can still be the key to victory even if you're outgunned. In mechwarrior 4 mercs i used a fast medium mech with a few LBX-AC 10s to keep heavier mechs rocking while trying to keep up their turn speed to target me while i tore then to pieces.

While i don't anticipate ever wanting to spend money on paint jobs for my mech i wouldn't mind doing what i do in other free to play games.. every 2-3 months i'll throw $50 in the game and buy some nice mechs or extra weapons as i don't have all the time in the world to grind out the c-bills to purchase them all.

[Fear Radick]

I would assume that in-game currency refers directly to c-bills, and that you will likely be able to purchase c-bills with real money, and then of course purchase mechs, weapons, modules, and visual upgrades with those c-bills. Purchasing most of those items doesn't give any direct advantage as the same items will be available to everyone regardless of how much money they have put into the game, with exception of modules which will have to be earned first with the appropriate experience points.

[KuruptU4Fun]

I'd agree with everything posted above about mere speculation at this point. The only facts we know are what come with either "FOUNDERS" package you choose to buy if you do buy one. The only advantage that has is a C-Bill booster while that particular mech is being used, EVERYTHING else is cosmetic. If you choose to spend a few bucks on an XP booster, you can buy one for much cheaper it seems.

Remember this as well, 2 lights could DECIMATE a Assault mech thru teamwork alone. Know the benefits of your mech and it's capabilites and shortcomings. If you choose to ignore those then I will claim the XP while I stand over your pile of scrap metal.

Edited by KuruptU4Fun, 29 May 2012 - 08:08 AM.

[HellJumper]

i love you all...all the comments, speculation...i hope the devs are monitoring it as well...

you see how much problem can be created when things re not clarified

[Arkada]

One posibility for purchasable ites would be what is refered to in World of Tanks as Consumables. They have both In game credit versions versions and real money versions of thes consumables.

Maybe consumables like coffe or other stimulants that last only for a single match and give very slight performance to your mech.

Coffee - increases spotting range for a recon mech by +5% changing your spotting range from say 300meters to 315 meters.
Maybe Fresh change of colant - engine produces 2% less heat for 1 match.
Weapon link recalibration - Gives linked wepony a 5% accuracy bonus due to recent recalibration. No so unlike going to a mechanic and getting the tires on your car rotated and realigned.

[TwoFaced]

So to throw a wrench into the mix...they mention premium accounts...what exactly is that? Whats the advantage of getting premium?

[Arkada]

KuruptU4Fun, on 29 May 2012 - 08:07 AM, said:

I'd agree with everything posted above about mere speculation at this point. The only facts we know are what come with either "FOUNDERS" package you choose to buy if you do buy one. The only advantage that has is a C-Bill booster while that particular mech is being used, EVERYTHING else is cosmetic. If you choose to spend a few bucks on an XP booster, you can buy one for much cheaper it seems.

Remember this as well, 2 lights could DECIMATE a Assault mech thru teamwork alone. Know the benefits of your mech and it's capabilites and shortcomings. If you choose to ignore those then I will claim the XP while I stand over your pile of scrap metal.

Just to clarify a fewthings...

1 - It seems to me that the C-Bill bost to the "Premium" Chasis you get with the backage is a life time boost for that mech and only that mech.

2 - It seems to me that you also get a 1 or 2 month premium status for your account (depending on the package bought) which either in that post or in another post it mentioned that Premium status gives a c-bill and xp boost to your account in general.

What is not clear is if these two benefits stack.

i do know that in other games the so called "Premium items" typically have both strengths and weakness. Also premium accounts and premium items are as mentioned in the videos probably are simply the way that those who have jobs/money but don't have lots of free time can keep up with others. For example if I play 2 hours a day and spend 15$ a month i can earn enough C-bills and xp to keep up with my nephiew that plays 4 hours a day but only has a part time job.

The fact of the matter is this.... They are not making an online game to that 1 million people can play for free they are making a game to make money. By making most content free you increase the player base and large player base means free marketing which means more players and hopefully enough of those players will spend real money on the game. So for this model to work several things need to be in place to balance things out.

Real money items should be unique enough or advantageous enough to encourage people to buy them.. yet at the same time they should not make the game un balanced or you loose player base. So equivalent benefits should be available to the non paying gamers but significantly harder to obtain. but of course not imposible to obtain.

[Arkada]

TwoFaced, on 29 May 2012 - 09:04 AM, said:

So to throw a wrench into the mix...they mention premium accounts...what exactly is that? Whats the advantage of getting premium?

In Free to play games premium accounts typicaly grant xp bonus or credit bonus.

So for example if you fight an arena match and you would normally earn 1,000 c-bils if your paying 15$ am month for premium account you earn 50% more c-bills per match 1,500 c-bills. that this means is that a premium account player may need to play 1,000 matches to earn enough C-bills to buy an atlas whil a non premium player will equal gaming skills and equal win rate in the matchs may need to play 1,500 matchs.

However say you a Very good Mech pilot and you win almost all your matchs then you may actually be able to buy that atlas in only 900 matches even on a free or non premium account.

In other words paying to pay the game gives you a slight advantage but not in a game play effecting manner. Also in a way that doesn't actually make you a better mech warrior. in 6 months for example a free to play player may earn mony to buy and own 5 mechs while a pay to play player with his c-bill bonus may end up owning 7 or 8 mechs. considering everyone can only drive one mech ar a time there is no arema match advantage given to the pay to play player only a wider selection of mechs.

Edited by Arkada, 29 May 2012 - 09:20 AM.