Did ZOS officially state WHY they decided to go B2P?

RSram · January 2015

I'd been reading all the discussions on the B2P change, and maybe a missed a post on this, but did ZOS officially state why they decided to go B2P?

If this was already posted, I apologize, so just post a link. I couldn't find any information on this with the search engine.

Iago · January 2015

I've been trying to find one And a little explanation would probably eat a lot of tension

WhiskyBob · January 2015

Money.

Messy1 · January 2015

Yes, I would like an official statement from ZOS on this matter even though they have no obligation to do so legally. Responsibly, though, they have an obligation to set out a plan for players so we are not blind-sided by things like this right after the holidays. Of course this plan was well in place before the holidays and there was zero mention of it.

yanchen · January 2015

1. Because of current population problem, in order to attract more players. (I think so :P)
2. ESO will release on PS4 and Xbox. Console players won't wanna pay subscription fee for ESO, because they already have to pay something like PS Plus (Play station network server for gaming.) every month. (Truth)

facemace · January 2015

This won't attract new pc players... Ask swtor. It is for the consoles. And it could very possibly do what it has done to every single other mmo to ever go this route.

Joejudas · January 2015

I keep hearing PS waived the fee for PS Plus and Microsoft didn't and that's part of the reason. Pure speculation though

Valencer · January 2015

In ESO Live, Matt said they wanted to change their revenue model because of community feedback.

Iago · January 2015

Valencer wrote: »

In ESO Live, Matt said they wanted to change their revenue model because of community feedback.

I want to know what community they got their feedback from? I think it's the community is sitting in the boardroom.

jeevin · January 2015

To milk the last few drops($$$) from this game before moving on to the next big mmo to follow the same path. And so we can fall for the same scam. Buy an unfinished game, stay subbed for empty promises and then once it goes btp/ftp, buy digital gear for our toons because thats "real" content.

Iago · January 2015

jeevin wrote: »

To milk the last few drops($$$) from this game before moving on to the next big mmo to follow the same path. And so we can fall for the same scam. Buy an unfinished game, stay subbed for empty promises and then once it goes btp/ftp, buy digital gear for our toons because thats "real" content.

I didn't buy this because it was an MMO I bought it because it was an Elder Scrolls game I'm going to give this game till June I feel that's fair But I will never spend a dime on buying another Elder Scrolls game again. I'll play them all for free Someone will buy one And then I'll play theirs.

Syntse · January 2015

Valencer wrote: »

In ESO Live, Matt said they wanted to change their revenue model because of community feedback.

And this is total BS, they seem to misuse the 'community feedback' a lot to justify their actions. It's like they try to say we(community) asked for it what ever they did that time based on "community feedback" and also try to say "we listen".

Any poll on this forum that touches b2p or f2p will tell that majority of community did not want this model.

jeevin · January 2015

Syntse wrote: »

Valencer wrote: »

In ESO Live, Matt said they wanted to change their revenue model because of community feedback.

And this is total BS, they seem to misuse the 'community feedback' a lot to justify their actions. It's like they try to say we(community) asked for it what ever they did that time based on "community feedback" and also try to say "we listen".

Any poll on this forum that touches b2p or f2p will tell that majority of community did not want this model.

Zos launched the game way before it was ready and that bit them on the arse (in the bank to be more accurate). Zos knows it's game over so they'll milk it for all it's worth while the game continues to dwindle into obscurity. Btp is essentially Zeni saying yeah we're done investing in this pos we can't fix so it's time for damage control.

Spottswoode · January 2015

The only reason that matters at the end of the day.

Iago wrote: »

I want to know what community they got their feedback from? I think it's the community is sitting in the boardroom.

Pretty much everybody else but us wanted it go to F2P or B2P. Just check the Facebook feedback.

stefan.gustavsonb16_ESO · January 2015

Valencer wrote: »

In ESO Live, Matt said they wanted to change their revenue model because of community feedback.

