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What if CCP eliminated PLEX?
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Lucas Kell
Solitude Trading
S.N.O.T.
#21 - 2014-04-23 12:57:39 UTC
Hevymetal wrote:
I agree entirely, the question was asked of me and it made me ponder a response (My response was they make more off of PLEXs, they wouldn't get rid of them) and he asked again "What if they did?". That is why I asked it here, to see how other would have responded.
It's a bit of a silly question. Obviously the answer is that they'd lose subs and money. The real question is, why would they ever do such a thing? As they make more money off of PLEX than straight subs, they would never do it, so it's pretty much a moot point. That's like saying "what do you think would happen if they took spaceships out of EVE?". The answer is just "they wouldn't". The "But what if they did" is an obvious and pointless question.

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Tippia
Sunshine and Lollipops
#22 - 2014-04-23 12:59:36 UTC
TigerXtrm wrote:
Not really. Both are currencies at the moment. Except an Aurum token is the equivalent of a one dollar bill and a PLEX is the equivelant of a 20 dollar bill. You can't pay for items that cost a few bucks (like the new ship skins) with a PLEX because there's no such thing as change. But you can pay for gametime with 20 Aurum tokens. If either one has to go, it obviously needs to be the one with bigger value as to facilitate micro transactions.

The difference is that PLEX is actually useful in many ways, whereas AUR was just added to perform a duty that was never really implemented since the primary vehicle for that duty has been thoroughly abandoned. Nothing AUR does needs AUR to do so—it is in every way utterly and completely redundant, pointless, and burdened with not even half-finished and abandoned code.
KnowUsByTheDead
Sunlight...Through The Blight.
#23 - 2014-04-23 13:12:28 UTC
Tippia wrote:
TigerXtrm wrote:
Not really. Both are currencies at the moment. Except an Aurum token is the equivalent of a one dollar bill and a PLEX is the equivelant of a 20 dollar bill. You can't pay for items that cost a few bucks (like the new ship skins) with a PLEX because there's no such thing as change. But you can pay for gametime with 20 Aurum tokens. If either one has to go, it obviously needs to be the one with bigger value as to facilitate micro transactions.

The difference is that PLEX is actually useful in many ways, whereas AUR was just added to perform a duty that was never really implemented since the primary vehicle for that duty has been thoroughly abandoned. Nothing AUR does needs AUR to do so—it is in every way utterly and completely redundant, pointless, and burdened with not even half-finished and abandoned code.


Certainly, most definitely not empty quoting.

Really serious on this one.

Big smileP

Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the comedian is the only thing that makes sense.
Jur Tissant
Garoun Investment Bank
Gallente Federation
#24 - 2014-04-23 13:45:15 UTC
Hevymetal wrote:
we need more influx of cash


Well then eliminating PLEX would be rather counter-productive. One month of subscription is cheaper than one PLEX.
Gully Alex Foyle
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#25 - 2014-04-23 13:45:40 UTC
They would most definetly lose subs.

Consider this extreme example:


Only 10 people play EVE. 5 of these people play all day, the other 5 play an hour a day.

The 5 'casuals' agree to pay for both their own subs and the subs of the 5 'hardcore gamers'. Because they make enough money in RL to afford it and because the hardcore guys give them in-game benefits: for example, they build ships for them.


Suddenly each of the 10 players can only pay for their own sub.

So the 5 'casuals' unsub because they cannot play anymore (no ships).

The 5 'hardcore gamers' unsub too because 15$ a month is a bit too much for them. Also, without the other 5 guys the game is less enjoyable for them.

So nobody plays anymore!


Just an extreme example to point out that PLEX benefits alot of people on 'both sides', and many of those may well not be able to have fun anymore without it.

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Jallukola
#26 - 2014-04-23 14:02:17 UTC
If only it would be possible, too many alts simply relying on PLEXes. But on the upside, few sad and sorry bunches of nullsec alliances would start to sink, not die but to diminsh.

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Leoric Firesword
Imperial Shipment
Amarr Empire
#27 - 2014-04-23 14:12:53 UTC
Hevymetal wrote:
Not that I am advocating it, because I am not. But what if CCP said "Enough" we have RMT under control, we need more influx of cash and we are tired of dealing with the additional hassles that PLEX create.

No more playing without paying. AUR, resculpting and transfers are only availanle through cash payments.

What would the ramifications be?

Other then forum threadnaughts and an initial decrease in the active players.

Would CCP actually make more money in the end? Would the playerbase be reduced by 20% or more? How would it effect you?


you do understand that someone actually BUYS PLEX FROM CCP BEFORE IT'S SOLD ON MARKET right?

*thought I should bold that, so many people seem to miss that part.
Azami Nevinyrall
172.0.0.1
#28 - 2014-04-23 14:15:34 UTC
Considering more money comes in from PLEX then subscriptions, I'd file removing PLEX under the bad category...

