Eternal Bond - Standard Plan and Gold Plan

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Originally Posted by AggieRick

I think you mistook raiding for world first competition. To say very few people raid is wildly inaccurate.

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Nope, meant that pretty literally. A drastically small % of people have stepped foot into the first Coil, or made it past Turn 1. Even less have cleared T5. It's really the minority doing any sort of raiding.

I don't know how the Odin mount has made it clear plenty are willing to throw SE cash for items. Were there sales figures released or something? If there was, I'd like to see them. I'm interested in how the whole cash shop thing is going vs the amount of people that unsubbed over it. It's also interesting that you think the game will stay afloat due to the cash shop. Usually a cash shop is a sign that the game is struggling. Usually when a cash shop is introduced it's because the game is heading to F2P. Usually when a game becomes F2P it loses all the appeal it had when it was sub based.

But I digress. I understand this argument, that "you aren't going to buy anything from the cash shop so all those idiots out there who do are just helping keep your game alive!" That's an understandable mentality, but not an educated one. TERA is a fine example of how a fantastic game went down hill very quickly and became more cash shop focused than gameplay focused. When the cash shop starts taking away from things you like about the game, that's when you'll dislike it - until then it doesn't affect you so you don't care. Which is cool, but do keep in mind that you aren't the majority and that's really just how YOU feel.

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Originally Posted by AggieRick

This is hardly "gateing content" the event is freely available. The 2 person mount is a luxury for now you either pay for it or wait for them to release a free one.
If it came to that yes I would complain so would anyone else but this is just more glamour.
But as I said you can just pay or wait.

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The question is: Why the hell do we have to pay for stuff in a game with a monthly subscription?

How long until Deluxe houses you can only get from the cash shop? Or armor/weapon skins? Alternate versions of items, emotes, hairstyles, an airship you can ride with other people? FC Banners, Capes and an endless list of things.

None of the things i've listed is "game breaking" its all glamour or optional stuff but, why the actual fck am I paying a subscription if they are going to shove down our throats the same cash shop a F2P has?

I want to punch SE in the throat right now.

This is utterly ridiculous. But I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised - I had a sour taste forming in my mouth the moment they made people pay extra money for additional retainers.

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Originally Posted by Zumi

Well they announced 2 plans for eternal bond in the live letter. Standard plan is free. Gold plan costs money but gets you mount+minion and more dress options.

So will you get a gold plan wedding knowing it costs money? I wonder if both people have to pay money. But more details with the patch notes.

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I don't mind the cash shop having the minion + dress options, as that's just vanity.

But the mount, from what I remember, was supposed to be a 2-person mount. That's not just vanity, that's functionality T.T. It should be part of the free one.

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Originally Posted by Squintina

I don't mind the cash shop having the minion + dress options, as that's just vanity.

But the mount, from what I remember, was supposed to be a 2-person mount. That's not just vanity, that's functionality T.T. It should be part of the free one.

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This is the only problem I have with this. The 2-person mount should be a part of the free version and a different one on the paid version. Not sure why they are doing this.

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Originally Posted by Tannlore

Not sure why they are doing this.

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Because they can, and because there are plenty of people who'll support anything SE does, no matter how disgusting it is. What does SE care if some people quit, as long as there are enough of those who are willing to pay a monthly subscription in order to be treated like freeloaders in a F2P game?

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Originally Posted by Riepah

Because they can, and because there are plenty of people who'll support anything SE does, no matter how disgusting it is. What does SE care if some people quit, as long as there are enough of those who are willing to pay a monthly subscription in order to be treated like freeloaders in a F2P game?

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"Because they can" seems inefficient. More money? The likely cause. However, there may be other reasons on top of just money. Perhaps it is a server load/code issue, or a higher up said no, or they tossed a coin. *shrug* Honestly, unless you were privy to the discussion in the planning room about it, it is all conjecture. No matter how white/black knight anyone might be.

Who knows, they may reply to this thread to explain why. I'd like that, if for nothing else but an official answer. Even if it is: we want more money.

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Originally Posted by Ashgarth

The question is: Why the hell do we have to pay for stuff in a game with a monthly subscription?

How long until Deluxe houses you can only get from the cash shop? Or armor/weapon skins? Alternate versions of items, emotes, hairstyles, an airship you can ride with other people? FC Banners, Capes and an endless list of things.

