Premium Subscription Translation for the Chicken Littles

omfgitsbatman · January 2015

"When The Elder Scrolls® Online: Tamriel Unlimited™ launches, current subscribers won’t need to do a thing to enjoy the many benefits offered by our new premium membership: ESO Plus. Just keep playing and you will automatically become a member, allowing you to take advantage of the great perks that will enhance your in-game experience when Tamriel Unlimited arrives."
Translation: We're making this super easy for you guys. You literally don't have to do a dang thing going into this transition. The only thing you will notice are subtle positives for your account. We are simply trying to make our game compatible with the console as well as the PC.

If you have time remaining on your game subscription at the launch of The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited, you’ll automatically be enrolled as an ESO Plus premium member for the remainder of your game subscription period. You’ll get all the benefits of membership during that time, including your full allotment of crowns (the new digital currency used in our Crown Store). If you already have recurring payment set up, you won’t need to do anything if you wish to continue on as an ESO Plus member; it’ll all happen automatically. If you do not wish to keep recurring payments, you may change this option in your account page.
Translation: Again- Super easy for you... just sit back and eat potato chips, we're doing all the work. If you don't want to pay, just unsubscribe, no hard feelings. Also, We're revamping the loyalty rewards! You will get to pick your rewards!!! How cool is that?!? You can either save up these crowns or "Loyalty Points: or spend them as you see fit.

So, what do you get as an ESO Plus member? Let’s go over the benefits:

An allotment of crowns to spend in the new in-game Crown Store based on your membership period (more below)
Access to all of ESO’s downloadable content (or DLC) game packs for the duration of your membership
A 10% bonus to XP and gold gain, crafting research, and inspiration
Memberships to ESO Plus can be purchased in 30-, 90-, and 180-day durations starting at $14.99 for a 30-day period. When you sign up for ESO Plus, you’ll receive your full allotment of crowns right away (1500 for 30 days, 4500 for 90 days, or 9000 for 180 days). If you purchase a recurring membership, you’ll receive a full allotment of crowns at the start of each 30-/90-/180-day membership period. You can spend crowns in the in-game Crown Store to get unique mounts, special vanity pets, a variety of fun costumes for your character, and convenience items like health potions and soul gems.
Translation: Here's what we're going to give you for this inconvenience that really isn't an inconvenience at all:

A new loyalty program that lets you pick what rewards you want.-Sick right?
You are going to have access to any DLC that we put out for free when those other shmucks have to buy it individually.
XP AND GOLD BOOST BRO! For doing nothing but remaining exactly the same! Also, take this research speed boost too! We just want you to be happy.
The longer you subscribe for the more crown (loyalty points) you get! You can even use them on functional things like soul gems and stuff if you're not into the whole vanity thing.

While you’re a member, you’ll enjoy faster progression thanks to the helpful buffs to XP, gold, and crafting, and you’ll be able to access any DLC game pack that’s available. If your membership ends, you’ll still be able to play ESO (and keep any items and rewards you earned playing within DLC), but you won’t be able to access DLC game pack content that you haven’t purchased separately.
Translation: We want this transition to be enjoyable for you, so there are no negatives for just remaining exactly the same. Only Positives!

Whether you’re a current subscriber or a new player, you’ll want to give ESO Plus a try. If you have any questions about The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited or our new ESO Plus membership, please check out our FAQ, or contact Customer Service with any further questions you have. We know you’ll really enjoy the benefits of membership during your adventures in Tamriel!
Translation: Just try it bro... You'll like it.

In summation: The sky is not falling, Chicken Little. As long as they don't incorporate tons of micro transactions that give you an actual edge in game, this will be much the same game. They are just trying to make the game more appealing to console users. They are trying to add to the community. This is not the end of Tamriel... This might just be the beginning.

rylixav · January 2015

omfgitsbatman wrote: »

In summation: The sky is not falling, Chicken Little.

Well of course the sky isn't falling. Once they introduce an ability to make the sky fall, it will cost $25 per character on the cash shop. Also, the new Chicken Little pet will be $35.

omfgitsbatman · January 2015

HAHA!

