A consumable snowcone costs 5$

[Vstarstruck]

While your explanation is informative. It doesn't really give it sound reasoning. You're comparing apples to oranges because MMOs are never complete and this game being a "sub based" game means it would hurt itself with a P2W practice.

This is not pay to win but they are clearly double dipping on "already used" assets and charging for them instead of bringing them back in game. They don't have to repeat the whole event like the Lightning events. Every "season related" event or "yearly iteration" can and should be providing access to the old items. Charging for an additional "level boost" or a "unique effect" cuz of the "authentic" prefix is really not worth putting them in mog station.

also it is not fair to newer players who did not get the chance to "stock up" on the limited event item. I know quite a few that stock up tons of these things and puts them on some alt's retainer encase they need them in the future because that is better then needing to pay 5 dollars or w/e for 5 of them or something, like the cherry trees.

[Remedi]

But then they stop being special.(/s) Remember these items get an "Authentic" Prefix to their name to further emphasize they are not the "original" ones.

To be fair neither of us knew that that changes evrything XD

[Mahrze]

also it is not fair to newer players who did not get the chance to "stock up" on the limited event item. I know quite a few that stock up tons of these things and puts them on some alt's retainer encase they need them in the future because that is better then needing to pay 5 dollars or w/e for 5 of them or something, like the cherry trees.

It's a cultural thing. "limited editions" in japan tend to really be limited. Plus a counter-point there is "they should've been playing it since then" that some can easily use.

[Fytayn]

This conversation is fascinating, really, but I have a quick question: What is a whale? From the context it's used in I'm getting that it's a person with more money than sense who buys things from the cash shop. Is there more to the term?

EDIT:

also it is not fair to newer players who did not get the chance to "stock up" on the limited event item. I know quite a few that stock up tons of these things and puts them on some alt's retainer encase they need them in the future because that is better then needing to pay 5 dollars or w/e for 5 of them or something, like the cherry trees.

I swear that if housing had storage back when the trees were added I'd have at least twenty put away,

[Remedi]

It's not exactly the description but that's the general idea

[Mahrze]

This conversation is fascinating, really, but I have a quick question: What is a whale? From the context it's used in I'm getting that it's a person with more money than sense who buys things from the cash shop. Is there more to the term?

Nope, you've described it pretty well with your understanding.

Whales are basically the people who can fund these kind of cash shops because the funds are non-issue to them.

Here's an article on that.

https://venturebeat.com/2013/03/14/w...e-just-gamers/

[KisaiTenshi]

This conversation is fascinating, really, but I have a quick question: What is a whale? From the context it's used in I'm getting that it's a person with more money than sense who buys things from the cash shop. Is there more to the term?

A Whale is a gambling term for the people who spend big (and hopefully lose big.) Zynga uses this term for describing people who buy microtransactions above the average player. So basically anyone who spends like, $1000/mo on free to play game is a whale. Japanese and Korean game devs are especially aware of this practice, as Gachapon (capule machinies) and UFO Catcher's are culturally popular things, and pachinko balls are the analogy for premium currency. In the west, poker chips are.

More or less "Whales" in games that require skill, are buying their way to the top (literately pay to win.) In games that require no skill like the flavor-of-the-week farmvillle clone, the premium currency is used instead of spending time. So someone who plays a F2P game for 1 year, obsessively without paying for anything will be behind the player who paid $1000 to buy a boat load of smurfberries/donuts/etc and built their farm/town/city/etc in one day.

That stuff tends to not apply to MMORPG's because the "farmville" mechanics tend to be part of instanced housing (see mabinogi's homesteads) and is basically a way to make gathering into a P2W experience.

[Vstarstruck]

This conversation is fascinating, really, but I have a quick question: What is a whale? From the context it's used in I'm getting that it's a person with more money than sense who buys things from the cash shop. Is there more to the term?

EDIT:
I swear that if housing had storage back when the trees were added I'd have at least twenty put away,

As Mahrze said you pretty much self discovered the definition. In a FFXIV sense a whale would be buying everything off the mog station they are even weakly interested in, no matter the cost, up to the point of buying everything from the mog station just for completion sake. Mobile games really cater to whales trying to make money off them and SE even has one that does this:
http://www.kotaku.co.uk/2017/12/14/t...ost-his-family

It's a cultural thing. "limited editions" in japan tend to really be limited. Plus a counter-point there is "they should've been playing it since then" that some can easily use.

I disagree with that idea of an excuse though, if you make a worldwide business I think the smart thing to do is appeal to the different cultures, not just your own.

[Mahrze]

I swear that if housing had storage back when the trees were added I'd have at least twenty put away,

I gave my surplus away since I never planned to buy a house, even now when I own one and the person who I gave them too is now on a break from the game. Still have no desire for them. I like the aquapolis ones more, personally.

I disagree with that idea of an excuse though, if you make a worldwide business I think the smart thing to do is appeal to the different cultures, not just your own.

I don't want to visit this rabbit hole again with you. I am in the same stand point as you, however I am also aware that SE not only doesn't share the same view, they likely don't have any desire to do so. Business is business, and they'll pursue it as such.

[Remedi]

Sadly that battle died the day this abomination was released to the world