ESO+ Free Trial

spartaxoxo

Have these been discontinued?

oddbasket

Many expected it to be every 3 months but I don't think they've ever specified a fixed schedule, it's more like they were planned to coincide with events to boost sales. The current event does seem like it would suit a ESO+ trial weekend though.

spartaxoxo

oddbasket wrote: »

Many expected it to be every 3 months but I don't think they've ever specified a fixed schedule, it's more like they were planned to coincide with events to boost sales. The current event does seem like it would suit a ESO+ trial weekend though.

I didn't really expect it to neccesarily be fixed intervals but I thought it would probably be tied to events where it would be relevant. And between it being very useful for this event, and the fact that this event happened during a US holiday known for good sales and deals, I thought for sure we'd have one now.

It was honestly so perfect for it to happen this weekend that it makes me wonder if we'll be getting anymore at all.

lagrue

spartaxoxo wrote: »

Have these been discontinued?

We just had one like a month ago.

spartaxoxo

lagrue wrote: »

spartaxoxo wrote: »

Have these been discontinued?

We just had one like a month ago.

Last one was in August and last year they had an additional around this time on top of the one in August iirc. We had been getting them around every 3 months or so. This weekend made a ton of sense.

Black Friday, Dragonguard event, and old release schedule all matched.

lagrue

spartaxoxo wrote: »

lagrue wrote: »

spartaxoxo wrote: »

Have these been discontinued?

We just had one like a month ago.

Last one was in August and last year they had an additional around this time on top of the one in August iirc. We had been getting them around every 3 months or so. This weekend made a ton of sense.

Black Friday, Dragonguard event, and old release schedule all matched.

You're right, my bad - it was just a general ESO free to play I'm thinking of.

spartaxoxo

lagrue wrote: »

You're right, my bad - it was just a general ESO free to play I'm thinking of.

Ah I see. Yeah that wasn't that long ago. I know I might just be being silly because it's only one time that it's not totally aligned with old release.

But like....look at how perfect it would have been from a sale point of view, you know?

rumple9

It's been every 3 months +/- a couple of weeks for the last 3 years. The last one was 3rd august. This one is overdue

zvavi

I remember zos saying that every event you will be able to get tickets even if you are f2p or something like that. I might be wrong though, because this event is obviously not so.

richo262

You'd think they'd throw a free week in the middle of Dragonguard, at least part of it so that people that don't have those DLC's are drawn toward them from the event, and have a bit of time to explore the DLC like a demo.

I wouldn't be surprised if they drop an ESO+ trial very soon, even if just for a few days during this event, toward the end of it.

redgreensunset

The US is a minuscule part of the playerbase and by ZOS' own words the NA server (which isn't even exclusively US players) are the smaller one. So why should they not look at the wider world and its convenience rather than focus on US exclusive ideas and holidays when offering stuff like a free ESO+ trial?

spartaxoxo

redgreensunset wrote: »

The US is a minuscule part of the playerbase and by ZOS' own words the NA server (which isn't even exclusively US players) are the smaller one. So why should they not look at the wider world and its convenience rather than focus on US exclusive ideas and holidays when offering stuff like a free ESO+ trial?

PC-NA being a smaller server does not mean the US is a miniscule part of their playerbase. Besides that, they had Black Friday deals anyway, an event that was running where their players could use the access, and it was their usual time? Most people who buy from US companies know about Black Friday and will look for deals from the ones they purchase from.

And in fact, ESO did celebrate black Friday.

spartaxoxo

So as this year draws to a close, I gotta ask, are these over or changing schedule?

Kadoin

redgreensunset wrote: »

The US is a minuscule part of the playerbase and by ZOS' own words the NA server (which isn't even exclusively US players) are the smaller one. So why should they not look at the wider world and its convenience rather than focus on US exclusive ideas and holidays when offering stuff like a free ESO+ trial?

After all the recent problems with the servers and events (and even the launcher and client themselves), throwing a bone after that and not calling it compensation would have been a wise decision and shown the players that they do care.

That would have been reason enough to run one IMO. But hey, the person making the big decisions about things like that knows what's best...

It's a shame they only know what's best today and not tomorrow.

Acrolas

Kadoin wrote: »

After all the recent problems with the servers and events (and even the launcher and client themselves), throwing a bone after that and not calling it compensation would have been a wise decision and shown the players that they do care.

That would have been reason enough to run one IMO. But hey, the person making the big decisions about things like that knows what's best...

It's a shame they only know what's best today and not tomorrow.

If ESO+ trials aren't reliably leading to an increase in subscriptions, then there's really no purpose in doing them. Their primary function is to allow people to experience paid benefits, not to periodically feed opportunists who refuse to pay.
You're accusing them of only thinking short-term, but freezing a promotion that does not meet expectations is long-term thinking. Your "throwing a bone" example is short term thinking.

