The Players Corner Archive

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking Simu for trying to make money, I don’t think anyone can honestly disagree with me when I say everyone can just an extra dollar in their pocket. Like any other business, Simutronics is looking for ways to increase it’s revenue, but what about the people in Plat who shelled out their $80 bucks a month all this time who wanted nothing more than an environment to roleplay in where they didn't have to deal with the blatant ooc and other stuff that you find common practice in prime? I think they are being left high and dry because let’s face it, eventually (and again I’m going to give a 6-12 month time frame) that “whole other separate game” will be bombarded with the with the average Joe Prime who thinks it's okay to talk about Shania Twain out loud at the Raging Thrak Inn, powerhunters who will race to the age cap level in record time so they can be the most powerful in that “smaller” community, and merchanters who figure they can buy and/or find all these “really cool items” and sell them. What happens to the people who wanted the escape from all of that nonsense?

Yes, I know that the staff of Simutronics have said that they promise things won’t get out of hand, they’ve promised a small community for those customers that are serious about roleplaying, and even went as far as to suggest a possible cap, limiting the amount of people in Plat, but having read the Plat boards, there seems to have been quite a few instances where Plat players were made promises that never came to pass. In general, Simutronics have made promises that never came to pass, and probably won’t anytime soon, so forgive me for my lack of faith in their promises.

I’m not saying as soon as the clock strikes 12 on October 22, you will log into Plat, do a stat full and see these long columns of people in the game, but give it a little while though and you probably will. I could be wrong, I hope I am. Actually no, I don’t really care because if it comes to pass I’ll wander elsewhere following my friends I guess but…it will just be a shame, is all.

--maybe a soon "ex" Platinum Account holder.
reg

A lot of people need to stop obssessing over this Simu=Greed phenomenon. The fact is, most decisions are made by GMs...CONTRACTORS to Simutronics. If the final decision isn't made by them, it sure as hell was suggested by them, and argued for and against by them. GMs in general see little, if any at all, increase to their already substantially small paychecks due to decisions of this nature. You need to realize that greed as a motivating factor in their decision making is far less than the pride, creative and technical outlet, and simple enjoyment that GMing provides.

[This message has been edited by GSPlatPlayer (edited 10-18-2001).] reg

I for one am looking forward to seeing the less populated lands and the roleplaying environment, and I'm so happy they brought the price more into line with my budget. I have heard that it's harder to play in plat because of the low numbers of players online at certain times, perhaps they also wanted to make the game more enjoyable for those who are unlucky enough to die or get seriously wounded and want to get fixed up sooner rather than later. I have no doubt that making money factors into it heavily, they aren't in business to LOSE money after all. I have been lurking and watching comments in the plat discussions on several boards and you aren't the first one to say such things, nor the last, but I don't think that MY getting to play in your elite playground will ruin your game all that much. reg

quote:

---

Originally posted by GSPlatPlayer:

A lot of people need to stop obssessing over this Simu=Greed phenomenon. The fact is, most decisions are made by GMs...CONTRACTORS to Simutronics. If the final decision isn't made by them, it sure as hell was suggested by them, and argued for and against by them. You need to realize that greed as a motivating factor in their decision making is far less than the pride, creative and technical outlet, and simple enjoyment that GMing provides.

[This message has been edited by GSPlatPlayer (edited 10-18-2001).]

---

www.getintouchwithreality.com

www.davidwhatley.com

You have no clue what you are talking about.

Hiway

[This message has been edited by Hiway (edited 10-18-2001).] reg

Mike

Zanagan/Zarosa reg

This change in particular is something that players have generally asked for ever since Plat's inception. Blaming any resulting effects on Simutronics seems ridiculous. reg

I'm sure this is true... Just curious however, which players have been asking for this?

Do Plat players welcome this change? Based on what you know, what is the general opinion of plat players on this price drop?

- Lord Kranar, human Archwizard reg

Mike

Zanagan/Zarosa

and at 80 bux per month...I never once noticed OOC occur. reg

As Mike stated, I think most Plat subscribers are for increasing the population, and the price drop is a means to that end. The issue of whether or not the drop to $40 was too much is a valid one, and something I've thought about as well. We simply won't know for sure until after 10/22, though naturally there's already been plenty of speculation.

