Bioware just got MASSIVELY called out on the new Cartel Packs... by Massively

[liianvanha]

Do they have someone in your gaming room pointing a shotgun at your head forcing you to buy? I know there's no one in my kitchen right now, and frankly, I haven't purchased any coins for the CM since well before the latest pack release. Do you stand outside McDonald's protesting that you have to pay for fast food because you've already bought groceries?

 

I'm not protesting against international tax-paradise residing mega corporation's right to print off money in any way they can. I'm saying we shouldn't be so exploitable as consumers and customers.

 

We, as community, make things ridiculously easy for EA/BW. It would be nice if we made them work just a wee bit harder for our dollar. We are the fishes in a barrel from the shotgun analogy. If people expected more for their money, changes are we'd get bit more for our money. You know, like, actual content and stuff. Expansion packs that feature full fledged zones, as opposed to L shaped tunnels, lol. Or dev teams who can't afford to just get rid of their Ops developers, heh. As long as large enough niche of us insists on buying few hypercrates a month,we are not getting anything more for our money. And continue to get a monthly change to WIN a cool saber for X bux, heh.

 

 

Honestly though, you made a side note that underlines the problem we kinda have.

Frankly, I haven't purchased any coins for the CM since well before the latest pack release.

It seems you typed this with full faith of in doing so displaying such responsible chaste behavior that it makes you into some moderate, responsible outside observer to all this crazy spending. And maybe that is actually the case, relatively speaking! Certainly in comparison to people who see nothing wrong in burning few hundred bux away every time new crate lands.

 

This right here underlines how AWESOME work EA has done with Cartel Market as a whole. Whole process of throwing frequent extra money at them for CC is so convenient, it's actual monetary cost so distorted that doing so barely even registers as something you'd expect to get anything out of in return.

 

Your quote reminded me of something my friend had to say about this. " Some people are completely insane about CM. Should't spend that much money to a game. I just buy one hyper crate every time they release a new one, that's it.."

...yeah.

Edited February 24, 2016 by liianvanha

[robertthebard]

I'm not protesting against international tax-paradise residing mega corporation's right to print off money in any way they can. I'm saying we shouldn't be so exploitable as consumers and customers.

 

We, as community, make things ridiculously easy for EA/BW. It would be nice if we made them work just a wee bit harder for our dollar. We are the fishes in a barrel from the shotgun analogy. If people expected more for their money, changes are we'd get bit more for our money. You know, like, actual content and stuff. Expansion packs that feature full fledged zones, as opposed to L shaped tunnels, lol. Or dev teams who can't afford to just get rid of their Ops developers, heh. As long as large enough niche of us insists on buying few hypercrates a month,we are not getting anything more for our money. And continue to get a monthly change to WIN a cool saber for X bux, heh.

 

 

Honestly though, you made a side note that underlines the problem we kinda have.

It is clear you typed this with full faith of being some moderate outside observer to this. And maybe that is actually the case, relatively speaking. Certainly in comparison to people who see nothing wrong in burning few hundred bux away every time new crate lands.

 

This right here underlines how AWESOME work EA has done with Cartel Market as a whole. Whole process of throwing frequent extra money at them for CC is so convenient, it's actual monetary cost so distorted that doing so barely even registers as something you'd expect to get anything out of in return.

 

Your quote reminded me of something my friend said about this. " Some people are completely insane about CM. Should't spend that much money to a game. I just buy one hyper crate every time they release a new one, that's it.."

...yeah.

 

None of which points to EA or BioWare being the villain of the piece. Casinos are not the bad guy when people go in and gamble away their children's college fund. The people that lose the money are at fault. They haven't misled anyone into buying these packs, or any other packs. What you can get is listed, as is the cost. To me, what I can get and the cost don't jibe, so I'm not buying. They can rectify this to get my money, or not, as they choose. If they choose "or not", then I'll spend my stipend on character transfers or unlocks for things I already have or that I get from the GTN that can be unlocked, and call it good. There's nothing criminal, or even shady about it.

[liianvanha]

None of which points to EA or BioWare being the villain of the piece. Casinos are not the bad guy when people go in and gamble away their children's college fund. The people that lose the money are at fault. They haven't misled anyone into buying these packs, or any other packs. What you can get is listed, as is the cost. To me, what I can get and the cost don't jibe, so I'm not buying. They can rectify this to get my money, or not, as they choose. If they choose "or not", then I'll spend my stipend on character transfers or unlocks for things I already have or that I get from the GTN that can be unlocked, and call it good. There's nothing criminal, or even shady about it.

