grayman
08-08-2007, 05:27 PM
I made this suggestion in another thread the other day, but it is now buried in the middle so I am not sure how many people are seeing it. I fleshed out the idea a little more and submitted it to Contact Us. I just wanted to post it here to get some feedback from my fellow players.
I have some ideas for the new trading cards that I think could generate a lot of fun and excitement in VMK if they were implemented. I am not sure exactly what features you already have planned, but I would still like to share my suggestions.
First, the cards should be sold in packs of 3-5 random cards in the VMK shops for around 50 credits. The packs would remain sealed until a player chose to open them from his inventory. This would allow both players and staff to use sealed packs as quest prizes. The chance for a random prize that might be quite valuable, yet costs the quest maker very little would definitely increase interest in both Staff and player quests.
Second, the packs would have a dual feature: each pack would contain both the cards and the items featured on the cards as separate items. This way, the cards themselves would be in the pack for people who want to collect the card set and play the trading game AND the item featured on the card would be placed in your inventory when you open a pack with that card in it. A new tab could be added to the player inventory screen for the cards, with a specific spot for each card so that players can see which cards they have and need.
Third, all manner of items could be distributed through the packs with the cards, from buyable items to former park quest to inferno. To keep certain items rare and not upset certain segments of the VMK population, certain items (like inferno) would only be in a small number of packs (maybe 1 in 10,000), but other items would be more common.
Fourth, to add to the collectibility of the cards and a new dimension to in game trading, some really common items and their corresponding cards could also be very difficult to come by in the card packs. No player would be too concerned about getting a gray crate from the card packs, as it is still buyable, but what if the card for the gray crate is only in 1 of 10,000 packs? Surely players who only needed that card to complete their card set would be willing to trade valuable pins, costumes, or furniture to get that last card. The item and the card would be separate once you opened the pack, so players could trade both the card and the item, or just one of them if they preferred.
Fifth, since these would be distributed randomly as the packs are opened, and the packs would be reasonably priced, nobody would have any advantage in getting any of the more rare items. There would be no disputes about geography or favoritism giving any players an advantage.
Sixth, it would also be possible to use the packs as a way to "tease" players with a new item rather than just showing a picture in the newsletter. The new item and its card could be placed into the packs the month before it is set to be released. This would create excitement over the cards and a major drive among the players to buy the packs. Many players would be interested in being one of the first players to have a new item before it becomes available to everyone. Again, the randomness of the packs would prevent any claims of favoritism regarding how people were able to get the new items. Additionally, since it would only be a temporary “head-start” on having an item, there would be fewer hard feelings among the other players. It would also allow a player who got one of these items to decide whether to keep it for the month and have their "15 minutes of fame" with it before anybody else got it, or try to trade it for something more rare from somebody else that wants that "15 minutes." I think people would trade a lot of items for a chance to be one of the first 10 people with a "Red Stitch Hat" or Hawaiian shirt.
Seventh, since many players are upset and disappointed about the closing of both VMK Centrals, this would offset some of that disappointment by keeping the former park quest items available to the players.
Eighth, it would be necessary for the programmers to create a display case of some kind for the card sets that could be placed in a guest room by each player. Each account could get a display case with the first purchase of a pack of cards, and each account could be limited to only 1 case, both features similar to the camera. There would be no need to trade the cases. Each player would be free to place the display case in whichever of his rooms he chooses. The display case would allow players to show off the cards they have, and advertise the cards they need. This would promote trading of the cards between players when they could see that another player has an extra of a card he needs and needs a card he has.
None of this would interfere with the game you have planned from what I can surmise from the newsletter, and it would add a lot of variety and excitement to many different aspects of VMK.
I have some ideas for the new trading cards that I think could generate a lot of fun and excitement in VMK if they were implemented. I am not sure exactly what features you already have planned, but I would still like to share my suggestions.
First, the cards should be sold in packs of 3-5 random cards in the VMK shops for around 50 credits. The packs would remain sealed until a player chose to open them from his inventory. This would allow both players and staff to use sealed packs as quest prizes. The chance for a random prize that might be quite valuable, yet costs the quest maker very little would definitely increase interest in both Staff and player quests.
Second, the packs would have a dual feature: each pack would contain both the cards and the items featured on the cards as separate items. This way, the cards themselves would be in the pack for people who want to collect the card set and play the trading game AND the item featured on the card would be placed in your inventory when you open a pack with that card in it. A new tab could be added to the player inventory screen for the cards, with a specific spot for each card so that players can see which cards they have and need.
Third, all manner of items could be distributed through the packs with the cards, from buyable items to former park quest to inferno. To keep certain items rare and not upset certain segments of the VMK population, certain items (like inferno) would only be in a small number of packs (maybe 1 in 10,000), but other items would be more common.
Fourth, to add to the collectibility of the cards and a new dimension to in game trading, some really common items and their corresponding cards could also be very difficult to come by in the card packs. No player would be too concerned about getting a gray crate from the card packs, as it is still buyable, but what if the card for the gray crate is only in 1 of 10,000 packs? Surely players who only needed that card to complete their card set would be willing to trade valuable pins, costumes, or furniture to get that last card. The item and the card would be separate once you opened the pack, so players could trade both the card and the item, or just one of them if they preferred.
Fifth, since these would be distributed randomly as the packs are opened, and the packs would be reasonably priced, nobody would have any advantage in getting any of the more rare items. There would be no disputes about geography or favoritism giving any players an advantage.
Sixth, it would also be possible to use the packs as a way to "tease" players with a new item rather than just showing a picture in the newsletter. The new item and its card could be placed into the packs the month before it is set to be released. This would create excitement over the cards and a major drive among the players to buy the packs. Many players would be interested in being one of the first players to have a new item before it becomes available to everyone. Again, the randomness of the packs would prevent any claims of favoritism regarding how people were able to get the new items. Additionally, since it would only be a temporary “head-start” on having an item, there would be fewer hard feelings among the other players. It would also allow a player who got one of these items to decide whether to keep it for the month and have their "15 minutes of fame" with it before anybody else got it, or try to trade it for something more rare from somebody else that wants that "15 minutes." I think people would trade a lot of items for a chance to be one of the first 10 people with a "Red Stitch Hat" or Hawaiian shirt.
Seventh, since many players are upset and disappointed about the closing of both VMK Centrals, this would offset some of that disappointment by keeping the former park quest items available to the players.
Eighth, it would be necessary for the programmers to create a display case of some kind for the card sets that could be placed in a guest room by each player. Each account could get a display case with the first purchase of a pack of cards, and each account could be limited to only 1 case, both features similar to the camera. There would be no need to trade the cases. Each player would be free to place the display case in whichever of his rooms he chooses. The display case would allow players to show off the cards they have, and advertise the cards they need. This would promote trading of the cards between players when they could see that another player has an extra of a card he needs and needs a card he has.
None of this would interfere with the game you have planned from what I can surmise from the newsletter, and it would add a lot of variety and excitement to many different aspects of VMK.