Consider the consistency of your message before punctuating it with a snide comment.

Kadoin

Acrolas wrote: »

Kadoin wrote: »

After all the recent problems with the servers and events (and even the launcher and client themselves), throwing a bone after that and not calling it compensation would have been a wise decision and shown the players that they do care.

That would have been reason enough to run one IMO. But hey, the person making the big decisions about things like that knows what's best...

It's a shame they only know what's best today and not tomorrow.

If ESO+ trials aren't reliably leading to an increase in subscriptions, then there's really no purpose in doing them. Their primary function is to allow people to experience paid benefits, not to periodically feed opportunists who refuse to pay.
You're accusing them of only thinking short-term, but freezing a promotion that does not meet expectations is long-term thinking. Your "throwing a bone" example is short term thinking.

Consider the consistency of your message before punctuating it with a snide comment.

And yet the people that paid for ESO+ weren't compensated for the days lost due to these problems and all the maintenance. I'm sure that would send the message you should keep spending money on ESO+ and its great value.

It's one thing if it's a one-off or rare occurrence, but these problems have persisted for months and even years and they have never given any compensation.

I don't know what message it sends you nor anyone else, but I know what message it sends me: I should play less because they don't care and what's most important to them is profit, not player satisfaction. It also sends the message that they have no confidence in their ability to fix such problems, otherwise they would have compensation and not have to worry about having to cut into profit margins because of the threat of players demanding compensation in the future. That makes me lose confidence in ZOS as a whole.

This is not just the message I can get from inference, but I can get the same message from evaluating the forums year over year and gaining a historical context that can be seen on these very forums. In fact, I may have said something exactly similar to what I posted earlier in this forum LAST YEAR.

Whether they do or do not is their decision, but I'm not about to sit down and not criticize a decision I think is misguided.

Want to talk about opportunists? What do you call a business that plays a smoke and mirrors act and does not offer a refund or any compensation when the smoke fades and the act is exposed?

VaranisArano

2018 Schedule:
January 9th - 15th
April 24th - 30th
July 10th - 16th
November 15th - 21st

2019 Schedule (so far) :
February 7th - 12th
May 2nd - 6th
Aug 8th-13th

Personally, I'm not expecting one to happen in the middle of the holidays. I also wouldn't be surprised to learn that the rather, um, chaotic event schedule with extensions and cancellations played havoc with any planned trial. They got a free to play trial squeezed in there in early November, which I suspect is the more important of the two trials.

Tigerseye

Acrolas wrote: »

Kadoin wrote: »

After all the recent problems with the servers and events (and even the launcher and client themselves), throwing a bone after that and not calling it compensation would have been a wise decision and shown the players that they do care.

That would have been reason enough to run one IMO. But hey, the person making the big decisions about things like that knows what's best...

It's a shame they only know what's best today and not tomorrow.

If ESO+ trials aren't reliably leading to an increase in subscriptions, then there's really no purpose in doing them. Their primary function is to allow people to experience paid benefits, not to periodically feed opportunists who refuse to pay.
You're accusing them of only thinking short-term, but freezing a promotion that does not meet expectations is long-term thinking. Your "throwing a bone" example is short term thinking.

Consider the consistency of your message before punctuating it with a snide comment.

Well, that would certainly be the primary reason for doing them, yes.

However, given that most MMOs - including most sub-free MMOs - seem to provide a free (limited space) storage bag and/or have more storage space (and/or less mats to store), in general, it would also make sense to try to keep people, who don't sub, at least somewhat happy, here.

After all, they did buy the original game and they may still have spent money on other things and/or intend to do so in the future, even though they don't sub constantly at the moment.

JKorr

Kadoin wrote: »

Acrolas wrote: »

Kadoin wrote: »

After all the recent problems with the servers and events (and even the launcher and client themselves), throwing a bone after that and not calling it compensation would have been a wise decision and shown the players that they do care.

That would have been reason enough to run one IMO. But hey, the person making the big decisions about things like that knows what's best...

It's a shame they only know what's best today and not tomorrow.

If ESO+ trials aren't reliably leading to an increase in subscriptions, then there's really no purpose in doing them. Their primary function is to allow people to experience paid benefits, not to periodically feed opportunists who refuse to pay.
You're accusing them of only thinking short-term, but freezing a promotion that does not meet expectations is long-term thinking. Your "throwing a bone" example is short term thinking.

Consider the consistency of your message before punctuating it with a snide comment.

And yet the people that paid for ESO+ weren't compensated for the days lost due to these problems and all the maintenance. I'm sure that would send the message you should keep spending money on ESO+ and its great value.

It's one thing if it's a one-off or rare occurrence, but these problems have persisted for months and even years and they have never given any compensation.

