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Cosmetic Store
Squeezy
Member
The Cosmetic Store
First off, this isn't a post against the cosmetic store. It is part of the business model Ashes of Creation is going for, and I'm fine with it. As long as the store remains COSMETIC only and actually competes with in-game obtainable cosmetics, I will be happy.
The Problem
I think that many people looking forward to AOC are looking for a game that isn't overly pay-to-win and overly monetized. Where the game comes first and the profits come second. This was proven when the player base told the devs about the new website. The front page had the "monthly cosmetic promotion" or whatever and the player base didn't like that it seemed like a money grab. So link was very quickly changed to:
"Breathe Glorious Life Into Verra" Makes a lot more sense and is clearly stating that buying these packages not only gives you some sort of cosmetic but also allows the game to be developed further.
So I think having the cosmetic store be blatantly advertised in-game as a popup, or a tab in the Hotbar would be bad and unappreciated by the player base. In-game advertisements to me are extremely offputting and often break my immersion/concentration in a game.
The Solution
Very simply, put the access to the cosmetic store into an external website like ashesofcreation.com AND in the main menu. A player would log on and see the cosmetic store, and have the ability to browse all the cosmetics and buy them from that menu. BUT, as soon as a player enters the game there is just the player and the game.
I know this MIGHT not be an optimal solution from a business standpoint, I imagine that placing the cosmetic store in-game will give it more click-through and therefore more sales, but it will provide the players with a cleaner and more immersive game.
First off, this isn't a post against the cosmetic store. It is part of the business model Ashes of Creation is going for, and I'm fine with it. As long as the store remains COSMETIC only and actually competes with in-game obtainable cosmetics, I will be happy.
The Problem
I think that many people looking forward to AOC are looking for a game that isn't overly pay-to-win and overly monetized. Where the game comes first and the profits come second. This was proven when the player base told the devs about the new website. The front page had the "monthly cosmetic promotion" or whatever and the player base didn't like that it seemed like a money grab. So link was very quickly changed to:
"Breathe Glorious Life Into Verra" Makes a lot more sense and is clearly stating that buying these packages not only gives you some sort of cosmetic but also allows the game to be developed further.
So I think having the cosmetic store be blatantly advertised in-game as a popup, or a tab in the Hotbar would be bad and unappreciated by the player base. In-game advertisements to me are extremely offputting and often break my immersion/concentration in a game.
The Solution
Very simply, put the access to the cosmetic store into an external website like ashesofcreation.com AND in the main menu. A player would log on and see the cosmetic store, and have the ability to browse all the cosmetics and buy them from that menu. BUT, as soon as a player enters the game there is just the player and the game.
I know this MIGHT not be an optimal solution from a business standpoint, I imagine that placing the cosmetic store in-game will give it more click-through and therefore more sales, but it will provide the players with a cleaner and more immersive game.
ᚺᛖᚨᚱᚦ ᛟᚠᚦᛖ ᛊᚺᚨᛞᛟᚹ ᛁᛗᛁᚱ
2
Comments
See:
https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Pay_to_win
artisans don't only craft or build our items for the stats but also for functionality, and surdently not least, for as a cosmetic use.
if i will be crafting gear and people will just by something cosmetic then i feel my work is devalued because of the looks and the " coolness " that my creation will have of value.
you mean that the cosmetics from the store will just be some sort of " recolor " of items that are obtrainable within the game? if such then there should be next to no problem, seen from an artisans point of view either.
I know that. I’m just specifically talking about the location of the cosmetic store and how it shouldn’t appear as a popup in game.
ᚺᛖᚨᚱᚦ ᛟᚠᚦᛖ ᛊᚺᚨᛞᛟᚹ ᛁᛗᛁᚱ
I don't think that's a problem. From my experience in FFXIV where you can buy cosmetics from the cash shop and cosmetics crafted by players from the marketplace, as far they don't make the crafted cosmetics worst looking than the cash shop cosmetic you will make a lot of money crafting them.