7 replies to this topic

[Kataiser]

EDIT: In light of PGI's new system, I feel like I should modify this slightly. PGI's change to Clan purchases is very nice, but I still think it could be slightly better. It's very hard for me to buy the Clan 'Mechs at the current cost, because it feels like it really wants to screw the casual purchaser a little bit. This should alleviate some concerns about small purchases without increasing the costs of larger ones. Note that I have excluded the "unique bonus modules." That is because I have no idea what that exactly implies, and it sounds like something that does not belong in a package like this. That is TBD through later updates.

Original here:

Spoiler

Kataiser, on 14 December 2013 - 03:46 PM, said:

I think it's astounding how poorly the sale model was done on the Clan packages. I know that people are dying for iconic 'Mechs, but this is ridiculous. So how about this:

The Scout Collection: $30

• Choose one: Uller or Puma
  
• 1 Badge, 1 Title
  
• 7 Days Premium Time

The Frontline Collection: $60

• Choose one: Uller or Puma
  
• Choose one: Blackhawk or Ryoken or Uller or Puma (No duplicates)
  
• 2 Badges, 2 Titles
  
• 30 Days Premium Time

The Icons Collection: $90

• Choose one: Uller or Puma
  
• Choose one: Blackhawk or Ryoken or Uller or Puma (No duplicates)
  
• Choose one: Thor or Mad Cat or Blackhawk or Ryoken or Uller or Puma (No duplicates)
  
• 3 Badges, 3 Titles
  
• 60 Days Premium Time

The Trueborn Collection: $120

• Choose one: Uller or Puma
  
• Choose one: Blackhawk or Ryoken or Uller or Puma (No duplicates)
  
• Choose one: Thor or Mad Cat or Blackhawk or Ryoken or Uller or Puma (No duplicates)
  
• Choose one: Daishi or Masakari or Thor or Mad Cat or Blackhawk or Ryoken or Uller or Puma (No duplicates)
  
• 4 Badges, 4 Titles
  
• 90 Days Premium Time

Picky Purchaser Pack: $70

• Available after any above purchase.
  
• Choose any two Battlemechs from any tier.
  
• May be purchased twice.
  
• No badges, no Titles
  
• 15(?) Days Premium Time per purchase

This system would be very reliant on a single assumption: Assume that either all the Clan 'Mechs release at the same time, or assume that each weight category is released at the same time. I feel like this would mitigate any concerns that people could just bribe their way to victory while also increasing sales massively by decreasing costs of lower tier packages. YES, THIS WILL INCREASE THE COST OF PURCHASING EVERY CLAN BATTLEMECH, IF YOU INTEND TO PURCHASE THEM ALL. However, very few people will spend $210 for the Mad Cat now; with this setup, if you wanted explicitly the Mad Cat and nothing else, you could get it for $70 (if you just want the Mad Cat for the lowest cost possible), or get it for $90 and grab some lighter 'Mechs to go with it.



I feel like this would be a good balance between making PGI money and letting players get what they want to get. Everyone wins. I doubt that the payment model will change now that it's released, but this is really what I'd like to see. If a die-hard fan wants everything, then it's still allowed, albeit at a cost, and the average Mechwarrior doesn't feel cheated for simply wanting his/her favorite Clan Battlemech.

EDIT: I also forgot to mention the complete lack of information about how Clan 'Mechs are any different, and I am assuming that they just work like our current pseudo-omnis, but they have hardpoints that can carry 2 or 3 different types of weapons, and the exact combinations vary on each chassis. :TIDE

Thoughts? Comments? Scathing critique and comments about my mother?

(Note: I have no issues whatsoever with the Gold Khans. Those are 100% acceptable for being Pay2Lose status symbols instead of actual power for cash.)

