"Add all DLC to Cart" - Mogstation Cash Shop is akin to a Train Simulator Price Tag

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Originally Posted by Volgia

To me the idea of a potion skip is horrible because it means that the leveling experience in FF14 is so bad you'd rather pay to not have to go through it.

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It actually means "going through the storyline a second (or third, or fourth) time on an alt is so time consuming that only having to work through 10 levels is much preferred". (My favorite)

It also means "I'm only here for the end-game raiding, so who cares about the story?"

It also means "What do you mean I have another 80 quests to get from ARR to HW storyline? That's 1/3 of the entire expansion!" (Subsequent expansions settled on a more sedate 50-somthing-or-less [mostly in the 40s] post x.0 MSQ quests)

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Originally Posted by Stormpeaks

"you can either look terrible or you can shell up the money, you dont need to look good in the game you can just look terrible for free !"

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There are PLENTY of good looking glamour you can make in game.

The only thing i personally think is absurd is holiday items.
Other mmo's put those in the holiday event permanently and you can just pick it up next go around. this one tosses it on the store lmao

I mean, it's a lot of money and it's not entirely great - But in the same vein, there's no real reason to buy every single item from the Mogstation...

I would say it's exorbitant a bit with seasonal items (e.g., seasonal items I think should just be available in subsequent events for tokens from a repeatable quest to add a bit more playability to those). But I wouldn't call it predatory, which is where I would draw more of a line with it.

I don't fault people for taking a distaste for it, or if they find it scummy, matter of opinion and all - I just personally think there's far, far, far worse out there. I also think there are far, far worse things they could've done with the store.

Honestly it does seem a little too capitalist that there is an abundance of cash shop only items that is continually updated with new material while in game content such as variants have so little rewards offered that there is no point in doing them more than once.

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Originally Posted by SannaR

Snip.

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What people say and what they do can be different, and scouring forum posts isn't exactly accurate data.

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Originally Posted by Valkyrie_Lenneth

And no one has bought literally every item in the cash shop.

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Thanks for your input. Doesn't have any bearing on the total of all the items available for purchase, though.

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Originally Posted by SieyaM

Honestly it does seem a little too capitalist that there is an abundance of cash shop only items that is continually updated with new material while in game content such as variants have so little rewards offered that there is no point in doing them more than once.

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Even if one single content piece only gets one reward attached to it and no future updates, content as a whole is regularly having more rewards added, far more than what goes on the cash shop. There are loads in Island Sanctuary, there's the one from Tataru's questline, three new PVP outfits, four from Variants, regular glamour-from-maps and all the endgame gear as well.

They're not going to keep adding new rewards to the individual piece of content though. Everything just gets whatever it gets when it's released, and those are the rewards permanently.

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Originally Posted by Stormpeaks

"you can either look terrible or you can shell up the money, you dont need to look good in the game you can just look terrible for free !"

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This is a wrong way to go about the critique imo, because it just opens you up to people saying (truthfully) that there are nice glams in the game.
The real issue with the cash shop is that this game is already buy to play and subscription based with an extremely minimal/scarce content rollout schedule (a major update every 4 month means 3 updates a year). Some games go free to play but have a cash shop full of skips and mounts and pretty clothes to fund its regular updates (maplestory for example). Some games are buy to play and then have optional monthly subs that you can use to get extra benefits while also having a cash shop with outfits and time savers (bdo for example). But then you have other games, like this one, where they have the audacity to really try and have their cake and eat it too. These people want you to buy the base game, buy the expansion when it comes out, pay every month, *and* there's a cash shop, while the content rollout resembles a game that's preparing to enter maintenance mode. That's my point of contention at least. There are 3 monetization methods discussed here: b2p, monthly sub, cash shop. Most games do 2 out of 3. Square does all 3 and then where does the money go? People say they're fine with it because the money is going back into the game, but is it? Content rollouts taking longer, jobs getting dumbed down, more and more stuff being arbitrarily removed from the dev cycle, whole staff departments pulled to work on other games. Like let's be real; XIV money is used to fund other projects. Which is normal for a company to do, but some of you guys haven't realized it yet or choose not to.

