MPQ Developer Q&A February & March 2023 (ANSWERS)

13

Comments

  • entrailbucket
    entrailbucket Posts: 7,016 Chairperson of the Boards

    I think I'm drawing a line between people who build their rosters to play the game (gameplay-focused) and people who only play the game to build their rosters (rewards-focused). I don't understand the second group at all.

    It goes back to my favorite hypothetical -- if you could pay some reasonable amount (say $0.99) to buy first-place rewards for every event (including an alliance score) but it meant that you couldn't play that event at all, how many events would you buy out?

    Just the ones you hate? Would you only play events you really liked? Or would you buy out every event? If it's the last option...what are you still doing here?

  • entrailbucket
    entrailbucket Posts: 7,016 Chairperson of the Boards

    @dianetics said:
    pay to not play? **** im not a zoomer

    When I ask this question on Line, you would not believe how many players would buy out every single event. It's like 90% or more. A lot of them cannot even comprehend that others want to play the game, vs just getting the rewards.

  • entrailbucket
    entrailbucket Posts: 7,016 Chairperson of the Boards

    A lot of people view playing the game as an inconvenient, unpleasant chore that they have to do in order to get covers/CP/etc to build their rosters.

  • Daredevil217
    Daredevil217 Posts: 4,088 Chairperson of the Boards

    @entrailbucket said:
    A lot of people view playing the game as an inconvenient, unpleasant chore that they have to do in order to get covers/CP/etc to build their rosters.

    I see now. I like both aspects lol. I don’t think it has to be either/or.

  • Skindo
    Skindo Posts: 11 Just Dropped In

    I will probably stop responding after this but: 1. playing the game on the game's schedule is somewhat inconvenient. 2. Collecting rewards lets you play the game (essentials, crash, puzzle ops), even if you are not interested in speed running. It allows you to try out more interesting teams, so though I do like the collection aspect, it seems to me that people who only focus on speed are closer to the camp of collection for collection's sake than those who are more interested in making different teams. 3. It would not be "pay to not play," as I thought I explained it would be pay to play when I want (and how I want). I get that you enjoy the rush meta, but thinking that is all that counts as playing the game is a bit narrowminded. Notice I said making full progression would be tied to the purchase. It just would not be full progression on the game's schedule. Finally, I have no idea why wanting to play on my own schedule would make me a zoomer, but I have noticed that for all the people on here pointing out of strawman arguments, red herrings, ad hominem attacks, etc, most of those same people fail to apply a principle of charity.

  • Daredevil217
    Daredevil217 Posts: 4,088 Chairperson of the Boards

    @Skindo said:
    Notice I said making full progression would be tied to the purchase. It just would not be full progression on the game's schedule.

    But you can make full progression now on your own schedule, so I don’t understand what the problem is? You don’t event need to do the end grind to get all the progression rewards.

    And full progression gives you enough rewards/covers to unlock rewards/play in essential nodes, etc. I’m sure most CL are giving out at least the one cover you’d need to unlock nodes. So, again. Not understanding.

  • entrailbucket
    entrailbucket Posts: 7,016 Chairperson of the Boards
    edited March 2023

    @Daredevil217 said:

    show previous quotes

    I see now. I like both aspects lol. I don’t think it has to be either/or.

    I don't think it has to be either/or at all! That's what I was saying. When people feel like the "playing the game" part of the game is a chore...well, I think those folks are very strange and I'm not sure what they get out of this.

    I have all the 1* characters too! Collecting is fun. But I also really like the gameplay and I like competing.

  • DAZ0273
    DAZ0273 Posts: 11,509 Chairperson of the Boards

    What is a zoomer? Is that something to do with telescopes? Isn't he a Flash villain? Ugh...DC comics...won't somebody think of the children?

  • HoundofShadow
    HoundofShadow Posts: 8,004 Chairperson of the Boards
    edited March 2023

    He wants to pay money to get top placement rewards. However, the requirement is getting full progression to activate top placement rewards. Unfortunately, top placements requires 4+3 clears/grinds, whereas full progression requires only 60%(?)? Top placements require at least twice the efforts of full progression play.

    Currently, his view is that he wants to collect as much rewards as possible so that he can play with many different teams and also to "unlock" every node in the game. Top placements give good rewards. However, it requires scheduling his life around it. He can't do it or doesn't want to do it. But he still wants the top placement rewards. That's where his pay to get top placement rewards come into play.

