My personal stance on Level 7 and Level 8 gear available on the Store is that the backlash stemmed from players previously being able to buy as many L8 items as they wanted. If someone wanted to be a whale and buy an endless supply of L8 Xmps, they could make an outsized impact on the game and game economy.
This is not that. This is a way for me to test whether bringing back researcher medal bundles outside of the anomaly cycle can help us with our sustainability goals. It’s a way to see if this affects the secondary or scalper market (the Hank medal on eBay for $120 is kind of nuts).
On top of this, we’re also doing cosmetic items (Agent Avatars) in the next version, and working on subscriptions for 2020. I’ve read the megathread with monetization ideas, there’s a lot of great suggestions that came directly from our community. We’re here, we’re listening, and we’re working to make Ingress sustainable so we can continue to grow the game.
The gear in these are not very good. 40 L8 bursters, 10 L8 resos and 20L8 cubes plus a couple VR shields/Viruses once a month is not going to drastically shape the landscape .The people buying these are buying the badge and since you cant but them multiple times(even if you could it's terrible value for just the goods) it's really not that bad. You get "more" gear by attending a FS location every month and hacking the restock/redeeming the passcode(minus like 4 shields which are not hard to get)
Do I think it's going to net them enough money to turn things profitable? Not a chance. Could they cross the line eventually with going to far on the gear packs in my eyes? Yes. But for now this is a great way at pumping back character badges for people that want to support the game, missed a badge, etc etc.
There is no need to PAY FOR SPACE, very disappointed that multiple times lots of people say this is not a good option, and niantic ended doing it.
There were TONS of other options that people post here in the forums, saying want to pay for, OPTIONALS, cosmetic, visual things, not things that will unbalance the game (like more space in inventory) or make a difference in the daily game.
The personalized cursors and old badges are good ones, keep in that kind of optionals.
Paid subscription should NOT be pay 2 win. And I consider more inventory space for money pay 2 win, because as a simplest example you can put moar bursters here. It will play the heaviest role during anomalies. Whoever has more whales and more stuff in inventory — has an undoubted advantage. You should reconsider that.
I’d potentially buy the kit loadouts but have NIL interest in these character medals, no disrespect to those who like to collect them, but they’re not for me.
Regarding Inventory Space, I was hoping that the black locker, the free additional locker given away in Y5, would make a return as locker space is less overpowered than a flat increase to the inventory.
I fully appreciate that Niantic would like to make Ingress more profitable, but there are definitely some community-friendly ways of doing this.
I redeemed this original Code oder a Year ago (in Kaltenberg). So this Character is in my Scanner. Will there bei a 'new Tier' or does it consume my CMU without any changes? Will i work overall?
The gear is clearly working only as the cherry on top of the cake.
What matters most in the Character Medal. The rest is irrelevant, specially because, as @Redfox1701 mentioned, is one purchase per agent.
Looking to the existing black market of older character medals (just look in eBay....) I could not understand why Niantic wouldn't take the legit advantage of re-selling older character medals.
@NianticBrian : Will be very well received, for sure, as there are many collectors out there, that for many reasons couldn't get other characters medals. I just hope you'll extend this practice to older year medals (2016 and before....)
The old character medals coming back is welcome especially since they grey market is ridiculously priced.
I do see a point that the price could be reduced and gear removed. The CMU value for the character medal is slightly more than what it was originally for. And yes, gear load outs were preferred as cards for emergencies.
BE CAREFUL with the subscription. That sounds like something that could definitely end up being pay to win.
Key lockers & media lockers are definitely wanted.
About the subscriptions, PLEASE don't give players in-game advantages for a monthly fee, this is even worse than selling gear in the store,
Why not put ads in the game and make a paid version without ads. This is how almost every other app out there makes money, Of course this also means removing all pay-to-win, this includes frackers (make them hackable).
Love the avatars, can't wait to see new ones in January! Other cosmetic options, and subscription benefits are great user-suggested and supported ideas I hope do get implemented as well.
It'd be great to have a new digital badge available for purchase regularly, or even occasionally, and it's nice to see an old favorite available now. The digital packets worked fine as an add-on to event participation, although it was sad to see physical swag and participation by Niantic characters and staff reduced at the same time.
However, making L8 equipment available for purchase independent of an event, even just this once (nevermind occasionally or regularly) or as a part of a bundle is a TERRIBLE idea, and once again, goes back on the promise made by John Hanke.
I definitely won't be buying the digital package, and won't be forwarding this announcement to advertise it's inclusion in the store in my community, the way I normally would with the introduction of a new Ingress product or event I was excited about.
Speaking of which, I'm also excited about the next Ingress cruise having been scheduled, and seeing if Niantic will choose to add value to the event during its second iteration.
I'm very excited for the skin of agent point. Perhaps you can make a sweety little blue cat 😁 I take it !