There are very few players still in the game, and subscription numbers are most likely dropping rapidly. They desperately need to attract more people, and that can be seen as a form of indirect community feedback, because the community that used to be in the game sent feedback by leaving in droves.

I would imagine many players reasoned "I won't pay a sub while I wait for them to fix all the bugs, and watch them fail at it." All the people who bought the game can now choose to come back for free, and disgruntled players plagued by bugs and lag can stay on and at least wait in the sidelines without paying a monthly fee. This might stop some people from leaving, and maybe, maybe some will return and buy some DLC or even decide to renew their subscription for a while.

On the other hand, it's pretty unlikely that people will buy the game any time from now until the actual release of the "Tamriel Unlimited", so I think they shot themselves in the foot a little bit.

Joejudas · January 2015

Some how this was Sheogoraths fault

Jennifur_Vultee · January 2015

Syntse wrote: »

Valencer wrote: »

In ESO Live, Matt said they wanted to change their revenue model because of community feedback.

And this is total BS, they seem to misuse the 'community feedback' a lot to justify their actions. It's like they try to say we(community) asked for it what ever they did that time based on "community feedback" and also try to say "we listen".

Any poll on this forum that touches b2p or f2p will tell that majority of community did not want this model.

I get the impression the "community feedback" they listened to was all the posts around the internet that went something like, "Oh ESO, yeah I'll try it when its F2P." I guess they reasoned that if its B2P that's closer to F2P and people might cave, buy it then play for free spending money in the cash shop. But realistically this was planned a while back, you don't just pop up one day and say, "Hey we should have a cash shop. Get one done by this weekend Bob." My best guess is this B2P move was formulated six months ago or more.

Iago · January 2015

Spottswoode wrote: »

The only reason that matters at the end of the day.

Iago wrote: »

I want to know what community they got their feedback from? I think it's the community is sitting in the boardroom.

Pretty much everybody else but us wanted it go to F2P or B2P. Just check the Facebook feedback.

yeah but they monitor their Facebook really closely and any posts that don't conform with what they want people to think are removed immediately

AngryNord · January 2015

Iago wrote: »

Valencer wrote: »

In ESO Live, Matt said they wanted to change their revenue model because of community feedback.

I want to know what community they got their feedback from? I think it's the community is sitting in the boardroom.

Nah, it is the communtiy on Facebook that whined about "GO FTP!!!" in response to every single official Zenimax/ESO post on there.

Joejudas · January 2015

If I was a Zeni employee and my boss walked in and said " I need you to design a wedding dress costume for the new in game cash shop to support the B2P model we are about to suprise our paying customers with " I would honest to god light up a ciggarette at my desk and start drinking whiskey. Lol.

aesircorpb16_ESO · January 2015

yanchen wrote: »

2. ESO will release on PS4 and Xbox. Console players won't wanna pay subscription fee for ESO, because they already have to pay something like PS Plus (Play station network server for gaming.) every month. (Truth)

I was thinking about that too but the playstation and xbox network subscription havent been unexpectedly introduced this year and caught them by suprise. They must have known about that issue ever since launch, which makes me wonder if the change of buisness model was planned ever since release and the subscription model on pc just a temporary solution until console launch.
If ESO goes b2p because of dropping subs what would have been the plan on pc if the subs are fine and we would have, lets say, well over a millionen active subscripters? Subscription model on PC and B2P model on consoles?

I´d really love to hear a statement on that. The "we listen to the community" argument is bull****. Nobody ever wanted a f2p or similar model.

Belidos · January 2015

facemace wrote: »

This won't attract new pc players

It's attracted about 18 of my guild from another game, they're all new to ESO

kevlarto_ESO · January 2015

Consoles and no nothing else, now all platforms are the same when it comes to the business end.

stevepdodson_ESO888 · January 2015

Joejudas wrote: »

If I was a Zeni employee and my boss walked in and said " I need you to design a wedding dress costume for the new in game cash shop to support the B2P model we are about to suprise our paying customers with " I would honest to god light up a ciggarette at my desk and start drinking whiskey. Lol.

I remember the days when you used to be able to do that in work at any time...

