Future Cartel Reputation systems incoming...

[Deleted]

I feel sick.

What is the Cartel Market Reputation System?

We’ve added the Cartel Market Reputation System as a way of rewarding players who purchase multiple packs within a Shipment. Each Shipment will have its own Reputation track.

Am I reading the above correctly? More of these 'Pay To gain Reputation' systems in the works?

Link: http://www.swtor.com/blog/developer-...tel-reputation

[catcommando]

Wow...no words, really. Just F minus minus.

[Edge-]

So you have to not just buy the packs, but buy the bundles?

Oh man, BioWare is really milking the fuck out of the remaining hardcore fans.

And it seems that they're going to have an exclusive reputation for each new type of cartel pack they come out with, so yes, you're reading it right.

[Kelimbror]

There's not a single positive thing I can say about this. I don't even want to say I told you so, because I don't think any of us thought it would go this far. This is like the same thing as Jay Wilson saying eff those losers. Except in this case, 'losers' are anyone who won't buy cartel packs from them non stop with thousands and thousands of dollars.

[WarpedAcorn]

I don't *like* this, but my mind always tries to play devil's advocate.

The ONLY thing I can think of is that subcribers are given Cartel Coins that they *could* use to purchase crates. But...that's the best I can come up with as far as justifying this.

On the flip side, I really haven't seen anything cool on the market vendor I've wanted for any of my characters.

[notorious98]

So you have to not just buy the packs, but buy the bundles?

I didn't see anything that mentioned bundles as being mandatory.

OT : Pay.......To........Win. And there it is. They've noticed the same trend that STO noticed with their random draw packs as well. Cartel Packs are the only Skinner Box that Bioware has fully mastered. And they've got the guinea pigs slamming their hands down on the button. Just wait until the actual content stops and it's just Cartel Packs for every "content" update. Especially considering they feel the Cartel Market is "content", right? Unsub imminent.

[Edge-]

The ONLY thing I can think of is that subcribers are given Cartel Coins that they *could* use to purchase crates. But...that's the best I can come up with as far as justifying this.

Which is a super weak argument to make since the CC's subscriber got were supposed to be a "bonus", and are now funneled into cartel packs if the subscriber wants to have max reputation (which is a pretty common desire for a lot of players) : P

I didn't see anything that mentioned bundles as being mandatory.

Yeah, I see that now. I for some reason read "shipment" as "bundle" and not "shipment" as "different type of cartel pack".

[MaximusRex]

Buyer rewards Program like many business have. Not required nor needed, and all rewards are cosmetic.

If you didn't rage at the Supermarket when thy offered a Club Card, or rage at your Bank when they offered a Rewards Credit/Debit card, you shouldn't be raging at BioWare for offering their frequent buyers a rewards program.

[Edge-]

Buyer rewards Program like many business have. Not required nor needed, and all rewards are cosmetic.

If you didn't rage at the Supermarket when thy offered a Club Card, or rage at your Bank when they offered a Rewards Credit/Debit card, you shouldn't be raging at BioWare for offering their frequent buyers a rewards program.

Except you don't have progress tracking at supermarkets and you aren't rewarded for buying bags with random items in them. You are rewarded for spending money on things you intentionally choose. Couple that with the fact that games like SWTOR are heavily progression oriented and shopping at a supermarket is...well it's not, and you have issues.

It's a scumbag move no matter how you look at it.

[notorious98]

Buyer rewards Program like many business have. Not required nor needed, and all rewards are cosmetic.

If you didn't rage at the Supermarket when thy offered a Club Card, or rage at your Bank when they offered a Rewards Credit/Debit card, you shouldn't be raging at BioWare for offering their frequent buyers a rewards program.

If the grocery store only offered me the store brand Mac & Cheese unless I bought a "club card", I wouldn't shop there. Completely different scenarios. The shit from the Packs and Cartel rep vendors are better than most things in the game.

[Kelimbror]

Buyer rewards Program like many business have. Not required nor needed, and all rewards are cosmetic.

If you didn't rage at the Supermarket when thy offered a Club Card, or rage at your Bank when they offered a Rewards Credit/Debit card, you shouldn't be raging at BioWare for offering their frequent buyers a rewards program.

I guess you are one of the guys in the offical forum saying 100 thousand time that this is just like frequent flyer miles and everyone needs to stop complaining. My brain hurts even trying to rationalize that intense form of white knighting.

My grocery store rewards card doesn't give me special access to fruit that normal customers can't have. It's also not contingent on me spending money at all and is given completely free of charge.

Not even remotely similar.

[simpleton]

The industry needs to come under government regulation just like other industries that offer a chance for a "prize" based on odds per purchase of an individual chance. Its borderline criminal having younger kids exposed to this crap without any oversight at all. At the very least they need to be forced to show odds of "Winning" each item per pack. They also need ot age verify anyone attempting to purchase these "packs" in their store.

