Do you think we'll ever get to buy credits?

[LilLisaLou]

I was looking around on the VMK site and saw "sulake" listed under developer credits. When I googled them, Habbo Hotel popped up. I poked around a little bit and saw that you can use real cash to buy virtual credits.

Do you think that they'd ever try to do that with VMK?

 

[fireworksplayer]

im not sure but this game is a huge advertisement and maybe they will cuz they know people would buy them cuz they r addicted but im not sure.... good thinking

 

[BrittnTylersMom]

I hope it never, ever, comes down to that on vmk.

 

[The Wolf]

Personally I think that is the wrong way to go with the game.

It will mean the players with more money will gain an advantage over everyone else purely by the ammount they are willing to spend on the game.

Plus I like the idea of having to "earn" your credits for the stuff you want.

 

[JeanJoe]

I was chatting with Kaizonet in VMK yesterday, and was feeling in a particularly cynical mood. The gist was:

- Disney is NOT running VMK so that we can have fun
- they're doing it to make money
- it's possible they've underestimated how popular VMK has become

If that's the case,
- there MUST be a bean counter at Disney who figures VMK's worth an easy buck
- they could EITHER start charging for people to play VMK. The bean counters might argue that anyone who "quits VMK" in indignation over needing to pay might be someone who wasn't going to add to their bottom line anyhow

OR, they could keep VMK free to access for everyone, but somehow massively ramp up the distribution of unique codes. What if all you could buy in-game was "boring" stuff? What if the purchase of some Disney DVD, music CD, park souvenir, park pass, pin, or whatever was needed in order to get the "cool" stuff? Or if the best magic went to people who stayed at the Grand Floridian?

They probably wouldn't make it too extreme, because negative publicity and backlash is also a problem (case in point: the huge threads on the Dis when somebody found the patent application Disney filed linking number and / or "quality" of Fast Passes available for use to whether you were staying at premium vs. moderate Disney resorts; no evidence that Disney is implementing this system, but they have filed the patent for it.)

I ramble, but the bottom line is: Disney, as much as we love it, and as magical as it can be (or was in the past before certain people... never mind), they are still a company whose goal is to make money.

There was a rumor I heard once that VMK would only be open for the year of the 50th celebration, from June 2005 through June 2006, and then it would be shut down. Just a rumor.

If VMK remains so popular, I doubt they'd just let their "adver-game" disappear, but I would NOT be surprised if they closed up shop on the current VMK (all messed up by credit inflation, bungled magic codes, loss of incentive for trading), and instead opened VMK II, with more items available uniquely only to those who "show the money" to Disney.

Am I still feeling a bit cynical this morning? I guess so

Personally I think that is the wrong way to go with the game.

It will mean the players with more money will gain an advantage over everyone else purely by the ammount they are willing to spend on the game.

Plus I like the idea of having to "earn" your credits for the stuff you want.

 

[blizzard]

I don't think they will ever sell credits, however like Bezoar I think that we will see many more items that are only available in the park. (quest items, card with purchase, etc.) I agree that only the "boring" items will be available for purchase. I can see a day where even the prizes for special events will be cool, but can only be activated in the park (and would be non-tradeable so you couldn't have someone else pick it up for you unless you gave them your pass word)

I think there will be a huge outcry from the players who never go to the parks, HOWEVER these are not the people Disney is targeting with this game, so I don't think they will mind if they leave.

 

[LisaInNc]

I could see them charging a fee to play and I would pay it. We bought Disney Blast for my DD. I think it was around 50.00 for a year of access. She plays frequently so I didn't mind the cost. I always thought that there would be a charge eventually for VMK. Disney does nothing for free.

I can't see them closing VMK and starting all over again. That just seems wrong for the people that have spent a lot of time building their credits, pins etc. The negative backlash would make that prohibitive. Maybe a new addition where you log in with your same character. I wouldn't start all over again. If they did that they would lose me.

I can see more product tie ins. Buy this and get a code type of thing but for it to be valuable or really promote sales it would have to be a one time use code. With the Kelloggs promo it is so easy to get the codes that I didn't buy a single box of cereal to get a code. I looked at the top of the thread. If they had been single use codes my family would be eating Kelloggs for breakfast this morning.

I know that I am going to be buying a hat at the Chapeau when I visit in October. Perhaps more tie ins like that might bring in revenue.

 

[Tinkerbelle739]

Back during Beta, staff asked me if I were willing to buy cards with codes on them and how much would I be willing to pay for them?

I figured it would be similar to Pokemon or Yu Gi Oh cards. I told them I would consider it depending on the price.

I do agree that Disney, at some point, will try and make more money off of VMK.

 

[disvaclub92]

Back during Beta, staff asked me if I were willing to buy cards with codes on them and how much would I be willing to pay for them?

I figured it would be similar to Pokemon or Yu Gi Oh cards. I told them I would consider it depending on the price.

I do agree that Disney, at some point, will try and make more money off of VMK.

I agree. As soon as we walked in to VMK Central in the Magic Kingdom, my DD's flipped when they saw the VMK Cards. I am sure they will start selling those cards.

Also, I agree with Bezoar - Disney is a company whose goal it is to make money. I have been speaking with several friends who are planning on going down - but advised me that they will not go to the Magic Kingdom, because it is not tailored to kids 10 - 14, more for the little kids. Then it dawned on me, that is why VMK is here - to bring those people with children in this age group to Disney - then to Magic Kingdom.

