106994-oh-carbine-please-dont-do-the-special-rare-in-game-swag-thing

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A long, long time ago I made a post on Wildstar Central about how many people are completionists and find it deeply frustrating when items are given out in competitions and at game cons that they simply cannot get, and though there obviously were some replies from people who love these things or who don't care, there were many who agreed.
 
Personally, I'm still sad I don't have a rowsdower plusie, even though I've entered every competition, giveaway etc with rowsdowers involved. I couldn't exactly afford a ticket to the US to pick one up when you sold them at Pax East... But the rowsdower plusie is not an in-game collection item. In-game collection items offered to only a small group of your player base is just not a good idea. People really want these things and while yes, that might sell a few extra tickets for the convention, it also leaves a bunch of other players heartbroken. It makes those who cannot afford going to conventions feel worse about themselves and their lives. I'm pretty sure that's not your intention, but people are different and they feel different about things and for some people this is not a small thing.
 
When me and my BF read this we got pretty disappointed. My BF is a completionist and got a lot more frustrated with it than me because he saw it as an indication that this is your policy, that these things will happen over and over and that being a completionist in Wildstar is going to be tough on the nerves.
 
I mean seriously, who isn't going to want a top hat? What Cassian wouldn't LOVE to wear that? And considering how hard it is to get a good looking table for your house the first many levels, that one should have been put in the game for everyone, not just a select few lucky souls that happen to be in Cologne, Germany, and who may or may not even play the game. The worst part is that stuff like this ends up being sold on Ebay for lots of money that goes straight to the person who was "smart enough" to pick up some code they didn't care for, rather than the company who wanted to reward their fans. The world is too screwed up for stuff like this to work. And it only goes to prove you could make money by selling these things in stores on your own site, and nobody would fault you for a little extra income if it meant they get to buy a t-shirt, a rowsdower plushie or maybe a life-size statue of Agent Voxine, I'm sure someone'd pay for it. 
 
I can understand that in the big picture this may seem like a small thing, and that a lot of people feel there are bigger things to worry about in this game than a little unobtainable in-game swag but personally, I think many of the policies in the gaming business, like different pre-order bonuses from different stores, special editions that can only be obtained in the US (or only in Europe), or even simply expecting people to buy and pay for your product unseen, months before they'll actually get to experience it, are downright nasty and exclusive in-game swag from conventions and competitions is one of them. 
 
Please consider redeeming this situation by giving these codes away to people who watch streams (follows your twitch stream during those days or otherwise), or in some other way make them accessible to your fanbase regardless of physical location or financial status. In the long run, it will be good for you. It might even keep a few more people playing. 
 
 	
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			Honestly don't see the problem if it's a decor/costume items, it isn't like in Pokemon for you to get a Genesect you have to go to that event in Japan.	
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			I would do terrible terrible things for that title :(	
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			I'm not sure that carbine is going to stop giving away freebies because of your obsessive compulsiveness. No offense intended honestly. Plenty of people were mad that they didn't get their RIP Maker too.	
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			Oh wow, I didn't even know about these exclusive things. Make me really sad since I always try to get everything that the game has to offer. I got the digital deluxe, RIPeacemaker, monkey, facehugger and all that. would much rather have that hat and monocle though. Hopefully they will allow it to the rest of us somehow.	
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			On the upside, if it drives interest, okay.  Maybe they'll make that the "Con" item.  And if a newbie doesn't want it, they can sell it for g or p.	
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I mean seriously, who isn't going to want a top hat? What Cassian wouldn't LOVE to wear that? And considering how hard it is to get a good looking table for your house the first many levels, that one should have been put in the game for everyone, not just a select few lucky souls that happen to be in Cologne, Germany, and who may or may not even play the game. The worst part is that stuff like this ends up being sold on Ebay for lots of money that goes straight to the person who was "smart enough" to pick up some code they didn't care for, rather than the company who wanted to reward their fans. The world is too screwed up for stuff like this to work. And it only goes to prove you could make money by selling these things in stores on your own site, and nobody would fault you for a little extra income if it meant they get to buy a t-shirt, a rowsdower plushie or maybe a life-size statue of Agent Voxine, I'm sure someone'd pay for it. 
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On the upside, if it drives interest, okay.  Maybe they'll make that the "Con" item.  And if a newbie doesn't want it, they can sell it for g or p.
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That exclusive in game item might be what brings someone to WS. You also have no idea how they are giving the bags away. They said they're limited, so perhaps there's only 10 a day, and they will give them to people who are clearly fans and/or already sub.
 
