The rationale is that it is capitalism that drives OOO. So why not just do it in a more simple, direct way? OOO puts up a bunch of access code that gives shadow keys that do not expire in 30 calendar days on eBay auction and let people bid on them. Winners get the code and can take 3 other people of his choice to enjoy Shadow Lair content for one month.
I will start my bid at $100.
As much as your idea for boss tokens is desirable, there's a few things I want to say.
- It's not the middle ground. A suggestion that calls for OOO to abandon all (not really but you get the idea) profit is unlikely to pass.
- Those token costs are much, much too low. To rival the effort of gdtting keys in the current circumstances, it should be maybe a hundred or more. The logic is for limiting accessibility, and because shadow lairs should be harder to get to than buying an FoV.
I await someone from OOO to respond to this proposal.
It's capitalism. You guys are here to do business, I am here to pay for your work.
I haven't gotten to a point where I would be looking for a shadow key yet (Tier 3 but haven't reached core), so I don't know what the value should be, I will appreciate a suggestion for an appropriate price.
That would work too in terms of profit as:
More tokens needed = longer time people spend playing = more likely they would spend CE
I'm not suggesting they forgo profit, I'm saying that they should be going the slow and steady route instead of the blatant money grab they are pushing now, in a month a store may sell one giant candy bar $20 to one person, but they won't make as much as the store that sells 50 small candy bars to 50 different people for $2 each which are far more marketable then the giant one. The money grab method will eventually kill SK rather then make it more profitable.
P.S. People, don't give in to the "I WANT IT NOW" urge and buy a ton of silver keys now, just be patient and wait, when the cash dries up OOO will change their system and you will feel better when you do get your shadow key, gambling for a key now will only encourage them to stay with the current system and will not help your fellow players, pull your lockboxes from the AH for now (they may be worth more later ;) ), and if you see someone opening a bunch of boxes /epicfail them, please spread this message in-game and/or add this message to your posts.
The point, I believe, is that OOO needs money. And guys like me, who do not mind fork out money for new content, just want to play the game. We just do not like paying for a unspecified chance to be able to play the new content.
So the way I see it is, this is just a matter of pricing. So let the market equilibrium (supply / demand) decides the pricing and move on (both the developers and customers).
Time is money, OOO it's your move.
Auctions and Sales. It is against Three Rings policy to allow accounts, characters, items, or money to be sold for real money on auction sites or otherwise. We will ask auction sites to respect this policy. We will terminate accounts that we believe are in violation of this policy.
Auctions and sales are against the ToS if it is done by the users. Not if it is done by OOO.
Yes, please read the ToS. Thank you.
i guess lufte believe that you was making a auction on Ebay about the shadow key.
lufte: eltia was telling about how a auction on a shadow key from OOO part on in Ebay, not that eltia was auctioning one lol.
well anyways i dont believe OOO would care anyway. even if they said "they do" because after who know.. 4 threads of complainings about shadow key dont make them change their mind o see thats wrong on "gambling for a chance to play" not even a reason behind on it.
btw... how much worth a shadow key (talking about money) assuming that its requiret a lot to get one. since people always would paid a certain amount of CE for it... if it were $100 thats really something to think about it seriously.
Nope, I understood what he wanted. Still, I don't see where in that rule does it say that it applies only to us. All it says is that, by policy, items and so cannot be sold on auction sites.
Anyway, if you're not happy with that one:
Idea submission policy. Three Rings and its employees do not accept or consider unsolicited ideas, including but not limited to ideas for advertising campaigns, technology development or product names.
Well I am very disappointed in the way OOO is handling this shadow key issue. I mean, really, I just want to play my game with my friends and guild and I have money in my hands. I just do not want to pay for a chance to have access to a game (or service) I paid for.
OOO do you hear this clearly? People are lining up with money and your game designer (specifically, the guy who came up with the silver / shadow key idea) is preventing the trades from happening. In iBank, that guy will be gone the same day.
Well we do agree on that. I believe this is a bad idea just starting from the fact that the "new" levels are remakes of the old ones...
kinda defeats the issue of the content been difficult to be get for F2P players and costing too much for keys :P
Here's a thought I just had:
- Shadow keys last 2 weeks or longer
- They can rarely be found in lockboxes (still should lower the price of silver keys though IMO)
- They can also be bought for an assortment of regular boss tokens (i.e 25 Frumious Fangs, 20 Jelly Gems, 20 Bark Modules, 10 Almarian Seals)
The final point would allow F2P players to eventually be able to access a shadow lair without paying, if you get an average of 3 tokens per boss battle that means defeating Snarbolax 9 times, twins 7 times, jk 7 times, and vara four times, without spending them on anything else.
By the time you earn these tokens you probably can legitimately call yourself a seasoned 'endgame' player who would be able to handle what you encounter in the shadow lair, F2P or not, and on the way chances are OOO will make money simply be having players play for CE like usual while working to earn these tokens, a task that requires time and effort, not blind luck and a pile of unsellable maid headbands.
Also by having the key last for an extended period of time rather then for just 1 run OOO will also make more money by extending the 'lifetime' of the game as people will be doing more shadow runs and will probably stay with the game longer rather then just making it a sort of 'final task' for players. Just by making it worthwhile for players to keep playing for a longer time period will in the long run be more profitable then making players pay a sort of "final payment" to reach the endgame.
OOO currently has the wrong mindset I think, trying to make money through people making occasional large purchases, rather then a steady trickle of small change, <sappy metaphor> a steady river attracts people and encourages life, a massive flood wipes out everything and soon dries up leaving nothing behind, go for the river not the flood OOO </sappy metaphor>.
Thoughts, support, no support?
P.S. People, don't give in to the "NOW" urge and buy a ton of silver keys now, just be patient and wait, when the cash dries up OOO will change their system and you will feel better when you do get your shadow key, gambling for a key now will only encourage them to stay with the current system and will not help your fellow players, if you see someone opening a bunch of boxes /epicfail them, please spread this message.