None of the things i've listed is "game breaking" its all glamour or optional stuff but, why the actual fck am I paying a subscription if they are going to shove down our throats the same cash shop a F2P has?

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my speculation is that they are doing this because the higher ups aren't putting enough money back into the game for them to be able to get good equipment and give us a more stable environment. it costs money and they have to get it from somewhere. yes I could be wrong but I figured after seeing the unstable start of 2.0 that was probably it when they mentioned the cash shop to start with.

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Originally Posted by Squintina

I don't mind the cash shop having the minion + dress options, as that's just vanity.

But the mount, from what I remember, was supposed to be a 2-person mount. That's not just vanity, that's functionality T.T. It should be part of the free one.

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I disagree. Adding a mount to the free version defeats the purpose of people truly enjoying each other's company. If I could get a mount for free by marrying my friend, so be it. People would ask. "Aw are you two married?" 99% of the responses would be, "Naw, just wanted the free mount lol."

I welcome the cash shop addition for the actual Eternal Bonding benefits. It makes more sense, and it makes it actually mean something like in FFXI.

In FFXI you had to apply for a Wedding, and a GM would personally lock people out of an area to hold your wedding. You had to wait months for the process to be completed, and it felt like a personal party.

The Gold is for the dedicated people who really wanted marriage in-game, and the Standard are for people who truly want to be married in game, but not pay for it.

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Originally Posted by ZanzhizExaverion

I disagree. Adding a mount to the free version defeats the purpose of people truly enjoying each other's company. If I could get a mount for free by marrying my friend, so be it. People would ask. "Aw are you two married?" 99% of the responses would be, "Naw, just wanted the free mount lol."

I welcome the cash shop addition for the actual Eternal Bonding benefits. It makes more sense, and it makes it actually mean something like in FFXI.

In FFXI you had to apply for a Wedding, and a GM would personally lock people out of an area to hold your wedding. You had to wait months for the process to be completed, and it felt like a personal party.

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I actually would end up marrying my real life husband so it would mean something to me.


But keep in mind this is a GAME (that we pay for). People play this to have FUN. If someone wanted to marry a friend just for a mount, who are you to judge they can't because it's not "special"? The 2-person mount should be in the free version.

And this is not FF11.

And there are ways for them to make it special without having people pay up for a functional item.

Business making money.

Seems legit. ^.^

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Originally Posted by Squintina

I actually would end up marrying my real life husband so it would mean something to me.

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Well then you out of most of the Eternal-Bond Advocates should know more than anyone else what it should mean. If the mount was in the free version, the Marriage System would be sullied be people having Fake-Marriages for content.

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Originally Posted by ZanzhizExaverion

Well then you out of most of the Eternal-Bond Advocates should know more than anyone else what it should mean. If the mount was in the free version, the Marriage System would be sullied be people having Fake-Marriages for content.

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Because in real life marriage would never be used for something silly like citizenship or taxes... >_>"

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Originally Posted by Jamez82

Business making money.

Seems legit. ^.^

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Uh ok, sry i thought everybody paid for this every month.

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Originally Posted by ZanzhizExaverion

I disagree. Adding a mount to the free version defeats the purpose of people truly enjoying each other's company. If I could get a mount for free by marrying my friend, so be it. People would ask. "Aw are you two married?" 99% of the responses would be, "Naw, just wanted the free mount lol."

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Adding loot to raids defeats the purpose of people truly enjoying raiding together. If I could get loot by raiding, so be it. People would ask. "Aw do you like raiding?"
99% of the responses would be, "Naw, just wanted the loot lol."

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Originally Posted by AggieRick

This is hardly "gateing content" the event is freely available. The 2 person mount is a luxury for now you either pay for it or wait for them to release a free one.

Comparing this to pay to raid is extreme and alarmist. If it came to that yes I would complain so would anyone else but this is just more glamour.

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Umm...it's not just the Mount with the Gold Package. More of like Better version of Tuxedo, Dress, a Mount, and Cake!

Now who gonna want to pay for the Free version with uglier Tux and Dress, no Mount, and no Cake? This stuff should already be freely available in the game since it a P2P game, not a F2P game. If you keep thinking this is ok, next they will be more ridiculous cash shop available. Sure, it not Pay to Win, but it does make the game less enjoyable and more annoying to play.

