Skylanders Battlegrounds - (by Activision) - Universal App

[strivemind]

Originally Posted by Laire

•Exclusive platinum treasure chest packed with in game rewards
•Over 100 power items including health potions, elixirs, shields, bombs
•Light of the Champions Gem - level 4x faster with your characters
•Power Item Bag - carry the maximum amount of power items into battle

Sooo... it's a freemium game with a $50 OAP (Out of App Purchase) that grants you a place to use your existing characters as well as a handful of bonus IAP consumables.

[SteveW]

Originally Posted by strivemind

Sooo... it's a freemium game with a $50 OAP (Out of App Purchase) that grants you a place to use your existing characters as well as a handful of bonus IAP consumables.

You couldn't be more wrong. there is nothing in this game forcing you to buy anything, no IAP and you don't even have to buy any additional characters, you can earn them in the game if you want. This is a great game!

[sizzlakalonji]

I've been playing this for the last hour or so, and its pretty darn fun. The Bluetooth portal works fantastically, and my boys love the figures. The game is a pretty simple RTS-lite game, but the controls are great, the sound and music are wonderful, and the graphics are lavish and lush. I don't see this as being an IAP fest any more than Cloud Patrol, which is to say, not at all. Activision was smart to take this platform seriously and offer multiple Skylanders experiences that aren't cheap knock offs. Now with the portal and figurine compatibility for all three iOS Skylanders games, this platform is an equal to the other platforms in many ways.

[Bool Zero]

Originally Posted by SteveW

You couldn't be more wrong. there is nothing in this game forcing you to buy anything, no IAP and you don't even have to buy any additional characters, you can earn them in the game if you want. This is a great game!

I see Bucket of Gems and Pile of Gems entries under the top IAP list entry for this app... How exactly again was he wrong about that? That sounds exactly like what he is talking about!


On a side note: isn't it rather sad that a 37 year old man is considering going out and buying the $49 Bluetooth package deal... For himself! But I agree with the other guy, if I spend premium price on a game, I get skittish at the idea of IAP currencies because you never know how aggressive the model is going to be used for a game. I like to know that when I pay that kind of money I am not going to be psychologically enticed to buy IAP currency purely because the game restricts progression in gameplay in such a way to either warrant it or progress at a snails pace.


In any case I wait this one out... Or just tell my wife to snag it for me a birthday gift tomorrow! I don't know, I am torn! I buy these damn things for my kids and then I wind up getting sucked into collecting them... There should be a program for this...

[Carlos-Sz]

Originally Posted by Bool Zero

…
I buy these damn things for my kids and then I wind up getting sucked into collecting them... There should be a program for this...

Same here. I think my kids love this side of me…

[sizzlakalonji]

Originally Posted by Bool Zero

I see Bucket of Gems and Pile of Gems entries under the top IAP list entry for this app... How exactly again was he wrong about that? That sounds exactly like what he is talking about!


On a side note: isn't it rather sad that a 37 year old man is considering going out and buying the $49 Bluetooth package deal... For himself! But I agree with the other guy, if I spend premium price on a game, I get skittish at the idea of IAP currencies because you never know how aggressive the model is going to be used for a game. I like to know that when I pay that kind of money I am not going to be psychologically enticed to buy IAP currency purely because the game restricts progression in gameplay in such a way to either warrant it or progress at a snails pace.


In any case I wait this one out... Or just tell my wife to snag it for me a birthday gift tomorrow! I don't know, I am torn! I buy these damn things for my kids and then I wind up getting sucked into collecting them... There should be a program for this...

Well, there's a difference between offering IAP and creating a model that forces you to use it. So far, it doesn't seem like IAP is necessary to progress in the game. Like many other IAP models, it's there for people who want to be a bit overpowered, or want to unlock all of the characters right away.

[Bool Zero]

Originally Posted by sizzlakalonji

Well, there's a difference between offering IAP and creating a model that forces you to use it. So far, it doesn't seem like IAP is necessary to progress in the game. Like many other IAP models, it's there for people who want to be a bit overpowered, or want to unlock all of the characters right away.

The problem is that one would never know that barring the premium price. Even word of mouth is not entirely reliable in this case as play-styles vary from person to person, and what is acceptable to one may jot be to another. I have bought games at premium with aggressive IAP, I have also downloaded freemium games in which the IAP model was not aggressive. The problem is not know what you are going to dive into, and I'd rather not spend money on a game that uses aggressive IAP model then pay the entrance fee and find out afterward. I think that is the apprehension some have toward it is all. By no means do I have sticker shock at an app I want... I just like to know that when I pay the price that I won't be coerced to pay more.


Look at the dialogue here: some are willing (myself included) to go out and spend $50 on the package as it seems a more complete deal than paying $6.99. It's not just about the money, its about the perception of what a consumer is getting for that money!

[sizzlakalonji]

Originally Posted by Bool Zero

The problem is that one would never know that barring the premium price. Even word of mouth is not entirely reliable in this case as play-styles vary from person to person, and what is acceptable to one may jot be to another. I have bought games at premium with aggressive IAP, I have also downloaded freemium games in which the IAP model was not aggressive. The problem is not know what you are going to dive into, and I'd rather not spend money on a game that uses aggressive IAP model then pay the entrance fee and find out afterward. I think that is the apprehension some have toward it is all. By no means do I have sticker shock at an app I want... I just like to know that when I pay the price that I won't be coerced to pay more.


Look at the dialogue here: some are willing (myself included) to go out and spend $50 on the package as it seems a more complete deal than paying $6.99. It's not just about the money, its about the perception of what a consumer is getting for that money!

I understand what you're saying. I'm certainly no IAP apologist. I hate them. I bought the $50 starter pack because my boys were interested in the figures and portal and they play with my iPad more than the wii or Xbox.

[Laire]

Originally Posted by Bool Zero

Look at the dialogue here: some are willing (myself included) to go out and spend $50 on the package as it seems a more complete deal than paying $6.99. It's not just about the money, its about the perception of what a consumer is getting for that money!

As you say, it's all a matter of perception and perspective.

An optimist looks at the list of benefits in the $50 package and says, "Hey, cool! I can get a 4x XP bonus if I buy this!"

A realist looks at that same list and says, "I see. I only get 25% of the XP that I'm SUPPOSED to be earning unless I give them more money."

[Bool Zero]

Originally Posted by Laire

As you say, it's all a matter of perception and perspective.

An optimist looks at the list of benefits in the $50 package and says, "Hey, cool! I can get a 4x XP bonus if I buy this!"

A realist looks at that same list and says, "I see. I only get 25% of the XP that I'm SUPPOSED to be earning unless I give them more money."

Exactly! I just want to know that when I pay for something, I am done and any other desire to pay more is on my terms, not a games mechanics towards coercing that decision. It's the same reason ill throw money at games like Punch Quest yet won't spend a dime on timer FarmVille-alike games...