acesalokey Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 I would be totally happy to give you money, Mr. Star Wars. I ask one thing. I want to be able to buy the color crystal for my lightsaber that I want. Honestly I am really upset about this. You certainly don't appreciate your customers. I bought the actual game when it came out, I pay a subscription fee and I can't pay you for the color crystal I want? But you offer all these crazy packs that I don't even know what they give, or they give these totally ridiculous looking color crystals, but asking to be able to buy a silver/blue or white color crystal is just too much? Just thinking about this makes me mad. :/ The people in charge of this cash shop really are annoying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratajack Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 I would be totally happy to give you money, Mr. Star Wars. I ask one thing. I want to be able to buy the color crystal for my lightsaber that I want. Honestly I am really upset about this. You certainly don't appreciate your customers. I bought the actual game when it came out, I pay a subscription fee and I can't pay you for the color crystal I want? But you offer all these crazy packs that I don't even know what they give, or they give these totally ridiculous looking color crystals, but asking to be able to buy a silver/blue or white color crystal is just too much? Just thinking about this makes me mad. :/ The people in charge of this cash shop really are annoying. Your best bet is to buy the packs and sell them on the GTN. Use the credits you get from selling the packs to buy the crystal you want from the GTN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theeko Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 They're in the packs for a reason to get you to gamble, or you could buy the color you want in game once all the packs are available on the 6th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SithKoriandr Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 I would be totally happy to give you money, Mr. Star Wars. I ask one thing. I want to be able to buy the color crystal for my lightsaber that I want. Honestly I am really upset about this. You certainly don't appreciate your customers. I bought the actual game when it came out, I pay a subscription fee and I can't pay you for the color crystal I want? But you offer all these crazy packs that I don't even know what they give, or they give these totally ridiculous looking color crystals, but asking to be able to buy a silver/blue or white color crystal is just too much? Just thinking about this makes me mad. :/ The people in charge of this cash shop really are annoying. It's called google. Use it. There's also TOR-FASHION.COM to find what's in the packs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theeko Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 It's called google. Use it. There's also TOR-FASHION.COM to find what's in the packs. Tbh, you can just open up the CM and click each individual pack too as well in game to see what comes from which Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoofa Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Some colours are rare and to suddenly have them available to buy directly does remove that rarity somewhat. As people have noted, if there is a particular thing you want then buy things and resell them until you've got enough. White crystals are certainly not cheap - but that is because they are rare. Introduce them as a "to buy" item and sure the price drops through the floor - but everyone will have one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acesalokey Posted October 4, 2015 Author Share Posted October 4, 2015 It's really bizarre to see people defending the packs. You know they make it like that to rip you off right? They could have just as easily thrown everything up there to buy specifically. They don't do it to make things 'rare'. They do it to squeeze more money out of people who are already paying a subscription fee and who may have even bought the game to begin with! But do you want a completely stupid looking black core saber!? No problem. We know it looks totally dumb, but we want your money. Oh, you want a silver/blue crystal? Too bad, that's too rare for you to have, missy. Because we said so. Now go spend 30 bucks on more packs with stuff you're not sure you ever wanted, and don't forget your subscription fee either. Oh and if you want to dye something, have fun buy random dyes over and over til you get what you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratajack Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 It's really bizarre to see people defending the packs. You know they make it like that to rip you off right? They could have just as easily thrown everything up there to buy specifically. They don't do it to make things 'rare'. They do it to squeeze more money out of people who are already paying a subscription fee and who may have even bought the game to begin with! But do you want a completely stupid looking black core saber!? No problem. We know it looks totally dumb, but we want your money. Oh, you want a silver/blue crystal? Too bad, that's too rare for you to have, missy. Because we said so. Now go spend 30 bucks on more packs with stuff you're not sure you ever wanted, and don't forget your subscription fee either. Oh and if you want to dye something, have fun buy random dyes over and over til you get what you want. Of course it is set up the way it is to maximize profits. BW IS a business after all, and a for profit one, at that. If BW were to set it up the way YOU want, so you can buy EXACTLY what you want, whenever you want, the CM would not be anywhere near as profitable. This would negatively affect the game, possibly even to the point of it shutting down. That said, you do NOT have to gamble to get what you want. You can purchase EXACTLY what you want from the GTN. You can farm up the necessary credits and buy EXACTLY what you want. We have already told you how to use the CM to get EXACTLY what you want. If you choose not to take that advice, instead choosing to gamble, then I have no sympathy for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knockerz Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 It's really bizarre to see people defending the packs. You know they make it like that to rip you off right? They could have just as easily thrown everything up there to buy specifically. They don't do it to make things 'rare'. They do it to squeeze more money out of people who are already paying a subscription fee and who may have even bought the game to begin with! But do you want a completely stupid looking black core saber!? No problem. We know it looks totally dumb, but we want your money. Oh, you