Official Discussion Thread for "New Ragebound Crown Crates"

HappyTheCamper

metheglyn wrote: »

People love to toss around the word "predatory" when, to my mind, it's nothing more or less than any other marketing offer put out by any number of businesses. They're telling you that you can get a particular item if you buy another item.

For me, no cosmetic item in this game is worth what they're asking for this one, so I won't be buying it.

I understand that might not have been the best term, but specifically making a brand-new 25-size crate bundle just to tag it to the polymorph is uniquely aggressive marketing, especially with a community that is begging for more items to be earned in the game.

ZOS has now found a way to release an item via crown crates while simultaneously allowing it to circumvent the endeavor system. That may not be "predatory" but it's definitely sketchy.

Edit: and I''ll definitely agree to your last part haha!

Jaimeh

Maythor wrote: »

I think we probably all have to face that this is the reality of the game now and I doubt any amount of "feedback" is going to change things when the majority of posts we see here on the forums are from people saying they dislike and distrust this system of funding the game, and yet we see more and more examples of it each season. Feedback is blowing into the wind!

I agree. What part of players saying very loudly for years 'More in-game rewards, less focus on the crates' translates to adding another predatory layer of exclusivity to the crates? Especially when gifting is (allegedly) bugged? I don't have a sub anymore to cancel it, but since feedback is falling on deaf ears, then it's the only recourse.

Xandreia_

so the 1 thing most of the games population has been waiting for is locked behind a new expensive bundle, talk about a smack in the face LMAO

Jaimeh

metheglyn wrote: »

People love to toss around the word "predatory" when, to my mind, it's nothing more or less than any other marketing offer put out by any number of businesses. They're telling you that you can get a particular item if you buy another item.

For me, no cosmetic item in this game is worth what they're asking for this one, so I won't be buying it.

How is it not predatory when they are making people pay probably upwards of >9k crowns for something that costs at the most 2k (since polies were sold for 1.2k-2k crowns)?

Livvy

Jaimeh wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

People love to toss around the word "predatory" when, to my mind, it's nothing more or less than any other marketing offer put out by any number of businesses. They're telling you that you can get a particular item if you buy another item.

For me, no cosmetic item in this game is worth what they're asking for this one, so I won't be buying it.

How is it not predatory when they are making people pay probably upwards of >9k crowns for something that costs at the most 2k (since polies were sold for 1.2k-2k crowns)?

Nobody is making anybody pay anything. It is a choice.

I personally don't see anything wrong with offering a known and guaranteed incentive if you purchase something.

Sure, the price may not be liked. But I don't see anything "predatory" about it.

Plus, you don't even have to pay more than what the crates are worth. Then you technically get this for free.

Dojohoda

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Hi all, just to follow up here. As noted in the article, "Note that the Shade polymorph is automatically unlocked and added to your collectibles when you acquire this one-off bundle (25 Ragebound Crate Bundle) and is not included in the crates themselves."

We are actively trying to get crown crate gifting back up, but our team is still working through some issues related to gifting. As for feedback around the Shade Polymorph being tied to the Ragebound Crate bundle, we will submit any and all feedback related to this to the team. We know this is new, so your feedback is appreciated here. Thanks all.

Question about the bolded part above. (and assuming gifting will be fixed)
Since the polymorph is unlocked upon crate bundle purchase; in the case of gifting, who receives the polymorph?
__The person who bought the 25 Ragebound Crate Bundle as a gift to someone else?
or
__The person who receives the gift?

---

Kevin's answer below at https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/comment/7838351/#Comment_7838351
Thank you Kevin!

luen79rwb17_ESO

React wrote: »

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Hi all, just to follow up here. As noted in the article, "Note that the Shade polymorph is automatically unlocked and added to your collectibles when you acquire this one-off bundle (25 Ragebound Crate Bundle) and is not included in the crates themselves."

We are actively trying to get crown crate gifting back up, but our team is still working through some issues related to gifting. As for feedback around the Shade Polymorph being tied to the Ragebound Crate bundle, we will submit any and all feedback related to this to the team. We know this is new, so your feedback is appreciated here. Thanks all.