Anyway that's the issue imo. This game's got 2 solid monetization methods, but it opts for a third while the game's pretty sparse and could just use that content in the game. And then the money they generate seems to just go anywhere but here.

The cash shop is there for those who are looking for a few extras and don't mind paying real money. No one has to buy anything from it to be able to enjoy the game.

I'm not looking for story skips or job boosts. Why would I pay extra to skip the core game experience?

I don't need Fantasias as I consider what I want my character to look like when I first create it. Being able to change hair style and color through Jandelaine is enough for me. If I really want a character that looks different, I'll create a new one since I enjoy replaying MSQ.

I'm sitting on a huge amount of General Purpose dyes I've gotten back through retainer ventures. I don't need to buy them from the cash shop.

I've got thousands of items to choose from for glamour in the game. I'm fine without the few dozens on the cash shop.

More or less the same for mounts and minions. The number we can earn through game play far exceeds what's on the cash shop.

As long as the cash shop remains a very limited source of cosmetic items and the vast majority continue to be earned through game play, I don't see the problem.

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Originally Posted by KenZentra

How is stating a undeniable fact being disingenuous? Roughly, the total price of all cash shop items combined is $5,417.36 USD

I don't know why are you are trying to equate a virtual shop for a online video game to being the same as a real life clothing store. Aside from, you buy thing and see thing, there really isn't a comparison to be made. If anything, it being a virtual shop for a online video game, the total price should be considerably lower since you can't run out of anything on sale.

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In addition, virtual items are just computer code. Ultimately, you are paying for something which doesn't exist in the real world. It should be cheaper since you are just adding a little bit of code to your virtual character.

The work needs to only be done once. Afterwards, the company has the potential for to sell unlimited copies with no labor or material cost which means Square Enix is making 100% profit on cash shop items. In those conditions, does it really make sense to have items which cost $45.00 US Dollars?

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Originally Posted by Volgia

To me the idea of a potion skip is horrible because it means that the leveling experience in FF14 is so bad you'd rather pay to not have to go through it.

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I've only bought potion skips twice.

The first time was after an extended period of ill health and I fell really behind the rest of the FC. I wanted to play with my friends; so, I bought the skip potion so I could run the same content as my FC.

The second time was for an alt; but, that turned out to be a mistake because I ended up not enjoying the ninja class. Oops.

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Originally Posted by Stormpeaks

"you can either look terrible or you can shell up the money, you dont need to look good in the game you can just look terrible for free !"

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I've never bought anything from the shop except for a pack of fantasias, and my glams are fine.

I swear, if hot takes were spices, yours would be flour.

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Originally Posted by Ravenblade1979

As for the hroth/Viera thing when it comes to glam. That comes down to male/female only glam and they been making more and more equippable to either sex.

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The Hroth/Viera thing is that a significant number of the outfits sold that come with hats simply do not show those hats on Hrothgar and Viera. (My memory's not entirely clear, but I believe the explicit warning about that which is now on those outfits wasn't around at first, either, so people were buying outfits without ever being told that they simply wouldn't be able to use the hat.)

But yeah, not related to gender-exclusive outfits, that is a separate issue.

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Originally Posted by Kacho_Nacho

In addition, virtual items are just computer code. Ultimately, you are paying for something which doesn't exist in the real world. It should be cheaper since you are just adding a little bit of code to your virtual character.

The work needs to only be done once. Afterwards, the company has the potential for to sell unlimited copies with no labor or material cost which means Square Enix is making 100% profit on cash shop items. In those conditions, does it really make sense to have items which cost $45.00 US Dollars?

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They charge that much because there are enough players willing to pay that much so going lower may end up resulting in less net profit. They are a for-profit publicly traded corporation. They have a duty to their shareholders to make reasonable attempts to maximize their profits.

