Cash Shop Incentives

[moXom]

Account improvements. Since the Server handles everything it's not important if clients are open source.

For example, "Direction to Boston for 24h" as unlockable account improvement. The clients asks the server for the direction to boston, if the account has unlocked the feature the server sends to the client in which direction an ingame arrow has to point. No other information, not how far it is and not how long it takes, only the direction.

You could sell additional character slots (are they limited? Don't know). Or the ability to directly trade between characters of the same account (that are not too far away from each other) in the character selection screen.

[Gablak]

That's what we like to think. But the reality is people like my once friend Poat (Pronounced Poet and she damn well let you know that). Bipolar, very sick, working a **** McJob, and spent every single dollar of her disposable income on games (One f2p in particular of course, but the name doesn't matter much). She would regularly spend 100-200$/week on it to buy fame and fortune. She could barely afford rent and food, but she put that much into the game anyway. It let her live a fantasy life where everyone loved her (for her money) and she was a superstar. This is a classic profile of the "Whale" consumer in F2P games, and it's what both Paradox and much of the industry bank on for revenue. Kids crying "Mommy" do not spend 100$ + per month on games.

I've known a lot of people like this. I've got more stories if you're not convinced.

Most gamers of these kind of games are manchildren of 30+ with good wallets. I doubt there is an abundance of people like your example.

But I agree on the OP of this thread. There are too little useful stuff to buy in the shop. I bought one of the thanksgiving packs just to support this game that is a gem in the market, not because I particulary wanted it.

[Kaol]

I don't really like cash shops for that reason either. In all the free games i've played there are a few people who fund the game and the rest don't pay. Much prefer the old subscription model, everyone puts in the same and there's no pay to win. The devs get fed, everything stays competitive and it dosn't target the vulnerable.

[MagicManICT]

I don't really like cash shops for that reason either. In all the free games i've played there are a few people who fund the game and the rest don't pay.

You should really do some research on this instead of believing internet rumors.

Most gamers of these kind of games are manchildren of 30+ with good wallets. I doubt there is an abundance of people like your example.

Again, you should do the research and not believe rumors and press with little or no well founded research. (No, the issue isn't quite as extreme as Sevenless makes out, in my opinion, but the issues are there and they really are pertinent to game developers if they don't want national governments stepping in with heavy handed legislation. Some already have such as China and S. Korea.)

I think we could discuss this matter and turn it into a massive thread. There's a growing amount of research on the subject, especially with MMOs being a multi-billion dollar industry apart from the rest of the gaming industry.

Also, on a tangent topic, and has been brought up elsewhere on the forums, what exactly is "pay to win"? ("Salem is pay to win?" thread.)

[Kaol]

My comments were based on my own experiences playing MMO's, perhaps you could link to some of this research (if it's available)?

[Kaol]

Trouble with that thread is, it is in help forums and so most of the people commenting don't even know how to play the game.

[staxjax]

I would like to see an item in the shop that would let you instantly destroy objects on your own claim. It could have one or multiple uses, and be available in the shop only. The solution for everybody else destroying their own things would be to get more phlegm, like it always has been.

[Sevenless]

You would be heralded as a saviour.

[colesie]

I personally don't think anything in a cash shop should go over $20 US dollars for one single item.
$100 for enhanced skills? Does your e-penis ejaculate money? Because mine certainly doesn't, though massive it may be.

I'd like to see more holiday-style clothing or themed clothing like a Santa hat/suit, bunny suit, headless horseman costume etc. but I do not think that all furniture or some craftable items ingame should be pay to own. Salem would draw in a lot more people if it had more customization. I should be able to fill my (now) giant houses with hunting trophies, paintings, tables, chairs, rugs etc free of charge. This is a very good selling feature for any online game. Buying certain things like "Jorb + Loftar" tapestries and the like are fine but centering all furniture on a cash shop is just horrible on so many levels.

[Procne]

Maybe it would be better to have vanity items wear down over time and be cheaper? This way losing such item to a raider wouldn't hurt as much and would make those items more accesible. For example 5$ for some clothing that lasts a week?