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

[dice137]

I... honestly don't see what the big deal is? It's not a i130+ weapon or armor set, it's not a key to unlock a dungeon or trial, it's not anything that will actually affect the core mechanics of the game. It's a bracelet that lets you see some fancy cutscenes w/ friends and get some vanity armor. Who cares if people can sell it for in-game currency? If SE didn't want this to happen or if it was some big no-no... they're not stupid. The option to trade it simply would've never been there. That or they would've changed it shortly after the patch went live.

Not to mention that the bracelets are actually going for less than what a RMT site could offer somebody for those prices, anyway. (On Balmung, that is. Not sure about other servers.) So... /shrug

[greekgeek]

I don't see what the big deal is either, gil isn't gonna get you anything that will break the game. Maybe help people finish of novus or something but nothing game breaking.

Shoot i bought 2 for 6mil gil. I had lots and I rather do that then spend 40 dollars for me and my girlfriend.

[Squintina]

While true, the free version is usually severely gimped, not as pretty or flatout lacking features/benefits. Much like in XIV's cash shop you can get a Free Eternal Bond option vs Paid options.

Actually I've played games with cash shops where the same (non-gimped) items were available in game and people would still buy from the cash shop. Sometimes it's because they could get more (ex: if the item drops from dungeons, one can buy more than one can farm in X hours). Other times it's because the way to get it in game required doing a long quest or some other long experience and impatient/busy people preferred to just buy it.

Like if the dyes were untradable and required a 4 * craft, a lot of people would still buy from cash shop, while people who really want to not pay would try to make it (Not that I'm saying that's what it should be, just giving a quick example)

[MomomiMomi]

I don't see what the big deal is either, gil isn't gonna get you anything that will break the game. Maybe help people finish of novus or something but nothing game breaking.

It completely breaks the market dynamic, which is a huge portion of the game for a lot of players.

[greekgeek]

It completely breaks the market dynamic, which is a huge portion of the game for a lot of players.

Right now alot of prices are higher then ever, stuff is moving more regularly so as someone that crafts alot I have no complaints.

[Kazumac]

while ostensibly true, many games offer a free option for a lot of things that can be purchased out of the cash shop. Making it a time saved vs money saved choice for the player.

Yes but those games are typically in my experience F2P games (or at least non sub based). This is how they fill up their player base by getting both people willing to pay for content and those not willing to pay in the same game. It's basically a marketing tactic to get people to play their game. Where as FFXIV doesn't have to do this because you are already here paying to play their game. Your motivation for playing isn't trying to find a free game to play. So they don't need to offer multiple options to this content they have decided is optional.

If SE offered it through in game means they would lose out on a percentage of potential cash shop customers who are equally willing to grind it out in game. F2P games accept this loss in potential income to up numbers of total players even more since the larger the player base the more likely cash shop players will continue to play. SE doesn't need to do this.

Btw this is just me attempting to look through the eyes of a company on the subject and not my personal opinion on whether or not I agree with a cash shop in FFXIV.

[ZanaAmariyo]

Snip

No.
Let's say person A bought a wedding bracelet and wants to sell it, because he wants to make some gil. Person B gives him whatever amount of gil that person B already has. This amount of gil didn't just suddenly appear out of thin air, it is simply changing hands.
Now let's say that person A crafted an expensive glowy primal weapon and wants to sell it, again because he wants to make some gil. Person B buys his weapon, and once again there is no amount of gil being added to the economy out of nowhere. It's the same scenario except for the fact that in the first example, person A is selling what is basically an ingame service. Neither of these things can be resold after being used, so person B won't be able to "get them for free" as he obviously can't resell them to another person after using them.
So tell me, how does this break the market dynamic any more than the ingame items that are already being sold on the market ?

[MomomiMomi]

Snip

It's demand for items with real world value, a currency that doesn't even exist within the game. That breaks the game's market. What makes them valuable is nowhere to be found in the game.

EDIT: Rather, I should say a currency that didn't (or wasn't supposed to; there was already RMT) exist within the game. It does now. This is a complete change to the market, ignoring RMT activity.

[tocsin]

It completely breaks the market dynamic, which is a huge portion of the game for a lot of players.

Actually, it ties the in-game currency to a real world currency, which, like a gold standard, actually strengthens the market dynamic. it can lead to deflation, making what gil SE gives us worth more.

Times where the economy has been tied to the gold standard have been some of the most stable periods in history. maybe this will stabilize the in game markets as well.

[Meier]

I don't see what the big deal is either, gil isn't gonna get you anything that will break the game. Maybe help people finish of novus or something but nothing game breaking.

Shoot i bought 2 for 6mil gil. I had lots and I rather do that then spend 40 dollars for me and my girlfriend.

People can buy fcob wins and gear.