What do you think of Crown Crates? -- New Poll for PTS Implementation

Eiagra

So now that the first iteration of Crown Crates has been released to the Public Test Server for examination, players have an opportunity to see for themselves how the idea is being implemented, what the possible rewards are, and get a broader perspective to help form an opinion. Some players have mentioned a desire to change their opinion from the original poll, so this has been created to allow an opportunity to provide fresh metrics on whether or not they support this feature of the game.

Don't forget, there is an official thread for full discussion on this feature available here: https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/292545/official-discussion-thread-for-crown-crates

If you would like to reference the previous poll and its discussion (there are over 100 pages of feedback there), you can find that here: https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/286094/what-do-you-think-of-crown-store-random-boxes-lottery-box

SilentRaven1972

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

I have 8 days worth of info written down from 2 accounts. After prior experience in an MMO with similar boxes, I was against them. After having actually experiened them on PTS, I'm even more against them. The items are just not worth dropping that kind of money on for such a slim chance at anything even remotely interesting. I prefer to know what I am getting, so will never buy them. It's actually brought my depression raging to the foregate. That depression is a combination of watching such a good game bring something so evil into it, and opening crates and experiencing (all over again, like the other MMO) the huge let-down that is gambling. These things can really crush a person, and that was just on PTS. Imagine someone spending their hard earned money and being let down that severely

UrQuan

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

When I first heard about the concept of crown crates I thought it was a terrible idea, but I was hoping they would be implemented in a reasonable way so that I could just choose to ignore them.

Having seen them on PTS, they're worse than I feared. They're exploitative, predatory, and just plain unethical. Whenever possible I refuse to give my money to companies which I consider to be unethical, and unless serious changes are made to them, crown crates are probably going to mean ESO can kiss any future income from me goodbye. And I've definitely spent over $1500 in total on the game since PC launch.

My overwhelming preference is for them to simply be scrapped. Since that seems highly unlikely, the next best thing is for ZOS to make some significant changes to them to make them fair. It's OK for them to be set up in a way that ZOS makes somewhat more coin off them than they would from regular crown store purchases. It's not OK for them to be a complete scam. Lottery boxes don't have to be predatory!

The links provided in the thread-starter have a lot of posts by a lot of people (including myself) with ideas for how to make crown crates acceptable. I sincerely hope ZOS pays attention and makes more changes than the ones they've announced so far that they're planning on making. I'd hate to have to say goodbye.

Eiagra

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

Full disclosure on my part, while I have not tested the crates for myself, I have watched my sister test them -- much more extensively than I had the time to do -- and I feel I share insight somewhere between the not-tested and tested part of things, for this first iteration of the feature. I've also experienced this feature in other MMORPGs, and have formed my opinion based on my previous experiences, insight provided by watching Extra Credits on YouTube, and watching my sister test the crates on PTS. While I can understand the need to financially support a project, especially an expensive project like an MMORPG with a wide set of logistical challenges, I personally feel that must be a way to do so that feels less exploitative to the general populace.

Abeille

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

I tested them on the PTS. The Gem return rate for repeated items is ridiculously low, considering that you can't trade collectibles you don't want for gems if they are not repeated (which is a problem on itself).
But my biggest disappointment is the huge number of items that, with the information we have so far, seem to be exclusive to the Crown Crates.

I would be fine with them if they had no exclusives.

I wouldn't be upset if only the Apex rewards were exclusive.

I would even be able to stomach them if all the atronach-themed rewards regardless of tier were exclusive.

But like this? Orchid Nixad, Red Pit Wolf, Black Mane Lion as exclusives? No, just no.

Kammakazi

Neutral: I have NOT tested the crates, and my feelings are neutral, noncommital, or do not apply.

I AM CONSOLE PLEBEIAN

WhiteCoatSyndrome

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

Even ignoring the numbers from the PTS drop rate (which are bad), I am of a mind that it is far preferable to pay a set price for something up front than have a chance of maybe-possibly getting the something I want. In addition, I would much rather have had all that dev time spent on something like a new questline, new monsters, a new chunk of landmass to explore - something that adds real value to the game and gameplay.

