Online Store is Getting Worse!

[GeminiReed]

MMO Subscriptions have never gone above 15/month in about 22 years. If you think developers are really getting by just on that and the base entry / expansion costs, you're sorely mistaken.

And over those two decades the cost of operations has dropped significantly which more than makes up for any increase in wages.

[DPZ2]

And over those two decades the cost of operations has dropped significantly which more than makes up for any increase in wages.

And you base this on a deep undestanding of the current architecture, which appears to remain unchanged since 2013? Hardware costs are the only thing that has dropped significantly over the years. Network costs, data center costs, electricity costs, et al have not experienced that sort of drop. As hardware gets older, those costs tend to increase, not decrease.

(For reference, I have been working in and around data centers professionally for the last 35+ years, and have developed operating budgets for IT departments.)

[GeminiReed]

I'm always willing to support developers for good work, but I can't justify paying $20 for $1 worth of effort despite being able to part with that $20 very easily.

The development cost is somewhere between us$2-4k if they're using in-house developers. If they offshore some of the work that could drop well below us$1k. If they sell 10 or 100,000 the cost is the same other than transaction fees. I'm willing to bet the sales figure will be closer to 100k (20 cents per piece) than 20k (1 usd per piece)

In other words, it's fountain soda.

My point is this shop and its patrons are helping keep the sub cost down.

Hardly. No matter how much profit the cash shop makes they'd dearly love to jack up the sub fees. The don't because there's sufficient competition in the MMO space that any attempt at such would cause enough unsubs for them to be required to make a note in the next annual report. (I do not miss working for publicly traded companies).

[GeminiReed]

(For reference, I have been working in and around data centers professionally for the last 35+ years, and have developed operating budgets for IT departments.)

(Funny I have a similar reference)

[Clover_Blake]

You say that everything sold on the mogstation has no substantive impact on the game (excluding the bike) but looking good has a substantive impact on our enjoyment of games in general.

Personally, I would understand this argument if the game didn't already offer a huge variety of great glamour options. But it does. Glamours are my favourite part of the game and I for one am very satisfied with the amount and quality we get.

If it comes down to people simply wanting to own EVERYTHING, I think that's people's problem.

[KenaiChoppa]

It has been overpriced from a long time. $5 for a face emote? I pass. $22 for the car hoodie? I painly pass (that hoodie is fire).

But i see it this way: if you enjoy the game and play it every day, you can spare a little in the store. I DO wish for better prices tho, we already pay a monthly fee so the store is not the main income for SE in FF XIV.

[Illmaeran]

I think you definition of what qualifies as predatory monetization is a bad one because it only considers pay to win aspects. In reality looking good and showing off is a considerable driving force in any game that allows for customization, the acquisition of that is evidently only one aspect of it.

You say that everything sold on the mogstation has no substantive impact on the game (excluding the bike) but looking good has a substantive impact on our enjoyment of games in general.

You bring up a good counter-point. I agree that looking good and showing off are considerable driving forces; though I can only look good as I'm not good enough to show off. You're right though, customizing appearance is a significant and meaningful aspect of how people enjoy the game. Frankly, it's one of the reasons I love this game so much. Perhaps substantive wasn't the right word, but I can't think of anything more succinct than that to describe an item with stats that gives a tangible improvement to gameplay outside of strictly visual considerations. IWSTGATITGOOSVC? :P

Cosmetic importance is a big factor, otherwise people would literally not buy most cash shop mounts. The mode of acquisition is certainly a factor, but if something that isn't desirable is locked behind a grind, or achievement, less and less people will do it. There will always be collectors and the like out there, but the more aesthetically pleasing something is, generally, plays a big factor. Similarly, if something very desirable is locked behind low chance in a lootbox or the like (gacha games?), for example, people will feel a very similar sense of 'prestige' for having this item.

As I said to Saraide, I agree that appearance is a big and important factor. I've spent a fair amount of time unlocking raids I never intended to do or leveling jobs I never intended to level strictly for a piece of glamour (NiER dresses anyone?). I've also passed up a lot of things because they're locked behind a grind, achievement, or raid/trial that I don't want to do.

I get where you're coming from and in the context of what you and Saraide have said, perhaps Excessive would be a better term than Predatory. Everything on the Mogstation is still a luxury item, in that they're not required for play but enhance enjoyment of the game, and as such command a luxury price. Would it be nice if the prices were lower? &$@( yes! Do the normal prices stop me from buying stuff? Absolutely. Do I think the prices are outrageous? $42 for a whale mount?? Nnnnooooooooothankyouverymuch. Even so, I can't blame a company in a capitalist nation for charging what the market will bear, or in this case, cat.

[Jojoya]

I think you definition of what qualifies as predatory monetization is a bad one because it only considers pay to win aspects. In reality looking good and showing off is a considerable driving force in any game that allows for customization, the acquisition of that is evidently only one aspect of it. If the acquisition was the only thing that mattered no one would buy mogstation stuff for their looks. It would only be a questionable means to show off wealth. It is then no surprise any greedy salesperson would drive up prices on what people care for most and within their own game they have an absolute monopoly.

You say that everything sold on the mogstation has no substantive impact on the game (excluding the bike) but looking good has a substantive impact on our enjoyment of games in general.

If all of the "free" gear looked like crap in the game and the only way to get good looking gear was to pay extra on the cash shop, you'd have a good example of predatory monetization.

That's not what is happening with FFXIV. It's a small percentage of cosmetic options that are only available through the cash shop, and most of those on the shop are to give JP/NA/EU players access to past event and China/Korean "exclusives".

Not buying from the cash shop does not prevent anyone from looking good. It just prevents them from using a relative handful of specific looks. We've got hundreds of looks to choose from that are available directly from game play so it's not predatory monetization.

[Midareyukki]

Let me tell you about a fun series called Dissidia... lol

Just like the Tsukihime anime, Dissidia NT does not exist.

[Stormpeaks]

If all of the "free" gear looked like crap in the game and the only way to get good looking gear was to pay extra on the cash shop, you'd have a good example of predatory monetization.

That's not what is happening with FFXIV. It's a small percentage of cosmetic options that are only available through the cash shop, and most of those on the shop are to give JP/NA/EU players access to past event and China/Korean "exclusives".

Not buying from the cash shop does not prevent anyone from looking good. It just prevents them from using a relative handful of specific looks. We've got hundreds of looks to choose from that are available directly from game play so it's not predatory monetization.

Considering you are the person who said that island was long lasting content and repeatable by "changing the places of the landmarks and swapping their spot", this post is not a surprise in any way.

Compare the store glams and in game glams and tell me the quality of the in game ones is anywhere near the shop ones.

Also "a small percentage" is laughable