Starting next week, plat will gain some great roleplayers and some bad ones along with everything in between. Without getting too involved in various socio-economic theories, I believe the price is only a minor, though very real, concern. What's more important in maintaining the high standards that plat has set for themselves is the acceptance of current policy and the willingness to improve your individual roleplay. Once those two factors are achieved in any game, be it GSPlat, Prime, or Dungeons & Dragons, a quality roleplaying environment will have been found. This applies on Oct. 18th, and it'll apply Oct. 25th.

Less money does not equal less roleplay, and vice versa. reg

I meant was it Prime players who wanted this, or Platinum players who wanted this.

Obviously Prime players want this, but I wasn't so sure Platinum players wanted this as well.

- Lord Kranar, human Archwizard reg

Am I correct in that thinking?

hrm....

Welp, bet after a year it goes up. Any takers?

edge reg

Okay, someone clearly didn't too well when they took their reading comphrension exam in grammar school, because if you read my post
I didn't mention that "Game Masters" made the decison to drop the price for Platinum. I believe the terminology used was used "Simutronics" which is rather general, but I was referring to those in charge of marketing, etc.

I am not accusing Simu of being "greedy," either, another word which didn't appear once in my initial post. As a matter of fact I stated that I understood the financial aspect and the decision. Businesses (which at the end of the day, people need to realize that Simu *IS* a business, a company, not just our hobby or method of relaxation) are SUPPOSED to look for ways to increase their revenue. It's the way they pay their bills and are able to improve products for their customers. My issue was the drastic price cut, being only $10 more than premium (and the monetary figures I put up per month were to show this) and how this will draw loads of new people in, *SOME OF WHICH* (and this is where I will kindly ask Amelia and Theonic to find a dictionary and look up the word SOME) might (and in my personal opinion more than likely) disrupt the roleplaying environment we currently have there. Correct me if I am wrong, but I was under the assumption that the reason for "Platinum" was a place where people who are seriously into roleplaying had a haven to do so in. The high price I figured was a way of weeding out people who really wanted to roleplay from the others. If you take the time to read my post for what it actually says and not jump to conclusions looking at parts of it, you'll see that. My concern is that after a while Simutronics will become lax and things that are enforced in Plat now will no longer be, despite the promises.

Now if you take the time to read my post in it's entirety and take it for what it SAYS and not put words in my mouth, you'll see that my concern this drastic price drop will prompt most to join plat because of what they can get, not so much because they want to roleplay. And for the record, people who took the survey in Plat (most I spoke to) didn't choose $39.95 as the new price.

Reading IS Fundamental. reg

As for the plat players wanting it, they did want the change. BUT on the same hand, they are now realizing JUST how much they're losing out on. I was going to show some examples, but the boards are down now. So it will have to wait. reg

"I think they are being left high and dry because let’s face it, eventually (and again I’m going to give a 6-12 month time frame) that “whole other separate game” will be bombarded with the with the average Joe Prime who thinks it's okay to talk about Shania Twain out loud at the Raging Thrak Inn, powerhunters who will race to the age cap level in record time so they can be the most powerful in that “smaller” community, and merchanters who figure they can buy and/or find all these “really cool items” and
sell them."

and the other thing you said was

"I’m not saying as soon as the clock strikes 12 on October 22, you will log into Plat, do a stat full and see these long columns of people in the game, but give it a little while though and you probably will. I could be wrong,"

So I don't need a dictionary, I believe I read your original post correctly the first time. That wasn't even a GOOD waffle...