I don't know what message it sends you nor anyone else, but I know what message it sends me: I should play less because they don't care and what's most important to them is profit, not player satisfaction. It also sends the message that they have no confidence in their ability to fix such problems, otherwise they would have compensation and not have to worry about having to cut into profit margins because of the threat of players demanding compensation in the future. That makes me lose confidence in ZOS as a whole.

This is not just the message I can get from inference, but I can get the same message from evaluating the forums year over year and gaining a historical context that can be seen on these very forums. In fact, I may have said something exactly similar to what I posted earlier in this forum LAST YEAR.

Whether they do or do not is their decision, but I'm not about to sit down and not criticize a decision I think is misguided.

Want to talk about opportunists? What do you call a business that plays a smoke and mirrors act and does not offer a refund or any compensation when the smoke fades and the act is exposed?

Someone once worked out the cost of ESO plus for a day.

$0.50. Fifty cents. A day.

It would take the game being down for 4/5 full days to get enough compensation to buy a 20 oz. bottle of Coke. My pre-coffee use of a calculator shows something like the game would need to be down for a full 16 days to get a 750 crown pack.

Until the game is down for a full week I don't think I'd take the time I could be playing to complain about not getting compensation for maintenance time cutting into playing time. This is the cheapest hobby I've ever picked up. They have to go a ways before I start demanding compensation for maintenance time where they are attempting to fix issues. They are damned if they do [OMG COMPENSATION BECAUSE MAINTENANCE AND PATCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!] and damned if they don't [OMG COMPENSATION BECAUSE NO MAINTENANCE OR PATCHES!!!!!!!!!!! FIX YOUR GAME ZOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

Kiralyn2000

Quoted post has been removed.

I remember having a job & still not subbing, but nevertheless having some mild interest in when the free trial periods are, because it's nice to know so I can take advantage of them.

Just like it's nice to know when events/sales/etc are, so you can get the most out of them as well.

/shrug

spartaxoxo

Kiralyn2000 wrote: »

Quoted post has been removed.

I remember having a job & still not subbing, but nevertheless having some mild interest in when the free trial periods are, because it's nice to know so I can take advantage of them.

Just like it's nice to know when events/sales/etc are, so you can get the most out of them as well.

/shrug

Yup. One or the reasons black friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year is people knowing they can get the most out of their money on that day.

ZOS_GregoryV

Greetings all,

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luen79rwb17_ESO

This is proof that there was probably a very poor convertion rate from this promo so they most likely cancelled it or make it a rare feature to add value to it

spartaxoxo

luen79rwb17_ESO wrote: »

This is proof that there was probably a very poor convertion rate from this promo so they most likely cancelled it or make it a rare feature to add value to it

That they did it for so many years doesn't show that. They may simply be discontinuing programs to try new stuff out or whatever. I know I was a conversion some time ago.

Just a clear response would be nice.

Danikat

luen79rwb17_ESO wrote: »

This is proof that there was probably a very poor convertion rate from this promo so they most likely cancelled it or make it a rare feature to add value to it

Can you give us a link to the proof? Or tell us what it was if you're not able to find it? I've always suspected that was the case but it would be interesting to see some actual info on it.

I know the previews have never persuaded me to subscribe. I will do occasionally when I want one or more of the benefits, but I'm well aware of what those are and a few days free isn't going to make me think I need it all the time.

rpa

The disrupted event schedule may have something to do with lack of ESO+ trial. Or maybe they came to conclusion free trials were not beneficial to ESO+ sales game state being what it is. I don't have the data so I can not know but I would not be surprised. For me a free trial would or course be nice but would not make me open my wallet before things improve.

karekiz

rpa wrote: »

The disrupted event schedule may have something to do with lack of ESO+ trial. Or maybe they came to conclusion free trials were not beneficial to ESO+ sales game state being what it is. I don't have the data so I can not know but I would not be surprised. For me a free trial would or course be nice but would not make me open my wallet before things improve.

Probably both of these.

I think though if they were to change the ESO+ system they would unlock the DLC's, but lock the craft bag. That way it still drives people to play, but doesn't lend to Bag hoarding through the year.

Danikat

karekiz wrote: »

rpa wrote: »

The disrupted event schedule may have something to do with lack of ESO+ trial. Or maybe they came to conclusion free trials were not beneficial to ESO+ sales game state being what it is. I don't have the data so I can not know but I would not be surprised. For me a free trial would or course be nice but would not make me open my wallet before things improve.

Probably both of these.

I think though if they were to change the ESO+ system they would unlock the DLC's, but lock the craft bag. That way it still drives people to play, but doesn't lend to Bag hoarding through the year.

Although that would make the trial even more pointless for people like me who already buy the DLC. I'd get almost no noticeable change from an ESO+ trial (does anyone really care about 10% extra gold and XP?) and I'd be even less likely to feel tempted to buy it.