Keep past content out of Cash Shop

[Krr]

While the general opinion of their commentary can be argued about endlessly.

"Here's my source, I'm not going to verify its credibility though."

There are two things about this make your "It has to be there from the beginning," argument questionable. A. This game already has a healthy loyal subscriber base keeping it afloat. B. Other P2P games have made the shift, admittedly while transitioning to F2P. What is there to stop SE from attempting to make that very same shift without going F2P?

"Also, I didn't even pay that much attention to the source I'm citing, which actually contradicts my own slippery-slope argument, which demonstrated in its own thesis that the whale model requires that the game is F2P and designed around its F2P elements from the get-go. Never mind that the source was largely speaking only of the mobile and Korean MMO market, and admits that the whale cash shop model is not the only viable cash shop model. Also, please willfully ignore multiple cash shops that, while selling game content, do not operate on the whale model."

[Nominous]

-

This is really a never-ending argument because you'll inevitably feel the way you do, and the same goes for me. It's really tiring to debate this, because it's pure opinion on both sides, as to how important these things actually are.

Some people feel like their wallets are targeted, and that's 'not okay'. It's not uncommon to feel that way. If you came to a sub-fee MMO because you feel like you should be pampered, I mean, you wouldn't be of the wrong mindset, considering it's how it was for a long time. Others understand the definition of optional, and don't feel the need to worry themselves with the semantics of it all. If it's something they want, a few extra bucks isn't breaking their bank. If not, whatever, move along. Not everyone has to feel the same way, but there's literally people who are taking it to the level of, "I'm cancelling my sub because of this". It just gets me riled up that people can even begin to be so moved by nothing but a principle. Literally leaving the game they've spent (maybe) months worth of money, and time on because the company does something that they feel like they have to hold a grudge on. That's everyone's choice, but it's still wild.

As for that question. Of course they didn't do that from the beginning. I'm not a business major, or anything, but I could assume that after a long haul of trying to re-launch the game, and make it marketable even with a sub-fee, the first thing on their list wouldn't be to talk about a Cash Shop. I mean, all things considered, the game failed so hard that it was free for like, a year. If any of the people who initially hated it saw that it would require a sub-fee in ARR, plus would have a Cash Shop with any hints of exclusivity, it might be enough for them to not even drop money to try it. I don't know what you're trying to prove with the answer to that though, other than the fact that they chose to leave players in the dark about this. I feel like that's not really a fair point though, considering the concept itself was introduced with fantasia, and other optional services that they charged for. It was never explicitly stated that they intended for a Cash Shop to be implemented, but again, the concept of being charged extra on top of your sub-fee for things you might want, was always there.

[LittleArrow]

Looks like this little ol' petition has caught the eye of Massively Joystiq! Huge thank you to that editor [EDIT: Eliot Lefebvre] for posting this story. If we can get the attention of Massively, here's hoping we can get the attention of SE!

http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10...for-patch-2-4/

[StrejdaTom]

Looks like this little ol' petition has caught the eye of Massively Joystiq! Huge thank you to that editor for posting this story. If we can get the attention of Massively, here's hoping we can get the attention of SE!

http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10...for-patch-2-4/

Yeah, keep it up guys!

[Ditto]

I hope they will keep seasonal stuff out of the cash shop at least. Season stuff, as well as certain other event items should be rewards for players being subscribed during the time of that event, and took place in it. Nothing else.

I wouldn't really mind if they put a few things in though such as the wind up shantoto and the brick man or whatever it's called, but if they go all out with adding just everything to it, that'll kill the novelty in having anything for glamor anymore. Think you're going to be cool with your Eerie robe and chocobo barding in June/July 2015? Think again, it's 5$ on the cash shop. I really wish that instead of throwing the event items into the cash shop, they would just do the events more often.

I really wouldn't mind the Lightning fate coming around again, seeing as I missed it the 2 times it was, but chances are that'll be something we'll see in the cash shop.

[Moqi]

Literally leaving the game they've spent (maybe) months worth of money, and time on because the company does something that they feel like they have to hold a grudge on. That's everyone's choice, but it's still wild.

