Eternal Bond - Standard Plan and Gold Plan

[Uielyave]

I actually like this. It allows more people to get access to the marriage ceremonies, and if you want to spend money, fine. It's sometimes Easier for people to get real money than Gil sometimes. I know my friend and i will probably be getting the gold version, definitely.

[Airget]

I actually like this. It allows more people to get access to the marriage ceremonies, and if you want to spend money, fine. It's sometimes Easier for people to get real money than Gil sometimes. I know my friend and i will probably be getting the gold version, definitely.

I think this is a bit of a better way to look at it see the thing is housing and marriage are two different type of content in terms of gameplay value.

Housing actually serves to have an affect on gameplay in terms of gardening and in 2.5 FC crafting. Because of this Housing wouldn't have a pay to do concept because the aspect of it would mean that people might find it mandatory to pay in order to progress.

Keep in mind however all of the "paid" services are not services which you need to progress forward in the game and on top of that there is a free marriage option.

The better way to think of the "gold" option is that it's an option that allows you as the player to show your support for the content by paying to get a few perks added to the experience. See the thing is they can't make the minion and mount part of the free package because then people would get married for the sake of getting that minion and mount. The secondary reason for this RL money use is as noted gil might be harder to obtain for some people but at the same time it also makes the experience even more unique because again using gil for this might just have people getting married for the sake of getting married and obtaining the mount/minion.

They in a way want to treat this marriage system as a legit bond between players and not something done just for the perks of the mount/minion so the paywall does provide those who want that little extra bonus to do so and have something to remember the experience by.

[FriendlyUncle]

Leaving the forums stating he has no idea why someone is buying something of their own volition is happening like it's completely alien to them is not an overreaction? That's absolutely new to me...
And I played those other MMOs that have Vanity Cash Shops(TERA, Vindictus, Aion) and out of those 3, ONLY ONE has turned into that(Aion) and a HUGE chunk of players doesn't support that in the least.

Those are also all titles that went or were F2P

[Meltzeiferion]

And no game company really offers this info; the only question customers can answer is whether they're willing to pay what the company is charging. To imply that what SE is doing is "disgusting" or "double-dipping" or whatever is an opinion that also can't be made with the info; people are just more liberal in their insults than they are in considering what else might be going on. (Apparently, people think "I don't want to pay that much" sounds much worse when they say "BECAUSE IT'S DISGUUUUUUUSTIIIIIIING", or hide behind it, anyway.)

Absolutely, if they are charging too much, or people don't think the content is worth it, they shouldn't pay. To speculate about how horrible of a company they are because of reasons they can't possibly be privy to, as some others are, is pointless.



The problem here, of course, is that a sub fee increase would price some people out of the market. Optional content does not. An increase in sub fees from, say, $15 to $17 a month, is probably a lot more likely to turn people away than not being able to have a pet, a mount, or whatever, because they have to pay for a general increase if the sub fee goes up, whereas they don't if it doesn't.

We absolutely don't know if they are adding staff to design things for the game for content from the cash shop; if we did, we could make a more informed decision. However, it's very doubtful that SE (or any other company) will offer specifics about their company to appease customers like that. It's just not the way current corporations work.

I did also suggest an optional sub fee increase for those who might be willing to pay more just to support the game and not just a straight increase for everyone. I even said I would up my own sub to help pay for it so that ALL of the content is in game and not a shop instead if that was necessary! I'm perfectly fine with the concept of supporting the game/company, I just want things to all be available in game for everyone too.

Yeah corporations don't work like that and I agree that the lack of info goes both ways... but can you really blame people for taking that lack of knowledge, the idea that SE is for profit organization and that FFXIV seems to be successful as is off the sub fee to a conclusion that SE is milking them for more money? Arguably as a customer that is probably actually a pretty smart decision and I think is reason enough for them to be bothered. People have been burned in the past with assumptions that a company was using their money a certain way.

