42 replies to this topic

[Training Instructor]

One thing that irritated me is that during blue dot mwo matches, your garish camo didn't matter. Now it feels like wasted mc because blending in actually matters.

[Ohgodtherats]

Bhael Fire, on 31 May 2013 - 05:15 PM, said:

I admire your humility.

FWIW, I think paints are a little over-priced currently. 1000 MC (about $5) for premium colors is a little steep...even if you get to keep it for all your mechs. I can buy real Testors paints for less than that (about $2 a bottle or less).


I think if they lowered the prices to 500,000 C-Bills for Basic colors, 150 MC for Standard colors, and about 300 MC for Premium colors they'd make a LOT more money off of impulse sales. I know I'd buy a lot more, more frequently.

So when you buy real testors paints does it come with in an infinite amount of paint and paint remover in that one ounce bottle? While I would like lower paint costs (who wouldn't), judging by wild assortment of paints and camos contrasted to the very occasional olive drab mech that i see when I play, I tend to think lowering cost would not in fact make them more money. Also, and not in reply to the above, while hero mechs sure are expensive, if you look at other free to play games, the costs are about par if not slightly lower. I'm looking at you World of Tanks. And judging by the huge amount of heavy metals running around I think there pricing is right on.

[Bhael Fire]

Ohgodtherats, on 01 June 2013 - 10:04 AM, said:

I tend to think lowering cost would not in fact make them more money.

Perhaps. All I know is, this argument has been played out.

The bottom line is, I and many other players will never throw away $5 each time they want a new color for their 'mech. It's just way too steep for most people to make an impulse purchase. Now, I know there are lots of people that don't mind buying a few paint colors at that price (myself included), but they will not buy those colors casually or frequently. Each purchase is a hard decision. I think that right there is why it's a bad idea to charge that much for colors.

Players should feel as though it's a light, frivolous purchase. After all, there are dozens and dozens of colors, many of which are just slight variations of each other. The trick is to get players to spend their MC freely and frequently, without even thinking about it. When the price is too high, players tend think about it too much. That's not good.

So, until MC prices for paints are lowered to something more reasonable, I'll be saving my MC for things that are actually useful, like hero mechs, modules and mech bays.

[Bhael Fire]

Also, nobody in their right mind is going to buy new MC just to purchase a different paint color.

Seriously? Who says, "Hmmm...my 'mech might look good with Cobalt...crap, I don't have 1000 MC...I better go buy some more MC." ????

Answer: Nobody. Unless they live in their mom's basement.

[sokitumi]

at best value MC ($99.95), a full 1 use camo paint job = $6.27 to $12.24
smallest purchase ($7.95), a full 1 use camo paint job = $8.64 to $16.98

then add between $.30 to $.41 for each additional mech camo.

I don't think it's totally unreasonable, however it's not really priced to sell either. I think I'll stick with ghetto green for now.

[Corvus Antaka]

Wow dude you sure gave PGI a lot of money.

[Sug]

Black Storm, on 25 May 2013 - 03:46 PM, said:

It ridiculous to expect people to spend enough MCs to buy a complete 'mech, on a cosmetic item.

And yet most of us do....

[Herodes]

Bhael Fire, on 01 June 2013 - 11:35 PM, said:

Also, nobody in their right mind is going to buy new MC just to purchase a different paint color.

Seriously? Who says, "Hmmm...my 'mech might look good with Cobalt...crap, I don't have 1000 MC...I better go buy some more MC." ????

Answer: Nobody. Unless they live in their mom's basement.

You are wrong. You failed.
PGI is obviously cleverer than you are.
And I don't even live in my mom's basement, unfortunately.

You don't seem to have any idea how satisfying a base coat of Cobalt can be if it is augmented with some tones of fiery red. Or better yet, cream and écru mixed with light brown. For some real classy look.

Also, you don't seem to understand what makes your fellow players happy. Hint: there is a world outside your own cranium where priorities might be different, yet still just as viable as your own.

Do I mock your boring green 'Mech that lacks any distinction of who is driving it? That does not reflect anything of the pilot at all? Mine is an avatar. Yours looks like a placeholder.

