Store Adjustments for Launch: Store Reduction & Crown/Bundle Repricing

Greetings Avatars,

In preparation for launch we are making several major adjustments to the store that will go live on March 3 at 12:01 AM, directly after our Release 51 Postmortem Telethon. These changes will better position the store for new customers by adjusting the pricing of Crowns, moving most of the store inventory off of the website, and adding more crowns and potions to the starting bundles.

Crown Pricing: We are increasing the base price of crowns while at the same time increasing the discount you receive for buying larger bundles of crowns. This change will also better match our pricing versus other products.

• Old Crown Pricing:
  • $5 = 5
  • $10 = 10
  • $23 = 25
  • $44 = 50
  • $85 = 100
• New Crown Pricing:
  • $5 = 4
  • $10 = 9
  • $20 = 19
  • $40 = 45
  • $100 = 115

“Starter” Bundle Adjustments: In order to better prepare new players for using Crowns and Potions in-game we are adding deeply discounted (50% or more) Crowns and Potions to the first four packages in each bundle theme, including the basic Game Access. These additions increase the value of these bundles, so we are increasing the pricing of all the packages except for Game Access which we are actually lowering by $1. We are also adding the word “Starter” to all of these bundles to better indicate their value as starting packages. NOTE: Everyone who has already purchased these bundles will retroactively receive these additional crowns and potions.

Store Reduction: We successfully moved many of the items on the website onto in-game crown vendors in Release 49 and by Release 51 all of them will be there (with the exception of Bundles). With that change we feel that having all of the store items visible on the website at all times is an inaccurate representation of what the game offers players and incorrectly infers that everything must be purchased to play. In fact, there are far more in-game items to be looted and crafted than there are to be purchased. For example, there are nearly twice as many decorations in-game than the store offers. So we are going to reduce the store to show much fewer items at any given time, except during postmortems or weekend flash sales. Here is a complete list of everything that will be available on the website store starting on March 3, including the adjusted bundles (prices, crowns, potions).

• Game Access $39 (was $40)
  • 1 Crown (new)
  • Pick 1 Obsidian Potion (new)
• Viking Bundles: Note added “Starter” to each Bundle name. There will only ever be one bundle theme active in the store at a time. The bundle theme will rotate in the store semi-regularly so one month it might be Viking Bundles but next month it might be Elven Bundles. NOTE: Even if the theme of your current bundle is not visible you can always upgrade via the “Upgrade” button on your account page.
  • Viking Starter Bundle $49 (was $45)
    • 10 Crowns (new)
    • Pick 1 Obsidian Potion (new)
  • Viking Helmet & Cloak Starter Bundle $59 (was $55)
    • 15 Crowns (new)
    • Pick 2 Obsidian Potions (new)
  • Viking Bloodraven Starter Bundle $74 (was $65)
    • 25 Crowns (new)
    • Pick 3 Obsidian Potions (new)
  • NOTE: This pattern of additions and pricing would be identical for the other bundle themes (Obsidian, Shogun, Kobold, Elven)
• Add Ons: The theme of the add-ons will be linked as much as possible to the bundles that are currently listed.
  • Grey Great Dane
  • Ornate Viking Short Sword
  • Viking Merchant Outfit
  • Viking Guard Armor
  • Viking Wearable Bundle
  • Ornate Meerschaum Wolf Pipe
  • Cordovan Lute
  • Smoke Ring Emote
• Misc.: These items will always be listed as they always need to be available.
  • Gold Crowns
  • Store Credits
  • Bank Upgrades
  • Cross Promotional Items (ex. Jabbering Bertha)
  • Game Services (Service Voucher, POT Unlock, etc.)
• Make A Difference Store: The Make a Difference Store, and all the items, will always be listed.
  • Water Items
  • Breast Cancer Items
  • Autism Items
  • Movember Items
  • Children & Family Charities Items
• New / Seasonal Items: Whatever are the newest items that got added this release and/or Seasonal (ex Christmas, Valentines, etc) items will be listed. For example R51 would be:
  • Ornate Dual Wax Cylinder Player
  • Ornate Cash Register Vendor
  • Male Shopkeeper Vendor
  • Female Shopkeeper Vendor
  • Elven Guard Tower

“Upgrade” Bundle Pricing Adjustments: Since the added potions and crowns will carry upwards through these higher level bundles too we are increasing the prices of all bundles, even these higher level ones. We are also adding the word “Upgrade” to all of them to better communicate their nature as large purchases. NOTE: While these will only be visible on the website during postmortems you can always upgrade to them via the “Upgrade” button on your account page.

• Viking Upgrade Bundles: NOTE: This pattern of pricing would be identical for the other bundle themes (Obsidian, Shogun, Kobold, Elven)
  • Viking Tool Upgrade Bundle $99 (was $85)
  • Viking Tool & Potion Upgrade Bundle $149 (was $135)
  • Viking 2-Story Row House Tax Free Player Owned Town Lot Upgrade Bundle $299 (was $275)
  • Viking 3-Story Row House Tax Free Player Owned Town Lot Upgrade Bundle $374 (was $350)
  • Viking 4-Story Row House Tax Free Player Owned Town Lot Upgrade Bundle $474 (was $450)
  • Viking Village Home Tax Free Player Owned Town Lot Upgrade Bundle $574 (was $550)
  • Viking Stronghold Village Home Tax Free Player Owned Town Lot Upgrade Bundle $849 (was $800)
  • Viking Tax Free Player Owned Town Lot Upgrade Bundle $1699 (was $1600)
  • Viking Tax Free Player Owned City Lot Upgrade Bundle $3299 (was $3200)