I have an easy solution for this: If you don't like the skin / find them to be worth buying, don't buy them. It's not like you're being required to have them to play, they're purely cosmetic.
I have an easy solution for this: If you don't like the skin / find them to be worth buying, don't buy them. It's not like you're being required to have them to play, they're purely cosmetic.
no Decoy, they're obviously way too overpowered, you're basically pitch black with those skins.
schkorpioI can mspaintJoin Date: 2003-05-23Member: 16635Members
The problem with skins is, it's poor way to improve the game, and does nothing to address the issues. I've been playing NS1 since it's first public release, and skins are the last thing that makes me want keep playing.
The problem with skins is, it's poor way to improve the game, and does nothing to address the issues. I've been playing NS1 since it's first public release, and skins are the last thing that makes me want keep playing.
It may do nothing for you, but others may like it. Besides, the artists aren't likely to be coding anyway so it isn't a loss of development time and more of a well rounded approach.
Cosmetics for whom? The person buying them doesn't even see the skin they wear. Oh! thanks for showing off to me.
What if this was a racing game and only the paying got to keep a new paint job and body work...
It would be sour when you can't afford to look good for the next race because in real life, it sucks. Oh the fun.
The deluxe edition marine looked similar to standard, and the preorder was unobtainable and meaningful.
Then reinforcement came and ruined it. While I do believe the shadow skulk is harder to see in the dark then any other skin, my sourness spawns from the introduction of money into the game. In fact, the badges on the score board were also part of this. Even though I played ns1, I had not participated in the lenthy time between then and NS2's release. So, I was unaware of the donor reward system.
If NS2 were selling skins as they are now when I bought this game...I may have not invensted into it. However, the price was $25. I knew NS1 and trusted the content. It seemed at the time to not be involved with microtransactions. I'm not unique.
Does the game want to market to players Happy with microtransactions... That may be UWE's business, but it is not fun. I think we're missing out on the serious players needed for commanding and teamwork. The players escaping life because they live on a tight budget and the cost of real socialising is expensive as f.
I'm an idiot for not seeing the skin market's arrival? Maybe for not seeing the deluxe version as a skin market...maybe for thinking donation and rewards is a market, instead.... Relax, because I never claimed to be perfect and I don't believe UWE has been either.
Cosmetics for whom? The person buying them doesn't even see the skin they wear. Oh! thanks for showing off to me.
What if this was a racing game and only the paying got to keep a new paint job and body work...
It would be sour when you can't afford to look good for the next race because in real life, it sucks. Oh the fun.
The deluxe edition marine looked similar to standard, and the preorder was unobtainable and meaningful.
Then reinforcement came and ruined it. While I do believe the shadow skulk is harder to see in the dark then any other skin, my sourness spawns from the introduction of money into the game. In fact, the badges on the score board were also part of this. Even though I played ns1, I had not participated in the lenthy time between then and NS2's release. So, I was unaware of the donor reward system.
If NS2 were selling skins as they are now when I bought this game...I may have not invensted into it. However, the price was $25. I knew NS1 and trusted the content. It seemed at the time to not be involved with microtransactions. I'm not unique.
Does the game want to market to players Happy with microtransactions... That may be UWE's business, but it is not fun. I think we're missing out on the serious players needed for commanding and teamwork. The players escaping life because they live on a tight budget and the cost of real socialising is expensive as f.
I'm an idiot for not seeing the skin market's arrival? Maybe for not seeing the deluxe version as a skin market...maybe for thinking donation and rewards is a market, instead.... Relax, because I never claimed to be perfect and I don't believe UWE has been either.
Cosmetics for whom? The person buying them doesn't even see the skin they wear. Oh! thanks for showing off to me.
What if this was a racing game and only the paying got to keep a new paint job and body work...
It would be sour when you can't afford to look good for the next race because in real life, it sucks. Oh the fun.
The deluxe edition marine looked similar to standard, and the preorder was unobtainable and meaningful.
