Possible solution for cash shop?

[Holy-chan]

I wholeheartedly support this suggestion. It's the perfect middle ground for people that like the cash shop and people that dislike it. You have to keep in mind that no matter what you do, people will complain. I believe that among all the solutions (short of scrapping the cash shop altogether, which won't happen), this sounds like the lesser evil to me.

Additionally, it can give more incentive to make people do extra stuff they usually don't do. Challenge log entries, beast tribe quests, FATEs (okay, maybe people are getting tired of this one), etc. Whatever content that gives that special currency that's usable in the cash shop. The incentive to do content you don't usually do can go a long way to renewing enjoyment for the game, for people that normally only ever do a small handful of activities within the game.

[Raidou]

I wholeheartedly support this suggestion. It's the perfect middle ground for people that like the cash shop and people that dislike it. You have to keep in mind that no matter what you do, people will complain. I believe that among all the solutions (short of scrapping the cash shop altogether, which won't happen), this sounds like the lesser evil to me.

Additionally, it can give more incentive to make people do extra stuff they usually don't do. Challenge log entries, beast tribe quests, FATEs (okay, maybe people are getting tired of this one), etc. Whatever content that gives that special currency that's usable in the cash shop. The incentive to do content you don't usually do can go a long way to renewing enjoyment for the game, for people that normally only ever do a small handful of activities within the game.

Yeah, I agree. It works well in other games, I think it would work in FFXIV. At the very least, it gives players another choice.

[TurnBased]

It's up to Square to decide what to do with feedback.

People complained about long queue times and having to farm WP for tomes so we got Duty Roulette. People complained about Titan lag so they eased it. Lots of minor stuff has been addressed with QOL patches. People wanted to help their friends with Coil so we have the system that was just introduced in 2.45.

It's also up to Square to decide what isn't worth implementing. To this day, there are those who want horizontal progression and certain features from V1.0 into the game. Square has yet to respond to these complaints but that won't stop people from being vocal about it. Same thing with people against the cash shop. We'll keep complaining about it until Square listens, a compromise is reached or they unsubscribe.

If a certain group complains about a change that was done to fix a previous complaint, then that is their right to voice their concerns and it is up to Square to balance player feedback.

[Arkine]

The best solution for the cash shop is for SE to take it too far, everything falls on their heads,and they find themselves needing to take a step back and fix things.

Pay2Win please.

[Nalien]

I'd be so damn happy if they just made the currency for the Gold Saucer Crysta.

Play a lot of Triple Triad at the Gold Saucer in game? Have 1 Crysta! Saved up a lot of Crysta? Go to the cash shop and get some of those minions. Saved up a hell of a lot of Crystal? One free 30 day subscription!

[Illmaeran]

I completely support this idea.

As a previous poster said, LoTRO has done something similar to great effect. Being able to use points/currencies earned doing in-game content (basically achievements) for things such as vanity items is a great incentive to do things I might not otherwise do and/or as a minor reward for participating in certain content.

"But that defeats the purpose of the cash shop!" some have said. (Points below)

#1- I both agree and disagree with that. Yes, some people will probably choose to spend the time grinding out currency rather than spend the real money if given the option. However; those are the centrists of the YEAYCASHSHOPGIVEITTOMENOW!<--------->HELLNOCASHSHOP continuum. If something's compelling enough there's a good chance they'll drop a few bucks to get it quicker, but if not they'll earn in-game currency to buy it.

#2a- This is the big one that most folks haven't been talking about: TIME. While SE does want our money (they're a business after all) the real currency they are interested in is our time. Why? Subscription. Because we have to pay for access to the game, the more time we invest in it the more $$ they make. I would argue that every single decision made in this game's core design is based on how long it will take to complete and how SE can keep us interested in playing the game. All to maintain subscription income.

Case in point: veteran ranks and bonus items awarded based on length of time subscribed.

