Hey folks,
so yes, first of all, this is not a rant. Really, it's not. I truly learned to love the game with all it's flaws - at least some of them. This thread is much more possibly my own way to say: You can do it better. It'll probably never get any attention by ZOS, but hey, why not.
Let's make it quick with a few explanations on what I think which has to be changed for the future - asap. Because, actually ESO seems to have issues making a coin on the item shop, yet there are a few controversial things about the shop and the idea of microtransactions itself.
Issue A - Motifs
Yet, available for 200+ Crowns on the shop, but: Why purchase them with crowns? Droprates are impressively high. You'd even get most blue motifs for 500g or lesser! Even for free, quite often. Just ask in /zone-Chat and tons of people will pop up with prices which have no relation to the crown-prices @ the shop.
Possible solution
Reduce the droprate / findrate to an absolute minimum. I mean, honestly, if it was about me, don't even let them drop. It's cosmetical stuff, it doesn't gives you any advantage over other players. So, why the heck even bother with dropping it? Keep it for real money in the cash shop or make it accessible to loyal subscribers, lets say, every month you get one or two. Actually an important incentive to keep people playing the game or at least keep looking into it.
Another solution might be to link them to some kind of daily quests - players who have absolved 75% of their daily (crafting?) quests in one month, might get a motif for free.
So, the way I see it currently: Motifs & Item Shop = Make no sense. Sorry, but it's just true. In this case, ZOE has clearly shown a perfect example of how to devaluate an item thought to be used to improve the flow of microtransactions.
Issue B - Subscriptions
Instead of trying to bind users by forcing them to actually subscribe, why not just do it like many other companies and offer game time? I mean, maybe this doesn't affect other countries, but here in Germany, if you want those 30 days you're actually subscribing for it to be continued. Means basically, no, you're not purchasing "only" 30 days, you've to face the truth of ZOE trying to book another transaction after those 30 days - without you taking action on it.
So, why to give people the feeling of being "forced", when giving them the "choice" is the far better way to do it? So, just offer single game time without subscription. Would make a lot of people happier.
Issue C - Payment methods / giropay
Maybe some of you don't know giropay, but actually it is a direct and one of the most secure payment methods for companies to offer, specially when they've a lot of customers in Germany.
It works this way:
1.) User selects the item he wants to purchase on the portal.
2.) He checks out, selects giropay as payment method.
3.) After checking out, there's a handshake between the website offering the product (being partner of giropay) and the bank (being part of the giropay alliance).
4.) User gets redirected DIRECTLY to the website of HIS BANK - enters his online banking credentials and gets asked if he wants to confirm the transaction.
5.) In order to confirm the transaction, he puts his DEBIT-Card into the ChipTAN-Generator, generates a transaction number, enters this one and...
6.) VOILÁ, if the account is covered, the transaction gets booked and the user gets led back to the shop-site.
So far, so good, right?
So, it means basically: The user DOES NOT have to enter his bank number (just like the way it is currently) on any formular which isn't given by his bank. The ONLY thing he should be asked for is usually his BIC (sorting code) in order to find the bank where he has his account.
Okay, what's the problem with the current payment method? Let me show you with screenshots:
Step 1: http://gyazo.com/c12ca5848e02c195d3745162d1b28ee4Step 2: http://gyazo.com/dc610f957030dfbbb7afc23e1daa996fStep 3: http://gyazo.com/0b9df8ab8f5851e6853af7cba7c520caStep 4: http://gyazo.com/fc43f5d60ce967b8e1fe1e5f02d12fdfStep 5: http://gyazo.com/ea69628fb86251079314ebc4759a08d9
Here you notice clearly, there's no handshake with my bank. Even if I enter my bank account data, global collect - and no other service (besides sofortüberweisung.de, they're partnering with 99% of the banks in Germany) has access to know if my bank account HAS cash on it or not. That way, there's no reason for it to show the transaction wasn't authorized.
DIFFERENT it would have been, IF I would have gotten redirected to my banks online banking portal on check out - and HAVE introduced the account credentials to log in (Accountname + Password, not IBAN and BIC). If THIS would have happened, THEN my bank would have replied to ZOE / Global Collect: "Hey buddy, our fella has no money, we can't allow the transaction, because it's a debit account."
Jesus Christ, how many german customers would have wanted to pay - and could NOT, lol. This problem with Global Collect is already known. Blizzard Entertainment had the same problem and they fixed it. They even gave me 50€ for free for addressing it so detailed. And NO, I did NOT ask for it and I'm not asking here for it either. Just to make things clear.
Issue D - Customer Support Portal
I don't know if it's because of the newest Java Version, but here's the problem shown in screenshots:
Step 1: http://gyazo.com/9f318bec50f3999d2c09a45ec894a6f6Step 2: http://gyazo.com/734c4e2720640ea8291f3e9ca7f2f529Step 3: http://gyazo.com/c0a63e67d411023718bd87900f4cb622Step 4: http://gyazo.com/fb44361ebffc80511c01b696df6e5c5a
So yes, I tested this with the newest Chrome, Firefox (Uses Chrome engine too...), Opera, Safari, Internet Explorer.
It did not work. Java is up to date.
Issue E - Customer Support / Communication
I really DO like the fact that ZOE offers a callback function / hotline. Really, I do. But specially if you've to explain to someone your problem, sometimes it's just better to have a written transcript you can forward to your teamleader, than having to explain the stuff you just "saved" in your memory by the phone chat you had with your customer. But that's just me, my opinion. Maybe implementing a live chat makes things easier.
Issue F - Customer Support / Account owner verification
Currently, Customer Support Representatives do NOT ask you comparison things about the account owner. Means basically, they're not making you tell them what's the real name of the account owner - which, even if it gets hidden on the user account page, once clicking on payment (selecting subscription) makes it visible (so, why even hiding it on the account page?).
Issue G - Forums / New Users don't get invitation code
So, you've purchased the game, just like I did and wondered how to get into the forums? You simply do not. Easy as that. Mainly because both E-Mails you get do NOT include an invitational token to get into the forums. That's why I'm writing with my beta account. I really look forward for this to get fixed.
Issue H - Open World PVP, or what it could be
Many online games with open world feature have shown that it works. Why not just implementing a PVP Switch? Best example: Grand Theft Auto 5. If you don't want to fight, just go into passive mode. I'd even call it "PVE MODE" for TESOTU. Set up a cooldown of 15 minutes to prevent people abusing from it if they just use it to "flee" from others - just to stab them again once they switch to PVP ON. This said: Open World PVP, please make my day on The Elder Scrolls Online - YOU'RE WELCOME!
Issue I - Lack of content / Apparels / Motifs
I really cannot imagine that the art director couldn't get a talented assistant in charge of modeling new mounts, motif apparels, etc. Give that man a bit of help, please! Or do even implement a player studio, where you just have to click on "Accepted" or "Denied" - or even make it based on votings and take the last word on it. I'm sure the community has more than just a few talented folks able to do AMAZING things. Just take a look on Planetside 2. Your microtransactions will boom!
So yeh, this are my concerns - and my possible solutions on how it can be done properly.
Post Scriptum: To all those saying that unlocking riding skills EARLIER by paying crowns... Please... If you can even unlock them without paying, it's not Pay2Win. It's just "Pay2GetItEarlier", lol.
Disclaimer: I may add more things from time to time. I really hope people contribute on this in order to make it bigger.