76 replies to this topic

[Redshift2k5]

Haakon Valravn, on 19 May 2012 - 01:55 PM, said:

As a proponent if the idea that anything that you can buy with dollars, you should be able to buy with C-Bills and vice versa, I propose the following:

1USD=1.0 Million C-Bills

A 'Mech that costs 5,000,000 C-Bills would then cost $5.00. The Centurion in the example, at 3,491,000 C-Bills, would be $3.49. &c.

Mechs clearly have a Cbill cost and an MC in the mechlab video. Weapons only have a Cbill cost. Since they've already implemented a round-number-cost for the cash currency (MC) I find a straight price conversion to be unlikely. The Hunchback costs 600 MC (at this stage in development) so that might be around 6 dollars, or closer to 8 if a microsoft-point-like $10=800 scheme is in place. Exact price we can only speculate, but I doubt they will change the MC so drastically that they charge $3.49 for 3 and a half million Cbills.

[Haakon Valravn]

I'm not saying that's the way it will be, just that it's the way I'd like to see it.

[Mota Prefect]

VarietyOfCells, on 18 May 2012 - 11:04 PM, said:

I'd say around $10 as well. Though I'd pay $20 if I was put over a barrel. I think I'd stick with one mech for a while if that was the case, but I could see myself buying more if they were $10.

You would pay $20 for a single mech!? You're nuts my friend, even at $10 I would still be turned off to purchasing one and I love mechwarrior. Crazy prices was the one real thing I couldn't get over in WoT, and I hope to God that PGI takes a smarter approach. If mechs were say, $3-5 I can see myself spending much more in the way of buying mechs, and whatever else they have in-store us, Reasonable pricing is the #1 thing I look for in a f2p game I am think about playing, because I just don't have the time to grind away. Here's hoping they include a "VIP %+" for all the busy people like myself.

[Angel of Annihilation]

To be honest, I am all for a company being able to make money from their product but I really hope this doesn't get carried away. WoT model is pretty good.

Lets analyze WoT really quick.
1) You can F2P they entire game if you want and own anything but premium tanks.
2) There is however an incentive to get a premium subscription if you want faster progress (This is a choice, not a requirment)
3) You can also buy a premium tank to speed up credit earning (Again choice, not requirement)

This it the kind of model I think works great. You have incentive to spend real money but don't have too or feel pressured to do so if you want to win. A Premium tanks only benefit is better earning potential and in fact are subpar tanks compared to those earned just through regular play thus eliminating any Pay-to-Win scenerios.

If they are going to make it so you can buy all the mechs with real money, then you have a straight up Pay-to-Win scenerio. Also if they have premium or elite Mechs purchaseable with real money that are actually better than those earned by just playing, again you have Pay-to-Win. This should be avoided at all cost.

Edited by Viktor Drake, 19 May 2012 - 03:29 PM.

[Gabriel Bekker]

Zephram Zaphod, on 18 May 2012 - 10:28 PM, said:

It's hard to say. It depends on how long it takes to get 3,491,500 C-Bills in game through normal play after repairs and maintenance. Time = Money, Money = Time, therefor the ratio of Time to Money both in game and cash needs to be fixed (or at least generalized) before an amount can be set.

^ THIS

[Ethicus]

It should be 10$ a mech. people, don’t forget that just cuz they might bring out 4-6 mechs a month for sale (example) doesn’t mean you’re going to get each one. if they had a:

Firestarter
Dervish
Bushwacker
Orion
Mauler
Highlander

For sale, Id only buy the Orion and Mauler. other people may prefer the bushwacker, and some may want more diversity in their light mechs.

10$ is good considering it'll add diversity to the mechs seen on the battlefield because not everyone will have everything unless they pay 40-60$ for it. i might be one of the only 6 players in my clan with a mauler, or Highlander which would be a cool RP element in the game and frankly make the
Devs look cool when they might be the ONLY player with a certain mech.

Not gunna lie, i like the idea of Devs being legendary characters in the game who are myths and rare sightings. Only few get to see them in their special mech which no one else has. Then a month after they’ve advertised that mech to the world, it goes for sale and more peeps would buy it.

