DDO: Eberron Unlimited Preview
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Is it well implemented?
This is the biggest issue that Turbine is going to have to contend with when players begin to evaluate the game en masse when it launches on August 4th. Due to the exposure that the change has received, combined with the IP's name recognition and overall quality of things like graphics and gameplay for a F2P game, Turbine could have a lot of people waiting to give this a try. Whether or not they stick around, and whether or not they choose to spend any of their money on the game is going to rely heavily upon how well Turbine has implements the cash shop. So, how exactly has Turbine integrated this new system?
Turbine has made the item shop window easy to access (a simple icon on the menu bar). Navigation of the cash shop system itself is straightforward. On top of the eight available categories (Premium Items, XP & Loot Boosts, Hirelings, Spells and Potions, Healing, Level and Stat Boosts, Cosmetics and Convenience), a ninth category exists called Featured, which allows players to see a number of popular items. You can also see what's on sale on any given day, what the best selling items are and what you've bought (recently). It's an easy, un-obtrusive system.
To alleviate some player fears, Turbine isn't forcing players to move to a cash shop model. Many players are concerned that a game that once cost them $15 a month would end up costing them much more when it came time to pony up for items, adventure packs or character classes that they wanted. As has been stated previously, but could use repeating again, DDO Unlimited will offer a VIP membership that will give players access to all of the content as well as an allowance of Turbine coins. And, for those who don't want to subscribe, there is always the ability to earn Turbine coin in-game. It's a slower process, but it isn't impossible.
