Monetisation of New Systems

Turelus

So this is part rant, part constructive feedback. You've been warned.

After seeing the showing of the new "boss weapon packs" available in the Crown Store yesterday, I have to ask if there is a game system ZOS' marketing team isn't going monetise as much as possible.

For those not aware of what I am talking about there seems to be packs for sale in the Crown Store which are new items for the Outfit System which change your themed around a boss.
Images courtesy of Alcast.

https://twitter.com/AlcastESO/status/985995846918455296

My gripes with this comes from what could have been an interesting mechanic to bring life back to old content has most likely become another pay to unlock pack (note it's not 100% confirmed these are store only yet).

This isn't the first instance of a new system being done in a way which it can be monetised either, it's not even the only monetisation used for the Outfit System.

List of Monetised Systems.

Housing
Crown only decorations.
Crown Crate only decorations.
Housing slots locked behind subscription.

Transmutation
Additional token slots locked behind subscription.

Outfit System
Outfit slots per character and sold for insane amounts ($14.99 each!)
Crown Store only outfit items (Summerset pre-order, Summerset Crown Store)
Edit: New motif exclusive to Crown Crates and distributed in pages (Thanks to @Carbonised for info later in the thread)

I wouldn't be entirely against the above being in the store if they were better priced ($15 for a single outfit slot usable by a single character!) or something we could still earn in game (Mundus Stones not attainable in game) however it's that sad part of gaming these days where everything is sold for real money rather than being attainable through the gameplay.

Now I understand ZOS is a company, they need to find ways to make money for ESO to continue and that the more money they make means more content and things we love going forwards. But... I can't say seeing the trend above I am really excited for new features which are developed if each one is going to have parts locked behind real money purchases.

I've often made the joke about ESO becoming more like SWTOR and whilst we are far from that this trend of making every new system in a way which it can then be monetised is kind of heading that route.

/endrant

Remember to like, favourite and subscribe. If you have your own thoughts on ZOS monetisation leave a comment in the comments section below!

Seraphayel

They just want to squeeze out money of every possible aspect of the game.

I really really really don't like this. Why is the nice stuff Crown Store related? They don't add any new mounts or nice things to the base game that you can unlock or achieve, everything goes straight to the Crown Store. Why even ESO+? It already feels like a F2P game with all the stuff you can buy in the shop. And it won't get any better, it will get worse.

I really don't like this massive monetizing aspect of the game. It's just lame and disappointing for every loyal player.

Brrrofski

We have no idea what there are yet. They could be purely cosmetic for all we know.

Things being behind a sub I'm absolutely fine with. It's like £10 a month. It's nothing.

Cosmetic things being in the crown store - I could care less. It's cosmetic so it's whatever.

Yuls

For what it's worth, you will get different kind of outfit pages from Battlegrounds, which will be in the base game then, so it's not all in the store.

AlienatedGoat

Im honestly not surprised anymore.

We call them ZO$ for a reason.

Turelus

Brrrofski wrote: »

We have no idea what there are yet. They could be purely cosmetic for all we know.

Things being behind a sub I'm absolutely fine with. It's like £10 a month. It's nothing.

Cosmetic things being in the crown store - I could care less. It's cosmetic so it's whatever.

I fully believe they're cosmetic, ZOS isn't stupid enough to sell actual stat items in the store (outside joke items)
It's very likely they're going to be outfit system things from what I have seen, similar to the outfit system style exclusive to Summerset Collectors Edition. Considering in the image in the store they come with an outfit token I feel I am safe on this bet.

My issue comes from if these are Crown Store only, then we once again took something which could have breathed some life back into older content and bundled it up for real money sales.

Yuls wrote: »

For what it's worth, you will get different kind of outfit pages from Battlegrounds, which will be in the base game then, so it's not all in the store.

Indeed. It's just a shame older PvE dungeons couldn't get the same treatment (unless I've missed that part).

Tasear

Is this selling weapons from dungeons or outfits that look like bosses?

AlienatedGoat

Tasear wrote: »

Is this selling weapons from dungeons or outfits that look like bosses?