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Originally Posted by ZanzhizExaverion

Well then you out of most of the Eternal-Bond Advocates should know more than anyone else what it should mean. If the mount was in the free version, the Marriage System would be sullied be people having Fake-Marriages for content.

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Well that's up to them though, if people want to play the game that way they should be entitled to. I was going to marry/bond with my long-term partner of 10years irl, but the in-game thing wasn't really going to mean dick to either of us >_> it was just supposed to be content that was included in the game we paid for/are paying for....

Gating shit behind the cash shop 'so it means more?' No thank you >.<

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Originally Posted by ZanzhizExaverion

Well then you out of most of the Eternal-Bond Advocates should know more than anyone else what it should mean. If the mount was in the free version, the Marriage System would be sullied be people having Fake-Marriages for content.

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Other people's bonds do not affect mine, nor do they affect yours. It's not up to you to decide what the right reason for the bond system is.

But let's say you're right and only meaningful bonds should have the mount. There's no reason why they can't have the ability to purchase the deluxe option through both the cash shop AND gil - it would just mean the gil version would be an extreme amount (like 15-20mil). This way players who want that special bond can still get it without having to pony up more cash for a game they've already paid for and subscribe to each month; it just means they'll have to work hard for the gil first.

I'm still glad "No Pay to Win" is a rule, but revealing a week beforehand that your previews have been behind a paywall the entire time is a dick move.

They've been showing off Eternal Bond items for a long time now. They've been saying that it won't cost gil for a little while now. They had plenty of time to say, "Eternal Bond itself will be free, but we'll be offering lots of bonuses as 'Optional Services' if you want to go all out and be extra extravagant." They had time to bite the bullet and frame it in a favorable way at the cost of revealing that they would be utilizing the cash shop, and they didn't. They waited until right before the patch drops and said, "Oh, by the way, most of the stuff we've been showing you is cash only."

The last line in the sand was the revelation that you are not entitled to all content by virtue of your game purchase and monthly subscription alone. This is the line in the sand where you now know for sure that you cannot be excited for anything you see in a preview that is not related to game balance or progression until the true cost is revealed directly prior to its release. Where's the next line?

People will be happy to pay extra for services under a lot of circumstances, but this kind of marketing/PR just invites bitterness and disappointment.

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Originally Posted by Marisela

This stuff should already be freely available in the game since it a P2P game, not a F2P game.

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This right here is the truth of the matter. We shell out money to buy the game itself, then 15$ a month to keep playing it. Over a year that can add up to hundreds of dollars. We expect everything to be added into the game, free of charge, with no extra expenditure except for things like server transfers, fantasias, and the like. This is not an unreasonable expectation, since we are paying what amounts to hundreds of dollars per year for this game.

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Originally Posted by Riepah

Adding loot to raids defeats the purpose of people truly enjoying raiding together. If I could get loot by raiding, so be it. People would ask. "Aw do you like raiding?"
99% of the responses would be, "Naw, just wanted the loot lol."

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Glamour and gear that progresses you through the game are two different things.

If they ONLY implemented the free version with NO rewards but the marriage itself, people would still complain, but the right people would Eternally Bond. This is what I'm trying to say. If there were rewards, people would be falsely bonding for free stuff, and I personally find that in the wrong for what the system is supposed to mean to the players. Yoshi P and the developers are trying to create a game that not only plays well, but FEELS right in everything you do. As a player who wouldn't have Eternally Bonded if there were no rewards, I'm glad that there's a pay-for-benefits option, because I WON'T be paying for a marriage, so now when I see the mount, it would MEAN something.

You all should be glad that SE took measures to make Eternal Bonding mean something rather than give it to everyone for free content.

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Originally Posted by Squintina

There's no reason why they can't have the ability to purchase the deluxe option through both the cash shop AND gil - it would just mean the gil version would be an extreme amount (like 15-20mil). This way players who want that special bond can still get it without having to pony up more cash for a game they've already paid for and subscribe to each month; it just means they'll have to work hard for the gil first.

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This is what I mean, making the content gated so it means something makes sense. The abuse of the Cash Shop is an entirely different story. I never came into this thread stating I loved the Cash Shop. I just find the gating a good measure to make sure the people who want it to mean something get what they want in return.

