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@WizardCrab: Skin Pricing Oddities

aceofsween·6/7/2014, 11:14:05 PM·5 votes·990 views

Since, you're pretty much the authority (or at least the most public face authority) on Champion pricing, I had a question to ask you...

I know that this predates your tenure at Riot, but it was around the Hecarim/Varus release times where Riot's skins really began to reach the next level of quality. The newest ones have become really a cut above the older ones, and the pricing scheme introduced (one which I support and had suggested in the past) reflects that... With some glaring exceptions.

I'll give you an example. Night Hunter Rengar is one of the best skins I've seen in a while. I'm honestly surprised it's not at the 1350 price level, but because it is not, I'd say it is the pennacle of the 975 price point. Popstar Ahri would be another great example of some very high quality work in that price range. And then you have some very old, dated, and out of fashion skins that simply do not compare.

The skin I'm thinking of in particular is because it is on sale: Shurima Desert Zilean. However, that's not the only one that really made me think to myself, "Really? That's still a 975 skin?" Great example: Divine Soraka is also 975... the same price as Celestine Soraka, which is of much higher quality.

What's up with these weird older skins not really having the correct price point for their quality? Maybe it's a behind-the-scenes thing with these skins in which the time to develop them doesn't match the in-game experience, but some of them just seem to be placed incorrectly...

13 Comments

Linna Excel6/7/2014, 11:59:12 PM1 votes

Some of the price has to do with model differences and particles. Some of it has to do with the fact that the older stuff needs to be brought up to par. Take divine Soraka, Soraka was the first VU under the new system and riot was still learning about that. Celestine Soraka wasn't a VU, it was a new skin.

I think popstar ahri is that cheap because so many fans demanded that skin there'd be a riot on the forum is she was priced at 975. Plus I don't think they had to redo too many particle effects for her.

Another thing you have to think of is when a skin was made. The more recent ones generally have better textures. I think they are trying to go with a new art direction nowadays.

Quantum Weeb6/8/2014, 1:42:17 AM1 votes

Even though I absolutely love Redeemed Riven, in terms of quality is lags behind most 975 skins.

Saint Tyrone 6/8/2014, 1:47:35 AM1 votes

http://community.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/champions-skins/v0W8Gnpu-sion-rework-idea-concept

PhoenixSlayer136/8/2014, 3:51:34 AM1 votes

What really confuses me is how the new Draven skin is going to be 975 when it has more VO lines. Wouldn't that bump it up to 1350?

ItsBroham6/8/2014, 5:02:46 AM1 votes

Nice Sug

Thales6/9/2014, 12:34:11 AM1 votes

The bar on quality is constantly rising. Shurima Desert Zilean was a pretty impressive skin for its time, with significant model work, I believe changes to the animation rigging for his clock-hands, and even different colored particles on his Q.

For me, I value a skin that produces a change in the way a character feels. Toy Soldier Gangplank is an excellent example, with his mechanical walk animation and disassembly on death. So from this perspective, I'm not too big on Night Hunter Rengar. Nonetheless, from a technical point of view, NHR is quite impressive. In general, the standard has risen. It's been a long time since we've had a 975 skin without a unique recall animation, and the level of work on particles and sounds has continued to improve.

I'm interested in seeing what the deal is with the new Draven skin. Riot has dabbled in skins with alternate VO lines at levels below Legendary. First Mecha Kha'zix, then Mafia Jinx, then (possibly; I'm not sure I trust the wiki on this) Battlecast Vel'koz, and most recently and spectacularly Pentakill Karthus. Are they considering lowering complete new voiceover down below Legendary? Certainly, the changes to Primetime Draven's animations and particles are unremarkable for a 975 skin, but I do unfortunately find it more likely that it's at 975 due to special circumstances rather than this being a permanent ratchet in skin quality. After all, if a 975 skin can have new particles, sounds, animations, and a whole new VO, what can a legendary skin have uniquely to set itself apart?