As things stand I plan to cancel my sub when the Crates hit Live and protest them further by not logging in for a week afterwards. My hope is that others will join me, and Zenimax will see a glimpse of what their servers will look like in the year after the Crates are released.

redspecter23

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

I've tested the crates for 5 days now. No apex mount which is the only thing I really wanted. Just over 300 gems so I'm not even able to buy it outright after 26,000 crowns which is at least 5 times more expensive than any other mount released so far. Nearly every box I open now is just a duplicate of a low tier collectible so basically 5 gems. This is an extremely negative feeling when opening a crate and should NOT be what ZoS intends.

Every crate opened should be exciting and worth the price you paid to buy it. The current implementation leaves you paying 400 crowns for 5 gems at a time to finally get to 400 to get that mount you wanted. At the end of the grind, you have a massive credit card bill and still don't feel like using the mount because it doesn't represent any accomplishment. You might as well just ride around on a big fat moneybag because that's what people will see instead of a very cool looking mount.

jeevin

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

Between the results from players posted here on the forums, over on Reddit and also videos put up on Youtube, there is no doubt these RNG boxes are a total scam. The implementation of them is predatory. A very sad time for the Elder Scrolls franchise and the devs who work on the games. An utter disgrace.

JamieAubrey

Neutral: I have tested the crates, and my feelings are neutral, noncommital, or do not apply.

I don't really care as I wont be going nuts with these as over tha past week of opening them all I got that was potions and crap, the best item was the Camel Atro mount and that was only on the 1st ever crate

So I wont be holding my breath for anything great on Live

BruhItsOver9000

Neutral: I have NOT tested the crates, and my feelings are neutral, noncommital, or do not apply.

I have a horse, the midnight steed, i have a costume which makes me look like a ninja, i don't care about motifs since there's no transmorg system, so i don't care...but once they put p2w items in the crown crates, i quit.

UrQuan

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

BruhItsOver9000 wrote: »

I have a horse, the midnight steed, i have a costume which makes me look like a ninja, i don't care about motifs since there's no transmorg system, so i don't care...but once they put p2w items in the crown crates, i quit.

Are you aware that there are XP scrolls that give +150% XP in the crown crates rather than the +50% which is the best you can get with crafted stuff? Some people consider that to be P2W while others don't, so that may or may not change your mind.

wayfarerx

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

ZOS_MattFiror wrote:

The Elder Scrolls Online was designed and developed to be a premium experience: hundreds of hours of gameplay, tons of depth and features, professional customer support – and a commitment to have ongoing content at regular intervals after launch.”

Source.

That's why I joined the beta, that's why I'm still here today. One of my favorite franchises, a premium experience, an escape from all the F2P-cash-shop-gamble-box nonsense that plagues gaming.

And yet here we are.

Anyone who's played an MMO before knows that, eventually, the developer will jump the shark and screw the game up and it will be time to move on. I'm happy that ESO has gone this long without turning me away, but I had hoped I would be here much longer. There is still so much of Tamriel to explore.

However this last week has been the first time in three years that I've actually made plans for what to do if I need to cancel my sub. I've got some crowns saved up, I could pick up the existing DLCs and possibly a couple more. I could still log in and hang out with friends. I could live without the crafting bag. I could take my money and start working through the backlog of games that have come out recently that I skipped or didn't play much because I was playing ESO.

I don't want to leave, I like it here, but it's going to be really hard justifying sending money to a company that intends to base it's business model off impulsive sales to uninformed customers. It's not honest. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to tell my son "No, those F2P cash shop games are a scam, they will only rip you off," and then turn around and log into ESO: Ethics Violation Unlimited.

We'll see how it goes in the end, but I'm concerned that this is the end for me.

BruhItsOver9000

Neutral: I have NOT tested the crates, and my feelings are neutral, noncommital, or do not apply.

UrQuan wrote: »

BruhItsOver9000 wrote: »

I have a horse, the midnight steed, i have a costume which makes me look like a ninja, i don't care about motifs since there's no transmorg system, so i don't care...but once they put p2w items in the crown crates, i quit.