Ohioastro · January 2015

The cash shop never starts out intrusive. Unfortunately, there is an extremely predictable trajectory.

If it does too little, then people don't buy things - and the cash shop then gets steadily more intrusive until you wake up and discover that it's ruined the game.

We've seen many, many examples of this. It happens every time. Rather than pretending that people who dislike this are irrational, show us the counter-examples - of games with cash shops that stayed non-intrusive, and of cash shop games with quality and regular updates.

Bouvin · January 2015

rylixav wrote: »

omfgitsbatman wrote: »

In summation: The sky is not falling, Chicken Little.

Well of course the sky isn't falling. Once they introduce an ability to make the sky fall, it will cost $25 per character on the cash shop. Also, the new Chicken Little pet will be $35.

Don't forget about keys to open lockboxes you loot on mobs. Those will only cost $2 each, with a 0.002% chance to contain a mount. But every mob in the game will drop lockboxes, so you're inventory will be full of them but you won't be able to open till you spend cash.

As a veteran MMO player (every MMO since UO in 1998, except WoW) I've seen enough of these models that start out all rosey and end up being P2W or just flat out paygates to continue playing.

I have no reason to expect any difference from ZOS. Especially since they have a track record of flip flopping on issues (CP anyone?) and flat out dishonesty about why the 6-month sub was removed as well as telling us from the start that they'd "shut the game down" before straying from the subscription model.

Sorry, but I just ain't buying the ZOS BS anymore.

grimjim398 · January 2015

Well, I think the sky is actually falling. And I'm unsubbing one way or the other. And deleting my characters.

omfgitsbatman · January 2015

Ohioastro wrote: »

The cash shop never starts out intrusive. Unfortunately, there is an extremely predictable trajectory.

If it does too little, then people don't buy things - and the cash shop then gets steadily more intrusive until you wake up and discover that it's ruined the game.

We've seen many, many examples of this. It happens every time. Rather than pretending that people who dislike this are irrational, show us the counter-examples - of games with cash shops that stayed non-intrusive, and of cash shop games with quality and regular updates.

Bouvin wrote: »

rylixav wrote: »

omfgitsbatman wrote: »

In summation: The sky is not falling, Chicken Little.

Well of course the sky isn't falling. Once they introduce an ability to make the sky fall, it will cost $25 per character on the cash shop. Also, the new Chicken Little pet will be $35.

Don't forget about keys to open lockboxes you loot on mobs. Those will only cost $2 each, with a 0.002% chance to contain a mount. But every mob in the game will drop lockboxes, so you're inventory will be full of them but you won't be able to open till you spend cash.

As a veteran MMO player (every MMO since UO in 1998, except WoW) I've seen enough of these models that start out all rosey and end up being P2W or just flat out paygates to continue playing.

I have no reason to expect any difference from ZOS. Especially since they have a track record of flip flopping on issues (CP anyone?) and flat out dishonesty about why the 6-month sub was removed as well as telling us from the start that they'd "shut the game down" before straying from the subscription model.

Sorry, but I just ain't buying the ZOS BS anymore.

They literally said nothing about a cash shop in these updates. It's only going to be the loyalty reward shop and what we have now as far as cash shop.

Rosveen · January 2015

omfgitsbatman wrote: »

They literally said nothing about a cash shop in these updates. It's only going to be the loyalty reward shop and what we have now as far as cash shop.

...did you actually read the forum and/or watch ESO Live? They already showed more than a dozen of new mounts, pets and costumes in addition to XP boosters, soulgems and potions mentioned on the website. The cash shop is only going to grow from now on.

omfgitsbatman · January 2015

Rosveen wrote: »

omfgitsbatman wrote: »

They literally said nothing about a cash shop in these updates. It's only going to be the loyalty reward shop and what we have now as far as cash shop.

...did you actually read the forum and/or watch ESO Live? They already showed more than a dozen of new mounts, pets and costumes in addition to XP boosters, soulgems and potions mentioned on the website. The cash shop is only going to grow from now on.

