Are the 7 days really free?

I am very confused with how SquareEnix is using the word "FREE". And I would like to try to have a discussion about that 4 letter word.

The Oxford dictionary defines Free: Adverb: without cost or payment.

Can we agree on this definition used by the leading authority on the meaning of "Words" in the English Language?

Now where I am confused is how the 7 days are free? You and anyone that will be given these 7 "Free" days have already submitted payment for these 7 days. The fact that people are having issues logging into the game and not being able to play and thus being given 7 additional days to their sub is not giving something to them for free, it is recompense.

The Oxford Dictionary defines Recompense - Noun: compensation or reward given for loss or harm suffered or effort made.

However, I like the archaic definition more : restitution made or punishment inflicted for a wrong or injury.

So for something to be free there needs to not have been a cost or payment made and sadly we did make payment when we subbed.

I think it is ingenuine to use the word "Free" because it makes it sound as there are no financial costs associated for the player, when there are financial costs associated. Let's look at the section regarding Compensation that Naoki Yoshida, Producer & Director of FINAL FANTASY XIV released:

"Considering that we are asking players to wait in queues for extremely long periods of time and the ongoing situation making it difficult to play normally, we have decided that during the official release of Endwalker on December 7, we will be granting 7 days of free game time to all players who own the full version of the game and have an active subscription. This also includes players who are currently playing on the 30-day free play period included when registering the full version of the game and those with multiple accounts.

Furthermore, we may give additional free game time depending on further developments on the congestion situation. The timing at which the free game time will be provided, as well as any additional extensions, will be announced at a later time. We truly appreciate your cooperation and patience regarding the congestion situation."

So you are not getting anything for "Free". They are providing recompense for the issues by giving you those days on the back end.

Now some can argue that those that had no issues are getting something for "Free". Sadly though, they still paid for the services, you might just perceive they are getting something for free. But they aren't getting anything for free either. Their perceived cost/benefits are just different than those that had or continue to have these issues.

Nice essay.

I hope your professor gives you an A+!

I don’t think it’s free. You paid for 30 days. If you can’t play for 7 and you get 37 days, it kinda just makes it even, which I’m fine with. I don’t want extra, just what I paid for.

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Originally Posted by Peleboy

The Oxford dictionary defines...

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I could tell right here we were in for a good one. :D

do the 7 days even matter if you cant log in anyway?

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Originally Posted by Raving

do the 7 days even matter if you cant log in anyway?

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Yes.
/10char

It boils down to three things, the have's (or able to play) versus the have nots (those who can't get in to play) and the White Knights (no matter if they can play or not, they are the ones who defend the Game no matter what is burning down around them)

But the best answer I've seen tonight is this:

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Originally Posted by kadriel

It is pretty simple. If you are managing to play, you are getting 7 free days and you are happy.

If you are not - say you can only play after work, and you try over and over again to queue to the game but aways get the 2002 error midway, so it is not a matter of waiting in line. You actually cannot play at all - that is another story.

You payed to play for 30 days. In nowhere it is said you can only use these days out of peak time. But during 7 of these 30 days, SE did not provide the service you paid for. So you paid for 30 days of service and got 23. SE doesn't have to give your money back, because it is smart and put that in the EULA. But it doesn't want you to stop paying for it every month. So it will give you 7 extra days. You paid for 30 days and will get 30 days with a 7 days iatus. The first group got 7 free days though

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So the only ones getting anything are the ones able to play everyday.

To the rest of us, no matter if it's Free or Recompense, it doesn't matter. We're not getting to do anything but watch.

My Grandfather had a saying: Don't care if you ask me for $1 or $100, it don't matter cause I ain't got either. ;)

I don't even care about being able to play anymore, I just want the queues fixed so that people can stop grasping for every possible way to be negative and trying to find a way to perpetuate being upset.

It's 7 days added to our sub. Call it whatever you want, it is what it is either way.

Yay...another one of these....
Alright..ill take a crack at it...