...
TigerXtrm
KarmaFleet
Goonswarm Federation
#29 - 2014-04-23 14:17:20 UTC
Tippia wrote:
TigerXtrm wrote:
Not really. Both are currencies at the moment. Except an Aurum token is the equivalent of a one dollar bill and a PLEX is the equivelant of a 20 dollar bill. You can't pay for items that cost a few bucks (like the new ship skins) with a PLEX because there's no such thing as change. But you can pay for gametime with 20 Aurum tokens. If either one has to go, it obviously needs to be the one with bigger value as to facilitate micro transactions.

The difference is that PLEX is actually useful in many ways, whereas AUR was just added to perform a duty that was never really implemented since the primary vehicle for that duty has been thoroughly abandoned. Nothing AUR does needs AUR to do so—it is in every way utterly and completely redundant, pointless, and burdened with not even half-finished and abandoned code.


Make no mistake in thinking that PLEX and AUR are two different things. Because they aren't. Both are meant to convert real money into virtual assets.

Dollar > PLEX > Gametime

or

Dollar > Aurum > Gametime

makes absolutely no difference. Not a single. Little. Bit.

Same holds true for anything else PLEX is used for.

Dollar > Aurum > Fanfest Tickets

Dollar > Aurum > Resculpt

Dollar > Aurum > Multiple Character Training

The advantage that Aurum has over PLEX is that it has a smaller value and thus can be used to purchase more/smaller things as opposed to paying with a 15 dollar / 770m PLEX. Just because it currently doesn't see any use doesn't mean that Aurum is worse as a currency than PLEX is. There simply was no reason to use Aurum until the skip skins came along.

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Val'Dore
PlanetCorp InterStellar
#30 - 2014-04-23 14:24:10 UTC
Hevymetal wrote:
I posted a legitimate question to see how others would have answered and maybe be enlightened myself about some facet of the whole PLEX model i may have been unaware of.


The question wasn't legitimate. As for what you may be unaware of... apparently everything.

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Tippia
Sunshine and Lollipops
#31 - 2014-04-23 14:45:46 UTC
TigerXtrm wrote:
Make no mistake in thinking that PLEX and AUR are two different things. Because they aren't. Both are meant to convert real money into virtual assets.
…and that is why AUR is completely pointless. Nothing it does could not already be done through existing means when it was introduced and nothing has been introduced since that gives it any meaning or requires its use. It was implemented to provide content for a part of the game that was abandoned. It was retained to provide an EVE-Dust link that seems to be abandoned. It relies on code that was never finished and that replicated what was already in the game but without any of the pre-existing features.

Quote:
Just because it currently doesn't see any use doesn't mean that Aurum is worse as a currency than PLEX is. There simply was no reason to use Aurum until the skip skins came along.

There still is no reason to use AUR — the game has two and a half currencies as it is, two of which are trivially transferrable and one that could be made transferrable just as trivially if they chose to.
Solecist Project
#32 - 2014-04-23 14:48:41 UTC
I agree with Tippia.

She's smart and I have nothing else to add.

Tbh, there's no point.

We should all just always agree with Tippia.

That'd be hilarious! xD

That ringing in your ears you're experiencing right now is the last gasping breathe of a dying inner ear as it got thoroughly PULVERISED by the point roaring over your head at supersonic speeds. - Tippia
Tarpedo
Incursionista
#33 - 2014-04-23 15:00:37 UTC
Game will lose 20-25% of accounts.

I've tried to calculate amount of PLEXes in circulation and it look like CCP is getting from 20 to 33% of their income from PLEX sales. Basically removing PLEX will cost CCP from 10 to 25 millions USD per year and will make company un-profitable.
Grendell
Technologies Unlimited
#34 - 2014-04-23 15:07:05 UTC
If they got rid of PLEXing I'd go from 11 accounts down to 1 or 2Lol

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Viserys Anstian
Sebiestor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#35 - 2014-04-23 15:08:05 UTC
Tippia wrote:
CCP makes less money; people quit because they have to grind, so CCP makes even less money; RMT, with all the problems it creates, increases so CCP makes less money. Also, the velocity of ISK slows down significantly and the market becomes inefficient.

It would have a huge amount of negative effects and no positive ones.


I agree with this...

it would drive casual players out, who buy PLEX to get ISK so we don't have to spend our precious time grinding on rocks or moving rocks just to stay relevant.

Remember, CCP is making more money off PLEX then they were with subscriptions most likely. A monthly Sub is $15, and PLEX is $20. If I spend $20 to buy a PLEX, I'm basically exchanging my $20 (less than an hour of work) for someone elses 10-20 hours of gaming.

