Spiral Knights - Will Crimson Hammer become free in the future? I think yes! (and here's why)

Will Crimson Hammer become free in the future? I think yes! (and here's why)

21 replies [Last post]

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 04:10

Golden-Owl

Now I know what you're thinking, but I'm serious. When the Mission pack got released, I pretty much went "OMG Three Rings are total jerks! This is total BS! Etc" like the rest of ya. But after a while of calming down (And lamenting the fact that Nameless Hat is now obsolete), I realized something was really weird about the Crimson Hammer Expansion Pack...

I noticed that the Expansion Pack rewards are the actual Weapons themselves, instead of Tokens like how people usually get their fancy Boss Weapons with. I was perplexed as to why OOO would randomly change the way we've been earning our awesome weapons so suddenly, until a thought occurred to me; this is all a scheme to get people to buy the Pack, and then they'll release it to f2pers in the future!

There's quite a bit of circumstantial evidence about this. First off, note down the price of the Expansion (not counting discount). Its around $6, which would normally allow a Knight to get ahold of a few thousand CE (I think. Haven't really bought CE before). Now, assuming that free players can redeem the weapons base forms in future, how much energy would be needed to upgrade them all fully? 2400, a very sizable amount, and it may actually tempt people into buying the Expansion just to have instant access to the weapon's final forms. Secondly, redeeming weapons requires many Tokens, enough to merit many trips into the Gremlin base. This would cost players a lot of time and energy in acquiring enough Tokens for any of the weapons, which would encourage less patient players into purchasing the Pack so they only need to clear the Boss only once minimum. Lastly, note the fact that Crimson Hammer has 3 variations, 1 for each tier, that would give the buyer weapons of that respective power level. Its pretty much a way to encourage new players to buy the Pack for the weapons, as if Crimson Hammer were to become f2p, they would likely be in T3, which is pretty far away for new players, and it encourages them to buy the Pack for the weaker versions of the weapons to use as they work their way up. There wouldn't be any point in including T1 and T2 versions of the levels if veterans would just go for the T3, meaning that it needs to involve newbies somehow.

What I'm getting at is that the way the Expansion Pack Missions are designed is that they are made to even be viable purchases even when Crimson Hammer is released for free players! Impatient or new players will still have reason to buy the Pack, as it will save them actual time and effort in obtaining the fancy 5* weapons which would otherwise take many Tokens and CE to get! The marketing mechanic would still be the same as with CE, in that people only buy it if they dont wanna invest time in earning the in-game money! Heck, I wouldn't even be surprised if they release a Crimson Hammer Mission for free players in an update, the only difference being the reward is a single Token instead of 3 weapons (technically 2 weps and a hat, but you get the idea). Everything about how the Expansion Pack is executed makes it seem like its designed to be a valid money shortcut for when people are too lazy to earn Tokens (Perhaps OOO was inspired by players who go around selling Sealed Swords and Antiguas...).

I have always believed Spiral Knights is not like other f2p games out there. It has such a great reputation for genuinely being f2p, and its such in touch with the fanbase that I can't believe they would pull a stunt like this which would ruin it's relationship with the players. I wholeheartedly believe that this theory will come true, as OOO is not a bad company. After all, if Crimson Hammer was going to be Pay2Play-exclusive, then why not make the buyers get Tokens like what we're used to to boost CE sales as they repeatedly use up energy in playing the Mission?

So fellow Knights, don't be so hasty in quitting the game. There IS hope, and although not very bright, we must continue to believe in it. Crimson Hammer shall not remain Pay2Play for long!

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 04:32

Mastersleet-Alt

:D But i want it now. But im

But i want it now. But im not a steamer im a konger D:

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 06:52

Asukalan

Buaha, hope? Thats what they

Buaha, hope? Thats what they want us to think, to hope for better future and to wait for the thing that will never come. OOO sold their souls. I believe every new thing will force us more and more to link our accounts to steam.

