32 replies to this topic

[oldradagast]

I'm not fully convinced they are losing money on these deals, or if they are, it's less than expected.

Sure, they lose the mechbay money, but that's about it since very few people would buy a cbill version of a mech just to get it 2 weeks before it is available for in-game money.

On the other hand, a whole bunch of people just got a Thunderbolt. Now, they'll probably want to fully level it, which requires 3 Thunderbolts total. That means they may end up needing a spare mech bay - or two - for the extras until they get them all leveled and then decide which ones to keep.

Long story short, i suspect they aren't losing as much money as one might think with these mech give aways.

Edited by oldradagast, 22 April 2014 - 12:11 PM.

[EyeOne]

Polignac, on 22 April 2014 - 11:40 AM, said:

I hope this isn't the case. It does somewhat worry me that perhaps these promotions are meant to staunch the bleeding instead of growing the player base. Anyone have any real insight into which it is?

It isn't. It's just pessimistic people's opinion. There are tons of reasons other than desperation to do promotions like this.

[Shatterpoint]

I haven't payed any attention to out of game press, I have noticed a lot of chat during matches "I'm trying to get the new mech/mech bay" "is that the free mech you're using? what's it like?" "what build are you using on it?" that sort of thing.

Definitely brought some people in or at least back to see what it's about.

[Pygar]

Polignac, on 22 April 2014 - 11:40 AM, said:

I hope this isn't the case. It does somewhat worry me that perhaps these promotions are meant to staunch the bleeding instead of growing the player base. Anyone have any real insight into which it is?

Probably not, and a promotion like this one is probably more fun for the newer players that got to win a mech than it was for veterans. (but it is still fun for both)

Actually, because of the upcoming launch system, I think weekends like this might just be a preview of what we'll see PGI and 3rd party community groups do for events and tournaments in the near future.

[Tezcatli]

FupDup, on 22 April 2014 - 10:22 AM, said:

If they ever did a free Locust challenge, there would be BLOOD.

EVERYWHERE.

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!!!!

MILK FOR THE KHORNE FLAKES!!!!!

[Barkem Squirrel]

Think Centurion in February, Mech bay in March and T-bolt in April.

Interesting, but also a way to keep players playing. Free Mech bay or reducing the grind for a new player.

It also increases the number of mechs a person can own that just wants to play for free. I see this as a plus, more mechs available for players that just can not buy new mech bays. then with 3/3/3/3 it allows flexibility for the players with limited mech bays.


Think, just how many of us bought the Phoenix packages, Clan packages, hero mechs, premium time, paint, hula girl, fuzzy dice or the Founders packages. Some of us have spend what $100 to $1000 on this game over the last few years. These free mech bays I think can only help the casual player base. Up until about a year ago, I was not going to spend any money on the game and was waiting. Now I am more concerned about keeping new players and this is one way.

For all of us that have played for a while. If a new player speaks up in Chat, write his name down and send a friend request. Draw him into a team even if he does not have a head set. It can shorten the learning curve, but also keep some of the new players.

[Amsro]

Can't lie, some new players that are truly FTP have been graced with 3 mech bays to nearly double their previous total.!


Truly a great gesture from PGI, I now have 70+ mechbays so the free ones are nice too.

[Deathlike]

It's only temporary, because the long term goal has not really been reached... not much of greater importance (non-CW related) stuff has yet to be completed.

Already grinded out the Tbolts previously due to curiosity, so it's not really affecting me that much. I've already bought the 3 previous Tbolts for mastery and sold them as they weren't worth keeping.

The only small net gain is for those that need the mechbays.

It would only be more permanent had something worthwhile had been implemented at the time, like real UI 2.0 improvements (social fixes, expansion of the smurfy-like overview, new gamemode, etc.).

Many people are taking it for what it is, but it's not solving anything outside of "drawing some attention" for a brief weekend+.

Edited by Deathlike, 22 April 2014 - 01:48 PM.

[and zero]

I imagine for a great many people like myself, something so trivial is no where near enough to make them even patch the game again. I saw the announcement on my once monthly forum check [which by the way, is general discussion back?; did they just merge all the forums? -HA] and chuckled sadly, then sighed. I thought ever so briefly, 'oh, free mech maybe I will....wait, why? just why?' Wow, terribly similar to many other mechs free mech. Does it apoligize for your lack of progress, complete and pathetic lies, profound incompetence..hell, maybe it just fixes srms? No, you say? HA. Thats cute.

[Creovex]

oldradagast, on 22 April 2014 - 12:11 PM, said:

On the other hand, a whole bunch of people just got a Thunderbolt. Now, they'll probably want to fully level it, which requires 3 Thunderbolts total. That means they may end up needing a spare mech bay - or two - for the extras until they get them all leveled and then decide which ones to keep.

Long story short, i suspect they aren't losing as much money as one might think with these mech give aways.

You are right. I never wanted a Thunderbolt but now that I have 1 I bought 2 more bays so I could max it. Net gain for PGI: 420mc and another month of grinding/activity from me.

Smart move in my opinion.

[Ovion]

FupDup, on 22 April 2014 - 10:22 AM, said:

If they ever did a free Locust challenge,

Yes please. : D
Give me one of the 2 new ones, or another new variant for free, I'll be quite happy.

[A banana in the tailpipe]

Polignac, on 22 April 2014 - 11:40 AM, said:

I hope this isn't the case. It does somewhat worry me that perhaps these promotions are meant to staunch the bleeding instead of growing the player base. Anyone have any real insight into which it is?

If you're good at doing something, never do it for free. The player base is delusional if they think PGI has been good at MWO. Even the best part of MWO (the mech art) was subsidized from some deviant art guy. I just tell it like it is, and we can all smell the stink of desperation when you see the same people night after night in drops. That's not your ELO.... that's a microscopic player base. A free mech helps.... a step in the right direction.

[Ovion]

lockwoodx, on 22 April 2014 - 10:51 PM, said:

If you're good at doing something, never do it for free. The player base is delusional if they think PGI has been good at MWO. Even the best part of MWO (the mech art) was subsidized from some deviant art guy. I just tell it like it is, and we can all smell the stink of desperation when you see the same people night after night in drops. That's not your ELO.... that's a microscopic player base. A free mech helps.... a step in the right direction.

I rarely see anyone I recognise outside of drops from that day.
I think maybe once I've seen a name I recognised from a previous days drops.

Edited by Ovion, 24 April 2014 - 04:55 AM.