More and more microtransactions

[alimdia]

Am I the only one who abandoned f2p games to pay for a sub because sub games didn't have microtransactions? And now sub games are being flooded with microtransactions, more so this game has long surpassed WoW in terms of microtransactions.

But it's alright, microtransactions are always optional right?

The question is: what are we really getting in exchange for so many microtransactions? Every time people ask for new features or improvements to existing features the devs keep telling us the servers can't handle it, it feels like all these microtransactions aren't even improving the game, every new feature added is an unfinished empty husk "to be improved later", be it Diadem, squadrons, glamour dresser, plates, submarines, cross world PF took several patches to get where it is now, we still can't mail alts, we still can't have alts use our homes, we still don't have better texture support or better AA, and this is the only MMO where additional storage is rented instead of permanent unlock, now come cross world linkshells and turn out it's not "turn your linkshells into cross world", it's a "create a new cross world chat group that gets deleted if everyone goes offline, we might improve it later".

If microtransactions aren't improving the game, why do we have them? Why do they keep expanding? Why are we getting the same reasoning to not add stuff when the game went from "optional" name change + "optional" server transfer to 8 "optional" rented retainers, the biggest "optional" cash shop in any p2p MMO, "optional" wedding plans, "optional" $140 emotes (comes with a free paper holder!) and now you can "optionally" pay 1/3 of your sub cost to unlock a better inventory management than you're allowed to have in-game, double chocobo saddlebag space and even past that sub there's another premium currency so you can do MTX in your MTX! And to entice you to buy them, the market function is pretty much locked behind the new cash currency.

It's all optional, but again why is none of that optional money that is probably generating as much income as our sub improving the game? Is the future of the game even more microtransactions while content remains the same?

[BillyKaplan]

The question is: what are we really getting in exchange for so many microtransactions?

So far, the answer seems to be 'more FFXV DLCs'

[Squintina]

I'm going to say something a bit facetious (I'm JOKING) so no one take it too seriously ok.

But in the live letter they mentioned they were hiring to make the team bigger to have more content. So maybe the micro transactions are to pay for their salaries?

[AlphaSonic]

[SokiYagami]

I'm going to say something a bit facetious so no one take it too seriously ok.

But in the live letter they mentioned they were hiring to make the team bigger to have more content. So maybe the micro transactions are to pay for their salaries?

I really, really hope that they are doing that, or giving additional/bigger bonus to the current staff for their efforts. Reward the hardworking staff, hire new staff in return to reward the existing players with more exciting contents.

[Vstarstruck]

I'm going to say something a bit facetious so no one take it too seriously ok.

But in the live letter they mentioned they were hiring to make the team bigger to have more content. So maybe the micro transactions are to pay for their salaries?

So you minimize game funding to start out with, so the sub and mogstation etc go more for funding other projects, then you add more costs just to cover the game because you are siphoning out the money that should be put in the game in the first place? just to lock basic UI features behind a paywall? not acceptable.

[Squintina]

So you minimize game funding to start out with, so the sub and mogstation etc go more for funding other projects, then you add more costs just to cover the game because you are siphoning out the money that should be put in the game in the first place? just to lock basic UI features behind a paywall? not acceptable.

I said I was being facetious.

I don't find it acceptable either (at least not the way it's been announced so far). I'm with you on that.

[Vstarstruck]

I said I was being facetious.

I don't find it acceptable either, I'm with you on that.

ah, I guess I misunderstood that word, sorry.

[Tyrn]

they were hiring to make the team bigger to have more content.

I'll believe that when we see the results of it, maybe if one can dream 2 primals in a patch or raids that don't just dump you in a circle.

[Squintina]

I'll believe that when we see the results of it, maybe if one can dream 2 primals in a patch or raids that don't just dump you in a circle.

I was joking about that being the reason for the microtransactions.

But anyway, taking a look at the announcement of them hiring as a separate thing (and seriously):

If they're hiring now (people applying), that's a few weeks/months before said new applicants would finish up their job interviews and actually start. Then another few weeks to get them up and running with how the game is designed and how they handle version control, management, etc... Then Said new people would start working as part of an upcoming Sprint, but probably one for a major patch not for minor patches, so they have more time to get up-to-date and it being reviewed by more senior members before heading to QA.

So you probably wouldn't notice a change in content delivery from having a bigger staff for at least another 6 months to a year.