Currently, a shitstorm is brewing around the sandpark MMO ArcheAge. The reason for the fans’ anger is some last-minute changes in the game’s cash shop. Now, the CEO of Trion Worlds, Scott Hartsman, has commented. He finds the discussions passionate, showing how much players care about ArcheAge.
The sandpark MMO ArcheAge has gotten into turbulent waters in the last two days. With the launch of the open beta, two new items were introduced in the game’s cash shop that can contain high-quality crafting materials. Additionally, the cooldown of a potion was reduced from 12 to 4 hours, allowing players to acquire 1000 “Labor Points.” Labor Points are a type of “crafting energy” in the game and a limited resource.
Community Divided on ArcheAge
The discussion about these changes has been ongoing for two days and is making waves in the official forums, on reddit, and elsewhere. As with any shitstorm, there is no unanimous opinion.
Some players are upset, others are upset about the outrage, while others say, “And here is where you draw the line; it was already bad before?” Still, others say they said it right away. Some defend the developer’s position, stating that economic interests must be considered and not just one’s own. And as for the outrage, F2P is always also Pay2Win. The opposing extreme accuses Trion Worlds of squeezing the game in the first months because they do not believe in the long-term success of the game. And the overwhelming majority of active players remain silent for sure.
Hartsman Finds the Discussion Passionate
The CEO of Trion Worlds, Scott Hartsman, has now commented to mmorpg.com on the current state.
You can find the statement in English on mmorpg.com. We have translated it approximately:
“Changes in a cash shop and regarding resources are often controversial. We are very pleased that the debate is being conducted so passionately. As the western producer of ArcheAge, it is our responsibility to advise the developers as best as possible on how ArcheAge can succeed in the West. Well-formulated opinions from the various positions greatly assist us in this task.
We appreciate everyone’s passionately expressed opinion on these topics. It shows that players truly care about the game, are concerned and interested. We are closely monitoring the statements and paying attention.
We all share the same goal: an exceptionally successful ArcheAge that will be played by the largest number of players for years to come. We will strive to further intensify the conversations between players, us, and XLGames to ensure that the shop runs to everyone’s satisfaction.”
