MER Episode 17 – Microtransawesome?
It has been much too long since we’ve been able to record a new show…and the ridiculous amount of news we cover in episode 17 reflects that! Going all the way back to Voss, we touch on all of the updates through the new Developer Video #4 on Combat. In an effort to give new features like the “Inhabitants” section and the new webcomic the attention they deserve, we’ll be discussing those on episode 18. But there’s more here than just official updates! Based on the recent news around Blizzard’s Celestial Steed mount, we dive headfirst into a great discussion on micro-transactions and how Bioware will likely include them in The Old Republic.
We want to offer a big thanks to jg1001 and flippa299 for taking the time to leave us reviews on iTunes.
Also don’t forget to check out the great community we meantioned at the end of the show, The Imperial Guard, over at www.tigforums.org
Music for this show was provided by General Fuzz. Check out more of his work at generalfuzz.net
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News from the Galactic Republic
(4/9) New Planet Added: Voss
-Voss in the Holonet
-Aurebesh translation from the Holonet Project
-Breakdown of info at Wookiepedia
(4/16) New Timeline: “Peace for the Republic?”
-”Peace for the Republic?” at SWTOR.com
-Lore Update and breakdown of the events from Darth Hater
(4/23) The Old Republic in Print
-Star Wars: The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance
-Threat of Peace Webcomic
-Star Wars: The Old Republic: Deceived
(4/23) Combat in Star Wars: The Old Republic
-Video Documentary #4 at SWTOR.com
-Orange box dissection from Darth Hater
Stories from the Outer Rim / Community Poll
Do real-money transactions for in-game items hurt your game experience?
* Yes. Bioware should only allow items to be obtained through the game itself (69%, 61 Votes)
* No. It is okay to pay real money for items in game (31%, 28 Votes)
If Bioware were to accept real-money transactions, what items should you be able to purchase?
* Non-combat / Vanity items (Pets, clothes, hats, etc.) (97%, 74 Votes)
* On-planet mounts (Speeders, Tauntauns, etc.) (34%, 26 Votes)
* Ships (If included in the game…) (17%, 13 Votes)
* Armor and Weapons (7%, 5 Votes)
See where this whole discussion started over at 1UP.com
Comments
Great Podcast guys, despite it being long it felt very short. I love the open discussion you guys have, I almost feel that I’m in the conversation with you guys despite I can’t talk. Keep up the good work
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Brooks, I’m with you all the way with micro-transactions. Personally, I don’t want to see them at all but yeah, if they do, only cosmetic. No paying for new maps or battlegrounds. That should all be included in the box or future expansions (ie burning crusade).
Also, thanks for the shout-out to TIG at the end, Greatly appreciate it and you guys are always welcomed to come hang out at our forums and our Guardcomm (guild chat) whenever you want to kill some time.
Hey guys, good podcast, although it covered a ton of updates! Quite understandable since you guys probably had finals like me the past few weeks.
I voted for micro-transactions as being mostly cosmetic. I’ve played a ton of free MMOs, which obviously get their funding through micro-transactions. These stores would offer different mounts, skins, special items, extra storage space, more character slots, etc. In some of these free MMOs, the ability to improve equipment required buying items from these stores with the game’s in-game monetary units (not gold, but like Phoenix Points, for example, a whole new currency just for this store). In this case, either you must farm for long periods of time to obtain rare items that you would sell to others for these game points or you had to purchase game points directly. Obviously, in later stages of games, equipment becomes very important. The ability to improve equipment directly affects one’s strength in PvP battles. This dependence on this other currency is a necessary evil for free MMOs to keep going, but it is not necessary for pay to play MMOs like TOR! I really don’t want to see people pay for progression in TOR.