#2b- Tying it together: incentivizing game participation, and thereby continued subscription income, through non-raid affecting options/items is beneficial to the game as a whole. It's all at matter of rate-of-(currency)gain. Say a new mount or (gasp housing option) comes out for 2500 IGC (in-game currency) but we only earn on average 1250 IGC each month, then SE will get 2 months' worth of subscription $$ for each 2500 point item they "sell".

Another example: Rotating monthly glamour sets (ala LoTRO). Say, SE puts together 4 or 5 complete glamour outfits (sans weapon) that are available for purchase every month either with $$ or IGC. You bet your ass that I'll be running content for points and saving them for the time when a badass outfit or chocobo barding hits the streets. Again, incentivizing time in game = subscription $$

"But that means they'll put the best looking gear behind a gate that will force me to grind content in order to earn said gear!!!" Of course, why do you think raid gear looks so cool? Raiding is the #1 prime example of this sort of model where time spent in game = currency. Grind CT/ST for Soldiery? Grind Coil for drops and Poetics? Both equal currency rewards for gear.

The entirety of FFXIV is built around the precedent of grinding for currencies to buy in-game items. It's time to expand on that precedent, and expand the currency and purchasing options.

<edited to fit it all in one post>

[Raidou]

I completely support this idea.

As a previous poster said, LoTRO has done something similar to great effect. Being able to use points/currencies earned doing in-game content (basically achievements) for things such as vanity items is a great incentive to do things I might not otherwise do and/or as a minor reward for participating in certain content.

"But that defeats the purpose of the cash shop!" some have said. (Points below)

#1- I both agree and disagree with that. Yes, some people will probably choose to spend the time grinding out currency rather than spend the real money if given the option. However; those are the centrists of the YEAYCASHSHOPGIVEITTOMENOW!<--------->HELLNOCASHSHOP continuum. If something's compelling enough there's a good chance they'll drop a few bucks to get it quicker, but if not they'll earn in-game currency to buy it.

#2a- This is the big one that most folks haven't been talking about: TIME. While SE does want our money (they're a business after all) the real currency they are interested in is our time. Why? Subscription. Because we have to pay for access to the game, the more time we invest in it the more $$ they make. I would argue that every single decision made in this game's core design is based on how long it will take to complete and how SE can keep us interested in playing the game. All to maintain subscription income.

Case in point: veteran ranks and bonus items awarded based on length of time subscribed.

#2b- Tying it together: incentivizing game participation, and thereby continued subscription income, through non-raid affecting options/items is beneficial to the game as a whole. It's all at matter of rate-of-(currency)gain. Say a new mount or (gasp housing option) comes out for 2500 IGC (in-game currency) but we only earn on average 1250 IGC each month, then SE will get 2 months' worth of subscription $$ for each 2500 point item they "sell".

Another example: Rotating monthly glamour sets (ala LoTRO). Say, SE puts together 4 or 5 complete glamour outfits (sans weapon) that are available for purchase every month either with $$ or IGC. You bet your ass that I'll be running content for points and saving them for the time when a badass outfit or chocobo barding hits the streets. Again, incentivizing time in game = subscription $$

"But that means they'll put the best looking gear behind a gate that will force me to grind content in order to earn said gear!!!" Of course, why do you think raid gear looks so cool? Raiding is the #1 prime example of this sort of model where time spent in game = currency. Grind CT/ST for Soldiery? Grind Coil for drops and Poetics? Both equal currency rewards for gear.

The entirety of FFXIV is built around the precedent of grinding for currencies to buy in-game items. It's time to expand on that precedent, and expand the currency and purchasing options.

<edited to fit it all in one post>

Some great points here. I might not agree with all of them, but, It's clear people would like other choices when it comes to the cash shop.

[TouchandFeel]

I think something along these lines is a very good middle-ground for the cash shop issue and similar methods have worked successfully in other MMO's.

[Mardel]

Should just make a server where those who hate the cash shop can migrate to. Then disable anything purchased from the shop to be used there; problem solved >___________>

In all seriousness though; can a moderator please make a cash shop thread (or mogstation thread)

[Zephyranthes]

The cash shop items itself are ok since they're mainly for vanity. Just make them untradeable so they can't be sold to other players for gil.