It's outfit styles that are themed after bosses.

phaneub17_ESO

Do I get to run around as a Clannfear? 5000 crowns!

Yuls

Tasear wrote: »

Is this selling weapons from dungeons or outfits that look like bosses?

Those are weapon skins, not actual weapons.

Turelus

Tasear wrote: »

Is this selling weapons from dungeons or outfits that look like bosses?

It looks like new weapons skins (not actual items) for the Outfit System.

mikejezz

Seraphayel wrote: »

They just want to squeeze out money of every possible aspect of the game.

I really really really don't like this. Why is the nice stuff Crown Store related? They don't add any new mounts or nice things to the base game that you can unlock or achieve, everything goes straight to the Crown Store. Why even ESO+? It already feels like a F2P game with all the stuff you can buy in the shop. And it won't get any better, it will get worse.

I really don't like this massive monetizing aspect of the game. It's just lame and disappointing for every loyal player.

To be fair regarding mounts, this game nails it better than WoW. There you pay to play and also have to pay for mounts on the store (I know they put a little bit of mounts in each expansion that can be obtained in raids.)

Here you actually can pay for mounts with the monthly crowns you get.

AlienatedGoat

Would've been great as rare drops in thise dungeons.

Yet again though, ZO$ misses the opportunity for interesting gameplay and ingame rewards by opting for a quick buck.

Linaleah

mikejezz wrote: »

Seraphayel wrote: »

They just want to squeeze out money of every possible aspect of the game.

I really really really don't like this. Why is the nice stuff Crown Store related? They don't add any new mounts or nice things to the base game that you can unlock or achieve, everything goes straight to the Crown Store. Why even ESO+? It already feels like a F2P game with all the stuff you can buy in the shop. And it won't get any better, it will get worse.

I really don't like this massive monetizing aspect of the game. It's just lame and disappointing for every loyal player.

To be fair regarding mounts, this game nails it better than WoW. There you pay to play and also have to pay for mounts on the store (I know they put a little bit of mounts in each expansion that can be obtained in raids.)

Here you actually can pay for mounts with the monthly crowns you get.

to be fair, most (and when I say most I'm talking conservatively estimating - 90% of them) WoW mounts are earned via gameplay. yes subscription is mandatory, but mounts are achievement and drop based.

now, I generally don't mind when they put stuff up in a store, but I've been getting the same uncomfortable sense of swtor like dejavu lately.

and don't even get me started on jewelry crafting and research scrolls

Blackbird_V

Phage wrote: »

Would've been great as rare drops in thise dungeons.

Yet again though, ZO$ misses the opportunity for interesting gameplay and ingame rewards by opting for a quick buck.

Adding stuff like this to Dungeons adds content to old content, refreshing it. It'd be like playing Runescape, constantly grinding out bosses or some dungeons for loot, and the reward is the loot.

Shame. Absolutely a shame and incredibly greedy. Absolutely horrible. Sadly am not surprised anymore though.

Tasear

Linaleah wrote: »

mikejezz wrote: »

Seraphayel wrote: »

They just want to squeeze out money of every possible aspect of the game.

I really really really don't like this. Why is the nice stuff Crown Store related? They don't add any new mounts or nice things to the base game that you can unlock or achieve, everything goes straight to the Crown Store. Why even ESO+? It already feels like a F2P game with all the stuff you can buy in the shop. And it won't get any better, it will get worse.

I really don't like this massive monetizing aspect of the game. It's just lame and disappointing for every loyal player.

To be fair regarding mounts, this game nails it better than WoW. There you pay to play and also have to pay for mounts on the store (I know they put a little bit of mounts in each expansion that can be obtained in raids.)

Here you actually can pay for mounts with the monthly crowns you get.

to be fair, most (and when I say most I'm talking conservatively estimating - 90% of them) WoW mounts are earned via gameplay. yes subscription is mandatory, but mounts are achievement and drop based.

now, I generally don't mind when they put stuff up in a store, but I've been getting the same uncomfortable sense of swtor like dejavu lately.

and don't even get me started on jewelry crafting and research scrolls

What happened in swtor?

mikejezz

Linaleah wrote: »

mikejezz wrote: »

Seraphayel wrote: »

They just want to squeeze out money of every possible aspect of the game.

