23 replies to this topic

[Kandrin]

I wish that I had read the forums about Camos earlier. I see now that this has been a topic for some time.

The Camo 'Unlock' is very misleading and leads one think that it would unlock that pattern for all of your mechs. I learned after the fact that it was only for the one chassis. To be more clear, the text should read 'Chassis Unlock' (or something similar). This would reduce confusion (and feelings of being ripped off).

Thanks.

[Sembrin]

PGI has known for a long time that this is misleading and needs to be fixed. However, they've run the stats and the number of refunds they give vs people who get cheated and don't complain, make it profitable to leave it the way it is.

[Roadkill]

Sembrin, on 06 February 2015 - 02:35 PM, said:

vs people who get cheated and don't complain

Sembrin, if they don't complain then who are you to say that they've been cheated?

I know people who deliberately purchased camo unlocks because they change their camo all the time. I also know of no one (at least not in my circle of friends) who feels that they've been "cheated" by their purchase.

[Kandrin]

It's sad that with all of the $ I have spent on this game, that its a cheep camo purchase that left a bad taste in my mouth. It would be easy enough to change the text to 'chassis unlock' so that you knew what you were purchasing.

[Axeface]

I had exactly the same experience. One of my first mc purchases was a camo unlock after buying some colours, I was under the same illusion that the camo would unlock for all mechs. The price reflects this and there is no warning in-game whatsoever.
It annoyed me a lot.

[Xetelian]

If camo unlocked for every mech there would be much rejoicing and I would own them all.

[CocoaJin]

Sembrin, on 06 February 2015 - 02:35 PM, said:

PGI has known for a long time that this is misleading and needs to be fixed. However, they've run the stats and the number of refunds they give vs people who get cheated and don't complain, make it profitable to leave it the way it is.

Reference source please...conspiracy theories due to personal cynicism doesn't count.

[dubplate]

Yes Camo unlocks are misleading , I've been here for years and only learned a few months ago that a one shot was for more than 1 match.

Edit: I just realized this was under a different user than the last person who posted about camo today. My mistake, removed references to that.

Edited by dubplate, 06 February 2015 - 03:57 PM.

[Sembrin]

Roadkill, on 06 February 2015 - 02:57 PM, said:

Sembrin, if they don't complain then who are you to say that they've been cheated?

I know people who deliberately purchased camo unlocks because they change their camo all the time. I also know of no one (at least not in my circle of friends) who feels that they've been "cheated" by their purchase.

I'm not saying every person who purchase this feels cheated - some know exactly what they are getting. I AM saying you're a fool if you think every person who feels mislead complains on the forums or submits a ticket, however.

[Tennex]

Sembrin, on 06 February 2015 - 02:35 PM, said:

PGI has known for a long time that this is misleading and needs to be fixed. However, they've run the stats and the number of refunds they give vs people who get cheated and don't complain, make it profitable to leave it the way it is.

those seem liek IGP tactics was hoping PGI would change it

[Trashhead]

Xetelian, on 06 February 2015 - 03:34 PM, said:

If camo unlocked for every mech there would be much rejoicing and I would own them all.

Me too.

But I also understand PGI's politic in this case:
every time a new mech is modelled, they need to do aaaall the Camo's for this mech again.

So, I do understand that there is no "real" Unlock Camo for all mechs at once.

[Sembrin]

CocoaJin, on 06 February 2015 - 03:46 PM, said:

Reference source please...conspiracy theories due to personal cynicism doesn't count.

This is a known issue - a long time known issue. The fix requires changing some text. The cost so far to PGI is the time spent dealing with complaints by their staff. Unless you're saying they are a completely incompetent company (which is fine if you are), then they are very much aware of this problem and have chosen not to fix it. Why not fix such a simple thing? Because it doesn't cost them enough to worry about it yet (this is after all a business), and they benefit from all the people who don't complain. This is a simple CBA from Business 101.

[Destructicus]

I don't know, I went to elementary school and I found out how to read and then I developed reading comprehension skills, I' always knew what I was getting, I wouldn't spend that much money if I didn't.
Your fault you lack reading comprehension skills.

[Ovion]

For your convenience:

Ovion, on 02 February 2015 - 12:25 PM, said:

How Camo and Colours work:
Camo Specs
Camo Patterns come in 3 flavours - Unlock, One-Shot and Unique.
Unlocks are a permament unlock for that Chasis. You can change the pattern and colours as often as you like.
They are pricey though, running you either 750 MC for a 'standard' pattern and 1250 MC for a 'premium' pattern.

One-Shot camos are one-use patterns. You can change the Colours as often as you like, but if you change the pattern, you lose the One-Shot.
They're great if you don't intend to change the pattern around.
The bonus of this is they cost 1/10th that of an Unlock, at 75MC a 'standard' pattern and 125MC a 'premium' pattern.

Unique patterns are limited to Heroes and Unique Geometry mechs.
You can change the Colours as much as you like, but can never change the Camo Spec.
Additionally, certain colour panels may be locked on Unique patterns.

So if you only want to do 3 mechs, and leave them at that single pattern forever, then One-Shots are the way to go for you!
You can even have 3 different patterns if you want.

