Quote Originally Posted by Deveryn View Post
The idea that integrating the store into the game somehow makes it better and fixes the problem is foolish. There will always be a need for a more secure site to handle transactions. EQ 1 and 2 have an in-game store with alt currency and you still have to go outside the game to add funds to your account. There is ZERO gifting on this service.

I've played plenty of online games with perfectly integrated stores that don't require going to an external site... and that includes consoles. That does mean using the platform (so PlayStation or Steam for those versions in XIV's case) as the payment provider but at least you can seemlessly buy stuff. World of Warcraft has this on PC, I can buy MTX directly within the game from either the character screen (in the case of server transfers or faction changes) and when logged into a character for mounts etc. I'm pretty sure you can even buy buy expansions and subscription from the game client itself (not to mention the launcher has this functionality also). As for other games, titles like FIFA, Destiny 2, GTA Online allow you to buy the additional cash store stuff in-game (FIFA is just buying FIFA points from the platform store and then spending in-game).


If you hold XIV to the same standard as other actively developed online games, there's many areas where Square Enix falls short but still wants expansion costs + subscription + cash store money. You think the Riot Games MMO is going to have this problem? You think Sony will have these problems with their upcoming slew of online titles such as the story driven Last of Us multiplayer that's coming? Of course not, they can actually build a platform for online games which includes buying and gifting micro-transactions. If Blizzard can suitably modernise a 2004 MMO, Square Enix should be doing it for their 2010 game. The piss poor cash store (and Mogstation in general) really shouldn't be an excuse.