149270-building-the-perfect-mini-event-for-money

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Okay, today’s topic revolves around how to create and present mini-events to the player base, how to properly advertise the event, the cash shop repercussions and assorted discussions along those lines. As with all of my little articles, these are nothing more than suggestions or observations from a fellow professional marketing executive and long-time MMO player.
 
This topic might touch on Seasonal Events, but the gist is toward the smaller, shorter filler events we’ve seen so far. I will likely deconstruct some of those events, as well as construct a new idea that puts these suggestions and criteria into action.
 
Finally, unlike other articles of this type, I will be suggesting “new assets” in the form of pets, mounts, costumes, décor and other rewards and objectives. In every instance like this, I will attempt to re-purpose the already-existing assets before asking for anything new.
 
GOALS OF THE EVENT
In short, what is the purpose of a mini-event? Essentially, to entertain/mollify the player base and to drive sales via the cash shop or through increasing Signature membership, though neither need be sacrificed in lieu of the other.
 
The event must be, first and foremost, entertaining. Just dropping a couple of NPCs in a capital city is not exactly the most engaging way to kick things off – though with these smaller events, it’s probably the most efficient way of getting players involved.
 
Now that I think about it, this will be easier to just present the idea and just breakdown the pertinent bits in each heading. Bear with me.
 
 
THE SHINEQUEST
(Levels 10-50, Five-Day Recurring Mini-Event)
The Lopp of Lagos arrived on Nexus alongside both the Exiles and the Dominion. As one of the galaxy’s foremost far-traders, the Lopp were naturally predisposed to being on the front lines when planet-fall was made. With an entire planet of undiscovered shinies waiting for them, those along for the ride were understandably anxious to begin harvesting the shiniest of shinies: Eldan technology.
 
Now that the Lopp have had time to settle down on Nexus, the little folk are finally ready to spread out and explore parts of the planet they haven’t seen, can’t reach or have found too dangerous to explore alone. To that end, the Lopp have sent representatives of every settlement to the faction capitals, in an attempt to find Big Folks willing to assist them.
 
THE SET-UP (and ADVERTISEMENT)
Event panel displays SHINEQUEST BEGINS announcement for several days prior to the start of the event. Every WildStar outlet (Forums, Reddit, Homepage, Twitter, etc.) should be LIT UP with happy, dancing Lopp. Heck, if you can swing it, have a “parade” of Shinequestors tromping through the city in a simple Point A to Point B path, with little text bubbles as the young Lopp wander and stare in amazement. The point is to get people interested in advance – and a little bit of pre-planning could go a long way toward building the hype.
 
Once the event starts, travel to Thayd or Illium and will find the Shinequestor Guild standing in the Contracts area (like all other event NPCs to date). One is the Currency Conversion, one is the Event Merchant – and one is the representative of the Guild. Speaking to the Rep will allow players to sign up to help and receive the “assistance” of a young, aspiring Lopp Shinequestor. Once players receive their recruit, they can begin collecting event currency.
 
A Shinequestor Token goes into Inventory for 24 hours and can be activated from the inventory screen. It follows like a pet but is actually a Buff-type thing. After 24 hours, the token vanishes and a new one must be acquired from the Quest NPC.
 
THE META-ACHIEVMENTS
Young Lopp want to see the world. To that end, players can escort their assistant to each of the major Lopp settlements, to meet and greet the villagers there. Travel to the Glitterfur Caravan (Dominion), Hijunga Village (Exiles), Wigwalli Village, Marshall’s Refuge and Shinysand Oasis. Once there, emote /wave to five locals plus the chieftain. Doing all four locations grants the title “Lopp-Friend” and awards 500 points of Lopp reputation.
 
Earn via content (not purchased but earned!) 500 Super Shinies (or whatever) for the “Shinequestor” title.
 
 
REPUTATION
Much like Winterfest gave Protostar Reputation, the Shinequest events grant Lopp Reputation. Every Super Shiny turned in gives like … 20 points of Lopp reputation or something fair. It’s a hard rep to grind, if not impossible currently, so yeah, hook us up.
 