I mean, if the team is aware that crate gifting is "bugged", they absolutely should not be releasing a unique polymorph like this that is locked behind a $60-$75 purchase. Many of us longtime players make all of our crown crate purchases with ingame gold, because we have enormous amounts of it with nothing else to spend it on. It is absolutely predatory and deceptive to release this polymorph in this manner at this point in time.

It should be purchasable with gems either indefinitely or until gifting is fixed, or it shouldn't be released at all until gifting is fixed.

This could be evidence that this so called "bug" is nothing but backend coding they've been working in order to push this new crown crate predatory scheme.

Wolf_Eye

Dojohoda wrote: »

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Hi all, just to follow up here. As noted in the article, "Note that the Shade polymorph is automatically unlocked and added to your collectibles when you acquire this one-off bundle (25 Ragebound Crate Bundle) and is not included in the crates themselves."

We are actively trying to get crown crate gifting back up, but our team is still working through some issues related to gifting. As for feedback around the Shade Polymorph being tied to the Ragebound Crate bundle, we will submit any and all feedback related to this to the team. We know this is new, so your feedback is appreciated here. Thanks all.

Question about the bolded part above. (and assuming gifting will be fixed)
Since the polymorph is unlocked upon crate bundle purchase; in the case of gifting, who receives the polymorph?
__The person who bought the 25 Ragebound Crate Bundle as a gift to someone else?
or
__The person who receives the gift?

I have a feeling that this is going to be similar to a chapter purchase, where you CAN'T get it for in-game crowns. You have to purchase it separately.

Like the Newcomer Pack or the Hailcinder mount pack.

So there would be no gifting option for it. The person who buys it is the one who will keep it.

EDIT: Nevermind, see Kevin's response below.

~

ZOS_Kevin

Dojohoda wrote: »

Question about the bolded part above. (and assuming gifting will be fixed)
Since the polymorph is unlocked upon crate bundle purchase; in the case of gifting, who receives the polymorph?
__The person who bought the 25 Ragebound Crate Bundle as a gift to someone else?
or
__The person who receives the gift?

The person being gifted the crates should receive the polymorph.

ZOS_Kevin

luen79rwb17_ESO wrote: »

This could be evidence that this so called "bug" is nothing but backend coding they've been working in order to push this new crown crate predatory scheme.

We're going to address this directly. We would not call something a bug if it wasn't. The amount of liability in that would be astronomical. When we call something a bug, it is exactly that. The team wants this gifting bug resolved as soon as possible and are working to ensure that. Again, we do understand the frustration with not being able to gift, especially when a new crate comes out. However, it's important that we clarify the quote here.

Katheriah

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Dojohoda wrote: »

Question about the bolded part above. (and assuming gifting will be fixed)
Since the polymorph is unlocked upon crate bundle purchase; in the case of gifting, who receives the polymorph?
__The person who bought the 25 Ragebound Crate Bundle as a gift to someone else?
or
__The person who receives the gift?

The person being gifted the crates should receive the polymorph.

Ty. Praying for a timely fix then. Sitting on much gold.

ZOS_Kevin

@Katheriah We are checking in with the team daily for status on this. So we are hoping to report good news on this front in the near future. As soon as we can get an ETA or a "hey it's fixed" from the team, we'll let everyone know.

MetallicMonk

Interesting timing.

Soarora

Livvy wrote: »

Jaimeh wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

People love to toss around the word "predatory" when, to my mind, it's nothing more or less than any other marketing offer put out by any number of businesses. They're telling you that you can get a particular item if you buy another item.

For me, no cosmetic item in this game is worth what they're asking for this one, so I won't be buying it.

How is it not predatory when they are making people pay probably upwards of >9k crowns for something that costs at the most 2k (since polies were sold for 1.2k-2k crowns)?

Nobody is making anybody pay anything. It is a choice.

I personally don't see anything wrong with offering a known and guaranteed incentive if you purchase something.

Sure, the price may not be liked. But I don't see anything "predatory" about it.

Plus, you don't even have to pay more than what the crates are worth. Then you technically get this for free.

The thing that makes this predatory is that there’s been a lot of hype around the polymorph ever since we knew it was going to exist. It makes it seem like the polymorph is being hidden alongside a bunch of crates to bait people into buying crates and spend way more money than the polymorph is worth. It’s like you’ve been waiting excitedly for a new computer mouse but turns out the only way to buy it is alongside a computer you don’t want, for the price of the computer. This also generates strong FOMO because if it’s bundled with these crates specifically and this is a new bundle type, will the polymorph come back when the crates do?

