Decided to gamble 20$ for a chance at 4* Thor.

brisashi

Obviously to regret the choice 30 seconds later. What you spend on this game compared to what you get for your $ is so out of whack compared to any other freemium game.

Honestly $20+ for roughly a 20% chance at an essential character? Purchases should be both lucrative for the developer and appealing to the player, not merely the former.

I had been regularly buying hp up to this point for shields and slots, but after this I'm going casual.

/endrant

GuntherBlobel

My only guess into their thinking is that if you spent $20 once, then you just surpassed their expected lifetime earnings for an individual player. Why else would it be ok to lose a customer forever on their very first purchase?

Edit: The real answer, of course, is that some people will keep pushing that button, no matter how many times they lose out. Demiurge sees no problem with this. With its unreasonable pricing, this game really does its best to push players into the extremes of free-loader or whale. I find it distasteful, personally.

Spencer75

You make poor investment decisions, it's not D3's fault.

brisashi

Spencer75 wrote:

You make poor investment decisions, it's not D3's fault.

Wouldn't call this an investment decision, but thats just me.

Not saying anything is their fault, I just think it would be better(and more profitable for them from my perspective) if they offered a more desirable result for the purchase.

Bloo_Alliance

I also find what they charge vs what you get laughable but obviously people are paying it or they would have lowered there prices long ago. If they can charge it and get away with it, more power to 'em

Afrocigar

The only way to enjoy this game long term is to stop chasing covers and build by placing competently in the various events. Only cover I ever purchased was my Black Hulk, of course I pulled one later. Eventually you will get a handful of fully covered 3's. I've gotten it out of my head that I will ever finish top 10. I'm at day 400 and can place top 25 most times with medium effort and strategic shields.

I have probably spent under $30, and that's for HP to buy slots.

I had to change my expectations. I would love a fully covered Blade, but chances are it'll be a year for me. If I hang around that long.

_RiO_

Spencer75 wrote:

You make poor investment decisions, it's not D3's fault.

:: Points at the new one-click purchase integration for the essential character integrated into the team select screen where the disabled OK button was once placed ::

This is D3P/Demiurge running a coldly calculated hussling scheme aimed at exploiting those that are not in the know regarding the poor odds of pulling a relevant character, plain and simple.
And these rats are actually toting it as a game enhancement feature as well!

NorthernPolarity

http://venturebeat.com/2014/05/15/marve ... aul-redux/

Many of us figured that the entire value of the 10-packs of cards was that they included a guaranteed character in them, but we were fairly unusual in our design here, so we decided to adjust the system. This change went live prior to the visual overhaul, and the results were phenomenal. The first event to feature this new design was a huge success despite having relatively simple content and no new character on sale. We’re not sure why players preferred this system, but we suspect the answer is a simple one: the uncertainty of opening packs is part of what makes them fun! If, in World of Warcraft, the boss was guaranteed to drop the loot you wanted, I suspect the game would be less engaging overall.

_RiO_

NorthernPolarity wrote:

http://venturebeat.com/2014/05/15/marvel-puzzle-quests-road-to-the-mythical-1-arpdau-part-8-card-store-overhaul-redux/

Many of us figured that the entire value of the 10-packs of cards was that they included a guaranteed character in them, but we were fairly unusual in our design here, so we decided to adjust the system. This change went live prior to the visual overhaul, and the results were phenomenal. The first event to feature this new design was a huge success despite having relatively simple content and no new character on sale. We’re not sure why players preferred this system, but we suspect the answer is a simple one: the uncertainty of opening packs is part of what makes them fun! If, in World of Warcraft, the boss was guaranteed to drop the loot you wanted, I suspect the game would be less engaging overall.

A nice PR spin on leeching cash from addicts and whales that they know will retry until they hit the jackpot and get their required cover.

NorthernPolarity

_RiO_ wrote:

NorthernPolarity wrote:

http://venturebeat.com/2014/05/15/marvel-puzzle-quests-road-to-the-mythical-1-arpdau-part-8-card-store-overhaul-redux/

Many of us figured that the entire value of the 10-packs of cards was that they included a guaranteed character in them, but we were fairly unusual in our design here, so we decided to adjust the system. This change went live prior to the visual overhaul, and the results were phenomenal. The first event to feature this new design was a huge success despite having relatively simple content and no new character on sale. We’re not sure why players preferred this system, but we suspect the answer is a simple one: the uncertainty of opening packs is part of what makes them fun! If, in World of Warcraft, the boss was guaranteed to drop the loot you wanted, I suspect the game would be less engaging overall.

A nice PR spin on leeching cash from addicts and whales that they know will retry until they hit the jackpot and get their required cover.

Basically.

Unknown

Gee, they like their Blizzard comparisions, but totally miss them... if I killed a raid Boss and istead of Epic gear I get dungeon Blues, I would flip ****, even more if I had to pay for that. And no, it's not fun seeing the same shaman loot (translation: Loki) when we don't even have shaman in group, grrr...

