Voting with my wallet

[ApolloGenX]

At this point, there's no point arguing.

It is clear there are many that post here that either want P2W or F2P and are supportive of a cash shop, because they know - and everyone reading their comments knows they want to use the cash shop and see it expand.

There are those that don't want this.

It's clear from other games and the market that the players that want the cash shop and P2W are the prevailing market force - so arguing against it is really pointless. If SE has given in to the P2W trend, what is the point of arguing it anymore?

[Felessan]

Actually selling vanity items is like selling lvl 50 cap or twintania win in 2.4. yes, it can be considered as P2W, but it is content nobody really care about and it's not touch current relevant content, even those that are old but not yet very old, like T9.
And quite a lot of people cheat the proper way of attaining win anyway by buying Twintania run.

[Freyar]

While I very much like Yoshi-P's crew, the reveal of a cash shop (though I knew it was coming) is a very alarming thing. We'll see what happens in the end, but it's something that can easily go too far and has in many cases out there. (WoW's "Buy Level 90" for example?)

[Felessan]

It is clear there are many that post here that either want P2W or F2P and are supportive of a cash shop, because they know - and everyone reading their comments knows they want to use the cash shop and see it expand.

Not all people that support cash shop supports P2W.
I am against P2W, but I want cash shop, as I want more variety in mounts/vanity, preferably *a lot* more variety. And i wouldn't mind to pay extra for them if I'll like them.
And having a separate cash shop for vanity gives me hope that there will be at least a little bit more resources allocated in this particular direction.

(WoW's "Buy Level 90" for example?)

Who really cares about this? Lvl cap means nothing in wow-style MMO and personally i would like to have an option to pay some $$$ instead of necessity of mindlessly grinding another class to 50th through the same old content of leves/roulette/fates.

[Freyar]

Who really cares about this? Lvl cap means nothing in wow-style MMO and personally i would like to have an option to pay some $$$ instead of necessity of mindlessly grinding another class to 50th through the same old content of leves/roulette/fates.

If you're paying to bypass content, then your content isn't interesting. It also means people are paying $60 to get past learning how to play a class putting a massive strain on post-level-cap dungeons. You can argue the the effectiveness of this purchase all you want, but it does change the strength/power of a character in exchange for real-world money. This is a buy-power-with-money scenario.

[ZXSoru]

Look at Guild Wars 2 cash shop, from the beginning they said that the shop was cosmetic only, and after two years it still is, the only thing close to p2w are the resource tools, but that isn't game breaking.
My advice is that if you like the game, keep playing until the cash shop comes, then you can have some actual facts about it and decide what to do next.

[Felessan]

If you're paying to bypass content, then your content isn't interesting. It also means people are paying $60 to get past learning how to play a class putting a massive strain on post-level-cap dungeons.

As with my experience on 50 level - a lot of people learn nothing about how to play properly during their "run to 50" stage. No real correlation, because pre-50 content is either too easy or completely skippable. And most people just use a basic class guide "how to play at 50 level", that can be used regardless of whether you exped there by yourself, or you abused the system and just spammed fates, leves or whatever "go easy to 50 without learning anything" route you might choose. I exped some classes to 50 in about lvl30 gear without even acquiring job - it might really helped me to play properly in those classes.
I saw another day a SMN in ~105ilvl (!!!) gear that was a completely disaster in expert roulette and the whole party have a hard time because of it. He just failed at every corner, and this shows that even rather high ilvl obtainable at zero skill, so there is no point in blaming cash shop for it.

And when you do the same route in fifth time - it's understandable that it's not interesting. There are not much variety in low level content and there is no real plan for expanding it for obvious reasons.

You can argue the the effectiveness of this purchase all you want, but it does change the strength/power of a character in exchange for real-world money. This is a buy-power-with-money scenario.

Yes, it is bypassing content, But this content is not even a midcore ground, it's straight in the casual territory, and I really don't think they there should be so much anger and hussle about content lying in the casual crowd territory.

[Edli]

it can be considered as P2W, but it is content nobody really care about

Never heard of someone paying $10 for something he doesn't care about. One point white knights bring out is "just vanity, not really important stuff". You forget the part where if it's indeed worthless it will not sell. There is a reason why the cash shop doesn't have animal fat.

[Quesse]

Remember when people used to defend the monthly subscription model, saying that the regular fee guaranteed full access to all game content, ensured server stability, and funded a steady flow of quality content?

Now, the popular motto is "You agreed to it in the Terms of Service, SE doesn't have to give you anything," or "The sub fee gets you access to the servers, nothing more." Also gotta love "Cash shop is a great way to support the game, stop expecting to be handed everything for free."

My, how people have changed their tune, in the week since FFXIV announced its cash shop.

TBH FFXIV 2.0 has diluted the FF fanbase quite a bit with its complete change in direction. From FFXI to FFXIV 1.0 to FFXIV 2.0 has a been a steady march in the direction of trying to please the MMO majority rather than making a game on a set of principles. People wanted more gil fountains, Yoshi gave it. People wanted autolog, Yoshi gave it. People wanted a way to buy Fantasia, Yoshi gave. Etc. Etc.

On the one hand, he's to be commended for rather quickly molding the game to the masses. However if you're only focused on making the game popular, that tends to make it a game that does stuff 'because everyone else is doing it'. Not really the game for me. I've grown quickly tired of the theme park mentality. Eventually someone will make an MMO with kind of adventure, exploration, and discovery that's been missing. Very close to cancelling my two Legacy subs. Personal housing was a vast disappointment and the cash shop just shows this game is heading in a direction that I personally dislike. I used to, as well, thing the subscription model meant something. But limits on housing and the cash shop has shown that it means nothing. FFXIV might as well go F2P at this point.

[Dwill]

Never heard of someone paying $10 for something he doesn't care about. One point white knights bring out is "just vanity, not really important stuff". You forget the part where if it's indeed worthless it will not sell. There is a reason why the cash shop doesn't have animal fat.

You lost whatever little credibility your argument might have had as soon as the words white knight came out.