I hope it does not go away or resort to a fee based amusement - my kids adore meeting and making new friends. I am glad to have the opportunity to hang out with all of you too.

 

[BuddyGenie]

Back during Beta, staff asked me if I were willing to buy cards with codes on them and how much would I be willing to pay for them?

I figured it would be similar to Pokemon or Yu Gi Oh cards. I told them I would consider it depending on the price.

I do agree that Disney, at some point, will try and make more money off of VMK.

I read about these prize cards in a newsgroup, and heard someone suggest that Disney go into the Trading Card Game business, like Yu-Gi-Oh and some such. They could have different Disney Character cards (some from movies, some specially created for the game), different magic cards, special token cards, etc, and it's played like a battle. Of course, it's going to require some strategy, and that's not exactly one of my higher brain functions.

But yeah, if the VMK prize cards are available for purchase, then I would buy them.

 

[Tinkerbelle739]

I would love to see PixieBella on a trading card!!

 

[Maleficent2]

I agree. As soon as we walked in to VMK Central in the Magic Kingdom, my DD's flipped when they saw the VMK Cards. I am sure they will start selling those cards

I have been saying this since the first week of Beta. That they should have cards like the Animal Crossing cards with codes for items.

Also they could include cards in DVD, video games etc.

This would add a whole other dimension to VMK.

I really do not see them just selling credits like Habbo. But I do hope they put out more codes for purchases and that includes multiuse codes in cereals and other products.


Mal

 

[JeanJoe]

LOL, for some reason, I expected to be flamed for posting that I thought Disney was out to make money. And then, how dull, most respondants seem to agree... Guess we're all just a bunch of jaded pragmatists.

Well, jaded pragmatists, but still with magic in our hearts

 

[Saxsoon]

I agree with maltoo about having stuff in the movies and such.

And isn't this the BETA version of the game. Doesn't that mean that this is basically the prototype of the game and the new one will be so much better. Unless i am mistaken i believe this to be true

Then it won't have all the problems we are having now

 

[NJ Mike]

Go to the parks, and buy a pre-wrapped "random" pack of 3 vmk cards with a single use code for different items for like $5-$6. Collect them all! Trade with your friends!

They would make a ton of $$. There bean counters, I did your job for you. Now, make it so! lol

 

[Maleficent2]

And isn't this the BETA version of the game. Doesn't that mean that this is basically the prototype of the game and the new one will be so much better. Unless i am mistaken i believe this to be true

Public beta ended awhile back....at least they said it did. That is why some of us have the yellow circle with a "1" in it. But I do beleive we are still in a Beta version of sorts.

Hi Mike

That is exactly what I suggested to them at the beginning of Beta although I said $4 a pack for a pack of around 6 cards.

Like AC do them in series...the only problem is they would have to be multiuse codes I think because they would not be tradeable otherwise.

I would not say buy a card off ebay or trade with another VMKer for a card with a single use code...What recourse would you have if the code had been already used. NONE. And to make them tradeable you would want to trust that you could use that code. The only way around this would be to cover it with that scratch off stuff....But I am sure some scammer knows a way to reapply that junk.

I also would love to see a Gamecube and DS and PSP version of this game on the same lines as the game is now. But with AC(animal crossing)features what a cool game that would be and make it interactive with the web since DS & PSP are ready for that.

Mal

 

[Saxsoon]

Malifecent another Nintendo fan. I have been following the news on next gen system revolution (Nintendo's next system) and imagine this. FREE online like it is now. Better grapics more rides. plus you can download more features. Sony and Microsoft would make you pay for it unlike Nintendo. It would be nice to have a portable version on my DS . PSP BAD

 

[lovethattink]

I just got my Annual Passholder Newsletter (Mickey Monitor) and there is a nice page dedicated to VMK. It specifically says it's for children. Since the children don't have the $, but their parents do, I think that's why you have to go to the parks to redeem certain things. I think Disney will make money from VMK. There are lots of prizes where you have to go to WDW or DL to redeem your prize. Why charge $4 for a pack of cards when you can get a whole family to the park who will spend hundreds if not thousands on a Disney vacation. I know I spent twice the amount of money I had planned on so that both DS and I could get the retro penny press, hat, etc. I'd be willing to bet that at some time in the future, the VMK tour will be for a fee. I'm sure there will soon be t-shirts and souvenears that are symbolic of the game. They do have a pin, but the pin doesn't look that great. Maybe buy an outfit for yourself, get an outfit for your character?? I think they can use VMK as an excellent marketing tool, reaching lots of people who are going to want to go to WDW or DL to redeem prizes and get cards for codes, and by VMK merchandise.

 

[Maleficent2]

Why charge $4 for a pack of cards when you can get a whole family to the park who will spend hundreds if not thousands on a Disney vacation

Because you would hit a much larger audience and get more people interested in the game so more people would want to visit the Parks so they could redeem the codes they won while playing and buy other codes in the Parks.
This is is adjunt with the Park things not instead of.

 

[BuddyGenie]

I just got my Annual Passholder Newsletter (Mickey Monitor) and there is a nice page dedicated to VMK. It specifically says it's for children.

I knew it! I knew it the first moment I signed up for VMK, and now it's true, straight from the home office itself! I am so annoyed!