Overall though comic packs is their biggest source of revenue, like 50% or so? Given that most top players/whales know how to play/exploit game, I assume they win first three covers and buy out specific ones. Which would mean the packs are bough mostly by (uninformed) masses. The morality of that is of course dubious, but given how much money it brings... be smart and don't buy them I guess.

Actually after thinking, it's as dubious as lottery and gambling. And those are not banned, even if they're not cost efficient for majority of people. And they usually aren't so nice to give chart with chances to win at slots. So it's up to person to think for himself if it's worth throwing money and possibly not getting the value back.

Afrocigar

Whatever their model is must work very well. Obviously I'm not the target. Now when the Anniversary thing was going on, I spent 50HP every day for the pack special and got 3golds during the promotion and counted that a success.

The problem I am running in to now, the longer I play, is getting 3* that I don't need. I've received many Spiderman, IM40's and such, that really let me down. So the longer I play the less attractive the 10packs become because not only do I run the chance of pulling 2* but the 3* I get could be for Heroes/Villains I have that are fully covered.

Unknown

In games with a similar model you're expected to spend a few hundred dollars before you'd pull a coveted character, and then generally you get to do it all over again to upgrade the said character multiple times. For some inexplicable reason, charging people less money for the coveted character invariably leads to the game doing worse, perhaps because if you didn't beat people hard enough on the head they'll think the game isn't hardcore enough.

brisashi

Afrocigar wrote:

Whatever their model is must work very well. Obviously I'm not the target. Now when the Anniversary thing was going on, I spent 50HP every day for the pack special and got 3golds during the promotion and counted that a success.

The problem I am running in to now, the longer I play, is getting 3* that I don't need. I've received many Spiderman, IM40's and such, that really let me down. So the longer I play the less attractive the 10packs become because not only do I run the chance of pulling 2* but the 3* I get could be for Heroes/Villains I have that are fully covered.

I actully doubt it works as well as it could. If they guaranteed a featured character for X amount and limited it to one ourchase per event, people would pay regularly. The way it is now, anyone that knows the odds doesn't buy cover packs, and there will only be influxes of new players for so long.

Unknown

brisashi wrote:

Afrocigar wrote:

Whatever their model is must work very well. Obviously I'm not the target. Now when the Anniversary thing was going on, I spent 50HP every day for the pack special and got 3golds during the promotion and counted that a success.

The problem I am running in to now, the longer I play, is getting 3* that I don't need. I've received many Spiderman, IM40's and such, that really let me down. So the longer I play the less attractive the 10packs become because not only do I run the chance of pulling 2* but the 3* I get could be for Heroes/Villains I have that are fully covered.

I actully doubt it works as well as it could. If they guaranteed a featured character for X amount and limited it to one ourchase per event, people would pay regularly. The way it is now, anyone that knows the odds doesn't buy cover packs, and there will only be influxes of new players for so long.

This doesn't work. There's no reason to believe they're lying about this because virtually every other game that you've to buy the equivalent of a pack never guaranteeds you'll get any particular character. Sure they usualy guaranteed you'll get a 'super duper ultra rare' guy who is about as rare as a 3* is in MPQ land, and you're never guaranteed to get the particular super duper ultra rare you're looking for. As counterintuitive as it seems, people are not interested in having a fair deal when it comes to these lottery packs.

GuntherBlobel

Nivrax wrote:

Gee, they like their Blizzard comparisions, but totally miss them... if I killed a raid Boss and istead of Epic gear I get dungeon Blues, I would flip tinykitty, even more if I had to pay for that. And no, it's not fun seeing the same shaman loot (translation: Loki) when we don't even have shaman in group, grrr...

Overall though comic packs is their biggest source of revenue, like 50% or so? Given that most top players/whales know how to play/exploit game, I assume they win first three covers and buy out specific ones. Which would mean the packs are bough mostly by (uninformed) masses. The morality of that is of course dubious, but given how much money it brings... be smart and don't buy them I guess.

Actually after thinking, it's as dubious as lottery and gambling. And those are not banned, even if they're not cost efficient for majority of people. And they usually aren't so nice to give chart with chances to win at slots. So it's up to person to think for himself if it's worth throwing money and possibly not getting the value back.

It's really no wonder that so many forumites seem to be caught in a love/hate relationship with MPQ.

I've had a major internal conflict playing this game knowing that it runs on the revenue of a cover pack casino. I don't like the Lottery or casinos. I think they prey on a certain type of person just so the rest of us can have what we want cheaper. MPQ is definitely in that category.

I like MPQ at its core, but I still won't recommend it to friends because of things like this. I will also avoid other games that come from Demiurge studios in the future. I'm really sorry that I feel like I have to say this multiple times on their own game forum. But, I just don't think they are being responsible here.