There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with giving away exclusive in-game items at cons. The whole POINT of a convention is to get people to show up and look at your stuff. That means getting them to come to your table with tastey treats they can't get anywhere else.	
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			Yeah I saw this and was oh no! MUST HAVE, then I looked it, and its meh. Don't get me wrong I still want it, but I don't need it	
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			Let them give the cowboy hat away at a con, then we'll see how people really feel.	
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Let them give the cowboy hat away at a con, then we'll see how people really feel.
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			Don't worry, all this will end up in a cash shop eventually. Just wait and see!	
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			Deal with it. Most of those contests you talk about can't be entered by people outside the US. This is a nice thing for EU players, and they deserve it. There will other ways to get this stuff, I'm nearly certain.	
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Oh, this is some bullcrap.
 
I'm with the OP.
 
The RIP-Maker was open to everyone. The Open Beta rewards were open to anyone who took the time to participate.
 
Germany? I gotta go to GERMANY to get top hat? 
 
Man, even if this were at the Houston Comic-Con (which is a whopping fourteen minutes from my house), I'd feel the same way. Costumes are a premium in a game without a cash shop to purchase them from - and freaking TOP HATS are way too awesome to hold for ransom like that.
 
I'm down with giveaways. I'm down with exclusivity. What I'm not down with is having to fly halfway around the planet to get it. I think that's asking just a little much.	
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I'm not sure that carbine is going to stop giving away freebies because of your obsessive compulsiveness. No offense intended honestly. Plenty of people were mad that they didn't get their RIP Maker too.
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I've never been kosher with event giveaways. It really is a load of nonsense.
 
Most MMOs have their items that are big with collectors. In WoW it is (or at least used to be) mounts & titles, in GW2 it was minipets & titles, here it is costume pieces, decor & titles. These things are always given away at such exclusive conventions.
 
I remember when I was playing GW2, they offered a "Mr Sparkles" Minipet out to people who went to Gamescom. One of those codes sold for OVER 500 EUROS.
 
Ridiculous that gaming developers actually endorse and encourage these things.	
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It's a bulky top hat and a desk...
 
you will live without these items... I promise	
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Okay I broke down and looked at the link
 
 
THERE IS AN EXCLUSIVE DYE!!!! I bet it's not Brown!!! Now I'm mad!
 
I could live without the hat, or the table (though that table rules) But an exclusive Dye? When colors other than Brown are so hard to get!!!
 
Unless it is Brown, then I don't care I have enough Browns.	
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THERE IS AN EXCLUSIVE DYE!!!! I bet it's not Brown!!! Now I'm mad!
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Don't worry about that, it'll probably cost like 50 Plat to dye your costume with it anyway.
 
The issue with convention giveaways is they are not open to anyway. Collectors are open to everybody, the RIP Maker was open to everybody. Gamescom, however, is not as tickets and supply is limited, even ignoring the huge cost behind it.
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			The new dye? It's probably grey	
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			Hey, at least it's not a cowboy hat.	
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Hey, at least it's not a cowboy hat.
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			This makes me very sad. :( A dye!!! *grabby hands* And I could do awesome things with that table.	
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Very true... b...but not brown *whines a little bit*
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Bah, this is pretty disappointing.
 
A top hat was my number one most wanted costume piece (I've got my main character dressed up in an approximation of a tuxedo, so this would have been PERFECT!). I kind of like exclusive items, but this seems REALLY exclusive. I wish they could have done something similar to the PC Gamer promo and had this item package be something you could register online for. Or maybe give it out to people who logged into the game while gamescom was going on. Definitely hope that, at the very least, these are items they continue to give out at other events, so more people in other countries get a shot at obtaining them.	
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Seriously? This is the thing to complain about now?
 
I don't see you guys whining about the fact that there are houses, housing decor, and costumes that are split between the factions. Can't use Dommie stuff on your Exile or Exile stuff on your Dommies. So, there goes your whole completionist thing right out the window.
 
I just don't even... #firstworldproblems	
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I don't mind when companies give out unique stuff at events. I do mind when they give out the best stuff at events. Like OP said, who wouldn't want a top hat and monocle? Who wouldn't want some steampunk-ish decor for their house? Well you weren't at this one event so you'll never get them. 
 
It's like Blizz and their damn baby merloc pets. Would it have killed them to allow their customers to have access to just one baby murloc pet? Nope. Can't have that. Don't care that you've been playing for a decade. If you want a merloc pet spend a few hundred dollars and go to Blizzcon. 
 