But you forgot a lot of bad agents have a lot a accounts. So if a agent have 3 or 10 account, and if he take just 1 kit with all accounts, isn't without consequences in the game. Fight to multi accounts and we can to see for L8....
A lot of people say you I want take just the medal, is a good idea !
Pay to win is very... bad game 😒
It's not anomaly times all moths.
Make skin for capsules or avatar, make beacon but stop pay to win please.
Any information on how much of additional inventory space is being planned? Also how does Niantic plan to balance competitive gameplay when not all agents might opt for the subscription?
Any way that we can get these as codes? I buy a lot of things to hand out as first Saturday prizes and other ingress team building events. Actually clothing and what not from the swag store costs too much for me to ship, and too many issues with it all. So codes for in game things are perfect. While team events are fun, prizes make it even more fun.
That said I have absolutely no interest on badges in my scanner for the most part. I did not but anything from Niantic these last few anomalies because I don't want the badges.
I bought this one because I want to support Niantic. I want to give you money!! But please make it in a way that does not cost me messing up my scanner that I've worked years on to do it. Please!!! I'd really like a code, but even a donate here would work. This time I sacrificed my scanner to give you all money to keep the game going. Thanks you for the game.
If anyone is willing to pay ~US$20 for 40 bursters, 10 resos, 20 power cubes and a smattering of other gear "to win", once a month, they have way more disposable income than I do. It'll be cheaper for me to buy donuts and bribe some local players to a farm.
The person who suggested creating multiple accounts in order to buy enough gear to make a difference, you must have so much money, I'd like to offer you a bridge to add to your collection.
Having said that, I would be more comfortable with receiving no gear with the medal, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.
The subscription is more of a game changer. I'll wait to see what it's like before commenting on it.
Comments
I don't really need your pity, thanks anyway.
I've got a nice new character badge to enjoy 😁
When u buy a character card from anomaly or NL-1331 there was always a load out card.
That's the difference between they and the current sale?
Also it's one time purchase only...
It would be nice if they did more with key lockers. I have souvenirs from my travels taking up a lot of space.
My personal stance on Level 7 and Level 8 gear available on the Store is that the backlash stemmed from players previously being able to buy as many L8 items as they wanted. If someone wanted to be a whale and buy an endless supply of L8 Xmps, they could make an outsized impact on the game and game economy.
This is not that. This is a way for me to test whether bringing back researcher medal bundles outside of the anomaly cycle can help us with our sustainability goals. It’s a way to see if this affects the secondary or scalper market (the Hank medal on eBay for $120 is kind of nuts).
On top of this, we’re also doing cosmetic items (Agent Avatars) in the next version, and working on subscriptions for 2020. I’ve read the megathread with monetization ideas, there’s a lot of great suggestions that came directly from our community. We’re here, we’re listening, and we’re working to make Ingress sustainable so we can continue to grow the game.
The gear in these are not very good. 40 L8 bursters, 10 L8 resos and 20L8 cubes plus a couple VR shields/Viruses once a month is not going to drastically shape the landscape .The people buying these are buying the badge and since you cant but them multiple times(even if you could it's terrible value for just the goods) it's really not that bad. You get "more" gear by attending a FS location every month and hacking the restock/redeeming the passcode(minus like 4 shields which are not hard to get)
Do I think it's going to net them enough money to turn things profitable? Not a chance. Could they cross the line eventually with going to far on the gear packs in my eyes? Yes. But for now this is a great way at pumping back character badges for people that want to support the game, missed a badge, etc etc.
But still what's the point of bundling gear with the medal?
Split them out and let people buy ONLY what they value.
This "1 per month" will not stop people from buying power. They will just open extra accounts to buy gear.
You are going back on your promise to the community to keep this game fair for everybody.
Profit above all.
PayToWin?
There is no need to PAY FOR SPACE, very disappointed that multiple times lots of people say this is not a good option, and niantic ended doing it.
There were TONS of other options that people post here in the forums, saying want to pay for, OPTIONALS, cosmetic, visual things, not things that will unbalance the game (like more space in inventory) or make a difference in the daily game.
The personalized cursors and old badges are good ones, keep in that kind of optionals.
Paid subscription should NOT be pay 2 win. And I consider more inventory space for money pay 2 win, because as a simplest example you can put moar bursters here. It will play the heaviest role during anomalies. Whoever has more whales and more stuff in inventory — has an undoubted advantage. You should reconsider that.
I’d potentially buy the kit loadouts but have NIL interest in these character medals, no disrespect to those who like to collect them, but they’re not for me.
Regarding Inventory Space, I was hoping that the black locker, the free additional locker given away in Y5, would make a return as locker space is less overpowered than a flat increase to the inventory.
I fully appreciate that Niantic would like to make Ingress more profitable, but there are definitely some community-friendly ways of doing this.
What will Happen If i buy this bundle?