 

Yeah I mostly agree. I'm not blaming EA. Rather, I'm bitter towards parts of community enabling EA to harvest such vast amounts of easy money from us. I'd like it much more if EA had to harvest vast amounts of hard won, well earned money from us instead. It'd likely lead to a better game.

Edited February 24, 2016 by liianvanha

[TUXs]

So - Eric - will we get an actual response to the negative feedback on the packs now, or will you continue to gloss over it like you did in the last Producer's Live Stream?

 

 

Negative feedback? LOLOLOL!!!

 

The only feedback Bioware cares about is monetary...and this pack has proven itself to be far too successful.

 

If YOU don't like it, speak with your wallet...that includes buying crap off the GTN that came from a pack. That's the only "feedback" that matters to a business.

[dscount]

Stop buying packs people. Jeez. Simple solution, but whales are going to spend hundreds and BW is just going to ignore any complaints.

 

They are in business and lately that business has shifted to more "Shady" deals that shafts new customers out of money for very silly things. (Que: HK Helmet Joke of the month)

[Storm-Cutter]

AFAIK Bioware set the frequency of the drop rate for rare items.

The players set the prices on the GTN.

BW were pretty upfront about what the packs and chance cubes could (but weren't guaranteed to) contain.

 

There is no mechanical advantage for having a certain lightsabre, colour crystal, armour set or mount.

 

If people want to part with in-game credits or IRL cash for vanity items, It's entirely up to them.

 

 

QUOTE from TFA: Ask yourself, “How many heroics would I have to run in order to purchase this item?”

 

There are plenty of mechanisms for earning credits/ CCs. - If you need that lightsabre badly enough, you'll find a way.

 

But 1 person's opinion on Massively doesn't (and shouldn't) make a difference either way.

[tummiswtor]

People bought 1 hypercrate, got bad items, and many cubes but they bought next 5-6 and they are mad. If You dont like- dont buy.

[Callaron]

Give all the bad press you want, if people keep buying them and they keep make money, why would they stop?

 

It's why I didn't buy a single one of them this time around. Not even from the GTN.

I've gotten more than a little sick of constantly getting screwed over whenever Bioware tweaks these things in order to find the most efficient way to milk their playerbase.

 

While I'm not opposed to the idea of the chance cubes themselves, everything I read and heard from people who'd actually bought them was enough to convince me that the ratio of which they drop compared to new items is way off the charts. Last thing I need is more bronze junk cybernetic sets and similar crap of which I've already gotten entire cargo bays back when those packs were current.

[LonelyWookiee]

This is a blog and is not a formal, independent review. It's lacking credibility and is simply an opinion.

[DWRoelands]

This is a blog post whining about RNG, on a blog that used to be part of Joystiq but was shut down because it wasn't pulling its weight.

 

So, nothing to see here.

[Nathan_Cousland]

This is a blog post whining about RNG, on a blog that used to be part of Joystiq but was shut down because it wasn't pulling its weight.

 

So, nothing to see here.

 

"Those who refute evil do nothing to combat it."

 

It's a BS system, speaking as an apologist whale. ^_^

[Warrgames]

So someone makes an opinion post on another website about how they are unhappy about the new cartel packs and some how is so much more important than the threads create in the forums here that the dev should comment?

[Nathan_Cousland]

So someone makes an opinion post on another website about how they are unhappy about the new cartel packs and some how is so much more important than the threads create in the forums here that the dev should comment?

 

I believe the intent of the OP was to highlight the media attention, though the article was hardly as aggressive as I would have thought, considering.

[Thoronmir]

The blogger in question lost most of his credibility with me when he said "Kylo Ren is awesome."

 

He lost further credibility by trying to chastise EA/BW for the player-controlled GTN market.

 

The credibility meter bottomed out when he implied he represents SWTOR's "most adoring fans."

 

The blogger achieved buffoon status by predicating his "article" on the assumption that every player is entitled to acquire every popular item. That is the crux of his complaint: EA/BW "knew" the hilt would be popular and, therefore, should have made it easier to get.

 

Many of the comments to the blog are equally inane. I particularly enjoyed the commenter who bemoaned: "if I want a character to look decent my only real recourse is to throw even MORE money at the game without even a guaruntee [sic] of looking how I want because i'm playing the pack lottery". Seriously, the only way for a character to "look decent" is to purchase packs? I ask because I think all my guys look decent and I haven't purchased a pack in nearly two years. I have, however, acquired items off the GTN to complete specific armor sets for my Collections. It seems to me that the GTN is an equally valid "recourse" to looking decent.

