Unique Kickstarter In-Game Item

[RogueBurger]

I just want to say that even though I'm completely 100% behind the Kickstarter, and I've already pledged, I don't like the fact that you're giving away an exclusive in-game item (regardless of whether it affects balance). I don't like it when developers make parts of their game inaccessible a whole section of the community. I understand that you are trying to incentivize pledging, but I've always felt that sales incentives should neither touch the game itself nor be unobtainable after a certain time. I also understand that you can't exactly go back on what you've said you'd give people, so I would be happy if you at least promised not to offer any other exclusive in-game items for any other promotion.

 

Again, I love the project and the spirit behind it, I just hope that you can stay as far away from modern gimmicks like that as possible.

[Skie Nightfall]

I agree. Though one speciail item I can live it.

It's when companies start having 20 of those from all kind of special sources that It's really stupid and annoying. *cough* bio *cough*

[Stun]

Meh, as long as they don't go all used car salesman on us, I'm fine with the occasional in-game incentive.

 

The old games that Project Eternity is meant to immulate did this kind of stuff all the time. BG2's collector's addition added 2 exclusive merchants who both had entire inventories filled with exclusive items.

Edited September 16, 2012 by Stun

[RogueBurger]

Meh, as long as they don't go all used car salesman on us, I'm fine with the occasional in-game incentive.

 

The old games that Project Eternity is meant to immulate did this kind of stuff all the time. BG2's collector's addition added 2 exclusive merchants who both had entire inventories filled with exclusive items.

 

The thing is that Interplay/Bioware allowed those merchants and items to be modded in, so they ultimately were available to everyone. If Obsidian is willing to do that too, I'm more okay with it.

[AW8]

I hope it's a dog!!!!!!

[Mamoulian War]

I hope it's a tea pot!

[zrani]

As long as its cosmetic and everyone gets it in the end (even if its years later), it'll be fine.

[soulsource]

I don't see a problem with one single vanity item, especially since it's a single player game. Depending on what kind of item it is, it might even be something that you only use right at the beginning of the game, before you need the item slot for something more useful, like it was for instance in Guild Wars 1 with the Beta bonus items.

If the item would affect gameplay, like the Masters Mask, an enchanted item in Drakensang, given to those who preordered the game, I would be against it, but if its vanity only...

[WDeranged]

Long after release the exclusive items could be unlocked for everyone but hidden around the world for game balance, a bit like Josh has done with the New Vegas exclusives in his mod.

[Kopi]

I don't like preorder dlc, that's exactly what it is. It is damaging to the community and fuels piracy.

[Makura]

Cosmetic/Vanity items are fine for this in my agenda I guess... Especially in a game designed mainly to be played solo anyway, there won't be any bragging rights or anything, and it's nice to give an incentive for backers.

[septembervirgin]

I like the idea of in-game item rewards. I think it's a kindliness. We'll all be seeing it eventually though, right?

[salty]

I don't really care that much, but such items are usually stupid and don't fit into the game and have no explanation as to why they're in your inventory. Things that give you a slight boost for the first half hour of the game annoy both those who get them and those who don't. I vote cosmetic. I also vote silly.

[JFS]

I'm with the OP. I didn't increase my Kickstarter pledge for Wasteland 2 because they were giving out exclusive extra portraits. I hate exclusive in-game stuff - everything that is in the game should be available to everyone who buys it, even if you didn't do anything fancy-schmancy to "deserve" it. I say this as a backer, it does put a ding in the otherwise pristine Kickstarter campaign.

[silvercross]

I don't like preorder dlc, that's exactly what it is. It is damaging to the community and fuels piracy.

 

So you're saying people would pirate this game because they can't get ONE in game item? In this case, I call bull**** and say those people weren't going to buy the game anyways.

 

I should also quote from the Kickstarter page:

All Kickstarter backers will receive a special Kickstarter only in-game achievement and item. (The item will not affect the game's balance)

[Sistergoldring]

I like loot.....so yeah unique loot that doesn't upset the game balance sounds good to me. Think of it like a preorder bonus, I don't think many people really mind if someone gets a fairly trivial item for shelling out some cash early.

