Abulurd Boniface
The Scope
Gallente Federation
53
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Posted - 2013.11.01 08:13:00 -
[1] - Quote
I'm in the camp that says they pay for expansions with their subscription fee.
I would also like to stress that I don't agree with all the voices who are dissatisfied with the expansions they have received so far. I will gladly accept that Incarna was your classic foot-in-mouth boner. It was done for all the wrong reasons and then it was done poorly to boot. The NEX didn't have to be a negative, you had to practically want that to fail.
CCP have since been doing incredibly hard work providing us with new features and incentives to blow one another up. The new structures in Rubicon are going to be awesome and give us, the pod pilot, more abilities and opportunities to engage in this great, grand canvas in virtual space.
There are plenty of opportunities to create ancillary revenue streams that would at once yield a tidy profit, increase immersion and expand on the grand idea of New Eden. The only thing those loveable big brains in Reykjavik have to do is to find a way to merge those three ideas into one concept and offer that to the user base.
I am firmly convinced that if they did that right, and sadly we have to point to instances where they did not get that right, it would be hugely beneficial from a commercial point of view [and make no mistake: I want CCP to be commercially successful] as well as making the New Eden experience an ever-increasingly valuable proposition to all those who therein participate. People will pay when they perceive value. Provide real value and the revenue will follow soon enough.
I will never pay for a monocle, not at $65. Give me content that is relevant to my New Eden experience, give that a recurring nature and see me gladly fork over a micropayment for the privilege of participating.
From the perspective of the pod pilot I can't see an end to useful content to be added to New Eden. We are talking about an entire universe. The means to interact and thrive in this universe have to be as limitless as space itself. We have not seen half of what this universe can become when done right.
At fanfest I was particularly struck by the passion and enthusiasm of CCP Seagull who, as the senior producer, has an opportunity to shape this spectacular extravaganza into a truly epic tale. Even more so because, as a woman, she will have different perspectives to help shape and grow the universe. And let me be very clear about it lads, much though the sight of all you many manly men fills my eyes with tears of joy and brotherly love, it is going to be the women who are going to add the zest and flavour to make this universe explode as a world-wide cultural phenomenon. We need the female perspective. CCP have made an awesome choice in CCP Seagull to take this mighty vessel forward.
So, no, paid expansions, that's not the way ahead. Embedded value propositions that expand on the experience of what it means to be a pod pilot, very much so. Also, specifically because EVE doesn't need it, none of these features can be pay-to-win. If CCP ever make that mistake they're telling me in so many words: we don't want you as a customer. It will break my heart but I will understand the message.
CCP won't be making that mistake. The door is closed and it will not be opening.
I look forward to a very bright future for EVE for a long time to come. |