It's time to reevaluate the idea of adding a PLEX/Chronoscroll-like system to FFXIV

[Ozzie]

http://www.pangamers.com/gaming/fina...-and-crafting/

PSLS: Have you taken, or are you going to take any steps to respond to some of the upcoming changes in the MMO market, such as with Elder Scrolls Online, which is now coming to consoles and moving to a free-to-play model?

"NY: No, we do not feel that we are being influenced by that kind of model shift. Especially with an MMORPG, it is a kind of a game as a service, where we are kind of almost in the service industry.

Say you are in the restaurant business and you own a steakhouse, and you see another competitive steakhouse that a popular feature or some other element that draws people in, of course you would have to look at what they are doing and they are keeping their quality of meats, and what they do in terms of service. In that same respect, we do look at the other MMO titles that are out there and do some research on what they do and have, Elder Scrolls Online included. But, for FFXIV and the players that belong to the world of Eorzea, we feel that we don’t need to put things in that are not necessary for that game.

So, just because ESO moved into a free-to-play subscription model, it doesn’t necessarily mean for us to move into that direction as well. Also, for use we have taken player surveys and took a look at what our customer satisfaction level is and we actually garnered data that shows that over 80% of our players are satisfied with the subscription model and they feel very assured that it is a constant. You are safe to be in that environment, and you know that you can expect a decent amount of updates and content. So, we don’t believe that FFXIV needs to shift in that direction and not everything that other competitors or titles do will necessarily apply to our title."

[Laerad3993]

Anyways, back on topic (if you please), do you have an idea of how they might introduce a PLEX system that wouldn't ruin the game economy?

I'm doubtful there's any way for them to implement such a system without consequence, even temporary. What that ends up being, I don't know. Who all is really worried about inflation? Let's say it is temporary. Then what? Gil is easy as hell to make in this game. I don't have any crafting skills maxed, and can pull in 3-5m a week from dungeons, gardening, and retainer ventures. Is a few thousand gil really that big of a deal, if in the end it only lasted a few months tops?

I for one would like a way to earn/purchase gametime without having to actually use real money. Like I posted earlier in the thread, I also think the game needs a much longer lifespan before such a system be considered. It's not time yet.

[Ceodore]

I'm doubtful there's any way for them to implement such a system without consequence. What that ends up being, I don't know. I for one would like a way to earn/purchase gametime without having to actually use real money. Like I posted earlier in the thread, I also think the game needs a much longer lifespan before such a system be considered. It's not time yet.

Well, at the risk of sounding like a broken record from other people's posts, but the way WoW is implementing their system is rather ingenious. A lot of games before has done things to try to create gold sinks, like putting a couple dozen game time scrolls up for sale on their market boards so that the super rich in game players would buy them. This was successful in sinking a little gold out of the economy, but unsuccessful at making any money for the company. The way WoW is doing theirs is where players can buy a scroll, and either use it, or sell it at a set market price that they can't change. I think that would be a great system that would control the effects that the scroll would have while still making the developers money.

[Laerad3993]

I can see that working. I'd much prefer a set price, rather than have it left up to the players. At least that way you wouldn't have to worry about price manipulation of any sort. Wouldn't they also have to implement a system that either prevents it from being traded 1v1, or create a system that locks the trade to not being allowed unless the exact amount of Gil is placed up for trade as well?

[Ceodore]

I can see that working. I'd much prefer a set price, rather than have it left up to the players. At least that way you wouldn't have to worry about price manipulation of any sort. Wouldn't they also have to implement a system that either prevents it from being traded 1v1, or create a system that locks the trade to not being allowed unless the exact amount of Gil is placed up for trade as well?

I can't be entirely sure how they are going to implement this. I'd assume that all items would have certain limitations put on them. For example, an item might be character bound, meaning that it can't be traded, put on market, or even given to another character on the same account. Then, an item might be account bound, meaning it can't be traded or sold on market, but it can be transferred between characters on an account. This system is easily seen in games like Guild Wars 2, where the bank is shared by all characters. Also, an item might be considered "Regulated" meaning it can be used by the account, the character, but can not be traded freely. Then an item might be tradable, which you allow it to not be limited by any restrictions. Such a system wouldn't be too difficult to design, and it would have more applications than other than just time scrolls. I could see a game using it to control all its cash shop items more effectively to limit their effect on the economy. Other regulations are things like you can only buy one a month/week/day, etc. These kinds of limits would keep the market from being flooded.

[Dyne_Fellpool]

Please no.

This allows you to buy Gil with RL money which is NOT okay imo.

[Laerad3993]

Please no.

This allows you to buy Gil with RL money which is NOT okay imo.

Just would like to point out subbing to extra retainers already allows for this. Just in a different way, but your funds increase exponentially.

[Ceodore]

Please no.

This allows you to buy Gil with RL money which is NOT okay imo.

A system like this isn't entirely bad. It's when it's abused that you run into problems. Regulations, controls, and limitations on such a system are necessary to make it work properly and limit the effects the real world economy have on the game economy. Regulations on sale prices, Controls on access, and Limitations on the amount that can be purchased from real world money are all necessary to limit these effects. It may seem like it might stifle the system entirely, but the real truth is that any other way, the system would fall into chaos, corruption, and greed.

The good that can come from this system, when properly handled, can be that players that DO have limited time to make gil, can do it in other ways. we aren't talking about pay to win things though. Things like best gear should not be obtainable this way. Items like Gil boosters, EXP boosters, or time scolls are perfect items for this kind of controlled system. If you have the gil, play for free, and the people who want a quick buck can still make a bit of gil, but it's regulated so that it doesn't get out of control. The rich may play for free then, but then the gil moves from the rich to those selling items, but the people selling the items can't just buy 40 at a time, they have to abide by maybe 1 scroll a month. So either they buy a scoll and use it, and not have to pay for time next month, or just stick with a subscription and sell it. Similar limits should be on items like Gil and EXP boosters too.

[Dyne_Fellpool]

Just would like to point out subbing to extra retainers already allows for this. Just in a different way, but your funds increase exponentially.

So since there's already one bad system in place, add more?

No.

[Laerad3993]

Other regulations are things like you can only buy one a month/week/day, etc. These kinds of limits would keep the market from being flooded.

I would agree there. One a month would be perfect. You'd have the people though with multiple accounts able to bypass this sort of thing though unless they locked it to your IP somehow, and I have no idea if that is possible. A lot of regulation would have to go into this to flawlessly execute it.