It's really all opinion based though and I don't really blame the people who feel they are supporting the game by buying stuff in the cash shop, I just personally think there are nicer ways to support the game that would leave the content available to everyone. I'm an inclusive sort and I want people to enjoy their experience, to be able to take the same roads as others and be able to acquire the same rewards. Anyways, I'll likely not respond any further as I tend to get too deep into discussions and find it hard to stop. :P

Nice talking to ya!

[Leandras]

My problem with this is the following. They took the Eternal Bond system as it was intended and forcefully watered it down for the sake of reselling the content that was already developed for the subscribers. The entire system would be fine if everything that they showcased to us at this point were included in the base package or even a grand version available by ingame means.

The new decor and dresses are nice bonuses for those that want to make the event more special, since for some people this is a pretty big deal. If they added a fancy new mount made specifically for the payment packages it would've been fine too. Could've been a Trickster version of the chocobo or even a dye-able one.

If everything they showed us up until this point was available to the average subscriber it wouldn't feel like such a slap to the face.

Honestly, tell me why the free version of Eternal Bond is still as good as we were led to believe. Oh wait, you cant because they didn't take the fucking time to explain how the system would actually impact the game:
- What's up with personal housing?
- How will the social aspect of it all work?
- How and what will change after these individuals do become bonded?
- Will this system actually have any impact on the game whatsoever?
- ...

All very good and relevant questions indeed that could actually explain why they think the system is still great. But no, let's rather flaunt the not-so-shiny shinies in front of the screen and call it a job well done.

And honestly, stop believing that Gold Saucer will not have micro-transactions and such attached to it. Triple-Triad will almost certainly have purchasable booster packs and such.

The community is becoming rabid defending this system so could you honestly hold it against the team? I don't, but I will also not support it. Just play the game if you still find it fun. But don't let the anyone force you into a corner if you don't and I think most of them would agree with me on this too.

[Spellbinder]

Honestly, tell me why the free version of Eternal Bond is still as good as we were led to believe. Oh wait, you cant because they didn't take the fucking time to explain how the system would actually impact the game:
- What's up with personal housing?
- How will the social aspect of it all work?
- How and what will change after these individuals do become bonded?
- Will this system actually have any impact on the game whatsoever?
- ...

Regardless of how the Eternal Bond system impacts the game, additional dresses and color palette swaps aren't going to give some unforeseeable advantage over other players.

[Leandras]

Regardless of how the Eternal Bond system impacts the game, additional dresses and color palette swaps aren't going to give some unforeseeable advantage over other players.

Which is why I said I actually can understand their addition to the paid version of the event. Nowhere during the previews did they announce them in such a way that intentionally led their playerbase to believe they would be freely available so they really are an unexpected bonus for those that want them. The same however can't be said about the mount, which is really the first thing they've showcased about the system. Never once mentioning that it would be a premium only item. Because it likely wasn't until the very last second.

And I consider a 2 person mount to have a pretty big impact on this system which focuses on couple gameplay and enjoyment. But maybe that's just me.

[Illya]

This probably sounds like a dumb question but who knows with Squenix. With the exception of the various Primal fights scattered throughout, all the quests in this game are done solo. Well it would certainly make sense to be completing the quest line required to unlock Eternal Bond as a duo, wouldn't it? You would want to be doing it with your future waifu or husbando, wouldn't you?

It would be awfully dumb if you had to do the quest to get Eternally Bonded solo. I'm just saying.

[BigPapaSmurf]

It's pretty messed up brides who opt out of paying beyond their subscription fee will now be part of a lesser, second-class "unpaid" group.

A premium, ornate wedding dress v. a plain one.

What an awesome gesture by SE.

[Kewitt]

I want the gold plan to be 50 dollars! No, 100 dollars!

Have all the good stuff be in gold plan only! Yes!

Why so little. It should cost as much as a real life wedding.

Quick google came up with the average wedding cost in the United States is $25,200.