Originally posted by Vesavius

Originally posted by Lord.Bachus

So far i spend €50, for 4000 gems, 

Bought 3 extra classslots for 2400 and have 1600 left on my account.

 

 

Anyone else allready spend more then he would on a subbed game in the first 5 months?

 

 

I dont regret spending it, but it proves to me that even when you want to make money B2p is the way to go

 

 

I have spent £8, which ofc is more then I would have spent in the first month in a sub based game as well.

But then that's the great trick of cash shops I guess... They dress up more expensive basics, such as a practical amount of bank space, as 'choice'.

We have to remember that the highly promoted and very much engineered move to this model is only to benefit profit margains, not the games or the gamer.

 

Cash shops do not fix games, and no game has ever been made better by one. If it wasn't worth the gamer's time at £2.50/week then the chances are it isn't at whatever the shop eventually drip feeds out of them.

 

Cash shops effect game design on the most profound level. It simply isn't a good model for anyone who calls themselves a gamer and plays to achieve.

Agree 100%. Cash shop adds nothing good for gamers. It just gives the illusion that it is cheaper than a sub based game. Its sole purpose is to increase the profit margins and that is why games which were tanking are suddenly profitable, without the actual gameplay improving.

Bought 800 gems to buy some backpack slots since from the start i already needed way more space.

but thats probably going to be my final spend, unless they bring in something cool into the shop ofc.

Originally posted by Bladestrom
Vesalius you need to think about it a bit more, the cash shop has not a sinle thing that is a must have. A cash shop allows you to play an AAA mmorg with no sub. In at 80 and I made a choice to buy a bag slot, it wasnt a must have but it was a nice to have that I decided to buy, my decision which I take personal responsibility for. Your getting a pretty substantial sized server infrastructure for your non-sub, that's not cheap. I have seen cash shops where you are at a disadvantage in the game if you don't buy (must have potions, gear) but this is not the case here.

No, I think you really need to think about it more.

If you have not seen the basic design decisions that have been dictated by the existance of a cash shop in this game you are running blind.

As a crafter I would say having more then 1 small bank between 5 characters is a must and basic to play, as an example.

Technically, everything is a choice, yes. Pro cash shoppers wave the 'choice' banner around all the time, but the system is clearly designed with that 'choice' in mind though. You think you eventually made that 'choice' uninfluenced by intentional system design?

I would argue that, often, you should call it 'the illusion of choice'.

To cover the costs you mention I prefer the transparent and, IMO, more honest sub model. I don't expect an ongoing service for free.

As for being at 'disadvantage' or not... that is very much open to debate. I know, as an example, that I am poorer then a guy that uses currency boosters or buys gems>gold for example.

Originally posted by Bladestrom
Yamoto an optional 0 to x pounds a month IS cheaper than a Compulsary 10 pounds a month, that's a fact.

This.  People who say cash shops are more expensive fail at the most basic level of logic... and even in a case like GW2, you can see people in this very thread getting cash shop only items through in-game work.  It's not a matter of opinion, Yamota is WRONG.

Originally posted by Yamota

Originally posted by Vesavius

Originally posted by Lord.Bachus

So far i spend €50, for 4000 gems, 

Bought 3 extra classslots for 2400 and have 1600 left on my account.

 

 

Anyone else allready spend more then he would on a subbed game in the first 5 months?

 

 

I dont regret spending it, but it proves to me that even when you want to make money B2p is the way to go

 

 

I have spent £8, which ofc is more then I would have spent in the first month in a sub based game as well.

But then that's the great trick of cash shops I guess... They dress up more expensive basics, such as a practical amount of bank space, as 'choice'.

We have to remember that the highly promoted and very much engineered move to this model is only to benefit profit margains, not the games or the gamer.

 

Cash shops do not fix games, and no game has ever been made better by one. If it wasn't worth the gamer's time at £2.50/week then the chances are it isn't at whatever the shop eventually drip feeds out of them.

 

Cash shops effect game design on the most profound level. It simply isn't a good model for anyone who calls themselves a gamer and plays to achieve.

Agree 100%. Cash shop adds nothing good for gamers. It just gives the illusion that it is cheaper than a sub based game. Its sole purpose is to increase the profit margins and that is why games which were tanking are suddenly profitable, without the actual gameplay improving.

Exactly Yam.

Originally posted by Svarcanum
In GW2 the cash shop usage seems more obligatory for casual players, since gamers with more time on their hands can simply grind an hour abouts in Orr for an extra bank tab for example. Only if you're short on gold and time would I you consider paying RL money, imo.

That's entirely the point.  Since GW2 does not charge monthly, and you have access to every method of earning in-game money (which you can then trade for gems), the only reason you would "need" to buy anything is because you didn't want to earn it in-game, for whatever reason.  People are making the method of paying by real cash out to be more necessary than it is, but hey, what else is new?

I still prefer this over a subscription.  My gaming computer's been down for weeks.  I didn't have to waste $15 on something I wasn't able to play, nor did I have to go through the hassle of cancelling a sub only to re-sub later.  B2P rules.

Originally posted by wowfan1996

I've spent my usual cash shop amount: $0.00. I consider this sum to be final.

Soon you will be seen as a debt to the game I'm sure.

Originally posted by Bladestrom
So Ves are you saying you will have to pay £100 a year or gw2 is not playable? No ofc not, subs are more expensive, 0 to x pounds a year is cheaper. There are cynical cash shops and there cash shops that are not, you need more fined grained analysis.

No, that's not what I said at all. Please don't straw man argue.

Originally posted by Eir_S

Originally posted by Svarcanum
In GW2 the cash shop usage seems more obligatory for casual players, since gamers with more time on their hands can simply grind an hour abouts in Orr for an extra bank tab for example. Only if you're short on gold and time would I you consider paying RL money, imo.

That's entirely the point.  Since GW2 does not charge monthly, and you have access to every method of earning in-game money (which you can then trade for gems), the only reason you would need to buy anything is because you didn't want to earn it in-game, for whatever reason.  People are making the method of paying by real cash out to be more necessary than it is, but hey, what else is new?

It's gonna die, soon probably. I hope aganst hope. But. I think it can't survive on just 2 million copies for maybe ... 2 years? . =\

Originally posted by TigerAero

Originally posted by Eir_S

Originally posted by Svarcanum
In GW2 the cash shop usage seems more obligatory for casual players, since gamers with more time on their hands can simply grind an hour abouts in Orr for an extra bank tab for example. Only if you're short on gold and time would I you consider paying RL money, imo.

That's entirely the point.  Since GW2 does not charge monthly, and you have access to every method of earning in-game money (which you can then trade for gems), the only reason you would need to buy anything is because you didn't want to earn it in-game, for whatever reason.  People are making the method of paying by real cash out to be more necessary than it is, but hey, what else is new?

 

It's gonna die, soon probably. I hope aganst hope. But. I think it can't survive on just 2 million copies for maybe ... 2 years? . =\

You're right, because all sales have STOPPED.  Let's put a fork in GW2, it didn't sell 10 million copies in a month.  Seriously.. GW1 was even less popular and people stayed for years.  Some are even still playing, and IMO it's an inferior game.  Your post has nothing to do with mine anyway.

Originally posted by Bladestrom
It only needs to the next expansion, just like gw1.

I know. I hope they do like 6 month expansions to keep it rollin'.