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Originally Posted by Squintina

Other people's bonds do not affect mine, nor do they affect yours. It's not up to you to decide what the right reason for the bond system is.

But let's say you're right and only meaningful bonds should have the mount. There's no reason why they can't have the ability to purchase the deluxe option through both the cash shop AND gil - it would just mean the gil version would be an extreme amount (like 15-20mil). This way players who want that special bond can still get it without having to pony up more cash for a game they've already paid for and subscribe to each month; it just means they'll have to work hard for the gil first.

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SE's logic is you need to work harder in real life to get the most out of this game. LOL...

Dunno about you guys, but I am kinda starting to dread gold saucer now....

If the mounts and extras stuff costs real money, then they better be account wide rewards like everything else you can buy.

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Originally Posted by ZanzhizExaverion

As a player who wouldn't have Eternally Bonded if there were no rewards, I'm glad that there's a pay-for-benefits option, because I WON'T be paying for a marriage, so now when I see the mount, it would MEAN something.

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Eternal Bonding is already "meaningless" since it's free (that's up to debate). The only thing the mount means is "I paid money for virtual items", not that your EB meant anything. It should mean something to YOU, but paying money so that you can arbitrary separate yourself from "the masses" is ridiculous.

You don't think players will pay for a Gold EB to get the mount? People activated a second account for 3 months to get the Recruit a Friend mount as well!

This is the most pointless reason to advocate for a paywall (there is no reason for a P2P game tbh).

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Originally Posted by Anonymoose

The last line in the sand was the revelation that you are not entitled to all content by virtue of your game purchase and monthly subscription alone. This is the line in the sand where you now now for sure that you cannot be excited for anything you see in a preview that is not related to game balance or progression until the true cost is revealed directly prior to its release. Where's the next line?

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At this point i'm starting to wonder mow much of the stuff anounced and left to anounce for the expansion will be hidden behind the cash shop.

And dont get me started on gold saucer, I'll do the Ice Bucket challenge with sulphuric acid if the Card game doesnt have some sort of cash shop option.

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Originally Posted by Anonymoose

I'm still glad "No Pay to Win" is a rule, but revealing a week beforehand that your previews have been behind a paywall the entire time is a dick move.

They've been showing off Eternal Bond items for a long time now. They've been saying that it won't cost gil for a little while now. They had plenty of time to say, "Eternal Bond itself will be free, but we'll be offering lots of bonuses as 'Optional Services' if you want to go all out and be extra extravagant." They had time to bite the bullet and frame it in a favorable way at the cost of revealing that they would be utilizing the cash shop, and they didn't. They waited until right before the patch drops and said, "Oh, by the way, most of the stuff we've been showing you is cash only."

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Personal housing story all over again, whether you consider the FC-copy-paste aspect or the prices or the availability. And yes, that makes it even more infuriating than the fact of cash-shop-only side itself, leaving us feel disappointed/fooled again. And I'm saying that even without having to do anything with Eternal Bond, since it won't be relevant for me.

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Originally Posted by Yahavage

Dunno about you guys, but I am kinda starting to dread gold saucer now....

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I've been dreading it since the abovementioned fiasco, tbh... \:

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Originally Posted by BreathlessTao

Personal housing story all over again, whether you consider the FC-copy-paste aspect or the prices or the availability. And yes, that makes it even more infuriating than the fact of cash-shop-only side itself, leaving us feel disappointed/fooled again. And I'm saying that even without having to do anything with Eternal Bond, since it won't be relevant for me.

I've been dreading it since the abovementioned fiasco, tbh... \:

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I generally consider myself a glass half full kinda person ^^v but yeah, housing was.... ugh, and now this? Not even my ultra-positive demeanour can stand this kind of treatment! If they keep up the premium services in the cash-shop shenanigans I can't see me playing much past Heavensward. We shall see.

I think it is disgusting and shows the contempt with which Yoshi-P has for the players. Every much desired system so far has been nothing but a giant punch in the face for the players. FC Housing? 640m gil, oh and then plots running out so only the minority of FC's could actually purchase a property when the prices became more reasonable. Player housing? FC housing rather than the promised system, oh, and same price as FC housing, another punch in the face. Now the eternal bond, gated by real money. Next up, DRK, unlockable for only £59.99 from the cash shop.