Even as a virtual item there are still some ongoing costs they have for support of the website, payment processing, customer support, etc. Certainly it's not $45 in expenses but once again: for-profit corporation. As long as enough people are willing to buy at the price, they're going to sell at that price. It's no different from any other for-profit business. I don't know why so many players act like game companies are non-profit organizations.

If someone thinks an item is priced higher than reasonable, then they shouldn't buy the item. They won't die if they don't get it. That doesn't stop others from valuing the item differently and being willing to pay more (or having an overabundance of money so the price is immaterial to them).

The shop items that trigger me are the old event cosmetics. It would be so unbelievably easy to just put the old items on a vendor that is available during the event, but noooo then they couldn't milk new players for money.

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Originally Posted by Iscah

Even if one single content piece only gets one reward attached to it and no future updates, content as a whole is regularly having more rewards added, far more than what goes on the cash shop. There are loads in Island Sanctuary, there's the one from Tataru's questline, three new PVP outfits, four from Variants, regular glamour-from-maps and all the endgame gear as well.

They're not going to keep adding new rewards to the individual piece of content though. Everything just gets whatever it gets when it's released, and those are the rewards permanently.

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Each variant has it's own glamour set, so one for each dungeon. Aside from the orchestration and an emote that is all there is for rewards, and by the time you run it to get all 12 journal entries you have more than enough for those things and might have to run a few more times to get the glamour if you want them. The point being that this could have been a much more engaging and long running piece of content that is instead dumped out and forgotten about in nearly the same week. Meanwhile the cash shop is continually receiving new items as well as having the catalog of previous items. If they designed any kind of content with that kind of longevity in mind then we would be much happier with some of it. As it is there really is no reason to get too excited about anything that is released because it is completely forgotten about in a matter of weeks if it isn't part of the roulette.

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Originally Posted by SieyaM

The point being that this could have been a much more engaging and long running piece of content that is instead dumped out and forgotten about in nearly the same week. Meanwhile the cash shop is continually receiving new items as well as having the catalog of previous items.

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I wouldn't want the variant dungeons to be artificially drawn out by having to grind them further for loot. They were enjoyable as one-shot content but I absolutely do not want to be made to do it additional times beyond that.

And again, you are comparing the entire ongoing existence of the cash shop to the not-ongoing, one-patch existence of a single piece of content.

The thing to compare to the cash shop as a whole is in-game rewards as a whole, which continues to introduce new items at a higher rate than the shop.

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Originally Posted by Iscah

I wouldn't want the variant dungeons to be artificially drawn out by having to grind them further for loot. They were enjoyable as one-shot content but I absolutely do not want to be made to do it additional times beyond that.

And again, you are comparing the entire ongoing existence of the cash shop to the not-ongoing, one-patch existence of a single piece of content.

The thing to compare to the cash shop as a whole is in-game rewards as a whole, which continues to introduce new items at a higher rate than the shop.

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Please keep defending the fact we barely get anything in the game while the cash shop keeps getting updates every few weeks, its entertaining

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Originally Posted by Stormpeaks

Please keep defending the fact we barely get anything in the game while the cash shop keeps getting updates every few weeks, its entertaining

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They add the stuff in during patches. Its not really getting updated every few weeks.

Also "barely anything in game" is a flat out lie. The cash shop is so small compared to what is available in game lol.


Tho, maybe it seems like it gets more stuff if you don't actually play the game.

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Originally Posted by Valkyrie_Lenneth

They add the stuff in during patches. Its not really getting updated every few weeks.

Also "barely anything in game" is a flat out lie. The cash shop is so small compared to what is available in game lol.


Tho, maybe it seems like it gets more stuff if you don't actually play the game.

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Most stuff that is added to game requires a patch if you want to be technical about it, though I dont really recall there being a major patch 5 days ago when the emote "Joyous Leaping" was introduced. Does the Christmas event count as patch?