Where are all these people? It's funny that you say we're holding a grudge and taking it personal while at the same time we should stay out of loyalty to SE, nostalgia, time spent on it and memories built... nah. I don't owe them anything. I bought this game because it was worth my money, now it's not, so I don't see why I should keep paying. How's that wild or holding a grudge? I have a list of requirements that a product needs to meet before I buy it; I don't know how you shop but I don't just throw money at anything with a price tag regardless of how easily or not I can afford it. For this purchase, one of the requirements isn't met anymore, therefore it's not worth buying now.

Most people I've seen saying they'll cancel they sub are not taking personal at all. I worry about what's best for me, not the company. It's up to them to find ways to make me want to pay more than what I already do and they failed, it's as simple as that. I'm not gonna keep my sub as some consolation prize because ooh, but they did such a good job before! I'm not boycotting SE and you're not gonna me see with chained up to a street lamp in front of their HQ lol. I have 3 games that I plan on buying from them in the next few months, possibly a fourth since I've always felt that Explorers was FFXIV lite and I didn't need two games that played the same. I'll only play for what I enjoy and FFXIV isn't on that list anymore.

[LittleArrow]

The last thing I want this petition to sound like is hateful and angry at the game. I'm definitely angry at this decision, yes. It's disappointing to see a game that ressurrected itself on the pretense of a humble and open nature turn and attempt to sell items that were once free to those subbed. Is it right? That's up to you to decide. For me, paying for something that once was free is unfair. Do I hate the game? Of course not. I'm a legacy member. I was with this game when the majority of players turned their back on it. I do believe in this game. If I didn't, I wouldn't be working so hard to try to bring attention to a serious problem I feel is detrimental to the precedent this dev team has set to their consumers: an honest and refreshing business practice many MMO's have forgotten.

[MageBlack]

Well, how else am I supposed to get my Dalamud horn or the Raven stuff? Also, that Gobbuu with the carpet on his head loos pretty slick. It's not fair that I cant get it any more!

[Prototype909]

Well, how else am I supposed to get my Dalamud horn or the Raven stuff? Also, that Gobbuu with the carpet on his head loos pretty slick. It's not fair that I cant get it any more!

Legacy players earned those rewards by playing the game when it was justifiably awful because they still wanted to support the game's second chance. If they put those in the cash shop then I don't even know what to think.

[Nominous]

I'll only play for what I enjoy and FFXIV isn't on that list anymore.

I'm not saying all of you. I said there's some people, and I'm just insinuating that some of them are in here. And as for that mindset you have, that's precisely why it bothers me, and I consider it wild. I totally understand having a general idea, or checklist of things you want in a game to make it 'good' in your mind. What's really mind-boggling, is that somehow, out of that list you're talking about, one item is literally so big of a deal that it invalidates the ENTIRE experience, or reason for having it.

I don't just throw my money at any product. I just like to be reasonable about them, when I do. They're doing a great job with this game. After 1 year, they've done more for me than any MMO (free or not) has. Being realistic, and reasonable, I'm not going to find an MMO with devs that care this much about the players and quality of content. On top of that, I won't find an MMO without a Cash Shop of some sort, regardless the ethics they go in employing them (such as making previously obtainable content unobtainable). Even more difficult to find, is an MMO that mixes all of those things together, and is actually fun to play consistently. 13 dollars a month is more than worth their core package, in almost every way.

In simpler terms, it's sad that businesses can't be happy with 'reasonable' or 'good' profit. They have to go for the maximum available, or possible. But I understand that's the way the world works anymore, and I'm not going to condemn a business for that, when there's no other business in the market I can say does it differently. No less, am I going to be as stubborn as to say, "You aren't allowed to make one business decision that I don't like, or one mistake!" (Within reason, of course) And even further, while I don't have to sit down and take it (nobody does), I feel like it's drinking poison and hoping that Square Enix is the one to feel the effects. I'm not going to punish myself, since I actually do enjoy this game, just because they do something I feel sour at best about. You've got your boundaries, I've got mine. But I've got solace in knowing I get to enjoy this game, and that anything that's added into the Cash Shop will be something I can ignore if I want.