The Cryptic Store finally shows what sorts of things you’re going to be able to buy, with new items going on sale Midnight tonight Tuesday (i.e., now).
- Costumes appear to be going for 240 points a pop (and there are some nice ones there, if you just Have to Have them).
- Emblem packs are 80 points each.
- Action Figures are 80 each.
Those are the old news. Now for the new:
- Character slots: 1200 for a set of 4 (beyond the initial 8).
- Costume slots: 400 for two additional (you get up to three plus one SG slot by lvl 40).
- Full respec: 1000 per hero for one respec/retcon.
- Rename: 800 for a single hero.
All are the above are for Cryptic Points. In addition to any you may have picked up elsewhere (I have 400), they can be bought for cash for USD $6.25 per 500 (under My Account). So those four character slots will set you back $15, if I’m doing my math (though it may be more, since you can only buy them in 500 CP increments).
Welcome to the world of microtransactions.
Are the prices reasonable? Hmmm. I suppose they’re not outrageous. It’s enough to make me think twice about doing them, though, which makes it problematic. Is it worth a month playtime (equivalent) to respec my hero? I dunno.
I’m not convinced these are ‘micro’ payments at all. I’m not sure how the exchange rate will work with us in the UK, but even if it’s around £10 for some new slots, I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to resist.
I think this is one of those times where making it about half the cost would likely result in more than twice as many people actually doing it, thus being good for everyone (more people get the extra slots they want, Cryptic get more money from the payments and people will subscribe to the game for longer, playing their new characters, thus Cryptic getting more money again).
As it stands, I think most people will be put off.
Did someone say greedy?
I think the point is, though, that you can generate these points in-game if you have the patience.
Thanks for making me realize I had forgotten to include the links above.
The cost for CPs is GBP 3.75 for 500. That makes GBP 9 for the +4 toons.
I concur that lower prices would probably produce higher revenue. If they don’t get much response, they will likely lower the costs (with accompanying shouts of outrage from those who’ve already ponied up). They might increase the opportunities to get them in-game (I don’t recall what opportunities are there to begin with).