Emote Monetization needs to Stop.

[KernCadfan]

Not only do cash shop items come at the expense of in-game items and emotes, it comes to the detriment of the game and the player base. I know of three people who left FinalFantasyXIV because as very hard core players they were displeased that they couldn't use their own skill to access the content. They felt spurned that it is, unequivocally behind a paywall, and the endwalker plot wasn't enough to get them to stay when they felt disrespected as long-time players.

To the point that they're not accessible for the average person to buy, that cash shop feels malicious. Let's see: "Egg fry" is $7, "Joyious Leaping" is $12, Eat Pizza is $7... that means those three emotes alone is $26. To play FFXIV for 2 months, I buy the $30 Crysta package... so here is my question. Why are three emotes almost the price of two months of playtime?!

For a "must have subscription" model game, meaning you must pat a subscription fee to stay "on content", that's not only backwards and twisted, it's a slap in the face. Mount prices? Even worse... and if you are a person that does like to immerse yourself in this game and collect emotes and other side content you are being completely and entirely devalued and leached off of. Yes, I know a person doesn't *have to* buy them... but let's also demand reasonable pricing for junk like that. NOTHING should cost you half of the cost of your subscription fee, certainly not an emote, that's for sure... I could see exclusive packages with armor, emotes, and a mount or something included to beef up the price to something substantial.... but don't try to sell me a single emote for $12.

That's just neglectful of those who would like to earn the emotes... it's not my thing, but I don't like that it's behind such a large paywall either. That's not player friendly design, and highlights a lot of the poor choices we've all been concerned/annoyed about recently as a widely spread community. I suppose that's my main issue about it.

It's just a symptom of a larger problem we've run into as players. The devs aren't thinking about us anymore... not with the way they've been acting... let's be honest. In general new content is on a drop-feed as it is. Don't put what little else you do have behind such a difficult to attain paywall. Some people don't have that kind of money, so it's not about lacking effort or skill. It's about not being able to justify the expense... games shouldn't remind you of your own level of income (or lack there of) so perniciously.

Edit: unpopular opinion, and possible soultion... I would happily pay a $20 monthly subscription fee if I was guaranteed that nothing was behind a paywall for me as a consumer, and these objects would come in the form of side quests and unlockable content instead. I do like this game, it's fair for the devs to ask for a fair and equal compensation, and the subscription price has been around without inflation for a very long time. If they are hurting for money, maybe it's time to offer a higher priced subscription model. I'm in a position that I could pay more, and I'd be very happy to do. I'd have only one catch; the content NEEDS to be in-game and accessable to all somehow. If it meant a better game and community for players as a whole, I would offer more monetary support. I do think that many in the FFXIV community feel the same way, but we aren't given the option, and we're not given the perks for why that higher subscription model would be justified to be on-offer.