Cash shop confirmed

[Teirshin]

This is one the things I'm not getting from most folks that hate the cash shop. You're okay buying a book or CD that has an in game minion attached,

If I buy a CD or an Art Book that comes with a minion, I've still got a tangible item in my hands that has worth and can be resold if I so choose. Its mine to keep even if I stop playing the game. So in that case, the minion in game is a "bonus" with really no value.

Buying a minion on the other hand, is tied to the game. I cant hold it or resell it. It has no cash value, though it may have sentimental value.

Companies have gotten VERY good at selling virtual items that have no real worth. Emotionally it may mean something, but for that $5 or $20, you have nothing tangible to show for it other than pixels on a screen, which are tied to a game you're already paying for every month.

You cant get something for nothing... but you sure can buy an awful lot of nothing for something if you keep listening to companies who sell digital items. They're banking on it. This generation puts more money into paying for virtual items than they do putting away for retirement.... and its going to come back to haunt them one day.

[Teryaani]

If I buy a CD or an Art Book that comes with a minion, I've still got a tangible item in my hands that has worth and can be resold if I so choose. Its mine to keep even if I stop playing the game. So in that case, the minion in game is a "bonus" with really no value.

Except that I suspect you'll find that a large percentage of those buying said physical item are buying it expressly for the in game item. I'm planning on buying the CDs and art book just for the pets and I'm not alone in that.

They already said they were increasing drop rates on those mounts which also devalues that Titan ex mount that someone RNG'd so hard for. Not the same as paying but both result in devaluing the *potential* work it took with the initial RNG drop chance.

A bit, but there's a difference in scale between "I cleared the content and it drops more often" and "I just forked out 20 bucks without clearing the content".

[TeaTimeBear]

Except that I suspect you'll find that a large percentage of those buying said physical item are buying it expressly for the in game item. I'm planning on buying the CDs and art book just for the pets and I'm not alone in that.

Such was the case with the mog earrings... Lol. For fanfest one guy reported spending close to 2k for the costume that was later offered for 20 dollars.

[SinisterIsBack]

Such was the case with the mog earrings... Lol. For fanfest one guy reported spending close to 2k for the costume that was later offered for 20 dollars.

yea, but that person also got to attend fanfest.. ya know.. in vegas...

[TeaTimeBear]

yea, but that person also got to attend fanfest.. ya know.. in vegas...

That wasn't why he was going though. His fanfest was the virtual item.

[Teryaani]

Such was the case with the mog earrings... Lol. For fanfest one guy reported spending close to 2k for the costume that was later offered for 20 dollars.

Ouch! That's dedication to vanity right there

yea, but that person also got to attend fanfest.. ya know.. in vegas...

Sure, but if their only reason to go was the mog, that's a helluva lot of money to spend for a vanity item. Hopefully they squeezed their money's worth out of the trip.

On a weirdly tangent note, I really want SE to make sure that these things are untradeable. The vanity pet aftermarket that happened in WoW was just silly.

And you have proof of this.... where? You cant prove it any more than I can disprove it. It remains.... an opinion only.

Which is why I used language like "suspect". The thing is that without data we'll never know and there is a high chance that that data would be skewed because I know human nature well enough to know that people want to present a particular image of themselves.

That image is one that wants the art book and that minion? Oh I suppose I'll add it to my account, it came with the book right? When the reality is "A MINION! Yay!....now where do I throw this book".

Not saying that's you, but it certainly could be. I'll never know for sure though because those like you who claim it's somehow different will never admit that it's not.

Its really a shame that people have come to accept that as an ok thing.

There's no shame in enjoying the virtual stuff in game. I certainly take no shame in it. Sorry you do.

That is your and people like that's choice to neglect the actual main body of your purchase as you are not interested in it not the negation of the code's existence as an incentive for early adoption of the merchandise. The merchandise will probably be around for much longer than the "early bird special" codes will.

Yes, collecting dust in a corner. For me the main body of the purchase is the virtual item.

[Teirshin]

Except that I suspect you'll find that a large percentage of those buying said physical item are buying it expressly for the in game item. I'm planning on buying the CDs and art book just for the pets and I'm not alone in that.

And you have proof of this.... where? You cant prove it any more than I can disprove it. It remains.... an opinion only.

As I said, companies have this generation sold on the idea of paying something.... for nothing.... a virtual item that exists only in data streams....

I'm of the mindset I should have something tangible for my money. Things like a cash shop prey on those who are already addicted to MMO's, and give them one more thing to spend on to get that "quick fix" feeling of "I got something!!!!!".... when in reality, they got nothing.... except a lighter bank account and a small blob of pixels that was irrelevant and forgotten within a week of spending that money.

Its really a shame that people have come to accept that as an ok thing.

[RaddCuban]

Except that I suspect you'll find that a large percentage of those buying said physical item are buying it expressly for the in game item. I'm planning on buying the CDs and art book just for the pets and I'm not alone in that.

That is your and people like that's choice to neglect the actual main body of your purchase as you are not interested in it not the negation of the code's existence as an incentive for early adoption of the merchandise. The merchandise will probably be around for much longer than the "early bird special" codes will.

Yes, collecting dust in a corner. For me the main body of the purchase is the virtual item.

Then resell it. There is a healthy aftermarket for these things. And no, when you buy the soundtrack you pay 50 dollars for the blu-ray(s) full of music. You get a cute little minion for buying the merchandise early in its lifespan. The fact that you are choosing to only focus on the incentive doesn't mean that the product is not what is making up the price of the purchase. I'm not saying you are wrong to do it, just that your motives for purchase do not affect the nature of the product being sold.