Charge for Final Fantasy XIV

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Originally Posted by MiNuN

Oh, I just thought up something awesome.

How about...people who wants to feel like they are donating by paying for the game monthly...just donate every month as if they are being charged!

My god, what a solution!

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This, is exactly what I should of said. Well done MiNuN!

This was discussed heavily on FFXIVCore right after the earthquake. The fact of the matter is that donating to an organization established to provide help is a much more effective way to have your money go to the people who really need it. Non-profit organizations are typically tax-free and have much more experience as to how to use the money to have the greatest impact. They also have more transparent accounting, so you can see where your money is going, and how much is being spent on overhead costs. Not to mention there's nothing stopping a for-profit company from taking a portion for themselves. I won't even get into what charging for XIV right now might do to the remaining community.

I know your heart was in the right place, but why do you feel using S-E as a middle man is a better idea than donating directly to the Japanese Red Cross?

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Originally Posted by Radamanth

A unique discussion was started in my Linkshell Counting Sheep of the Fabul server. In our little LS community we expressed our hearts and minds about all that has happened in recent times to the Japanese people. Although this thread was spawned from a general discussion of our own forum, I felt a personal responsibility to take it to the more broad public forum of the FFXIV community. In no way does this reflect the LS, but I would not doubt to see my fellow LS mates join on this thread.

I have read many posts on the open forums of heart felt responses. Filled with humanity and sympathy. I have also read posts of a not so good nature. in every open forum you will have, unfortunately, the extremes of both sides.

My proposition is simple. SE should charge for FFXIV from now until the life of the game. The proceeds should then go to some sort of relief effort in Japan. SE has been prepared for the loss of revenue for FFXIV, and I'm sure, has a projected date of when the customer charging is to begin. Just use that revenue from now until then to better your country, and all its tumult it is incurring. We have been playing, free of charge, for almost 6 months. Although it has been nice, I think this would be a good way for not only SE, but the community as well, to help.

The FF community as I have seen has always been a cut above the rest. Lets show how much WE care about our game and the staff that works endlessly to keep us happy. When I read that they were cutting many amenities just so we could play our game in comfort I really stopped to think about one thing. Its a game to us. its a way of life for them.

I know this is going to get flamed to the nth degree. I dont care. This is what I think, and what better place to put a thought of this nature than an open forum for debate. I do hope, however, that most would agree. Whats $15 a month to us, when thousands, if not millions, are without basic necessities.

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Gonna have to disagree, if you want to help then donate to a charitable organization like red cross or the many they have going over in Japan. I understand where you were trying to go with this but I just donated $50 to Red Cross to aid Japan, should they still need our assistance over there next time I get paid I'll just do it again.

Leave the subscription as is until the game is upto player standards or atleast until Ps3 release.

I really can't believe people are suggesting SE charges monthly for no content lol........................ herrrp derrrp derrrp herrp derrrrp. Like Belgian said, if you want to help JPs, stop talking about doing it and actually do it.

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Originally Posted by Ayerc

This was discussed heavily on FFXIVCore right after the earthquake. The fact of the matter is that donating to an organization established to provide help is a much more effective way to have your money go to the people who really need it. Non-profit organizations are typically tax-free and have much more experience as to how to use the money to have the greatest impact. They also have more transparent accounting, so you can see where your money is going, and how much is being spent on overhead costs. Not to mention there's nothing stopping a for-profit company from taking a portion for themselves. I won't even get into what charging for XIV right now might do to the remaining community.

I know your heart was in the right place, but why do you feel using S-E as a middle man is a better idea than donating directly to the Japanese Red Cross?

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The first part of your statement is very, very wrong. A large portion of money donated to most charities and non-profits goes to the charity and non-profit themselves. Especially the charities that claim to spread your money "where it needs to go". This is why you have to be very careful when choosing a charity to donate to and look at their financials. You also have to look at the fine print that states that your money may go to other things. It is usually not effective at all... especially with the American Red Cross.

SE would be able to donate that money directly to the JSDF (Japanese Self Defense Force), which is doing the bulk of the recovery effort. Unfortunately, there is no way for Americans to donate directly to the JSDF without sending snail mail.

Which brings me to you last comment: Did you even click the link? I suggested donating to the Japanese Red Cross. That's the only organization Americans should donate to if they want to see all (or at least the majority) of their money going to the disaster effort.

I'm not saying SE should start charging a fee... but it would be nice if they set up an option to charge a fee and then act as the middle man for Americans to get their money to the JSDF.

Direct injection or nothing. Charity organizations are among the most corrupt entities on the planet.

I've noticed in the past year or so, donating to charity has become a "stylish" thing to do. I guess it's always been like that. Rich people stroking their egos by telling everyone how wonderful they are for donating money. But lately it seems a lot of people who really don't have the means to be so generous are doing so just so they can look cool.

There's something very sinister about this. I can't put my finger on it, but it feels wrong to me. This is why I never donate money. I donate time and goods, because when I do that I know what the money is being spent on. Never forget that a portion of every dollar you donate to the Red Cross is used to pay some executive's salary.

As non-profit organizations, they are required by law to disclose the salaries of all their employees. American Red Cross CEO Gail McGovern earns a yearly salary of $500,000. Brian Gallagher, the CEO of United way, earns over $1 million.

Keep it in mind...

Gosh...
just DONATE the money directly to some institution that handles the japan donations.
Why do you want SE to collect the money? They have enough to do with other things and they already contributed with their 1.2 mio donation and power savings.

Also, am i under the impression that some people feel like SE is a small garage developer who might die if you don't feed em?
Get real, SE is big, they can handle a bad release.

I'm glad that most of you have kept this as an intellectual debate rather than a flame board. I threw it out there since it was an idea, and for it to be discussed. I know SE is a bazillion dollar company and they are a profit organization. I know of Red Cross and other charities. Last I read something like 90% of donations to American based operations goes to logistics and such and not directly to the need. Hence my thought here.

I'm obviously no fortune 500 exec nor do I have a BA from Harvard, but discussion and brainstorm does bring out the finer points of ideas and forms them into something solid.

The whole world sucks. There is no utopia to live in. everywhere we are surrounded by economic crisis. I was unemployed for almost 2 years until about a week ago. But that is irrelevant, because that is not the topic of this discussion.

Out of this entire message I have seen, however, one good idea that could shape to be something implemented if SE wishes to read this, which is the goal of this thread. Give an option to be charged rather than forcing the charge. That makes much more sense as to not drive away the player base that wants their game to be free.

I think SE should charge for 14 because (1) I hate all other mmo's that are not FF made and will gladly pay (2) they need the money themselves to update, upgrade, and make new games (3) read point one again 200 times

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Originally Posted by Chardrizard

its better to go redcross bc 100% of what we donated will go to ppl that needs it?

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Yes but 4% to SE to rebuild would put how many back to work as well. And it's not true that Red Cross doesn't have operating expenses to pay from what we donate. There are multiple ways to help the people of Japan. Donate to Red Cross AND pay SE!