If they release 1 mech a month in a patch, and 4 mechs a month for sale, one in each class, then people would pick and choose each month what they want while still getting something for free. (Free always makes people happy) You’re not obligated to buy all 4 mechs. 10 is pretty good to me.

Zephram Zaphod, on 18 May 2012 - 10:28 PM, said:

It's hard to say. It depends on how long it takes to get 3,491,500 C-Bills in game through normal play after repairs and maintenance. Time = Money, Money = Time, therefor the ratio of Time to Money both in game and cash needs to be fixed (or at least generalized) before an amount can be set.

But like he said, things can only be finalized after more beta testing

[FrostPaw]

I would spend between $5 and $15 for a mech. Anything higher than that and I'd probably end up resenting its existance.

[Shootanoob]

I'd pay gladly 5 $ per Mech, but also advice the devs to better aim for a more WoT-like business-model rather than selling single Mechs / Mechpacks.

Fact is that at least I would pay significantly more money for a premium account upgrade and grind me to that Mechs - if I had been able to buy any Mech I desire for real cash, I would buy them piece by piece and be done with paying at the time I accquire the last available Mech.(for to be honest - if there's a chance to own them all, who wouldn't at least try? :-))

So if they're smart, they let me only buy very special things and premium account upgrades for real money and then see to it that I grind long enough to get them rich :-)

[Arbhall Sommers]

The main reason I like the 5-10 dollar price point is because that's what I would spend on the models and that was fair and profitable by all accounts. I mean they sold models for alot of years.

[Aedensin]

Jakebob, on 19 May 2012 - 04:52 AM, said:

comparing to examples in other games, I'd bet it'll be more like $15-$20 or so... WoT has an extreme one (the Lowe is $35 or so I think), but that seems a little excessive to me.

It'll be an economic balance for the devs... you want to keep them rare, but you want enough people to buy them so they are seen and so you make money off them.

Personally, I'd seriously think about shelling out $50 for an Unseen Marauder if the opportunity arose. (just don't tell my wife)

The Lowe is worth roughly $55.00 USD

I never want to see "premium only" mechs in this game, but I'm all for early acquisition.

[Aelos03]

BigPuma, on 19 May 2012 - 04:35 PM, said:

I'd pay gladly 5 $ per Mech, but also advice the devs to better aim for a more WoT-like business-model rather than selling single Mechs / Mechpacks.

Fact is that at least I would pay significantly more money for a premium account upgrade and grind me to that Mechs - if I had been able to buy any Mech I desire for real cash, I would buy them piece by piece and be done with paying at the time I accquire the last available Mech.(for to be honest - if there's a chance to own them all, who wouldn't at least try? :-))

So if they're smart, they let me only buy very special things and premium account upgrades for real money and then see to it that I grind long enough to get them rich :-)

Thank god we wont see stuff like that.

[Siilk]

ChalybsUmbra, on 19 May 2012 - 01:30 PM, said:

I mean just look at that spelling and grammar.

Neither, actually. I'm completely against bringing cache into the game balance equation. Selling cosmetic items could bring reasonable amount of profit without screwing up the gameplay. Overprofits at the cost of ruined game balance would benefit no one.

ChalybsUmbra, on 19 May 2012 - 01:30 PM, said:

I mean just look at that spelling and grammar.

Oh, I'm sorry for not being a native english speaker. Now go and shove your grammar nazi armband up your arse.

[Dymlos2003]

Has everyone forgotten about mechwarrior credits? That's the real currency in MWO and yes, you can buy mechs with it.

[ChalybsUmbra]

Siilk, on 20 May 2012 - 12:29 AM, said:

Neither, actually. I'm completely against bringing cache into the game balance equation. Selling cosmetic items could bring reasonable amount of profit without screwing up the gameplay. Overprofits at the cost of ruined game balance would benefit no one.


Oh, I'm sorry for not being a native english speaker. Now go and shove your grammar nazi armband up your arse.

That's my bad. Usually when someone has that many mistakes in a response it's symptomatic of trolling.

In response to your cosmetics idea, I respectfully disagree. At least in the sense of "mech hats". It's one thing to have these silly things in a game like Team Fortress 2, which thrives on a particularly cartoony art style and humor. MWO is very serious in nature, therefore these cosmetics very much break immersion and the experience. Hula girls on the dashboard and special design patterns are fine, but hats, masks, and corny special effects like confetti for your autocannon don't belong.

