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Alpha Two Phase II testing is currently taking place 5+ days each week. More information about testing schedule can be found here
If you have Alpha Two, you can download the game launcher here, and we encourage you to join us on our Official Discord Server for the most up to date testing news.
Comments
But anyway it doesn’t deal with the second point that is the one that is more concerning. Again, I just don’t like cash shops and that’s okay. 😅
It is okay. I would assume most people agree with you on just generally not liking a cosmetics shop. I would assume most people are in the, "oh well doesnt matter" camp.
And i cant guess on their direction with their art department, and the long term impact of having the cash shop. Or its effect on in game acheivable gear quality over time.
But at the same time, im sure if gear obtainable in game doesnt get to a certain quality they will suffer their backlash then...
But Idk, guess its just best to let this go then. They went with a cosmetic shop for an additional revenue stream. I think the amount of revenue that will make available to them would be hard to make up in other ways.
I disagree with that. Sure, the term "gameplay" can be a bit ambiguous, but cosmetics are really important to a lot of people, and Intrepid knows that or they wouldn't be basing half of their economic model on selling cosmetics. Cosmetics affect how players connect with their characters and by extension their connection to the game and the choices they make in the game, including choices about ingame earnable cosmetics.
Depending on how well Intrepid implements that little icon next to a player nameplate that tells other people what that player is wearing, cosmetics can directly affect PvP outcomes too. So it's quite possibly not only in more indirect ways cosmetics affect gameplay, but it could straight up affect combat too.
I get artist concern but i'd think they would hire more artists to spread the work. To sell cosmetics, the game still needs to be good. On top of that, the cosmetics currently being developed are being used in game for different NPCs. It's also easy for them to create new items by adding or taking away a few elements from an item.
But that would kind of becoming p2w wouldn't it. If you got that skin, you pretty much won the game.
I feel like we are getting to the point where they should just give everyone a potato sack cosmetic at character creation so everyone has one and there is no advantage replacing it with something you bought from the store.
I really find this argument silly. Since everyone can wear everything, you shouldn't know their class, abilities, augments, or stats which usually play much larger roles in combat than armor.
This guy wants pay for convenience gtfo of here with that BS. Your alternatives are compete garbage.
I'm not buying your BS is why.
This comment here is how I know modern mmos with all their crappy payment models are slowly permanently corrupting the mmo market. This is why they keep putting p2w and convince in games because they have convinced some people its normal and ignoring the benefits multiple characters bring and forcing people to spend money to have alts.
Having outfits you can buy in game that don't do anything to game play does not effect gameplay experience. Having more characters influence gameplay on multiple levels of gameplay....
I'm in disbelief you are saying buying outfits effects gameplay quality when this is one of the few mmorpgs where stuff you earn in game is as good or better, where other mmorpgs the stuff you earn in game is trash...And you think more characters doesn't influence gameplay o.o.
You can't make this up, this is like I said one of the worst takes. And this is the mmo you are targeting compared to the other trash ones out there with their bad monetization.
What mmorpgs do you play
The definition of P2W and P2C changes depending on the title and the specific systems in question.
In AoC character slots provide tangible benefits to your account. For example, they allow you to gain access to multiple master professions provided you've put the effort into progressing them.
I'd consider limiting these benefits behind pay walls almost exactly pay2convenience.
It 100% affects one's gameplay experience.
-People might look cooler than you.
-As people said earlier, it might effect how you perceive another player, or lack there of.
-It lowers ambition to clear content when you already have the gear, so to speak, that you want. It almost defeats the purpose of the game in that regard. Or rather when you do beat the game, you still don't get to look cool. Unless you go and buy the cool looking stuff from the cash shop.
-I know some people think it doesn't affect them, but I know you eventually start to see how tacky and silly it is when everyone looks so epic and different from one another. I know it eventually eats at you. When you can see they look even more powerful than the bosses you're fighting.
-I have never had as good of an experience playing a game with a cash shop as I have without. I can't be the only one.
-It totally affects one's "Gameplay Experience".
It breaks immersion, it reduces the significance of earning cool items in game, and it emphasizes that your visual experience in the game will be directly tied to your to real life wealth. Not to mention it gives off a weird vibe kind of like “what’s real armor.”
I think that cosmetics being a primary form of revenue means that they will be investing their artists there rather than in game art and item sets. There are tons of examples where this is the case and they put the bare minimum effort into in-game gear and focus on the buyable gear (see WoW if you need just one).
I already shared my opinion on this. To say that cosmetics don’t affect gameplay is to say visualization is not important in video games and that is the reason video games exist instead of table top games.
No, given you can play one character at a time does not directly affect gameplay experience on your other characters, while you are playing them, the same way cosmetics do.
Like I said, you are okay with multiple character slots for the sub fee when I think one character is enough for that price where as I’d rather have cosmetics not purchasable but actual in game content to earn for the sub price. It’s a matter of what you value in your gaming experience. If you think that progression is more important than overall quality of experience visually, hey you do you. I simply disagree.