And for kongregate, they just made it an big one advertisment board. Its completly cut off from everything, starting with support features, CE history and ending on making you dont even know your username and password that completly makes you unable to play on official site and linking account to steam to sic! have acces to game content. This is pathetic.

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 12:35

Aemicus

The one problem is is that

The one problem is is that then OOO will have to deal with all the people who actually bought the missions.

And kong players FTW. I didn't realize there were so many of us.

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 12:42

Asukalan

Mostly becouse.... we cant

Mostly becouse.... we cant post on forum with our kongregate accounts?

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 12:44

Thimol

-----

Thats what they want us to think

Good god, I really didn't want to believe this, but you're starting to sound like an Illuminati conspiracy theorist verbatim.

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 13:02

Kanz

Time will tell...

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 13:25

Maeko

@Thimol

I've thought this for a while now, almost every big update, you can count on Asuka to pop up enraged at how evil OOO is and that -whatever- is an affront to the playerbase who deserve everything they request. I'm getting tired of it myself, can't read a damned topic here without a post on OOO's evil machinations.

There is a kernel of a point though, what with the new things requiring $$$ (which even though I bought it with leftover cash from another game purchase, I disagree with), but it loses its impact when it's copy and pasted ad infinitum in every topic available. It's come to the point I skip Asuka's posts when I see the name/ Consierge Kat.

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 13:50

Asukalan

Its desk clerk

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 15:00

Evilcats

Think no because $, though if

Think no because $, though if they release it for a CE price that might change.

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 15:12

#10

Khamsin

Are Shadow Lairs free

Are Shadow Lairs free yet?

/argument

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 15:23

#11

Pepperonius

While it is a nice thought

It is unlikely to come to fruition. While many of us who are p2p are early adopters, making this content free to all after a certain amount of time will cripple any further DLC launches. Too many people will know to wait, save your money, and get it anyways. I don't think OOO will do this, because hey, the are a business and here to make a profit.

This leads me to Asuka. You remind me of the catholic/baptist guy who predicts the end of the world every year based on the bible. Always crying out about this or that, and generally causing minor alarm. Just like him though, people ignore you. Try a different tactic. (this isn't meant as an insult, it's to illustrate how someone got lots of attention at the begining, but is now largely ignored) OOO Isn't evil, they are a company, and out to make money. This is just one more way for them to do it, and (if) in game trading becomes available it will be accessible to all. Even if it doesnt, and you have to switch to steam, that is the price you will pay to save your 4$. If it isn't woth it to you,either buy the content yourself, or dont. I'm sick of hearing about how evil everything is. Cripes, if you invested even 1/10th of the amount you've likely spend on tinfoil, you'd be rich.

It's a shame, Asuka, because up until recently, your posts were usually well thought out, and although usually sided with F2P (nothing wrong with that) they didn't drift off into conspiracism and they weren't so angry. Not many of us are happy with this change, but it is what it is. I fervently hope that OOO releases an in game system for Kong players, and non steam players, because it isn't fair to force you to use a platform like steam. Your method of protest isn't right either.

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 15:28

#12

Surreptitiously

Sorry, but your speculation

Sorry, but your speculation seems WAY off base, not to mention founded on pure hopefulness. OOO would make very little profit by doing this, and it would be very, very bad PR. Their intent is to make money, not offer the same content for free with the exception that you need to play it slightly more to get the same goodies.

The point of the new weapons are incentives to buy the mission, rather than not. The only thing that is potentially tradable is the mask, which is the only worthwhile piece of equipment from the missions, IMO. Furthermore, how would making the mission free help ANYTHING? It would just be another thing for the community to rage about, since it would be them going back on their updates notes not once, but twice.

"Hey guys, new content! Trololol, we just changed the announcement to say you need to pay for it with real money after stating otherwise! But it's totes awesome, so go buy it! New items and junk."
> playerbase rage
"Welp, we pissed everyone off, so now we're making it free. Trololol to all the people who bought it. :D Wasted money is best money!"

