Cash shops: Whats wrong with you?

[Malamasala]

I agree with the OP. This is dangerous ground. You get enough people to demand a Cash Shop there will be a Cash Shop. It is cause for concern.

But a cash shop does not have to be negative. This is as narrow minded as claiming a multiplayer game can't sell, because you'd have to play with idiots and nobody wants that.

[Karnyboy]

But a cash shop does not have to be negative. This is as narrow minded as claiming a multiplayer game can't sell, because you'd have to play with idiots and nobody wants that.

Or that nobody enjoys adventure games anymore

[HakuroDK]

I'm just trying to figure out why people are so against a Cash Shop. I mean, it's not like all the SE execs are gonna go out and use the money to buy private jets or anything. The money's likely going to funnel into server maintenance and optimization so that it eliminates issues. And it's not like it would have any items in it that would give a player an advantage over another other than one player has an item that another player doesn't have, that already exists with the Pre-Order content, CE content, LR Event content, Bomb/Cactaur Earrings, Ahriman/Mandragora Choker, 1.0 Content, or the Wind-Up pets that came with the OSTs.

I mean hell, here's a good slogan for an FFXIV cash shop: Buy a Fantasia, kill a 90k/2001.

[Moirear]

1. I don't think FFXIV is going F2P anytime soon.
2. Cash shop items like Fantasia potions and extra retainers being sold for real money.
3. Have people pay for subscriptions AND cash shop items.
4. No ???? - profit!

In all seriousness, I boycott the whole cash shop thing. I support this game and the subscription model because I loathe cash shops and F2P financing models. I strongly dislike the idea of them having the offers from #2 up there and possibly even more. When people asked for Fantasia potions or extra retainers, what exactly went and stopped them from making these things obtainable via in-game means? Like quests, or spending abhorrent amounts of gil, or whatnot? Cash shops in a subscription-based game just come across as dirty money grabs to some people.

If this is unlogical to you, then I don't know what to say.

[Skull_Angel]

In all seriousness, I boycott the whole cash shop thing. I support this game and the subscription model because I loathe cash shops and F2P financing models. I strongly dislike the idea of them having the offers from #2 up there and possibly even more. When people asked for Fantasia potions or extra retainers, what exactly went and stopped them from making these things obtainable via in-game means? Like quests, or spending abhorrent amounts of gil, or whatnot? Cash shops in a subscription-based game just come across as dirty money grabs to some people.

If this is unlogical to you, then I don't know what to say.

While no, it isn't quite logical (I mean you could argue that it is because you already pay a sub.), it is a very strong opinion that others share.

[HakuroDK]

snip

Posts like this make me wonder if anyone else watched Yoshi's MMO seminar video when it went up on the web, about how Subscription and Cash Shop models can coexist when done right, or if I'm just taking crazy pills.

I saw those Fantasia threads. People were asking for them to be put up for sale for RL money. I can't say the same about retainers because I didn't see that many threads about them. But I do know people were and are more than happy to spend money on them.

I just want to know the real reason folks are upset at the very mention of a cash shop in a P2P game, especially if the extra money were to go into server stability and optimization, and the items didn't affect gameplay.

[Skull_Angel]

I just want to know the real reason folks are upset at the very mention of a cash shop in a P2P game, especially if the extra money were to go into server stability and optimization, and the items didn't affect gameplay.

In short, people think it will ruin the game or betray it's spirit.

From the other thread, this seems to be the most truthful answer.

[skaterger]

Not gonna lie, but that sounds kinda mean-spirited and closed-minded. "If you want this feature in this game that I don't like, go play this other game that has that feature and stop bothering us with it." is all I'm hearing. Maybe you could explain it to me better in a reply if I'm not getting the message there, but I just don't see any legitimate downside to a non-P2W cash shop, especially when there are those of us who want to contribute to the game's success more than we already are.

Yeah like I said that was crude and kind of a low blow and I apologize if it offended anyone.

You are already indirectly contributing to the game's success by subbing every month aren't you? If you want to do more, you can make a personal donation I'm sure SE wouldn't reject that The biggest problem with the cash shop is that many players are uncomfortable with the idea of one and it can push many players over the edge and do more harm than good and I'm sure we would not like to see it come to that. Let me give you another example, Wow's blizzard store. Initially, they only had QOL things like name changes and server transfer but not long after they added vanity things like pets and mounts and unsurprisingly these mounts were much better looking than the ones that came in the game. What this did was segregate those that could afford/wanted the mount and those that could not/did not want to. It also led to a loss of confidence in the company as players wondered if in subsequent patches, the nicest items would only come from the cash shop.

I'm not making this up as the evidence is all in the Wow forums around the year 2010-2011. Many players were pissed at that time but thought that was the furthest that blizzard would go but lo and behold, they now have added a level 90 boost in their cash shop. Would you consider that P2W? I would say so. Objectively a cash shop might not be such a bad thing, but player's experiences with other f2p games might cause a stigma which would casue them to leave should a cash shop ever materialize in this game. I would very likely leave if a cash shop was ever implemented.

[YmirEsc]

Can't wait for this thread to get deleted so you guys can make more, get banned, and be done with it already.

[Amberion]

Bunch of stuff.

Pot, meet kettle. You are OK with CS as long as it does not effect your game style. Yet don't care if it has effect on any one who plays for differently reasons then raiding.

Let's say you have this RPer or crafter that don't do any end-game fighting. To him, Potion of Doom +8 would have minimal effect, but for a raider it would be p2w.

But I guess that only a raiders opinion should matter in a roleplaying game?