Time to vote with the all mighty dollar ? - Page 6

Caswydian · 12-18-2007, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Widem

b/c you have compltely trashed any thought of cost of goods, discretionary income, taxes, "endless list of crap you refuse to think about to make you point."

I never said i wanted RMT, but when you make comments like that it makes people associate a "dumbass" with the "opinion" kinda like people associate "abortion clinic bombers" with "christian" and "terrorists" as "muslims"

No, I've not completely trashed any of those thoughts, but if you want to compare the absolute qualities of life - access to things like food, medical care, clean water, indoor plumbing and the like - people in the US, even at the lower levels, are far better off than many people in the world. Things like cost of goods and discretionary income are certainly a factor when comparing people on more equal footing, like between the US and Europe, but are largely irrelevant when comparing the living standards of someone in the US and the slums of Rio or parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

Widem · 12-18-2007, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caswydian

No, I've not completely trashed any of those thoughts, but if you want to compare the absolute qualities of life - access to things like food, medical care, clean water, indoor plumbing and the like - people in the US, even at the lower levels, are far better off than many people in the world. Things like cost of goods and discretionary income are certainly a factor when comparing people on more equal footing, like between the US and Europe, but are largely irrelevant when comparing the living standards of someone in the US and the slums of Rio or parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

which reduces your entire point to people who dont make more money than they have to spend can't buy things they want.

Talonis · 12-18-2007, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Widem

which reduces your entire point to people who dont make more money than they have to spend can't buy things they want.

Wait! That's me!

/wrists

methulah · 12-18-2007, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caswydian

First, how is it wrong? Check the per-capita incomes in some countries outside the US or Western Europe, and you'll see just how far ahead we are.

Second, it is relevant to the argument that the introduction of virtual item purchase will simply reward those with lots of money. We are the ones with lots of money. Every single one of us with the means to participate in this conversation is better off than most people in the world.

Oh yes, you're 100% right. To play MMOs, we have to be better off than most people in the world. So what? That's not the point, at all. The point is, to do with RMT, is that the subscription model is based around how much time one spends playing the game, and how good one is at the game; whereas the microtransaction model is based around how good one is at not playing the game.

Yes, RMT might be limited to "fluff items," but we haven't seen that with SOE in the past, through Station Exchange and Legends of Norrath. In any case, your MapleStory example doesn't hold much weight; as I quote from Wikipedia: "Shop permits, required to set up a shop, are only available through the Cash Shop. There are two types of store permits: a standard store, which requires the presence of the player, and the hired merchant which does not require the presence of the player but requires additional cash shop money to use this feature."

So what is my problem with the micrtransaction model? Well, as I stated, it rewards us for not playing the game. Already, I play Magic: The Gathering. If I could afford it, I could choose to play a second card game, and get a fuckton on ingame items while I was at it. Can't be bothered running a dungeon to get some nice loot? Well, just pick up a couple of extra shifts at work, and you'll be able to buy a bunch of Legends of Norrath boosters, trade them for plat, and off you go.

As a result of all the recent shit; and the simple fact I'm yet to forgive them for Luclin expansion onwards; I'm not going to create the alt account I was considering. Sure, I'm not going to quit quite yet, but I'm certainly going to give them as little of my money as possible.

Miller · 12-18-2007, 05:23 PM

If I could simply buy items/levels etc. why would I pay the subcription fee. The majority of the people who play EQ2 are paying for the enjoyment of bettering their characters. If I can max my characters on day 1 with nothing but my credit card, wtf would I stick around for more than a month.

Nurta · 12-18-2007, 05:32 PM

I have a liberal arts degree. But I make 5x those figures :O

What's all this about test characters being transferred? I didn't know that, and what is all this buzz about 3rd party deals SoE is doing? Gosh, I feel really clueless about this stuff.

Sheya · 12-18-2007, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caswydian

Good to see a lot of the dead wood being cleared out. Too many people have been holding back the North American MMO market, preventing innovation and exploration of new gameplay and payment models. Once these obstructionists have gotten out of the way, perhaps we can see North American games approach the true potential of MMO gaming. So, for those canceling over some real progress in the genre - good riddance. MMOs are better off without you.

You aren't serious, are you?

EtoilePB · 12-18-2007, 09:08 PM

I canceled my Station Access when they raised it to $30 (since two separate subscriptions cost the same -- totally no point).

And I canceled my three-year-old EQ2 account over the weekend. The last paid day is 12/24.

I really hope I can come back in mid-to-late spring, because frankly adding up Kella and Nimari's /play time results in a fairly obscene number (even after accounting for online-only broker selling in the first year) without even counting the alts, and I'm loath to give it all up.

But I'm even more loath to keep shelling out cash for a company I don't like.

Grindtoof · 12-18-2007, 10:58 PM

I canceled my account because of the the Test to Unrest scandal, Ferguson's justification of partial treatment and perks for friends er "valued members of the test community".

The fact that SOE is cashing in on their digital property is no surprise to me and shouldn't be to anyone else. I expect this to be a trend for other companies that own MMOs in the future.
So will SOE protect their farmers and act with more aggression to non-sanctioned farming accounts? To quote a now famous dialog:

Obi-Wan: I have to admit that without the plat farmers, it would have not been a victory.
Yoda: Victory? Victory you say? Master Obi-Wan, not victory. The shroud of the dark side has fallen. Begun the Plat War has.

aduros · 12-18-2007, 11:16 PM

Morpheus: The Matrix is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth. And charge you for the most mundane shit.
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Morpheus: You think thats plat your buying?
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Morpheus:There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path. Its $15.
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Neo: Woah, I bought Kung Fu.
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Morpheus: Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to pay $10.