47 replies to this topic

[Nasty McBadman]

While it has not been announced yet how clans will be involved in community warfare, I am under the assumption that they will be separate from the existing houses. I am also assuming that the technology will be separate for clan weapons and mechs. With these assumptions i suggest the possible "trade in" of packages purchased... i.e. founders, overlord etc. for clan equivalent. If someone chose to play as a clan pilot, they possibly would not have any use of some sizable investments in IS mechs. If there was an enticement to switch from IS to clan by swapping existing package purchases to clan created "equivalents" it could be great at revitalizing the player-base.
for example:
Legendary Founder to Legendary Founder Clan would take all of the founder mechs away from a player's inventory and replace them with Clan mechs.
Likewise for Phoenix package purchases.
this would make the switch to clan much less painful for those already heavily invested in the game.

[Boozlebean]

PGI would never allow this. They're here to make the most money possible off of Mechwarrior fans, and that's what they're going to do.

[Nick Makiaveli]

Boozlebean, on 15 December 2013 - 01:04 PM, said:

PGI would never allow this. They're here to make the most money possible off of Mechwarrior fans, and that's what they're going to do.

As opposed to doing this part-time and for free?

[Nasty McBadman]

I am not convinced that PGI would not take the "High Road" on this and allow package holders to convert their investment in the game to clan equivalents. Otherwise those that would choose to switch to clans would have wasted investment in the game in the shape of IS mechs.

[Zyllos]

This is my biggest question mark on this entire thing.

Why offer a package that you KNOW will have open ended questions like this with no way to answer them either because it will hurt your business or the details are completely up in the air?

[Takeo]

All this is about is MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!! Simple Greed. Need more info before I fork out almost $300 and don't even get me started on the Gold Mechs, unless you win the Lottery this is a joke, and considering I'm a founder and already spent money on Phoniex how much more do you want. I thought this was Free to play but starting to think this isn't.

Edited by Takeo, 17 December 2013 - 08:51 AM.

[Bilbo]

Nasty McBadman, on 17 December 2013 - 07:15 AM, said:

I am not convinced that PGI would not take the "High Road" on this and allow package holders to convert their investment in the game to clan equivalents. Otherwise those that would choose to switch to clans would have wasted investment in the game in the shape of IS mechs.

You mean you haven't played with them over the last year and a half?

[Nasty McBadman]

Bilbo, on 17 December 2013 - 08:52 AM, said:

You mean you haven't played with them over the last year and a half?

Of course I have played with them, I am probably also not one to switch to clans. My point is that if the technologies and mechs for clans and IS are in two distinct play modes, someone that is making the choice to be a clan player will not be able to use the IS mechs they have been playing. I think that an offer of a "swap" for a Founder or Phoenix package could be an added enticement to retain players that would otherwise be put off by an additional paywall for entry into a chosen play faction. I suppose they could have clan players in IS mechs and just call it even but that just seems kind of weak to me.

[Axeman1]

Takeo, on 17 December 2013 - 08:50 AM, said:

and considering I'm a founder and already spent money on Phoniex how much more do you want. I thought this was Free to play but starting to think this isn't.

1. You're a legendary founder and have overlord, they already have your money and don't care what you say or do. In spending as much money as you have already, you have exceeded their expectations on the average purchase of a player.

2. The game is free, nobody and no features are forcing you to pay a cent.

[Nasty McBadman]

Axeman1, on 17 December 2013 - 10:18 AM, said:

1. You're a legendary founder and have overlord, they already have your money and don't care what you say or do. In spending as much money as you have already, you have exceeded their expectations on the average purchase of a player.

2. The game is free, nobody and no features are forcing you to pay a cent.

While I agree that there is no one "forcing" anyone to pay a cent, many package purchasers may want to play as clan when it becomes available (I am pretty comfortable in my IS HHOD:Davion group). I believe it would capture an amazing spirit of goodwill AND customer retention if there was an option of "swapping" a Founder's or Phoenix package for a clan equivalent. I may be naïve in this matter but it just seems to make sense in a community building sort of way. I am sure many of the folks in the clan section of the forums have purchased IS packages because they were all that was available, for them to have to "buy in" again just seems unfair and a wrong thing to do.

Edited by Nasty McBadman, 17 December 2013 - 11:38 AM.

