Monthly Locked FOMO cosmetic offerings need to end.

As a Backer I get the reasoning behind not opening cosmetics to general public sales so the "exclusivity" remains intact.
However the KS campaign has served it's purpose. Since then there have been many adjustments to allowing ongoing player driven funding/support.

But its been over a year now of monthly arbitrary locked cosmetic offerings and I feel it's time to stop with the FOMO marketing.

The monthly live steam mounts/skins pitch is starting to piss in the punch bowl of positive vibes regarding the general perspective of the game.

I believe Intrepid are aware of the monthly meme worthy context and it's cumulative negative impact.

I think 2022 would be a good time to acknowledged this fact and open all NEW ongoing cosmetic offerings to general sale with no time gating.

All prior cosmetics/backer rewards can and should retain their exclusive status as not offend those backers/customers.

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Comments

Gizban

Nahh. Keep 'em coming.

bloodprophet

Again with this!

CROW3

Nope.

Vhaeyne

Nope, it's good for the game.

Something has to pay for all this.

Uncommon Sense

Vhaeyne wrote: »

Nope, it's good for the game.

Something has to pay for all this.

Did you even bother to read my post.

This is not about ending the cosmetic cash shop (as much as i would prefer) this is about ending FOMO marketing monthly locked business practices.

Vhaeyne

Uncommon Sense wrote: »

Vhaeyne wrote: »

Nope, it's good for the game.

Something has to pay for all this.

Did you even bother to read my post.

This is not about ending the cosmetic cash shop (as much as i would prefer) this is about ending FOMO marketing monthly locked business practices.

Yes, the way they are doing it is perfect.

I don't want the FOMO to end. It drives more sales from month to month.

It is better for the game.

Why would I buy anything if I thought people were going to have a huge window to get it? That is stupid. I don't want anything that everyone has. The time gating is the only reason I bought anything.

Noaani

I don't get how people can be susceptible to FOMO sales.

Either you want a thing and so should buy it, or you do not want the thing and so shouldn't buy it.

If it is a non-necessary item (such ass a cosmetic for an MMO that is years away), and you do not have the money for it right now, you shouldn't buy it whether you want it or not.

As far as I am concerned, it really is that simple.

This is why I straight up don't see the issue the OP (and ONLY the OP) is talking about.

Uncommon Sense

Ahh I see.

Unfortunately I don't agree with your sense of self entitlement.
I also don't agree that's it's better or offers any long term benefit to the longevity of the game.

In fact I believe it's becoming detrimental from a PR marketing point of view.

But if you like piss flavored punch then I won't judge. I even recommended that you keep your exclusive collection.

Taleof2Cities

Uncommon Sense wrote: »

This is not about ending the cosmetic cash shop (as much as i would prefer) this is about ending FOMO marketing monthly locked business practices.

How would you suggest Intrepid make money pre-launch then, @Uncommon Sense?

Hopefully, your answer isn't "pre-order packs without cosmetics".

Because that's essentially selling Alpha & Beta key access only.

Noaani

Uncommon Sense wrote: »

In fact I believe it's becoming detrimental from a PR marketing point of view.

It is neutral from a PR perspective.

Some people like it, some people do not.

Since you do not like it, it appears as if it is a negative from your perspective - but that does not mean this is the truth.

I still can't understand how any adult can be susceptible to FOMO anything, honestly. IMO it is people that fear missing out that are the ones that are over entitled (you can't fear missing out on something unless you assume you have a right to it).

Vhaeyne

Uncommon Sense wrote: »

Ahh I see.

Unfortunately I don't agree with your sense of self entitlement.
I also don't agree that's it's better or offers any long term benefit to the longevity of the game.

In fact I believe it's becoming detrimental from a PR marketing point of view.

But if you like piss flavored punch then I won't judge. I even recommended that you keep your exclusive collection.

I am entitled?

I guess anyone who bought an original piece of art is super mega entitled! I mean, they got the only one of a good that will ever exist!

TALK ABOUT FOMO! I guess I better go to ever art exhibit on earth and buy everything all the time, just in case something is considered a masterpiece at some point... I don't want to miss out on that.

All I am doing is keeping a few bucks on the side in case something catches my eye and keeping up with the game. If the devs do something I like, I throw them a few bucks. What an asshole thing for me to do.

CROW3

Uncommon Sense wrote: »

Ahh I see.

Unfortunately I don't agree with your sense of self entitlement.
I also don't agree that's it's better or offers any long term benefit to the longevity of the game.

In fact I believe it's becoming detrimental from a PR marketing point of view.

But if you like piss flavored punch then I won't judge. I even recommended that you keep your exclusive collection.

This is a really awkward response. You understand that ‘FOMO’ is a fundamental economic driver, right? When supply is low, FOMO is used to drive demand and increase prices.

Expecting a seller to give that good away because well you just want it, is the epitome of entitlement.

So, no. I disagree with your assertions.

Uncommon Sense

So your all saying that anti-consumer malicious online business practices are fine and in keeping with Intrepid's player/community respect.

As the OP states I am not suggesting that all previous 'exclusive content' become openly accessible.

I don't want my kick starter exclusive lifetime subscription jeopardized, just as much as I don't want you to loose whatever it was you purchased in the cosmetic shop over the last 2 years or however long it has been.