want a silver/blue crystal? Too bad, that's too rare for you to have, missy. Because we said so. Now go spend 30 bucks on more packs with stuff you're not sure you ever wanted, and don't forget your subscription fee either. Oh and if you want to dye something, have fun buy random dyes over and over til you get what you want. I have no problem with cash shops. In fact, I expect every mmorpg to have one and to sell items I WANT TO BUY. I remember the mmorpgs before cashshops and they would often make items I dislike. With a cashshop, the developers are force to make items the majority of their customers want instead of making whatever they want like in the days before cashshops. In short, if I don't like it I ain't buying it. The only disadvantage is the cost. Yes, it cost more than 15 dollars each month, but I don't mind paying more if I can get items I want. That is why I prefer cashshop mmorpgs to non cashshop mmorpgs. The higher cost is no concern to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knockerz Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 (edited) I would be totally happy to give you money, Mr. Star Wars. I ask one thing. I want to be able to buy the color crystal for my lightsaber that I want. Honestly I am really upset about this. You certainly don't appreciate your customers. I bought the actual game when it came out, I pay a subscription fee and I can't pay you for the color crystal I want? But you offer all these crazy packs that I don't even know what they give, or they give these totally ridiculous looking color crystals, but asking to be able to buy a silver/blue or white color crystal is just too much? Just thinking about this makes me mad. :/ The people in charge of this cash shop really are annoying. If you bought the game when it first came out then how come you have a forum number of 11525169? That number seems too high for you to be a player who has been playing since the game came out. Edited October 5, 2015 by Knockerz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aeneas_Falco Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 (edited) You can still buy what you want if you go about it in a roundabout way. Look at the price for the item you want to buy on the GTN, and then check GTN prices for other items that you could purchase with cartel coins and sell on the GTN to give you the credits you need for that item you want. It takes a couple extra steps but has the same result. I don't like the packs either because each one you purchase is a gamble, and it is intentionally designed as a money sink. They want players to keep spending money on the packs, which is why some items aren't sold separately outside of them. Unfortunately however the packs are never going to go away, because they are proven means of multiplayer games making money. While not really applicable with crystals, with armor designs you can often find items they are nearly identical to stuff sold on the Cartel Market except for a few minor changes, like a different color or an added or subtracted detail. Often these are close enough that the differences don't have a major impact on its aesthetic value, or can be corrected with the right dye pack. These items might have much lower stats than the Cartel Market item (green lowbie armor for example), but that is no longer an issue with the addition of appearance tabs. Some dye and use of the appearance tab can give your character an almost identical look to something from the Cartel Market without dropping real world money. Edited October 5, 2015 by Aeneas_Falco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acesalokey Posted October 5, 2015 Author Share Posted October 5, 2015 (edited) If you bought the game when it first came out then how come you have a forum number of 11525169? That number seems too high for you to be a player who has been playing since the game came out. Yeah, I'm totally lying. I didn't buy the game at best buy when it came out. I just want to generate sympathy , you're a real detective. No, I did buy the game. Not that that means anything. I want to support bioware, I think SWTOR is a really fun game. I just hate the SUPER FUN TIME CASINO GAMBLING FUN TIME , that is the cash shop right now I've subbed/unsubbed many times since it came out. Perfectly willing to spend more and more money on it too as I'm enjoying it a lot. But the cash shop is directly trying to take advantage of my purse and not give me what I want to pay for. I bought the game. I'm subscribed. Stop trying to take advantage of me because I want that one armor set in the pack I actually really like. Edited October 5, 2015 by acesalokey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightblazer Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 The reason why color crystals or other items are sold in packs is like others have said to maximize profits. Say for example they sell a specific color crystal that only 4/10 people will want directly outside a pack. Well that's 6/10 they are not getting money from. If the crystal is in a pack that 10/10 people but that's a higher profit. Also since its a chance % to drop that more packs sold and more money. This video may be a bit dated but explains why packs are used and not just selling directly: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadDutchman Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 I have been subbed to this game for as long as it's been out, and I have only bought 1 pack in that entire time, and that when they first came out and I had some CC to blow Funny thing? I now have dozens of pack exclusive items unlocked in collections, spanning every shipment Didn't have to gamble ONCE to get them. Didn't even need to spend any money on them beyond my sub! incredible isn't it? Just send 10 million credits to FakeCharacterName on FakeServer for me to tell you the secret of my success! don't listen to anyone telling you to buy it on GTN, my way is much better! seriously! I mean it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raansu Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 I would be totally happy to give you money, Mr. Star Wars. I ask one thing. I want to be able to buy the color crystal for my lightsaber that I want. Honestly I am really upset about this. You certainly don't appreciate your customers. I bought the actual game when it came out, I pay a subscription fee and I can't pay you for the color crystal I want? But you offer all these crazy packs that I don't even know what they give, or they give these totally ridiculous looking color crystals, but asking to be able to buy a silver/blue or white color crystal is just too much? Just thinking about this makes me mad. :/ The people in charge of this cash shop really are annoying. That's the point of the packs. Make the items random, the