Let me start off by saying, that I would consider myself somewhat of a whale. A whale is someone who buys into the game’s cosmetics system, collecting a lot of what the game cranks out. I’m not like my buddy Fugich, but I have almost 500 skins in Smite. Why? Smite is one of the only games I play and I feel comfortable spending money on; cosmetics help me further enjoy the experience of the game. I recognize that I’ve given Hi-Rez quite a bit of money. But a while ago, I decided to stop putting as much money in skins, especially chests. This is why.
Hi-Rez has yet to release a direct purchase skin in season 5. Even though exclusive skins have come out and have been available to everyone, they have come out in bundles. In these bundles there are skins that some people might not want, cosmetic items such as loading skins that no one cares for, and they come at a much heftier price than a direct purchase skin would cost. If you’re not around for these events, then there is a chance that the skin will be put into chests. But until then, there are circumstances where you really have to wait. Things that haven’t been put in cycled chests include team skins, season ticket reward skins, undying chest recolor skins, and there might be some event skins that have yet to be rereleased. It’s my argument that Smite is pushing it’s event, “limited time only”, and chest agenda too far. Hi Rez has employees that need money, and a profit has to be made, but these tactics are hurting the thing Smite needs most: a large playerbase and new fans.
Most of the time new players want an exclusive skin for a god that they play often. I’m just going to use Da Ji as an exanple. She’s a god that has been around for a while and someone new players can learn to use early on. Da Ji has a direct purchase skin. But it’s that ugly tier 2 that all of reddit was complaining about. Yes, there are also the mastery and recolor skins, but those are kind of a given and relatively don’t take much time at all to make. 2 exclusive skins and a limited skin. Da Ji is new enough for there to be a chance of a direct purchase skin. But unless you are really into the distinct style and theme for the Senpai Da Ji skin, you’re sure to be disappointed at what’s available to you. This isn’t just Da Ji by the way, it’s a lot of gods in Smite. Khepri is probably a better example since he only has a tier 2 for direct purchase, and he’s been out for years. If you want a sure fire way of getting a skin for a god you like, it’s only possible if it’s an older god.
I’m not a greedy person looking for cheaper skins. As a matter of fact, it’s easy for me to get the newest skins for the best price. I started out buying skins from chests, a huge financial commitment, but it ultimately got me every voice pack and direct purchase skin in the game plus a hefty amount of exclusives. I buy into events enough so that when exlusive skins are recycled into chests with the newest chest exclusive, it takes me 2 or 3 rolls to empty the chest. By putting…let’s say nearly $1500 into this game, it is possible with new chests that I can get 3 exclusive skins (worth in total, around 1800 gems) for 600 gems.
A new person, facing the odds of rolling the exclusive skin they want, would have to put over $120 to ensure the skin. A lot of older players will say that they got a good deal though, they got voice packs, ward skins, and other direct purchase skins from that chest. The problem here is, casual and new players don’t give two shits about these other cosmetics. That’s an insane amount of money that no one but a frenzied fan or potential whale would pay. In the midst of all this, I just don’t want a new comer and potential Smite customer to be discouraged from buying skins. I have played League of Legends like…two times, I haven’t bought any champs, but I got a skin for Sona. It was a quality skin that cost me a good sum, but it’s on a character I love and I’m so glad it’s a skin I really like. And even if it was limited, there were other skins to buy. I’m very casual in LoL and I rarely play, but if I had to buy into a chest for a skin, Riot wouldn’t have gotten any money off of me.
It’s a free to play game, but there has to be some sort of middle ground in the way Smite is making money. I also understand that Smite is much smaller than League, but instead of wasting resources making more exclusive skins for whales like me, maybe they should be looking how to get more players, even if they aren’t dedicated future whales, streamers, or SPL members. The way Hi-Rez is treating it’s casual and newbie player-base is appalling They’re so awkward in trying to make new players feel welcome (I’m still trying to forget that cringey youtube video they made about Paragon), they make all of their arguably-better skins exclusive, and then they try to make it seem worthwhile with free enigma chests and gems. If you like an older god that has a couple direct purchase skins then this might be fine, but if not, then saving up those gems isn’t worth much. You keep your gems hoping that they release an event that has a skin for a god you like.
The worst part of this is, I contributed a lot into this broken system. I’m genuinely sorry I spent so much money on chests and events.
VVGL- CakeDoesntLIE
Your SMITE Support 