Paul Sage confirms ESO ending Loyalty Program after 9-month reward

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO · February 2015

Gidorick wrote: »

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO wrote: »

Gidorick wrote: »

This reveal has really made it pointless to remain subbed. I made the below post to propose some additional benefits after looking at what other games offer.

http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/discussion/150450/eso-subscription-benefits-suggestions

Other games you dont have to buy the box tho so thats not a good comparison.

the secret world you do.

And how should that impact the subscription benefits? Should we get more or less?

With B2P they arent going to reward people for having a sub. Their main market is not subs but selling boxes. Selling some crowns then hoping people get bored and leave before they realize how terrible the end game content is. So they do not really care about you paying a sub. They certainly arent going to give you exclusive rewards and alienate their actual audience.

Samadhi · February 2015

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO wrote: »

Gidorick wrote: »

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO wrote: »

Gidorick wrote: »

This reveal has really made it pointless to remain subbed. I made the below post to propose some additional benefits after looking at what other games offer.

http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/discussion/150450/eso-subscription-benefits-suggestions

Other games you dont have to buy the box tho so thats not a good comparison.

the secret world you do.

And how should that impact the subscription benefits? Should we get more or less?

With B2P they arent going to reward people for having a sub. Their main market is not subs but selling boxes. Selling some crowns then hoping people get bored and leave before they realize how terrible the end game content is. So they do not really care about you paying a sub. They certainly arent going to give you exclusive rewards and alienate their actual audience.

This is a worthwhile point to consider.
Crown shop means being able to stand to make money despite high turnover rate in a way that subs cannot.

Soulshine · February 2015

Not surprised at all. I get that it ticks some people off, but for me it won't be missed. Nothing they have been providing thus far added anything useful to my game - just clutter to my bank.

Tandor · February 2015

There'll be plenty more endgame content in time, no MMO adds significantly to endgame content within the first year. The best approach to any new MMO is to take your time and not reach endgame too quickly.

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO · February 2015

Tandor wrote: »

There'll be plenty more endgame content in time, no MMO adds significantly to endgame content within the first year. The best approach to any new MMO is to take your time and not reach endgame too quickly.

lol so you think almost a year into this game that noone should be at end game yet? Also it isnt that there is no end game content. Its just it sucks. Craglorn was a drastic mistake. If you want to advance past VR10 you must do those group quests or grind in a group. Once people find out they will hit that wall thats it they leave.

I am about as casual as you can get. I maybe login on the weekends for a few hours. Yet I have two VR10 characters now and a VR8. The VR10 characters are stuck because I am not on enough to do craglorn. Not to mention even if I want to do craglorn everyone has to be on the same phase of the quest or you cant work together.

Winnower · February 2015

If they're not trying to emphasize a continuing presence and long-term players then it is just an embarrassment to have a "loyalty" program. So yeah, drop it and maybe fewer people will notice.

Clearly the goals are to get the consoles in, the clown store up and running, and sell a lot of boxes, short term subscriptions, and real money microtransactions.

Nothing else that is actually related to making a quality game with good content is going to be a priority for a long time, if ever.

March is essentially a re-launch of the game, and they'll want another year from their players to get the system working well, sort of like what is upcoming is the actual beta, and we've all just been alpha players giving them money.

As you can tell I'm really starting to get disillusioned about the "process".

AshySamurai · February 2015

Wait! I'm watching this stream now and I don't get does ZOS decided to give only 9 month loyal reward without "12 month" reward (for those tho was subbed all time since april)?

Roechacca · February 2015

Maybe it's a ruse to add "Loyalty Plus"?!

AshySamurai · February 2015

roechacca wrote: »

Maybe it's a ruse to add "Loyalty Plus"?!

Loyalty Plus Plus Loyalty with classes

rotaugen454 · February 2015

The only item I hope they NEVER offer in the cash shop is the Beta Monkey. It shows who was here at the beginning.

Tandor · February 2015

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO wrote: »

Tandor wrote: »

There'll be plenty more endgame content in time, no MMO adds significantly to endgame content within the first year. The best approach to any new MMO is to take your time and not reach endgame too quickly.

lol so you think almost a year into this game that noone should be at end game yet?

Not what I said at all.

Roechacca · February 2015

rotaugen454 wrote: »

The only item I hope they NEVER offer in the cash shop is the Beta Monkey. It shows who was here at the beginning.

Ya I agree but we all know nothing's sacred now .

Islyn · February 2015

WraithAzraiel wrote: »

Jice wrote: »

WraithAzraiel wrote: »

A little something to say, "Hey thanks for putting up for our trips and stumbles."

Veteran Rewards, as they're called in other games, aren't uncommon. They're a way for them to thank us for keeping the faith and staying the course.

Faith? Course? I payed them so I could play the game they were selling. That in no way entitles me to free stuff. I get why the company does it, what I'm not getting is the outrage that they aren't going to be anymore. Club Nintendo is about to disappear too..DAMN YOU ESO! NOTHER FAIL! YOU PROMISED! etc..