I guess specialsnowflakeism makes no sense to me. I have the Rest In Peace Maker sword for my warrior and I would not be bothered one bit if Carbine added a item to the game with the same graphic. I know a lot of others would throw a complete fit, which is why the graphic will probably remain rare. Likewise, if you wanted a top hat in the game, probably best to give up that dream now. 	
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Like OP said, who wouldn't want a top hat and monocle? Who wouldn't want some steampunk-ish decor for their house? Well you weren't at this one event so you'll never get them.  
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WTF I want a top hat for my mechari and Chua!
Chua in a top hat would be fraken amazing!!!!pojnsdfopjnfsdpojnkisadf poiujnsadfpoijnasdfpomnjk	
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			I could care less about the hat, housing decor and dye.. That title, though. Do want, but there's no way I'm going to be able to go to Germany for Gamescom.  :P Ah well, guess I'll just have to be content with my Special Snowflake Sword.	
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Seriously? This is the thing to complain about now?
 
I don't see you guys whining about the fact that there are houses, housing decor, and costumes that are split between the factions. Can't use Dommie stuff on your Exile or Exile stuff on your Dommies. So, there goes your whole completionist thing right out the window.
 
I just don't even... #firstworldproblems
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Seriously? This is the thing to complain about now?
 
I don't see you guys whining about the fact that there are houses, housing decor, and costumes that are split between the factions. Can't use Dommie stuff on your Exile or Exile stuff on your Dommies. So, there goes your whole completionist thing right out the window.
 
I just don't even... #firstworldproblems
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Oh, this is some bullcrap.
 
I'm with the OP.
 
The RIP-Maker was open to everyone. The Open Beta rewards were open to anyone who took the time to participate.
 
Germany? I gotta go to GERMANY to get top hat? 
 
Man, even if this were at the Houston Comic-Con (which is a whopping fourteen minutes from my house), I'd feel the same way. Costumes are a premium in a game without a cash shop to purchase them from - and freaking TOP HATS are way too awesome to hold for ransom like that.
 
I'm down with giveaways. I'm down with exclusivity. What I'm not down with is having to fly halfway around the planet to get it. I think that's asking just a little much.
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I've never been kosher with event giveaways. It really is a load of nonsense.
 
Most MMOs have their items that are big with collectors. In WoW it is (or at least used to be) mounts & titles, in GW2 it was minipets & titles, here it is costume pieces, decor & titles. These things are always given away at such exclusive conventions.
 
I remember when I was playing GW2, they offered a "Mr Sparkles" Minipet out to people who went to Gamescom. One of those codes sold for OVER 500 EUROS.
 
Ridiculous that gaming developers actually endorse and encourage these things.
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I want a purple sparkle Les Paul custom. They were limited edition. I can't afford it. Oh well, there's plenty of other stuff in life I do have that makes my life awesome. Sure I'd love to have that purple sparkle Les Paul but if I don't have it it's not like my life is any less enjoyable. 
 
I don't get the outrage. it's a top hat. If you see tons of exclusive armor sets being sold in the Wildstar store that you can't ever get in game THEN maybe there's a reason to question their motives but this is a TOP HAT for crying out loud. Everyone's acting like it's the AntiChrist. 	
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Please consider redeeming this situation by giving these codes away to people who watch streams (follows your twitch stream during those days or otherwise), or in some other way make them accessible to your fanbase regardless of physical location or financial status. In the long run, it will be good for you. It might even keep a few more people playing. 
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I want a purple sparkle Les Paul custom. They were limited edition. I can't afford it. Oh well, there's plenty of other stuff in life I do have that makes my life awesome. Sure I'd love to have that purple sparkle Les Paul but if I don't have it it's not like my life is any less enjoyable. 
 
I don't get the outrage. it's a top hat. If you see tons of exclusive armor sets being sold in the Wildstar store that you can't ever get in game THEN maybe there's a reason to question their motives but this is a TOP HAT for crying out loud. Everyone's acting like it's the AntiChrist. 
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The only purpose of such exlusives are to get more people to attend these poorly orchestrated money grabs known as conventions. The really devoted and rich fans would go without being rewarded in-game for it but their numbers are not high enough to make these events as profitable as they usually are.
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Hello everyone,
 
We will be handing some of these codes online through various Community activities (more information on that will be announced soon). Players from both regions, NA and EU will have -a chance- to get their hands on these codes without having to travel all the way to Cologne for gamescom.
 
