22 replies to this topic

[Scooter Libby]

Every month we get new 'mechs. Now there are hundreds.

But maps add as much diversity and interest to MWO matches - if not moreso - than 'mech variants and game modes. Now every match I play I could run a different 'mech, but I'm always running around the same old maps.

Gameplay gets tedious and stale.

Why does PGI invest so much love in new 'mechs while map content is (relatively) neglected? Because 'mech$ are a revenue driver, and PGI is a business. Fine.

Then the solution is to MONETIZE NEW MAPS.

YES I would be willing to pay $$$ for early access to a 5-map pack. It would work the same was as new 'mech packs, eventually being mainlined to all players.

YES this would temporarily split the matchmaking bucket. YES I don't mind waiting an extra 30 seconds to play what is essentially a whole new game. (And if i get impatient, I can always toggle the F2P bucket)

YES this could even function similar to a PTS where problems in new designs could be ironed out before mainlining. I am always happy to see PGI fixing and updating content.

HEY MWO COMMUNITY: Am I the only one who thinks this way?


No ideas for new maps? Let me help:

Turcot Interchange (see illustration above)
Take everyone's favourite features of Crimson Straight (ramp, platform, tunnel) and build a whole map out of it. This crumbling relic of Inner Sphere infrastructure takes the fight to three dimensions.

Derelict Bay
Perfectly flat map ankle-deep in water. Dense fog hangs over the bay. Clustered in the center are huge derelict drilling platforms.
Everyone spawns in the exposed outer ring and race to the middle to get to cover. Plucky scouts circle around the outside to get a clear shot from behind, or jump up to the tops of the oil-rigs to snipe.
Capping an assault base, way out in the open, is a hair-raising affair! Of course, the dense fog limits visibility and sometimes interferes with sensor ranges...

Subway Central
Downtown urban streetscape framed by monolithic skyscrapers and a subway tunnel. Streets are arrayed in a simple grid layout to enhance tactical efficacy and coordination.

[TheArisen]

No just stop. Down this path is only darkness.

Also it'd split the player base.

[Scooter Libby]

True it would temporarily split the player base (until the early access period expires), but I don't know if it would be that bad. Players with the map pack could still drop into F2P matches, just not the inverse.

And if it motivates PGI to make new maps, isn't it a good thing? I just feel like all their energy is invested in new 'mechs, and that does not keep the game fresh.

In the end, all players would benefit from the added content.

Edited by Scooter Libby, 03 April 2017 - 08:09 AM.

[MW Waldorf Statler]

we will you play with user thats not have buy the Mappacks ?Please not the Way of EA and Battlefield and give Money for Playfields for the Toys named Mechs ...Maps a Groundcontent of each Game ...not pay for Groundcontents and mechanics !!! .

Edited by Old MW4 Ranger, 03 April 2017 - 08:40 AM.

[Mechteric]

That's not how free to play games work, that's how crappy Call of Duty games sell DLC to milk their large playerbase.

[TheArisen]

I may not be on board for charging for maps but I do like your map ideas.

[Cichol Balor]

GUYS GUYS! I HAVE A GREAT IDEA!


Let's split the already small player base!

[Scooter Libby]

@Capper
Thanks for reading and responding to my post! However, MWO already takes this approach with the 'mechs. Some players pay money for early access to new battlemechs. This revenue motivates PGI to release a new 'mech every month!

I am proposing the exact same thing with maps. After the early access period expires, all players can enjoy the added content.

All players (including F2P players) benefit! It's a realistic way to enrich the game.

@Cichol
Hey thanks for responding! Yes this is the only issue I can see. But early map-pack adopters could still drop into general public queues. And if there's enough interest in having some fresh maps (I am certainly not the first to post on this topic) the map-pack bucket might end up being pretty large no?

[Mawai]

Scooter Libby, on 03 April 2017 - 11:25 AM, said:

@Capper
Thanks for reading and responding to my post! However, MWO already takes this approach with the 'mechs. Some players pay money for early access to new battlemechs. This revenue motivates PGI to release a new 'mech every month!

I am proposing the exact same thing with maps. After the early access period expires, all players can enjoy the added content.

All players (including F2P players) benefit! It's a realistic way to enrich the game.

@Cichol
Hey thanks for responding! Yes this is the only issue I can see. But early map-pack adopters could still drop into general public queues. And if there's enough interest in having some fresh maps (I am certainly not the first to post on this topic) the map-pack bucket might end up being pretty large no?

Players can drop into any match they like in any MECH they like. Selling new mechs does not in ANY way split the player base in terms of what matches they can be assigned to.

Selling map packs does.

Imagine joining the QP queue where some have access to new maps and some do not. This then requires two queues ... one for players with the map pack and one for players without. Even creating the functionality to create multiple queues depending on the content owned by the players (and installed on the particular build they are using to play the game) would probably cost more in time and money than revenues from the map packs and the frustrations associated with increased queue times.

It would be nice if they could monetize maps somehow ... perhaps maps could be released first to private matches with an MC price tag associated with using it for the first month or so before general release.

However, splitting the queue accessibility based on content owned, installed and available to each player would slow the game down for everyone and cost developer resources to create the infrastructure ... as a result, it is just not a viable idea.

[Edit: P.S. Please stop necro'ing all the New Map threads]

Edited by Mawai, 03 April 2017 - 12:24 PM.

