Very conflicted about the cash shop...

[Ashkendor]

It literally negates 99% of the crafts available to every DoH except CUL, and each patch those high end crafts will be moved to vanity.

Who's saying ALL of the vanity items would be cash shop only? That would be dumb.

I think people are being really alarmist about this. e.e

[Devaking55]

That's funny, because it did mean that until just now. Apparently, the subscription fee is no longer a fee to experience the whole game, but merely just parts of the game. Our subscription money is literally worth less than it used to, from now on.

ok jimmy you obviously dont understand. let me break it down real easy-like.
You bought a dollhouse(ffxiv)
you bought the Doll(subfee)
You buy all the nifty things for your doll(cash shop) none of that's wrong, but SE adding a cash shop for vanity is? cmon man seriously.

[Quesse]

The subscription fee doesn't automatically entitle all players to use all FFXIV-related services and features free of additional charge.

But it should.

[Heskett]

But it should.

But it doesn't. That's ultimately SE's decision. Their game. Their rules. Don't like it? Don't support it.

[Heskett]

Yet they're asking us to pay for it... again.

Do you have a gun to your head? Have they taken your family hostage? I thought for sure all of this was optional.

[Folsom]

Ummm... says who? And on what authority?

Are you asking that philosophically or literally? Because the literal answer is painfully obvious and the same as it would be for any person or entity that chooses how it wants to sell its products.

[Gramul]

The subscription fee doesn't automatically entitle all players to use all FFXIV-related services and features free of additional charge.

Then what are you paying for? It was my understanding that I was paying for the game in full, and features like character and server changes where ultimately an outside fee to basely alter your main approach to the game, like if you where to change your gym subscription structure.

Are you familiar with this image or one of its many variations?

It's not the exact same concept for an MMO, but I hope it gets the idea across. They're asking you to pay more for content that would already be in the game in one way or another. This means they don't have to design content so you can unlock it and they get you to pay for it on top of the subscription fee.

It's less effort from them and more money from you. I can't see that as something to be supported.

[Magis]

Then what are you paying for? It was my understanding that I was paying for the game in full, and features like character and server changes where ultimately an outside fee to basely alter your main approach to the game, like if you where to change your gym subscription structure.

Are you familiar with this image or one of its many variations?

It's not the exact same concept for an MMO, but I hope it gets the idea across. They're asking you to pay more for content that would already be in the game in one way or another. This means they don't have to design content so you can unlock it and they get you to pay for it on top of the subscription fee.

It's less effort from them and more money from you. I can't see that as something to be supported.

Don't forget... ON DISC DLC. Ugh.

[Kiara]

Are you familiar with this image or one of its many variations?

It's not the exact same concept for an MMO, but I hope it gets the idea across. They're asking you to pay more for content that would already be in the game in one way or another. This means they don't have to design content so you can unlock it and they get you to pay for it on top of the subscription fee.

It's less effort from them and more money from you. I can't see that as something to be supported.

Great post Gramul. I posted a similar point yesterday:

I'm torn on the subject myself. Like a lot of you, all of those items (except the Art Book, real life Plushies, any Toys etc.) technically should be included as Rare Items / Rewards for playing the game in various battles / quests, etc.

But then I think about the state of Console Games as a whole:

* Look at Capcom's STREET FIGHTER series: They've been selling TONS of bonus Costumes as Add On Packs for a while.

But back in the day "Secret Costumes" would've been a Secret Cheat Code / Reward for clearing a game (ala, SNES / Genesis / Saturn / PS1 era). But nowadays people are used to it.

* Games like Grand Theft Auto, Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty, all the top Racing Games, etc., they all sell "More Cars! More Tracks! More Missions!" etc.


It feels like games as a whole are going this way, sadly.

I felt just as annoyed when I first started encountering DLC Packs on PS3, PS4, X360, Xbox One:

It's like, "I just spent $60 on your game, and you make me buy a DLC Costume Pack to get Costumes? That used to come free with games...

As long as Square keeps their promise that it's NEVER going to be "Pay to Win" (Game Altering) stuff, that's the most important part.

Ideally, they make ALL of the Cash Shop Items available to be EARNED IN-GAME still (like the rare Opo-Opo Minion from Brayflox Longstop (Hard), or Bluebird from Peisteskin Treasure Map), *and* for those that would rather buy it, they can go to the Cash Shop? Sure.