Glorious Alpha Two Testers!
Alpha Two Realms are now unlocked for Phase II testing!
For our initial launch, testing will begin on Friday, December 20, 2024, at 10 AM Pacific and continue uninterrupted until Monday, January 6, 2025, at 10 AM Pacific. After January 6th, we’ll transition to a schedule of five-day-per-week access for the remainder of Phase II.
You can download the game launcher here and we encourage you to join us on our for the most up to date testing news.
Alpha Two Realms are now unlocked for Phase II testing!
For our initial launch, testing will begin on Friday, December 20, 2024, at 10 AM Pacific and continue uninterrupted until Monday, January 6, 2025, at 10 AM Pacific. After January 6th, we’ll transition to a schedule of five-day-per-week access for the remainder of Phase II.
You can download the game launcher here and we encourage you to join us on our for the most up to date testing news.
Comments
You're right ... no one is forcing me to play ... but i guarantee you the Cash Shop will force many others to stop playing it if/when P2W are implemented due to lack of players.
- Why would there be a lack of players ? Because no one* likes to see a Cash Shop in an MMORPG.
So GL playing with a few players online everyone once in awhilebecause I won't say I told ya so if happens either ...
" ... you'll find outrageous excuses of why ... " its okay to have a cash shop " . Then you'll start seeing other ridiculous reasoning(s) later ... "
Opinion: This cosmetic store will ruin Ashes.
Fact: Bias makes for a bad argument foundation.
Opinion: Ignoring the fact that AoC has shown no intentions of reversing their no P2W policy and making unsubstantiated claims based on that is rather silly.
Just my two cents worth.
I for one welcome our artist overlords.
Either they increase the subscription fee, which would affect everyone, or they have cash shop too.
It's not them being greedy. It's just that expensive to run an MMORPG while making decent updates to it.
I rather have the cash shop than have to pay a higher subscription fee.
And also, the box price does nothing in the long run. That's just a one time income that won't make much of a difference. It might even reduce the amount of players that try it out and continue playing, which would be a bigger loss than what they gained from the box income.
[11:10] We already know AoC is gonna be subscription based MMO with a cosmetic cash shop and no box cost, what made you decide to go with the subscription model in a time when most new MMOs are going F2P?
The fact that you think this is an ... " argument " ... is sad tbh. The fact that even @AutumnLeaf thinks ..is even worse
History begs to differ . The only tad-bit of reassurance is this
https://youtu.be/_fPIP8uu6Pc?t=47m58s ( ends at 50:55 )
And the above link seems strikingly familiar to the scenario described in the link below
https://youtu.be/JciZoOKWWYg?t=1m12s ( ends at 1:25 )
With all due respect ... I don't need to say anything - past events are the only thing needed to know ahead of time tbh. The root of all MTX begins with a Cash Shop. All the skins are still goodies blocked by a paywall - excluding KickStarter & Summer Crowding Funding since its backing of the game . The only thing i like from the store is the Merchandise ... via Shirts, Caps, Lanyard, Mousepad and Sweater
... So don't you dare try to belittle nor disregard what I'm saying - its really f!cking important.
EDIT: If i didn't care, i would not have said anything
Seeing as how you and many other users tried to defend in having a Cosmetic-Only Cash Shop ... i would love to know your newfound opinion on the matter
https://worthplaying.com/article/2018/8/21/news/110548/
This announcement about the EU publisher, though surprising, does not change my view. I trust Steven. If Steven thinks My.com can turn a new leaf then I will give them a chance too. The gaming industry needs companies to start anew; to start adopting a more player friendly attitude. To me, this is Steven giving the industry a chance. A chance to be part of the change that Ashes of Creation and Intrepid Studios are displaying and encouraging. If we the players never give them a chance to change then the whole industry is fucked.
Plus, I do not think Steven would intentional screw his game over. Not after all the money he has personally dumped into it. I am not naive, I know things could go horribly. Some people, and companies, can't or won't change. We will just have to wait and see if Ashes' influence has caused companies to truely realize the amount discontent in the gaming community for the current status quo and inspired them (or at least scared them) into changing their ways.
I believe I was clear enough with my point of view.
My.Com published Allods . Although its changed ( from what i heard ) its still Heavy-P2W. I know its really based on the Project but ...
This alone will deter / discourage others new players ( who likely knows nothing about the specifics ) in wanting to play via 1st impressions ... which could indirectly lower-sub count
low-sub count =increases the chances of going P2W = "sudden" changes to Cash Shop
But ... Intrepid said they'd rather do something similar to FFXIV . So that, ultimately makes me neutral
i.e. i kinda don't care what they say - their actions could be completely different
:Literally, the only thing thats keeping me neutral is this ...
- Steven is the Creative Director & (technically) the CEO ... who has invested an ample amount of his own funds into this Project ... i do not recall any CEOs in the past - in any studio - that put their own money within a Project - and if so, positively not as much as Steven did.
- https://youtu.be/rcOdyuV0tX8?t=13m15s ( ends at 13:44 )
- https://youtu.be/JH-sX1aFljM?t=1h8m37s ( ends at 1:08:45 )
- ( although this last one is kinda of a double-edge sword .... but at least Steven is also a Gamer too )
Despite all of this, the My.Com is still unsettling nonethelessHence: neutral AF
I feel there should be both unique costumes/skins for Founders that can NEVER be obtained otherwise, Unique costumes/skins or titles for people who have spent significant money funding the game a well as unique skins that can ONLY be earned in game over time with great effort. (competitionist costumes etc.)
I also don't mind have Mounts and pets follow that same route so long as they are 100% cosmetic and don't give you any kind of additional buffs over in game acquired items.
And I know this might be a sore spot for some but these cash shop items really need to be amazing and in general look better than MOST in game default armor and weapon skins as that is the only way those cash shop items will be valuable enough for people to buy them.
WoW was released almost 15 years ago, and the market was TOTALLY different.
At that time, there were maybe 3 or 4 MMO's total. Now there are hundreds.
Interestingly, WoW released with a $15 a month subscription fee, the same Ashes will have, 15 years later.
How many other markets do you know of that haven't increased their base price in 15 years?
I just wish that, since this is Steven's passion project, that we started without a cash shop and then, implemented it if it was deemed a necessity to stay profitable. I think I could accept it much easier then.
Regardless of P2W concerns or immersion breaking arguments, I've always preferred that someone's gear reflect their in-game achievements.
1. Knights and most soldiers for that matter didnt have to earn their armor and weapons they had to buy them. It was a simple fact that armorsmiths and weaponsmiths didnt work to give the best stuff to the most deserving they sold it to people who could pay for it. So i dont think IG you should only get the uber sword of doom because you earned it through your actions but you may have just bought it.
2. the simplest solution to the Micro-transactions is to simply make all cash shop items buyable with in game Gold. So you can spend some RL cash and get it or you can spend alot more IG currency to get it. that way it would be fair to all. Cash shop items should be account bound and untradeable.