Mogstation and New Content

[Ririta]

My gosh people are really hostile here. There's nothing really new about the idea of Cash Shops.
Every game has them and while yes, I agree more things should be in the game but there are some things I -will- buy from the station.
And I don't mind doing so. I'm still waiting to get the big Moogle!

Almost every game has them now because instead of uniting to show developers that we don't want such thing, we argue between ourselves and pay for them anyway.

I remember one day when they were asked why FFXI never had a cash shop and the answer was something like "the playerbase would never accept it". The European Ragnarok Online (euRO) also stopped on very basic items (that you could easily get better in game) because the playerbase wouldn't accept what other ROs were getting.

I don't understand what's with the modern video-game players that defend anti-consumer practices especially on a game that started without them like ours. It doesn't helps that the game really did get more content before cash shop... both extra events and actual playable content.

https://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Category:Events

3 out of 5 extra events were added before the cash shop (Lightning, Shantotto and Dragon Quest).

In my opinion arguing in favor of cash shops is a disrespect to both the game and the developers, since you're basically saying that you'd rather pay than play the game's content to obtain your items.

[Naunet]

I don't understand what's with the modern video-game players that defend anti-consumer practices especially on a game that started without them like ours. It doesn't helps that the game really did get more content before cash shop... both extra events and actual playable content.

Preach. Thank you for this post. I feel less alone.

[NolLacnala]

I don't understand what's with the modern video-game players that defend anti-consumer practices especially on a game that started without them like ours.

Don't weigh on them too much. This practice has been normalized for their gaming generation, and because they don't know any better, they hand wave and accept it.

[Talraen]

Don't weigh on them too much. This practice has been normalized for their gaming generation, and because they don't know any better, they hand wave and accept it.

I've been gaming since before the NES, and I have no problem with these supposedly "anti-consumer" practices. The fact is, game development budgets have gotten completely out of control, and they need to make that money somewhere. Instead of continually raising game prices, everyone went with a DLC model. At first I hated it, because it felt like I was being forced to pay for the full game, but eventually I got over that (and now I spend more on DLC than I did back then).

The idea that optional content is "anti-consumer" is just nonsense, though. It's basically a progressive tax. Instead of charging everyone more money, they get more money by allowing some people to spend far more than others. As long as they don't add anything that you're forced, gameplay-wise, to buy, I am totally fine with it. I don't care how much you love glamours, or whether that's the reason you play, it's still optional content. If they start charging for something that you essentially need to play (like F2P game stamina type stuff), I'm out. I hate free to play with a passion, not because they're charging me for a bunch of stuff, but because they're continually charging me to actually play the game*. That's not happening here, so I'm fine with it.

(*EDIT: As someone pointed out, this statement is totally ridiculous when applied to the fact that this game has a subscription. So I should clarify that the difference to me is that the subscription is a small, set amount, and doesn't change based on how or how much I play the game. But... yeah that was pretty dumb to say.)

If you're opposed to the cash shop, you have to ask yourself, would you rather they raised subscription prices? Now I think it's pretty clear they wouldn't do that, because it would be suicide in the current gaming sphere. But that's why they have a cash shop. Relying solely on cheap subscriptions you can't raise is leaving money on the table. If you begrudge them trying to make more money... well sorry, but welcome to real life. I've long since given up on railing against businesses for daring to charge me for things, and I highly recommend you do the same. You'll feel better!

[Zojha]

If they start charging for something that you essentially need to play (like F2P game stamina type stuff), I'm out. I hate free to play with a passion, not because they're charging me for a bunch of stuff, but because they're continually charging me to actually play the game. That's not happening here, so I'm fine with it.

*blinks*
So...uh... what exactly is the subscription to you?

I mean, except that you don't "essentially" need it to play, but "literally" need it to play?

[LineageRazor]

I hate free to play with a passion, not because they're charging me for a bunch of stuff, but because they're continually charging me to actually play the game. That's not happening here, so I'm fine with it.

Well, if you want to get technical, SE IS charging you to actually play the game. That's what a subscription is all about! One might even say the FTP is a step up from that, because you only have to pay to play the game if you WANT to play it to a greater degree than is allowed by the free options. The best way to enjoy FTP games is to find one where you're satisfied with the gameplay that's offered for free. At that point, any purchases you choose to make do not feel obligatory - you make them because you want to, not because you feel that you have to. FTP is a fine option, so long as you understand and can tolerate the limits that are imposed by playing free.