The items are vanity pieces. Getting the masks is equivalent to farming for tokens, with the added exception that you need to craft them at a special station.

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 15:57

#13

Knight-Solaire

Praise the sun!

@ Khamsin

Shadow Keys can be bought from vendors with CE. CE can be bought from other players with crowns. Crowns can be earned on mist. Mist is free. Shadow Keys have (for a while now) been 'free' in the sense that a single player can obtain one without directly giving OOO money.

The fact that Shadow Keys (originally P2P only) are now available to F2P strengthens his argument. It doesn't weaken it.

@ Topic

As for what I think, I doubt they'll ever be free. Purchasable with CE, maybe. Absolutely free, not likely in the least.

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 19:18

#14

Tenthyr

Totally free? Probably Not.

I have no doubt that the expansion will be available with CE soon enough. Its simply too alienating to divide the population like that. But I do not think that this will become baseline free content. I'm happy paying a few thousand CE though for it, and I'm sure many others are too.

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 20:05

#15

Fehzor

Well, someone is feeling

Well, someone is feeling optimistic.

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 20:26

#16

Njthug

Don't let people ruin your

Don't let people ruin your optimistic view on life =) just wait a few years and tell them I told you so <3.

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 21:39

#17

Flaminga

hope

I hope your right golden owl, I REALLY do..... 

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 21:46

#18

Phnxbane

Hmm

I'd agree with this if it might be released for free in a month or through ce in later times. To me paying for an expansion (bought it first day) then it becoming free is like paying for early access to it which I believe is fair enough. In all honesty though if your that worked up about buying the expansion don't buy it, if your comaining about it having good weapons that you want pay for it simple as that.

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 22:01

#19

Toxicyoccm

That's where my CE is

I would not be surprised if the Gremlin boss levels were placed at the terminals in each tier, only accessible with a 'Mission Key' or simply take twice as much CE to go through. A stripped down [read: less heat/crowns obtainable, easier, etc.] version with no rewards outside of, like the OP says, tokens for the items* would be expected from me.

The only thin would be when. If OOO gave a warning that "After 5 months all expansion missions will move from purchasable only to clockwork accessible", I think people would still buy the packs. Cash in on the impatient crowd, who would probably be the ones buying CE the most frequently anyway.

/myramble

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 22:07

#20

Qror

Expansion mission certainly

Expansion mission certainly shouldn't become free. It should cost at least 1600 CE, because SEGA thinks about all these people who paid for it, and few knights who don't have 4$ (Seriously, is it that much for you all?) won't change their mind.

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 22:43

#21

Argune

$4 or not, it was a F2P game

$4 or not, it was a F2P game which they are now changing their stance to a p2p system. there are alot of players that spent alot of time into the game for f2p content. supported by us p2p players(i am p2p). Honestly i dont understand the reasoning behind not allowing players to purchase this content with CE. someone still has to cough up the cash for CE. alot of us p2p players who bought up CE are disapointed we cant use this ce to obtain this content. f2p players are completely locked out. for OOO it would have made very little difference if this content was payed through CE or Cash.

There are 3 reasons i can think of why they did this.(pure speculation)
1. (business partners) promote users to move to steam.
2. (greed) get all those guys with built up CE to pay more cash sooner.
3. with the current rate of ce/crowns releasing this content as purchasable through ce would cause the rate to sky rocket even higher. ALOT of players are always complaining significantly about the ce/crown rates. (even though its completely controlled by supply and demand)

i doubt this would ever become free content and it shouldnt because people who payed for it would feel cheated. but making it purchasable by CE probably wont hurt anyone especially since it costs without the discount around 1600 ce which is less then it costs to attempt to solo 1 trip into shadow lairs.

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Will Crimson Hammer become free in the future? I think yes! (and here's why)