In the MMORPG Black Desert , the provisional prices in the cash shop are causing confusion. “Not suitable for the West,” critics lament.
Players receive 2,500 pearls as “Bar Pearls,” meaning in cash shop currency, when they purchase the €100 package for Black Desert. This sounded like a considerable amount until one could first take a look at the prices in the second beta.
Pets, which can be used as loot-collecting helpers, cost about 900 pearls – ideally, you need 3 of them. The coveted “costumes with weapons” cost a staggering 3,200 pearls.
Pretty steep prices, if you calculate roughly 1:100 (as Black Desert itself does, by calling 2,500 pearls “Worth €25). Then one of the costume with weapons would already cost €32, making it more expensive than the current pre-order package for €30.
If you want to be beautiful and lazy, you have to pay
At the moment, this is causing some discussion in the Black Desert community. Also, the fact that colors purchased in the cash shop disappear after use and are not added to a color palette, as in other games, is heating up the tempers. This is considered a “not suitable for the West” system, just as the prices are perceived as “too steep.”
Currently, there is hope that Black Desert will adjust the prices again at release. After all, Black Desert is a buy-to-play game. Last time, Black Desert bowed to fan pressure and announced it would open the cash shop earlier than planned. Whether they will give in again this time and lower the prices remains to be seen.