SFBryan18 · January 2015

Joejudas wrote: »

I keep hearing PS waived the fee for PS Plus and Microsoft didn't and that's part of the reason. Pure speculation though

Would be nice to confirm this so everyone could just point their fingers at Microsoft for being the nickle and dime chislers they really are, and accept that the [snip]box is a terrible platform. I mean, look at what they did to the world of gaming. The makers of Halo, an XBox exclusive, also made Call of Duty, one of the worst shooters ever made. The entire concept of DLC's has become the norm thanks to COD releasing 5 maps every 3 months for $15, and then a new COD every year. And now they are trying to shove their crap game Destiny, which they spent 500 million dollars to make, down everyone's throat. Of course Microsoft didn't do *** to help a third party developer. How sweet would it have been for ZoS to drop XBox and make the game a PS4 exclusive with shared PC mega servers? That would have been awesome.

[Moderator Note: Edited per our rules on Cursing & Profanity]

BlueIllyrian · January 2015

“Our fans are our biggest inspiration, and we’ve listened to their feedback on the entertainment experience they want,” said Matt Firor, Game Director of The Elder Scrolls Online.

Of course, since Mr. Firor said it, it must be true,

We, the players, twisted his arm to go B2P/cash shop. I have a feeling that within 6 months after the console release he will again feel the pressure from the playerbase to go F2P and expand the cash shop.

I would prefer "we want more money" statement myself, this additional alloy of hypocrisy is rather distasteful.

RSram · January 2015

Joejudas wrote: »

I keep hearing PS waived the fee for PS Plus and Microsoft didn't and that's part of the reason. Pure speculation though

I actually read the same thing several months ago and if true, maybe the reason for the B2P was so they wouldn't [snip] off the PC players who were paying subs.

I also posted several months ago that I didn't thing the P2P model would work on the consoles if ZOS couldn't get Microsoft and Sony to wave the internet access fee to play the game.

[Moderator Note: Edited per our rules on Cursing & Profanity]

Wolfshead · January 2015

Joejudas wrote: »

I keep hearing PS waived the fee for PS Plus and Microsoft didn't and that's part of the reason. Pure speculation though

I have hear the same so big bad wolf in all this is microsoft.

aesircorpb16_ESO wrote: »

yanchen wrote: »

2. ESO will release on PS4 and Xbox. Console players won't wanna pay subscription fee for ESO, because they already have to pay something like PS Plus (Play station network server for gaming.) every month. (Truth)

I was thinking about that too but the playstation and xbox network subscription havent been unexpectedly introduced this year and caught them by suprise. They must have known about that issue ever since launch, which makes me wonder if the change of buisness model was planned ever since release and the subscription model on pc just a temporary solution until console launch.
If ESO goes b2p because of dropping subs what would have been the plan on pc if the subs are fine and we would have, lets say, well over a millionen active subscripters? Subscription model on PC and B2P model on consoles?

I´d really love to hear a statement on that. The "we listen to the community" argument is bull****. Nobody ever wanted a f2p or similar model.

We don't but what i think is that ZoS have been in negotiation since last year when we was suppose go live on console but I guess that microsoft win in the end

RSram · January 2015

I'd like to point out that it's not the developers who are the blame here, it's the bean counters, their bosses.

The developers sign non-disclosure statements and do what their told, or get fired.

So I hope everyone stops beating up on the developers as far as this issue is concerned.

fromtesonlineb16_ESO · January 2015

Valencer wrote: »

In ESO Live, Matt said they wanted to change their revenue model because of community feedback.

Well, I suppose a massive drop in player numbers with those indicating in their 'cancellation survey' all those whose sub. stops get that they didn't think the game was worth the money would be termed feedback.

Merlin13KAGL · January 2015

Valencer wrote: »

In ESO Live, Matt said they wanted to change their revenue model because oF community feedback.

Iago wrote: »

I want to know what community they got their feedback from? I think it's the community is sitting in the boardroom.

@lago @Valencer , fixed it.