    It's once again, a patience issue. Technology has made people want to get things quickly. Look at the latest videos or chats apps. It's all about stuffing as much content into people's mind in the shortest time possible so that they can release their endorphins and then move to the next new thing to get their next shot of endorphin. Likewise, he wants to cycle through all characters to get that shot of happiness in the shortest time possible, so that he can move on to the next new experience.

    If you really want to unlock everything quickly, whale it.

  • Bowgentle
    Bowgentle Posts: 7,926 Chairperson of the Boards

    @entrailbucket said:
    A lot of people view playing the game as an inconvenient, unpleasant chore that they have to do in order to get covers/CP/etc to build their rosters.

    I play PVP as an inconvenient, unpleasant chore that I have to do to get covers/CP to build my roster for PVE.
    So... Yeah.

  • fight4thedream
    fight4thedream Posts: 2,017 Chairperson of the Boards
    edited March 2023

    @Skindo: I appreciate where you are coming from and have long advocated for a change in the PvE format. The PvE system is inherently unfair in that it favors players who can play at a particular time and also is known to lead to burn out.

    In one of my previous analysis of the PvE system I wrote:

    The Problem with PvE

    Before I begin, it is essential that we understand the flaws with the current system. Mainly:

    *time slices limit the amount of participants who are able to play optimally and therefore competitively.

    *the emphasis of speed above all else severely devalues a majority of characters and skill sets and goes against the dev team's stated goal of roster diversity.

    *bracket sniping. Gives players "in the know" an unfair advantage to gain better rewards than those players who have put in more time and effort, and perhaps performed better in an event.

    *emphasis on competition alienates the casual player and does little to encourage them to spend money on the game.

    For those of you, which includes myself, that can usually play optimally I ask that you consider how enjoyable an experience PvE would be if you could not find a time that worked with your schedule and how it would affect your overall enjoyment of the game.

    I think asking "Why limit user engagement to six time slices?" and consider its potential financial disadvantages is a legitimate question and criticism of the current system.

    I can't speak for everyone but if I were aware that I couldn't compete for top rewards simply because the start/end times didn't match my lifestyle, I know I would be much less inclined to spend a lot of money.

    Excerpt from the discussion PvE on a Schedule -What's the fix?

    I don't know if the Battle Pass system you proposed is the best solution to the problem, but I do think it's an idea the dev team should consider. As I understand it, it doesn't seem like it should have a negative impact on players vying for placement and it would give those who are unable to play at an ideal time a chance to earn those rewards, if they are willing to pay for it.

    Under the current system, there are players who "bracket snipe" their way to top rewards for much less effort so if that is permissible, I don't see why this would be any different.

    Ideally, I would love to see the PvE format get overhauled in a way that rewarded a variety of play styles and wasn't tied to playing at specific times but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

  • DAZ0273
    DAZ0273 Posts: 11,509 Chairperson of the Boards

    PvE does not favour my schedule at all. I do not like PvE. I take breaks as I see fit or go nuts as suits me. I am also not going to tell people what they can or can't do with their hard earned $ £ or whatever. But a system where you pay for earnable rewards seems inherently anti-gaming to me to the point where I find it leaves a bit of a taste in the mouth that isn't pleasant. Sort of like having somebody assemble a jigsaw puzzle for you so you can say "Look at my great picture!"

    Obviously "Pay to win" is already and has always been a thing but at least you have to actually win. "Pay to not even compete" - I dunno, it just doesn't seem right but at the end of the day I guess revenue flows would be king.

  • HoundofShadow
    HoundofShadow Posts: 8,004 Chairperson of the Boards
    edited March 2023

    How much are players willing to pay for such battle pass? The placement rewards for T20 are:

    5s shards x 100
    4s shards x 150
    4s cover x 2
    3s cover x 2
    Iso-8 x 550
    HP x 130
    Might Token x 1
    Heroic Token x 1
    Multiply the above by 7 and we are talking about Monthly BP worth $80-100.

  • Bowgentle
    Bowgentle Posts: 7,926 Chairperson of the Boards

    How should we know how much "players" are willing to pay?
    You have ONE guy who asked for it, ask him.