We understand that some players will be frustrated if they do not manage to get a code either through a giveaway or even during gamescom (these will be limited even there), but keep in mind that these items might be given away in the future through others activities as well, that has always been our policy.	
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Hello everyone,
 
We will be handing some of these codes online through various Community activities (more information on that will be announced soon). Players from both regions, NA and EU will have -a chance- to get their hands on these codes without having to travel all the way to Cologne for gamescom.
 
We understand that some players will be frustrated if they do not manage to get a code either through a giveaway or even during gamescom (these will be limited even there), but keep in mind that these items might be given away in the future through others activities as well, that has always been our policy.
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that has always been our policy
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Hello everyone,
 
We will be handing some of these codes online through various Community activities (more information on that will be announced soon). Players from both regions, NA and EU will have -a chance- to get their hands on these codes without having to travel all the way to Cologne for gamescom.
 
We understand that some players will be frustrated if they do not manage to get a code either through a giveaway or even during gamescom (these will be limited even there), but keep in mind that these items might be given away in the future through others activities as well, that has always been our policy.
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Really so The Rest-in-Piece Maker will be coming back?
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			To be honest I'm one of those completionists who was really bothered about the fact this was exclusive to a convention. I'm an 18-year-old student in the UK, there is no way I could afford to attend! I have no problem with these items being given away to bring in more players. Great! Just please make them obtainable somehow in-game. For example, having an active subscription/logging in between specific dates (time of the convention) will automatically add these items to your account inventory. I know it seems ridiculous to some people but I personally just love collecting items and costumes. I'm still really bummed out that I missed out on the RIPmaker (partly because it was something from PC Gamer). I have even looked into purchasing a code off EBay for this sword as I've always played Warriors heavily in MMOs and Wildstar is no different. It then frustrates me when I read that people have the code and don't even play a Warrior! Overall, what I'm trying to say is that these exclusive items mean a lot to some players including myself and we find it frustrating when they aren't obtainable in some way in-game. Personally, I think it's slightly unfair.	
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Just please make them obtainable somehow in-game. For example, having an active subscription/logging in between specific dates (time of the convention) will automatically add these items to your account inventory. [snip]  Overall, what I'm trying to say is that these exclusive items mean a lot to some players including myself and we find it frustrating when they aren't obtainable in some way in-game. Personally, I think it's slightly unfair.
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Doesn't make an item very exclusive if everyone gets one just for logging in during that time frame. It's not unfair, it's EXCLUSIVE. There's a difference.
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Hello everyone,
 
We will be handing some of these codes online through various Community activities (more information on that will be announced soon). Players from both regions, NA and EU will have -a chance- to get their hands on these codes without having to travel all the way to Cologne for gamescom.
 
We understand that some players will be frustrated if they do not manage to get a code either through a giveaway or even during gamescom (these will be limited even there), but keep in mind that these items might be given away in the future through others activities as well, that has always been our policy.
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Hello everyone,
 
We will be handing some of these codes online through various Community activities (more information on that will be announced soon). Players from both regions, NA and EU will have -a chance- to get their hands on these codes without having to travel all the way to Cologne for gamescom.
 
We understand that some players will be frustrated if they do not manage to get a code either through a giveaway or even during gamescom (these will be limited even there), but keep in mind that these items might be given away in the future through others activities as well, that has always been our policy.
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To be honest I'm one of those completionists who was really bothered about the fact this was exclusive to a convention. I'm an 18-year-old student in the UK, there is no way I could afford to attend! I have no problem with these items being given away to bring in more players. Great! Just please make them obtainable somehow in-game. For example, having an active subscription/logging in between specific dates (time of the convention) will automatically add these items to your account inventory. I know it seems ridiculous to some people but I personally just love collecting items and costumes. I'm still really bummed out that I missed out on the RIPmaker (partly because it was something from PC Gamer). I have even looked into purchasing a code off EBay for this sword as I've always played Warriors heavily in MMOs and Wildstar is no different. It then frustrates me when I read that people have the code and don't even play a Warrior! Overall, what I'm trying to say is that these exclusive items mean a lot to some players including myself and we find it frustrating when they aren't obtainable in some way in-game. Personally, I think it's slightly unfair.
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Agreed on most parts (except the cash shop). While I'm not going to flip out about it, I think it's a bad move on Carbine's side, creating items that maybe 1-2% of playerbase would get to use. A promotional campaign should be large enough to attract everyone and their mother, as far as incentives go, this has more potential of alienating current players, than adding new ones.
 