I redeemed this original Code oder a Year ago (in Kaltenberg). So this Character is in my Scanner. Will there bei a 'new Tier' or does it consume my CMU without any changes? Will i work overall?
Seems reasonable, and an incentive for Niantic to hunt down multi accounters.
The gear is clearly working only as the cherry on top of the cake.
What matters most in the Character Medal. The rest is irrelevant, specially because, as @Redfox1701 mentioned, is one purchase per agent.
Looking to the existing black market of older character medals (just look in eBay....) I could not understand why Niantic wouldn't take the legit advantage of re-selling older character medals.
@NianticBrian : Will be very well received, for sure, as there are many collectors out there, that for many reasons couldn't get other characters medals. I just hope you'll extend this practice to older year medals (2016 and before....)
The old character medals coming back is welcome especially since they grey market is ridiculously priced.
I do see a point that the price could be reduced and gear removed. The CMU value for the character medal is slightly more than what it was originally for. And yes, gear load outs were preferred as cards for emergencies.
BE CAREFUL with the subscription. That sounds like something that could definitely end up being pay to win.
Key lockers & media lockers are definitely wanted.
Why not make an additional 500 available for each recursion?
So just to clarify before I don't buy.. I would realy get 40 Level 16 xmp and 20 Level 16 powercubes? 😁
I think selling 2015 badges is not such a good idea (leave something just for old timers) but 2017 badges would be fun to see in the store.
About the subscriptions, PLEASE don't give players in-game advantages for a monthly fee, this is even worse than selling gear in the store,
Why not put ads in the game and make a paid version without ads. This is how almost every other app out there makes money, Of course this also means removing all pay-to-win, this includes frackers (make them hackable).
Love the avatars, can't wait to see new ones in January! Other cosmetic options, and subscription benefits are great user-suggested and supported ideas I hope do get implemented as well.
It'd be great to have a new digital badge available for purchase regularly, or even occasionally, and it's nice to see an old favorite available now. The digital packets worked fine as an add-on to event participation, although it was sad to see physical swag and participation by Niantic characters and staff reduced at the same time.
However, making L8 equipment available for purchase independent of an event, even just this once (nevermind occasionally or regularly) or as a part of a bundle is a TERRIBLE idea, and once again, goes back on the promise made by John Hanke.
I definitely won't be buying the digital package, and won't be forwarding this announcement to advertise it's inclusion in the store in my community, the way I normally would with the introduction of a new Ingress product or event I was excited about.
Speaking of which, I'm also excited about the next Ingress cruise having been scheduled, and seeing if Niantic will choose to add value to the event during its second iteration.
I hope it is free or we can earn free CMU when Prime have adventure sync. In Pokémon GO we can earn free money and buy space for free money.
No more inventory space please, it's already balanced, inventory management is part of the game :)
Vintage character cards alone.
No gear sale
Hellôoô
Just take the medal, no vr no L8.
I'm very excited for the skin of agent point. Perhaps you can make a sweety little blue cat 😁 I take it !
But you forgot a lot of bad agents have a lot a accounts. So if a agent have 3 or 10 account, and if he take just 1 kit with all accounts, isn't without consequences in the game. Fight to multi accounts and we can to see for L8....
A lot of people say you I want take just the medal, is a good idea !
Pay to win is very... bad game 😒
It's not anomaly times all moths.
Make skin for capsules or avatar, make beacon but stop pay to win please.
Any information on how much of additional inventory space is being planned? Also how does Niantic plan to balance competitive gameplay when not all agents might opt for the subscription?
Hi,
Any way that we can get these as codes? I buy a lot of things to hand out as first Saturday prizes and other ingress team building events. Actually clothing and what not from the swag store costs too much for me to ship, and too many issues with it all. So codes for in game things are perfect. While team events are fun, prizes make it even more fun.
That said I have absolutely no interest on badges in my scanner for the most part. I did not but anything from Niantic these last few anomalies because I don't want the badges.
I bought this one because I want to support Niantic. I want to give you money!! But please make it in a way that does not cost me messing up my scanner that I've worked years on to do it. Please!!! I'd really like a code, but even a donate here would work. This time I sacrificed my scanner to give you all money to keep the game going. Thanks you for the game.
Equalize all agents at six Key Lockers available to buy.
If anyone is willing to pay ~US$20 for 40 bursters, 10 resos, 20 power cubes and a smattering of other gear "to win", once a month, they have way more disposable income than I do. It'll be cheaper for me to buy donuts and bribe some local players to a farm.
The person who suggested creating multiple accounts in order to buy enough gear to make a difference, you must have so much money, I'd like to offer you a bridge to add to your collection.
Having said that, I would be more comfortable with receiving no gear with the medal, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.
The subscription is more of a game changer. I'll wait to see what it's like before commenting on it.
@NianticBrian Thank you!
Yes, pay to Win a Character Medal.