Cosmetic Skins?

[maccas]

These are a real puzzler to me, I'm not sure who would actually buy them? Firstly, they're VERY expensive - £28 for a pure cosmetic armour/horse. Secondly, the game already has the premium package for supporting itself, so this is just an extra cash grab, which is fine as it's a completely frivolous purchase. But mostly it's that these go against the "you are what you wear" ethos of the game, so only show up in towns/cities, you know, those places with 500 characters running around. No one is paying any attention to anyone else, they're just trying to see themselves!

Has anyone actually bought any skins? Could you share what motivated you? Just being how you want to play your character is entirely valid, this is an RPG after all, but that comes back to my first point that they're SO expensive.

[maccas]

That....actually makes sense. I've only ever bought skins in games with things like ships, where it is entirely just for looking cool :D

[Enger]

skins look cool, abit overpriced yeah but its alright in a sale good way to support the devs and yes people do care about skins maybe you dont but alot of us do

[DonkeyLove]

They are pretty expensive I agree but some of the starter bundles that are on sale are good deals. If you know you'll be buying the next three months or more of premium then you can just buy the bundle and get 90 days 500 gold plus the skins which is a better value

[Enger]

Originally posted by Walker:

They are pretty expensive I agree but some of the starter bundles that are on sale are good deals. If you know you'll be buying the next three months or more of premium then you can just buy the bundle and get 90 days 500 gold plus the skins which is a better value

^this

[Mel]

The thing is, $28 is NOT a lot of money to many people. The kind of people who financially support this kind of game and keep it alive. So, as something that gives no benefit and is only "for style", why not charge a premium? Just like a $30 T-Shirt with the word 'Nike' on it. It's probably not much better than the $6 plain white T-Shirt, but plenty of people buy it.

[maccas]

Originally posted by Melwing:

The thing is, $28 is NOT a lot of money to many people.

In the context of gaming/entertainment it is, regardless of someone's personal finances. That's half the cost of an entire AAA title. That's 3 months of an MMO subscription. For a skin, with no benefits other than how you look in towns and cities when you're surrounded by 500 other players, and those on slower connections might not load you in by the time they run past so you're just a yellow mannequin!

As for supporting the game, that's what Premium is for.

There are negative connotations attached to overpriced ingame assets, anyone heard of the Eve Monocle? An extreme case, but there's nothing positive about someone buying that - either they have a LOT of money in RL but feel the need to show everyone which is pretty tragic, or they want to -look- like they have a lot of money in RL to blow on things like that, which is also just as tragic!

[Errol Flynn]

You can have skins shown on other players in all zones but its not a great idea. I bought some skins because I like the cosmetic way of funding over pay to win.

The issue in Albion is that when you have a skin equipped and use an ability the animation is with your equipped item not the skin. To me that is really sloppy for something that is quite expensive.

I think they should expand the list of cosmetics that can be purchased with gold as it would be a good way to remove silver from the economy.

I don't really get the issue though. If you don't like cosmetics or they are too expensive for you then just be happy you get to play the same game without having to pay. Also I always laugh when people say you could get a AAA game for that. Albion ♥♥♥♥♥ on any AAA game I have played in a long time. You ain't getting these kind of hours out of a AAA game.
What was the last AAA game that lived up to the hype? Skyrim?

[maccas]

Originally posted by Errol Flynn:

What was the last AAA game that lived up to the hype? Skyrim?

Battlefield 2042, 100%

I just don't get the idea of premium cosmetic skins in a game with both very minimal basic graphics (because of the original intent to be playable on mobile as well), AND the whole "you are what you wear" policy in place from day 1. "You spent £28 on THAT!?" lol

[maccas]

I'm not against cosmetic skins, I have spent money on skins in BDO, because it's a very pretty game and some of the skins look amazing, and I want to love how I look while I'm blitzing mobs and PVP etc, and everyone else can see my skin too - they're fully customisable too, so my particular skin is different to others with the same skin, because mine's a cool metallic black + gold etc etc.

While i like the art style of Albion, I wouldn't call it pretty or a visual feast. And coupled with how your skin disappears when you leave a safe zone or town, I just don't understand why someone would want to spend more than a fiver on something like that, of that quality. How much work do you think it took for them to create the paladin skin really?

[Mel]

Originally posted by MajorMaccas:

Originally posted by Errol Flynn:

What was the last AAA game that lived up to the hype? Skyrim?

Battlefield 2042, 100%

I just don't get the idea of premium cosmetic skins in a game with both very minimal basic graphics (because of the original intent to be playable on mobile as well), AND the whole "you are what you wear" policy in place from day 1. "You spent £28 on THAT!?" lol

Again, because it's better to have overpriced cosmetics for people to help the game stay alive, than adding more p2w nonsense. Obviously it's working out fine, too.

[bunies]

are you new to online video games ??? cosmetic microtransactions are almost defintely more profitable then actual pay to win mechanics, look at how insanely rich Riot games has become from that

[maccas]

Originally posted by bunies:

are you new to online video games ??? cosmetic microtransactions are almost defintely more profitable then actual pay to win mechanics, look at how insanely rich Riot games has become from that

Having spent money on skins in other games, I am aware of their draw and how important their revenue is for developers. But in those games, they actually look good. While Albion is nice/quaint etc, it's not a graphical marvel. The paladin skin is just tier 8 plate with a couple of red robes added, and other games you buy the skin and it's usable/seen everywhere.

[Mel]

Originally posted by MajorMaccas:

Originally posted by bunies:

are you new to online video games ??? cosmetic microtransactions are almost defintely more profitable then actual pay to win mechanics, look at how insanely rich Riot games has become from that

Having spent money on skins in other games, I am aware of their draw and how important their revenue is for developers. But in those games, they actually look good. While Albion is nice/quaint etc, it's not a graphical marvel. The paladin skin is just tier 8 plate with a couple of red robes added, and other games you buy the skin and it's usable/seen everywhere.

A fair criticism for sure. However, the point stands that the game is FAR better off and healthier with overpriced cosmetics as they are now, than it would be with p2w shop items. It is pure choice. I don't buy skins, but if I did- I could see viewing it as it just being a way to drop a donation in the dev's bucket and get something in return.

[Bash Arkin]

You can turn off the skins in the options too by the by. For other people even.

[Beef]

you poor so stop hatin