Are you aware that there are XP scrolls that give +150% XP in the crown crates rather than the +50% which is the best you can get with crafted stuff? Some people consider that to be P2W while others don't, so that may or may not change your mind.

Not really p2w since it doesn't affect combat, also you can make 4 psijic drinks while the crown crate one only comes with 1 and only lasts for 30 mins, psijic is still better.

JimT722

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

WhiteCoatSyndrome wrote: »

Even ignoring the numbers from the PTS drop rate (which are bad), I am of a mind that it is far preferable to pay a set price for something up front than have a chance of maybe-possibly getting the something I want. In addition, I would much rather have had all that dev time spent on something like a new questline, new monsters, a new chunk of landmass to explore - something that adds real value to the game and gameplay.

As things stand I plan to cancel my sub when the Crates hit Live and protest them further by not logging in for a week afterwards. My hope is that others will join me, and Zenimax will see a glimpse of what their servers will look like in the year after the Crates are released.

I went a little further. I stopped logging in now. Don't want to but these really sucked the joy out of the game just knowing they are coming. I've seen this happen to many games and know where this will go. I'm preparing myself for disappointment and playing other games. If ZOS comes to their senses, I will come back.

acw37162

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

Was so refreshing and enjoying to go a year plus on PS4 without the intrusion of these marketing shenanigans.

The limited time offers and crown sales are fairly blantant marketing hogwash I will gladly tolerate to keep this healing pile of dog *** out of the game.

Alas, here comes the basic gambling/lottery/whatever you want to call it boxes loaded with a bunch a crap you don't want, most likely will never use, and will eat up a nice portion of your already limited inventory space for a small and I'll do it again "SMALL" chance at something you might actually want.

Coming to you straight from free 2 play barely surviving or stagnant games with the sole intention of getting you to part with more of your money then you other wise would.

It's capitalism at its finest form we "Zenimax" has figured out how to get you to spend 3 - 50 % more then you normally would for a chance at acquiring what you want.

Not a fan not a fan at all.

It is not the death of the game. The game will be around to see many more themed lottery crates. It's the death of the game to players like me who spend hundreds of dollars gear on subscriptions and crowns and enjoyed being treated like an adult and allowed to decide what items we were willing to purchase and what items we were not.

Obviously there were not enough players like me or our money just wasn't enough to keep content coming and the servers operational with a healthy enough profit margin to boot.

I'm fine with there being a business side to the game. I'm fine with supporting a game I enjoy with subscriptions and purchases but I am not so keen on supporting these loot crates which in its base form is just a marketing/sales gimick meant to squeeze more dollars out of loyal customers.

I would say it's shameful but you already know it's shameful.

Good luck with it I enjoyed a year plus of the game without this ***.

Phinix1

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

I HATE when games feel the need to glorify gambling and pander to addiction psychology to push cash shop sales on us. I thought they were doing just fine with incentivizine subscriptions by keeping a fair stock of Crown items and granting DLC and craft bag access to ESO Plus members.

This just smacks too much of greed.

Beyond that, it goes against the whole spirit of the B2P model that ZOS has pioneered and succeeded with where so many others have failed. The idea that all cash shop items are less than in-game equivalents that can be obtained elsewhere, mainly through crafting.

The inclusion of exclusive crate-only items is a bridge too far.

I sincerely hope this is not a sign of things to come.

Mojmir

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

can't fix your ongoing issues? Community keeps pointing out your flaws? Not enough players to defend your poor decision making? Don't like listening to feedback?
Introducing crown crates!! The be all end all way to finance your way through f2p!!!

laurajf

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

The playerbase here has always been filled with more mature and responsible people than many other games. Many of these players are here not just for the Elder Scrolls but because of this playerbase and because the game up to this point has dared to be different than the others in many ways, one of which up until now has included no RNG boxes. The store has been fair for the most part, although admittedly started with the time-limited items, rising prices and the "getting rid of inventory to make room" nonsense but again, regardless of those things, we still had the choice of what we wanted to buy.

