What if instead of a normal cash-shop, you have to "unlock" certain options?

[Terin]

I'm almost hesitant to suggest this, because I can see where such a suggestion could also be used for evil. But hear me out...

What is, instead of just putting things up on the cash-shop -- which essentially robs it of any "cool factor", other than being whatever the item itself is -- you instead had to "unlock" cash-shop options?

Here's an example:

Right now, each expansion's Trials introduce a series of mounts (horses, lanners, wolves, dragons). Collecting them all gives you a sort of "super-mount". Well, what if collecting all of THOSE mounts, unlocked a new item in the cash-shop? Something you could ONLY get for having gotten all those items, but still in support of the cash-shop.

Now, obviously the knee-jerk reaction is "well, why wouldn't you just make that an actual reward?". But I view it more as an alternative to "just another thing tossed on the cash-shop".

Here's another example; if you clear Ultimate Coils, Ultima Weapon, or Alexander -- what if that unlocked the option to purchase a mount based on that content? Like a "Bahamut clone" or something?

That way, cool stuff doesn't feel "wasted" as a cash-shop reward. Because honestly, that new mech-robot thing? Maybe that WOULD'VE been cool, but because it's just a cash-shop mount, it has no "meaning", there's no weight or status to having it.

Just a thought. As a HUGE fan of Odin, even though I bought Sleipnir, there's still a part of me that hates using it, because I know it's "just a cash-shop mount". But if it was, say, tied behind an "Unreal" version of Odin? Then I'd be pretty stoked about it!

[Evergrey]

I just don't get why things has to have a "cool factor" to be worth it.
Just enjoy it for what it is.

[Terin]

I just don't get why things has to have a "cool factor" to be worth it.
Just enjoy it for what it is.

Well, it's kind of a multi-faceted issue. The Devs want to make something that will sell. Players want mounts to "show off". So what could happen (and does in most games) is the Devs pour more effort and detail into cash-shop mounts than those attainable in-game.

For players who put a lot of effort into the game, that can wind up undermining their commitment because A) they're putting effort into things that feel less cool than cash-shop items, and B) can cause them to "look down on" cash-shop items (or even cause resentment towards players who buy them, seeing it as "enabling" more cash-shop rewards), and that can backfire making those willing to spend money, feel less inclined to (why spend money on a mount, that people are going to instantly think "they just paid money for that").

My thinking is, by "unlocking" those options, it change the approach a bit.

Like, let's say someone who cleared Ultimate Coils purchased a "Bahamut" mount. Well, sure it costs money, but instead of saying "that just means has money", I'll be thinking "Oh snap, he cleared Ultimate Coils!".

Like I said, this could absolutely be used in an evil way (like some dev deciding "Okay, take that cool new mount that WAS going to be a rare-drop from this EX trial, now we'll make it an "unlock"). I've just never seen anyone take that approach, and was kind of curious what you guys would think about something like that.

[Arillyn]

This would be worse IMHO. Have to do something in a game to earn the right to purchase something off a cash shop? That makes no sense. If you are going to earn something in the game you get it in the game. You don't earn something in the game so then you can unlock something special on the cash shop to spend money on it. The blowback on that from the community would be huge - and rightly so.

[MistakeNot]

Like I said, this could absolutely be used in an evil way (like some dev deciding "Okay, take that cool new mount that WAS going to be a rare-drop from this EX trial, now we'll make it an "unlock"). I've just never seen anyone take that approach, and was kind of curious what you guys would think about something like that.

I think it would be a terrible idea in all aspects. Harder to get access to the ship mounts - fewer people who will buy them, and thus less money to the devs.
As to the "cool factor" - if you think you will impress anyone by having some hard-to-get mount, you need think again. Vast majority of players will not know where you got it from, and won't be even slightly impressed if they did know.

[DeaconMoore]

If you have to grind in the game for an item you should get the item at the end in-game as well. Setting up a paywall infront of your final goal doesn't make the item special, it'd just be SE demanding even more money from you above and beyond your subscription fee for your efforts. It doesn't make it a "status symbol".

[Vahlnir]

You see the drama currently engulfing GD over a store? Multiply that by 100 and that would be the result of this. Personally, I don't agree with this idea anyway. Would be wasted resources.

[Gameovers]

So you want to hide the store behind a grind? So a grindwall AND a paywall? No thanks. This is silly idea because we already have the store anyway.

[SturmChurro]

This would be worse IMHO. Have to do something in a game to earn the right to purchase something off a cash shop? That makes no sense. If you are going to earn something in the game you get it in the game. You don't earn something in the game so then you can unlock something special on the cash shop to spend money on it. The blowback on that from the community would be huge - and rightly so.

Working your butt off in-game.... to have the opportunity to give SE money...?

[Equitable_Remedy]

What if the cash shop is actually fine?

Cosmetics for the people who want to drop some $$, revenue stream for the game—makes sense to me.