Real Money to Get In-Game Currency: Eternal Bond Edition

[Intaki]

Me, because I'll have to shake my head at money undeservedly being thrown at SE again for no reason.

So you prefer that only people with real money have access to cash shop items and no one else?

Because "no cash shop" is no longer an option and hasn't been for years, speaking from a strictly business perspective.

[Riepah]

So you prefer that only people with real money have access to cash shop items and no one else?

Because "no cash shop" is no longer an option and hasn't been for years, speaking from a strictly business perspective.

"No cash shop" worked fine for FFXIV's first year. It would still work fine if there weren't some people who're all too happy to throw their money at SE for stuff that should be included in the monthly subscription.

[Intaki]

"No cash shop" worked fine for FFXIV's first year. It would still work fine if there weren't some people who're all too happy to throw their money at SE for stuff that should be included in the monthly subscription.

Sure, it worked "fine". But bottom line-examining business execs don't like "fine", and when they can point to other competitors in the market doing better than "fine" with both a sub and a cash shop (hello WoW), they don't wind up very pleased when a developer starts talking about morals and unquantifiable respectability.

Who is right and who is wrong is debatable and varies on a case by case basis. But until the devs come up with an argument better than "We could make even more money with the cash shop, but we'd really rather not", you can expect the shop to stick around. Because until it is demonstrably unprofitable it's not going anywhere. For better or worse.