Hi everyone,
I am adamantly opposed to any form of in-game cash shop (incuding cosmetics) and any other form of in-game micro transactions. I think most of you feel the same way, and we know that Visionary Realms feel the same and won't have an in-game cash shop.
However, we all want Pantheon to succeed and cash shops can be a big revenue stream for game developers. Therefore, I would like to propose a real-world cash shop that would only be accessible via the web page (not in-game) and would selll real-world Pantheon merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, banners, posters, coasters, key chains, whatever).
I personally would be happy to throw some extra money at VR in order to support this game and for the additional peace of mind knowing the game will never be cash strapped and suffer from lack of resources. At the same time I can deck out my home, office, and family in Pantheon gear. I also think it would be a neat way to get some advertising out about the game and hopefully allow us to identify members of the Pantheon community in real-life.
I propose a T-shirt that would something like this:
I am (obviously) not clever so I can't think of a better caption, but what does everyone think?
This topic has come up quite a bit.
https://www.pantheonmmo.com/content/forums/topic/2671/pantheon-merchandise/view/page/1
https://pantheonmmo.com/content/forums/topic/214/t-shirts-and-other-paraphernalia/view/post_id/28398
https://www.pantheonmmo.com/content/forums/topic/6680/an-online-store/view/post_id/123219
https://www.pantheonmmo.com/content/forums/topic/7894/pantheon-swag
There are plenty of people who have shown a willingness to purchase some official Pantheon Swag over the years but it hasn't really been much of a priority to VR while they focus their efforts on game development. I'm confident we'll see an official store at some point ... when the time is right.
In the meantime ... I think it would be really cool if VR held a "T-Shirt Design Quest" with the community. Let people mess around with designing stuff and submit their entries. At the end of the event the community picks their favorite choice and that shirt goes into limited production. VR keeps all proceeds and the swag enthusiasts get their hands on a limited edition piece of merchandise that they can cherish for years to come.
I think we need to re-title this post, and quickly. As usual, OneADseven is spot-on. There have been many HEATED debates about a cash shop. What you describe is (as he stated) a SWAG shop. All for that. There was a time in the industry when a good number of software development houses did just what you describe. You could buy shirts, hats, posters etc. None of the houses ever relied on this service to make any money and it was generally more of a Marketing thing than anything else. But that was a long time ago when the number of gamers was not yet in the millions. Fast forward to now and you would be amazed at modern gaming marketing. Truth be told, the gaming industry is bigger and far more prosperous than movies and music. There are more and more movies being made about games than games being made about movies. The level of marketing for game-based IP (intellectual properties) is still considered in it's infancy. There are all kinds of bright ideas out there all designed to make a buck (and, IMHO, deservedly so). Loot Crate is a service my oldest loved to spend money on. I have posted more than a few times in these forums that I would love to see a single-button in the UI that will print a copy of my character sheet onto a T-shirt so that when I wear it to the fan-faire in Las Vegas everyone will know EXACTLY who I am.
*Note - As far as I know, there has been no mention yet of there being a fan-faire in Las Vegas. But I been paying these guys for a long LONG time and I can tell you - they like Vegas and have been there before. :)
I agree with the idea if VR thinks they can use it to make some money.
If they don't think it can make enough to be worthwhile they shouldn't do it yet. Its other function - as a marketing campaign - would be mostly wasted until closer to release.
Even if it can make money if it distracts too much from making the game it may be a bad idea unless the revenue is significant.
I do not know the number of us active on these forums (people that pledged but dropped out probably won't buy). I do not know what percentage of us would go to the effort of putting an order in and giving someone access to credit cards or other means of payment. I do not know how much *net* revenue would get to VR per sale after cost of manufacturing, cost of shipping, and the charges of the company they contracted with to do all this. If 100 of us would order and the profit to VR was $10 per item they are better off keeping their focus on the game - getting it out even a few days sooner is worth more to their bottom line. So is having a more polished product to show to potential investors.
As others have mentioned, it's possible to outsource manufacturing and shipping. There are plenty of swag companies out there that offer full-service assistance where everything is pretty much set to auto-pilot after you submit the artwork that will be featured on the merchandise. You pick and choose which items you want for sale and then connect all of the products to a payment gateway. It's as simple as uploading designs and transferring funds. It isn't as profitable as doing everything in-house but that's because the vast majority of work is handled by the distributor. At the end of the day, though, this type of endeavor would be centered around the consumer rather than the company. If it's a short-term community oriented project (where limited edition merchandise will be offered) then I think the approach could be justified.
It's not really something that people can take initiative with due to copyright laws. The people who are interested in purchasing swag are mostly in it to help support VR. If a third party designs a few shirts "themed" around Pantheon while cleverly avoiding any copyright infringements, it's highly unlikely that it would be successful because the "target audience" aren't really looking for T-Shirts, they are looking to help support VR first and foremost and view any real life merch as an added bonus. For that reason, it's important that VR spearheads the campaign, or at least approves/supports it.
That’s why I said they should submit a proposal. If it’s so easy and cheap to outsource, like so many here claim, than why don’t they seriously sell their services?
I am all for branded merchandise. What I am against is so many forum posters, not just for Pantheon, criticizing companies for not doing everything that the posters claim is so easy and cheap that everyone should be doing it.
They have professional marketers. They have a plan. If you think it’s so easy and cheap, step up and sell your actual proposal, like a real business does. But, don’t keep posting how the companies are fools for not implententing every deal posted about in a forum.
Everyone on the Internet thinks they are master marketers.
((Everyone on the Internet thinks they are master marketers. ))
Some of us point out the negatives too.
This may be something that can generate a bit of a flash but not over and over. Flash is best reserved for after subscriptions or accounts are actually for sale or pre-order.
The short answer is that this will definitely happen at some point. But only when it makes financial sense for them to do so. VR has pointed out that after you take processing, shipping, etc. into account (whether you do it youself or outsource it), the amount of profit left over is actually somewhat small. But getting other people to wear your brand and increase exposure is a good thing, but only as part of a larger marketing campaign, which only makes sense to do when the game is ready for it. It's all part of a much bigger plan :)