People really don't understand the basic concept of PLEX. Its not a 'free to play' concept. It's a "freedom from grinding ISK" concept for casuals. I tried Indy. I liked it but don't have the time to dedicate to truly make it work. Plus I deal with spreadsheets and profit loss enough at my real job, I want to pew pew things at home. PLEX allows people like me to easily and in a legitimate way to pay someone else to grind my ISK for me.

It's not really inflationary. It's not like CCP is allowing me to buy ISK straight up. Its not like they are just injecting 500M isk into the market when I buy a PLEX. That would be inflationary in practice. Instead they are just selling me a commodity that someone else desires and will pay ISK for. If I didn't use the iSK to buy a ship, they probably would and I'd still just be poor, broke, and hoping around the galaxy in my beginner frigate.
Gregor Parud
Imperial Academy
#36 - 2014-04-23 15:57:33 UTC
Hevymetal wrote:
Kaarous Aldurald wrote:
Kaarous Aldurald wrote:
In before lock.


Why did the OP like this post? Seriously.


Cause it made me chuckle.

I posted a legitimate question to see how others would have answered and maybe be enlightened myself about some facet of the whole PLEX model i may have been unaware of.

It made me laugh at the fact you took the time and effort to actually post in the thread, but posted nothing constructtiive, other then the fact you increased your post count by 1 you accomplished nothing.

EDIT Oh yeah I liked your above post as well cause of the same reasons.


itrollu.jpg
Beekeeper Bob
Beekeepers Anonymous
#37 - 2014-04-23 16:15:32 UTC
Neighborhood robberies would triple, as all the basement dwellers would need actual money to play....

Signature removed - CCP Eterne
Higgs Foton
Mission And Mining Inc
#38 - 2014-04-23 16:18:32 UTC
Hevymetal wrote:
Not that I am advocating it, because I am not. But what if CCP said "Enough" we have RMT under control, we need more influx of cash and we are tired of dealing with the additional hassles that PLEX create.

No more playing without paying. AUR, resculpting and transfers are only availanle through cash payments.

What would the ramifications be?

Other then forum threadnaughts and an initial decrease in the active players.

Would CCP actually make more money in the end? Would the playerbase be reduced by 20% or more? How would it effect you?


I think they would lose a lot of money.

Because i am pretty sure i would end one of my subscriptions if i had to pay real money for my accounts. I have three, and am paying with plex for two of them, so i would probably move the high sp char on one account to one of my other accounts and end that account. So from 3 paying accounts i would go to 2. Oh, and i would transfer the stuff as well. My stuff!

And a lot of people would do just that.

End EVE would be dying!
Lucas Kell
Solitude Trading
S.N.O.T.
#39 - 2014-04-23 16:19:13 UTC
Solecist Project wrote:
Lucas Kell wrote:
Abrazzar wrote:
Every PLEX is paid for. CCP is not losing money from PLEXes, quite the opposite.
This.

Seeing your signature...

I think I once ganked an alt of the guy who runs bulk trade.
He had the same letters and numbers like him,
but I don't recall it anymore.

I ganked his frig or noobship and his pod,
because he was afk at the gate.

Let me tell you, that guy is nuts. He didn't actually lose anything of value,
but he got so butthurt as if I had entered his house and stole
the virginity of his barely legal daughter.

I've heard a lot about this guy and the summary pretty much is
that he's a douche, ****, dork, donk and doofus.

I'm glad there are alternatives like yours.
Thanks :D

Yeah he's pretty crazy. He went nuts when the alternatives came out and started spamming the list saying "Don't forget I know mailing list mechanics better than you!" I think meaning that he knew he could spam mails to them like a nutcase. Needless to say the list blocking feature and the EVE ToS came into play pretty quick. His paid for google group pretty much died on it's ass as expected, and the old bulk trade having the whole "pay to unban" thing led to some pretty sketchy moderation.

The Indecisive Noob - EVE fan blog.

Wholesale Trading - The new bulk trading mailing list.
DaReaper
Net 7
Cannon.Fodder
#40 - 2014-04-23 16:30:54 UTC
*Hobbles in and sits his old butt down in a chair*

Gather around kiddies while uncle Reaper tells you a story.

Along time ago, CCP made an item called plex. This was used to make getting game time in eve via ETC's easier, and there was much rejoicing. Some people have aske dif CCP should remove them.. those people do not remember the time before plex.

People would either sell Ime Cards via the official forums, or through back door deals. There was lots of scamming, hacking, and RMT going on. CCP decided to reduce a lot of the nonsense, at least with the identify theft part, to introduce a way for people to legitimately trade game time. Thus the plex was born. Removing plex won't fix anything. People will still but game cards and sell them via forums, private or ebay. This is the nature of the beast.

Un linking plex and Aurum will make an impact, but even that is lame. And plex prices are not an issue. Just let it drop and pay the $15 a month or 11 if you pay for a year, and stop whining. Its what I do ;)

OMG Comet Mining idea!!! Comet Mining!

Eve For life.