Alpha 2 Keys

I heard a lot of talk about a2 keys being cheaper than normal.

i personally believe this is a horrible idea. 1 you mess up with people who purchased it before.

just release the a2 packs for sale again, for the people who missed them.
no need to punish the people who bough them early. and no need to cater to people who bought them late.

release them full price. and it's the only way to go.

or you could make them cheaper and make a bunch of A2 buyers very upset. Or you could make them same price but without skins and make new players upset.

but if you release them same price as before same pack....no issues.

thoughts?

personally. if we cater to people that are late now.... we'll expect this in the future as well and maybe even hope to take advantage of it.

what do you guys think?

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Ripteye

StickyRubb wrote: »

GoodSheperd wrote: »

Good thing it isn't up to you and is instead up to intrepid to run their business.

2 years ago when you bought your pack you were supporting the funding for the game itself and A2 access was simply a perk that came along with that choice.

If you are upset about spending the money then you simply shouldn't have spent it in the first place.

Bring as many people as possible into A2!

I spent that money 4 years ago because it was the only way to get access to the game in the foreseeable future. Yes, I also spent it because I wanted to support the company, but that doesn't make it right to strip the package from all its parts except for the key, and then sell it for less money under the guise of; 'but there are no skins included!'. It's just coming across as disingenuous, and I shouldn't have to tell you this.

They owe you nothing other than what they already sold you at fair market value. Take responsibility for your decision.

wakkytabbaky

the way i see it as long as the keys cost 100usd then those that bought the voyager pack dont really have much to complain about.

75% of people will most likely buy something from the cosmetic store at some point cos face it everyone does so theres value in the embers we got. have to pay for sub time anyway so first 6 months is covered. if you add the game time and embers alone that comes to 175usd. so alpha 2 + betas and cosmetics comes to 75 dollars. even if you dont care about the cosmectics you didnt pay that much in itself for alpha 2 only difference voyagers ( myself included) have done is just pay for cosmetic store credit and sub upfront

now not saying since its only 75 bucks for the remaining stuff that it should be that cheap to get in now but just saying the voyager people aint getting ripped off and that they got a good deal.

i get where everyone is coming from about the re release of keys and honestly the keys shouldnt go back on sale until after A2 launches and is stable because as it stands theres over 100k people and its gonna be a shit show on launch as is.

now if IS turns around and throws it out for less than 100usd than that will end up causing more harm than good

GoodSheperd

StickyRubb wrote: »

GoodSheperd wrote: »

Good thing it isn't up to you and is instead up to intrepid to run their business.

2 years ago when you bought your pack you were supporting the funding for the game itself and A2 access was simply a perk that came along with that choice.

If you are upset about spending the money then you simply shouldn't have spent it in the first place.

Bring as many people as possible into A2!

I spent that money 4 years ago because it was the only way to get access to the game in the foreseeable future. Yes, I also spent it because I wanted to support the company, but that doesn't make it right to strip the package from all its parts except for the key, and then sell it for less money under the guise of; 'but there are no skins included!'. It's just coming across as disingenuous, and I shouldn't have to tell you this.

Please explain how any of this is wrong, disingenuous, or shady?

They gave plenty of time for the pack sales, they allowed you to upgrade packs after the fact. They even stated very clearly keys MAY be available for sale separately at a later date if their needs increase.

Please give me a valid reason that isn't "I paid more", I got FOMO/they created FOMO, or you are wanting to make it as exclusive as possible?

George_Black

Thoughts?
Anybody that cares for so much matters needs to go for a long walk and think about their lifes choices and come up with a new plan.

George_Black

Here is another thought.
Maybe you should start a topic about the features of AoC and its development, a game that tries to bring back the joy of playing mmos, after 2 decades of crap, instead of talking about how IS should run their business.
You have one lame topic in your account and frankly it was a mistake that I wasted my time here.