SHINIES!
Using the same minor-to-major currency as the Eko Particles from Space Chase, only we call them Shinequest Tiny Shinies and Shinequest Super Shinies. Shinequest Shinies can be earned via a myriad of ways:  Level-Appropriate Quests, Dailies, Expeditions, Adventures, Dungeons and Raid Bosses. The trick is, players have to be escorting a Shinequestor in order to earn the Shinies.
 
Each Level-Appropriate or Daily Quest gives a Tiny Shiny. Expeditions give 3/4/5 for Bronze/Silver/Gold. Adventures and Dungeons give 5/8/10 for same. Each World Boss or Raid Boss drops 20. Shinies can also be found in Discoveries. Tiny Shinies convert into Super Shinies at a given ratio – and then the Super Shinies are spent at the in-game event vendor. Since there are a myriad of ways to earn Tiny Shinies (including simply leveling up via PVE), the ratio should be fairly high, like 10/1.
 
Also, by spreading the ability to earn currency via multiple sources, players will be driven to group content and daily zones in order to maximize farming potential. World Boss trains will form, daily zones will get more visitors, out-leveled and missed questlines will be completed – all in the name of happy Lopp!
 
REWARDS/CASH SHOP
While not every item available need to earned in-game, the vast majority of them should be. Indeed, there should be highly desirable items unique to the in-game vendor. Regardless, make anything purchased via the Cash Shop able to be traded, sold, gifted or sent to Alts. Let me reiterate that this should ALWAYS be the case with ANYTHING purchased via real world money.
 
Give Madame Faye a bonus during this event – maybe a second, special kind of Coin that gives drops from the event rewards table instead of the usual award table. Consider a freebie coin – or even a way to earn a single coin in-game via the meta-achievement.
 
Much like other events of this type, put Super Shinies on the Cash Shop in packs – so those so inclined can get the in-game stuff for money.
 
“Rarity” of the in-game items should take into consideration the number of ways in which event currency can be earned and take that into consideration. We don’t want casual players to feel excluded with inordinate pricing and we don’t want the most dedicated player to be able to “buy everything” in one day, either.
 
Carbine, some of your most prized assets are the Snarflynx. Everyone freaking loves those guys. Drop the My Little Equivar promotion during this event and give us some different breeds of Snarf! Give us Snarf Kittens (a whole litter even!) as Pets. Want money? Boom. Those little dudes.  
 
What’s in the box? Aw, what’s in the box? The Lopp-Boxes, that is? Not sure but since every event seems to require some kind of gamble, here it is. Strictly optional but should contain at the least a Madame Faye coin and at best one of the new pets. Mostly I’d like to see Faye Coins and Super-Shinies given out here in varying amounts.
 
 
IN-GAME VENDOR
Lopp Visage Toy (turn into a Lopp for 4 minutes)
Lopp Ears Hat
Lopp Poncho Chest
Lopp Leather Gloves
Lopp Booties (yes, I said BOOTIES!)
Assorted Lopp Dancers, Guards and/or Merchants (three varieties at least)
Lopp Hunters with Spear (décor guard) (two styles)
New Lopp Décor Items (string lights, posts, small homes, netting, crates with carrot logo, merchant kiosk, etc)
Kurg Calf Pet
 
RARE DROPS (Added to current loots tables, Discoveries and world drops for duration of the event. Please note that those rare drops should ALWAYS be included on the cash shop. It’s just a vanity item and the studio can continue to capitalize on these desirable assets by offering them to those willing to pay for them but unlucky enough to not get one in-game.)
Kurg Calf Pet
Marshall Yatish Costume Pieces
Re-skinned Snarflynx Mount (say, calico or striped tabby)
 
CASH SHOP
Event Currency Packs (50/100/500/Whatever)
Madame Faye Special Lopp Coins
Lopp-Boxes (Special Event-Only Gamble Boxes)
Lopp Décor Packs (Lopp Home, Lopp Garden, Lopp Party – each with unique décor plus in-game assets)
Lopp Dancers Pack (One of each in-game, plus one unique version)
Lopp Hunter Pack (One of each in-game, plus one unique version)
Lopp House (like the Haunted House from Shade’s Eve, fully furnish-able)
Kurg Mount (seats two!)
Re-skinned Snarflynx Mount
Kurg Calf Pet
Snarflynx Kitten Pet (make several of different colors and patterns! Sell individually or as a “litter!”)
Marshall Yatish Costume (Unique Poncho, Sombrero with Gold Star, etc.)
Lopp PLUSHIES and/or other very cute merchandise.
 