I really really really don't like this. Why is the nice stuff Crown Store related? They don't add any new mounts or nice things to the base game that you can unlock or achieve, everything goes straight to the Crown Store. Why even ESO+? It already feels like a F2P game with all the stuff you can buy in the shop. And it won't get any better, it will get worse.

I really don't like this massive monetizing aspect of the game. It's just lame and disappointing for every loyal player.

To be fair regarding mounts, this game nails it better than WoW. There you pay to play and also have to pay for mounts on the store (I know they put a little bit of mounts in each expansion that can be obtained in raids.)

Here you actually can pay for mounts with the monthly crowns you get.

to be fair, most (and when I say most I'm talking conservatively estimating - 90% of them) WoW mounts are earned via gameplay. yes subscription is mandatory, but mounts are achievement and drop based.

That is true, but as a person that was casual and wasn’t in a raid guild then you can really kiss the chances of getting the mounts goodbye.

Here I can pay for them (except the crate ones) from my sub.

AlienatedGoat

Tasear wrote: »

Linaleah wrote: »

mikejezz wrote: »

Seraphayel wrote: »

They just want to squeeze out money of every possible aspect of the game.

I really really really don't like this. Why is the nice stuff Crown Store related? They don't add any new mounts or nice things to the base game that you can unlock or achieve, everything goes straight to the Crown Store. Why even ESO+? It already feels like a F2P game with all the stuff you can buy in the shop. And it won't get any better, it will get worse.

I really don't like this massive monetizing aspect of the game. It's just lame and disappointing for every loyal player.

To be fair regarding mounts, this game nails it better than WoW. There you pay to play and also have to pay for mounts on the store (I know they put a little bit of mounts in each expansion that can be obtained in raids.)

Here you actually can pay for mounts with the monthly crowns you get.

to be fair, most (and when I say most I'm talking conservatively estimating - 90% of them) WoW mounts are earned via gameplay. yes subscription is mandatory, but mounts are achievement and drop based.

now, I generally don't mind when they put stuff up in a store, but I've been getting the same uncomfortable sense of swtor like dejavu lately.

and don't even get me started on jewelry crafting and research scrolls

What happened in swtor?

Cartel coins happened.

Turelus

Tasear wrote: »

Linaleah wrote: »

mikejezz wrote: »

Seraphayel wrote: »

They just want to squeeze out money of every possible aspect of the game.

I really really really don't like this. Why is the nice stuff Crown Store related? They don't add any new mounts or nice things to the base game that you can unlock or achieve, everything goes straight to the Crown Store. Why even ESO+? It already feels like a F2P game with all the stuff you can buy in the shop. And it won't get any better, it will get worse.

I really don't like this massive monetizing aspect of the game. It's just lame and disappointing for every loyal player.

To be fair regarding mounts, this game nails it better than WoW. There you pay to play and also have to pay for mounts on the store (I know they put a little bit of mounts in each expansion that can be obtained in raids.)

Here you actually can pay for mounts with the monthly crowns you get.

to be fair, most (and when I say most I'm talking conservatively estimating - 90% of them) WoW mounts are earned via gameplay. yes subscription is mandatory, but mounts are achievement and drop based.

now, I generally don't mind when they put stuff up in a store, but I've been getting the same uncomfortable sense of swtor like dejavu lately.

and don't even get me started on jewelry crafting and research scrolls

What happened in swtor?

SWTOR has almost everything a system of payment. You can't progress your character unless you're subbed once you hit max level (this is a recent change), there are caps on raids/battlegrounds unless you sub, almost all housing items are from crates, almost all good armour designs are cash shop (in game armours look very bad to most).

Tasear

Guess it not that bad here,

We still have luxary vendor for anyone without jewelry crafting. Just pray to rngess they spice things up a bit. I heard it's obesded with kena. Things outside dungeons can be bought with gold.

Psjic order does't seem overwhelming powerful though majic dps now have minor force option still there's trap beast right as alternative?

Haven't played many other games, bit seems like they give us 3 chances or so at something nice from shop. Still seems comestics so not bad in gameplay.

