8 replies to this topic

[Duke Nedo]

I am really happy to see the change in policy lately about transparency and communication! Now, for the first time really, I feel that I would like to get old friends back into the game. They stopped playing after a week of closed beta (minimum package). Problem is, these guys are old gamers, with lots of money and little time and patience. That's actually a good customer group, I am one of them as well, but I feel it would be a smart move by PGI to approach them a bit.

My suggestion would be to create a kick-start bundle and put it up for sale. Have it include a choice of 2 chassi, 3 variants of each, that can be picked from a pool of good but not the best mechs in the game. Sell this bundle at a greatly reduced price (not exploitably low though ofcourse) and include say 10 mil Cbills and 1000 MC so that they can grab some patterns and buy an engine and double heatsinks. They will need to get hooked before being forced to grind... (and they are old gamers so they will go directly for min/max builds)

Some suggested chassi to choose from:

Raven
Jenner

Hunchback
Centurion

Cataphract
Catapult

Stalker
Highlander

Other ideas?

Think we have the chance of a small "golden age" now. There is optimism in the community, PGI recently got a lot of resources from clan package 1 and I expect quite a few mascari upgrades now + the manowar.... so the resources should be there to launch proper CW and add new content. The only missing part now is more players... so let's try to help out?

Edited by Duke Nedo, 18 September 2014 - 10:49 PM.

[eblackthorn]

I think having introductory bundles is a great idea.

[Lily from animove]

yes no maybe. Actually, the game needs a way better tutorial, it needs to explain way better how things especially ghost heat works and what the differences between wepaons are.

Then make contract with valve for a steam release. This will initially stream loads of poeple into the game and some of them may stay. Make a cool bundle for steam, and probbaly a steam special skin or soem stema cockpit items/warhorns.

Also steam trading cards, this will attract some palyers just for the card collecting thing. Its kinda overhyped thing in Steam, but who cares. And with the great concept arts we have we can easily make some very nice ones of these tading cards.

[Kiiyor]

Duke Nedo, on 18 September 2014 - 10:48 PM, said:

I am really happy to see the change in policy lately about transparency and communication! Now, for the first time really, I feel that I would like to get old friends back into the game. They stopped playing after a week of closed beta (minimum package). Problem is, these guys are old gamers, with lots of money and little time and patience. That's actually a good customer group, I am one of them as well, but I feel it would be a smart move by PGI to approach them a bit.

My suggestion would be to create a kick-start bundle and put it up for sale. Have it include a choice of 2 chassi, 3 variants of each, that can be picked from a pool of good but not the best mechs in the game. Sell this bundle at a greatly reduced price (not exploitably low though ofcourse) and include say 10 mil Cbills and 1000 MC so that they can grab some patterns and buy an engine and double heatsinks. They will need to get hooked before being forced to grind... (and they are old gamers so they will go directly for min/max builds)

Some suggested chassi to choose from:

Raven
Jenner

Hunchback
Centurion

Cataphract
Catapult

Stalker
Highlander

Other ideas?

Think we have the chance of a small "golden age" now. There is optimism in the community, PGI recently got a lot of resources from clan package 1 and I expect quite a few mascari upgrades now + the manowar.... so the resources should be there to launch proper CW and add new content. The only missing part now is more players... so let's try to help out?

King Crab!

RIGHT NOW!

[DeathjesterUK]

Kiiyor, on 19 September 2014 - 12:13 AM, said:

King Crab!

RIGHT NOW!

[Elizander]

I would prefer if they create a champions bundle that's more or less a complete package:

1) 3 variants, all champions (or just regular ones that are upgraded with competitive builds) that can brawl, snipe and lurm.
Just as an example:

• HBK-4SP LRM Carrier
  
• HBK-4H Gauss Sniper
  
• HBK-4P(C) Champion Mech

2) Premium Time (1 month)
3) Extra 3 bays for the mechs
4) 2 permanent camo patterns for hunchbacks
5) 3 colors. Set it so that if the player already owns a color it reduces the package price or let them pick a color they don't own yet.
6) Premium Airstrike (x25)
7) Premium Coolshot (x25)
8) 2.5 million c-bills (for minor tweaks)
9) 1500 MC (just to try the shop out)
10) Unique cockpit items not available in shop for the sake of exclusivity. Maybe a rookie medallion that gives bonus XP.

Pricing would probably be steep on that one but if it's targeted at people who don't mind spending a lot, I guess that's more than enough for them to enjoy the various aspects of the game save for modules (gotta leave something for them to work for).

Of course we are all just guessing here. PGI has the real data on what would be financially feasible for their customer base. The point of leaving out the hero mech is that the player might enjoy the mechs enough to buy it separately and not including Founder's mechs will ensure no duplicates from old returning players.

Maybe give everyone who bought Veteran's Founders a huge discount on this package since they did not get their own founder's mech.

[Duke Nedo]

I would love stock mechs game mode, but am afraid to divide the player pool between two queues...

Including champions in the kick-start pack is an excellent idea!

[Cranky Poed]

I tried getting my friends involved..learning curve was to steep being thrown into public matches early on. And they got tired for being burned down in a matter of seconds and losing 12 to 0 and being called noobs by their own team..so they quit.

sneeking, on 19 September 2014 - 02:30 AM, said:

want new player retention ?

a stock mech mode where players new and old alike can cooperate and compete in stock builds without the scourge of cheese and spam.

a stock mech mode where xp and cbills can be earned ( unlike community run events where you get nothing ) new players could start out without the severe equipment gap and only need overcome the skills and experience of longer standing pilots.

less new players would be sent packing and more might invest real money.

Stock Mech Mondays! Search the forums!

[Duke Nedo]

I am sure a stock queue would work just fine and would be loads of fun. Only concern is if there are enough players to support it without hurting the normal solo- and group queues... it is a great idea for newer people to face unoptimized mechs though.

Anyways, as a game, the difficulty level of MWO is not very high, so I think it would help the game if there is a shortcut to pilot an optimized mech. Nobody wants to start off by grinding using bad equipment and be ripped to pieces and insulted by teammates in the process... that would drive me away like nothing else.

So, please put up a kick-starter bundle for sale at a greatly reduced price (that you can buy only once of course). If there are a few chassi and enough cbills to fully upgrade say a Jenner and rotate the engine between variants that should be enough not to drive competent gamers away... and then throw in some MC, just enough to get them hooked on patterns....