gambling addicts will drop hundreds of dollars on them. If you want something specific just buy it off the GTN. Almost all the cartel stuff I own has been bought off the GTN. The rare exception was the shoto blade this week but that's only because I have a ton of CC because I never spend my CC lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JediMasterSarynn Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 Just came back to the game after a two-year+ hiatus. I guess I'm not surprised, but severely disappointed, that I still can't simply buy the armor set, vehicle, etc. that I want. I refuse to get into the game of random pack buying and I'm not going to farm dailies until my eyes bleed to buy something that on the GTN. Seriously Bioware, I want you to take my money! I've spent $25 on a mount in Rift, $20 to get married in Final Fantasy, $150 on premium currency in ArcheAge to buy things I wanted in the game. Why don't you want my money? I'm not asking for things to be cheap, you can sell them at a premium. Just let me buy it direct! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfyde Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 This would negatively affect the game, possibly even to the point of it shutting down. I doubt it. I can't think of any other triple-A MMORPG game that uses this RNG/gambling model in their cashshop, and they all seem to be doing just fine with having chosen a direct sell approach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kulyok Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 If everyone can go and buy Revan's set for 100k and get 200k++ prestige on their strongholds and collect all the expensive and exclusive mounts, well, those mounts will stop being expensive and exclusive, right? People will stop buying, cash flow will decrease. I would certainly stop spending money on the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveTheCynic Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 But do you want a completely stupid looking black core saber!? No problem. We know it looks totally dumb, but we want your money. Black core sabres do look a bit weird, but black-core purple blaster bolts from a Commando's HBG? That's something else. (I mention black-core purple because I have the four free crystals for that in the mail on every character I create.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theeko Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 (edited) I doubt it. I can't think of any other triple-A MMORPG game that uses this RNG/gambling model in their cashshop, and they all seem to be doing just fine with having chosen a direct sell approach. Swg = TCG, also they already have tons of stuff you can buy with direct purchase as well Edited October 9, 2015 by Theeko Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bountyhunter_CMA Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 You would have more luck gambling at a casino than buying hypercrates, unfortunately i am not exaggerating it has been tested many times. If the crates are so random, why do you keep ending up the multiple copies of the same set and crazy amount of supplementary armor, because it is not actually random as they like to suggest. There's a reason why this game has been on a decline for a while and sadly it is not related to any problems with the content but more of EA's greedy behavior like in all of their sports games. Anyone can put a 0,000000001 chance on a popular item and call it random or super rare just to be lazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volthammer Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 Your best bet is to buy the packs and sell them on the GTN. Use the credits you get from selling the packs to buy the crystal you want from the GTN. THIS. Man, I wish I had thought to do that with the Gatekeeper's Stronghold pack. My thing is Satele's armor set. LOL With the foolish money I spent on the packs I could have sold all of them and become stinkin' rich in game, instead of winding up with a cargo bay and a half of mostly crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volthammer Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 You would have more luck gambling at a casino than buying hypercrates, unfortunately i am not exaggerating it has been tested many times. If the crates are so random, why do you keep ending up the multiple copies of the same set and crazy amount of supplementary armor, because it is not actually random as they like to suggest. There's a reason why this game has been on a decline for a while and sadly it is not related to any problems with the content but more of EA's greedy behavior like in all of their sports games. Anyone can put a 0,000000001 chance on a popular item and call it random or super rare just to be lazy. also THIS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aeneas_Falco Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 Just came back to the game after a two-year+ hiatus. I guess I'm not surprised, but severely disappointed, that I still can't simply buy the armor set, vehicle, etc. that I want. I refuse to get into the game of random pack buying and I'm not going to farm dailies until my eyes bleed to buy something that on the GTN. Seriously Bioware, I want you to take my money! I've spent $25 on a mount in Rift, $20 to get married in Final Fantasy, $150 on premium currency in ArcheAge to buy things I wanted in the game. Why don't you want my money? I'm not asking for things to be cheap, you can sell them at a premium. Just let me buy it direct! Because Bioware would lose money in the long run. People would just buy the items they want and no longer purchase packs. The gambling element would be removed, and gambling guarantees that Bioware can milk some players repeatedly who either have a compulsion to keep gambling for that one item, or who just have enough real world money that repeatedly purchasing packs isn't a dent in their finances. With the packs Bioware doesn't just get those players once, it gets them to drop money repeatedly. The smart thing to do if you're interested in particular item and willing to spend real world money for it, without resorting to Gold Farmers, is to just purchase a single item or a pack that goes for an equal or greater amount than the item you want on the GTN. Sell that item or pack on the GTN and then purchase from the GTN the item you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinak Posted November 6, 2015 Share Posted November 6, 2015 I for one am sitting on a couple thousand cartel coins...that will never be spent on cartel packs of any kind... Direct sales and account unlocks is all I'll buy these days. I'm not interested in gambling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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