A Word From The Trader

[MeanSpeed]

It doesn't matter even if some skins were introduced that are unique or have certain bonuses to them, because as long as one person on the team has one, it'll be shared with the entire team so they can buy one from the trader or have one for that game. No individuals are singled out, which is glorious, and a great decision on Tripwire's part.

 

[Forger]

It's painful to me to see the negative backlash this has caused both here and in the steam reviews section. After looking closely at how the Zed-conomy is going to work I'm confident it will mean more free gameplay-related content for us players in the long term. In the short-term though, ouch, I hate seeing Tripwire getting so much flak.

I really respect you guys as developers who go out of your way to do right by your players and support the games you release to the max. This current furor won't change my enthusiastic support for Tripwire.

 

[Diem]

1. Payday 2 microtransactions =/= KF2 microtransactions in terms of gameplay advantage.

2. Lets say they release Gunslinger tomorrow. How long will it take diehard fans to get to level 25? I don't know about you guys but once I master a perk I get bored and move to the next that needs mastering. Zed-conomy is an ever-gaining concept in which no matter what perk you're playing, you're getting something for it at the end of the day.

3. People getting mad over their failure to realize that different groups of a developer make different things is not the developer's fault. It's their own.

1. Yes, I'm aware. Everyone is aware. But I'm saying that on its face, that's what the general public is taking away from it.

2. Go try that argument on /r/killingfloor or the Steam community forums and see what people think.

3. This is true. But that doesn't mean a PR nightmare is a good thing to have, even if it's over a misunderstanding. Better to avoid the problem altogether, however silly the problem is, than to piss a ton of people off over nothing.

 

[thefleshpound]

If you are angry about more ways to support both the developer and the Community content creators then go ahead knock yourself out.

The same argument is always being used, though. It was also used when Steam introduced paid mods.

 

[Lucid Potati]

Please don't go down the overkill route :'(

 

[Mingovillain]

Support

Support

Well, I'm mostly a lurker on the forums. But I think I have to break out of stealth mode to post support for Tripwire and the developers.

Looking for ways to have a revenue stream to keep the game supported in the long run is difficult. I'm impressed it's still a $30 game, after all the years of support for KF1 I expected KF2 to carry a $60 price tag. A cosmetic system that may bring more people to KF2 because they like trading is a excellent alternative to AAA game pricing. I'm happy to have a mechanism to generate funding to support later free content and happy the game has a new way to be fun for a wider audience without putting those whom don't use it at a disadvantage.

It also gives a great mechanism for those who spend time developing content to get a small reward for doing so, I wish there was a similar mechanism for mappers, who really do a LOT to make the game stay fresh. My hat is off to that community.

Early access IS the right place to add this kind of major content so it can be tweaked and worked on before the game is final and so community input can be factored in. Shoehorning it in at the end of EA would be a bad move as major new systems need time to evaluate. Even if that adds more time to the development cycle, this IS what early access done right is all about.

I think the over the top level of bitterness and venom in this thread is the kind of vitriol that makes developers NOT be open to the community for input. I frequently feel sad for Yoshiro reading the comments on most of the threads, but this one was enough to make me come out and say: Keep up the good work Tripwire. Keep innovating. Stay proud of your work and dedication to the community.

 

[Liquid_55]

As we head into the holiday season, we at Tripwire Interactive would like to share with you some of our upcoming plans for Killing Floor 2. We hear the Trader would like to have a word with your team about upcoming opportunities to

 

[Grabbed_by_the_Spetsnaz]

If you are angry about more ways to support both the developer and the Community content creators then go ahead knock yourself out.

Because paying full price for a game just isn't enough support anymore

 

[Rattler]

KF2 is cheaper because its still in EA.

 

[Dr Pepper]

KF2 is cheaper because its still in EA.

It probably will be full price after it gets fully released and the micro-transactions will be in the game.

 

[Moskeeto]

It probably will be full price after it gets fully released and the micro-transactions will be in the game.

They already stated that 30 bucks is the full base price and won't change after the full release.

 

[mrsirr]

Because paying full price for a game just isn't enough support anymore

If you expect free content down the road, no it's not.
I don't like to get involved in these big debacles, but people call it a money grab as if TWI is going to be rolling in Do$h when this is over. As they've stated and has been stated by other people, TWI almost went bankrupt providing free content for KF1 for all that time. TWI isn't a huge company, they don't get the sales and profit that companies like EA get. They aren't going to reach this theoretical point where all this money is going straight into their pockets. It takes money to run a game company and it takes money to produce content. People act as if finances aren't a problem for TWI. I know people don't really think this; I would think the rational next step would be for people to quit acting like that's the case.

 

[Cannonaire]

On a separate theme: interesting point on the subject of "completion", thanks. beginning to understand peoples' desire to have "everything". We'll have to give that some (more) thought.

