Cash shop pricing is getting a bit much...

[HyoMinPark]

I dont even understand why people buy this stuff anyway. Ok it looks nice for the few hours you use it, but like with another glamours its getting boring very quickly.

So question for people who buy this stuff. Do you want to feel Unique/special when you buy this stuff ?

Because they want to buy it? Because they like the items and want them? It has nothing to do with wanting to feel "unique" or "special"; if you loved books, and you saw a very nice leather-bound collectors edition of one of your favorites, wouldn't you want to own it because you love the story and the book looks really nice? Or even just a simple copy of a book you love. Or anything that you've wanted to buy in general.

People buy things because they want them. It isn't about feeling "special". Can't say I like the implications you're making with that statement.

[MomomiMomi]

It isn't about feeling "special". Can't say I like the implications you're making with that statement.

I've seen several people who were defending the cash shop say otherwise. It may not be everyone, but there are definitely people who do it for that reason.

Exclusivity is the word (by definition, excluding others), and there are definitely plenty of people who will pay for that. I disagree with the notion in general, but they'll always win because why wouldn't a company sell it to them?

I believe this most recently came up with the Shiva statue and emote. People wanted the emote to be separated from the statue and sold at a reasonable price, instead of locking it behind the statue. Others defended the practice saying that they wouldn't like that because then the emote wouldn't be as special.

[KaivaC]

snip

I do see issues with the cash shop on a subscription MMO. Even mentioned it when I first jumped in this thread. But I note that the prices appear to be part of a dangerous trend of greediness on the devs' part. But because every once in a while, the cash shop does put something that I personally want, I won't outright dispute the cash shop. You have a point - because people will buy it, the devs will continue to do it. I don't like the notion that somehow, players who buy from the cash shop are in the wrong. Not saying you said this, Momomi, it's just the general feeling I've gotten just reading through this thread.

[MomomiMomi]

I do see issues with the cash shop on a subscription MMO. Even mentioned it when I first jumped in this thread. But I note that the prices appear to be part of a dangerous trend of greediness on the devs' part. But because every once in a while, the cash shop does put something that I personally want, I won't outright dispute the cash shop. You have a point - because people will buy it, the devs will continue to do it. I don't like the notion that somehow, players who buy from the cash shop are in the wrong. Not saying you said this, Momomi, it's just the general feeling I've gotten just reading through this thread.

I admit, even I'm tempted to buy something now and then. But I resist because it goes against my own personal code of ethics. I believe it is the responsibility of consumers to vote with their wallet, and to do that I must not buy anything on the shop.

For the record, and this may seem contradictory with a lot of what I debate on other topics around here, I wouldn't have as much problem with the cash shop if items could be traded in-game for gil. This is because it would remove the exclusivity of the item, or at least mitigates it. It also has other effects such as making gil more useful, which I view as positive.

EDIT: Post limit.

Also would fall pretty squarely under RMT, at least that first transaction.

It would. You'll even find me arguing that it does if you were to look back at the first WoW token thread. I'd still be for it, though.

[KaivaC]

snip

Acknowledging your posting limit, so I'll keep this one short and to the point. I wouldn't be opposed to these being earnable in-game. There are lots of things in the Gold Saucer that I really want...but that's a lot of MGP that I'd have to farm if I were to ever get serious about it. Same with some of the triple triad cards that I really want. While the cash shop is close to greed, it hasn't crossed the line for me yet, nor has it really affected me to the point that I feel that I have to protest. Maybe that'll change in the future, but for now, I don't have significant issues with the cash shop. I'll acknowledge that things are highly priced, yes, but it's not something that is sub-breaking for me just yet.

[BillyKaplan]

Others defended the practice saying that they wouldn't like that because then the emote wouldn't be as special.

No one tell them that in a couple of years it'll end up in the mog shop too like the Megaflare emote. Which is how I know that crowd, to NOT want things to end up in the mog shop because it makes it MORE accessible. But I suppose it's all relative.