Patch 6.51 was released on October 31st, I think? Since then we've had:
November 20 - Emote: Eat Pizza, and Pepperoni Pizza Set
December 15 - Authentic Illuminated Tree, Mount: Starlight Steed (Single Character), and Emote: Joyous Leaping
December 28 - Heavensturn Attire, Authentic Heavensturn Crane Banner
Skimming through the news tracker on the Lodestone, most major patches usually have at least 1 update afterwards for optional items, but thats not really at the same time as a patch is released. Maybe I'll try to make a timeline sometime for when optional items get added and when patches come out.

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Originally Posted by KenZentra

Most stuff that is added to game requires a patch if you want to be technical about it, though I dont really recall there being a major patch 5 days ago when the emote "Joyous Leaping" was introduced. Does the Christmas event count as patch?

Patch 6.51 was released on October 31st, I think? Since then we've had:
November 20 - Emote: Eat Pizza, and Pepperoni Pizza Set
December 15 - Authentic Illuminated Tree, Mount: Starlight Steed (Single Character), and Emote: Joyous Leaping

Skimming through the news tracker on the Lodestone, most major patches usually have at least 1 update afterwards for optional items, but thats not really at the same time as a patch is released. Maybe I'll try to make a timeline sometime for when optional items get added and when patches come out.

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The items are added in with major patches, and then released on the Mogstation later.



It's been this way since the cash shop released in late 2014.

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Originally Posted by KenZentra

Most stuff that is added to game requires a patch if you want to be technical about it, though I dont really recall there being a major patch 5 days ago when the emote "Joyous Leaping" was introduced. Does the Christmas event count as patch?

Patch 6.51 was released on October 31st, I think? Since then we've had:
November 20 - Emote: Eat Pizza, and Pepperoni Pizza Set
December 15 - Authentic Illuminated Tree, Mount: Starlight Steed (Single Character), and Emote: Joyous Leaping

Skimming through the news tracker on the Lodestone, most major patches usually have at least 1 update afterwards for optional items, but thats not really at the same time as a patch is released. Maybe I'll try to make a timeline sometime for when optional items get added and when patches come out.

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When it comes to event items and the like, they add the item during the main patch and then they just turn it on later.

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Originally Posted by Valkyrie_Lenneth

The items are added in with major patches, and then released on the Mogstation later.



It's been this way since the cash shop released in late 2014.

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Originally Posted by Rolder50

When it comes to event items and the like, they add the item during the main patch and then they just turn it on later.

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Yeah, I said that too. Is it really "added" to the game if they make it available weeks later, though? I'd say no. The cash shop itself does get updated at least as much as, if not more often than, the main game. Not saying it gets more stuff than a patch has, just that it gets updated more.

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Originally Posted by KenZentra

Is it really "added" to the game if they make it available weeks later, though?

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Are the level 89 quests really "added" to the game if it takes you time to gain 9 levels to get to that point?

At this point the argument is quibbling about semantics.

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Originally Posted by DPZ2

Are the level 89 quests really "added" to the game if it takes you time to gain 9 levels to get to that point?

At this point the argument is quibbling about semantics.

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Yes, they are really "added" to the game.
You can get to level 89 quests by leveling up. Your access to that content is restricted by your level, which you can increase at your leisure.
Cash shop items that are not released cannot be accessed in any way possible until it is added to the cash shop weeks later.
Completely different.

I agree though, its just about semantics which I guess you wanted to add to. In the end, the cash shop gets updated more frequently, and the items released weeks after a patch.

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Originally Posted by Iscah

I wouldn't want the variant dungeons to be artificially drawn out by having to grind them further for loot. They were enjoyable as one-shot content but I absolutely do not want to be made to do it additional times beyond that.

And again, you are comparing the entire ongoing existence of the cash shop to the not-ongoing, one-patch existence of a single piece of content.

The thing to compare to the cash shop as a whole is in-game rewards as a whole, which continues to introduce new items at a higher rate than the shop.

