I think many of us can agree that we don’t like the winning rate of Mr. eCards/Scratch Cards. Two threads on the Albatross 18 Forums have already touched base on this subject (which can be found here and here). Personally, I have tried the Scratch Cards once, and that was for the Crimson Ring. I was idealistically lucky since I was able to get the item in thirty-two tries in comparison to a friend who couldn’t get it after a thousand two-hundred. I’m not attempting to rub this is people’s face, it just seems odd that there are users who can spend over three thousand Astros, but continue to either get nothing or an item that is for a character they don’t own.
From my know-how Korea shares the same rates (or similar); however, you are able to sell your Scratch Card rares. Japan, from what I know, it is a lot easier to get rares to such a degree that all of them (as in they release the items for more than one character) can be gotten within two hundred Astros. I personally would like to see a cap limit of some sort in the US server. After three hundred tries there needs to be some sort of pity-factor. However, it seems that none exists at the moment.
My guild-mates have commented in one of the threads, if not both, along with myself. Today, we were actually able to get some sort of sentence out of a GM, which was a bit surprising, but I thought it would be fair to post up the conversation. Please note I am Selinya, Lany is a newcomer to Pangya and a guild mate, and Sandgolem is our guild master. We attempted to ask several times, when finally we all attempted to ask at the same time to get noticed. We do know that GMs get flooded when they visit the lobby. So we’re happy to see even this much of a response.
So what can this mean, I wonder? Maybe s/he’ll bring it up in their next meeting or maybe s/he just wanted us off of his back. We have no way of earnestly knowing in truth, and it’s not something that will change over night as we all know. However, I want to keep up to date on this subject solely due to the fact that it really does effect a lot of people. Not just with the fact you’ve lost a chance at something neat and new, but the hole just burning through your wallet. Many people are underage, others have families to support, and even more have rent. We’re not required to buy Astros for the Scratch Cards though, that’s true, but when you find the time to play everyday and you think you have a chance, it’s kind of demeaning. Maybe I’m insane to think it’s odd, perhaps I’m weird for thinking the chances are absurd even when I don’t have anything to complain about personally (at least not yet).
Let me say, it’s a game, the item is digital. No item, and I mean this, no items is worth two hundred dollars. It’s similar to what people will trade for Chaos Horns or Halos. What makes you believe that people will give you that much money for an item? Better yet, who has that much money to throw away? I hate to sound offensive, but just how and why? I’ve said this once, I’ll say it again: No one likes to toss out sixty dollars for the Scratch Cards, and then turn around with nothing to show for it (even if you only win Astro items in return).
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March 21st, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I agree. Its ridiculous the amount of money you have to spend to get the rares. At the very least you should be able to pick the rare you get, or sell the e-card rares you win that you cant use..
The rate though….they should use a similar system to Japanese Server..I swear if OGP took a few tips from the Japanese server I would be spending twice as much money and bringing everyone of my friends that would listen to me into the game.
March 21st, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Yeah, I haven’t dug too deep into the ecards myself, but if it’s that ridiculous, oi vey. x_X
March 21st, 2008 at 8:01 pm
You buy cookies in Korea, you are given free scratch cards. So lets say I bought the 330 cookie package, so I will end up receiving 40 scratch cards. If I didn’t win a rare, I still have my cookies to enjoy anyways. If I win a rare that I don’t like, I can sell in PSquare for pang. No harm done.
Their system is very well organized and it’s funny how Korea brought their system to OGP and the format is completely different. Could it be Ntreev behind this, or OGP. I do not know. All I know is that this eCard is a nasty profit system that brings huge amount of profit to the company. I feel that Ntreev is using A18 to gain extra cash to them. Changing this eCard system is very unlikely, that all depends on Ntreev on that one.
Well that’s all. :)
March 21st, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Somehow I tend to get the odd feeling you can get Korean Cookies, Mr. Sweatdrop… or just read Korean (one day with a Korean friend those cookies shall be mine!). xP
Anyway, the Korean server giving free Scratch Cards like that definitely makes me happy. I wish OGPlanet (or as you so put it Ntreev) would do something like that, but they have a tendency to not want to give away free items. I figured a change is unlikely, but considering that Guild Battle Mode finally got in gear once Ntreev saw videos of the bug itself (to be released on the 27th by the way), I would hope they could see such things as this. We’ll never truly know until it happens or a GM becomes my spy. :3
March 22nd, 2008 at 1:18 am
they won’t do anything…
but really..is too hard to win a rare
most ppl spend few thousand of astros..
try to get one or two sets…
they should really do something..
maybe at least apologise to some players..
even other rares before doesn’t cost that much
yes Mr.eCard ISN’T a NICE guy
thanx for this post
(felt a bit better, at least GM said something)
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:28 am
Wow, free eCards for buying Astros/Cookies. That’s great, I also wish OGPlanet would so something like that.