I Did read the update and it said nothing about a cash shop. From what I read, there will be an in game "Crown" Shop. You can only get Crowns from the premium subscription the same as something like loyalty points. It's not a cash shop. It's a loyalty rewards program. They have one of those now too... They are just revamping it.

Throren · January 2015

you can buy crowns with money if you aren't a premium member methinks

Rosveen · January 2015

omfgitsbatman wrote: »

Rosveen wrote: »

omfgitsbatman wrote: »

They literally said nothing about a cash shop in these updates. It's only going to be the loyalty reward shop and what we have now as far as cash shop.

...did you actually read the forum and/or watch ESO Live? They already showed more than a dozen of new mounts, pets and costumes in addition to XP boosters, soulgems and potions mentioned on the website. The cash shop is only going to grow from now on.

I Did read the update and it said nothing about a cash shop. From what I read, there will be an in game "Crown" Shop. You can only get Crowns from the premium subscription the same as something like loyalty points. It's not a cash shop. It's a loyalty rewards program. They have one of those now too... They are just revamping it.

How do I get crowns?
4) Purchase Crown Packs: PC/Mac players will be able to purchase crown packs from The Elder Scrolls Online store. Console players will be able to purchase crowns via the Xbox Live or PSN stores.

It's a cash shop, simple as that.

Plantagenet · January 2015

The only thing Ill notice is a bunch of Gold Spammers, and Runescape kiddos trolling and taking up space.

omfgitsbatman · January 2015

Throren wrote: »

you can buy crowns with money if you aren't a premium member methinks

They haven't said anything like that yet. They also haven't said anything about anything that will give you an actual edge over other players in the endgame. Different mounts and costumes are all vanity items. Soul gems and such can easily be obtained elsewhere.

Edit: They did say this in the FAQ

knightblaster · January 2015

Throren wrote: »

you can buy crowns with money if you aren't a premium member methinks

Of course. Otherwise you screw any revenue from the B2P/F2Ps other than trying to goad them into plus. They will be buyable.

Ahdora · January 2015

omfgitsbatman wrote: »

Throren wrote: »

you can buy crowns with money if you aren't a premium member methinks

They haven't said anything like that yet. They also haven't said anything about anything that will give you an actual edge over other players in the endgame. Different mounts and costumes are all vanity items. Soul gems and such can easily be obtained elsewhere.

Two posts up from yours.

Zed · January 2015

Throren wrote: »

you can buy crowns with money if you aren't a premium member methinks

I'm pretty sure you can buy crowns with real money even if you are a "premium" member. Subscribers just get an allowance.

rylixav · January 2015

It's right on the FAQ page they link to in the announcement.

BlueIllyrian · January 2015

Let me make it super easy for you, do you know what PR spin is?

omfgitsbatman · January 2015

Ok, I see where they are offering to sell crown packs, but right above it, they did say this:
"Will I be required to buy anything from the Crown Store to play the game?
No. All items in the Crown Store are completely optional and are meant to enhance your game play experience. They are not required to play or compete in the game."

Melian · January 2015

Ohioastro wrote: »

We've seen many, many examples of this. It happens every time. Rather than pretending that people who dislike this are irrational, show us the counter-examples - of games with cash shops that stayed non-intrusive, and of cash shop games with quality and regular updates.

WoW. Their cash shop only sells cosmetic stuff.
I'm sure that has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that WoW isn't b2p.

alainjbrennanb16_ESO · January 2015

boom cash shop play to win comes in and before you say its not lets take soul gems we have to farm them at mo, once cash shop is here you can just buy them, if thats not play to win then what is

Rosveen · January 2015

omfgitsbatman wrote: »

Ok, I see where they are offering to sell crown packs, but right above it, they did say this:
"Will I be required to buy anything from the Crown Store to play the game?
No. All items in the Crown Store are completely optional and are meant to enhance your game play experience. They are not required to play or compete in the game."

