Correction of prices for optional items

[LittleArrow]

Heya there Lux_Rayna!

I think we were chatting in the petition thread yesterday. I definitely see you're point, about people making accusations, but I think you're discrediting those that are upset. There were reports that SE made profit off of FFXIV last year, http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02...ofitable-2013/

They may be at a loss or be profitable, we don't know. However, based off the information we do know, people are led to believe this game is successful off of the subscriptions, b/c up until now they've produced quality content WITHOUT a cash shop. We've had a beautiful fanfest, a full year of content, and an expac on its way off the back of subscriptions and box purchases.

I definitely don't want to sound like I know what their pulling in, because I don't. Yet, I can't fault others for feeling like this is greedy when cash shops have proven time and time again to many MMO players to be a shameless and unnecessary cash grab in some games. It's also been proven with cash shops that the wealthy majority are the ones who are often heard the most since those few are supporting the game. There are prime examples of how companies time and time again promise a cash shop is a tool, then use it as a weapon to hold up customers for their money with unfair pricing models - Tera (promised it would only be vanity at first), GW2 (promised vanity but offered game enhancing buffs), LotR (very unfair pricing models when selling their expansions - per land), and the list goes on.

Although I do feel these games I've listed (with the exception of GW2) started off as subscription games and went to F2P possibly out of desperation, the fact of their unfair pricing models still stands to this day.

If FFXI didn't exist, I wouldn't have an argument. If the first 2-3yrs of WoW didn't exist, I wouldn't have anything to point at. The fact is, games can and do perform at a profit without cash shops. I'm not saying FFXIV isn't entitled to put one in (I definitely disagree with them switching in game items that were once free with sub are now sold in cash shops - look at my comment), but I also don't think it's fair for you to seemingly ignore what provides players with this sense of a company looking "greedy."

Hehe Sorry for the wall of text ^^ /