I think it was bees! who said that they are considering allowing the upgraded versions to be sold or traded as well. I have mixed feelings about that, but lately they boil down to "meh, guess it won't hurt either way"
It would actually be a lot of work to make upgraded furniture not behave like regular furniture, so all furniture will be equally give-or-trade-able. If this seems like a big problem down the road, we might eventually change it, but I don't think it'll be a problem and our time is better spent on nobler features.
The problem with trading upgraded credit-only features is that it allows people to effectively trade credits for in-game currency or items, thus bypassing the whole "no in-game advantage for spending money" theory. While the credits can't be spent directly, there will still be a considerable amount of trading going on.
I have to agree with Magic Monkey on that point. However, I shall withhold my worry until such a time that a catastrophe is actually upon us :P At the moment it simply sounds like it could be bad.
Okay, so I'm liking that answer from stoot! Honestly, there is no advantage to having buckets of currants right now, which would be the in-game currancy (lol) that you would get for something you paid for in RL money. However, being able to gift or trade these items would allow for those without them, like the non-subscribers, to have a nice item even though they couldn't afford it. That option, IMO, does level the playing field between paying accounts and free accounts, though it might lead to more begging (however, I tend to block beggars, so they would be ignored anyway). But I like the idea, that I can provide a nice item to someone, who I like, that might not otherwise be able to get it. I agree it could go south fast, but we'll have to wait and see how it is all implemented. Would love the same option with wardrobe items, but again...that would be a potential change for the future.
I do like the idea of gifts of items, it's just that I can't think of a way to implement it that would also discourage sales. I know there isn't much to do with currants now, but that doesn't mean it will always be that way! The primary reason I became invested here in the first place is because I wanted to support a game that preserved a level playing field between paying and non-paying players. So it's important to me and I'd like to see it continue.
I really don't see how it will give anyone an advantage. It will allow non-paying players to obtain upgraded furnishings that they couldn't otherwise have. If anything, it seems that that levels the playing field somewhat. Players already have numerous means of making currants, this will just be one more. No one is saying the non-paying customers have to buy the upgraded items or how much they would have to pay for them if they choose to do so. I like the idea, and I for one am looking forward to trading with my paying friends.
I see the idea of buying/selling them maybe being a problem buT ...
besides the increase in someones currants I don't see how a fancy decoration is going to give anyone an in game advantage. Now if it's some type of equipment that would give bonuses, work faster, or increase XP then I could see a problem!!
Say I buy someone a storage cabinet, granted they now have more storage but the only difference is that their stuff isn't sitting on the floor now ......
It's not the people getting the decorations that are getting an advantage. Paid upgraded furnishings, AFAIK, are cosmetic in nature.
It's the people who sell them. Let's say you do the following:
1) Buy credits with real money.
2) Use credits to buy thing.
3) Trade thing for in-game stuff.
Now you've paid real money and you have more in game stuff, and it's stuff you wouldn't have been given without paying that money. That's where my concern lies.
Magic Monkey — I totally understand your concern and if it ends up being a problem, we'll find a way around it.
However, there will always be ways for someone with more money to trade with someone else who has more time ... straight up paypal transactions for currants/items in game, or gift subscriptions exchanged for resources, etc.
The good news: I'm pretty sure that kind of stuff can't ever really do much damage to the game and we don't want to be dogmatic about "no game advantage for cash money" since to a certain extent being able to afford fancier-looking stuff is an advantage in interpersonal transactions; teleportation tokens confer a direct (but tiny) advantage; if we ever do in-game advertising, clever players could convert attention into currants, etc.
What we're REALLY trying to avoid is pay-to-win mechanics: once we put a dollar sign on progress on the game, it is almost impossible to *not* make the game about that. For example, if you only got, say, 100 energy per game day naturally —but you could buy "energy packs" for $0.99, $3.99, $9.99— then the overwhelming temptation will be to bring everything back to energy limits (in order to sell energy packs) and it almost can't be fun, if you know what I mean.
Thanks for coming in to answer our concerns and worries! Or maybe I'm the only one worrying? XD
:>
One thing more.. please do not ever do in-game advertising. That thought makes me have a sad face, like this: =(
Edit - Palindrome ~ "Well, if you read the message you get when entering your house, it says you can trade your furniture :P" I never really paid much attention to that. :>
@Auren- the way Stoot's statement sounds to me is that in-game advertisement will more likely be player to player (for user-created shops,groups, etc) as opposed to corporate-type advertising. At least I hope so..
The advertising idea has been discussed many times over the years, but the very short version: it would be strictly limited to players advertising to players (e.g., groups advertising for members, players advertising their stores, ads for player-made adventures & games, "evangelism" for made-up game religions, various civic campaigns ... whatever). Anything pointing (even indirectly) to real world money exchange, real world companies/brands, etc., would be forbidden.