If they're not making money from subs, they have to make money from the cash shop. Rest assured they will find a way to make these optional enhancements not quite so optional. They can't finance the game just by selling funny costumes...

omfgitsbatman · January 2015

alainjbrennanb16_ESO wrote: »

boom cash shop play to win comes in and before you say its not lets take soul gems we have to farm them at mo, once cash shop is here you can just buy them, if thats not play to win then what is

lol buying soul gems does not make this Pay to win. Frankly, Soul gems are not hard to come by at all. Pay to win would be something like "Buy this end game armor set that you can't get anywhere but our cash store"

Drasn · January 2015

I like how the OP made this long and condescending post trying to make people feel stupid and then from their further posts we see that they have no idea wth they are talking about.

rylixav · January 2015

omfgitsbatman wrote: »

Ok, I see where they are offering to sell crown packs, but right above it, they did say this:
"Will I be required to buy anything from the Crown Store to play the game?
No. All items in the Crown Store are completely optional and are meant to enhance your game play experience. They are not required to play or compete in the game."

I don't know what that statement even means.

"All items in the Crown Store are completely optional"

Well, yeah, every purchase you make in your entire life is completely optional. Pay to win is completely optional too. How can any purchase of any product not be "optional"? What's the alternative? A salesman breaks into your house and put a gun to your head? Should Walmart put up signs all over the store saying "all purchases are completely optional?"

omfgitsbatman · January 2015

rylixav wrote: »

omfgitsbatman wrote: »

Ok, I see where they are offering to sell crown packs, but right above it, they did say this:
"Will I be required to buy anything from the Crown Store to play the game?
No. All items in the Crown Store are completely optional and are meant to enhance your game play experience. They are not required to play or compete in the game."

I don't know what that statement even means.

"All items in the Crown Store are completely optional"

Well, yeah, every purchase you make in your entire life is completely optional. Pay to win is completely optional too. How can any purchase of any product not be "optional"? What's the alternative? A salesman breaks into your house and put a gun to your head? Should Walmart put up signs all over the store saying "all purchases are completely optional?"

I believe what they are saying here is that it will not be pay to win. It will be just cosmetic and vanity items and little things that could be somewhat usefull but still not mandatory from the store like soul gems.

Iago · January 2015

The benefits of the Premium system sound a lot like P2W. So It won't be long until the ash shop goes the same way

Korah_Eaglecry · January 2015

grimjim398 wrote: »

Well, I think the sky is actually falling. And I'm unsubbing one way or the other. And deleting my characters.

Can I have your stuffz?

Korah_Eaglecry · January 2015

Melian wrote: »

Ohioastro wrote: »

We've seen many, many examples of this. It happens every time. Rather than pretending that people who dislike this are irrational, show us the counter-examples - of games with cash shops that stayed non-intrusive, and of cash shop games with quality and regular updates.

WoW. Their cash shop only sells cosmetic stuff.
I'm sure that has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that WoW isn't b2p.

Show me the non cosmetic stuff in SWTOR that is a F2P model with Subs?

jeevin · January 2015

rylixav wrote: »

omfgitsbatman wrote: »

Ok, I see where they are offering to sell crown packs, but right above it, they did say this:
"Will I be required to buy anything from the Crown Store to play the game?
No. All items in the Crown Store are completely optional and are meant to enhance your game play experience. They are not required to play or compete in the game."

I don't know what that statement even means.

"All items in the Crown Store are completely optional"

Well, yeah, every purchase you make in your entire life is completely optional. Pay to win is completely optional too. How can any purchase of any product not be "optional"? What's the alternative? A salesman breaks into your house and put a gun to your head? Should Walmart put up signs all over the store saying "all purchases are completely optional?"

Optional. As in continuing to play Elder Scrolls Online is optional. Xp boosters in a cash shop are optional too. And when the end game character progression is directly tied to Xp then paying to win is an option too

omfgitsbatman · January 2015

If you are saying, because you subscribe, you get a slight edge over the F2P people, you are absolutely correct. However, this edge does not seem insurmountable by a player that is F2P and plays a lot yet. Even if subscribing did give you additional content and such, it would hardly be a new model. I mean even Runescape did this...