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Except we cant do that, nothing about the cash shop changes except the addition of new items, meanwhile content which is what we play this game for is a single pump and dump scheme designed for nothing more than a single day or weeks worth of entertainment. Why not continue investing and developing the things we already have instead of purposely designing things to be forgotten about the week after patch release. Again it's hard to really be excited about much of anything when we all know in a few days, maybe even a few weeks if we're lucky, the content being released is just going to be dead and forgotten.

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Originally Posted by SieyaM

Why not continue investing and developing the things we already have instead of purposely designing things to be forgotten about the week after patch release. Again it's hard to really be excited about much of anything when we all know in a few days, maybe even a few weeks if we're lucky, the content being released is just going to be dead and forgotten.

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Because they do keep investing and developing the game as a whole by adding new content with new prizes, rather than adding new prizes to the exact same content.

They are continuing to invest in the concept of variant dungeons, but there is no more to be done with the individual dungeons. They can't keep building on the single dungeon or keep adding new prizes to every old piece of content instead of connecting it to new content.

If "nothing about the cash shop changes except the addition of new items", then nothing about the game changes except the addition of new items and content.

What are you actually envisaging they should do when you say they should "invest in what we already have" instead of developing new things?

Ehhh... a lot of the exclusive mogstation outfits are actually pretty terrible, some of the best stuff came from seasonal or special events/giveaways. Currently retainers are still my sole issue with mog, genuinely believe the general player base deserves another free retainer by now...

Where's my blu mage mount

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Originally Posted by dsgawwewerfw

Where's my blu mage mount

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Check the Quicksand on Balmung.

SE: Do you guys not have money?

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Originally Posted by Iscah

Because they do keep investing and developing the game as a whole by adding new content with new prizes, rather than adding new prizes to the exact same content.

They are continuing to invest in the concept of variant dungeons, but there is no more to be done with the individual dungeons. They can't keep building on the single dungeon or keep adding new prizes to every old piece of content instead of connecting it to new content.

If "nothing about the cash shop changes except the addition of new items", then nothing about the game changes except the addition of new items and content.

What are you actually envisaging they should do when you say they should "invest in what we already have" instead of developing new things?

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Maybe adding new areas to Eureka or Bozja in the future or they could have added new routes to the variant dungeons. The team continues to reinvent the wheel with every bit of content and doesn't return to things people liked or expand on anything that is already in game. It might sound ridiculous now but get ready for magitek kart racing and the one glamour and housing item you can get for it. I just feel it coming.

Yes, online stores suck. In an ideal world, games that have a monthly fee would not have an online store. However, in the hell blasted corporate dystopian landscape we find ourselves in, you generally have to just find what is the least egregious. FFXIV's online store, compared to other MMOs stores, is that least egregious.

Plus there's the fact that the community asked for it. Oh yes. People BEGGED for a way to buy Fantasias with real money. They BEGGED to be able to buy the Cloud bike that was given away at the first fanfest. Did people honestly expect that, given an inch, the multi-billion dollar corporation wouldn't take a mile? (See: hell blasted corporate dystopian landscape, above)

Not saying you can't complain. As I said: Online Store in Monthly Fee game = Bad. Just maybe keep the above in mind and have some perspective.

More updates to the Cash Shop while in a terrible content drought, making the total 4 cash shop updates since the last patch. Might even be the most additions in between patches ever. All the while rewards for variant and criterion are absolutely awful.

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Originally Posted by KenZentra

We have so many avenues for items to be introduced to the game. Such as that one vendor in Gridania that uses the currency you get from achievements to get rewards

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ngl, having the some new, cool stuff on achievement token guy or gold saucer would be pretty dope

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Originally Posted by KenZentra

More updates to the Cash Shop while in a terrible content drought, making the total 4 cash shop updates since the last patch. Might even be the most additions in between patches ever. All the while rewards for variant and criterion are absolutely awful.

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Im still adamant that its really not the actual dev team making such updates but I still say that they should counter it with extra effort into adding in-game earnable outfits through achievements or rewards from current patches.

It's worse than doa6! Or was it 5? :'D