And yeah, our monthly subs has been paying for SE to develop the stuff, which we now have to pay for again if we want full access..... I think the term theft might apply here.

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Originally Posted by Magis

but paying money so that you can arbitrary separate yourself from "the masses" is ridiculous.

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Ridiculous maybe but also pretty much human nature

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Originally Posted by ZanzhizExaverion

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you know, the only thing the mount would MEAN is that you paid for content that could've been free.
and when i see people riding the mount, it's going to give me a sour taste in my mouth, just like with the odin mount and the "recruit-a-friend mount". (i have more gil than that person, i have gotten further in the game, i have better gear and i have more of the story. so, why the F*** can't i have a freaking mount/minion!?)

I really fear for the future of this game with micro-transactions slowly working their way in, and with so much of the fanbase eager to accept them. Keep telling yourself this won't get out hand.

I'm sure if/when this is a huge success, every future event or feature will have a "peasant" version, while the real full version gets locked behind a paywall.

and so it begins here aswell... sigh. moron fanboys make EVERYTHING possible it seems. i have seen these things happen before. at first many people said : uh it wont be so bad. or thall never happen folks! but then after maybe one or two more years it STARTS to happen. and then its to late to stop it. pay to winlers aka whales will take over slowly. they will defend everything on the shop with excuses and so on. saw this happen on many other mmos.

there is no way to stop it guys. its useless to argue with these people. aslong as they are the majority out there this will work for the game sadly and it will make em extra money deluxe. and thats why its gonna happen. its human stupidness. no way to fix THAT...

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Originally Posted by Akuryu

I really fear for the future of this game with micro-transactions slowly working their way in, and with so much of the fanbase eager to accept them. Keep telling yourself this won't get out hand.

I'm sure if/when this is a huge success, every future event or feature will have a "peasant" version, while the real full version gets locked behind a paywall.

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"Slowly" you say, but it's honestly proceeding much faster than I feared. That they'd put long-promised features like the Eternal Bond Chocobo behind a paywall hit me by surprise, I must admit.

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Originally Posted by Windklinge

aslong as they are the majority out there this will work for the game sadly and it will make em extra money deluxe.

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Unfortunately, they don't even need the majority. I've seen people spending 2000$ on "Free to Play" games in their first month after launch. A spending-happy, small minority would keep the game afloat just fine, it wouldn't matter if more than half of the current players quit as long as there are those who're happy to spend more and more for "optional" content.

Remember the white knights telling us how this things were not going to happen? content locked behind paywalls? how we were just telling a "slippery slope". Well, isn`t a slippery slope anymore, is closer to a damn avalanche.

This whole thing is beyond terrible. The division of the Eternal Bond in 2 separate plans is bad, terrible. Content once again being moved behind a paywall and just wait for gold saucer and actually, any "optional content".

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Originally Posted by Zentsa

You guys 100% sure it will cost real money?

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um, its $E we're talking about. Why even doubt? lol

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Originally Posted by Razzle

um, its $E we're talking about. Why even doubt? lol

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Very usefull comment.

All I have to say is whats the big deal? None of this extra stuff effects game play. I don't mind having to fork out a bit of my cash to get these extra things. Just think how long they been working on all this, High chance they went over on board for this. So to make some money back from the cost and time spent they bring a premium feature that dose not really effect game play. I will be buying the premium package for it to show my thanks for the hard work they have done on it.


Now with golden sauce I hope they do not do the same cause I wont touch it if there is a pay to win system with it. Golden saucer needs to stay 100% away from mog station as that is just a no no.

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Originally Posted by Riepah

Unfortunately, they don't even need the majority. I've seen people spending 2000$ on "Free to Play" games in their first month after launch. A spending-happy, small minority would keep the game afloat just fine, it wouldn't matter if more than half of the current players quit as long as there are those who're happy to spend more and more for "optional" content.

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This is what happens when people with too little brains have too much money to throw around. What's the worst is when they don't even see how stupid their decision was, even when the game tanks horribly.

Prime example: ArcheAge.

But it's these types of people who enable companies like SE to manhandle them and constantly beat them up in a dark alley for more money in addition to what they already spend. Small wonder I hate whales.