Who is in his or her right mind then? Or is the right mind defined by money?

[White Bear 84]

Black Storm, on 25 May 2013 - 03:46 PM, said:

In line with the rest of this post, I think that along with making C-Bills an option for more things, it would be good to have the ability to convert MCs directly to C-Bills at a 1 to 5,000 ratio. 1 MC becoming 5,000 C-Bills. AND AGAIN, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE GIVE US THE ABILITY TO MOVE 'MECHS FROM BAY TO BAY IN OUR HANGAR. ORGANIZATION IS GETTING TO BE A PROBLEM. THANK YOU. _{Edited for typos and grammatic errors.}

1. That would never happen because the C-Bill to MC ratio which currently exists is 2500:1. So if you offered that rate, it would be cheaper for players to convert MC to C-Bills than to buy mechs with C-Bills.

2. Check the forums - UI.2.0 has been floating around for ages - Its coming!!

[Bhael Fire]

Herodes, on 03 June 2013 - 03:37 PM, said:

Do I mock your boring green 'Mech that lacks any distinction of who is driving it? That does not reflect anything of the pilot at all? Mine is an avatar. Yours looks like a placeholder.

I own 6 or 7 standard and premium colors, as well as several camo patterns. My mechs are far from boring looking.

What you obviously misunderstood about my position is that I (among many others like me) have no plans to buy any more paints than that. Not at the current prices, anyway.

They would sell much more paint colors if they were reasonably priced. For example, 300 MC seems like a much more reasonable price for premium colors.

[Jetfire]

I have said it before, they need to look at their pricing scheme for content for launch. You aren't going to pull in any new blood at these prices. I have spend a ludicrous amount of money on this game to support it, but it gets harder to justify every time. I mean I am pushing $1000 at this point for a F2P game. I love the hell out of it, but that is honestly enough to buy into even the most expensive mini's or card game. So the question is, do they really think the people like me will keep spending or do they want the rest to spend a bit heavier. I think their constant sales indicate my point nicely. They only really cash in when they cut prices 30-50%. That is because that is what people are willing to pay en masse.

Edit: $1070 to date... Seriously. PGI. Is the grand sum of all the content published from Open Beta to Launch really worth $1000? Just consider that if you want this money train to keep rolling.

Edited by Jetfire, 03 June 2013 - 04:21 PM.

[Herodes]

Bhael Fire, on 03 June 2013 - 04:08 PM, said:

I own 6 or 7 standard and premium colors, as well as several camo patterns. My mechs are far from boring looking.

What you obviously misunderstood about my position is that I (among many others like me) have no plans to buy any more paints than that. Not at the current prices, anyway.

They would sell much more paint colors if they were reasonably priced. For example, 300 MC seems like a much more reasonable price for premium colors.

I am sorry for the tone in my post, I just got carried away. I spent about $500-600 until now and compensate my lack of skill by pimping my rides. To each his own demons and faeries.

However, I do think that "premium" also needs to be rare as it just isn't premium if everyone has it. So it is perfectly reasonable to price some colors high and thus make them more desirable. This is how a lot of things in our world work. It is human. Think fashion.

Now ... if they'd make more cash if they lowered prices, I do not know. Not my field of expertise. I sure would love to spend less on the game though
The sales are cool though as you can get reasonable C-Bills for 'Mechs you buy with MC and sell them right away, it basically negates the loss you get when forced to sell at 50% price point.

[Sug]

Bhael Fire, on 03 June 2013 - 04:08 PM, said:

What you obviously misunderstood about my position is that I (among many others like me) have no plans to buy any more paints than that. Not at the current prices, anyway.

November '12

Amg I have to pay EVERY time I paint my mechs?? What a scam. I'm not buying anymore paint.


June '13

Amg all these totally unlockable paints are too expensive. What a scam. I'm not buying any more paint.


September '13

[Insert new complaint] What a scam. I'm not buying anymore [insert noun].

[Bhael Fire]

Herodes, on 03 June 2013 - 04:25 PM, said:

I am sorry for the tone in my post, I just got carried away.

No worries.

Herodes, on 03 June 2013 - 04:25 PM, said:

However, I do think that "premium" also needs to be rare as it just isn't premium if everyone has it.