Promotions are good. If they're open to all.
 
Not going to die without owning a tophat, a fancy table and a special dye, but sure would have been nice to have them. Since, you know, I'm here, paying the sub. I do empathize with collectors and completionists out there - this must truly be a pain.	
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			Fine. But, a better response would have been to prove me wrong. 	
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			It just doesn't make ANY sense to disappoint people that are currently still playing. No sense at all.	
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I'm not against this type of stuff completely long as they're possibly made avilable thorugh events and such down the line. However I've always felt that the best way to handle extra items is just by having said items tied to specific accomplishments and or "loyalty". The latter has been done a with the beret and the squid hat so far, but the former I'd liike to see some of.
 
I would love it if for example that when you got max faction reputation you gained access to the ICI or blackhood outfits, or killing 1000 Torine earns you passage into the sisterhood and you gain that outfit or parts of it. Be a nice easy way to make reputation grinding more sought after...	
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I'm still really bummed out that I missed out on the RIPmaker (partly because it was something from PC Gamer).
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You didn't miss out on the RIPmaker "partly because it was something from PC Gamer". You missed out on it because you didn't check the official WildStar website and forums, reddit, twitter or facebook during the time the contest was going on. You found out about the Gamescon In-game Loot through the official site, right? Well, that's the same way the PC Gamer weapon contest was announced.
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Not everyone spends every waking moment on social media junk tho.
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Not everyone spends every waking moment on social media junk tho.
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*snip*
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Oh, this is some bullcrap.
 
I'm with the OP.
 
The RIP-Maker was open to everyone. The Open Beta rewards were open to anyone who took the time to participate.
 
Germany? I gotta go to GERMANY to get top hat? 
 
Man, even if this were at the Houston Comic-Con (which is a whopping fourteen minutes from my house), I'd feel the same way. Costumes are a premium in a game without a cash shop to purchase them from - and freaking TOP HATS are way too awesome to hold for ransom like that.
 
I'm down with giveaways. I'm down with exclusivity. What I'm not down with is having to fly halfway around the planet to get it. I think that's asking just a little much.
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As Youmu mentions, there will be some additional *chances* to get the gamescom item codes shortly after gc itself. Carbine have also made it clear that they eventually want to make items like this available to everyone in the future. However, the "promotion" is that you get to have them first.
 
Don't be surprised if there are a few more of these event item packs in the future, for other conventions and shows. They might have the same items, or different ones, but we'll always try to make sure we give some away afterwards and as previously mentioned, they should become publicly available down the line.
 
As the one who wrote the original article, I'm sorry I didn't make this very clear in the first place and saved folks a lot of stress. ;)	
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As the one who wrote the original article, I'm sorry I didn't make this very clear in the first place and saved folks a lot of stress. ;)
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What people get worked up about on MMO forums never ceases to amaze me.  I mean, I know a game developer will never be able to make everyone happy all of the time, but wow... just wow.
 
It's like complaining about not being able to get the really cool looking pistols that drop from the last boss of Datascape.  Well, similar to not being able to go to Germany, or not having the resources to buy an item off of eBay, not everyone will be willing to commit the time and resources to clear all the raid content.  Should that give them a legitimate gripe about not having access to items that require that commitment?  	
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Hello everyone,
 
We will be handing some of these codes online through various Community activities (more information on that will be announced soon). Players from both regions, NA and EU will have -a chance- to get their hands on these codes without having to travel all the way to Cologne for gamescom.
 
We understand that some players will be frustrated if they do not manage to get a code either through a giveaway or even during gamescom (these will be limited even there), but keep in mind that these items might be given away in the future through others activities as well, that has always been our policy.
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What people get worked up about on MMO forums never ceases to amaze me.  I mean, I know a game developer will never be able to make everyone happy all of the time, but wow... just wow.
 
It's like complaining about not being able to get the really cool looking pistols that drop from the last boss of Datascape.  Well, similar to not being able to go to Germany, or not having the resources to buy an item off of eBay, not everyone will be willing to commit the time and resources to clear all the raid content.  Should that give them a legitimate gripe about not having access to items that require that commitment?  
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Don't APOLOGIZE to these selfish, entitled jerks.
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I'm with you OP.  Giving away exclusive items based on physical location seems to be the very antithesis of fostering a virtual (non-location dependent) community.  I also think your solution is a reasonable compromise.
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Carbine have also made it clear that they eventually want to make items like this available to everyone in the future. However, the "promotion" is that you get to have them first.
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