EVE General Discussion

I don't have a problem with the item or the extractor prices as such.

But I do have a problem with the alignment between AUR packages and the prices

Want to buy 1 extractor? Then you need to buy 1950 AUR package because the 900 one is just short
Want to buy 5 extractors? Then you need to buy the 9000 AUR package because the 3600 one is just short
Want to buy 10 extractors? Then you need to buy the 9000 AUR package have have 1000 AUR left over

No matter how you configure it, going to have AUR left over or buy some ridiculous configuration of extractors you didn't want.

It seems to have been created deliberately this way to irritate the playerbase while scraping a little more revenue out of people. It's counterproductive. People want a simple two-clicks transaction which is easy to calculate, not to have to build spreadsheets to work out the most cost effective option.

Players who stick with EVE tend to be pretty smart - it's a complex and intelligent game.

And the playerbase does not react well to nonsense like this, it's dumb move on the part of CCP and they will lose players and revenue as a result. What works for silly f2p games on facebook isn't going to cut it for EVE.

CCP - kindly adjust the AUR packages or adjust the extractor prices, or you will lose out on revenue while irritating your dwindling playerbase.

ib4td

Well, we do have to put up with it. That's never going to change.

All theory crafting about marketing strategies and price-baiting aside, the bottom line is that some will use this optional service (because let's be realistic, it's entirely optional) and some will not.

As far as being "new player friendly," there is an argument to be made on that point.

New player friendly, yes, if you consider it a one time "get into the game" boost to get your core skills so you're proficient at something low-tier (say mastery level 3 on a cruiser). This gives a new player a means to explore the game without having to "wait" for core skills, just as learning skills once were.

And new player friendly, no, when you look at it is something to be done again and again so that you can rush to 50+ million SP and jump into a capital ship. Some that some will without a doubt go for, however new players shouldn't.




Myself, it'll be a one time deal to scavenge ~15 or so million SP off an old industry character from when I used to seriously play years ago. Those points will be dumped into this character so I can explore other areas of the game without having to repeat alot of what I already know.

Beyond that, it'll be a service for those that want it.

Dont buy them then. They are not essential to play the game.

Superb analogy in that it nails the issue (of most concern) perfectly.

Copy & Paste from another thread:

Ironically I just ragelogged from Planetside 2 because of their stupid "join now" buy this gun but it dosn't align with our cash pakets after finding out that after spending 50 € that I will have left around 90 Cents I NEVER EVER will be able to spend. Now I startet to look at the AUR Shop in EVE and I will never ever be able to spend any amount of money without having AUR left. I mean even with doing spreadsheets I will not be able to buy say 2 injectors and 2 skinns and then be done.

There are reasons why STEAM, AMAZON and IKEA are so sucessfull. They MAKE IT EASY for their customers to do SMALL buys with them. I have 5 € here ... give me something for it without feeling bad. I'm in RvB .. would love to just buy a blue skin for the ship I'm flying. I would LOVE to pay a small fee for the skill I NEED RIGHT NOW. I DON't want to jump through burning rings just to give you some money.

End of Copy Paste.

And on reddit there was this link: http://i.imgur.com/0Q4S0ef.jpg

I get it that your accounting department wants money. But actualy there is a reason why Valve makes so much money. SMALL buys .. give me a 1 € Skin I can gift to a person in my fleet without feeling bad. etc etc etc

Microtransactions 101:

• Trick the customer with a second currency that is hard to manage
• Make transactions elusive
• Make microtransaction currency non-transferable
• Make microtransaction currency non-refundable
• Create a pricing model that makes it impossible to spend everything down to zero
• An everlasting amount of "currency" that is directly associated with real money stays in the game, bound to one character/account.

Psychology that sure works on twelve year olds, but makes adults just angry...

Every browser game has this. Buy a pack of 100 "currency". Everything costs 48 "currency". There is basically no way to spend all "currency". Except spending thousands of dollars of course.

They did the same with skins, so I'm surprised why everyone is so mad.



At least we now know what the EA people are doing at CCP

I offically dub this controversy Hotdog-gate

-who cares-

its entirely optional.