VikkiVonTraxx

And what if i live in a country that ban crown crates? I couldn't have the poly? That's a shame. It should be available with seals of endeavor.

ThatGeminiBilly

popshotbrob14_ESO wrote: »

Also, the crates contain all the mercymother cosmetics, besides the actual costume..? ahahahahahaha

My guess is that the costume will be a limited time crown store item

Livvy

Soarora wrote: »

Livvy wrote: »

Jaimeh wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

People love to toss around the word "predatory" when, to my mind, it's nothing more or less than any other marketing offer put out by any number of businesses. They're telling you that you can get a particular item if you buy another item.

For me, no cosmetic item in this game is worth what they're asking for this one, so I won't be buying it.

How is it not predatory when they are making people pay probably upwards of >9k crowns for something that costs at the most 2k (since polies were sold for 1.2k-2k crowns)?

Nobody is making anybody pay anything. It is a choice.

I personally don't see anything wrong with offering a known and guaranteed incentive if you purchase something.

Sure, the price may not be liked. But I don't see anything "predatory" about it.

Plus, you don't even have to pay more than what the crates are worth. Then you technically get this for free.

The thing that makes this predatory is that there’s been a lot of hype around the polymorph ever since we knew it was going to exist. It makes it seem like the polymorph is being hidden alongside a bunch of crates to bait people into buying crates and spend way more money than the polymorph is worth. It’s like you’ve been waiting excitedly for a new computer mouse but turns out the only way to buy it is alongside a computer you don’t want, for the price of the computer. This also generates strong FOMO because if it’s bundled with these crates specifically and this is a new bundle type, will the polymorph come back when the crates do?

This is a company offering an incentive/promotional item with the purchase of something. I just don't see what is so offensive about that. Just because it is something people really want? And can't get easily? That is the point. To incentivize people to purchase something it would have to be something people want.

The same with certain items only being available behind chapter paywalls or preorders. They do it to entice people to buy the things they are trying to sell. It is what companies in the business of making money, do.

In that vein, all sales tactics or desirable promotional products used to garner sales of something could be considered predatory then. This stuff is done all the time in sales. Not everything I want is obtainable the way I want it to be, and many things I want aren't even obtainable at all due to being locked behind paywalls of this or that.

Is it unfortunate? Sure. Is it disappointing? Absolutely. But predatory?

We will just have to agree to disagree on that.

I also don't even think this is that bad. We know exactly what we will get and how we will get it. No risk of spending money and never getting it. It is just a choice of if we want to do what it takes to get it or not.

Finedaible

"These crates are available in your typical one-, four-, and 15-crate bundles. However, for the first time, we’re also introducing a new 25-crate bundle as a one-time purchase that, in addition to the crates, ALSO includes the fearsome Shade polymorph."

"Note that the Shade polymorph is automatically unlocked and added to your collectibles when you acquire this one-off bundle and is not included in the crates themselves."

... Are you kidding me? Is this some foul-mannered April Fools joke? How does one reach the absolute bottom of the barrel of predatory gambling schemes to somehow end up one-upping themselves with an even more unethical scheme to incentivize gambling addictions? And here I thought Zo$ had already sold their soul, they are now selling others' as well.

Necrotech_Master

i really hope there is an alternate way to get the shade polymorph, i could care less about the crown crates themselves but i really want the polymorph

it is kind of annoying that they would lock it behind the crates, and the likelyhood if you miss this it could not return for years (even as a direct purchaseable)

i do like the shade polymorph is sort of direct buy, but i dont like how its tied to this crate bundle

Zorrin

Vvardvark was a superior tier item in the Psijic Crates as well...
I'm sure this was probably an oversight, but I do wish we could have had some other old item instead of a repeated crate item. Something like... the Dapple Grey Palfrey that hasn't been available since May 2015

BardokRedSnow

These crates are so much better than what we've seen lately.

Which is a shame because I will not be paying a single cent until the gifting feature for them returns. If Zos is doing this intentionally, and it's not a glitch, and I'm not saying it isn't... then I can assure you, you will lose money withholding this feature, not gain. Many of us here have already spent much cash on this game as is, and do not wish to spend more ourselves. Instead we spend our in game gold and encourage others, especially newcoming players to spend money on the game instead.

