A more financially beneficial alternative to crates for ZOS

olivesforge

I think there's one thing that hasn't been discussed in the endlessly non-conclusive griping about Crates - an alternative for the whale end.

Look, as pure mathematics, it if crown crates entice 100 people who aren't subscribers to leave, while they entice me to spend $1000, then as long as not too many hundreds leave (which is something none of us know), crates are obviously the best option for the company, the devs and the players who are willing to pay. I'm sure ZOS has the info, and as we're only getting more crates, and ZOS is paying artists to create each version, I'm sure they're generally an... unwanted success.

The problem ZOS needs to worry about is that crates are seasonal, uncertain as far as income is concerned, and ultimately are somewhat self-cannibalizing (sales which are guaranteed in the Store are speculative if put in boxes). Further, there will be people who spend 1k on crates a few seasons... and then just get bored. That's where I am. It's fun, I guess, but just meh.

So I suggest that ZOS consider an ESO++ - a whale sub tier that has everything available. I'm sure that, looking at the data, ZOS could both price it right and make a more stable source of income. It would certainly cannibalize boxes somewhat, but right now ZOS is gambling that whales keep buying boxes and can't really predict what each iteration would bring. Much better would be, say, a guaranteed 3.6k per year with a $300/mo sub. This makes whales buy into the system at a permanent, ongoing price which makes them care about the health of the game as a whole, and allows ZOS to tell the board that they've got a guaranteed amount of premium income every quarter.

Ultimately, keeping the whales happy is the best for everyone involved - from Cal Ripken down to my best friend in game, who is a college student well-versed at ramen cooking.

Offering alternatives to the box-only model is what will prove helpful here - not endlessly fighting over a system which isn't gonna change unless one of us ponies up enough investment money to join the board.

Hanokihs

Spending that much at once would probably make people balk at the cost, though I do like the idea of tiered subscriptions. The Crates are designed to tease the money away, or bring out the impulse purchaser in everyone, so they'd have to put up some massive advantages for subs to make even whales buy into that big of a price hike.

Personally, I think that as long as they keep the bar high on crate apex/radiant quality, they'll eventually entice all but the completely stone-hearted to buy into their system. It's already happening, here and there; a friend of mine who once thought (and loudly voiced) that it was the dumbest thing ever to waste money on couldn't help herself when the plague horse showed up.

Appleblade

I just want to role-play. I posted else where about creating an ice based warden character, and wanting to get the ice horse for her, but nope... not available anymore. So both the RNG approach to getting stuff and the limited time windows are, in my opinion, complete anathema to a role-playing game.

Yeah, yeah, it’s a business. That’s why they’re leaving my money on the table... I guess? I could actually afford your Whale account, But it goes well past my “it’s just a game” threshold.