Musclez

Will they allow us to purchase gifts for friends when they open the A2's? I have a lot of close friends that i would like to gift A2 access to.

Ripteye

TSYM_Muscles wrote: »

Will they allow us to purchase gifts for friends when they open the A2's? I have a lot of close friends that i would like to gift A2 access to.

I like that idea tbh.

Chicago

You didn't buy alpha 2, you bought a bundle that includes alpha 2, stand alone keys won't get the bundle, no one forced you to buy it

Furthermore, the more testers, the faster the game releases

Sengarden

I'm sorry, but paying for exclusivity, or suggesting that your purchase - because it already came with a bunch of other stuff with a real world value of almost $200 that you willingly and knowingly paid for in addition to A2 access - should grant you some sort of post-purchase early access is so unbelievably toxic. Gated access? Really? This isn't even a final product, and gated access is bad enough for those.

It's an alpha test. You paid $250 to get into an alpha test, and didn't even stop to consider how they were getting you to spend so much. Did you even want $100 in cosmetic shop currency? No? Then why did you buy it? Maybe you should spend the time you took to write this forum post reconsidering how you spend your money if you're going to be this sour over market-price fluctuations and bundled-vs-solo product availability based on supply and demand.

Noaani

Ripteye wrote: »

Still requires math

Barely.

It requires adding a decimal point.

and in a game where minors will be spending their allowance, I believe this to be predatory.

They really shouldn't be.

First, Ashes is not a game aimed at minors.

Second, you need a credit card to make these purchases, which excludes minors without consent of a parent. If you have a minor that is not able to convert 1000 embers to $10 immediately in their head, and they have unmonitored access to an internet capable computer, that is really not Intrepids fault.

Essentially, if a minor is in Ashes making these purchases unaccompanied, that is a parenting issue.

The reason currencies like this exist is because it means the game developer only needs to have one version of the games store. If they made it so you just purchased with regular currency, they would need one version of the store for every region in the world that had a different currency. Doing it this way, they have the one version of the store in game, and then the actual shop (where transactions involving money happens) is handled via a web service that specalizes in multi-national pricing - leaving all of that mess to be handled out of the game.

The currency aspect of embers is absolutely not an issue, and is indeed essentially required for an in game shop to function.

Edit to add; From Intrepids privacy policy;

Our Services are intended for a general audience and are not intended for Children.

So yeah, don't leave your children playing Ashes unaccompanied.

Otr

The game looking better and better, the price of Alpha 2 access should increase.
And those late comers should get for free as part of the price also some cosmetics, especially female outfits, a few of them, because I noticed people like them a lot.

Torstein

Like Ripteye already said, there is already a thread on this topic. With that said, there is a difference in buying a supporter pack (with many different perks, one of which being alpha access) to help fund a kickstarter project get realized compared to said project offering a pure key to a testing phase. People saying they have bought alpha 2 access for 250$ is disregarding everything else these supporter packs came with and the fact that they were there to support the game come to reality.

We should really try to remember that the ones of us that has bought supporter packs are a minority, not everyone is following games that are in the works and let alone being able to put 250$ towards said unreleased game.

Otr

Torstein wrote: »

not everyone is following games that are in the works and let alone being able to put 250$ towards said unreleased game.

If they pay less, they should get limited access: 5 months of A2 testing.

unknownsystemerror

TSYM_Muscles wrote: »

Will they allow us to purchase gifts for friends when they open the A2's? I have a lot of close friends that i would like to gift A2 access to.

Ripteye wrote: »

I like that idea tbh.

Gifting has been brought up in the past. Just like alternate ways of paying for a sub (ie. subtime gift cards) and others. That way lies RMT and an ability to exchange in game assets for money. Intrepid is against RMT and gifting is not something they currently allow, and from past comments will entertain.