The Scout Collection: $30 $25

• Choose one: Uller or Puma
  
• 1 Badge, 1 Title, 2 Warhorns, 1 Hanging Medallion
  
• 7 Days Premium Time

The Frontline Collection: $60 $55

• Choose one: Uller or Puma
  
• Choose one: Blackhawk or Ryoken or Uller or Puma (No duplicates)
  
• 2 Badges, 2 Titles, 4 Warhorns, 2 Hanging Medallion
  
• 30 Days Premium Time

The Icons Collection: $90 $85

• Choose one: Uller or Puma
  
• Choose one: Blackhawk or Ryoken or Uller or Puma (No duplicates)
  
• Choose one: Thor or Mad Cat or Blackhawk or Ryoken or Uller or Puma (No duplicates)
  
• 3 Badges, 3 Titles, 6 Warhorns, 3 Hanging Medallion
  
• 60 Days Premium Time

The Trueborn Collection: $120 $115

• Choose one: Uller or Puma
  
• Choose one: Blackhawk or Ryoken or Uller or Puma (No duplicates)
  
• Choose one: Thor or Mad Cat or Blackhawk or Ryoken or Uller or Puma (No duplicates)
  
• Choose one: Daishi or Masakari or Thor or Mad Cat or Blackhawk or Ryoken or Uller or Puma (No duplicates)
  
• 4 Badges, 4 Titles, 8 Warhorns, 4 Hanging Medallion
  
• 90 Days Premium Time

Picky Purchaser Pack: $70 $40

• Available after any above purchase.
  
• Choose any two Battlemechs single Battlemech from any tier.
  
• May be purchased twice. up to four times
  
• Purchasing 3 or more reduces cost to $35. (So 2 = $80, 3 = $105, 4 = $140)
  
• No badges, no Titles
  
• 15(?) Days Premium Time per purchase (Maybe 7 Days per purchase could be OK)

This system would be very reliant on a single assumption: Assume that either all the Clan 'Mechs release at the same time, or assume that each weight category is released at the same time. I feel like this would mitigate any concerns that people could just bribe their way to victory while also increasing sales massively by decreasing costs of lower tier packages. YES, THIS WILL INCREASE THE COST OF PURCHASING EVERY CLAN BATTLEMECH, IF YOU INTEND TO PURCHASE THEM ALL. However, very few people will spend $210 for the Mad Cat now; with this setup, if you wanted explicitly the Mad Cat and nothing else, you could get it for $70 (if you just want the Mad Cat for the lowest cost possible), or get it for $90 and grab some lighter 'Mechs to go with it.

This setup results in a roughly equal cost for buying every 'Mech in the package as PGI has now, but it also offers flexibility and more reasonable cost for people unwilling to drop over $200 for some shiny toys that are over six months away.

I (still) feel like this would be a good balance between making PGI money and letting players get what they want to get. Everyone wins. I doubt that the payment model will change now that it's released, but this is really what I'd like to see. If a die-hard fan wants everything, then it's still allowed, albeit at a cost, and the average Mechwarrior doesn't feel cheated for simply wanting his/her favorite Clan Battlemech.

EDIT: I also forgot to mention the complete lack of information about how Clan 'Mechs are any different, and I am assuming that they just work like our current pseudo-omnis, but they have hardpoints that can carry 2 or 3 different types of weapons, and the exact combinations vary on each chassis.

Thoughts? Comments? Scathing critique and comments about my mother?

(Note: I have no issues whatsoever with the Gold Khans. Those are 100% acceptable for being Pay2Lose status symbols instead of actual power for cash.)

Edited by Kataiser, 21 December 2013 - 01:45 PM.

[GunRyoken]

I could get behind this.

[xhrit]

Madcat is the most popular mech. Of course it is going to be the most expensive. If people do not want to pay fo rit, they can suffer through fighting against their favorite mech for 7 months while they wait for a cbill version.

[hYlAnDeR]

I remember, back in the day, when I purchased MW4 and its associated Mech Expansions, all the mechs, all the equipment, all the maps, components etc., were all included for the price of $49.99 for the MW4 Vengeance, MW4 Black Night was approx. $39.99, and the Inner Sphere and Clan Mech Packs were $29.99 respectively. No need to grind for hours and hours upon end to unlock {Scrap} like you do now. Nope, you got exactly what you paid for all at once and you could USE ALL OF IT when you wanted to at your convenience and leisure.

