Mogstation and New Content

[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?

[Talraen]

*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?

OK I'll grant I didn't completely think that one through, lol. But the subscription is a known amount, and it's far, far less than a typical F2P game would cost to play as much as I play FFXIV. No matter how much I play, it's already budgeted for.

[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.

[Greedalox]

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.

Semantics battle at this point really. Opposing points battling over which side gets to use the word "content" in their argument.

[Bourne_Endeavor]

Yoshida and Team expects collectors to dish out another $790.84+ (since I still haven't bought everything on Mog Station) for minions, gear, hairstyles, mounts, housing items, emotes, orchestrion rolls that have never been obtainable by playing the game.

They don't expect anything. You choose to collect everything, which comes at additional costs. Bear in mind, it's incredibly unlikely Yoshida has control over cash shop decisions. That would be mandated by Square Enix, whose only concern is profit. Your expenditure decisions proves their current business model has been very effective. I mean, no offense, but think about this from a purely business perspective.

You have spent: $1300.83
Average sub only player: $311.76 (same 24 month span)

And you wonder why there's a cash shop, among other merchandise alternatives?

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.

Gameplay and cosmetics are note even remotely comparable. You're building a massive strawman here.

[Naunet]

Gameplay and cosmetics are note even remotely comparable. You're building a massive strawman here.

Not a strawman at all. I haven't raided in this game in years. Raiding is 100% optional. Content is content, however, and one type of content should not be treated differently than the next. Cosmetics and aesthetic are literally THE reason I play this game. I get my raiding jollies in WildStar, which incidentally has a far better costume system than this one. And I can get all the store costumes without ever spending a dime of real life cash if I so choose...

[Bourne_Endeavor]

Not a strawman at all. I haven't raided in this game in years. Raiding is 100% optional. Content is content, however, and one type of content should not be treated differently than the next. Cosmetics and aesthetic are literally THE reason I play this game. I get my raiding jollies in WildStar, which incidentally has a far better costume system than this one. And I can get all the store costumes without ever spending a dime of real life cash if I so choose...

It is because you are comparing two radically different features and attempting to draw parallels. You may only care for glamour, however games exist for their gameplay. Without it, you have no game to play whereas the game remains functionally unchanged whether you play it wearing armour or walking around naked. Aesthetics in no way impact this, thus they are not comparable. As for Wildstar... considering it's dire financial state, it's not exactly a great example.

[Naunet]

It is because you are comparing two radically different features and attempting to draw parallels. You may only care for glamour, however games exist for their gameplay. Without it, you have no game to play whereas the game remains functionally unchanged whether you play it wearing armour or walking around naked. Aesthetics in no way impact this, thus they are not comparable. As for Wildstar... considering it's dire financial state, it's not exactly a great example.

Without appealing armor appearances, I see very little point in engaging in any combat gameplay. Or are you comfortable running around as a grey box?

Aesthetics impact gameplay. This is simply fact.