Then reinforcement came and ruined it. While I do believe the shadow skulk is harder to see in the dark then any other skin, my sourness spawns from the introduction of money into the game. In fact, the badges on the score board were also part of this. Even though I played ns1, I had not participated in the lenthy time between then and NS2's release. So, I was unaware of the donor reward system.
If NS2 were selling skins as they are now when I bought this game...I may have not invensted into it. However, the price was $25. I knew NS1 and trusted the content. It seemed at the time to not be involved with microtransactions. I'm not unique.
Does the game want to market to players Happy with microtransactions... That may be UWE's business, but it is not fun. I think we're missing out on the serious players needed for commanding and teamwork. The players escaping life because they live on a tight budget and the cost of real socialising is expensive as f.
I'm an idiot for not seeing the skin market's arrival? Maybe for not seeing the deluxe version as a skin market...maybe for thinking donation and rewards is a market, instead.... Relax, because I never claimed to be perfect and I don't believe UWE has been either.
Well, you answered your own question. Even if they can't see their skins in-game, people still enjoy buying cosmetics and customizing their characters simply for showing off to others. Tons of people buy, trade, or gamble for these in TF2 even though it's a first-person shooter. Then again, players have plenty of chances to view their skins in-game, switching to third-person view temporarily due to taunting, using certain items, etc. There's also the ingenious deathcam, which briefly displays the player who most recently killed you as well as listing the cosmetics he/she is wearing. It's all a carefully crafted system designed to make players want to acquire more cosmetics and make their characters look as cool or unique as possible. It's also a fair system since you can craft nearly every cosmetic (barring certain promos) without having to pay money, although it can take a very long time to acquire specific items due to the randomness of crafting.
If you're not a part of the third-person cosmetic crowd, weapon skins a la CS:GO would do the trick and they would be perfectly viable additions.
It just came to me that an alternative to purchasing cosmetics, such as a crafting system, would be an idea worth exploring for players who wish to earn cosmetics, yet they don't want to spend money. Perhaps players automatically earn their own separate resources over time, which are specifically used for crafting both alien and marine cosmetics. These resources would be capped weekly in order to make it fair for casual players. This encourages all players to play at least a few rounds or so every week, increasing player retention.
Also, supply caches and an equivalent for aliens (void spheres handed out by Santa Fade?) could be weekly drops, which can only be opened using rare resources bought through an item shop. Once opened, they can have a chance at dropping uncraftable cosmetics. Perhaps these could be existing cosmetics modified to look extra special. This would appeal to those who enjoy gambling and I can only imagine how financially rewarding it would be for UWE. It would take a while to create all of the above systems and the cosmetics assets, though.
Concerning cosmetics, I have high hopes that there will be a wide variety of them. Instead of boring full-body skins, modular cosmetics would allow for much more creative expression. Cosmetics types could include headgear and miscellaneous accessories that fit on the rest of the body. You would only be able to equip cosmetics that do not conflict with or overlap each other. Imagine if, for marines, you could equip a beret, a military badge, fancy holster, spec ops rifle, etc. For aliens, perhaps you could equip different markings (spots, stripes, etc.), teeth, claws, lerk wings, onos horns, etc. Irradiated Fade Claws... How cool would that be?
Most importantly, get modders involved by holding contests and implementing community-created assets. Chosen winners can be rewarded with a free, unique version of their created cosmetic as well as recognition.
Cosmetics for whom? The person buying them doesn't even see the skin they wear. Oh! thanks for showing off to me.
What if this was a racing game and only the paying got to keep a new paint job and body work...
It would be sour when you can't afford to look good for the next race because in real life, it sucks. Oh the fun.
The deluxe edition marine looked similar to standard, and the preorder was unobtainable and meaningful.
Then reinforcement came and ruined it. While I do believe the shadow skulk is harder to see in the dark then any other skin, my sourness spawns from the introduction of money into the game. In fact, the badges on the score board were also part of this. Even though I played ns1, I had not participated in the lenthy time between then and NS2's release. So, I was unaware of the donor reward system.