Its disgusting that instead of working hard to try and entertain to earn their revenue the move to, what amounts to gambling.

Its disgusting.

[Edge-]

Its borderline criminal having younger kids exposed to this crap without any oversight at all.

You need a credit/debit card, which you can get at 13 with parental consent, or at 18. The only "regulation" that needs to happen with regards to kids and online purchases is that parents need to do their jobs and pay attention to what their kids are doing.

[simpleton]

You need a credit/debit card, which you can get at 13 with parental consent, or at 18. The only "regulation" that needs to happen with regards to kids and online purchases is that parents need to do their jobs and pay attention to what their kids are doing.

BS. I dont have to make sure my kids dont go to a Casino. I dont have to make sure my kids dont buy a lottery ticket at the store. If they are going to sell these items then the game needs to by 18+ only and verify their age or obtain parental consent before they are allowed to play.

[Edge-]

BS. I dont have to make sure my kids dont go to a Casino. I dont have to make sure my kids dont buy a lottery ticket at the store. If they are going to sell these items then the game needs to by 18+ only and verify their age or obtain parental consent before they are allowed to play.

Erm, they would need a credit/debit card to make purchases. So either you allow them to have one, or you give them yours. If you do neither, you have no worries.

It's an online purchase, and while there is definitely something to be said about the quasi-gambling practices on the part of many mobile/social games and some MMO's, it's hardly as if kids have free reign to purchase whatever they want unless their parents give them the tools to do so.

And actually, you sorta do have to make sure you kids don't go out and buy lottery tickets/booze/go to a casino. Fake ID's aren't terribly difficult to come by.

[simpleton]

Erm, they would need a credit/debit card to make purchases. So either you allow them to have one, or you give them yours. If you do neither, you have no worries.

It's an online purchase, and while there is definitely something to be said about the quasi-gambling practices on the part of many mobile/social games and some MMO's, it's hardly as if kids have free reign to purchase whatever they want unless their parents give them the tools to do so.

And actually, you sorta do have to make sure you kids don't go out and buy lottery tickets/booze/go to a casino. Fake ID's aren't terribly difficult to come by.

Fake ID's are illegal. And as a parent that is my responsibility to make sure they don't use one. If they get caught its a criminal matter. I can allow my child to have a debit card and feel reasonably comfortable that the laws regarding these issues HELP protect our children from instances like your examples.

This is completely unregulated gambling targeted at a susceptible and impressionable demographic.

Example: Even fast food restaurants that have contests that give a "chance" at a prize with a purchase are heavily regulated, age restricted and are forced to clearly state the odds involved.

[notorious98]

BS. I dont have to make sure my kids dont go to a Casino. I dont have to make sure my kids dont buy a lottery ticket at the store. If they are going to sell these items then the game needs to by 18+ only and verify their age or obtain parental consent before they are allowed to play.

Are you a parent? Because, as a parent, I wholeheartedly disagree with you.

[simpleton]

Are you a parent? Because, as a parent, I wholeheartedly disagree with you.

Of course Im a parent. So you worry that your 13-14 yr old teenager is buying lottery tickets and going to casinos?

[notorious98]

Fake ID's are illegal. And as a parent that is my responsibility to make sure they don't use one. If they get caught its a criminal matter. I can allow my child to have a debit card and feel reasonably comfortable that the laws regarding these issues HELP protect our children from instances like your examples.

This is completely unregulated gambling targeted at a susceptible and impressionable demographic.

Example: Even fast food restaurants that have contests that give a "chance" at a prize with a purchase are heavily regulated, age restricted and are forced to clearly state the odds involved.

Your example involves cash or items of actual value. These are pixels. There is nothing tangible being acquired. If you're giving your kid a debit card, you're entrusting your kid to not be an idiot. What's the difference between them spending $100 on this crap or buying $100 in junk food? You think McDonald's gives a shit if your kid is spending $100 in Big Macs? How about this. Teach your kid not to do stupid shit and quit asking other people to raise your kid for you.

---------- Post added 2013-03-13 at 05:26 PM ----------

Of course Im a parent. So you worry that your 13-14 yr old teenager is buying lottery tickets and going to casinos?

No, I wouldn't. But not because of strict regulations. More because I'm a good parent and my kids are good kids.

[Edge-]

Of course Im a parent. So you worry that your 13-14 yr old teenager is buying lottery tickets and going to casinos?

Solution: Don't give your kids your CC information, and if they have their own cards, make sure you are going over their finances with them to help teach them how to be responsible with their money (something my parents did with me when I was young and went a long way in making sure I didn't blow my money like many of my friends did at young age).

It's minimal parental oversight. Giving your kids your CC info and letting them loose on Amazon or Ebay would yield the same kind of results as doing so in the Cartel Market or any other cash shop within a game.