Really? They put Shadowkeeper on the Mog Station?

[Iscah]

Those things are actually predatory on neurodivergent people, there is no reasonable or ethical excuse to defend a cash shop, much less in a subscription based access game.

This has nothing to do with neurodiverse people as a whole.

If anything it preys on mount collectors, but there are any number of reasons for people to be into that.

[ForteNightshade]

Those things are actually predatory on neurodivergent people, there is no reasonable or ethical excuse to defend a cash shop, much less in a subscription based access game.

It's not about defending a cash shop per se but acknowledging that game development have skyrocketed over the last decade and publishers aren't going to simply make less to compensate. The consumer will be eating some of those costs, be it through micro transaction or an increase in the base price of the game and/or subscription fee. The reason I'll mostly shrug off a non-intrusive cash shop is it's an entirely optional. Yes, I'll miss out on some outfits or mounts I may have wanted unless I flash my credit card but I'll also avoid paying more elsewhere. I'd much prefer a $14.99 sub fee and $59.99 for an expansion compared to say, $24.99 and $99.99. They are going to make their money somehow. It just comes down to how.

Alternatively, everything on the cash shop will just cease to exist as it's being made exclusively for a profit. So if you'd rather all those Korean glamours or mounts like Shadow Keeper or Cruise Chaser simply never be made. That's what will happen.

Now don't confuse this with me defending SE. I can say all the above while also saying the cash shop has gotten quite excessive this expansion. Likewise, I think it's a little scummy event items are tossed on the Mog Station when they were free at some point. I just opt not to buy what I don't want and indulge on what I do.

[Eraden]

It's not about defending a cash shop per se but acknowledging that game development have skyrocketed over the last decade and publishers aren't going to simply make less to compensate. The consumer will be eating some of those costs, be it through micro transaction or an increase in the base price of the game and/or subscription fee. The reason I'll mostly shrug off a non-intrusive cash shop is it's an entirely optional. Yes, I'll miss out on some outfits or mounts I may have wanted unless I flash my credit card but I'll also avoid paying more elsewhere. I'd much prefer a $14.99 sub fee and $59.99 for an expansion compared to say, $24.99 and $99.99. They are going to make their money somehow. It just comes down to how.

Alternatively, everything on the cash shop will just cease to exist as it's being made exclusively for a profit. So if you'd rather all those Korean glamours or mounts like Shadow Keeper or Cruise Chaser simply never be made. That's what will happen.

Now don't confuse this with me defending SE. I can say all the above while also saying the cash shop has gotten quite excessive this expansion. Likewise, I think it's a little scummy event items are tossed on the Mog Station when they were free at some point. I just opt not to buy what I don't want and indulge on what I do.

Mao agrees. Look ats how Inflation making foods more expensives. Now apply that to game development. Gils got to comes from somewhere.

[Alexandre_Noireau]

This has nothing to do with neurodiverse people as a whole.

Oh but it does, and there is extensive academy study on the topic if you care to learn.

Alternatively, everything on the cash shop will just cease to exist as it's being made exclusively for a profit. So if you'd rather all those Korean glamours or mounts like Shadow Keeper or Cruise Chaser simply never be made. That's what will happen.

Some times, many times, less is more. This is one of those times. Specially if the practice is unethical.

Gils got to comes from somewhere.

No gil from microtransactions go into game-development, not even marketing.
And it comes from unethical practices, like predating on neurodivergent people and exploting fear of missing out or loss aversion from people.

It is 1 to 1, the same exact market model of a drug cartel.

[TheMightyMollusk]

It is 1 to 1, the same exact market model of a drug cartel.

[caffe_macchiato]

Wait, are people actually defending microtransactions? Remember when this shit was thoroughly mocked, especially in a purchased game or a subscription MMO? Horse armor? Celestial steed? Hello?

Corporations are not your friend. I do not care if they make epic banger tweets and act “young and hip” during press conferences. You are a human. Square Enix is an entity that encourages you to give up your money. Perhaps if people in 2023 had better self-control, this wouldn’t be a problem. But that’s not the case. Most people here are victim of a generation and a world-system that raised them to squander and spend all they can because it benefited those in control.

No matter how much you defend MTX on the forums, it’s not gonna make your game cheaper and it’s not gonna give you more content. The suits aren’t going to give you “the reach-around” other than to put even more junk on the cash shop to wave around like a carrot on a stick. Stop degrading yourselves.

[Nikua13]

All you truckers and your high and mighty corporate this and corporate that are still paying a trucking sub. so truck off! Buy it dont buy it! But dont tell me how to spend my trucking money!

[Kaliesto]

I really do wish Micro transactions went away, caused so many problems.

DLC Expansions to me is like the only acceptable thing.

[Venjenz]

Isn't a mount just a skin for an existing skill/mechanic? There are over 200 mounts, and last count, I think 43 of them are Mog Station purchases. Soooo...like 3/4 of all mount skins ARE obtainable in game, by playing the game? And all the paid_for mounts are purely cosmetic. They have nothing whatsoever to do with QoL, character power, cheating the game or making it easier, etc.

This mount is a skin. Period. It has no other value beyond "I WANT THAT!!" Exactly nothing in the game changes other than people can look at you on that mount and know that you spent $24 on a skin. OK? And? It's still just a skin.

Maybe I am missing why this is a big deal?

[Donoman]

Isn't a mount just a skin for an existing skill/mechanic? There are over 200 mounts, and last count, I think 43 of them are Mog Station purchases. Soooo...like 3/4 of all mount skins ARE obtainable in game, by playing the game? And all the paid_for mounts are purely cosmetic. They have nothing whatsoever to do with QoL, character power, cheating the game or making it easier, etc.

This mount is a skin. Period. It has no other value beyond "I WANT THAT!!" Exactly nothing in the game changes other than people can look at you on that mount and know that you spent $24 on a skin. OK? And? It's still just a skin.

Maybe I am missing why this is a big deal?

There is literally no big deal whatsoever. It's just the latest thing that forums will complain about. It will pass eventually, and then we'll be on to the next.