Seems like a good balance though...ad thing they are talking about in pts forum might kill me. I hoping it a bug though.

Would still like see more rewarding experience from mid tier group. It can be seen that trial issue is a sign missing middle ground incentives. The trial sets are bad... right now. I just don't see it.

Linaleah

Tasear wrote: »

Linaleah wrote: »

mikejezz wrote: »

Seraphayel wrote: »

They just want to squeeze out money of every possible aspect of the game.

I really really really don't like this. Why is the nice stuff Crown Store related? They don't add any new mounts or nice things to the base game that you can unlock or achieve, everything goes straight to the Crown Store. Why even ESO+? It already feels like a F2P game with all the stuff you can buy in the shop. And it won't get any better, it will get worse.

I really don't like this massive monetizing aspect of the game. It's just lame and disappointing for every loyal player.

To be fair regarding mounts, this game nails it better than WoW. There you pay to play and also have to pay for mounts on the store (I know they put a little bit of mounts in each expansion that can be obtained in raids.)

Here you actually can pay for mounts with the monthly crowns you get.

to be fair, most (and when I say most I'm talking conservatively estimating - 90% of them) WoW mounts are earned via gameplay. yes subscription is mandatory, but mounts are achievement and drop based.

now, I generally don't mind when they put stuff up in a store, but I've been getting the same uncomfortable sense of swtor like dejavu lately.

and don't even get me started on jewelry crafting and research scrolls

What happened in swtor?

what others said. vast majority of new decorative fluff is in cartel store in some fashion. armors, pets, mounts, furnishings ... there is almost no new stuff added to be earned in game. we are not there yet in ESO, thank goodness, but... the balance has been shifting lately.

mikejezz wrote: »

That is true, but as a person that was casual and wasn’t in a raid guild then you can really kiss the chances of getting the mounts goodbye.

Here I can pay for them (except the crate ones) from my sub.

not at all true. there are a LOT of mounts that come from solo activities. there is a ton of reputations that you farm solo, via daily quests and such and most of them come with several mounts you can get. its been this way since BC at least and its even more so now. my collection of mounts in WoW is up to 280 mounts and I'm still missing couple of old reputations I've been working on slowly, that let you buy more mounts. old raids have been adjusted to be soloable, so even if you missed out on meta raid mounts when it was current content - you can now catch up on them on your own. I'm also currently working on a fox mount right now that's also solo. last but not least, thanks to lfr - quests that do require occasional raiding, can be completed without raiding guild as well.

so yeah, there are mounts in cash shop, but most mounts are both in game and solo friendly.

there are many reasons why I prefer ESO to WoW, but I'm starting to wish that the balance in ESO when it comes to certain fluff things wasn't so cash shop skewed.

Marabornwingrion

These styles should drop from dungeons (WGT, BC, CoH).
Shame on you ZOS, again.

mythlover20

Turelus wrote: »

So this is part rant, part constructive feedback. You've been warned.

After seeing the showing of the new "boss weapon packs" available in the Crown Store yesterday, I have to ask if there is a game system ZOS' marketing team isn't going monetise as much as possible.

For those not aware of what I am talking about there seems to be packs for sale in the Crown Store which are new items for the Outfit System which change your themed around a boss.
Images courtesy of Alcast.

https://twitter.com/AlcastESO/status/985995846918455296

My gripes with this comes from what could have been an interesting mechanic to bring life back to old content has most likely become another pay to unlock pack (note it's not 100% confirmed these are store only yet).

This isn't the first instance of a new system being done in a way which it can be monetised either, it's not even the only monetisation used for the Outfit System.

List of Monetised Systems.

Housing
Crown only decorations.
Crown Crate only decorations.
Housing slots locked behind subscription.

Transmutation
Additional token slots locked behind subscription.

Outfit System
Outfit slots per character and sold for insane amounts ($14.99 each!)
Crown Store only outfit items (Summerset pre-order, Summerset Crown Store)

I wouldn't be entirely against the above being in the store if they were better priced ($15 for a single outfit slot usable by a single character!) or something we could still earn in game (Mundus Stones not attainable in game) however it's that sad part of gaming these days where everything is sold for real money rather than being attainable through the gameplay.