If NS2 were selling skins as they are now when I bought this game...I may have not invensted into it. However, the price was $25. I knew NS1 and trusted the content. It seemed at the time to not be involved with microtransactions. I'm not unique.
Does the game want to market to players Happy with microtransactions... That may be UWE's business, but it is not fun. I think we're missing out on the serious players needed for commanding and teamwork. The players escaping life because they live on a tight budget and the cost of real socialising is expensive as f.
I'm an idiot for not seeing the skin market's arrival? Maybe for not seeing the deluxe version as a skin market...maybe for thinking donation and rewards is a market, instead.... Relax, because I never claimed to be perfect and I don't believe UWE has been either.
Well, you answered your own question. Even if they can't see their skins in-game, people still enjoy buying cosmetics and customizing their characters simply for showing off to others. Tons of people buy, trade, or gamble for these in TF2 even though it's a first-person shooter. Then again, players have plenty of chances to view their skins in-game, switching to third-person view temporarily due to taunting, using certain items, etc. There's also the ingenious deathcam, which briefly displays the player who most recently killed you as well as listing the cosmetics he/she is wearing. It's all a carefully crafted system designed to make players want to acquire more cosmetics and make their characters look as cool or unique as possible. It's also a fair system since you can craft nearly every cosmetic (barring certain promos) without having to pay money, although it can take a very long time to acquire specific items due to the randomness of crafting.
If you're not a part of the third-person cosmetic crowd, weapon skins a la CS:GO would do the trick and they would be perfectly viable additions.
It just came to me that an alternative to purchasing cosmetics, such as a crafting system, would be an idea worth exploring for players who wish to earn cosmetics, yet they don't want to spend money. Perhaps players automatically earn their own separate resources over time, which are specifically used for crafting both alien and marine cosmetics. These resources would be capped weekly in order to make it fair for casual players. This encourages all players to play at least a few rounds or so every week, increasing player retention.
Also, supply caches and an equivalent for aliens (void spheres handed out by Santa Fade?) could be weekly drops, which can only be opened using rare resources bought through an item shop. Once opened, they can have a chance at dropping uncraftable cosmetics. Perhaps these could be existing cosmetics modified to look extra special. This would appeal to those who enjoy gambling and I can only imagine how financially rewarding it would be for UWE. It would take a while to create all of the above systems and the cosmetics assets, though.
Concerning cosmetics, I have high hopes that there will be a wide variety of them. Instead of boring full-body skins, modular cosmetics would allow for much more creative expression. Cosmetics types could include headgear and miscellaneous accessories that fit on the rest of the body. You would only be able to equip cosmetics that do not conflict with or overlap each other. Imagine if, for marines, you could equip a beret, a military badge, fancy holster, spec ops rifle, etc. For aliens, perhaps you could equip different markings (spots, stripes, etc.), teeth, claws, lerk wings, onos horns, etc. Irradiated Fade Claws... How cool would that be?
Most importantly, get modders involved by holding contests and implementing community-created assets. Chosen winners can be rewarded with a free, unique version of their created cosmetic as well as recognition.
All of that ^ is what I don't look for in my games. (Thanks Nominous)
All of that ^ is what I don't look for in my games. (Thanks Nominous)
It's a good thing people have different opinions of what they like and dislike. I'm a big fan of modular cosmetics as it gives players greater ways to express themselves.
Halo: Reach will always be my favorite 'build a soldier' game.
^ Yes, NS2 could use some tasteful variety. But I never want to see pink skulks and marines on gorge mounts.
What I dislike is the weekly (or worse daily or worse per round) unskippable dialog of "here get some unsignificant amount of fake-cash or locked chest or lottery" and "play when we tell you to or else" schemes. Thats what I took from the post from @Nominous
If it happens I will accept it as necessary evil, to get some money for further game development. But I will not as a consumer welcome it enthusiasticaly.
