Quote Originally Posted by Fyrebrand View Post
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.