There have been Camo sales in the past (normally 50% off), so you could always wait for one of those, but I generally recommend one-shots.
If it's on sale and there's 2 Camo's you'll regularly want on one chasis (or 5+ mechs you want it on), then go unlock.
<sub>Example -
I have bought One-Shot Camo Specs for each of my 3 Spiders, 3 Catapults, and one Cicada (Phranken), 1 for my 4th (Urbie)Spider (Sherman), and 1 for my Dire Wolf B (Snowfall).
That's 9 mechs with Camo, for less than the cost of 1 unlock.
I'm considering buying one-shots for a couple more of my mechs, like my Jaegers, new Cicada and Ravens.
I don't really want to change any of these, mostly because the others are sort of pants on those mechs (in my opinion) so it works out MASSIVELY cheaper.

I've also bought the Phranken Unlock for my locusts when it was on sale, as I have 5 of them and at that point it cost the same as getting the One-Shots.
I also want Hotrod and standard on my locusts at a whim, so this works out better.
I'm just waiting for Hotrod to be on sale on Locusts, then I'll buy the unlock.

While I understand that Camo can be seen as expensive, and it can seem annoying or cash grabby for it to be per chasis, please understand that each Camo Spec must be made specially for each chasis, taking time and money and there is a reason they've done it this way.</sub>

Colours
Colours come in 3 flavours - Basic, Standard and Premium.
All colours are a universale unlock - purchase once, and that colour is permamantly available for all your mechs.
Basic Colours are the 5 free colours in the game.
You get Basic Green by default, and the remaining 4 are available for 1.25million C-Bills each.
They're actually not bad, I think the Red is nicer than most of the Premium Reds too.
Especially good as a Block colour, or highlight.
As modeled by the lovely Locust below:

Spoiler

Standard Colours are generally, just a straight shade really.
These cost 500MC and come in a wide range.

Premimum Colours are either more desirable (i.e. - pure black and white), or specifically linked to particular Premium Camos (i.e. - the colours that are 'meant' to go with the scheme).
These cost 1000MC and come in a wide range of slightly nicer shades.

Ultimately, I recommend never buying any colours apart from Basic, unless it's 50% off.
_{Additionally, Camo shades are a fantastic range of matte Standard colours, so 250MC on sale.
I've got 1/3 to half of the Camo colours and tend to buy more each time they go on sale.}

[Ovion]

Also, to help you understand why it's done this way:

Ovion, on 03 February 2015 - 02:51 AM, said:

Each camo needs making individually for every mech.
This is the Bitmaps for 3 mechs (Catapult, Spider, Locust), just for Phranken:

Spoiler

There's 49 sets of Phranken, that all had to be made specifically for each mech.
And there's 22 Camo Specs currently.

That's a lot of work that they need paying for, to make a profit, to keep the game going, or they won't bother.

So do what I do.
Buy one shots for most mechs.

Wait for Half Price Sales for mechs you really like, have 5+ of, or want multiple camos on a regular basis.

The only Camo Unlocks I have are the Package ones and Phranken + Hotrod for my Locusts (I have 7 and switch between both regularly, might even buy another unlock for them next spec sale).
Everything else is One Shots.

For what it's worth, I've gone through the Camo's in this sale and the only one I want for my Locusts isn't in it.

Maybe next time.

[Felbombling]

Edited by StaggerCheck, 06 February 2015 - 04:35 PM.

[Nightshade24]

StaggerCheck, on 06 February 2015 - 04:27 PM, said:

100 c-bills = 8,00 USD (in 2010)

Hmmm... seems like a very good deal considering painting modern day military vehicles is a million dollar thing (for the b-2 that is)

[Insects]

Trashhead, on 06 February 2015 - 04:13 PM, said:

Me too.

But I also understand PGI's politic in this case:
every time a new mech is modelled, they need to do aaaall the Camo's for this mech again.

So, I do understand that there is no &quot;real&quot; Unlock Camo for all mechs at once.

Yes I have looked at the texture files and they are a real nightmare.
Not just one big spread out skin like human skin/armour files, they are a hundred little sections and different for each hard point layout too.

So can understand why it takes a long time to enable camo for clans and crabs etc. And why they look at camo as a per chassis thing.

They just need to make it clear that it is per chassis not global like a color.
The x10 one shots price is also a bit high, but as long as people know what they are buying and feel it is good value then that's OK.

The whole thing feels like it was originally intended to be a global unlock. But then was either a mistake or change of mind and it became per chasis with the pricing and description was just left how it was.

Who knows, some mystery in the turbulent past.
Probably one of those things where if they change it then shooting the lava on Mordor in a Jenner with an AC2 will make it start snowing and nobody can work out why.

[Felbombling]

Nightshade24, on 06 February 2015 - 06:45 PM, said:

100 c-bills = 8,00 USD (in 2010)

Hmmm... seems like a very good deal considering painting modern day military vehicles is a million dollar thing (for the b-2 that is)

He said 'touch up' the paint, not repaint.

[PurpleNinja]

How come never I had problems understanding the workings of camo unlocking?