------------------
He who laughs last, didn't get the joke. reg

Let me ask you a question. For the most part, in Prime when you rub your crystal amulet or stroll around the Landing or just about anywhere nowadays in Gem with the exception of maybe the new area of EN, what do you see predominantly? Do you see people engaging in roleplay or do you see "lolz, Osama sux" and "castin all 3 guards in da park 1k an hr for 3 hrs ttm" If you say anything except the latter, you're lying. Granted there ARE some people who still do RP in Prime (or try to) and do a damn good job, Dionket comes to mind..but they are the minority and you have to atleast know that much. Since we are analyzing my every word, tell me where did you see in my post "EVERY PERSON WHO COMES FROM PRIME WILL BE A NON ROLEPLAYING, POWER HUNTING DISRUPTANCE TO PLAT?"

>>that “whole other separate game” will be bombarded with the with the average Joe Prime who thinks it's okay to talk about Shania Twain out loud at the Raging Thrak Inn, powerhunters who will race to the age cap level in record time so they can be the most powerful in that “smaller” community, and merchanters who figure they can buy and/or find all these “really cool items” and sell them. <<

I meant, and I do believe I meant (I would know, I posted it) the "columns and columns" would be those kind of people... What was I trying to say? What does all of this mean? Plat will be what premium should have been and "people who wanted an escape will be left high and dry" i.e, people who didn't want to deal at all with that kind of element.

www.verizonreads.com

reg

Category General Discussions (1)
Topic Discussions with Simutronics (2)
By
On Oct 17, 2001 at 17:05
Subject Re: The *New* Platinum....kinda long and ranting (14585)

<< >>

Since we're becoming the glorified prime.. I want to know the following:

1. Will Plat be staffed FULL TIME like prime? If the answer is no, why am I paying extra for everything now?

2. Since our events now COST EXTRA, can we EXPECT a CONSIDERABLE discount for said events in platinum? And I am talking MORE than that 10% off for being "premium". How about 25% off for being platinum?

3. Will POLICY and TRADITION be maintained and/or enforced? Will players be allowed to maintain and/or enforce the traditions of Platinum (aka the upcoming Platinum Guide outlining the traditions of Platinum). And, if #1 will not be true, how will Policy and Tradition be maintained?

I'd like to address a few things Jim brought up, too.

>Increased Event Participation

>Fewer adventurers mean greater opportunities for interacting with GM events. Gone are the days of fighting for a spot in insanely long merchant lines, screaming mobs during invasions, and roleplaying events missed inside endless screen scroll.

But only if we pay extra, after having already paid extra. Are those of us who've been paying $80 a month forever going to get some sort of item, special service, free quest ticket, or anything for having paid double the price for 1, 2, or 3 years? And I'm still miffed I had to pay full price for October, but new accounts don't. After all we WERE Charter Plat Subscribers.

>Build Your Own Hunting Areas

Is policy changing about ALAE? Will we be TRULY able to get an area released into the real game? Or is this just lame advertisting?

Anyway, right now, I am still unsure this whole change is a good thing. While it may "save money", and it may "increase population", I think it's going to seriously hurt the "community".

[This message has been edited by Cassioppia (edited 10-18-2001).] reg

quote:

---

Originally posted by Weedmage Princess:
Okay, someone clearly didn't too well when they took their reading comphrension exam in grammar school, because if you read my post
I didn't mention that "Game Masters" made the decison to drop the price for Platinum...blah blah blah blah blah.

Reading IS Fundamental.[/B]

---

Alright Missy, if you're going to poke fun at someone else's comprehension of your words, you should be sure that your words can be comprehended. You left out the verb in your first sentence. Someone "clearly didn't" -what- too well?

R, the grammar queen
Postscript: Periods are not required or appropriate when signing a letter (or in this case, a post).
reg

[This message has been edited by Weedmage Princess (edited 10-18-2001).] reg

I don't think that the cap will allow too many people in there at once, and I've heard that the community there is fairly good at policing things themselves. (Like deeding sold characters)

Personally, I'm was looking forward to the smaller community, and the roleplaying environment, but now I'm worried about the snobbishness of people who don't want the price lowered enough to let me play too. I'm sorry that there weren't enough people willing to pay for the country club, but perhaps, many were driven off by judgemental people before they had a chance to settle in.

