So Funcom have opened pre-orders for their new alternate universe MMORPG The Secret World. The available packages, online at least, are a bit complicated. Keep in mind that this is the latest in a slew of expensive collector’s editions and deluxe digital packs in new and upcoming MMOs. So before I dive into the details about Funcom’s pricing package, let’s take a look at the existing triple A releases.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
This was released in ‘Standard’, ‘Digital Deluxe’ and ‘Collectors’ editions, priced at £45, £60 and £130 respectively. The collectors edition had all the digital items of the Digital Deluxe, plus a few extra. The physical items included a music cd, a book, a map, a statue, an authenticator and some high quality ‘collectible packaging’. Those ‘physical items’ were priced at a hefty £70 alone. I can’t speak to the quality of them, so take a look at the unboxing video.
Plus you have the price of the sub on top of that
Guild Wars 2
Similarly, ArenaNet are releasing their new flagship game in ‘Standard’, ‘Delxue’ and ‘Collector’s‘ flavor, priced at £50, £65 and £130. Again, the game includes all the perks of the other editions, plus a wonderful looking figurine, sound track cd, a book, and an art portfolio and prints. I’ve already pondered this pre-order, so I won’t go into it too much. Suffice to say that to me, these items look more attractive than the physical items of SWTOR, but I think that is very much a ‘mileage may vary’ scenario.
But there is no price of the sub – however limited character slots and cash shops…hmm.
The Secret World
Ah yes. The big announcement. The package system works as follows.
The basic game (£40)
- 3 Character slots
- Access to beta weekends
- early access to the game
- Name reservation
- xp boost
- In-game t-shirt
- Combat pet
Initiate Pack (£12.49)
- Factional clothing
- Weaponry
- a non combat pet
The Master Pack (£50)
- 30 days of game time
- an additional character slot
- 1 name reservation
- high end beginner items (7)
- Experience boosting potions
- 10% lifetime discount on full priced items from the clothing store
The Grand Master Pack (£160)
- Contents of Master Pack
- Lifetime Sub
- Exclusive Snake-skin Jacket
So a couple of things to note. These packs are in ADDITION to the basic price of the game. Name reservations and character slots can be purchased for the price of £8.50 per reservation/slot. So this isn’t a case of all or nothing as with the traditional collector’s edition. The Grand Master Pack is, in effect, a lifetime sub with a few extra digital items. There doesn’t appear to be any physical collectors edition in the same vein as SWTOR or GW2, and as thin as those CEs look, the major advantage for TSW’s Grand Master Pack is it’s flexibility. You don’t have to commit to the game straight away to get all the perks.
On the other hand, a lifetime sub next to GW2′s model of box and cash shop sales looks a bit empty when you consider that the game plus the grand master pack will set you back a whopping £200 in total, when the digital items aren’t that awesome to begin with. The most tempting one for me is the combat pet and you get that with the basic game. Three character slots does seem incredibly limited, when we’re getting 11 for Mists of Pandaria – so it’s easy to see where funcom is going to be spinning their money. Charging for name reservations is an awesome idea, in my opinion, but only 3 character slots. Urgh.
