Informative tidbit video

[Skivvy]

Can I get an ELI5 on this? Why are people in a panic over NFTs in XIV? Is it the thought of potentially exclusive things being sold? (already done). Selling digital goods? (already done).

[R041]

Can I get an ELI5 on this? Why are people in a panic over NFTs in XIV? Is it the thought of potentially exclusive things being sold? (already done). Selling digital goods? (already done).

Square Enix Newsletter: https://www.hd.square-enix.com/eng/n...esident_3.html

In terms of new business domains, we named three focus investment fields under our medium-term business plan. Among those, we are most focused on blockchain entertainment, to which we have devoted aggressive investment and business development efforts. Looking externally, I think it is fair to say that blockchain gained significant recognition as a field in 2022, as evidenced by “Web 3.0” becoming a firmly established buzzword among businesspeople. However, the year also saw volatility in the cryptocurrency and NFT (non-fungible token) markets that tracked the dramatic shifts in the macroeconomy described above. The latter half of the year in particular produced a somber string of news stories with blockchain connections, including the scandalous bankruptcy filing of FTX in November.

The problem is Crypto/NFT/Blockchain is built around FOMO cash grabs. Everyone now wants to build their own walled garden economic ecosystem. Which means the Live Services (XIV) they work on, become susceptible and strangled into this ecosystem. It's so FOMO that SE got FOMO that everyone else is making money. Nobody does crypto for the good of it.

Barely any of the items on the XIV Cash Shop are even Account-Wide and the game is designed to encourage boosts/skips, with repeat purchases like dyes, clothing, songs. What makes you think they won't ramp this up to a questionable degree.

In the right hands, this can be OK because it's a technology that allows trade and ownership. But we're talking about a corporation built around media that reuses resources to squeeze value out of all of their IPs. I wouldn't have a lot of faith in their ability to keep their hands to themselves, and it can easily cascade into some nasty FOMO services. Hell, look at what they did to their FF - Trading Card Game. It's just copy pastes of existing games, re-sold on cardboard. (I stopped buying them when I noticed they were just reusing old shit for everything)

You all praise that XIV is SE's cash cow, that means it's the most susceptible. Imagine if XIV's Marketplace started using Crysta, and every trade was processed with a % loss (as it currently does), that would effectively make the Marketplace and it's assets an NFT ecosystem. This means that every trade being made will generate value back to them for items that are effectively worthless.

XIV housing is also already built around FOMO - What makes us think they won't push NFT/Crysta to that?

Have you heard of the critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV? With an expanded free trial which you can play through the entirety of A Realm Reborn and the award winning Heavensward expansion up to level 60 for free with no restrictions on playtime.

[Skivvy]

Square Enix Newsletter: https://www.hd.square-enix.com/eng/n...esident_3.html



The problem is Crypto/NFT/Blockchain is built around FOMO cash grabs. Everyone now wants to build their own walled garden economic ecosystem. Which means the Live Services (XIV) they work on, become susceptible and strangled into this ecosystem. It's so FOMO that SE got FOMO that everyone else is making money. Nobody does crypto for the good of it.

Barely any of the items on the XIV Cash Shop are even Account-Wide and the game is designed to encourage boosts/skips, with repeat purchases like dyes, clothing, songs. What makes you think they won't ramp this up to a questionable degree.

In the right hands, this can be OK because it's a technology that allows trade and ownership. But we're talking about a corporation built around media that reuses resources to squeeze value out of all of their IPs. I wouldn't have a lot of faith in their ability to keep their hands to themselves, and it can easily cascade into some nasty FOMO services. Hell, look at what they did to their FF - Trading Card Game. It's just copy pastes of existing games, re-sold on cardboard. (I stopped buying them when I noticed they were just reusing old shit for everything)

You all praise that XIV is SE's cash cow, that means it's the most susceptible. Imagine if XIV's Marketplace started using Crysta, and every trade was processed with a % loss (as it currently does), that would effectively make the Marketplace and it's assets an NFT ecosystem. This means that every trade being made will generate value back to them for items that are effectively worthless.

