Rich & Poor

[Monos]

I'm 31 yo now and I'm a Final Fantasy fan since I was a kid!
Some games like FFVI, FFVII, make ever lasting memories.
Also I think FFXI was a true masterpiece, I played it for around 2 years really loved Treasures of Aht Urhgan, Blue Mage and Summoner.

Played some other MMORPGs since then, free ones that are in endgame sadly pay to win lol...

I earn 340 USD in a month, that's 4080 USD in a year.
I know for those who live in the US or Japan it sounds like a joke but sadly it's the truth.
I play FFXIV around 5 months now and both me and my daughter love it a lot!

The only thing that bothers me is the "Optional Items" shop...
Even througt Square-Enix said FFXIV will never go free to play (actualy I'm happy for that)...
I fear slowly but surely FFXIV will become like TERA!
Yes I know right now there are only a few minor items for sale in the "Optional Items" shop, but it grows and I think that's a really bad sign, because even if FFXIV stays forever pay to play (which is good) I think that optional pay to get items slowly turn it into a similar game like some free MMORPGs.
I know FFXIV will never be pay to win (thank god) but still it bothers me because in my opinion it's not fair to have "elite" exclusive items (other than collectors edition items which is totally understandable) for players who have more money than others!

In the world of Final Fantasy we shall always and forever stand as equals!

I know that most of you would say that those items cost minimal and easy to buy but that's not the point. FFXIV is not a free game and extra items for cash are not a fair thing to those people who are not so lucky to live in a rich country or nation. Also not fair to the rest of the gamers who actually wish to earn these items in game and consider "cash for items" cheating.

I know how forums work, I know 90% of you will say I'm crazy, I'm totally not right and I should go and put my ideas to a place where sun never shines.

The good thing about pay to play MMORPGs is that "those rich bastards" have to earn everything the same way as everyone else! With hard work!
I know most items are useless in the cash shop but there are some really good ones too, even exclusive monut for the rich people like Slepnir, and it's growing bigger and bigger... I'm sure there's gonna be cool flying mounts too and cool weapon looks etc, etc.

Before FFXIV was fair to all regardless of country or nation in real life, but now I feel we are not as equal as before in game, and with even more items for cash stuff slowly it's gonna be like in real life where rich people have all the exclusive cool stuff and poor people work hard for everything.

All those who disagree try and live your life from 340 USD/month (starting with an empty refrigerator) for only 3 months and you will know that 2 USD counts a lot!

Please Square-Enix stop the "Optional Items" shop, please no more cash for items!
Let the world of Final Fantasy be fair for everyone again regardless of real life!

[Monos]

FFXIV is the only "luxury" I have in my life, I don't smoke, drink or go to cinema or restaurant not even fast food.
80% of ppl earns the same ~340 USD as I do in my country and I work 10h/day + travel time, so this is not the point of my post.
I'm not dumb, I would work even harder if they would pay me better for it, the fact is that in some countrys like mine people don't even get paid for extra work hours! You don't like it? Won't work extra 2h/day for free? Then you are fired. ...But like I said this post is not about my real life issues that's only some extra info for those who think that 2 USD is nothing.
The post is about the idea itself of chargeing extra for some stuff, giving it exclusively to those who can afford it, makeing players less equal in game. I read your comments and I do agree that if the real reason of cash shop is keeping subscription fee low than it's nice. Altho I think it's just a business excuse.

[Giralus]

Cash shop fluff items would be fine If there was a way to earn them in the game , similar to how they release endgame zones and gear that's only obtainable by doing the content when it's first released to get them before anyone else ,but then 8 months to a year down the road they introduce alternates means to obtain the gear so average players can now start working on that content befor the expansion is released. There's No reason purchased items should not be obtainable in the game itself by alternate means at a later date. Doesn't mean it has to be easy to squire it , just that you should have a chance to earn it in game. And lol how many mmo's use that excuse"the money goes to adding More stuff to the game " yeah look at all the seasonal items you were able to get that that extra money paid for /sucker born every minute.

[Kiyyto]

The only problem I have with the cash shop is I am paying a monthly fee to play, and I paid to buy the original game as well... Feels like SE is really greedy, either make it F2P or make it subscription based, not both.

