Problem with "Optional" Items in the Cash Shop

[Bacent]

I'm gonna drag this thread down I think:

so by this line of reasoning, if they opted to keep a Trial fight behind Mogstation, we wouldn't have any right to complain because it's completely optional and doesn't impact the game/make it pay to win?

Keeping things that could be in the game out of it does in fact change the game, we're losing out on the game that could have been, see?

So you're comparing items, that are PURELY AESTHETIC, with something that you HAVE to do with other people that usually has some bit of story about the game its self, while the items are just for glamour?

[Burningskull]

well. think about if they had put the Odin Trial behind a paywall? and what if it didn't drop any glamour gear? what if they put glamour gear behind a paywall 2 or 3 months later? what if start putting the orchestrean rolls from the primal fights in the cash shop cause they are Optional and not needed to complete the game? wouldn't people complain then?

[Yallaid]

So you're comparing items, that are PURELY AESTHETIC, with something that you HAVE to do with other people that usually has some bit of story about the game its self, while the items are just for glamour?

that is indeed what I'm doing, but there's one little subtlety to this: Players already acknowledge the Purely Aesthetic value of cosmetics/items in-game because they are desirable rewards to otherwise dead content. Think of bird/pony farming. So there is some conceivable in-game purpose for any/all unique Mogstation items, they've just made the choice to limit them to real money purchases.

The problem with buying cosmetic rewards directly for cash is that it short-circuits one of the reward pathways in the game. They get around the glaring problem with this because they (correctly) avoid selling anything in the Mogstation that is also available in game. But my problem is I can't be sure how many of the cool Mogstation rewards could have been tied to like, sightseeing logs or ochestrion roll completion or triple triad or the Gold Saucer games no one plays, etc.

I'm not really upset with SE because I understand their position, but I'm not going to stop voicing my point of view.

[Mindiori]

Fact is that nothing on the mogstation is necessary. Its not required for the game and it would be essentially impossible to argue that on the premise of them being 'optional'.

If you can't afford something - then go without. The economies of the west are already in a shambles because of participation prize imbeciles who can't handle envy, greed, self-gratuity and a whole host of other poor baseline qualities.

You earn luxuries because they are precisely that. A luxury. The sub supports the games general development and server upkeep. Not to hand everything out for free. If you compared this game, to say something like Elder Scrolls Online or Perfect World; you'd realize just what a cash shop farm really is.

[Aramina]

well. think about if they had put the Odin Trial behind a paywall? and what if it didn't drop any glamour gear? what if they put glamour gear behind a paywall 2 or 3 months later? what if start putting the orchestrean rolls from the primal fights in the cash shop cause they are Optional and not needed to complete the game? wouldn't people complain then?

What if they charge rl money to teleport?
What if they charge rl money to turn in side-quests?
What if they charge rl money to use chat?

amidoinitrite?

[Burningskull]

What if they charge rl money to teleport?
What if they charge rl money to turn in side-quests?
What if they charge rl money to use chat?

amidoinitrite?

yes i believe so

[RaijinSupreme]

I'm gonna drag this thread down I think:

so by this line of reasoning, if they opted to keep a Trial fight behind Mogstation, we wouldn't have any right to complain because it's completely optional and doesn't impact the game/make it pay to win?

Keeping things that could be in the game out of it does in fact change the game, we're losing out on the game that could have been, see?

All of the trials we have had so far dropped weapons that increased our iLevel. The only way they would put a trial fight on the mogstation is if they took out the weapons, or had the weapons not have an ilevel.

I see no reason why that would happen.

[Yallaid]

All of the trials we have had so far dropped weapons that increased our iLevel. The only way they would put a trial fight on the mogstation is if they took out the weapons, or had the weapons not have an ilevel.

I see no reason why that would happen.

iirc the 2.x Hildebrand trials didn't drop anything besides the rewards tied to the Quest chains themselves, right?

I don't really disagree with you, they'd almost certainly never do this, but with the kinds of defenses people have for the Mogstation there doesn't seem to be any reason they couldn't and people apparently wouldn't get that upset.

[Musashidon]

what if they charged you to play the game?!

we already bought the game why would they make us pay to be able to even play it?!

[Yallaid]

what if they charged you to play the game?!

we already bought the game why would they make us pay to be able to even play it?!

The greater and much more interesting question is: "why would they let us pay to not have to even play it?!" because that's what cash shops are all about