I'll bet that you will be there the first few days to turn your nose up at the "Joe Primes" Which in your eyes will be pretty much anyone who is created on or after October 22nd. I can even see the conversations now, kind of like the pre-ICE vs post-ICE conversations we hear now.

------------------
He who laughs last, didn't get the joke. reg

Mike

Zanagan/Zarosa reg

She was saying that Gemstone Plat was supposed to be this small community.

BUT with the price lowered, that what is going to happen, (notknockinganyonesrping) is that SIMU is going to make PLAT what PRIME was supposed to be.

That more than likely, good people are going to switch to Plat, the slow ones on the deal will be locked out {If they ever chose a quota, they have YET to say JUST what number they're going to stop at, do you think it'll only be 200?? haha..} and stuck in prime with barely any benefits while PLAT is EVERYTHING people that went PREMIUM THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO GET...

Roberta, could you gimme a grammer check!? Thanks and have a nice day. reg

When what I *SAID* in the part you are referring to was:

>>the average Joe Prime who thinks it's okay to talk about Shania Twain out loud at the Raging Thrak Inn<<

Note the "who thinks it's okay" part etc, etc.

Do you go OOC a lot, Theonic? Are you going to be someone who thinks RPing is going out to hunt, frying, coming back to town and just standing somewhere out in the open while you go away from your keyboard to watch TV or something? Are you one of the people who gets on the amulet and says something like "Selling a Mystery Backpack--MB 1k CB 50k TTM !!!!!!!!!!!" Or are you one of the people who will, in response to receiving something in the game, would say: "Thanx! Dats mad kewl, yo!" or if you find something funny, say "lolz!!!!" Do you find yourself doing these things and calling it roleplay, Theonic? Or do you expect to find yourself doing these things and call it roleplaying? If so, then YES I am talking about YOU. If not, then clearly I am not talking about you.

I don't think saying "average Joe Prime who thinks it's okay to talk about Shania Twain at the Raging Thrak Inn" includes ALL PEOPLE who have only a standard or premium account. You just object to my terming these people who are that way in the game as the "average Joe Prime" but you know something, it's the truth. What's the ratio of those people to people like Nindy who really roleplay? Like 10:1, and that's being a little generous. I know that there are people who roleplay, these people are NOT the average Joe Prime. These people ARE the minority. They do exist and I would love to see them in the Plat community. A couple I've talked to myself and tried to get them to join.

I hope it finally is sinking in Theonic because I do not think I can make it anymore clear without using flash cards.

And thank you Cassioppia for reading and understanding what I was trying to say in the first part of my missive, about why Premium (you know, the $29.99 one)shouldn't even exist anymore with this new Plat price drop. Who on Earth would pay $30/month just for a yearly alter and an extra type ahead line when for only $10 more you can get all the benefits of being Plat? (which incluces all the benefits of being premium as well) I think there are some kinks in this plan, as there are kinks and flaws in ANY plan, BUT my personal belief is these flaws are going to be more of an issue than what Simu or the people who gave the green light on this realized. I also don't think that the staff will be able to maintain the policies we have in Plat due to the number of people who will join. You have a few GMs there now who monitor everything and enforce policies, like Khaladon, but he can't do it all by himself, nor can just 2 or 3. And I don't think you need me to tell you all that not all GMs are like Khaladon--heh. They may not want to get involved, they may not want to enforce things, or it just may be too much for them. Sure it's not too bad with 40, 50, 60 people. But 200, 300 people? Hmm.

[This message has been edited by Weedmage Princess (edited 10-19-2001).] reg

They cut the price in half for the same service and people complain, only in gemstone...

Don't like mister kewl d00d lolz? Deal with him. Teach him the right way, if he doesn't listen, make his life miserable.

Its the communities job to coerce the newcomers. Joe Prime Snert can't get his rift account and bind you if you make fun of him anymore, your the older one.

'lood

reg

That's what my post and concern is all about, Kelood--that it WONT be the same anymore.

>>Don't like mister kewl d00d lolz? Deal with him. Teach him the right way, if he doesn't listen, make his life miserable.