(Notice how I didn’t just call your opinion BS and garbage.)
I feel like you haven't been reading the post that have been said, or you are purposely lying. A outfit does not influence gameplay, it only influences visuals.
I'm tired of repeating myself about looks and what you can get in game please read it this time or What steven says atleast.
Where is said you look tacky in game from not buying outfits please show me a quote? As far as im concerned you would be more tacky buying current cosmetics as those are NPC skins in the world, some being cool than others some being a lot more generic.
I just find it insane you have other games out there BDO and lost ark you look like trash on some or most gear sets in game where the look never really changes. And Intrepid is like we aren't doing that we are making sure you have things to earn in game and legendary looks as well....
If AoC fails expect immense p2W, pay for convivence and very expensive outfits in all mmorpgs from this point on. AoC is the only potential competition to make things scale back and it starts at one step at a time. You try to ruin ashes with bad takes, I see it as bs and a much worst future showing up and why I'm do hard on some of these comments. In every mmo I've played and seen this is the first time I've seen a game move away from some BS monetization.
I believe this to be inaccurate.
As an example, One of your alts may be an armorsmith. You could have that character craft some gear with a customized appearance. You could then swap to another alt to have it enchanted before placing it in a warehouse or personal storage so all your characters may have use of it.
This can directly affect the gameplay and visual style of other characters.
https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Storage
https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Crafting
It’s okay if you think this is BS, but I am just sharing my opinion on what I’d rather spend my money on and the type of game I am more interested in playing while this game is still in development, is looking for feedback, and actively implementing it.
Cash shops spoil the experience of mmos, always. I am paying for the game, and I’ll pay a reasonable price, so I say stop adding extra shit to pay for and let your game be enough as it is. Let your art be in your game and enhance it, not be an extra buyable feature. Let those cosmetics be earnable by creating more content in the game to do, making players play your game longer. You may not get more money right out of the gate, but you have invested players earning things and working to achieve things for longer. That means longer lasting subs.
End game of most mmos is appearance collection. Once I beat that end game and complete my character’s look, I am less likely to keep subbing. That can happen a lot sooner if I am able to just buy it.
I understand this mentality, but I am not a hardcore progression focused mmo player. I am a community based player and I think having alts to do every skill actually takes away from community engagement. I personally think paying for alts is actually a great monetization model for those who need to have every class and every character and the average player can just focus on their one. Most mmo players are casual players after all and don’t have unlimited time to invest into a video game.
Why are you lying again, where have you seen them saying their primary focus of revenue is cosmetics and the are investing on artist to mainly work on those?
It is being called BS because you are making up things in your head and posting it on the forums as if it is fact. Which means you are literarily lying to my face.
Why are you talking about WoW when WoW is pay 2 win? You dont understand mmorpgs if you don't see how having more character slots is a benefit in game as an advantage. And the fact that another character is actual gameplay for you...gameplay not just visual stuff.
Stop assuming AoC doesn't have progression you simply are just lying and making things up. If they release the game and it doesn't have it than you can make a point but that goes against what the devs have stated they are doing.
Your points have been countered with actual information about the game you can choose to ignore it and make things up about a incomplete game. You can support those other P2W mmorpgs. Far as I see it I'm fine with a market and whales being milked with me still able to have full visual progression from earning gear in game.
So because you are casual you want other people to pay for your gameplay now lol. You can't make up these bad takes.
You can do that without buying from the market and then quit the game when you are max level or whatever. Im sure the game will be plenty fun from lvl 1-max.
As someone that plans on paying this mmo for a extremely long term I'd rather them have the cash shop to help support and milk whales. So this game is supported and grows for many many many years without p2w,
Honestly, you are a bit too aggressive to have a productive conversation with so you have your opinion, I have mine, let’s leave it there.
What are talking about. So you are going with disingenuous arguments now o.O. Like you seriously want to go there.
1. You can take the full value of the 375$ pack, and minus the embers you are given and monthly sub which is 265$ and most of the cost value with 110$ going to cosmetics. So counting the embers if you can use that for monthly subscription that is most the value right there.
2. You are supporting the development of the game and the direct development of those assets, which are NPCS in the world. If your idea of dressing up is a npc for end game I guess that is you.
3. No the main source of income is the month sub everyone will have to pay every month with a ton of people not buying any cosmetics. If whales buy everything and give a huge buffer, i don't see anything wrong.
I don't like when someone lies to my face.
Are you a child? Dont you understand that games need extra sales?
Dont you see the p2w, p4convenience and other tactics that most mmos work around? Are you that ignorant?
Everybody sells cosmetics. You'd have to shut down your studio if you didnt. The players are to blame for. What the f do you hope to achieve banging on this for days now?
The shop wont close. The cosmetics will ruon immersion. You will not find an mmo without cosmetics that isnt p2w.
Have you contributed to ANY OTHER aspect of the undertaking of this game or are you just here to attack the cosmetic shop? Because if that's what you are here for, you must definatly wont get any attention from the devs regarding the cosmetics. Ffs.