All of that ^ is what I don't look for in my games. (Thanks Nominous)
It's a good thing people have different opinions of what they like and dislike. I'm a big fan of modular cosmetics as it gives players greater ways to express themselves.
Halo: Reach will always be my favorite 'build a soldier' game.
I have to agree that many customizing options are fun and it is cool to see other peoples skins. But only when two conditions are met:
1. Let the cosmetics be authentic. Really when I see a marine wearing a Santa Claus hat I will quit this game. It would completely destroy the atmosphere.
2. Make it achievable ingame. Most players hate microtransactions for good reason and this is NOT a free 2 play game. Having to pay for your skins or for "chances" to get skins (even worse) is just a terrible mechanic. The people who got more money get more skins. When skins are achieved ingame or crafted ingame it is some sort of reward for your playing time which would be a good thing.
All of that ^ is what I don't look for in my games. (Thanks Nominous)
Fair enough. It sounded like in your previous post that you weren't opposed to cosmetics as long as they didn't have to be bought. That brought to mind TF2's crafting system, which I thought would be a good, fun alternative to having to buy cosmetics. Achievement-linked cosmetics as mentioned by @The_Welsh_Wizard could work as well, although I find these to be time-consuming and boring by comparison in other games.
^ Yes, NS2 could use some tasteful variety. But I never want to see pink skulks and marines on gorge mounts.
What I dislike is the weekly (or worse daily or worse per round) unskippable dialog of "here get some unsignificant amount of fake-cash or locked chest or lottery" and "play when we tell you to or else" schemes. Thats what I took from the post from @Nominous
If it happens I will accept it as necessary evil, to get some money for further game development. But I will not as a consumer welcome it enthusiasticaly.
As @UncleCrunch mentioned, there are already some weird neon-colored skins available as mods or rewards for buying reserved slots on certain servers. I wouldn't want them to be implemented as official cosmetics either since they don't follow the official art direction nor match the game's atmosphere. I wouldn't be opposed to some cosmetics with slightly humorous references to inside jokes like "lork on the clorf" (i.e. cosmetic featuring rubble on the lerk body captioned, "Now you can take your clorf with you.") or something. NS2 takes itself way too seriously at times. I would be happy as long as cosmetics mostly match the game's atmosphere and meet the current assets' standard of quality.
During the time I played it, TF2 didn't have overly intrusive notifications telling you to use certain features. The crate drops themselves are a gentle reminder to the player to open them up if they wish. You can just delete them from your inventory or trade like three of them for a common weapon if you don't want them. Besides crates, you would get ready-to-use items like weapons and, rarely, cosmetics drops. You don't even have to play the game in order to get these drops. There are trade servers designed to let you go AFK and get drops automatically over time. There are some obvious flaws in the way TF2 handles crafting, trading, and purchasing items, but its systems certainly benefited both Valve and players alike. I'm sure there are a lot of ways for NS2 to adopt some of these systems, improving and modifying them to suit the players' needs.
All of that ^ is what I don't look for in my games. (Thanks Nominous)
It's a good thing people have different opinions of what they like and dislike. I'm a big fan of modular cosmetics as it gives players greater ways to express themselves.
Halo: Reach will always be my favorite 'build a soldier' game.
I have to agree that many customizing options are fun and it is cool to see other peoples skins. But only when two conditions are met:
1. Let the cosmetics be authentic. Really when I see a marine wearing a Santa Claus hat I will quit this game. It would completely destroy the atmosphere.
2. Make it achievable ingame. Most players hate microtransactions for good reason and this is NOT a free 2 play game. Having to pay for your skins or for "chances" to get skins (even worse) is just a terrible mechanic. The people who got more money get more skins. When skins are achieved ingame or crafted ingame it is some sort of reward for your playing time which would be a good thing.
In regards to point number 2 that you made, I disagree, I think that monetising skins is a great way to generate revenue, and promote a market like system in the game. Most people hate microtransactions that aren't done well, eg every iOS game and PAYDAY 2 for example. Look at games that have done it very well, and have seen great success in monetising cosmetic content: CSGO, DOTA, Rocket League etc.