I agree with you on other points, though. I first cut my teeth on gaming with stuff programmed in BASIC (yay DONKEY.BAS!), and my first console was the Atari 2600. I've watched how gaming pricing models have evolved over the years. (I was quite impressed with DOOM's model - distribute the first chapter for free, and charge for the full game. Got so much enjoyment out of that first chapter that I happily forked over for the full game, even on my limited teenaged budget!) While the DLC phenomenon wasn't something I was expecting, I've generally made my peace with it.

And as far as DLC goes, FFXIV's case is ridiculously easy to forgive. Unless you count the expansions themselves as DLC (and technically speaking, they are, but this is a practice that has been typified by MMOs for a long time now, so I consider them to be Grandfathered in), there's no Mogstation items that lock away storylines, dungeons, raids, or anything along those lines. There's nothing offered that provides a direct enhancement to you that would make you more desirable in endgame content. The mounts move at the same speed, the gear has no stats worth speaking of. It's all stuff that changes your appearance, in one way or another, without changing your gameplay. I can definitely live with that!

[Naunet]

As long as they don't add anything that you're forced, gameplay-wise, to buy, I am totally fine with it. I don't care how much you love glamours, or whether that's the reason you play, it's still optional content.

It's a game. And if it's a freaking feature in a game, then it is content! Guess what, raiding is optional content, too. Nothing in this game is forcing me to raid. How about we put that on the Mogstation?

I know how well that would go over, though. That's a double standard.

[Lelila38]

Almost every game has them now because instead of uniting to show developers that we don't want such thing, we argue between ourselves and pay for them anyway.

I don't understand what's with the modern video-game players that defend anti-consumer practices especially on a game that started without them like ours. It doesn't helps that the game really did get more content before cash shop... both extra events and actual playable content.

In my opinion arguing in favor of cash shops is a disrespect to both the game and the developers, since you're basically saying that you'd rather pay than play the game's content to obtain your items.

Thank you!

[Bourne_Endeavor]

Almost every game has them now because instead of uniting to show developers that we don't want such thing, we argue between ourselves and pay for them anyway.

I remember one day when they were asked why FFXI never had a cash shop and the answer was something like "the playerbase would never accept it". The European Ragnarok Online (euRO) also stopped on very basic items (that you could easily get better in game) because the playerbase wouldn't accept what other ROs were getting.

I don't understand what's with the modern video-game players that defend anti-consumer practices especially on a game that started without them like ours. It doesn't helps that the game really did get more content before cash shop... both extra events and actual playable content.

https://ffxiv.gamerescape.com/wiki/Category:Events

3 out of 5 extra events were added before the cash shop (Lightning, Shantotto and Dragon Quest).

In my opinion arguing in favor of cash shops is a disrespect to both the game and the developers, since you're basically saying that you'd rather pay than play the game's content to obtain your items.

Because not everyone feels the same way. I, for one, have no qualms with DLC, provided it's worthwhile content. When developers have attempted to nickel and dime, people have called them out. BioWare has taken a beating for their day one DLC practices and Square Enix themselves caved to the overwhelmingly negative response to "augment my pre-order."

Another aspect is the realization and acceptance innovation isn't free. You seem to presume companies will simply eat financial losses. They won't. Stuff on the cash shop simply wouldn't exist if said shop were rejected by the community. In that same vein, if people refused to purchase DLC, game prices would skyrocket. The cost of development have increased exponentially over the years and companies will always look for new venues they can explore to recoup those costs. In 2010, Final Fantasy X's entire budget was estimated around 35 million. Nowadays, triple A titles break into the hundred million range; marketing only extends it further. We can't have it all. People want better graphics and technical advances. Well, those cost money. We're either going to pay for it through add ons or at the base cost. I prefer the former because it allows me to opt out. That moogle mount is too expensive for me? Good thing I don't have to purchase it.

[Airget]

If you like an item on the cash shop, buy it, if you are against items on the cash shop, don't support it. Just remember this any added profit to a game is good for us, because by showing something is profitable, they will continue to support it. I hate to be cynical in XI's case, but perhaps the reason why patches started to dry up, come out slower, and then take 3-4yrs to just finish 1 expansions story, was because it had no cash shop, that it wasn't as profitable as it use to be and they were getting away with the bare minimal. So as long as they see money rolling, they will keep supporting, but try to keep an open mind. If Stormblood is the same as HW in terms of experience, then I'll start to doubt how much the cash shop helps myself, but until we see the results of the 2nd expansion, we can't know just how effective/helpful the cash shop is for the game.