The Ethics of Optional Item Sales

[Izsha]

I feel like both of you are, perhaps, new to MMOs. And I define "new" as someone who hasn't been participating in MMO games since they began to gain popularity back in the 90's. Those of us that did game since that period were around when a subscription fee allowed players to access all content added to the game (without having to pay additional fees beyond the monthly sub).

For newer MMO gamers I can certainly understand how cash shops may seem like the norm now, but the fact is development studios used to be able to create games with similar levels of content (and smaller player bases) without turning to cash shops and DLC for additional funding. Early Everquest and even FFXI are good examples of this as far as MMOs go. Unfortunately for all of us, greed and pressure from management have changed this (and I speak from experience on this as someone from that industry).

Any developer will tell you that an MMO is "never done" and that new content will always be forthcoming. I can't recall any that have dared advertised the idea that your monthly subscription fee would only be used to keep the lights on, and to not expect any additional content in the game's future despite your continued financial support. That would be a ridiculous death sentence for any MMO project.

I if you've been playing mmos as long as you imply you'd realize your own error. There are tons of 'dead' mmos where you pay literally to keep the lights on. Ffxi just announced that the end of this year will be the last content uodate. Ever. You can keep playing but the mmo is in fact 'done'. Ffxi subscriptions will keep the lights on and probably weed out the occasional discovered bug. There are TONS of dead mmos that still have servers but zero content still being mmade.

And to all the 'subscription should give me evetything' people, how do you justify buying expansions? It's a 1 time fee for content that according to your own logic, should he included via subscription.

You can't get all uppity about buying a Xmas hat in cash shop, then turn around and drop 40 bucks for an expac. If instead they put heavensward story in cash shop for 20, raids for 20, you'd be having a conniption. But if it's in a pretty box with a dvd, buying content is suddenly perfectly fine. Stop the double standards.