It's not a sense of entitlement, it's a biological response. Something pleasant is taken away, a negative sensation is usually paid toward the force doing the removal.

Science.

Take that! With your high horse!

/micdrop

@WraithAzraiel‌
I posted an agree but I lol'd at micdrop! I 'heard' the 'thud' when I read it! Lol!

Drawberrry · February 2015

I think it's fair to be bothered! If it was something they never offered to begin with you wouldn't miss it in the first place, but it was something fun and cute that we thought was neat.

Of course it's not the end of the world, but that doesn't mean you can't be bummed out about it.

eventide03b14a_ESO · February 2015

Bouvin wrote: »

So I'm watching the Quest Gaming on Twitch, and Paul Sage just said they are ending the ESO loyaly program after the 9 month reward.

Wow. Way to show you day 1 players how much you appreciate them by ending it as soon as B2P hits.

It was never that great anyway. All they did was give us crappy cosmetic pets. Why is that dwarven automaton staring at you while you get your ass kicked?

Gorthax · February 2015

eventide03b14a_ESO wrote: »

Bouvin wrote: »

So I'm watching the Quest Gaming on Twitch, and Paul Sage just said they are ending the ESO loyaly program after the 9 month reward.

Wow. Way to show you day 1 players how much you appreciate them by ending it as soon as B2P hits.

It was never that great anyway. All they did was give us crappy cosmetic pets. Why is that dwarven automaton staring at you while you get your ass kicked?

Because it's automaton Brother/sister needs you to have a helmet and shoulders before they can do anything :P

Lynnessa · February 2015

Ourorboros wrote: »

Fine by me. The rewards so far, pets, have been less than stellar. They are cute at best, and annoying clutter in banks at worst. Now, it'd be a different story if rewards were not just fluff.

Yeah. I don't use the rewards anyway.

newtinmpls wrote: »

It did seem inevitable. Prior ES games have had a good relationship with the community - because it's been the modding community. They've taken ideas, modled DLC, and basically had a synergistic relationship with them.

The subscriber community is basically "I pay you, so gimme more and fix everything NOW" so I can see where there isn't going to be such a nice relationship.

Well said, @newtinmpls‌ !

Mpcolson · February 2015

Jice wrote: »

So? Why does this generation want a pat on the back for everything?

"Wow I subscribed to something for a whole 9 months! I deserve free things!"

Netflix never sent me an in-game pet and I've been subscribed to them for years, and even if they did, other Netflix users wouldn't be telling me to put it away all the time in every group I'm in cause they seem to think they take away heals or some erroneous thing.

Any time I call Pay Pal they always greet me with "Thanks for being a PayPal user for .... 13 years!"

You can almost hear the shock in their voice when they see that.

My cracker jack ISP gives you a Preferred Customer discount for so many years of service.

But the only reason I know they do that is because I am told about it when I call in. No one has sent me as much as a free plush toy.... They just know my bill is paid and I should be happy with the Elite Title.

I have a pack full of pets from ESO and I only use the monkey. It was earned by being a BETA player. The crabs and other things are just filling slots in my "Banker" alt that is just standing in the bank in the first city. I only log him in when I am looking for mats to craft.

SWTOR gives you a title banner for being a loyal player. I think that is all you really should get. More pets are kind of silly. They are selling them in the crown store now.

I would like a house cat but I want the Siamese Cat... not that dull grey tabby thing. I'll pay for it, I don't need to be given the thing just because I play the game. But hell I'm 50 years old so my values are different perhaps.

Bouvin · February 2015

Kevinmon wrote: »

Well duh that's because there's no more sub, you dummy.

Seriously people? This isn't even worthy of a thread. *facepalm*

But there is a sub... it's called ESO plus. And something like a quarterly loyalty reward is enough, believe it or not, to keep some people subbing.

Mpcolson · February 2015

firstdecan wrote: »

This is simply unpossible. Zeni is obviously doing this so they can screw over their beta testers by offering a pet monkey in the cash shop. After all, everyone wants to watch their pet monkey scratch his but and eat it while they're playing ESO.

Hey pal!! I like my Monkey.. he slings stuff at the undead. It's a unpublished skill from the fighter's guild.

Poo Away The Undead IV. It can be morphed to add a sonic screech that snares or monkey leap that generates a knock back.

DON'T SCREW WITH MY MONKEY!

tinythinker · February 2015

Smaxx wrote: »

And another thread full of people going crazy about something that might or might not happen. Keep calm and don't panic.

I don't see anyone going crazy, just not pleased about the change, and to be fair, the things that people have been worried might happen with this game have consistently ended up happening.

MornaBaine · February 2015

As I've been completely unimpressed by the loyalty "rewards" we've received so far to the point that they're still sitting in my mail, I don't feel we're losing much. That said, it DOES feel like a nice dose of, "Yeah, we don't actually need you anymore so shove off."

kieso · February 2015

Bouvin wrote: »

So I'm watching the Quest Gaming on Twitch, and Paul Sage just said they are ending the ESO loyaly program after the 9 month reward.