I totally agree that there needs to be unique cosmetic items that are rare. However, I think there's a better way to handle that; by making unlockable achievements that grant stuff like unique paints, camo patterns, and decals (see below).

As mentioned, anyone can fork over $5 for a paint color if they really want it. I did exactly that for the few premium colors I really wanted. So, charging 1000 MC isn't going to make premium colors more rare on the battlefield. People will just buy the color(s) they want and not purchase any of the others. So basically, you still have people running around with premium colors regardless.

I think it would be in everyone's best interest to make colors affordable (at least as affordable as 'Mech bays) since there are so many colors to chose from. That is, there's "gold in them hills" as they say.

Currently, however, many people are only buying the standard and premium colors that they absolutely love instead of the colors they "kinda" like. That's what I meant by "nobody in their right mind" is going to go out of their way to buy MC just to get a color they only find mildly appealing. However...if the price were more affordable...say 300 MC...that same person might consider spending their last 300 MC or even buying more, knowing they will at least have some more MC left over. It takes away some of the critical thinking (and guilt) required in the purchase process and makes it more tempting — which in turn, leads to more impulse sales, more frequently. It's a win/win for everyone.

Now, as far as making rare cosmetics, I think trying to control rarity of items through price is not a good idea unless you make it substantially more pricey. That's fine and it does work to some degree, but in order to do that the price of premium paint would have to go up to something closer to hero mech levels (i.e. 5000 MC or more per color).

I think a better idea would be to make unlockable paints, camo, and decals that can't be purchased with MC but with GXP or achievements instead (e.g., like last week's 25 challenge). That way, everyone has access to these items, but it will take a substantial amount of time and/or effort and skill to obtain them.

tl;dr

I like turtles.


.,.and cheap paints.

...and unlockable goodies.

Edited by Bhael Fire, 03 June 2013 - 05:54 PM.

[Herodes]

Yes, I can agree to that. Although I do miss the money-part in the unlocking of the features. I mean, I do not miss it, but in order for the game to be a profit it should be there.
P2B ... pay to be beautiful and unique

[Leetskeet]

95,000 MCs and I only have 5,500 left.

[Victor Morson]

Why on Earth are you buying consumables?

Pay the one time flat GXP conversion and just buy the improved versions. They're free after that forever. You don't even need to pay to do the conversion if you don't want.

Leetskeet, on 11 June 2013 - 09:56 PM, said:

95,000 MCs and I only have 5,500 left.

That video might sum up the reaction to the heat changes post more than this. I'm totally borrowing that link, heh.

Edited by Victor Morson, 12 June 2013 - 12:07 AM.

[telomere]

Black Storm, on 26 May 2013 - 06:22 AM, said:

I went and played with the camo spec some more after the last reply. It seems I owe an apology about "my only serious gripe." Some of the colors ARE paid for with C-Bills. Now I feel like both an *** and a fool.
Step 1: open mouth
Step 2: Insert foot
Step 3: Chomp down hard

Bra-vo sir! Realising your mistake and then admitting to it is just about the rarest possible thing to ever see on the MWO forums. I feel like I've just seen a double rainbow.

[Jerod Symes]

Started playing a few days ago, think i can get into this. Was already thinking of buying say 6000 mc's to get a mech, some gear. and to show some support for a free to play game which ive spend time playing. But then today i wanted to paint my mech black and realized your freakin charging a 1000 mc's just to own the ability to use the color black...I mean ffs people i can already see how you are trying to charge people around every corner. Dare i say pay-to-win? U already have to pay real money to have the best mechs. A 1250 mc's cost $6.95 in my country i could go to a restaurant and get a decent meal for that money. I could buy a six pack of beer for $5?! or i could paint my mech on mwo black hmmmmmmmmmm....if the prices for paint was alot cheaper people would but it alot more readily and probably in the long run make you greedy ***** more money.

[Coolant]

I think the prices are too high also, but I've also gone a month without spending any money, and a month or two before that. You can play this game completely free, paint your mech completely free using base colors which I do. I used to be one of those that thinks they are entitles since they spend money, and to a degree I still feel that way...but, not about camo.