Just a clarification: I don't personally feel entitled to have everything, and I don't need to have everything. But there is strong psychology at play between "I can possibly get this item", "I will probably never get this item", and "This item will never be available again."

The latter two work on anxiety and fear in order to generate sales, and these are exactly what have happened in other games (I don't feel the need to say which in particular, but I can). The second one is bad enough; the last one is the worst though, using anxiety caused by a time-limited offer in order to coerce people into buying. This is a well-known tactic used to sell preorders by unscrupulous companies. Using anxiety and fear to generate sales is immoral, and completely disrespectful of your fans.

I have no problem with microtransactions. I also have no problem with an overwhelming, unconquerable number of items being present in a game; I don't need to have it all. I have a big problem with a trusted company using dubious practices to extract extra money.

Please know that I am not accusing TWI - that would be pretty daft as I haven't even seen how the system works yet. I am only elaborating my concerns about how it could end up, at a moment when it might still make a difference. If I thought TWI or KF2 were bad, I wouldn't take the time to voice my concerns. Thank you for making such an awesome game.

 

[thefleshpound]

If you expect free content down the road, no it's not.

It depends a lot on what we see as 'free content'. When the Early Access started, a lot of content like classes, weapons and such that were in KF1 were not in KF2.

The questions is: would you categorize those additions as 'free content' or just a step towards building up the basic core of a KF game?

I mean, one could sell any update during Early Access as 'free content' because buyers aren't really entitled to anything after buying an Early Access title. So, worst case, they pay for the 'status quo'.

 

[P4INKiller]

Ugh. The amount of salt in this thread leaves really bad aftertaste.

I have following point on microtransactions:

If it does not affect gameplay in any way (I.E cosmetics) then I'm completely fine with it.

The bad reactions for this are due to a certain game which has gone a bit Overkill on the microtransactions idea.

If you are angry about more ways to support both the developer and the Community content creators then go ahead knock yourself out.

You know, whenever someone is salty, they always get **** for it as if they haven't got a good point to make.
Either they haven't read everything there is to read or it's because they're jumping on a bandwagon generated by some other game/event.

Is it so hard to imagine they just don't like the implications of an economy system?

 

[Instinkt]

The question is : How much will a key cost ?

The DLC Skins and Weapon-packs for KF1 are 4-5 Character/weapons for 5-7

 

[Fouts]

You know, whenever someone is salty, they always get **** for it as if they haven't got a good point to make.
Either they haven't read everything there is to read or it's because they're jumping on a bandwagon generated by some other game/event.

Is it so hard to imagine they just don't like the implications of an economy system?

Don't like Zedconomy? That's fine. Your KF2 experience won't change, core content development won't be hindered, and no one who bought dlc will have an advantage in any way.

Based on those confirmed facts, is there any reason for people to be freaking out like they are?

 

[SRTP-14]

I do not want to see the gold hats in the game.

 

[ScrakeMorgendorffer]

If the developers had have said in an announcement prior to the commencement of early access:

"Look, we've done the figures, and we can make this game in the scale we want to, but here's the caveat - we can either set the base price at [insert figure that's going to be in line with what they'd realistically like to make, here] or we can have a virtual marketplace for skins and character cosmetics to pay for ongoing content with the game"

If they'd have polled the community on which they'd prefer, having gone into the details of what this virtual marketplace would entail, I'd have happily paid extra up-front to avoid the prospect of a supposedly "core" mechanic that is likely to dilute the immersion in/experience of the game itself. Or at least the option to toggle off the cosmetics for those that don't want, or need to see that in a game that's supposed to be about co-op survival.

 

[Myrkr]

I will say I am rather disapointed at the timing on this (although if they sneak in a second perk in addition to gunslinger and patty with this, it'll make me not disapoint, rather 'oh this makes sense, you were using this as a smoke and mirror to hide a sneaky extra christmas gift for us) and while microtransactions do support the developer, I don't like the 'quality' thing, because it turns into 'I spent $10 for piece of **** skins that no one wants' half the time. That said I think there is an option TWI could put in to make it so that this salt goes away and the microtrans truly becomes fully optional for getting reskins, just to speed them up.

Trader Contracts.

These would be free things, that would be hard to do (depending on what it's being used to open, a USB would be easier than a locked crate) and would require the player to do certain things outside normal game play to complete. For instance: As Commando complete a match using the Backup Perk and killing at least one hundred Zeds with your 9mm for a 'moderate' dificulty, or say 'Use an off perk tier one weapon to kill a flesh pound on hard or above' for a hard one.

This would easily get rid of alot of salt, because, now, you don't have to buy the unlock, you can earn it. But the Pay2Open is much, much easier.