In regards to point number 2 that you made, I disagree, I think that monetising skins is a great way to generate revenue, and promote a market like system in the game. Most people hate microtransactions that aren't done well, eg every iOS game and PAYDAY 2 for example. Look at games that have done it very well, and have seen great success in monetising cosmetic content: CSGO, DOTA, Rocket League etc.
You forgot to mention the other side of the story. As high as they go, they go down faster when the time comes. There's room for only one King.
Cosmetics have a limit User interface and choices
1 The more you create that kind of content the more it makes the inventory bigger leading to 2 behaviors
1a - Looking at every single skin and finally choose one instead of playing the game for the fun it can provide. Logical...well maybe not.
1b - Discouraging big list... booooring, moving on.
I mean making a sandbox game (no real goal or story) in which everyone can customize and bring its skin/model is the same. Or "Barbie Digital" if you prefer.
Originality versus Cash machine
2 The more you include this kind of content the more it leads to these :
2a Promoting skin content will make the game looks like a scam, more than genuine gaming experience (Precisely what NS needs to make people stay). When you play a free game on your mobile phone and don't want to buy the optional stuff, it becomes annoying to see a price tag everywhere at some point.
2b The skin content becomes less and less original as you add more content. Leading to the need to create not only skins but also models and so on. Which leads to redesigning (artistically) the game and therefore be confronted with potential abuse. The "shadow skin" is already a step in that direction (the model is different).
It also attracts a volatile type of people. Not the one who stay for long. I don't see where this game will go with a "skin buyer community" TBH.
I would prefer more maps or game modes for NS2. Or even a solo story. The editor (even not perfect) allows to do maps in a relatively easy way. The Blender Exporter just needs a final debug and everyone will have the tools to create content for the game (skin and non animated models at least). If it could be on the next patch, i would welcome it far better than any "Chupa Chups" content.
^ Yes, NS2 could use some tasteful variety. But I never want to see pink skulks and marines on gorge mounts.
Some people already do. Right now you can have it.
I sit corrected. -> I never want to see those AGAIN.
Some realistic and mildly amusing things are okay I guess (marine with My little pony styled rifle). But when everyone have those, it's not humorous anymore (people running around in pirate costumes and blunderbusses and with tiger heads or riddiculous things like that).
All of that ^ is what I don't look for in my games. (Thanks Nominous)
It's a good thing people have different opinions of what they like and dislike. I'm a big fan of modular cosmetics as it gives players greater ways to express themselves.
Halo: Reach will always be my favorite 'build a soldier' game.
I have to agree that many customizing options are fun and it is cool to see other peoples skins. But only when two conditions are met:
1. Let the cosmetics be authentic. Really when I see a marine wearing a Santa Claus hat I will quit this game. It would completely destroy the atmosphere.
2. Make it achievable ingame. Most players hate microtransactions for good reason and this is NOT a free 2 play game. Having to pay for your skins or for "chances" to get skins (even worse) is just a terrible mechanic. The people who got more money get more skins. When skins are achieved ingame or crafted ingame it is some sort of reward for your playing time which would be a good thing.
In regards to point number 2 that you made, I disagree, I think that monetising skins is a great way to generate revenue, and promote a market like system in the game. Most people hate microtransactions that aren't done well, eg every iOS game and PAYDAY 2 for example. Look at games that have done it very well, and have seen great success in monetising cosmetic content: CSGO, DOTA, Rocket League etc.
I am not familiar with these games, but why would someone like to pay for things instead of getting them for free?
I am not familiar with these games, but why would someone like to pay for things instead of getting them for free?
It's pretty simple for me. If I look at how long it would take to grind and get the skin/unlockable for free and then get that amount of time and multiply it by what I am worth per hour in terms of my employment, I determine that 100% of the time I am better off just buying. Often it's an impulse purchase or impatience. This was the case in Dirty Bomb where I just paid to unlock most of the Mercs, in Nosgoth I paid to unlock certain weapons or abilities I wanted to try, and in Robocraft I paid to get faster XP and a large volume of a certain style of brick. Instant gratification was had that day.