These boxes are the first step in becoming like all the other games out there that many of us have left and have no patience for any longer. Many of us have disposable income to willingly spend on gaming and fluff items, but we are also responsible adults and we don't gamble our hard-earned money.

The current playerbase is too smart for this and ESO is a few years too late in pulling this stunt. If they were going to do this, they should have started the game this way, not changed it after this length of time, which is why there is such an outpouring of disgust from the loyal players who have been with them from the beginning.

So many of us have waited patiently for housing. If good housing stuff ends up in those boxes, I do believe that will be the final nail in the coffin for many long-time players, myself included.

JimT722

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

laurajf wrote: »

So many of us have waited patiently for housing. If good housing stuff ends up in those boxes, I do believe that will be the final nail in the coffin for many long-time players, myself included.

If other games that had rng boxes are any indication, exciting housing options will be in the crown crates.

BlueViolet

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

I have not tested the crates myself, but my son has been on the PTS to test. Needless to say his results were pitiful. A load of trash and very little else.
I thought this game and Zenimax were better than to introduce this kind of gambling crap garbage into the game. This is Elder Scrolls... it has always been classy, in a league of its own when compared to other series, or even MMO's.

I always thought that this game might serve as a good example to others that you don't NEED to add that kind of rubbish to your game to have a thriving community, and terrific content.
Now, it looks like it is being taken down the road hand in hand with greedy trash games like Neverwinter, STO amongst others.

This is the only MMO game I've played anymore, for last 2 and a bit years. Because it wasn't like those others. It's really disappointing to see what's happening to it. I'm saddened.

Esquire1980g_ESO

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt, and the ball cap. Seen too many AAA MMORPGs go this route. Have a lifer to STO (that I beta-ed) and haven't logged in there for years. Have 2 collector's boxes to TOR, they gain dust in the closet.

Cancelled ESO sub, haven't logged in and played since the announcement.

Epona222

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

laurajf wrote: »

The playerbase here has always been filled with more mature and responsible people than many other games. Many of these players are here not just for the Elder Scrolls but because of this playerbase and because the game up to this point has dared to be different than the others in many ways, one of which up until now has included no RNG boxes. The store has been fair for the most part, although admittedly started with the time-limited items, rising prices and the "getting rid of inventory to make room" nonsense but again, regardless of those things, we still had the choice of what we wanted to buy.

These boxes are the first step in becoming like all the other games out there that many of us have left and have no patience for any longer. Many of us have disposable income to willingly spend on gaming and fluff items, but we are also responsible adults and we don't gamble our hard-earned money.

The current playerbase is too smart for this and ESO is a few years too late in pulling this stunt. If they were going to do this, they should have started the game this way, not changed it after this length of time, which is why there is such an outpouring of disgust from the loyal players who have been with them from the beginning.

So many of us have waited patiently for housing. If good housing stuff ends up in those boxes, I do believe that will be the final nail in the coffin for many long-time players, myself included.

Getting rid of inventory so that we have a load of stuff that people didn't buy the first time round that we can now flood them with discontinued items in crates instead of letting people buy the fox mount that they want, more like.

Hamfast

Neutral: I have NOT tested the crates, and my feelings are neutral, noncommital, or do not apply.

I still don't care about them and still think a fool and his (or her) money are soon parted... let those that wish play crate lotto, let those that don't keep their crowns or spend them as they will.

I doubt they will knock on our doors, hold us at gun point and demand we buy crowns and spend them on crates... if they do, I live in Texas where we take the right to keep and bear arms seriously...

JimT722

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

Hamfast wrote: »

I still don't care about them and still think a fool and his (or her) money are soon parted... let those that wish play crate lotto, let those that don't keep their crowns or spend them as they will.

I doubt they will knock on our doors, hold us at gun point and demand we buy crowns and spend them on crates... if they do, I live in Texas where we take the right to keep and bear arms seriously...

I agree that people are free to do what they wish with their money. However, people who want the cosmetics in these crates shouldn't be ripped off. This is just a horrible way to do business.

