Devs will look at this from the 'dev' perspective, not the players.
Devs want more people playing, they want a C-Bill sink so you have a reason to grind C-bills, hence get premium time and Hero/Champion mechs, etc.
They want a 'progression' of player capability so you have a long slope ahead of getting better gear, better mechs, unlocking items, gaining skill and abilities etc. Long progression means more playtime, which you might want to shorten with $$ purchases.
To my mind, the module pricing system works AGAINST this.
Each time I look at a module priced at 3, 4 or (usually) 6 million, I have to think:
-I could buy a Thunderbolt or Cataphract level mech for this
-I could purchase 1 or 2 top end engines with this
-I could fully DHS/Endo/Ferro 2-3 mechs with this
and also:
-This module cost me a full weeks game income
-This module fits on one mech
If I want to use this module across more than one mech, after every single mech I use, I have to:
( * = click and wait for screen update)
*Mechlab, *Configure, ***Drag 1 to 5 times to remove modules
*Save, *Confirm, *Back, *Back
*Configure (new mech)
*Modules
(Scroll through list, remember which modules I want on this mech, select from a many-item list)
***Drag 1-5 modules into mech
*Save, *Confirm
BEFORE I can click "Play now". 15-20 clicks and screen updates to change mechs!
That is ridiculous and laughable. Yes, I can make a routine of this, yes, it takes only 2 minutes, yes, if I only played 3 of my 40+ mechs it would be much easier. That isn't the point.
It is a clunky, irrationally priced system that only leads to player frustration and/or wasted time. In many cases, it means players are getting beat on by LRMS or not getting as much out of their weapons as people who DO use this system, simply because they don't have the 6 mill to spare, or would rather use it to buy a mech, or (like me) refuse to use a system that is so horribly out of whack on a time/value/player respect basis.
They can make modules a 'pool' that load automatically as long as there is one free (not in-match) in inventory. They could price modules so a full set costs 1-3 million PER MECH, then people might buy a set for EVERY mech they play, spend more time playing and less wrestling with an outmoded interface.
At the VERY LEAST, they could allow you to save and load a 'mech module config, so I could strip and load all modules from a mech with 1 click at a higher level in the menu.
Do those things, you have happier players who spend more, play more, and don't curse the devs as much. Which should make both sides happier.
I respect PGI's programming and development efforts, enough to send hundreds of dollars their way. Please respect my time and convenience as well.
Edited by MadBadger, 31 January 2015 - 01:37 PM.