A BombSquad Token
Hey folks, efro here.
BombSquad 1.7.36 introduces a new type of in-app-currency: 'tokens'. I've been planning this for a long time and I'd like to take a moment to explain what it's all about.
BombSquad 1.7.36 introduces a new type of in-app-currency: 'tokens'. I've been planning this for a long time and I'd like to take a moment to explain what it's all about.
Why Tokens?
Basically, tokens will help me make BombSquad more fun by separating its in-game economy from its real-money economy.
Tokens will soon be BombSquad's only real-money-purchasable currency (but don't worry, tickets aren't going away). Tokens will be used for a limited set of pretty standard free-to-play stuff: skipping waits, speeding things up, etc. I hope to balance things such that paying a few tokens here and there feels worthwhile and fair and keeps the game moving along a bit faster without feeling too oppressive or paywall-ish. However, I also know that some folks really don't like microtransactions, so alongside tokens I've also designed a second option: the Gold Pass. The Gold Pass is a single one-time purchase that essentially grants infinite tokens forever, converting the game to a pure ‘premium’ experience that will never make you wait or ask for real money or show you an ad.
Gold Pass
So how will this make the game more fun?
This new token/gold-pass system means that I can rebalance the game’s existing ticket economy purely based on fun. Since tickets will no longer be purchasable, I can open up new ways to earn them in-game without worrying about cannibalizing tickets sales. Also, by adding the Gold Pass, I am disincentivizing myself from leaning too hard on token based purchases or adding questionable mechanics like direct loot-box purchases (since Gold Pass owners would by definition get infinite of these for free). Overall I think this system sets the game up with a good 'constitutional framework' for the future; hopefully avoiding that skeezy free-to-play feel and giving me more design freedom to make the game more fun while still paying the bills so I can keep working on this silly little game. I’m excited to see where this all goes.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or feedback on any of this, please shoot me a holler at support@froemling.net or hop on the Discord and share your thoughts.
Roadmap
- At this time, tokens are new and not yet fully integrated. For now you can purchase them and use them for a few things, such as skipping waits for private hosting and purchasing storage packs for your account for modding. Tickets also remain purchasable at this time.
- Over the next few updates, tokens will be wired up to additional places in the game, such as skipping waits when entering tournaments or hosting private parties. There will also be some new functionality that tokens can be used for (stay tuned).
- Once tokens are fully rolled out, purchasing tickets with real money will be phased out. Tickets will still be widely used in the game and you will not lose any of your existing tickets. They just won’t be purchasable anymore; you’ll earn them all in-game.
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