Why do Vanity items / Player housing / Pets exist?

[Kewhi]

Please someone explain the reasoning behind all of this, and why it has started to become a big thing in all MMORPGs?

The best way to explain this is by enlightening you with a very simple truth. No MMORPG has only one development team focused on one area of the game at any given time. I can assure you that the folks working on player housing are different than the folks investing time in other things such as item designs, new raids and/or dungeons, etc.

Also, there have been vanity items, pets & player housing in MMO games since as far back as I can remember. Hell, Ultima Online was released in 1997 and it has player housing. This is not a new thing by any means and it continues on into other MMORPG over the years because of one proven fact: it is popular among the majority of players.

Player housing was used as a main point selling feature of this game, so it's rather silly to buy into the game just to complain about something that you knew was going to be included. Not to mention that this content is nearly completed. Why on earth would they scrap the idea, especially when it's in no way interfering with your "dark & ominous" armor designs.

[Felis]

I'd like some insight as to who thought that we all "wet" ourselves in excitement over "cute" pets, mounts, and sunshades.

Never played a FF game before?
If you rage already about it, how would you react to golden saucer?

[jazo]

if you dont want cute stuff mixed with dark stuff, heroic stuff mixed with casual easygoing stuff... you-re in the wrong game, get out and wait for someone to make

Darkness-darks-of-dark -darkness-dragon-demon-emo-editon-special-gritty-realistic-nocute-allowed the MMO

[Jackl3]

Because you're a basement troll who has little to no money to spend. The people who spend the most on MMOs (older, family-oriented people, i.e. casuals) spend FAR more than you do, and the simple truth is, cute sells to those people.

Do I know you in person?
You've made an assumption on my job/wage and income based on my refusal to enjoy/buy vanity items? If you're making assumptions like that, then you're not to be trusted in general, poor lack of judgement.

[MStowastiqVahlshdeh]

Those things are fun.

This is a video game; ostensibly, something that people do for fun.

Well said.

And to OP, I prefer content to be challenging I like the "EM,"Tough","ITG" /check system of measuring mob difficulty, I don't like fail once you get a buff next try game mechanics, I prefer trying to complete content real time until I get it right and prefer not to use strat guides unless I have absolutely no choice/nolonger enjoying the content frustrated.

I like open world grinding of free roaming mobs and the ability to skill up abilities/talents gradually. I like non globalcooldowns and elaborate abilities that are customizable. Essentially I like to take my time getting to end game without easy mode.

However, I also love vanity slots, barber shop, pets, seasonal events, confetti, fireworks, love chocolate, in game weddings, RP, path companions, adventurer assistants, elaborate storyline dialog, lore, minions, gear & pet dye,mog bonanza, mini games, gardening,choco raising/racing and YES housing that you can actually USE for more than a log out of game zone. I like it all as long as amazing graphics and character design is included.

tl/dr
I don't think you need to be casual to like extra goodies in a game.

[Jess_Spark]

Sorry but no, this game is FAR from being a Sandbox style MMO. It is very much a Theme-Park design though there are some minor elements of a Sandbox that are going to be introduced.

It is not FAR from being sandbox. Wrong. Sandbox games are games that offer more than just beating up monsters. You can have every profession, the crafting is very detailed and fun. There will be housing. There will be vanity. The characters are beautiful. There is a lot of story depth.

Where do you see this game not being sandbox? I don't think you know the definition of sandbox. Sorry try again.

[Dianoia]

"How can someone have interests other than my own? Do what I want, not what they want. I refuse to see other people's opinions."

That's how I read OP.

[ZakarnRosewood]

@ OP": thanks for reminding me of all the things I'm looking forward to in the upcoming patches. I'm getting more stoked now!

[shadowrell_d-_-b]

And what exactly, content and system wise, are you missing because these elements are being worked on? PvE content? Yup it's there, Solid story based questing? Pretty sure I've seen that too. Is it Crafting that you're missing out on then? Nope. Raids? Nope they're there too. PvP? 2.1 brings that and believe me, the same development teams are not working on Housing, a Vanity system, or Minions/Pets who are working on PvP.

So please, if you're going to rant about how you're not being catered to at least give some examples of what's missing that so terribly impacts your game. Otherwise, this is little more than the same knuckle-dragging, troll stupidity that gets tossed out every time an MMO update doesn't include 100% PvP or mindless kill-loot-kill-loot lazy content.

^ that about sums it up seriously OP I want to understand where you coming from but every post you make gets more and more stupid, just find a new game to invest your time in.

[Sothis]

The point is, heroes aren't supposed to "fluff" around with 'cute' pets and housing.

Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion man.

If I want to be a hero with a cool house and a ton of cute pets while I'm saving the world, I can be. If you don't want to be, no one is forcing you to use minions or buy a house. That's the beauty of it.