Its the communities job to coerce the newcomers. Joe Prime Snert can't get his rift account and bind you if you make fun of him anymore, your the older one.<<

That's been the way people who act in that fashion have been dealt with in plat for the longest, or so I am told..and usually the old tattle method never comes into play (REPORT for the unitiated)but, we probably will see a change there too. One player was "suggested" to consider changing the way he RPs. I think that in itself is a reason to be a bit concerned about changes to policies now.

Honestly, this isn't about not wanting more roleplayers, griping about losing free access to pay events or no longer having free GM weddings, I don't care if they want to charge $5.99 for plat, JUST AS LONG AS it continually enforces it's *STRICT* RPing policy. (which is up to both Simu and the plat members) And I'm saying I don't think they will continue to enforce that as they do now after a while.

reg

quote:

---

Originally posted by kelood:
I better take a class in complaining before i sign up for plat, or I won't be able to fit in...

---

Amen.

Almost makes me want to go to plat, just to give them exactly what they are complaining about. reg

edge reg

Mike

Zanagan/Zarosa reg

reg

------------------
A friend will help you move.
A really good friend will help you move a
body reg

Mike

Zanagan/Zarosa reg

Any NPC interactions?

Curious, I cancelled my Plat membership a week before they dropped the price in half.

reg

Merchant activity is just as frequent as its always been. NPC interactions are a constant and I'm either involved or a witness to various things on a daily basis. Population hasn't really skyrocketed so there isn't realy that much change occuring. Well the population has more than doubled, but seeing as how there were so few people around to begin with, its not a noticeable difference in population.

Mike

Zanagan/Zarosa reg

I have Premium, but not Platinum. I don't really want to pay the extra ten bucks for something I don't find entertaining, but ITS ONLY TEN BUCKS. I feel like a sucker for keeping Premium, but Basic is so bad without the Premium perks.

I'm still waiting to hear what a terrific turn around Plat has made since the huge price drop.

still waiting...

reg

quote:

---

Originally posted by Skaster:
Many of you are making the assumption that good roleplayers will shell out insane amounts of money for the perfect gemstone enviornment. Sorry, I'd rather buy White Wolf books and dice with my $50 a month and get to control or have a very large part of the action than have someone else completely control my enjoyment.

---

Hmm. I can't speak for everyone else, but that's not exactly what I was thinking. My thinking is not that "all" good roleplayers will pay the $40.00, but that the people who DO pay that amount, the majority would be people who are serious roleplayers. Kind of the opposite--if that makes sense. reg

To have more places to hunt alone and not be bothered with chasers, to have very few people to rescue, very few people to interact with leaving you with only familiar people all the time, and generally less competition.

I've noticed that I like to play in a busy land with lots and lots of inhabiting people. which is why I don't play in platinum anymore. Having only 60-100 people scattered all over the lands doesn't appeal to me. I like to be able to go to any part of the world and find at least one person, regardless of whether they interact with me or not.

I guess it's the city girl part of me that creeps out and needs the bustle of busy towns. reg

I do agree that if the game started anew, there would be more people in plat to start.
However if the game should ever do the daring and start over from scratch, there should be ONE lands to go to for ONE rate, with everything working like it does in plat. That way everyone is on the same wavelength and end the arguments of "I pay more for plat so I deserve more".. "I'm a premium member and I deserve more than the $10 people".

No one should be better than anyone else just because of how much they pay for, let's face it, the same product. They just happen to have the funds. reg

Joining now is like joining prime.. trying to find a way to fit in.

Even though I don't see myself going back and I gave away a few of my things, I still couldn't part with my skirt which was done by the first alterer. It was made from a skirt found off a critter. That's all we had and could afford! I remember seeing someone run off to kobolds to get a sack to make a bodice. reg

quote:

---

Originally posted by Zanagodly:
Well obviously the initial people that moved to plat when plat was brand new mainly moved for a better RP enviroment.

---

Personally, I think it was nearly equal portions of RP, and "now, I get a chance at being the oldest/most powerful/richest, etc.".

Plat is now established, so that would explain why there wasn't a tremendous influx of new people with the price drop. reg