XIV housing is also already built around FOMO - What makes us think they won't push NFT/Crysta to that?

Have you heard of the critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV? With an expanded free trial which you can play through the entirety of A Realm Reborn and the award winning Heavensward expansion up to level 60 for free with no restrictions on playtime.

I think for me, it still boils down to:

Don't worry, i'm sure any NFTs will be optional. ;^)

And I realize the tone of that comment, but still. :P This game has been on a slippery slope ever since the cash shop was added. People didn't want one in their subscription game, but it came anyway. Started smallish, added more, added a TON more, started making mounts single-use, raised prices, offers outfits that can't work for everyone, it's a crapshoot all around. Outside of the shop, you then have limited release statues/books/cds, some which are tied to in-game codes (emotes/hats/etc).

A lot of people really love to defend the cash shop, but it seems like NFTs are just the natural progression of things, no? We all have our breaking points when it comes to this topic, but I am struggling to see why THIS is the panic point for many when things haven't been great for a long time.

[R041]

A lot of people really love to defend the cash shop, but it seems like NFTs are just the natural progression of things, no? We all have our breaking points when it comes to this topic, but I am struggling to see why THIS is the panic point for many when things haven't been great for a long time.

Totally - Once the cash shop was in it kinda already begged for all of this. NFT isn't much of a downgrade. I think the only big difference is my world-ending worst case scenario of them adding it to the in-game Marketplace. But I really doubt that would happen. lol

The sky was falling when we got Skips and Boost, I remember that. Sky is still falling, it's a live service game. As the other live service games evolve and utilize more predatory practices, so will Square Enix and XIV.

[Jojoya]

If it happens, it will be a great life lesson for those who fall into the NFT trap. Perhaps it will be a first step in curing people of FOMO.

In the meantime, it will have little impact on those who see NFTs as the useless things they are. Either a game will be worth playing independent of NFT existence or it won't. If it's not, we'll go play other games. There are good games getting made by indie developers who don't have the resources to mess around with NFT rubbish. Players can throw their monetary support to those developers instead of the triple A companies more interested in catering to trash collectors than making good games.

I think for me, it still boils down to:


And I realize the tone of that comment, but still. :P This game has been on a slippery slope ever since the cash shop was added. People didn't want one in their subscription game, but it came anyway. Started smallish, added more, added a TON more, started making mounts single-use, raised prices, offers outfits that can't work for everyone, it's a crapshoot all around. Outside of the shop, you then have limited release statues/books/cds, some which are tied to in-game codes (emotes/hats/etc).

A lot of people really love to defend the cash shop, but it seems like NFTs are just the natural progression of things, no? We all have our breaking points when it comes to this topic, but I am struggling to see why THIS is the panic point for many when things haven't been great for a long time.

Why do people feel threatened by the existence of NFTs? They are worthless when it comes to playing a game, not to mention lacking any practical value. They're a toy for dumb rich people who fancy themselves collectors.

If they want to throw their money away, that's their choice.

In the meantime, the rest of us can be entertained by watching people do dumb things with their money.

[Thaciscokidd]

Why do people feel threatened by the existence of NFTs? They are worthless when it comes to playing a game, not to mention lacking any practical value. They're a toy for dumb rich people who fancy themselves collectors.

If they want to throw their money away, that's their choice.

In the meantime, the rest of us can be entertained by watching people do dumb things with their money.

And this is exactly how DLC got its foot in the door.

I do, to an extent, trust Yoshi P about not wanting NFTs in 14. But on the other hand it might be above his paygrade or controlled by that "Scary Empress" that seems to run the Mogstation side.

[Raoabolic]

And this is exactly how DLC got its foot in the door.

I do, to an extent, trust Yoshi P about not wanting NFTs in 14. But on the other hand it might be above his paygrade or controlled by that "Scary Empress" that seems to run the Mogstation side.

That or people who have seen the cash shop grow from a few cosmetic items to a one stop shop (if your debit/credit card has a high enough ilvl!) for exclusive mounts, old event items you can no longer obtain, and level/story skip potions can easily see them try the nft meme on xiv. Then again, the slippery slop argument is just a fallacy, right? ;^)