My time is more important to me than my money since I just waste the latter on food and booze, while the former is decaying at a constant rate.
I am not familiar with these games, but why would someone like to pay for things instead of getting them for free?
It's pretty simple for me. If I look at how long it would take to grind and get the skin/unlockable for free and then get that amount of time and multiply it by what I am worth per hour in terms of my employment, I determine that 100% of the time I am better off just buying. Often it's an impulse purchase or impatience. This was the case in Dirty Bomb where I just paid to unlock most of the Mercs, in Nosgoth I paid to unlock certain weapons or abilities I wanted to try, and in Robocraft I paid to get faster XP and a large volume of a certain style of brick. Instant gratification was had that day.
My time is more important to me than my money since I just waste the latter on food and booze, while the former is decaying at a constant rate.
Then I don't understand why you play a game when you don't have time for it. And it is not the question between time and money anyway. You can make custimization for free even if it doesn't need to be unlocked, just let all players have all customization options. Easy and great for the players.
Then I don't understand why you play a game when you don't have time for it. And it is not the question between time and money anyway. You can make custimization for free even if it doesn't need to be unlocked, just let all players have all customization options. Easy and great for the players.
I never said I don't have time to play a game, just that I want to spend what time I do have available playing the game how I want to play it. So for example in Robocraft I want to play with a certain weapon system and propulsion but it wasn't available. So I paid to have it unlocked and then I could play how I wanted, rather than grinding and playing the game in a manner I didn't want to play for hours/days.
Customisation requires content with which to customise, which has to be made by someone. Obviously this person doesn't do it for free and as such any content made has to be carefully weighed up against potential returns. Making a whole bunch of customisation for NS2 at this point would be pointless without a method with which to monetize it as many more a game is unlikely to be sold.
I see that you are selling skins because you lost hope in selling copies of the game... I agree with this perspective!
I believe others are seeing this too. Why should strangers put hope into this game? If you can't sell copies of the game, then I have been spectating a skin market for over a year now. It's not fun to see a company hit up the same peeps. It's not fun for me or new players whom are less in tune with your passion for...your changes. The specticle that this all gives leads one to believe there's no real content but the skins. I'm sure this is made even worse by the array of games littering steam that shouldn't even be sold as games. As simulators at best.
Comments
I have an easy solution for this: If you don't like the skin / find them to be worth buying, don't buy them. It's not like you're being required to have them to play, they're purely cosmetic.
Exactly! I personally like seeing the few shadow skinned players and taking screen-shots of them to keep in my......collection....huehuehue
But unless they gave you a boost of some sorts,I don't see any reason to hate skins
no Decoy, they're obviously way too overpowered, you're basically pitch black with those skins.
:kappa:
On the contrary for me, I dumped close to $200 in cosmetics overall for this game as it is. I'm too invested to quit.
It may do nothing for you, but others may like it. Besides, the artists aren't likely to be coding anyway so it isn't a loss of development time and more of a well rounded approach.
Cosmetics for whom? The person buying them doesn't even see the skin they wear. Oh! thanks for showing off to me.
What if this was a racing game and only the paying got to keep a new paint job and body work...
It would be sour when you can't afford to look good for the next race because in real life, it sucks. Oh the fun.
The deluxe edition marine looked similar to standard, and the preorder was unobtainable and meaningful.
Then reinforcement came and ruined it. While I do believe the shadow skulk is harder to see in the dark then any other skin, my sourness spawns from the introduction of money into the game. In fact, the badges on the score board were also part of this. Even though I played ns1, I had not participated in the lenthy time between then and NS2's release. So, I was unaware of the donor reward system.
If NS2 were selling skins as they are now when I bought this game...I may have not invensted into it. However, the price was $25. I knew NS1 and trusted the content. It seemed at the time to not be involved with microtransactions. I'm not unique.