I think you underestimate how much an online game like MWO costs. Upkeep of servers in multiple locations and well as development costs quite a bit. Selling useless cosmetics won't even be enough to break even. I'll tell you I won't buy such things, and most others won't. Playing a mech sim is for the experience of piloting a mech, not prettying it up. Even Team Fortress's items have bonuses that affect the gameplay, because it's about the FPS experience, not just the appearance of your characters. Buyable upgrades in MWO should go towards making a mech better or getting different mech and the core experience of mech combat. But this doesn't equate to getting better equipment. Because, simply put, PGI doesn't believe in such things. So don't worry about, you won't be seeing anyone buying any mech you can't get yourself in a reasonable amount of time for free.

And it's "cash" not "cache", they're very different in definition. Also we use the present tense of words when we stick "-able" at the end of them, so it's "buyable" not "boughtable". Just so you know for future reference, no offense intended.

[3Xtr3m3]

I can see myself coughing up 20-25$ for a Mint Condition Aidan Pryde's Timberwolf.

JJ, 2x Clan Large Laser, 2 x LRM20.
I am not sure of Armour and Engine.

Sarna says also 2 CERML

Edited by 3Xtr3m3, 20 May 2012 - 03:08 AM.

[3Xtr3m3]

I have this card(somewhere.

[Morashtak]

"Aiden Pryde's configuration of the Timber Wolf has gained acceptance throughout his Clan."

Interesting bit of fluff there. A discussion that belongs in the Clan forum, for certain, but very interesting in it's implications.

[bANANAjOE]

3,491,500 C-bills might be 3,49 USD .. ?? There will be lots of things buyable, so each single shouldnt cost too much.

[3Xtr3m3]

Custom Configurations
Note: due to their inclusion in Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League) the Hohiro, Prometheus and Widowmaker are considered tournament-legal.

• Hohiro - The Hohiro configuration of the Dire Wolf is used by Hohiro Kurita and has a mixed long and short range weapons profile. For long range hitting power, an ER PPC and a Gauss Rifle provide overwhelming punch. To engage enemies at long to medium ranges, three Large Pulse Lasers are carried. One ER Small Laser and one Streak SRM-6 round out this configuration with some short range punch. BV (1.0) = 2,676, BV (2.0) = 3,048^[16]

• Prometheus - The preferred configuration of Archon-Prince Victor Ian Steiner-Davion, the Prometheus configuration carries a blistering array of weapons that increases its damage potential as it closes range. The primary long range weapons are a pair of ER Large Lasers supported by three Large Pulse Lasers. For close combat, an Ultra Autocannon/20 and a SRM-6 launcher are carried. BV (1.0) = 2,319^{[citation needed]}

, BV (2.0) = 2,900^[17]

• Widowmaker - The preferred configuration of the Black Widow Natasha Kerensky, the Widowmaker can do a great deal of damage at any range. Two ER PPCs are mounted for long range combat. These are backed up by a pair of Large Pulse Lasers. For close combat, the Widowmaker carries three ER Medium Lasers, an ER Small Laser, and an Ultra Autocannon/20. This mix of weaponry served Natasha Kerensky well until her death at the hands of Jade Falcon Star Commander Joanna. The Widowmaker now rests on the floor of the Great Gash on Twycross, in silent memorial to its legendary pilot.^[18] BV (1.0) = 2,534, BV (2.0) = 3,041^[19]

• Lone Wolf - The variant Phelan Wolf used during his Trial of Position to test out for the Warrior Caste. Configured by Khan Natasha Kerensky (who was piloting her Widowmaker in the same Trial), the Lone Wolf variant was armed with a one-shot SRM-6 launcher, two LRM-20 launchers with Swarm LRMs, an LB-X Autocannon/10 with cluster munitions, a Gauss Rifle, and three Medium Pulse Lasers. The 'Mech was heavily damaged during the Trial and not used by Phelan again.^[20]

^{What would you pay for one of these four Beuties?}

[king113]

15 $ for assult mech 12 $ med 11 $ light mech