The Pink Elephant In The Room

[Seish]

There is a pink elephant in the room that looks at all of us but no one--for whatever reason or another--refuse to talk about--RMT.

Now before I begin, I want to start out by saying I understand the game changed and there are a lack of resources. And that the Merc culture that exists in many servers makes it difficult to get things done without having the adequate help--ergo why many may lean to defend RMT. But let's think about this.

This game is an easier version of FFXI. It's easy now to produce in a day 16M!!! I did one Dynamis D event and was surprised how many big item drops that I had--keep in mind, this was my first time doing it. All the RoE quests, Ambuscade, and even Reisemanjia I make a ton. So I don't even see the need to want to--or quite honestly understand why there is a need to begin with.

Regardless of my opinions above, let's look at facts. RMT's steal accounts of people and either sell them or use them for their own gain. I known many of my friends that lost accounts and/or gear due to their accounts being compromised. I have first hand lost good friends and LS's were disrupted by the RMT community.

In addition to this, RMT's corner markets and slowly fix prices to inflate. So while it may help to have them put stuff in the AH, it will progressively get worse and worse.

Q: But wait, Topshelf. RMT's are different now than pre abby days and are contributing to the game.

A: If they were contributing, they would not be farming for the sake of $$$$. They would be doing missions, quests, and battles with us players and struggle like we do. They do not do this, but instead they are adding to a problem. Case in point was in the early games when RMT sold gil to players and while at first it wasn't felt. Many players said that the RMT's are helping, and making the game easier to play. But overtime the economy became so inflated that SE had to reset the AH, made some items exclusive, as well eventually creating the Special Task Force to handle RMT.

If RMT was not as prevalent as it is now, players would naturally flock to things in demand and an equilibrium of what naturally needs to exist in the AH, would stocked--doesn't matter how easy or difficult it is to farm. If there's a need, people will want to buy it. Gil is the incentive for people to get off their bums to go out and farm it.

But this culture of overlooking RMT, or blackballing those that turn in RMT has to stop. No one has to report RMT. That's not what this is about. But this community is about supporting one another. If someone wants to report an RMT, let em. Don't black ball em. If the player didn't, for any reason other than being the vector for RMT activity, let that player be as well. But for the Developers, we have a problem and it needs to fix. It's messing up our culture of working together. Developers, please look into ways to augment gameplay to reduce RMTs.

Now those that are mercs, continue doing what you're doing. This isn't about those that are hired guns. It's a legitimate service. But those that abuse it to sell gil however, is wrong.

[Typral]

Isn't it sad how they are so open about it too? It's almost like they this sense of "i'm so cool" because they merc stuff and sell gil. SE needs to give them a slap.

[Seish]

It's sad. Either SE needs to make it a PTW game or actually stomp it out and release a memo on what it does. They have to at this point.

[Alhanelem]

There is a pink elephant in the room that looks at all of us but no one--for whatever reason or another--refuse to talk about--RMT.
Have you read any other part of these forums? We've been talking about it constantly. What rock are you living under?

[Seish]

Well I didn't see it and I apologize. It's not that I am living under a rock, but rather I just recently returned! It shocks me how bad things have gotten. I feel that SE cannot ignore this any longer though. Either they officially make this a PTW game or they make drastic measures.

EDIT: But when I look on the forums, those who are talking about it the most are Japanese players and not the NA/EU ones. I wish our community would be like those in Japan and condemn the act.

[Seish]

Then they should start IP banning and country banning for where the game isn't supported. And to be honest if you read the Japanese forums, the devs are expressing what they intend to do. Why the devs aren't talking to NA/EU players about this issue is I guess because we don't make a big enough stink about it. But it's that same talk people like you said that allowed the Christmas special years past that caused massive inflation. Most of those that RMT in China utilize VPN's. Start VPN banning those Chinese specific services as well. I'm sure you'll see a big reduction if these methods are implemented.

It's funny though how the Japanese players are begging for change in this, while we are twiddling our thumbs and not doing anything about it and saying it's ok, this is the new normal. We shouldn't take action because it's always going to be like this. Well no it doesn't have to be and as a community we need to get on it. It makes me question how guilty people are in receiving RMT money who say that.

EDIT: I've also had people tell me how RMT's help the economy, and how buying gil helps the game. Well if that's the case the other way to end rmt is make the game PTW (Pay To Win). That way all the RMT's are out of business. If SE really cares about its community, they would figure out some happy median that ends this mess.

[Mikah]

For those of you that got to see that post yesterday

Confirmation of what I said right here.

[Seish]

For those of you that got to see that post yesterday

Confirmation of what I said right here.

I guess they took down your post?

[Mikah]

I guess they took down your post?

Obviously, lol

[Seish]

Obviously, lol

At least that tells you what they think about your post. On the positive side, their action speaks what they feel about the issue and is in a sense them talking to you.

[Mikah]

No not really lol

Simply broke the rules and they were forced to take action. Unlike in the actual game, they just don't want anyone bragging about rule breaking out in the obvious. But it's all good as long as you stay quiet.

[Seish]

I doubt that. Seeing they took action shows how involved they are. You may feel like that though. I invite you sometime to google translate the Japanese threads and read what they say. You'd be surprised how involved the community on the Japanese side is in stomping out RMT and with dev input.