Wow. Way to show you day 1 players how much you appreciate them by ending it as soon as B2P hits.

got a link to this video? I want to watch.

Alphashado · February 2015

The rewards were underwhelming. I don't think many people are upset about the lack of future quality rewards.

Canceling the program sends a message though. And that message is what people are upset about.

And the message is loud and clear.

MornaBaine · February 2015

Alphashado wrote: »

The rewards were underwhelming. I don't think many people are upset about the lack of future quality rewards.

Canceling the program sends a message though. And that message is what people are upset about.

And the message is loud and clear.

And just in case there's any doubt here, that message is:
You are no longer the demographic we are trying to impress.
You were not a strong enough demographic to induce us to keep the game sub-based as we stated was our original intention.
ANYTHING we make now must have a cash value.
We can no longer "afford" to give you freebies.
You were too ungrateful for the last things we gave you, so now you get nothing.
We have gotten what we can from you and we no longer need you.

Lynnessa · February 2015

MornaBaine wrote: »

Alphashado wrote: »

The rewards were underwhelming. I don't think many people are upset about the lack of future quality rewards.

Canceling the program sends a message though. And that message is what people are upset about.

And the message is loud and clear.

And just in case there's any doubt here, that message is:
You are no longer the demographic we are trying to impress.
You were not a strong enough demographic to induce us to keep the game sub-based as we stated was our original intention.
ANYTHING we make now must have a cash value.
We can no longer "afford" to give you freebies.
You were too ungrateful for the last things we gave you, so now you get nothing.
We have gotten what we can from you and we no longer need you.

I sincerely hope you're wrong. I don't want a repeat of what happened with Kingdoms of Amalur: a great and highly ambitious game that just couldn't repay its investors... IF you are right, and if everything they do must be focused purely on profit now, then that would probably mean ZOS is having severe financial difficulty. :-/

However, that would also mean that decisions are beginning to be made from desperation--not to deliberately alienate a demographic. Perhaps the loyalty program just couldn't be justified with their budget... maybe they don't have enough staff on the payroll for "extra" stuff right now.

Maybe so few active players would actually get the 12 month loyalty reward that it wouldn't justify the man hours. I personally know a large number of players like myself, who have had a month or two lapse in subscription since launch.

We just don't know. Whatever's going on from a bureaucratic standpoint, I hope that console release results in millions of sales.

What has me worried is this suspicion I can't get rid of: that ESO isn't fully backed by Bethesda. That ESO will eventually be labelled a spin-off and not a bona fide ES title...

Damn. Looks like I'd better start crafting my tinfoil hat.

Gidorick · February 2015

Alphashado wrote: »

The rewards were underwhelming. I don't think many people are upset about the lack of future quality rewards.

Canceling the program sends a message though. And that message is what people are upset about.

And the message is loud and clear.

It's the same message giving us 100C per month as a "reward" sends.

Gidorick · February 2015

Lynnessa wrote: »

What has me worried is this suspicion I can't get rid of: that ESO isn't fully backed by Bethesda. That ESO will eventually be labelled a spin-off and not a bona fide ES title...

Damn. Looks like I'd better start crafting my tinfoil hat.

Expect the "game ending event" to be a DragonBreak. That will pretty much make everything in ESO part of an alternate time line.

Elsonso · February 2015

MornaBaine wrote: »

Alphashado wrote: »

The rewards were underwhelming. I don't think many people are upset about the lack of future quality rewards.

Canceling the program sends a message though. And that message is what people are upset about.

And the message is loud and clear.

And just in case there's any doubt here, that message is:
You are no longer the demographic we are trying to impress.
You were not a strong enough demographic to induce us to keep the game sub-based as we stated was our original intention.
ANYTHING we make now must have a cash value.
We can no longer "afford" to give you freebies.
You were too ungrateful for the last things we gave you, so now you get nothing.
We have gotten what we can from you and we no longer need you.

You forgot:

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

nerevarine1138 · February 2015

lordrichter wrote: »

MornaBaine wrote: »

Alphashado wrote: »

The rewards were underwhelming. I don't think many people are upset about the lack of future quality rewards.

Canceling the program sends a message though. And that message is what people are upset about.

And the message is loud and clear.

And just in case there's any doubt here, that message is:
You are no longer the demographic we are trying to impress.
You were not a strong enough demographic to induce us to keep the game sub-based as we stated was our original intention.
ANYTHING we make now must have a cash value.
We can no longer "afford" to give you freebies.
You were too ungrateful for the last things we gave you, so now you get nothing.
We have gotten what we can from you and we no longer need you.

You forgot:

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

You forgot the bit where there's no longer a subscription fee and where this whole reward system was never needed in the first place.

The entitlement level of some of the people in this community is appalling. You guys are actually complaining about not receiving tribute for playing a game.