[Catwho]

I too wish there was a way to obtain the items in the game, even if it was just a RNG chance off the high level retainer quests like the gold paint or the Fat Cat minion (currently valued at 10 million gil on Lamia due to demand and rarity....) I know that SE is a business, and they're within their rights to try to make money any way they can, but things in game feel less special if they haven't been earned somehow, you know? I was thrilled when my botanist retainer returned with a Yeti minion, not because it was so valuable (3 million gil) but because of the value and rarity I was able to gift it to a friend for Christmas, making it all the more special for both of us.

The value of items in game comes not from their cost, RL cash or otherwise, but the experiences you have with them. The thrill of the red and green metallic paints wears off in about a day. But if I had done something to EARN them, I'd be able to enjoy the paint color for a lot longer.

[Eye_Gore]

The post is about the idea itself of chargeing extra for some stuff, giving it exclusively to those who can afford it, makeing players less equal in game.

Wearing a funny hat, having some other minion or mount does not make anyone a better player at the game.

[Hi-Rez]

Wearing a funny hat, having some other minion or mount does not make anyone a better player at the game.

He's not commenting on the current state of the shop, but the potential for it snowballing into something worse if SE sees it as a cash cow. I think Giralus's suggestion would be the perfect off-balance; add the year-old holiday items like they are but take anything that starts in the shop and insert it into the game in 8-12 months. That way everyone gets a chance at everything at some point. Wouldn't stop me from buying a funny hat or a cool mount even if I know I can get it later on cuz I want it now lol.

[Kataz]

I agree that the cash shop is a bit of an insult on top of a monthly subscription fee. There is a lot about it I disagree with and pretty much hate. 24 bucks for Odins mount? How about instead of just getting your name under Odin's for getting the killing blow, you earn that mount in game for getting the killing blow. Why not make all the metallic paint obtainable from retainer ventures? What SE has done is created an additional pay wall to a game we already pay a monthly fee to participate in. The only part of the cash shop that I think is alright is getting last years seasonal stuff. I dislike that I missed out on the ghost costume from last years halloween event, but if I missed it enough to spend 5 bucks on it, I have the option. I was on my honeymoon during whatever reason there was to release the Huzzah emote, so I missed that. I'd throw 50 cents at SE to have access to that.

What worries me is that my wife played another SE game called Wakfu. They introduced a cash shop on top of a monthly fee with the same premise as FFXIV's shop - that it only sells frills. Well, she said it ended up selling gear and shortcuts and ultimately killed the game. I never played, and the game looked like something from the Super Nintendo days so I was fairly surprised to hear it had a subscription cost at all, but a cash shop on top of it sounded like SE trying to get all the cash they can from a sinking ship.

[Eye_Gore]

if SE sees it as a cash cow.

If? It is a cash cow, people will happily spend the extra money. If they didn't SE would just take it down. Like Gil sellers, they keep on advertising because people keep on buying.

How about instead of just getting your name under Odin's for getting the killing blow, you earn that mount in game for getting the killing blow.

Bit off topic here. How many times has Odin spawned? Has any one taken him down? I've only been playing since April, only seen him once. There had to be over 100 people there and after 15 minutes his health was only down to half. Someone made a comment " half health at 15 minutes, not bad". I was like wow he almost seems unbeatable, so many people would have to be there that he probably wouldn't even render, like when hunts came out. Thought it was a bit much.

[Kataz]

Bit off topic here. How many times has Odin spawned? Has any one taken him down? I've only been playing since April, only seen him once. There had to be over 100 people there and after 15 minutes his health was only down to half. Someone made a comment " half health at 15 minutes, not bad". I was like wow he almost seems unbeatable, so many people would have to be there that he probably wouldn't even render, like when hunts came out. Thought it was a bit much.

Eh, not really off topic. Things in the cash shop should have an in game way of obtaining them. 24 bucks for Odins pony or be the one who scores a killing blow on the guy. I've been to a bunch of Odin kills, none recently because like the hunts, the items you get from Odin are no longer relevant. But give people a chance to earn his pony and I think you'll see a higher turn out for him.