[molarBear]

i don't see the harm in one cosmetic item. $25 tier is the bread & butter of this project. gotta have an incentive for people.

[Chunkyman]

Who cares? It's one item we get for helping fund this project. It's not like we're getting a companion that you would otherwise have to spend $10 for if you didn't pre-order *cough* Dragon Age 2 *cough*.

Edited September 22, 2012 by Chunkyman

[Gatt9]

Who cares? It's one item we get for helping fund this project. It's not like we're getting a companion that you would otherwise have to spend $10 for if you didn't pre-order *cough* Dragon Age 2 *cough*.

 

Mass Effect 2, Mass Effect 3, Dragon Age Origins...

 

It's EA's new policy, find the most tantalizing companion, cut them out, and sell them for $10. It's one of the many reasons I no longer buy EA products.

 

On topic: If the item doesn't affect the game in any way, and isn't key to the story, if it's just a trinket, I don't have any issue with it.

[PsychoBlonde]

I like loot.....so yeah unique loot that doesn't upset the game balance sounds good to me. Think of it like a preorder bonus, I don't think many people really mind if someone gets a fairly trivial item for shelling out some cash early.

 

If I enjoy the game I get absolutely giddy over in-game swag. Don't ask me why. Some kind of hoarding reflex.

[Kopi]

I don't like preorder dlc, that's exactly what it is. It is damaging to the community and fuels piracy.

 

So you're saying people would pirate this game because they can't get ONE in game item? In this case, I call bull**** and say those people weren't going to buy the game anyways.

 

 

Yes, that is what I'm saying. As soon as the game is out, people are going to torrent the "Backer version" they can't otherwise get. Who cares about one item you say? A lot of people do, even if it's only cosmetic. It's simply greed on obsidians side, they may get a little bump in the kickstarter phase, but it will hurt them in the long run.

[Nakia]

I have received extras for pre-purchasing games and I see no reason for not doing something similar. I doubt that it will be something that unbalances the game. It could also be something that is unlocked further into the game but backers get it right away without effort. It could be included in an expansion. Depending on our pledge we are all getting something that will not be available to those who buy the game.

 

Giving people who gamble on the game something extra is good business practice and in my opinion fair.

[Sordel]

I don't like preorder dlc, that's exactly what it is. It is damaging to the community and fuels piracy.

 

So you're saying people would pirate this game because they can't get ONE in game item? In this case, I call bull**** and say those people weren't going to buy the game anyways.

 

 

Yes, that is what I'm saying. As soon as the game is out, people are going to torrent the "Backer version" they can't otherwise get. Who cares about one item you say? A lot of people do, even if it's only cosmetic. It's simply greed on obsidians side, they may get a little bump in the kickstarter phase, but it will hurt them in the long run.

 

Wow, this really takes the biscuit! Obsidian is the greedy one, but the guy who goes and pirates the entire game for a pair of green shoes or something is a crusader for consumer rights? !!

 

Obsidian can't do anything to stop people mooching off the game, so I say, yeah, damn straight, look after your paying customers by showering them with non-combat pets, exclusive framed portraits in their houses, anything like that. There is zero harm to the so-called 'community' that can't get their hands on it without torrenting ... most gamers don't really care about that stuff, and the ones who do should be looking to support the game.

 

 

[HangedMan]

I don't like preorder dlc, that's exactly what it is. It is damaging to the community and fuels piracy.

 

So you're saying people would pirate this game because they can't get ONE in game item? In this case, I call bull**** and say those people weren't going to buy the game anyways.

 

 

Yes, that is what I'm saying. As soon as the game is out, people are going to torrent the "Backer version" they can't otherwise get. Who cares about one item you say? A lot of people do, even if it's only cosmetic. It's simply greed on obsidians side, they may get a little bump in the kickstarter phase, but it will hurt them in the long run.

Honestly, it sounds to me like you're just upset and lashing out. check yourself before you wreck yourself, mate.

[incubus9]

I think any given item should be something like the Golden Pantaloons in BG1. A completely worthless item at first. It wouldn't be until much later that it turned into something useful.