SOE adds new microtransaction items to EQ2 portion of the Station Cash store

by Michael Zenke Dec 17th 2008 at 9:00AM

Just about a week after the Station Cash service was implemented, we're already seeing new items pop up in the store. SOE has announced a quintet of new items added last night to the EverQuest II component of the store. The newly added items are:

The Potion of Quickened Steps - A 30-minute length potion that increases your walking speed by 40%. Strangely, the tooltip on the image at the EQ2 Players site uses text that indicates it also increases experience gain, but we don't think that's the case.
Ironforge Parade Armor - The handsome armor to the right is the newest addition to the appearance sets they're offering. We think it's the handsomest of the suits they've put up so far, but very much still not work $10.
Phantasmal Skulls - Floating, burny skulls for your home.
The Mage of Shadow's End - A cosmetic pet that looks like a floating husk of a half-lich.
Pegleg, the Scourge of the Ykeshan Sea - A cosmetic pet that appears to be a pirate troll with a peg leg.

If the company intends to keep updating the store on a regular basis, this is a good start, but there are still a few issues to be sorted out with the system. We wrote extensively about kinks in the service in our Unofficial FAQ, and you can find a number of interesting insights into why this service was released in the first place withing our interview with John Smedley.

Gallery: Station Cash Announcement

Tags: eq2, everquest-ii, microtransactions, soe, sony-online-entertainment, station-cash

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

tanek said on 10:35AM 12-17-2008

With these additions it will be interesting to see if there is a noticeable change in the availability or quality of non-RMT "fluff" items like house decorations and pets.

I'm withholding judgment on the evils of the system until I see if SOE really is using it to "soak" players for more money while taking away things that were part of the subscription before. If they do, I can't say I'm shocked. If they don't...good for them.

Tony said on 10:42AM 12-17-2008

I'm honestly bothered by a setup like this. I can get over it if the game is free otherwise, but putting this on top of a subscription model?

Maybe if the things were cheaper, but $10 for an outfit? $4 for a scroll? Seriously?

Iokthemonkey said on 10:44AM 12-17-2008

Exactly Tony. I thought the point was that RMT content was cheap, so you were more tempted to take it up.

It's the old thing of pile 'em high, sell 'em low. Considering that they're virtual items anyway, it's not like the stock levels are going to deplete...

tanek said on 10:49AM 12-17-2008

I can get over things like appearance outfits and whatnot (no one is forcing anyone to pay the $10 and if people think it too high and don't buy it, the price will probably come down a bit) as long as it does not change the content that is developed for the non-RMT players.

As I said, if this means SOE is taking away or reducing the quality of items that would normally have been offered through quests or other in-game means...well, then they are changing their whole subscription model and that is not good.

If, on the other hand, this is all in addition to the normal and a player who chooses not to use it is no worse off than before...eh.

Now, if they removed the subscription altogether and made it more like the Eastern RMT MMO games, then that opens the door to selling real equipment and weapons. *That* would really be a change to the model and the game. Not a good one, either, to my way of thinking.

Tony said on 12:00PM 12-17-2008

Yeah, I definitely get that and I wouldn't want to see that happen either.

In the meantime, though, the items seem to be more superfluous than anything... and in that sense, these are still insanely overpriced. Some of this stuff is almost as much as a month's subscription.

Mr Angry said on 12:47PM 12-17-2008

I'd pay $10 to kick John Smedley's ass, and I think there are quite a few people queuing up for this right now. They'd definitely make more money than station cash with this, and people would get much better value for money.

I feel so sorry for EQ and EQ2 players right now, must be awful that all the new stuff added in over the last two weeks, you have to pay extra for.

I wonder how far they can push the appearance items, SOE have complained in the past that the careful management of these items was essential to maintain server stability and performance? Now it's OK for people to dress up in all these new costumes and have pets running around too, strange that....

Green Armadillo said on 4:50PM 12-17-2008

Aren't EQ2 mounts only in the +40-50% range? I'm not certain if I'd want to pay real money for a permanent mount, but I definitely wouldn't want a TEMPORARY one.