himoses
01-12-2009, 03:02 PM
I hope that marketing people read this post and that other people respond.
I want Outspark to make money. I want Secret of the Solstice to be successful. I have invested 10 months and a bunch of money buying sparkcash. This is my first MMORPG and I was effectively snared while reading manga at onemanga.com. When I first started this game, I would blow $25-50 a month in sparkcash. Sparkcash items made me stand out and gave me a tangible benefit of being better than a lot of equipment in the game when I was at a lower level. Outspark chooses to offer a free game that generates cash for the company by Sparkcash sales. I would guess that Secret of the Solstice is an unprofitable game or a break-even game at best for Outspark. The game may make a profit, but I very much doubt it. Since this game is run by a for profit company, you can assume that they want to make money and be profitable on each game they host. Players that do not spend Sparkcash are still good for the game, but realistically, Sparkcash players keep the game running without advertising.
I have read a few posts over the past few months about this, and it seems like Sparkcash in this game is heavily UNDERutilized. A few really high levels players have talked about there not being enough Sparkcash items for high level players. Granted, most Sparkcash items are available to players over level 16. An item with 22 defense like the Raincoat can be invaluable to a low level player, especially with the current shortage of ap 6 gears available and out-of-control prices making high level gear inaccessible to NEW (not someone creating another toon) players. When I started, I did not know about Ap gears and spent my money to make it easier to level in a really tough game. The higher the level I attained and the more I learned about the game, Sparkcash items became more of a luxury then a necessity. I don’t care much about looking cool, but I do want to be able to aoe or take lesser damage when I grind. When the much talked about masks with +15 defense came out, I purchased a few and was really happy. I was more than happy to shell out $4 for something that would make it easier for me to level instead of spending $1+ for a gm hosted event. Players take pride in having the best gears and Sparkcash items like the Cloak of Love are a perfect example. Now, I am level 96 and barely take time to level any more. It takes too long to find gear and to level to make the game exciting, so I find my own ways. Unfortunately, that does not include leveling so my purchasing of Sparkcash has greatly diminished to about $5 a month. I want to purchase items that will make it easier for me to level, but they are now unavailable. Long story short, we could sure use some items or buffs for higher level players that make it easier for us to level.
If you are worried about inflation, you could also charge in game kron for higher leveled items like 50 million kron and say 8000 Sparkcash for an equivalent to ap 6 +5 Satisfaction helmet for 30 days.
Here are some of my ideas:
Valentine’s day chocolate gift baskets (could be in the form of emoticons to use on others) with 3 hour defense, speed, attack, dodge, etc. buffs
Wishes I could buy a permanent Hockey mask for $25. I would even pay $50. (I know, I know…join the crowd…right?)
More Sparkcash and non-Sparkcash item events and quests. I have hosted two times more in game events than Outspark in the last 4 weeks. That is sad. If no new events, give us weekly quests with each update on Wednesday.
Stackable experience book kits (able to use up to 2 100% exp books concurrently) level 90+
New sparkcash items that are level restricted that have other stats as well as DEF or ATK like mp regen and ATK. The new items should be available by level so that we are not having to worry about Xenians having a +50 defense and trying to aoe Rudwork Path (that is, if they could make it there). For example, since equipment comes every 10 or 12 levels, the new spark items should be available at same intervals. That way, someone can make a decision to get a new equipment and Xen it in the game or buy an
These are some things that can be done with little programming (costs to Outspark) and making some of the higher levels happy while generating some revenue. There have to be better ideas than mine out there, but I hope you get my point that there should be better stat Sparkcash items in Sparkcash store. Otherwise, my disposable income goes other places and not to Outspark.
I want Outspark to make money. I want Secret of the Solstice to be successful. I have invested 10 months and a bunch of money buying sparkcash. This is my first MMORPG and I was effectively snared while reading manga at onemanga.com. When I first started this game, I would blow $25-50 a month in sparkcash. Sparkcash items made me stand out and gave me a tangible benefit of being better than a lot of equipment in the game when I was at a lower level. Outspark chooses to offer a free game that generates cash for the company by Sparkcash sales. I would guess that Secret of the Solstice is an unprofitable game or a break-even game at best for Outspark. The game may make a profit, but I very much doubt it. Since this game is run by a for profit company, you can assume that they want to make money and be profitable on each game they host. Players that do not spend Sparkcash are still good for the game, but realistically, Sparkcash players keep the game running without advertising.
I have read a few posts over the past few months about this, and it seems like Sparkcash in this game is heavily UNDERutilized. A few really high levels players have talked about there not being enough Sparkcash items for high level players. Granted, most Sparkcash items are available to players over level 16. An item with 22 defense like the Raincoat can be invaluable to a low level player, especially with the current shortage of ap 6 gears available and out-of-control prices making high level gear inaccessible to NEW (not someone creating another toon) players. When I started, I did not know about Ap gears and spent my money to make it easier to level in a really tough game. The higher the level I attained and the more I learned about the game, Sparkcash items became more of a luxury then a necessity. I don’t care much about looking cool, but I do want to be able to aoe or take lesser damage when I grind. When the much talked about masks with +15 defense came out, I purchased a few and was really happy. I was more than happy to shell out $4 for something that would make it easier for me to level instead of spending $1+ for a gm hosted event. Players take pride in having the best gears and Sparkcash items like the Cloak of Love are a perfect example. Now, I am level 96 and barely take time to level any more. It takes too long to find gear and to level to make the game exciting, so I find my own ways. Unfortunately, that does not include leveling so my purchasing of Sparkcash has greatly diminished to about $5 a month. I want to purchase items that will make it easier for me to level, but they are now unavailable. Long story short, we could sure use some items or buffs for higher level players that make it easier for us to level.
If you are worried about inflation, you could also charge in game kron for higher leveled items like 50 million kron and say 8000 Sparkcash for an equivalent to ap 6 +5 Satisfaction helmet for 30 days.
Here are some of my ideas:
Valentine’s day chocolate gift baskets (could be in the form of emoticons to use on others) with 3 hour defense, speed, attack, dodge, etc. buffs
Wishes I could buy a permanent Hockey mask for $25. I would even pay $50. (I know, I know…join the crowd…right?)
More Sparkcash and non-Sparkcash item events and quests. I have hosted two times more in game events than Outspark in the last 4 weeks. That is sad. If no new events, give us weekly quests with each update on Wednesday.
Stackable experience book kits (able to use up to 2 100% exp books concurrently) level 90+
New sparkcash items that are level restricted that have other stats as well as DEF or ATK like mp regen and ATK. The new items should be available by level so that we are not having to worry about Xenians having a +50 defense and trying to aoe Rudwork Path (that is, if they could make it there). For example, since equipment comes every 10 or 12 levels, the new spark items should be available at same intervals. That way, someone can make a decision to get a new equipment and Xen it in the game or buy an
These are some things that can be done with little programming (costs to Outspark) and making some of the higher levels happy while generating some revenue. There have to be better ideas than mine out there, but I hope you get my point that there should be better stat Sparkcash items in Sparkcash store. Otherwise, my disposable income goes other places and not to Outspark.