[Scooter Libby]

@Mawai
Thanks for the constructive discussion!, And sorry about the necro'ing! I just thought this was pertinent and I didn't want to create a new thread without acknowledging others who brought it up before me. The moderators have told me this is a no-no and now I am wiser

Edited by Scooter Libby, 03 April 2017 - 12:42 PM.

[MrJeffers]

TheArisen, on 03 April 2017 - 08:00 AM, said:

No just stop. Down this path is only darkness.

Also it'd split the player base.

Cichol Balor, on 03 April 2017 - 11:15 AM, said:

GUYS GUYS! I HAVE A GREAT IDEA!


Let's split the already small player base!

Mawai, on 03 April 2017 - 12:22 PM, said:

Players can drop into any match they like in any MECH they like. Selling new mechs does not in ANY way split the player base in terms of what matches they can be assigned to.

Selling map packs does.

Imagine joining the QP queue where some have access to new maps and some do not. This then requires two queues ... one for players with the map pack and one for players without. Even creating the functionality to create multiple queues depending on the content owned by the players (and installed on the particular build they are using to play the game) would probably cost more in time and money than revenues from the map packs and the frustrations associated with increased queue times.

It would be nice if they could monetize maps somehow ... perhaps maps could be released first to private matches with an MC price tag associated with using it for the first month or so before general release.

However, splitting the queue accessibility based on content owned, installed and available to each player would slow the game down for everyone and cost developer resources to create the infrastructure ... as a result, it is just not a viable idea.

[Edit: P.S. Please stop necro'ing all the New Map threads]

There are several ways PGI can sell map packs without splitting the queues.
Some that have already been discussed:

A ) A Map Type or multiple types as previews are presented and people's votes are buying the "Map pack Supporter" bundle for that map preview. Think an item like the MWOWC Tournament supporters bundle where you get a few unique cockpit items, a premium time "lite" boost, unique badge, etc. When it goes live everyone gets the maps, but the supporters still got something unique.
B ) Map packs release only for private lobby use for 30-60 days before going into the live rotation e.g. early access for people who buy the packs, but doesn't split the main queues. Also includes some unique titles/badges/cockpit items.

Edited by MrJeffers, 03 April 2017 - 01:12 PM.

[Scooter Libby]

MrJeffers, on 03 April 2017 - 01:12 PM, said:

There are several ways PGI can sell map packs without splitting the queues.
Some that have already been discussed:

A ) A Map Type or multiple types as previews are presented and people's votes are buying the "Map pack Supporter" bundle for that map preview. Think an item like the MWOWC Tournament supporters bundle where you get a few unique cockpit items, a premium time "lite" boost, unique badge, etc. When it goes live everyone gets the maps, but the supporters still got something unique.
B ) Map packs release only for private lobby use for 30-60 days before going into the live rotation e.g. early access for people who buy the packs, but doesn't split the main queues. Also includes some unique titles/badges/cockpit items.

@MrJeffers
I really like your first suggestion there! Supporter bundles and especially the bit about supporters getting to vote on the maps that get produced. That's quite clever - a vote on new maps is a must-have for much of our (opinionated) player base. Sign me up!

Now we just need to get PGI's attention... Everyone keep posting impassioned replies!

[Cichol Balor]

Why not fund them by monetizing limited edition cockpit items decals and camos themed to the maps. If there is enough interest in new maps players will pay to support it

[Scooter Libby]

TheArisen, on 03 April 2017 - 10:49 AM, said:

I may not be on board for charging for maps but I do like your map ideas.

Thanks!

[Anachronda]

I liked your maps, too, which reminds me of the more common solution to this - player made maps. I'm not sure PGI have ever made a statement regarding how they feel about the idea. Obviously a map editor would cost them resources to build and maintain, so that would be one reason they haven't done it. But would there be other reasons?

[Guile Votoms]

Why not a simple fundraiser?

Open a pool and let players donate as much as they like,
maybe with small rewards like unique cockpit items or whatever.

[Scooter Libby]

@Guile
Yep, a fundraiser (with reward items) could very much work IF it was tied to a mechanism to vote for which new maps get produced. This idea has been brought up by others in this thread and I really like it! It could definitely be a viable solution!
The question remains...how do we get Russ Bullock's attention...

[Iron Buccaneer]

Why not a fund raiser like they did with the first tournament? A set of cockpit items and a C-bill boost for supporters of a new map pack. Perhaps give map pack players a short early access period. Say a month to lean the map before it goes live for non supporters.

[TheArisen]

MrJeffers, on 03 April 2017 - 01:12 PM, said:

There are several ways PGI can sell map packs without splitting the queues.
Some that have already been discussed:

A ) A Map Type or multiple types as previews are presented and people's votes are buying the "Map pack Supporter" bundle for that map preview. Think an item like the MWOWC Tournament supporters bundle where you get a few unique cockpit items, a premium time "lite" boost, unique badge, etc. When it goes live everyone gets the maps, but the supporters still got something unique.
B ) Map packs release only for private lobby use for 30-60 days before going into the live rotation e.g. early access for people who buy the packs, but doesn't split the main queues. Also includes some unique titles/badges/cockpit items.

"A" is fine but for "B", unless PGI also gives them premium time equivalent to the early access it wouldn't work and it would still split the que just in a different way. Everyone that paid to try the new map would be on the private server instead of the regular que.

Personally I'd rather they offer new things instead of charge for maps. For example, CCG or Custom Cosmetic Geometry would be an excellent source of income they could use for maps or anything else.

[Scooter Libby]

"Custom Cosmetic Geometry"
Please explain?