The MMORPG Lost Ark currently has long queues. These affect all players equally. However, the majority of you say: If I own a founder’s pack or a crystal aura, then I should be prioritized.
What was the exact outcome of the survey? We wanted to know from you whether players who spent money on Lost Ark should be allowed to skip the queue or not. At the time of the evaluation (February 18 at 8:25 AM), 3,617 people participated in the survey:
- 1,552 votes (42.92%) said: Buyers of founder packs should be prioritized
- 1,166 votes (32.23%) said: No, everyone should have the same chance
- 739 votes (20.43%) were in favor of prioritizing owners of the crystal aura (premium buff)
- 160 people (4.42%) don’t care whether someone is prioritized or not
In total, 62.72% of you voted for prioritization and 32.23% against it.
The expiring buff and funding of new servers support it
What do the pro arguments say? In the comments, several arguments for prioritization were mentioned. One of the major points is the crystalline aura, the premium buff for 30 days. Many bought it with real money at launch, but it expires over time whether you play or not. That’s why many are in favor of prioritizing these players.
Our reader Chris says:
I see no problem with prioritizing players with the crystalline aura. After all, it says for them: Time is money. In real life, you enjoy various advantages when you pay for such things.
Our reader Chris also makes a comparison from real life, stating that there are also fast lanes in amusement parks that you can pay extra for.
The second argument for prioritization is the server costs. Some say: To offer more servers, more money must be spent. Therefore, players with founder packs or crystal auras should be prioritized. Our reader Eldarsarius also emphasizes the profitability of the game:
In other MMOs, you cannot play at all [without spending money] or are restricted accordingly. Therefore, I am in favor of prioritizing paying customers. The game must also remain economically viable, and this has always been a solid form of funding. Those who pay should also have advantages, as long as it doesn’t lead to Pay2Win.
Many readers have also pointed out that such models already exist in games like Albion Online or TERA. Those who use a premium account enjoy queue advantages there. And this has happened in Albion Online since the switch to Free2Play repeatedly. Even Final Fantasy XIV was mentioned as an example. Because when the servers were full at Endwalker, especially free-to-play players had to wait.
Should there be a prioritization within the buyers? Three of our readers have also established a ranking of how there could or should even be a prioritization among buyers. Our reader Todesklinge demands:
Clearly, buyers of the founder packs should always have priority. In the following order:
1. Platinum
2. Gold (me)
3. Silver
4. Bronze
5. 100€ current package
Etc.
The more expensive the base package, the more prioritized in the queue, because that’s what you paid for.
“If they bring such things, I’m definitely out”
What are the counterarguments? Some readers demand equality in the queue because players with founder packs already had their huge advantage. They were able to start playing three days earlier. Our reader Curry-Meister says:
Of course not. Was it stated anywhere that you can definitely play earlier? No! You have early access, nothing more. And now retrospectively, no, as now everyone can play free-to-play. The extras were clearly communicated, and nowhere did it say anything about 100% play time.
Our reader Caliino even goes so far as to say that he would quit the game if Amazon favored paying players:
No and again no. If they bring such things, I’m definitely out. It’s already enough that many stand “AFK” somewhere just to avoid the queue and block space for others. Paying customers don’t need another advantage.
While in the comments about 50% were for and 50% against prioritization, the survey results are oriented towards 2/3 in favor and 1/3 against.
Queues are still a problem a week after release
On Friday, February 11, Lost Ark was officially released for all players. There was initially a long delay in the launch and subsequently quickly to queues. These are still ongoing. If you want to play during prime time, you sometimes have to line up already at noon.
The new servers that started on February 17 didn’t change that at all. It will probably take a while until the queues become significantly shorter. This coming weekend they are expected to get longer again.
What do you think about prioritization now after the arguments and the survey results?
ThisIsThaWay finds the idea of prioritization unjust and also considers its implementation difficult:
The system is unjust and unnecessary. If it were easy, this would have been implemented a long time ago, as the greed for money would have brought it forth by now. But these are two criteria. It’s absolutely unfair and fundamentally something bad. Also, the implementation is definitely not simple, and the servers must be able to handle such a thing.
Our reader Caliino even goes so far as to say that he would quit the game if Amazon favored paying players:
No and again no. If they bring such things, I’m definitely out. It’s already enough that many stand “AFK” somewhere just to avoid the queue and block space for others. Paying customers don’t need another advantage.
While in the comments about 50% were for and 50% against prioritization, the survey results are oriented towards 2/3 in favor and 1/3 against.
Queues are still a problem a week after release
On Friday, February 11, Lost Ark was officially released for all players. There was initially a long delay in the launch and subsequently quickly to queues. These are still ongoing. If you want to play during prime time, you sometimes have to line up already at noon.
The new servers that started on February 17 didn’t change that at all. It will probably take a while until the queues become significantly shorter. This coming weekend they are expected to get longer again.
What do you think about prioritization now after the arguments and the survey results?