Ripteye

Sengarden wrote: »

I'm sorry, but paying for exclusivity, or suggesting that your purchase - because it already came with a bunch of other stuff with a real world value of almost $200 that you willingly and knowingly paid for in addition to A2 access - should grant you some sort of post-purchase early access is so unbelievably toxic. Gated access? Really? This isn't even a final product, and gated access is bad enough for those.

It's an alpha test. You paid $250 to get into an alpha test, and didn't even stop to consider how they were getting you to spend so much. Did you even want $100 in cosmetic shop currency? No? Then why did you buy it? Maybe you should spend the time you took to write this forum post reconsidering how you spend your money if you're going to be this sour over market-price fluctuations and bundled-vs-solo product availability based on supply and demand.

This. You are not special because you made a decision to purchase something that does not even exist yet.

Ripteye

Noaani wrote: »

Ripteye wrote: »

Still requires math

Barely.

It requires adding a decimal point.

and in a game where minors will be spending their allowance, I believe this to be predatory.

They really shouldn't be.

First, Ashes is not a game aimed at minors.

Second, you need a credit card to make these purchases, which excludes minors without consent of a parent. If you have a minor that is not able to convert 1000 embers to $10 immediately in their head, and they have unmonitored access to an internet capable computer, that is really not Intrepids fault.

Essentially, if a minor is in Ashes making these purchases unaccompanied, that is a parenting issue.

The reason currencies like this exist is because it means the game developer only needs to have one version of the games store. If they made it so you just purchased with regular currency, they would need one version of the store for every region in the world that had a different currency. Doing it this way, they have the one version of the store in game, and then the actual shop (where transactions involving money happens) is handled via a web service that specalizes in multi-national pricing - leaving all of that mess to be handled out of the game.

The currency aspect of embers is absolutely not an issue, and is indeed essentially required for an in game shop to function.

Edit to add; From Intrepids privacy policy;

Our Services are intended for a general audience and are not intended for Children.

So yeah, don't leave your children playing Ashes unaccompanied.

It is funny I agree with most of what you said; however to say it is not predatory is not a factual statement.

Predatory behavior refers to actions and conduct characterized by the exploitation, manipulation, or harm of others for personal gain, satisfaction, or gratification. This behavior often involves deceit, aggression, or manipulation to take advantage of vulnerable individuals or situations.

Ripteye

The sale of Alpha Keys and Embers are not one in the same. When you purchased Packs you knew exactly what you were paying for. When you purchase Embers it requires more thought and reasoning to determine exactly what you are purchasing, that is different than knowing outright.

It is predatory and I really do not think anyone with a brain can argue otherwise.

Ripteye

Noaani wrote: »

Ripteye wrote: »

Edit to add; From Intrepids privacy policy;

Our Services are intended for a general audience and are not intended for Children.

So yeah, don't leave your children playing Ashes unaccompanied.

Where is the line? Are we talking 5 year olds or 16 year olds? Most teenagers today have some form of a credit card or debt card. How do they determine who is behind the screen? It is disingenuous in todays world to simply say it is not indented for children, unless you have some form of verification. When I bought my Preoder packs it never asked me to verify my age. Children will play this game, and yes parents need to be more mindful.

Companies know though the truth of the matter.

Ripteye

Ripteye wrote: »

Noaani wrote: »

Ripteye wrote: »

Still requires math

The reason currencies like this exist is because it means the game developer only needs to have one version of the games store. If they made it so you just purchased with regular currency, they would need one version of the store for every region in the world that had a different currency. Doing it this way, they have the one version of the store in game, and then the actual shop (where transactions involving money happens) is handled via a web service that specalizes in multi-national pricing - leaving all of that mess to be handled out of the game.

The currency aspect of embers is absolutely not an issue, and is indeed essentially required for an in game shop to function.

This is not true otherwise you would need to purchase preoder packs with Embers. Also how do you purchase Embers? With your regions currency, the conversion rate is determined very easily outside of the developers website. Either way a conversion happens.

Ripteye

The reason Gaming companies made their own currency is because it is easy to prey on people.

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