RECURRING
The Shinequest need not (and should not) be a one-time event! The in-game and cash-shop rewards need not all be released for one quest – oh no! Au contraire, mon frère. Cycling through the goodies means you (Carbine) can keep that all-important “limited availability” you love so much, and gives time between quests to cook up more assets or even expand the event to include different goals. Imagine a Shinequest during the spring-time to include visiting farms and ranches instead of Lopp Villages, or one in the summer that features beaches, deserts and other hot places. Re-creating the theme into different images allows maximum replayability and continues to generate interest longer than a simple re-hash.
 
IN CLOSING
There you have it. 	
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej7K9bRWJVQ  (sorry, couldn't resist :D )
 
Awesome idea	
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			Tell me again why Tex isn't working for Carbine?  Better yet - hire us both - he can keep doing what he's doing, and I'll work on fixing the details, like making sure the website is accurate, the spelling is correct in dialog and documentation, and that loot tables are accurate to what we've been promised.   Just give us an artist, a modeler, a rigger and a programmer, and we'll churn out new content every month!  (I do world design, with experience in the Hero engine, if that matters).	
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Tell me again why Tex isn't working for Carbine?  Better yet - hire us both - he can keep doing what he's doing, and I'll work on fixing the details, like making sure the website is accurate, the spelling is correct in dialog and documentation, and that loot tables are accurate to what we've been promised.   Just give us an artist, a modeler, a rigger and a programmer, and we'll churn out new content every month!  (I do world design, with experience in the Hero engine, if that matters).
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			another great idea tex.  	
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Indeed, this is how you do events! Thanks for the extra effort in putting these threads together, Tex - they're far clearer and easier to read than threads with pages upon pages to sieve through.
 
Hope CRB are paying close attention to your posts. (To be fair, I do believe they are listening intently and it's more of an issue of getting our feedback/ideas through to the people with authority to approve them.)	
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I would love that event, I really would!
Lopps are adorable :)
And I love snarflelynx, I already got original and strain one... but there is room for more :)
I would love for snarflelynx kittens as pet. Especially since I imagine that one day we will be able to use mounts and pets at the same time. 	
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Tell me again why Tex isn't working for Carbine?  Better yet - hire us both - he can keep doing what he's doing, and I'll work on fixing the details, like making sure the website is accurate, the spelling is correct in dialog and documentation, and that loot tables are accurate to what we've been promised.   Just give us an artist, a modeler, a rigger and a programmer, and we'll churn out new content every month!  (I do world design, with experience in the Hero engine, if that matters).
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Sure you'd want to work there after reading the Glassdoor reviews?
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Sure you'd want to work there after reading the Glassdoor reviews?
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			Great work Tex! It looks good, despite the gamble boxes, and very well thought out. 	
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Great work Tex! It looks good, despite the gamble boxes, and very well thought out. 
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			Only nitpick I have is that I think the established lore for the Snarfelix places them from Arboria, not Lagos.  But I could be mistaken.	
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Only nitpick I have is that I think the established lore for the Snarfelix places them from Arboria, not Lagos.  But I could be mistaken.
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Great work Tex! It looks good, despite the gamble boxes, and very well thought out. 
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Pretty solid ideas all up, I really liked adding Faye coins to the gamble boxes as a minimum reward AND actually have even a minuscule chance at getting decent drops (like mounts) without having to pay. Hell ingame drops could be character bound on pickup even and most people would be happy. Currently the events for probably a lot of players are grind for a few decor and or costume pieces then stop doing them with plenty of time left in the event.
 
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They never contacted me.  :lol:  It would be an honor, though. 
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I wouldn't have a problem with cash-shop exclusive event items if subscribers were given a stipend of currency that could be spent in the shop as a perk. Without that, you would be better off dropping your subscription and buying the currency off and on for event goodies. That's not really a problem with the event so much as a problem with the value of a subscription. The main gripe I have with several hybrid f2p/subscription games I play is the need to spend over and above the sub fee to fully participate in the game. Too much stuff like that and the sub becomes a bad deal.
 
The event looks fun, though. Nice job.	
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Did I make all that up?
 
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