In the sandbox MMO ArcheAge, the founders were promised a 10% discount on all marketplace purchases, but it was not granted. This is due to a misleading formulation, says Trion Worlds.
The initial problems in ArcheAge – such as long queues – have been resolved, but have been replaced by others. Currently, botters are causing problems in the game, many players have been banned, and there is an ongoing discussion on reddit about filing a lawsuit against the use of Hackshield. All of these topics are somewhat not very enjoyable.
Ten percent off everything … even pet food
A topic that has long concerned founders, but was almost swallowed up by the launch queues, is another: the founder benefits. Before the launch, founders were promised a 10% discount on all marketplace purchases, that is, on everything they would acquire during their ArcheAge career in the game’s cash shop. Now, 10 percent doesn’t sound like much, but it adds up over time and may have swayed some to purchase the package.
The story of ArcheAge is a story full of misunderstandings …
When ArcheAge finally went live, however, there was no sign of the 10% bonus. Users then loudly called on Trion Worlds to clarify the matter.
As Trion Worlds explains, there is a misunderstanding behind this issue. While they liked the idea, they knew it was something that could only be granted in the future as they needed support from XLGames, the developer. Therefore, they formulated that the bonus would be granted “after the launch,” but players believed – due to the formulation “after launch” – it meant “at the launch.”
In the spirit of goodwill, Trion Worlds is aware of the problems and is working to decide as generously as possible in the interests of the players. They still do not know when and how this 10% discount will be granted, but they already know that it will come and will count “retroactively.” This is currently a high priority, they are working with XLGames on it, and will not rest until it is satisfactorily resolved.
Mein MMO thinks: In MMOs, it’s always a strange story how much the refund in in-game currency will be worth if you might not even play the game anymore.
Fair to say, Trion Worlds has taken on another misunderstanding regarding subscription fees and has settled it in favor of the players.
It’s amazing what MMO developers have to pay attention to: What does “after launch” mean and how do players want to understand it? How do developers want them to understand it? Not so easy.
