f2p Inventory

[ghostwhistler]

I don't actually mind paying for content or subscription fees, but how games handle their microtranscations is what's important. While this is a decent if grindy game the limited inventory is beyond ridiculous. You need much much more space than you are given becaus eof all the stuff you end up having to keep (tools, quest items, crafting stuff). The overflow system isn't efficient at all. Why does the inventory need to be limited at all? Is this really the difference between the game's commercial success and it's failure?

[oreyos]

You don't need to lug along everything you loot.
You need to manage your resources, in this case bag space. Do you really need to take all those 4s stacks of vendor trash?

VIP players get some more bag space to start with, but it's far from the maximum.

One other item you can buy (and VIPs as well) is the extended wallet. It will free up inventory space by moving things like festival tokens etc. to the wallet.

The overflow is very generous. I know enough games where full bags mean that you either drop something, or leave the loot. Here you get 50 extra slots for 1 hour.

Why is space limited? Well, it's a game where there are some set limits. Some classes can only wear light armour, some classes can't use two-handed weapons, some races can't be a certain class. And some choices must be made about what to carry around with you.

If you think that the game is a failure because you have limited bag space at the start, then I think you need to sit down for a while and do something different.

[ghostwhistler]

you can buy it - but with points only.

i have no problem with microtranscations per se. But don't make my game experience a chore for the sake of a bag!

Your inventory does not have enough space and so you constantly have to fuss about with the overflow. What's the point: is this really the only way the game can make money?

I never said the game was a failure at all.

[oreyos]

Originally posted by ghostwhistler:

you can buy it - but with points only.

i have no problem with microtranscations per se. But don't make my game experience a chore for the sake of a bag!

Your inventory does not have enough space and so you constantly have to fuss about with the overflow. What's the point: is this really the only way the game can make money?

I never said the game was a failure at all.

You can buy the TP with cash, or you can earn the TP in-game.

If you don't have enough bag space then either you buy extra space, or you need to manage your inventory.

Try playing a FPS shooter: These days you can only carry 1 of each type of weapon, so you have to make choices. I would rather lug along all weapons I ever found, but that's not how the game works. (And you don't even get the option to buy an extra slot)

And you said in your initial post:

Originally posted by ghostwhistler:

Why does the inventory need to be limited at all? Is this really the difference between the game's commercial success and it's failure?

But yeah, of course Turbine wants to make money, even from F2P players.
Most games restrict bag space for F2P, but Lotro offers you to earn TP to unlock extra bag space without spending money.

I really don't see the problem here.
Now if you were to complain about how it is impossible to get fast travel without being (having been) VIP, then I would understand it. (But still think it's OK for Turbine to keep some incentive for people to go VIP)

[ghostwhistler]

And, again, i don't bedgrudge them making money. As i said i don't have a problem with microtranscations per se. I don't think lotro handles them well. Not only is your inventory limited when you need space but you can't access all available traits and some fast travel routes and even quests are locked out. I travelled to the North Downs and was told that i can't do anything there without paying for that.

[Anonimatus]

Originally posted by ghostwhistler:

And, again, i don't bedgrudge them making money. As i said i don't have a problem with microtranscations per se. I don't think lotro handles them well. Not only is your inventory limited when you need space but you can't access all available traits and some fast travel routes and even quests are locked out. I travelled to the North Downs and was told that i can't do anything there without paying for that.

You say that you don't have problem with microtransactions but have problem with buying Quest Packs and Inventory Space with money (that are microtransactions)... ????!!!!!!

You can get the most of the game without too much grinding and money buying the expansions and paying for 1-Month VIP. You can get the Quest Packs, needed to progress your character, with Turbine Points earned in-game (eventually you will get a good amount of TP just playing the game, but you can farm them too), and I recommend to wait for a sale to save TP.

[76561198077869228]

life is inherently unfair.
I want to go to Walt Disney World in Florida -- but not only do I not have enough money to buy a plane ticket, (It's a long walk from here), but I don't have the $105 per day for an admission ticket to the park, and that doesn't include anything to eat! And Universal Studion's Harry Potter world is right across the road, so I still need that plane ticket and its admission price is $95.

[ghostwhistler]

Now you're just being childish. How many times do you need me to say the same thing? I DONT object to paying for content. I think at this point you're arguing with yourself, especially if you think that's a sensible anaology.

[76561198077869228]

You are being inconsistent.
You claim you don't mind paying for content (MIcrotransactions), but when told that the answer to your complaint is to buy content -- you complain that you don't get it for free.

You ask the question:

Originally posted by ghostwhistler:

Is this really the difference between the game's commercial success and it's failure?

In a word, the answer is "Yes." In the Free to Play world, Microtransactions are the only source of income. Before F2P, the only way you could play the game was with a monthly subscription fee. Stop paying the fee and you could no longer play.

[Anonimatus]

ghostwhistler, the thing that may you be missing is that you can puchase the Turbine Points with real money if you want. Then, you can buy packs that adds 5 slots for inventory.

[ghostwhistler]

I doubt there's anyone really paying for content in this way when, in almost all cases including lotro, its still better value to subscribe.

[ghostwhistler]

Originally posted by Valamar:

You are being inconsistent.
You claim you don't mind paying for content (MIcrotransactions), but when told that the answer to your complaint is to buy content -- you complain that you don't get it for free.

Which isn't what I said at all.

My point wasn't that content isn't free it's that microtransactions in lotro are not handled well.

[Anonimatus]

Originally posted by ghostwhistler:

I doubt there's anyone really paying for content in this way when, in almost all cases including lotro, its still better value to subscribe.

I only bought the expansions. I only need to be VIP for 1 month to unlock fast travel, gold limit and traits. All the Quest Packs I have, I bought with TP. They are unlocked forever to all characters on my account. What are not handled well in LOTRO microtransactions?

[oreyos]

Originally posted by ghostwhistler:

I doubt there's anyone really paying for content in this way when, in almost all cases including lotro, its still better value to subscribe.

You're wrong: A lot of players buy things like this with TP they earned in game, and quite a few buy a stack of TP with cash every now and then.

I bought extra character slots, extra bag space, shared storage space, quest packs and an expansion with TP I earned in game. Oh, and trait slots as well.

Why won't I just go VIP? Because I don't want to subscribe to play a game. I don't mind paying for a game, but I refuse to rent a game. This has nothing to do with LotRO or Turbine, I don't play any game that requires a subscription.

[Natty La Ridge]

Originally posted by oreyos:

Why won't I just go VIP? Because I don't want to subscribe to play a game. I don't mind paying for a game, but I refuse to rent a game. This has nothing to do with LotRO or Turbine, I don't play any game that requires a subscription.

I respect your position, but I'm curious: have you ever played a subscription-based MMO, like WoW? There's truth to the adage that you get what you pay for. Head to head, I think WoW offers a richer, more polished, more mainstreamed experience than LOTRO, despite being a couple years older, because Blizzard has been able to pay enough developers and support staff to make it so, and keep it that way.

I started playing LOTRO back in the subscription-only days, and pay for VIP now because MMOs are (or should be) never-ending development projects, and development is expensive. An annual LOTRO VIP subscription works out to about 27 cents a day, which makes it one of the best gaming values on my hard drive.

[ghostwhistler]

Yes, but you don't actually pay 27c a day. You have to pay a lot of money up front - and you may not want to play it throughout the entire year. This is one of the reasons i hate xbox live (and now PSN). The other being that online gaming sshould be free.

I have no objection to paying for content, but I'm not convinced of the model here. You are simply better off subscribing. No quesiton IMO.