Joe Fletcher said in a video interview that they don't want the game to be too "addictive," or at least, he alluded to the complaint that the game has these sorts of problems. So, I still have some hope that they want to change the game for the better. We'll see, but so far, I'm not terribly impressed.

brisashi

Phantron wrote:

brisashi wrote:

Afrocigar wrote:

Whatever their model is must work very well. Obviously I'm not the target. Now when the Anniversary thing was going on, I spent 50HP every day for the pack special and got 3golds during the promotion and counted that a success.

The problem I am running in to now, the longer I play, is getting 3* that I don't need. I've received many Spiderman, IM40's and such, that really let me down. So the longer I play the less attractive the 10packs become because not only do I run the chance of pulling 2* but the 3* I get could be for Heroes/Villains I have that are fully covered.

I actully doubt it works as well as it could. If they guaranteed a featured character for X amount and limited it to one ourchase per event, people would pay regularly. The way it is now, anyone that knows the odds doesn't buy cover packs, and there will only be influxes of new players for so long.

This doesn't work. There's no reason to believe they're lying about this because virtually every other game that you've to buy the equivalent of a pack never guaranteeds you'll get any particular character. Sure they usualy guaranteed you'll get a 'super duper ultra rare' guy who is about as rare as a 3* is in MPQ land, and you're never guaranteed to get the particular super duper ultra rare you're looking for. As counterintuitive as it seems, people are not interested in having a fair deal when it comes to these lottery packs.

I just think you are wrong on this one.

With the sheer number of rare characters available in this game, I think most players would happily purchase individual featured characters on a regular basis without upsetting the game dynamic, especially since even having a full roster still requires plenty of hp spent on roster slots and shields to stay competitive.

lukewin

brisashi wrote:

Spencer75 wrote:

You make poor investment decisions, it's not D3's fault.

Wouldn't call this an investment decision, but thats just me.

Not saying anything is their fault, I just think it would be better(and more profitable for them from my perspective) if they offered a more desirable result for the purchase.

Brisashi even noted in the title that it was a gamble, not an investment. Just happened to gamble and lose. At least they are smart enough to know when to walk away (from purchasing) and not keep chasing that cover.

Pylgrim

_RiO_ wrote:

NorthernPolarity wrote:

http://venturebeat.com/2014/05/15/marvel-puzzle-quests-road-to-the-mythical-1-arpdau-part-8-card-store-overhaul-redux/

Many of us figured that the entire value of the 10-packs of cards was that they included a guaranteed character in them, but we were fairly unusual in our design here, so we decided to adjust the system. This change went live prior to the visual overhaul, and the results were phenomenal. The first event to feature this new design was a huge success despite having relatively simple content and no new character on sale. We’re not sure why players preferred this system, but we suspect the answer is a simple one: the uncertainty of opening packs is part of what makes them fun! If, in World of Warcraft, the boss was guaranteed to drop the loot you wanted, I suspect the game would be less engaging overall.

A nice PR spin on leeching cash from addicts and whales that they know will retry until they hit the jackpot and get their required cover.

Likely. Still, those whales keep the game afloat for F2P players like us. F2P players are ok with having to go without the benefits reaped by spending hundreds of dollars. We still can play. We still can win a respectable amount of the time. We are never going to be #1 or have a fully maxed roster (unless they radically slow down the addition of new characters) and that's ok, we still can have fun, max a good number of characters that will allow us to be somewhat competitive and earn more covers for our unmaxed characters, which is a much safer and surefire way (if much, much slower) way of doing it than playing the lottery of purchased packs.

Unknown

I don't think buying a 10 pack occasionally is even a whale. I remember being with players who seem to have fairly normal spending pattern and you'd have conversation that goes like:

Me: "Who would buy these 10-pack whatever for such low odds?"
Them: "Yeah, those are total ripoffs. I just bought 2 of them and didn't get anything good."

I believe statistics has at least 90% of the players in a freemium model game never spent any money, so you'd hope the guys who do spend on the game spend more than $5 on average. Whale would be someone spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars on the game. Some games have rewards directly tied to how much you spend on the game and I'm pretty sure they go up to thousands of dollars spent so that should be the scale we're looking at for the upper end of expenditure.

When MPQ had the guaranteed 3* cover, it didn't get stopped because the F2P cartel didn't like MPQ diverging from the tried and true model. It turned out that the tried and true model almost certainly does generate more revenue. If being 'fair' generates more sales overall, some game would've tried this already and stick with that model if it really works. This is one of these issues you just have to look at the numbers because I sure don't understand why this model works over a fairer model.

wirius

Studies who that people are great at comparing solid numbers, but have a HORRIBLE time evaluating percentages and odds. There wasn't exactly an intuitive need for survival before the days of math. Companies understand this, and use this fact all of the time. I wouldn't blame D3 though, almost every company abuses some weakness in humanity to sell products. Just keep educating yourself and think with your head, not your emotions on purchases.