Now I understand ZOS is a company, they need to find ways to make money for ESO to continue and that the more money they make means more content and things we love going forwards. But... I can't say seeing the trend above I am really excited for new features which are developed if each one is going to have parts locked behind real money purchases.

I've often made the joke about ESO becoming more like SWTOR and whilst we are far from that this trend of making every new system in a way which it can then be monetised is kind of heading that route.

/endrant

Remember to like, favourite and subscribe. If you have your own thoughts on ZOS monetisation leave a comment in the comments section below!

This is another issue that I was concerned with when I made my posts about how Summerset is being priced and screws over the old players. This game is losing everything that made it a reasonably safe space to play. But you are entirely right. ZoS wants money more than players, even though it's the long-term-players who spend the most money. They can't see past their own quarterly profits and bonuses, and refuse to listen to anyone who tells them the game is suffering for it.

I knew this was going to happen the second Summerset was announced, when it was still Summerset+Morrowind for all, even those who already owned Morrowind. I knew it when Morrowind was being made available in the crown store for the free crowns people get with their subscriptions.

The game is dying. The small handful of new players will never offset the veteran players now abandoning the game in droves. They had a good thing, but they just had to go *** it up. Again.

Honestly I don't even know why I bother playing anymore.

Oh, wait, yes I do: it's the only social interaction I can have that doesn't give me a days-long panic attack.

But seriously, ZoS, you need to start listening to us, unless you want to be out of a job by this time next year.

DetreS

This is one of the things i hate of gw2, Best weps or armor skins are in the store and you have to play money for them.

Tasear

We don't have as many mounts or things but we do have motifs for everything. I am kinda bored with those rewards.

I would to see more of these contests.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/399608/official-discussion-thread-for-get-creative-with-the-eso-daedric-dress-up-contest#latest

Speaking of would like to hear the results. Was supposed to be April 3rd.

Turelus

mythlover20 wrote: »

The game is dying. The small handful of new players will never offset the veteran players now abandoning the game in droves. They had a good thing, but they just had to go *** it up. Again.

Honestly I don't even know why I bother playing anymore.

Oh, wait, yes I do: it's the only social interaction I can have that doesn't give me a days-long panic attack.

But seriously, ZoS, you need to start listening to us, unless you want to be out of a job by this time next year.

I wouldn't go quite this far. The game is doing very well and the content they produce is good. I have no real issues with most of the games development (I don't even get mad at balance any more), however every new game system just being monetised bugs me a bit.

It means that on some level they're being designed in ways which allow the monetisation which could come at the expense of the quality of the system (I'm being overly dramatic I know).

DetreS wrote: »

This is one of the things i hate of gw2, Best weps or armor skins are in the store and you have to play money for them.

Seems this is exactly where ESO is going with new outfit styles (not crafting styles) being added via the store for the system.

wolfxspice

if its cosmetic, their gonna monetize it, the only thing thats bugging me about those weapon skins is it looks like they will have a effect with it, i wish they would add a few effects to the base game (like the pink glow on infall, or moondancer purple glow) they could make them rewards for completing the content.

Tasear

We still got new motifs in the game? There's 4 with upcoming chapter. But does seem something is wrong with people not being happy with content rewards.

Turelus

Tasear wrote: »

We still got new motifs in the game? There's 4 with upcoming chapter. But does seem something is wrong with people not being happy with content rewards.

New motifs are good and they'll look nice but let's be honest if this system is what it seems then the motifs will be the mundane cultural ones from each update but all the "cool" stuff will be in the store for money.

It's just sad that dungeons which have little value to run now lost a great chance to have some low % drops to encourage players to get back into them.

Greevir

You'll be able to buy them with gold. "Gifting Molag Kena Arms Pack for 1.5 million gold!"

Turelus

Greevir wrote: »

You'll be able to buy them with gold. "Gifting Molag Kena Arms Pack for 1.5 million gold!"

True. Although if they're a limited weekend only deal at 5000 Crowns I would expect it to be quote the sum of gold.