Guild Wars 2

A list of microtransaction sins from PCGamer.

http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/11/03/microtransactions-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/

“Free-to-play” and “microtransactions” are dirty terms to some. That’s understandable. Famous Facebook Skinner boxes like Farmville have clouded attitudes toward today’s free-to-play games, and there’s an assumption all microtransaction-driven game design is handicapped by the need to create ways to charge players. For some games, this is certainly true, but there are excellent free-to-play games out there that represent good value for money. Below we’ve assessed some of the most common methods used by free-to-play games to make money from players, and highlighted some of the fairest examples of free-to-play that are worth your time.

Watch it, they’re pretty positive about their analysis of GW2. Dems fightin’ words according to some in these here parts.

I think GW2 does an excellent job of handling microtransactions, with the exception of the RNG boxes. If they continue to increase the RNG factor as they have been, I may have to re-evaluate my assessment, but it functions very well as a system that does not interfere with playing the game.

Hah! i was just reading this and came over here to post a link, but you beat me too it!
I also agree that the gem store is pretty alright in my book, I just wish they would start kicking out more appearance items.

The gem store is handled tolerably well, except for the part where the gold>gem conversion rate is on a severe inflationary track with no end in sight.

I didn’t read the thing. But obviously they should have a positive say about GW2 microstransaction.

If people played those other f2p mmorpg, they’ll know what I mean.

I think Arena-Net would take on further positive business opportunities, if they created a user based workshop for cosmetic items. It would also save them a certain amount of time and resources. I mean the possibility would be endless, and they would be working with the community on a more personal level.

I also agree the RNG habitual use is the only thing holding back GW2 experience at times. If there was a straight buy option in the gem store I would gladly buy it. Like the ability to buy black lion tickets for decent amount of gems. Instead of trotting through the trading post hoping they have what you want. However everything else has been fine so far in the in game store, with a few exception that are brought up now and again.

Sindex.9520:

I think Arena-Net would take on further positive business opportunities, if they created a user based workshop for cosmetic items. It would also save them a certain amount of time and resources. I mean the possibility would be endless, and they would be working with the community on a more personal level.

I also agree the RNG habitual use is the only thing holding back GW2 experience at times. If there was a straight buy option in the gem store I would gladly buy it. Like the ability to buy black lion tickets for decent amount of gems. Instead of trotting through the trading post hoping they have what you want. However everything else has been fine so far in the in game store, with a few exception that are brought up now and again.

Well that’s a lovely thought and all but here’s the thing. Average weapon skin with tickets is 5. 10 scrapes per ticket. 1 in 4 chance (some says it’s lower) for a scrap. That’s 200 keys. At 25 keys per 2100 gems and 80 gems per dollar/euro that would be $210 or 210 Euro or over 16 thousand gems. Think they would ever post an item for that much ever? During this key sale it would have been only $168. And that’s average RNG and we all know it’s a fickle beast.

That’s why new skins are on “sale” for one ticket each. This way it’s at least vaguely affordable at $40. And right now the most expensive single thing at the Gem Shop is the deluxe upgrade at $25/2000 gems.

So what would you propose for a better system to those who do not enjoy supporting the RNG system? Should they fix the drop rate on the scraps where they would guarantee a drop for every chest you open. However at the same time have a rare chance to drop a ticket. Giving a better initiative to spend money on the chests. Without being completely screwed over by getting nothing you want to invest time or money into.

in my opinion, GW2 does it perfectly because you can use in game currency to exchange to what you need.

Behellagh.1468:

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~snip~

Well that’s a lovely thought and all but here’s the thing. Average weapon skin with tickets is 5. 10 scrapes per ticket. 1 in 4 chance (some says it’s lower) for a scrap. That’s 200 keys. At 25 keys per 2100 gems and 80 gems per dollar/euro that would be $210 or 210 Euro or over 16 thousand gems. Think they would ever post an item for that much ever? During this key sale it would have been only $168. And that’s average RNG and we all know it’s a fickle beast.

That’s why new skins are on “sale” for one ticket each. This way it’s at least vaguely affordable at $40. And right now the most expensive single thing at the Gem Shop is the deluxe upgrade at $25/2000 gems.

Actually, it isn’t quite as bad as you might think. That doesn’t take into account the fact that whole tickets can drop. Using the data available to me through the drop rate wiki page, scraps drop about 21.07% of the time, and full tickets 2.68% of the time. Using that and you 25 keys for 2100, it only costs about $118.125, about $90 less.
This is using imperfect numbers, if anyone has percentages backed up by more data, then I can use that.