It is a win win. This should have been fixed weeks ago. You mean to tell me the same company that shuts down the crownstore when there's an issue and sometimes even the servers entirely for same day fixes can't fix this?

I am not claiming this is a certainty but I find it hard to believe this is a mere glitch. And Zos has no one but themselves to blame for that due to the lack of transparency and communication.

Marcusorion1

Fortuitous timing of a bug on a controversial change to marketing strategy. Feedback may be determined by any metrics they choose and filtered by multiple factors ( as usual ). The majority may well oppose the changes, a small number will spend real money on it and it is considered " successful " and will be repeated, with increasing costs coz..business.

The longer it takes to fix, the longer players' have to think about it and the real $$$ value to them. Take all the time you need

BardokRedSnow

I will be letting my eso plus run out as well until this is fixed.

RedRoomGaming

The one time deal getting the polymorph I get, but once you buy the 25 crates can you get them again? Like say I wanted to buy 100 crates for myself could I do that?

Necrotech_Master

RedRoomGaming wrote: »

The one time deal getting the polymorph I get, but once you buy the 25 crates can you get them again? Like say I wanted to buy 100 crates for myself could I do that?

likely no, since the polymorph is directly added to collections, it doesnt all the sudden become a runebox that you can trade if you already had it

Alaztor91

Can't say that I'm surprised that ZOS selected this method to circumvent the endeavor system for this particular polymorph. It certainly leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but it isn't that much different from bundling other cosmetics in stuff like CE DLC/Chapters.

Seeing as how $100+ houses continue to be released regularly I wouldn't be surprised if other cool cosmetic stuff like Personalities/Mounts/Costumes/Weapon Styles/etc suddenly start being available only in a 25 Crown Crate Bundle. Who knows, maybe they could even try a 50 Crown Crate Bundle if the Ragebound one sells well!!

Livvy

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

RedRoomGaming wrote: »

The one time deal getting the polymorph I get, but once you buy the 25 crates can you get them again? Like say I wanted to buy 100 crates for myself could I do that?

likely no, since the polymorph is directly added to collections, it doesnt all the sudden become a runebox that you can trade if you already had it

I think they may mean could you purchase 4 25-crate bundles at the 25-crate bundle price, even though you only get the polymorph once. Depending on the price of the bundle, it could be a better deal than say buying 6 or 7 15-crate bundles in order to reach 100.

Sorry if this isn't what they meant. But I am curious about it now...

Elsonso

Dagoth_Rac wrote: »

So we are basically buying the Shade Polymorph directly with crowns, and it comes with 25 free crates as a bonus?

This would be a much better way to market this, IMHO. Sadly, my guess is that 25 Crown Crates will be the most expensive non-housing thing in the Crown Store. Well above any reasonable price for a polymorph. If this idea is successful, the 25 Crown Crate packs will probably be bundled with something from now on simply due to the large price tag.

RedRoomGaming

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

RedRoomGaming wrote: »

The one time deal getting the polymorph I get, but once you buy the 25 crates can you get them again? Like say I wanted to buy 100 crates for myself could I do that?

likely no, since the polymorph is directly added to collections, it doesnt all the sudden become a runebox that you can trade if you already had it

I didn’t mean anything like that, what I meant was since the polymorph is a one time thing, are they 25 crates a one time purchase or can we buy more of them? Or once you’ve bought them you can only do the 15 unless gifting gets fixed

Wolf_Eye

RedRoomGaming wrote: »

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

RedRoomGaming wrote: »

The one time deal getting the polymorph I get, but once you buy the 25 crates can you get them again? Like say I wanted to buy 100 crates for myself could I do that?

likely no, since the polymorph is directly added to collections, it doesnt all the sudden become a runebox that you can trade if you already had it

I didn’t mean anything like that, what I meant was since the polymorph is a one time thing, are they 25 crates a one time purchase or can we buy more of them? Or once you’ve bought them you can only do the 15 unless gifting gets fixed

In the official article, it says "we’re also introducing a new 25-crate bundle as a one-time purchase ". So I'm assuming you can only buy the 25 pack once.
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