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H1Z1 – Dumb Question

193 words.

This is probably a dumb question, but if these Airdrops are such a fun element of the game that everyone enjoys, why aren’t they building it into the game as random spawns like Trion’s Rifts and Arcfalls? Why would they make someone pay to spawn a fun event for everyone? That makes no sense. It’s like making people buy world boss spawns. (Don’t get any ideas, game developers. That would be terrible.)

I mean, besides the obvious answer that it’s a great way to make money from players. But then, why would anyone pay for an Airdrop if there’s little or no chance of getting anything out of it (and now apparently it will be even less chance)? That makes even less sense. I can’t even imagine spending real money for that. Maybe I’m the wrong target audience. (I’ve never bought a lockbox in my entire life.)

Sometimes I think SOE goes too far with their efforts at transparency. I mean, I appreciate the honesty, but when they “think out loud” online it sounds like they just don’t know what they’re doing, which squanders the goodwill they’re trying to get by being transparent.

Related

Next: Arbitrary Mid-January Status Update. Previously: H1Z1 – Early Access Already?.

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Archived Comments

bhagpuss 2015-01-17T18:35:32Z

I think “wrong target audience” sums it up. It’s like how almost every non-US/EU made F2P MMO has those megaphones for sale in the cash shop that allow you to broadcast to the entire server. And, of course, lockboxes, which every F2P MMO of any origin has. I would never buy either of those but their extremely widespread and long-lasting presence strongly suggests someone is buying them - a lot of someones.

I guess that if it turns out no-one wants them, no-one will buy them and they will disappear from the cash shop. If they stay, and if they are seen to be being used, then presumably a target audience will have been, well, targeted.

Murf 2015-01-17T22:22:32Z

I don’t get it either. Not only does it sound like a bad idea for a game mechanic, but I have real world issues with it as well. Do we classify these as a paid game of chance since you can’t guarantee you’ll get them? Is paying for something and failure to receive it due to game mechanics mean SOE has failed to deliver the product?

Seems dubious.

Joseph Skyrim 2015-01-17T23:27:05Z

Mabinogi, which is almost all PvE, has had a similar system during an event. A person buys a one use cash shop item which can then spawn a field boss (open world boss) which then needs to be killed in x minutes (needs a LOT of people to help out).

The reward system which gives better stuff to those who deal more damage / kill more adds / better performance / best luck score (I don’t know) is mostly the same. Highest tier reward will definitely spawn for whoever summoned the monster though, so they have incentive to buy.

So… it’s like an air drop that you need to fight with a lot of help before getting the supplies inside, but if you called the drop you will surely get something good.

As far as I could tell, those items were super popular. They aren’t available all the time though - another clever thing Mabi does.

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