360 Day Veteran Reward - Aetheryte Ticket

[Bixby]

It's funny how we view "Free" in terms of video game extras.

Like if they take out a DD class in the game and then give it to you as something "Free". Is it really free?

When Bioware takes out game content and puts it in the form of dlc and then gives it to you free if you pre order, is that really free?

In conclusion, nothing is FREE, it's whether or not the devs want to put it in or not.

It's not just video games. Pretty much anytime you buy anything bundled, the big red sticker proclaiming that part of it is free is just a marketing gimmick. When you buy a Happy Meal, which part is "free," the food or the toy? The cereal or the prize inside? The first large two-topping pizza or the second one?

We make purchase decisions based (at least partly) on the "free" stuff that comes with the "main" purchase all the time. Sometimes just for the bonuses (some of those Happy Meal toys are pretty sweet).

Unless you're going to drag lawyers into it, a company's decision to call something a bonus only carries as much weight as each individual consumer chooses to give it.

[ReiszRie]

These vet rewards do not have to fulfill your expectations. I will be honest, it is a slightly odd choice of vet rewards, but it is still something given to you free of charge. It doesn't matter if you feel entitled to something grander than the previous awards, it's a free gift for subbing. You can not sub and get nothing at all as well.

EDIT

Quoted you as you were editing.

The enticement to sub for longer chunks is to fulfill your need to have something sooner. The bonus for subbing for longer chunks is the fact that you have access to multiple characters per world. I believe you also see a discounted rate for the subscription bundle. The veteran reward is for longevity. As a consumer, it is your responsibility to manage your funds as you see fit. If you are unable to pay monthly and see these rewards over the course of your subscription, that is a mismanagement on your side. You should be paying for access, not vet rewards.

Clarification, not telling you to spend your money, just that your money pays for access not rewards. Also your chunk sub does entitle the rewards immediately simply because you have already paid forward for the access, meaning whether or not you choose to play, your longevity takes you beyond the 360 days.

I can't agree more with a previous comment stating that "nothing is truly free"

Indeed, you might view veteran rewards as "free" but reality is that it pays for itself through an increased block subscription time, that is how marketing works, if you buy a car and they give you an ipad, is it truly free or is it to sweeten the deal? if our feedback reaches the devs and they decides to make it a permanent free teleport, does it bring dis-benefit to you? this is what confuses me, how players are actively making the choice to not receive a better reward is somewhat like buying products at full MSRP and refusing to ask or accept a deal.

we pay for the game, that is undeniable but if a company implements a rewards (marketing) program, it isn't unreasonable for customers to have expectations from it even though the very same customers would most likely still purchase without the rewards, it is what you'd call customer satisfaction.

perhaps it is prudent for the players here to not view the veteran rewards as an innocent "thank you" but rather that SE is a for-profit organization and FFXIV is a revenue generating business and the veteran rewards are a marketing program to increase revenue.

[baopee]

I dont think SE ever give out anything is useful, why start now?

[Galactimus]

Wait, so it's SE's fault you(Generally speaking) made an investment in something that didn't play in your favor? I didn't realize that it wasn't my responsibility in regards how I choose to spend my money... Out of curiousity, if you quit before six months, do you lose access or is it a personal choice?

SE doesn't make anymore or less [profit] when people put money into the game on a 30 day or 180 day [subscription]

You said "people who pay in 30 day chunks provide the same profit to SE as people who pay for 180 days." I told you how that statement is completely wrong. Who cares if the 180 day players made a bad choice or not. It has nothing to do with "fault" or "bad investments". They paid to get a 'Veteran Reward' early so they should be happy regardless. So I'm not sure why you are even bringing that up. It doesn't change the fact that people who subscribe for 180 days provide up to 6 times more profit then players who subscribe month to month. People who sub for 30 days and then quit provide six times less profit then someone who subs for 180. Whether that 180 day person quits the first month or not.


*opens religious document*

And thus, SE provides thee with "Veteran Incentives" (such as mounts) to encourage players to sign up for larger chunks of time. Players can choose to obtain these items early by purchasing larger subscriptions. The number of players that do this is huge and it makes SE profit. And I support SE's decision to do this; it's smart business because both sides win. 180 day players provide more profit than 30 days players (if the 30 day player doesn't stay for 6 months.) The more players that sign up for 6 months the more profit SE makes.

See? I'm not personally attacking SE's method; I support the method. I'm just happily pointing out that you are incorrect.

[ReplicaX]

To the SE sycophants: Face it - you've paid to receive Vet rewards. Those rewards should be something to look forward to. Not simply an item that makes something already available free.

How is this comment any better than theirs? Everyone is entitled to an opinion, even if it is against yours. It's an Open Forum.

[SendohJin]

I dont think SE ever give out anything is useful, why start now?

useful and valuable are not the same thing. houses aren't that useful they go for 2M+. different mounts aren't particularly useful they go for 120k. the most expensive market board stuff from treasure maps are minions.

players want something valuable, unique is valuable. 10k-25k worth of coupons is not.

[Mrfox0707]

I demand a Yoshi-P minion and or char model of him for a retainer! :P

The item it's self is a good item (the free porting tix). But it does feel lack luster for a 1 year vet reward. That's just my two Gil.

[Fadigre]

I don't really understand why we get rewarded for paying to play a game in the first place.

[SLeonhart]

I don't really understand why we get rewarded for paying to play a game in the first place.

Because it's only half a "reward". The other half is an "incentive" to get people to keep subscribing and, where possible, in advance.

Remember you're "rewarded" based on the amount you've paid, not the amount you've played.

[C-croft]

You said "people who pay in 30 day chunks provide the same profit to SE as people who pay for 180 days." I told you how that statement is completely wrong. Who cares if the 180 day players made a bad choice or not. It has nothing to do with "fault" or "bad investments". They paid to get a 'Veteran Reward' early so they should be happy regardless. So I'm not sure why you are even bringing that up. It doesn't change the fact that people who subscribe for 180 days provide up to 6 times more profit then players who subscribe month to month. People who sub for 30 days and then quit provide six times less profit then someone who subs for 180. Whether that 180 day person quits the first month or not.


*opens religious document*




See? I'm not personally attacking SE's method; I support the method. I'm just happily pointing out that you are incorrect.

You are also taking this out of context. Everyone know that the monetary value of one month of basic sub is a sixth of an 180 day sub. I thought we were having a discussion on longevity rewards. Meaning I am subbing for 360 month to month as a smart consumer who can wait for the 360 rewards as opposed to someone who is subbing for larger chunks to get the rewards early. The key piece is early. The fact that you must have something now as opposed to waiting out the longevity requirements shows that there is an attitude of gimme gimme gimme.

PS Totally awesome you brought a religious document to a forum fight.....