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Originally Posted by Peleboy

The Oxford dictionary defines Free: Adverb: without cost or payment.

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Uh-huh, thats exactly what it is.
Present a receipt that proves otherwise

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Originally Posted by Peleboy

Can we agree on this definition used by the leading authority on the meaning of "Words" in the English Language?

Now where I am confused is how the 7 days are free? You and anyone that will be given these 7 "Free" days have already submitted payment for these 7 days. The fact that people are having issues logging into the game and not being able to play and thus being given 7 additional days to their sub is not giving something to them for free, it is recompense.
So for something to be free there needs to not have been a cost or payment made and sadly we did make payment when we subbed.
I think it is ingenuine to use the word "Free" because it makes it sound as there are no financial costs associated for the player, when there are financial costs associated

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We can argue the Semantics all day, but the fact is, you didnt pay for those 7 days they are giving you.
Thus they are free. Again, Present a Receipt of the money you paid for those 7 days 'exactly'
You Paid for the 30 Days when you Resubbed, you didnt pay for those 7 extra days.
You could go buy 7 days of Playtime right now, but you are still being given 7 days. Now you have 14 days.
You only paid for Half of those days. The other Half was given to you at Zero Cost.

I think thats all I need to address, otherwise Im just gonna Repeat myself over and Over.

For me? Yes. Have had zero issues so far

Per the TOS, your subscription payment gives you the right to log into the server. Per the TOS that doesn't mean the server is available. So You paid for 30 days subscription, they gave you 7 more free. Whether you use any of those days (either by choice or by circumstance), you still have those days. When they do a maintenance and we can't play for a day, we still paid for that day and we don't get reimbursed. Same situation here, you can't log in, but you still have the paid subscription.

Another example is a cell phone. You pay for a month of use, but if you have no signal you can't use it, you do not get the unused time payed back.

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Originally Posted by DragonFlyy

Per the TOS, your subscription payment gives you the right to log into the server. Per the TOS that doesn't mean the server is available. So You paid for 30 days subscription, they gave you 7 more free. Whether you use any of those days (either by choice or by circumstance), you still have those days. When they do a maintenance and we can't play for a day, we still paid for that day and we don't get reimbursed. Same situation here, you can't log in, but you still have the paid subscription.

Another example is a cell phone. You pay for a month of use, but if you have no signal you can't use it, you do not get the unused time payed back.

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You know, i know its like that but... I would say its worth considering changing only taking days off that the people are on. No matter what situation. Its actually pressure to be on atleast 7 hours a day when your paying for sub

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Originally Posted by DragonFlyy

Per the TOS, your subscription payment gives you the right to log into the server. Per the TOS that doesn't mean the server is available. So You paid for 30 days subscription, they gave you 7 more free. Whether you use any of those days (either by choice or by circumstance), you still have those days. When they do a maintenance and we can't play for a day, we still paid for that day and we don't get reimbursed. Same situation here, you can't log in, but you still have the paid subscription.

Another example is a cell phone. You pay for a month of use, but if you have no signal you can't use it, you do not get the unused time payed back.

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Actually no,

I swore I wouldn't respond to another one of these, but I can't help this:

One: The TOS does say it will let you log in, but the login servers are putting you in a queue and kicking you. So that point is moot. EA has lost this lawsuit before when they were sued by George Schultz as part of a class action lawsuit over accessibility and the wiggle words they tried to use around what constitutes "accessibility"

EA claims to have won, but they still paid out a 6 million dollar settlement claim. Not sure how you call that a win, but whatever.

Link to EA lawsuit here

Two: On the reference with the Cell phone, uhmm again no.

I got a new company phone and from the the start it said "No service" and I changed the SIM card twice. Interestingly enough T-Mobile tripped over themselves to fix this even calling me back to make sure everything was up and running.

But according to you they would be in their rights to say "I got your money sucker, I only promised you a phone not access to the network." Yet there actually folks suing T-Mobile over their network issues.
Link: T-Mobile being sued over dropped calls