Seriously SE ? (dual rider chocobo)

[Shougun]

Because they are mounts and minions and therefore do not affect gameplay, then they are free to have events/giveaways/programs where you can "earn" them. It's perfectly logical and in no way is anybody entitled to any of this simply for paying your monthly subscription.

I actually quit WoW over this, I pay the monthly for all the content with a forgiven sentiment to expansions due to their abnormal content additions- entitled maybe not but definitely they are empowered to say no. Now only if the general consumer (of any nation) could actually say no, "I hate it" *still buys it and all related contents*. I /loathe/ the idea of cash shops.

Wont quit over one thing, specially since beyond collection sake I guess it doesn't really bother me not ride it, I'd rather ride my cat or fat chocobo.. lol. "Obtains new mount, still rides first mount ever received".

[Dark-Saviour]

I actually quit WoW over this, I pay the monthly for all the content with a forgiven sentiment to expansions due to their abnormal content additions- entitled maybe not but definitely they are empowered to say no. Now only if the general consumer (of any nation) could actually say no, "I hate it" *still buys it and all related contents*. I /loathe/ the idea of cash shops.

Pretty much this.
I've avoided ever giving Blizzard any money in large part due to this.

The lack of a cash shop was one of the 3 main points this game had over other MMOs to me. The more it steers away from that, the less it has going for it. :-\

[Felis]

Pretty much this.
I've avoided ever giving Blizzard any money in large part due to this.

The lack of a cash shop was one of the 3 main points this game had over other MMOs to me. The more it steers away from that, the less it has going for it. :-\

1.0 launch:
Asuran Armguard - for everyone who bought FF XIII
Onion Helm - for everyone who bought FF XIV CE
Garlond Google - for everyone who bought FF XIV Standard
Hermes Shoes - for everyone who had an active FF XI account

To get all you needed FF XIII, 2* FF XIV and FF XI. You see, bonus items are really nothing news in FF XIV since 2010.
So please, stop to be shocked that there are bonus items (not cash shop items) obtainable outside of the game

[Dark-Saviour]

1.0 launch:
Asuran Armguard - for everyone who bought FF XIII
Onion Helm - for everyone who bought FF XIV CE
Garlond Google - for everyone who bought FF XIV Standard
Hermes Shoes - for everyone who had an active FF XI account

To get all you needed FF XIII, 2* FF XIV and FF XI. You see, bonus items are really nothing news in FF XIV since 2010.
So please, stop to be shocked that there are bonus items (not cash shop items) obtainable outside of the game

Yes. And the moogle earrings, and the pre-order bonuses, and the ARR Collector's items, etc. Plus whatever other promo items they had that I don't recall off-hand.
I'm well aware. And I'd hoped they'd eventually dump that stuff onto retainer ventures or something and move towards a more positive system of pure in-game acquisition.

Continuing a terrible trend doesn't make it less terrible. It rather removes the hope of things actually becoming more pleasant.

And these items may as well be cash shop items, honestly. :-\

[Felis]

And these items may as well be cash shop items, honestly. :-\

But you don't buy those items. You get them just as a bonus from something else.

You forgot Legacy Chocobo (90 paid days during 1.0), Dalamud minion (1.0 soundtrack) and Bahamut minion (ARR soundtrack).
And if the day come that someone would get a legacy chocobo from retainer, the forum would crash.

[Shougun]

But you don't buy those items. You get them just as a bonus from something else.

You forgot Legacy Chocobo (90 paid days during 1.0), Dalamud minion (1.0 soundtrack) and Bahamut minion (ARR soundtrack).
And if the day come that someone would get a legacy chocobo from retainer, the forum would crash.

I don't believe, and myself as well, that their point was there are no existing pay to obtain items. Just that the more that exist the more it will push players with this like mind away, as they dislike cash shops (or pay to obtain beyond monthly and expansions).

Shocked is inaccurate, more like leery or disappointed.

[Dark-Saviour]

But you don't buy those items. You get them just as a bonus from something else.

I'm sure you're aware that isn't how these things really work.

If people were just going to refer their friends anyway, why not just make this freely available to everyone? They'd still get their friend to try out the game and they'd still get the chocobo alongside it; it'd simply allow everyone else to have it to.
In this instance, it's not like there's even a hurdle (for the referrer) of buying "X" or going to event "Y". If you were going to encourage a friend to play there were no real obstacles prior.
This was designed so that people would pursue it specifically and just invite friends they otherwise wouldn't have (or buy a second account) in order to get it. It's not just a bonus you happen to get; it is the focus in itself and the friend signing up is at best a happy side-effect or something that would have happened regardless.

I've seen similar logic used before in F2P/CS games. "Buy $100 of garbage items and get a costume/mount/whatever."
People: $100 for a costume!?
Company: No! It's $100 for all these great items that we are going to assume you would certainly be buying even without the costume. The costume is just a bonus! We never had any intention at all that someone might pay the full price for the costume. *troll face*

[k4dz]

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