But I do not support the assertion that arbitrary lockouts increase prices or profit margins...

Allowing more potential players and consumers full continual access over the lifetime of the game is far more profitable and goodwill generating.

I believe the only reason why Steven implicated monthly cosmetic exclusivity was not to offend KStarter backers 'exclusivity' I feel that window is now is passed.

I never suggested the seller to give away anything...

I suggested forthwith that all future cosmetic store content be accessible to everyone for the lifetime of the game...

a consumer friendly practice if you will indulge.

So shove you epitome of entitlement up your proverbial. we've gone beyond tainted punch bowl to koolaid levels of consumer conditioning.

CROW3

Mmhmm. 🤦‍♂️

Vhaeyne

Uncommon Sense wrote: »

But I do not support the assertion that arbitrary lockouts increase prices or profit margins...

Yeah, well, we support it. I will continue to support it because I do think it is better for the game.

Uncommon Sense wrote: »

Allowing more potential players and consumers full continual access over the lifetime of the game is far more profitable and goodwill generating.

It's not, I would have never bought anything if I thought everyone was going to have it. You can still buy all of the preorders for FFXIV and I still own none of them.

Exclusivity is a powerful motivator. Why do you think consoles even exist?
Not a single console is remotely as powerful as my PC. Yet over the years I end up owning them all because there tends to be 1-2 games I can't play otherwise.

Uncommon Sense wrote: »

I believe the only reason why Steven implicated monthly cosmetic exclusivity was not to offend KStarter backers 'exclusivity' I feel that window is now is passed.

The only reason the "Supporter packs" exist. Is to "Support" the development of the game. They are doing something unique by coming up with an interesting way to keep the money flowing through development.

This is best practice as far as I am concerned. They have come up with a way to sell their players a good instead of having to beg outside investors for money who are going to force their own ideologies and agendas onto the game. This would really taint the project.

I honestly think more games should be using this monthly supporter model. We would see a lot less half ass projects out there, for sure.

Uncommon Sense wrote: »

I never suggested the seller to give away anything...

I suggested forthwith that all future cosmetic store content be accessible to everyone for the lifetime of the game...

a consumer friendly practice if you will indulge.

So shove you epitome of entitlement up your proverbial. we've gone beyond tainted punch bowl to koolaid levels of consumer conditioning.

You sound like someone who has just watched too many Jim Sterling videos and are one step away from being radicalized.

You have an average of over 700 hours to look at a sheet of concept art and see if there is anything you feel like throwing a few bucks at. That is all this is.

Unless you are buying a car or a house, you don't need 700 hours to make a decision on if you want to buy something. If you are buying a house, good luck. The market is rough out there.

Vhaeyne

Noaani wrote: »

I still can't understand how any adult can be susceptible to FOMO anything, honestly. IMO it is people that fear missing out that are the ones that are over entitled (you can't fear missing out on something unless you assume you have a right to it).

You are right.

The super adult move is to keep some money set aside and pay attention.

JustVine

On the one hand I agree, the current structure for supporter packs no longer feels like it fits this stage of Ashes development. Steven and Margaret made a very strong point during the most recent stream that AoC is in a healthy financial position to achieve their goals and that UE5 is not expected to require more funding. If what they say is true, then they can afford to be a little less aggressive in their monetization effort. The current structure is definitely aggressive, though I would not say it is slimey as it currently stands. Still, monetization shouldn't be aggressive when it can be afforded as it does pose a cost in social capital as demonstrated by above posters.

On the other hand I think stopping their monthly content would be a mistake from an art pipeline stand point and a marketing stand point. Monthly support packages are a really good and easy way to focus on an underlying theme to get necessary stylistic content for the wider game, and keeping the rewards a constantly fresh talking point for the marketing team. I cannot understate how important they have been in keeping the social media teams job much easier during the past three months of empty informational content. Overpriced FOMO is a small price to pay for keeping @MargaretKrohn and co sane and able to do their job in an easy and effective manner. Times like the past three months are some of the toughest stretches in a marketing campaign where it's mostly a lot of waiting but you have to keep oxygen in your campaign. Especially when you are the sort of person used to constantly producing and managing regular content and wanting to share hype with others.

It's really easy to strike a balance here however and evolve their current approach to one that suits the next phase in Ashes Development. Simply switch from 'you are getting this exclusive set of items no one else will get' to 'hey, we are selling you this content before anyone else will get it' (assuming they have a seasonal based rotation of cash shop choices.)

This option would have to be thoroughly discussed by the finance and marketing team, obviously. But it does suit their overall approach to monetization in a way that is a bit less aggressive. I think finance might disagree with my assessment and not want to switch to this until after Alpha 2, but I think it'd be better to do sooner than later from a pr stand point. But obviously I am biased. I am a marketer and a customer.

George_Black

Grow up. Control yourself.

mcstackerson

I think the problem with that is these cosmetics can't be used atm so buying them first means nothing. These cosmetics currently have no value besides the exclusivity caused by their limited availability since you can't use them. If they weren't limited then there wouldn't be a point in buying them now.

Once the game comes out then yes, they shouldn't be exclusive, or at least all of them shouldn't, but now that is the only value they can give their supporters.

Marcet

Too much cosmetics and mounts every month, way too much.

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