Not to mention the effects it will have on future dlc. Are you looking forward to housing with rng ripoff crates in the game? I sure am not.

Mandragora

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

I wish ZOS would consider other possibilities how to improve their market shop and multiple their goods there, like by dividing the current cosmetic to more of pieces - players wanted to have more complex cosmetic system by letting them choose different parts of body - you can use it for more complex offers in your shop. Players even asked for possibility to have different tops/pants/gloves/hats/shoes. Please, before going into extremes, think more about such possibilities and implement them first, above any predatory mechanics, that will lead into negative reputation and thus lack of payment in any area.

JimT722

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

Mandragora wrote: »

I wish ZOS would consider other possibilities how to improve their market shop and multiple their goods there, like by dividing the current cosmetic to more of pieces - players wanted to have more complex cosmetic system by letting them choose different parts of body - you can use it for more complex offers in your shop. Players even asked for possibility to have different tops/pants/gloves/hats/shoes. Please, before going into extremes, think more about such possibilities and implement them first, above any predatory mechanics, that will lead into negative reputation and thus lack of payment in any area.

That and maybe put the stuff they make on the store. Also keep stuff on the store.

Style parlor, so many options. I loved all the hairstyles available once it hit live. Zero options. If the store isn't doing well it's their fault.

Agalloch

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

Instead of developing this stupid crown crates gambling system they could fix the issues that come after the maintenance of the first week of september ( huge lag spikes, huge fps drops---- any other MMO I play is running fine)

And this issue is random and could happen anywhere even in non crowded areas...:(

If the devs will not listen to the community and however they decide to put them on live ...I have a suggestion:

Give a crown crate for free for every player that login everyday as a reward (daily login reward) and limit the amount of crown crates who can be bought daily with real money to maximum 3 .


English is not my native language.

Dojohoda

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

Having no experience with this sort of thing before, I was neutral before I tested them.

After testing the crates in PTS, I do not like them at all. The consumables WHICH YOU WILL GET are mostly junk and will have to be deleted. This is real money thrown down the toilet. Almost every crate will be a waste of real money.

Dubhliam

Other: My feelings are more complex than the above sentiments. (Comment below.)

It's not actually that black and white, there has been a lot of discussion about them.

I actually support the addition of a "whale player cash grab" since ZOS is in this to make money, and the crates do not give advantage, meaning they are not P2W.

BUT!
The implementation is SO VERY WRONG.

By my calculations, even if every crate provides a blue (cosmetic) item, and even if you want/already own all of the vanity items - assume that getting a new cosmetic item is not a wasted Crate, the amount of Crowns spent to be able to buy one Apex mount is 32000 Crowns.

This is seriously *** up.
With less than 1% chance to get an Apex mount from drops, you are forced to spend a ridiculous amount of Crowns for a single mount.

My opinion is that a simple adjustment of Gem ratios would significantly improve the Crown Crate experience.

Epona222

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

Hamfast wrote: »

I still don't care about them and still think a fool and his (or her) money are soon parted... let those that wish play crate lotto, let those that don't keep their crowns or spend them as they will.

I doubt they will knock on our doors, hold us at gun point and demand we buy crowns and spend them on crates... if they do, I live in Texas where we take the right to keep and bear arms seriously...

Problem is, looking at the PTS, it looks as though everything new is going to be in the gamble crates - if it was simply an option of spending crowns on the things we want to spend them on, then the crown crates would get no buyers - so looks like all the new mounts, pets, costumes, and morph/cosmetic options will ONLY be in crates from when they go live.

I can't help thinking that some bright spark in the marketing department came up with this as a solution as to how to get players to buy crown consumables, and thought this would essentially be a good way to sell consumables with occasional drops of cosmetic stuff. Whereas I think if they must do crown crates, then 'rare' drops need to be at better odds than 2 legendaries per $350 spent, with the occasional consumable as a consolation prize.

See you haven't tried the crates, and they are mostly consumables, which no-one wants. If people wanted consumables, they would be buying them from the crown store already.