I’m not sure if things will change, but you got me hoping again. Thanks. :D
March 22nd, 2008 at 11:58 am
Lol i was there when that happened (by wich i mean i was watching like 2 sentences then went into the PSQuare) and i remember seeing SandGolem in a PSQuare in his Kooh Silvia Uniform (or perhaps i’m just going insane @_@)
March 22nd, 2008 at 11:58 am
I really get the feeling that OGP runs the worst server around. I feel that they are late on events, overprices, they ignore problems and concerns of the public and, they are unwilling to do anything special for their players like the Japanese, Korean, and Other Servers do for theirs.
I am truely, outraged and disgusted by the mindless drek that supposedly “run” our servers. If there is a god, Neteev has nothing to do with the horrible treatment of players, and incredibly overprices system of the E-card rares.
March 22nd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
If we compile a list of practical suggestions, perhaps the GMs will have an easier time implementing them:
1. Character-specific eScratch cards, e.g., a Hana eScratch card will only return Hana rares
2. Ability to sell rares in PSquare
3. Win rate increases as you buy more eScratch cards
4. Publish the rare rate or the rate in comparison with other servers, such as the Korean server
March 22nd, 2008 at 1:27 pm
well
first one is good..
but no server will do that because everyone will just pick Kooh and other good looking ones..
selling rares is good but if they want to make money, then they won’t do it, and noone will sell the rares is too rare.
i don’t think they do the increases win rare rate.
and Korean server’s winning rate is very low, but you cna sell them at PSQuare.
Japan have gachapon so is higher, but they do pay more for tickets
Taiwan server drop the winning rate on some rares, like kooh’s set, so players will try more to get it, they also use gachapon.
but all server is different they con’t follow each other.
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:38 pm
I don’t honestly have a problem with it myself, but I’ve spent quite a bit on it too.(Nowhere near 200$, more like 50~75 for the magic scepters, and more recently Kooh’s SSAF) But.. I figured it was odd that those threads you mentioned, as far as I saw at least, were being completely ignored by the GMs, so I asked Chump just a little bit before this.
I’m not sure if he was just blowing me off or not, but essentially what he said was “there’s no one talking because there’s nothing we can do.” and “it’s ntreev’s business.” So.. 9000 talking about it like that is rather odd. You can make of that what you will. :p But it seems that, assuming I wasn’t being blown off, Chump has already tried doing something about it. In the end, there’s going to still be stupid people like me who will keep buying the ecards until we get what we want, so there’s not too much reason to change the system- they lose a few super huge spenders from time to time, but the majority stay and buy more, you know?
March 22nd, 2008 at 7:45 pm
It feels like a really shitty business practice. Although if it is Neteev I suppose I should expect that they are willing to treat their customers like shit considering the orgin of the company. Just goes to show you what passes as good business practices…
March 22nd, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Reading and hearing about this, really changed my mind on buying ecards and it really annoys me to see what it CAN be but the US serv just lacks it.
March 22nd, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Still they should respect their customers a bit more. give us more privileges that the Korean and Japanese servers get instead of just ripping us off. If they’re so desperate to take our money they’d release more items and fix the Ecard rate. In the long run it would help them. but really, i’m just confusing myself. i haven’t spent that much on ecards (5$ at the most really…) but it is frustrating to put in your munny and it return get nothing but Astro items you could do without…and those ridiculous tapes…Who thought of that??? It’s days like this where i wish i’d build up the courage to make a Korean account, despite the fact i live in America, and play on a server that really cares (kinda)
(I’m afraid of prison….I don’t want to be queer bait T-T, too young and adorable T-T)
April 29th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Idk if this helps but O just bought 1 coupon and got the SSAF set.
April 29th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
T-T i spend 100$ just to get arin silvia set but got nothing
July 13th, 2008 at 2:09 am
I can feel ya. Its highly unlikely OGP/Ntreev will change their mind and make the rate of ecard rares higher, cause… its munny ya know. munny makes the world/**PLANET go round. :-P
October 1st, 2008 at 5:12 pm
:) I think I’m lucky as hell! I got my rare after 9 tries. :)