I love this game, don't get me wrong, but you either have to dedicate a tremendous amount of time grinding or pay a whole helluva lot of money to save you the time.

Oh, how I dream and wish for the "good 'ol days" of gaming. Heck, we even used to get the box and CD/DVD's of the game with cool sound tracks and video footage. But, not any more .............. sigh :::

[Belorion]

That sounds super complicated man.

[Arctcwolf]

I like the "pick a mech" theme, but I feel as you move up the ladder for better content, you should get a price reduction for the "bulk" purchase.

do I want 1 mech, fine, 30, and pick from 3-4 light/mediums

do I want 2 mechs, fine, 55, and pick from 3-4 light/mediums

and on...and on...and on...till the guy who wants it all, and all the cool goodies that come with...

I want all 8, not for 240, but for something around 180 since I'm paying 6 months ahead(another area where value comes into play), and im getting everything PGI has designed and worked on over the last several months.

and for the $500 spenders...u get all 8 mechs, and your choice of 1 chassis being "gold"

and for each additional "gold mech" added to the package, its only $50...making for a bulk 8 golds, 8 primes, 16 variants, and all the goodies for $850.

I think PGI could actually sell a few of those...and make some monstrous money doing so.

[Belorion]

Arctcwolf, on 21 December 2013 - 02:13 AM, said:

and for the $500 spenders...u get all 8 mechs, and your choice of 1 chassis being "gold"

They changed the Gold Mechs, they now include the top tier package. So for 500 you get your special mech, and all the mechs and the other goodies of the 240 package. This is a much more reasonable deal IMO.

In the spirit of the OP, they also made the ala carte Option which is 1 to 6 mechs at a sliding price point. The more you get the better the deal.

Its cool they did that, I still am not getting anything until the big questions are answered. Can IS faction people play these mechs(if not why would any person wanting to stay IS buy these)? Will factions be in play when they are released, or will Clan mechs start appearing in the PUGs?

I am also waiting to at least UI 2.0 to come out prior to getting a pack... questions, ui 2.0 then pack.

[Kataiser]

Updated! Changed to reflect the new purchase options.

Belorion, on 15 December 2013 - 05:52 PM, said:

That sounds super complicated man.

It really isn't. You could indicate which 'Mechs to buy with, literally, four radio options. The rest is just a tweak on already-included features of the packages. It means that, for the largest package, you have to click *five* times instead of once to show what you want to buy.

Arctcwolf, on 21 December 2013 - 02:13 AM, said:

I like the "pick a mech" theme, but I feel as you move up the ladder for better content, you should get a price reduction for the "bulk" purchase.

...

I want all 8, not for 240, but for something around 180 since I'm paying 6 months ahead(another area where value comes into play), and im getting everything PGI has designed and worked on over the last several months.

The trouble is, as you go up the ladder, the 'Mechs get heavier and heavier, and more options are opened up. You can't give people more for more of more. That's too much more. As the tiers go higher, the price should be, roughly, the same, because you're getting better value out of extras and tonnage, and, at least up to the 3rd tier, you're also getting more and more iconic with the 'Mechs.

Also, I'm trying to keep roughly within the scope of where PGI has shown that they want the prices to be. If I thought it'd be possible for them to sell MWO content for reasonable prices, I'd put these four at $25/$50/$75/$100, and the add-ons at $30/$25/$20/$15, for a total of $190 for all 8 'Mechs.

Belorion, on 21 December 2013 - 07:52 AM, said:

In the spirit of the OP, they also made the ala carte Option which is 1 to 6 mechs at a sliding price point. The more you get the better the deal.

...

I am also waiting to at least UI 2.0 to come out prior to getting a pack... questions, ui 2.0 then pack.

I like to (erroneously) think that I helped them come to that decision.

And the biggest issue I have with the Clan packages is the lack of information, honestly. Even with the according-to-menu purchases, nobody should be buying these until additional information about the Clans is available. I get the feeling that UI2.0 is going to have a lot of stuff integral to that, so I'd say it's wise to wait like that.