Does the game want to market to players Happy with microtransactions... That may be UWE's business, but it is not fun. I think we're missing out on the serious players needed for commanding and teamwork. The players escaping life because they live on a tight budget and the cost of real socialising is expensive as f.
I'm an idiot for not seeing the skin market's arrival? Maybe for not seeing the deluxe version as a skin market...maybe for thinking donation and rewards is a market, instead.... Relax, because I never claimed to be perfect and I don't believe UWE has been either.
Please...please stop.
If you're not a part of the third-person cosmetic crowd, weapon skins a la CS:GO would do the trick and they would be perfectly viable additions.
It just came to me that an alternative to purchasing cosmetics, such as a crafting system, would be an idea worth exploring for players who wish to earn cosmetics, yet they don't want to spend money. Perhaps players automatically earn their own separate resources over time, which are specifically used for crafting both alien and marine cosmetics. These resources would be capped weekly in order to make it fair for casual players. This encourages all players to play at least a few rounds or so every week, increasing player retention.
Also, supply caches and an equivalent for aliens (void spheres handed out by Santa Fade?) could be weekly drops, which can only be opened using rare resources bought through an item shop. Once opened, they can have a chance at dropping uncraftable cosmetics. Perhaps these could be existing cosmetics modified to look extra special. This would appeal to those who enjoy gambling and I can only imagine how financially rewarding it would be for UWE. It would take a while to create all of the above systems and the cosmetics assets, though.
Concerning cosmetics, I have high hopes that there will be a wide variety of them. Instead of boring full-body skins, modular cosmetics would allow for much more creative expression. Cosmetics types could include headgear and miscellaneous accessories that fit on the rest of the body. You would only be able to equip cosmetics that do not conflict with or overlap each other. Imagine if, for marines, you could equip a beret, a military badge, fancy holster, spec ops rifle, etc. For aliens, perhaps you could equip different markings (spots, stripes, etc.), teeth, claws, lerk wings, onos horns, etc. Irradiated Fade Claws... How cool would that be?
Most importantly, get modders involved by holding contests and implementing community-created assets. Chosen winners can be rewarded with a free, unique version of their created cosmetic as well as recognition.
All of that ^ is what I don't look for in my games. (Thanks Nominous)
It's a good thing people have different opinions of what they like and dislike. I'm a big fan of modular cosmetics as it gives players greater ways to express themselves.
Halo: Reach will always be my favorite 'build a soldier' game.
What I dislike is the weekly (or worse daily or worse per round) unskippable dialog of "here get some unsignificant amount of fake-cash or locked chest or lottery" and "play when we tell you to or else" schemes. Thats what I took from the post from @Nominous
If it happens I will accept it as necessary evil, to get some money for further game development. But I will not as a consumer welcome it enthusiasticaly.
I have to agree that many customizing options are fun and it is cool to see other peoples skins. But only when two conditions are met:
1. Let the cosmetics be authentic. Really when I see a marine wearing a Santa Claus hat I will quit this game. It would completely destroy the atmosphere.
2. Make it achievable ingame. Most players hate microtransactions for good reason and this is NOT a free 2 play game. Having to pay for your skins or for "chances" to get skins (even worse) is just a terrible mechanic. The people who got more money get more skins. When skins are achieved ingame or crafted ingame it is some sort of reward for your playing time which would be a good thing.
Just like NS1.
It made everything much more dynamic.
Of course with how gorge tunnels are now, it would never work.
As @UncleCrunch mentioned, there are already some weird neon-colored skins available as mods or rewards for buying reserved slots on certain servers. I wouldn't want them to be implemented as official cosmetics either since they don't follow the official art direction nor match the game's atmosphere. I wouldn't be opposed to some cosmetics with slightly humorous references to inside jokes like "lork on the clorf" (i.e. cosmetic featuring rubble on the lerk body captioned, "Now you can take your clorf with you.") or something. NS2 takes itself way too seriously at times. I would be happy as long as cosmetics mostly match the game's atmosphere and meet the current assets' standard of quality.
