Is our sub fee not enought

[Naunet]

So Im fine with whatever they put in cash shop as long as they continue to make and provide good content for us on a regular schedule

Emotes are content, too. I couldn't care less about 270 accessories.

Sub isn't required for regular content updates, by the way. There are a few MMOs that knock that assertion down pretty handily. Note though that I'm not saying I want the game to go free-to-play, only that I feel that there is a line being crossed. If they want to milk us to this level with the cash shop, then I do not want them charging us a mandatory $15/month on top of it all.

[Seig345]

So this argument has recently made me start comparing this game to a theme park... You pay to get in, and there's stuff you can do as many times as you want without having to pay extra (most rides, perhaps limited time events with free prizes and such), while there's other things such as carnival-like games, food, and merchandise (apparel, accessories, keepsakes/souvenirs, etc) that not only cost you extra per each play/item, but some might argue they cost you more than similar items sold in regular stores would cost you (aka; too much). Since you're stuck in this rather large park, unless you brought food with you and you're willing to carry it around or walk all the way back to your car to eat it, some might even argue that the bumped prices are entirely due to having you at the mercy of convenience, also referred to as price gouging. All of this despite the fact that you paid for your ticket/season pass to get in, since it does not in fact cover everything you see/encounter in the park. Definitely some similarities in there, such as rides/duties (both involve waiting in a line/queue), the cash shop items being the souvenirs and overpriced food, etc.

Now, this game is developed using something referred to in the gaming community as a "theme park formula". It's not entirely 1:1, but am I taking this theme park comparison thing too far? Outside of MMORPGs, the business model itself is definitely oldhat, and the overpriced food and souvenirs are typically just an expected/accepted trope of the theme park scene. Typically it's only little jimmy or susan who's throwing a fit when their parents won't buy them that 6-foot stuffed panda bear.

I'm not necessarily using this to excuse or argue against the cash shop stuff, just a sort of comparison I've been thinking about today.

[Stormrider]

snip

While I like the comparison. Theme parks are pretty upfront about what is covered with entry fee. Also info on what extra costs might be as well. Do you think that SE will be that forthcoming about what will be extra, what charges would be, and what monthly fees cover. Some free to play games are way more honest then 14 is about pricing.

If the company truly outlined the conditions for cash shop. Cost, resources, when it will be added, how it will be implemented (single or account). People wouldn't probably be as upset. As a consumer they would make the decision acceptable with the info provided or not and leave.

[NolLacnala]

snip.

You're not wrong. I've been referring to SE as digital Disneyland since they announced the cash shop.

[Seig345]

While I like the comparison. Theme parks are pretty upfront about what is covered with entry fee. Also info on what extra costs might be as well. Do you think that SE will be that forthcoming about what will be extra, what charges would be, and what monthly fees cover. Some free to play games are way more honest then 14 is about pricing.

If the company truly outlined the conditions for cash shop. Cost, resources, when it will be added, how it will be implemented (single or account). People wouldn't probably be as upset. As a consumer they would make the decision acceptable with the info provided or not and leave.

I would argue that the free to play model is designed specifically around their cash shop items, so it would make more sense to place exacting focus on said items to make sure anyone willing to spend the $ has maximum exposure to everything the cash shop has to offer.

In Final Fantasy XIV; none of the items in the cash shop are in any way a primary feature of the game. You can argue that different people play this game for different reasons, and have their own views as to what aspects of the game are primary to them; but that doesn't supersede the primary focus of the game's developers or publisher (While both are technically SE in this case, Yoshi-P and his team don't have 100% influence over all aspects of the game, including the cash shop).

[Grawbad]

Still does not in any shape or form make it forced

Simply saying you don't have to buy them doesn't even correlate to their problem with it.
It is that if they want everything in the game they have to pay a sub fee and pay extra for other things. Yes that is if they WANT to, but not the point.
In the past it was not this way, it has morphed into this over time. F2P had micro. P2P did not. No doubt they are taking notes from Blizzard.
I care not either way.
But neither side is wrong on this, it is their opinion on the matter.
Again, just because they are not FORCED to buy it, doesn't alleviate what their concern is. The concern is that they don't get everything for what they already pay.

A legitimate concern, as much as it doesn't bother you is a legitimate feeling.

[Reynhart]

The concern is that they don't get everything for what they already pay.

They're the one assuming they already paid for everything. Exactly like the Disneyland comparison, these people would be surprised having to pay extra cash for food.

[mylam]

Oh boy, I just came back to the game after a long time off and I didn't even realize there was this whole micro-market now. This thread is pretty interesting in it's entirety and I can understand both sides of the debate.

Personally, I don't see an issue with the cash shop. From what I browsed, there's nothing in there that you need to progress in the game. Are prices for some things crazy? Yes, probably to most. But that doesn't mean that SE are crooks. It's an avenue for more money in their pockets, and it's tough to fault them for that.

I played The Old Republic for a little while and that game is way more "forceful" in how you spend money. You can play for free, but it's so limited the you want to sub just to give yourself the convenience to play how you want. There's armor and weapons that you can buy that's actually beneficial to your character, not just some asthetics.

So as far as what you get for the sub in this game, I think it's great. You get full access to everything that matters.
Would I eventually buy something from the cash shop? Probably. Like an extra retainer or something. But at the end of the day, it's optional items and with or without it, your gameplay won't suffer.

[Kosmos992k]

I couldn't agree more. I do think the price of those emotes is gouged pretty badly. I would never be willing to pay $7 each for those, especially if they can only be used on a single character.

So I fail to see why you quoted me and barged into an argument I was having with another poster that has nothing to do with what you are arguing.

How exactly, does one barge into an argument on a public forum? I replied to a point you made, no offense, but why post if you are not interested in replies?

[Kosmos992k]

They're the one assuming they already paid for everything. Exactly like the Disneyland comparison, these people would be surprised having to pay extra cash for food.

Except that FFXIV started as an all inclusive theme resort, and has now started seeming a bit more like a nickel and dime resort where the basic room and board are covered, but the extras that make a vacation are extra.

Honestly, I would prefer to see a modest sub increase, it's been steady for almost 4 years, inflation is still real, and I would prefer to pay up front instead of being nickel and dimed to death. There is a reason I and many others despise the F2P model. Seeing this whale hunting in a game with a strong subscription model is dissapointing.