[Mikah]

Yeah, that's how I know you're wrong lol. The jp have a 45 page thread complaining about bots, and for 3 entire years they've done absolutely nothing about those bots no matter how much the JP complain.

It's kinda funny to be honest. Square don't care as long as you keep payin that sub.

[Seish]

Yeah, that's how I know you're wrong lol. The jp have a 45 page thread complaining about bots, and for 3 entire years they've done absolutely nothing about those bots no matter how much the JP complain.

It's kinda funny to be honest. Square don't care as long as you keep payin that sub.

The devs replied to some of them and their plans. Try again.

Edit: I am glad they took down your post.

[Mikah]

They ain't gonna do a damn thing. Just going to hope we stop caring so they can sweep it under the rug.

[Seish]

If they didn't care, they would have left your post. Someone cared about you breaking a rule.

[Mikah]

Forum =/= game

They'll delete anything that makes them look bad on here. Even bugs that they don't feel like fixing they'll delete evidence of.

As far as actual action in game. few and far between.

[Seish]

When the devs for the game post on here to listen to players and disseminate feedback, it is considered as a component of the game. When your account is linked to your forum account, it puts weight into everything I said.

You're just upset SE deleted your rule-breaking comment about RMT.

[Mikah]

Why would I give a shit? I put it there just to prove the point. They didn't ban me for admitting it, they just removed the evidence.

[Seish]

Maybe they were giving you a warning. And your post was made with confidence that SE wouldn't do anything about it I remember it clearly. When it was deleted and you post to remind people what you had done, your emotions on how you felt about that showed. SE cares and their action deleting your post shows it. You can make opinions all day, but we know that RMT isn't good for the game, the majority of players--to include the Japanese especially--care about RMT and like me want it stopped. The attitude you have about RMT and it's role is a minority and many believe that it should be stomped out. While there is a minority of players that support RMT, none of them will venture outside on the forums or in /yell and venture into what you just did. But that's the point of my post. It's to talk about what the minority NA player base talks about behind closed doors--the pink elephant in the room. Your post that you made, and arrogantly I might add, was very surprising. I am very glad how quick SE was in deleting it.

Now you can make the claim you just said. But it's easier to police on the forums where SE mods and devs are open to see it. GM's rely on players to turn in others or information from the STF to enforce rules. Which is why the second part of this thread exists--to explain that the NA players that are against it are NOT alone. No one is required to report RMT. But the community in LS's attack those that report. This game is about the community and will only serve to function well if the community works diligently to stomp it out. It is why you rarely see any Japanese in-game advertising of buying gil. The Japanese community works like a team to stomp it out but the NA players that feel the same I do are scared to because of being black balled. Trust me, I've talked to a lot and most of them care. It's just that there is an apathy as well as being scared of being blackballed. Which are important factors of this.

But in short, your post being deleted in this thread is proof as to everything I said. But unlike your post, I actually give tangible examples as to how SE can handle it and is worth venturing into. Rather than your apathetic post, which encouraged RMT behavior if you ask me, we need more ideas like mine that venture out there to answer some of these problems. The Japanese are doing it and Devs give constant feedback. But on the NA side, not quite as much.

[Mikah]

lol naive. that's cute

[Seish]

Again says the person thinking their post wouldn't get taken down when they overtly support RMT. But here we are.

[Zehira]

Well I didn't see it and I apologize. It's not that I am living under a rock, but rather I just recently returned! It shocks me how bad things have gotten. I feel that SE cannot ignore this any longer though. Either they officially make this a PTW game or they make drastic measures.

EDIT: But when I look on the forums, those who are talking about it the most are Japanese players and not the NA/EU ones. I wish our community would be like those in Japan and condemn the act.

Hello Seish.

Firstly, welcome back!

Matsui already said (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/55858-8%E6%9C%8823%E6%97%A5%EF%BC%88%E9%87%91%EF%BC%89%EF%BD%9E8%E6%9C%8829%E6%97%A5%EF%BC%88%E6%9C%A8%EF%BC%89%E3%81%BE%E3%81%A7%E3%81%AE%E6%8A%95%E7%A8%BF%E4%B8%80%E8%A6%A7?p=619355&viewfull=1#post619355) they appreciate your continued support of your opinions and information. Even though, that after I asked him to look at.

Sometimes, I wish English players need to learn how to focus on one thread instead of those separate threads (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/54750-%E9%80%9A%E5%A0%B1%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%82%82RMT%E6%A5%AD%E8%80%85%E3%81%A0%E3%82%89%E3%81%91%E3%81%AB%E3%81%AA%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A6%E3%81%84%E3%82%8B?p=618640&viewfull=1#post618640). (Too late) It already got confused and ugly and is not helping the community at all. :(

[Alhanelem]

Why would I give a shit? I put it there just to prove the point. They didn't ban me for admitting it, they just removed the evidence.
Don't think it isn't a strike, just because they didn't give you a suspension or ban. All actions are cumulative and time heals no wounds on these forums. I was punished on the FFXIV boards based on actions that happened all the way back in the beta on the beta forums, which were even separate from the ones at release.

Since they didn't also ban me from here, I'm way way more careful here than I might have been otherwise.