During the time I played it, TF2 didn't have overly intrusive notifications telling you to use certain features. The crate drops themselves are a gentle reminder to the player to open them up if they wish. You can just delete them from your inventory or trade like three of them for a common weapon if you don't want them. Besides crates, you would get ready-to-use items like weapons and, rarely, cosmetics drops. You don't even have to play the game in order to get these drops. There are trade servers designed to let you go AFK and get drops automatically over time. There are some obvious flaws in the way TF2 handles crafting, trading, and purchasing items, but its systems certainly benefited both Valve and players alike. I'm sure there are a lot of ways for NS2 to adopt some of these systems, improving and modifying them to suit the players' needs.
In regards to point number 2 that you made, I disagree, I think that monetising skins is a great way to generate revenue, and promote a market like system in the game. Most people hate microtransactions that aren't done well, eg every iOS game and PAYDAY 2 for example. Look at games that have done it very well, and have seen great success in monetising cosmetic content: CSGO, DOTA, Rocket League etc.
You forgot to mention the other side of the story. As high as they go, they go down faster when the time comes. There's room for only one King.
Cosmetics have a limit
User interface and choices
I mean making a sandbox game (no real goal or story) in which everyone can customize and bring its skin/model is the same. Or "Barbie Digital" if you prefer.
Originality versus Cash machine
It also attracts a volatile type of people. Not the one who stay for long. I don't see where this game will go with a "skin buyer community" TBH.
I would prefer more maps or game modes for NS2. Or even a solo story. The editor (even not perfect) allows to do maps in a relatively easy way. The Blender Exporter just needs a final debug and everyone will have the tools to create content for the game (skin and non animated models at least). If it could be on the next patch, i would welcome it far better than any "Chupa Chups" content.
I sit corrected. -> I never want to see those AGAIN.
Some realistic and mildly amusing things are okay I guess (marine with My little pony styled rifle). But when everyone have those, it's not humorous anymore (people running around in pirate costumes and blunderbusses and with tiger heads or riddiculous things like that).
It's pretty simple for me. If I look at how long it would take to grind and get the skin/unlockable for free and then get that amount of time and multiply it by what I am worth per hour in terms of my employment, I determine that 100% of the time I am better off just buying. Often it's an impulse purchase or impatience. This was the case in Dirty Bomb where I just paid to unlock most of the Mercs, in Nosgoth I paid to unlock certain weapons or abilities I wanted to try, and in Robocraft I paid to get faster XP and a large volume of a certain style of brick. Instant gratification was had that day.
My time is more important to me than my money since I just waste the latter on food and booze, while the former is decaying at a constant rate.
Then I don't understand why you play a game when you don't have time for it. And it is not the question between time and money anyway. You can make custimization for free even if it doesn't need to be unlocked, just let all players have all customization options. Easy and great for the players.
I never said I don't have time to play a game, just that I want to spend what time I do have available playing the game how I want to play it. So for example in Robocraft I want to play with a certain weapon system and propulsion but it wasn't available. So I paid to have it unlocked and then I could play how I wanted, rather than grinding and playing the game in a manner I didn't want to play for hours/days.
Customisation requires content with which to customise, which has to be made by someone. Obviously this person doesn't do it for free and as such any content made has to be carefully weighed up against potential returns. Making a whole bunch of customisation for NS2 at this point would be pointless without a method with which to monetize it as many more a game is unlikely to be sold.
bang for buck etc
I believe others are seeing this too. Why should strangers put hope into this game? If you can't sell copies of the game, then I have been spectating a skin market for over a year now. It's not fun to see a company hit up the same peeps. It's not fun for me or new players whom are less in tune with your passion for...your changes. The specticle that this all gives leads one to believe there's no real content but the skins. I'm sure this is made even worse by the array of games littering steam that shouldn't even be sold as games. As simulators at best.