[Axeman1]

Nasty McBadman, on 17 December 2013 - 10:42 AM, said:

[color=#000000]While I agree that there is no one "forcing" anyone to pay a cent, many package purchasers may want to play as clan when it becomes available (I am pretty comfortable in my IS HHOD:Davion group). I believe it would capture an amazing spirit of goodwill AND customer retention if there was an option of "swapping" a Founder's or Phoenix package for a clan equivalent. I may be naïve in this matter but it just seems to make sense in a community building sort of way. I am sure many of the folks in the clan section of the forums have purchased IS packages because they were all that was available, for them to have to "buy in" again just seems unfair and a wrong thing to do.[/color]

If you were paying attention during the beta you wouldn't have even bothered wasting your hope on something like this. There is currently a mech that has been and will continue to be unavailable to people who didn't spend money for an entire quarter of the year. (You may not have really thought about this since you do have access to that mech). You really think the same people that have made something unavailable for 4 months to people not paying money, and came out with a set of $500 mechs, are doing anything but laugh at the thought of "Trade in" packages?

[Nasty McBadman]

Axeman1, on 17 December 2013 - 10:52 AM, said:

If you were paying attention during the beta you wouldn't have even bothered wasting your hope on something like this. There is currently a mech that has been and will continue to be unavailable to people who didn't spend money for an entire quarter of the year. (You may not have really thought about this since you do have access to that mech). You really think the same people that have made something unavailable for 4 months to people not paying money, and came out with a set of $500 mechs, are doing anything but laugh at the thought of "Trade in" packages?

I never consider hope as wasted, but that is just me. I do understand what you are saying. I don't feel that early access to equipment for paying customers is the same thing as a paywall for an entire new method of gameplay being introduced (most likely). I do admit though that perhaps I am a bit naïve in this matter.

[Rhaythe]

Nasty McBadman, on 15 December 2013 - 09:07 AM, said:

Legendary Founder to Legendary Founder Clan would take all of the founder mechs away from a player's inventory and replace them with Clan mechs.

That would be akin to telling Microsoft you want Windows 7 for free if you give them your license key for Windows XP.

[Sandpit]

No
You want it, buy it

[Nasty McBadman]

Sandpit, on 17 December 2013 - 12:35 PM, said:

No
You want it, buy it

Well, i don't want it. I would however like there to be others that play as clans though. I feel that perhaps a large number of players have become a bit disillusioned by directions the development process has taken. I think my idea could go a long way to rebuilding some of the core sentiment about the game and maybe some public opinion groundswell too.

[Nasty McBadman]

Rhaythe, on 17 December 2013 - 11:50 AM, said:

That would be akin to telling Microsoft you want Windows 7 for free if you give them your license key for Windows XP.

I don't think that analogy quite fits. If there are to be two distinct factions with seperate playstyles and technologies, we need two groups of players willing to choose. the additional paywall may limit those existing founders and package holders from investing further. I would like the game to do well and thrive. I think my idea could move the game towards that direction in the eyes of many remaining players and possible win back many that have moved away.

[Rhaythe]

Nasty McBadman, on 17 December 2013 - 04:00 PM, said:

I don't think that analogy quite fits. If there are to be two distinct factions with seperate playstyles and technologies, we need two groups of players willing to choose. the additional paywall may limit those existing founders and package holders from investing further. I would like the game to do well and thrive. I think my idea could move the game towards that direction in the eyes of many remaining players and possible win back many that have moved away.

That's all well and good. I applaud your notion. But expecting a company to allow you to exchanged used premium content for new makes no business sense whatsoever.

[Khobai]

Would make more sense for IGP/PGI to give founders/phoenix pack buyers a free gift. Like a free vulture for continuing to support the game.

[Ryvucz]

They mentioned you will not be forced to play a "side" exclusively.

So, no.

[Greyboots]

Ryvucz, on 17 December 2013 - 08:45 PM, said:

They mentioned you will not be forced to play a "side" exclusively.

So, no.

There's a difference between "forced" and "want to" of course but...

Look, I don't really see the help or the harm in the situation. When clan launches, presumably there will be enough mechs to choose from to put together teams. I'm betting on the initial release following the structure of the clan package with an early release followed by the Uller, Black Hawk, Thor and Daishi all available for cBills all together shortly after.

But... There's been people waiting on the clans for a long time too. While I don't think a "trade-in" is warranted? I can certainly see a Founders bonus being worthwhile. Make a "founders" variant of each of the first 4 mechs and give them to them.

Let them get off to a running start on the clans as a nod and a wink.

Edited by Greyboots, 17 December 2013 - 09:53 PM.