  • DAZ0273
    DAZ0273 Posts: 11,509 Chairperson of the Boards

    If he pays me a hundred quid then I will change my mind and join his crusade! :smiley:

  • fight4thedream
    fight4thedream Posts: 2,017 Chairperson of the Boards
    edited March 2023

    @DAZ0273 said:
    PvE does not favour my schedule at all. I do not like PvE. I take breaks as I see fit or go nuts as suits me. I am also not going to tell people what they can or can't do with their hard earned $ £ or whatever. But a system where you pay for earnable rewards seems inherently anti-gaming to me to the point where I find it leaves a bit of a taste in the mouth that isn't pleasant. Sort of like having somebody assemble a jigsaw puzzle for you so you can say "Look at my great picture!"

    Obviously "Pay to win" is already and has always been a thing but at least you have to actually win. "Pay to not even compete" - I dunno, it just doesn't seem right but at the end of the day I guess revenue flows would be king.

    I think you are misconstruing the intent of Skindo's proposal. They have specifically stated that a player would still need to play the event to full progression in order to receive the rewards that they are effectively prohibited from receiving because they are unavailable to play at the allotted times.

    So it's not "pay to not even compete" so to speak, but rather an acknowledgement by the dev team that "We're sorry we don't provide a time slot that works for you, here is another route to those rewards."

    Will there be players who can compete but for one reason or another prefer to go the Battle Pass route? Sure. But why begrudge those players specifically?

    Do you take umbrage at players who buy all the support offers in order to get a leg up on the competition? Are you upset by buy clubs, where various players from different alliances join together to maximize their own personal rewards rather than share the reward with their own teammates, the very people who help them win these competitions? How about players who "bracket snipe", purposely avoiding joining earlier brackets so they can have an easier time getting better placement?

    I just find it strange that what would essentially be a supplementary service for those who are either unable or don't wish to play at the allotted slice times would somehow cause you distress when those rewards are still available to be attained through competitive play without purchasing the Battle Pass as opposed to all the in-game offers that are effectively only available through purchase.

  • Bowgentle
    Bowgentle Posts: 7,926 Chairperson of the Boards

    Well that escalated quickly.

  • DAZ0273
    DAZ0273 Posts: 11,509 Chairperson of the Boards
    edited March 2023

    @fight4thedream said:

    show previous quotes

    I think you are misconstruing the intent of Skindo's proposal. They have specifically stated that a player would still need to play the event to full progression in order to receive the rewards that they are effectively prohibited from receiving because they are unavailable to play at the allotted times.

    So it's not "pay to not even compete" so to speak, but rather an acknowledgement by the dev team that "We're sorry we don't provide a time slot that works for you, here is another route to those rewards."

    Will there be players who can compete but for one reason or another prefer to go the Battle Pass route? Sure. But why begrudge those players specifically?

    Do you take umbrage at players who buy all the support offers in order to get a leg up on the competition? Are you upset by buy clubs, where various players from different alliances join together to maximize their own personal rewards rather than share the reward with their own teammates, the very people who help them win these competitions?

    I just find it strange that what would essentially be a supplementary service for those who are either unable or don't wish to play at the allotted slice times would somehow cause you distress when those rewards are still available to be attained through competitive play without purchasing the Battle Pass as opposed to all the in-game offers that are effectively only available through purchase.

    I don't consider that I am misconstruing anything. Just because I don't like the idea does not mean it is causing me "distress".

    If you can find in my post where I begrudge others having anything then I must missed that myself. I believe I said that it is not for me to tell others how to spend their hard earned dosh.

    Skindo wishes to pay to avoid competing for placement awards. That is "Pay to not compete" in my opinion. I stand by my assessment. If others feel otherwise well they don't need to listen to anything I say. I, looking at the idea as a proposition see only bad things in it but as it is only a "for instance" I can't say that I am right. Something about it sits wrong with me. If you or others desire such a thing, knock ya self out.

    Edit: To add - I think what jumps out at me is that this seems a "slippery slope" but that is just a feeling. I am not categorically saying that would be the result.

  • fight4thedream
    fight4thedream Posts: 2,017 Chairperson of the Boards

    My apologies. It seems I'm the one who misconstrued your statement about "an unpleasant taste in the mouth" as distress rather than as simply "distaste".

    Thank you for taking the time to clarify your position. I can respect that.

  • DAZ0273
    DAZ0273 Posts: 11,509 Chairperson of the Boards

    @Bowgentle said:
    Well that escalated quickly.

    It did feel a bit like I was getting shot at, lol!

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