 

Unlike the blogger, I'm no MMO "expert". My only credentials are having played various MMOs for many years, having a brain, and having paid attention to how MMOs are operated and how they have evolved. No one has ever paid me for my opinion on any MMO-related issue ... nor should they. So, speaking as a lowly player who considers himself one of SWTOR's "most adoring fans," I wonder whether we would witness all this hoopla if the hilt was so ubiquitous that everyone had one (either through increased drop rates or lower GTN prices). After all, that's the only way to appease the "I didn't get my hilt" crowd. Until every player who wants the hilt gets the hilt, the system is flawed and unfair ... right?

Edited February 24, 2016 by Thoronmir

[robertthebard]

I believe the intent of the OP was to highlight the media attention, though the article was hardly as aggressive as I would have thought, considering.

 

One blog constitutes media attention? I suppose if I were in 100% agreement with it, I'd try to push it off as such. As it stands now, the OP is the equivalent of "click bait" to get more hits and maybe try to garner something akin to relevance.

[Thoronmir]

One blog constitutes media attention? I suppose if I were in 100% agreement with it, I'd try to push it off as such. As it stands now, the OP is the equivalent of "click bait" to get more hits and maybe try to garner something akin to relevance.

Well thanks Bob. Now I feel unclean for having succumbed to the click-bait and read the blog.

 

I'm gonna go take a shower.

[CKNORTH]

it's simple folks, don't like the packs, don't buy them....

[Warrgames]

I believe the intent of the OP was to highlight the media attention, though the article was hardly as aggressive as I would have thought, considering.

 

You call that media attention? You are giving that **** hurt player way to much credit.

[SteveColoSp]

The blogger in question lost most of his credibility with me when he said "Kylo Ren is awesome."

 

I thought that exact same thing and didn't bother to continue reading and closed the page lol

[robertthebard]

Well thanks Bob. Now I feel unclean for having succumbed to the click-bait and read the blog.

 

I'm gonna go take a shower.

 

Sorry, I'll loan you my "click bait" soap.

[nissanmaxima]

Never heard of this site before.

 

lol. Any true online gamer has though.

Edited February 24, 2016 by nissanmaxima

[Warrgames]

lol. Any true online gamer has though.

 

ROFL

 

You have to read some hacks opinion and believe to be fact in order to be a true online gamer?

[DustyDemonNinja]

ROFL

 

You have to read some hacks opinion and believe to be fact in order to be a true online gamer?

 

No I think anyone that spends any decent amount of time playing MMOs and doesnt eat glue for a living would know about it.

[Tobero]

The blogger in question lost most of his credibility with me when he said "Kylo Ren is awesome."

 

He lost further credibility by trying to chastise EA/BW for the player-controlled GTN market.

 

The credibility meter bottomed out when he implied he represents SWTOR's "most adoring fans."

 

The blogger achieved buffoon status by predicating his "article" on the assumption that every player is entitled to acquire every popular item. That is the crux of his complaint: EA/BW "knew" the hilt would be popular and, therefore, should have made it easier to get.

 

Many of the comments to the blog are equally inane. I particularly enjoyed the commenter who bemoaned: "if I want a character to look decent my only real recourse is to throw even MORE money at the game without even a guaruntee [sic] of looking how I want because i'm playing the pack lottery". Seriously, the only way for a character to "look decent" is to purchase packs? I ask because I think all my guys look decent and I haven't purchased a pack in nearly two years. I have, however, acquired items off the GTN to complete specific armor sets for my Collections. It seems to me that the GTN is an equally valid "recourse" to looking decent.

 

Unlike the blogger, I'm no MMO "expert". My only credentials are having played various MMOs for many years, having a brain, and having paid attention to how MMOs are operated and how they have evolved. No one has ever paid me for my opinion on any MMO-related issue ... nor should they. So, speaking as a lowly player who considers himself one of SWTOR's "most adoring fans," I wonder whether we would witness all this hoopla if the hilt was so ubiquitous that everyone had one (either through increased drop rates or lower GTN prices). After all, that's the only way to appease the "I didn't get my hilt" crowd. Until every player who wants the hilt gets the hilt, the system is flawed and unfair ... right?

 

Nicely written review. Especially the first paragraphs. I'd upvote if I could.

[Nathan_Cousland]

Jeebus, people, I was just expressing what I thought the intent was... o.O

 

Either way, at least it's getting SOME attention.