What do you think of Crown Crates? -- New Poll for PTS Implementation

Tandor · September 2016

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

Although I don't personally have any particular objection to the crates on the basis that it's down to individual choice whether to buy them, they're nowhere near being P2W or anything remotely unacceptable in that sense, and it's a bit of fun to spend my monthly subscription Crowns on (without which I'd have no interest in buying them), I do recognise the level of condemnation of them. In my view when something as inherently contentious as gambling boxes achieves such a high level of criticism from the community then it is appropriate for the developers to rethink the idea drastically, if not to drop it altogether.

Phinix1 · September 2016

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

Korah_Eaglecry wrote: »

The dont need small purchasing players. They want and need Big Ticket Item purchasing Whales that will fatten their profits.

If that were true then Walmart wouldn't be a successful global empire.

This is a total fallacy and surprising to see supposed AAA companies still chasing this delusion. It is like the economics "guru's" that honestly believe the Skinner study of caged rat survival instincts somehow predicts human entertainment behavior like TV ratings. The two are totally unrelated impulses.

Same with this "big ticket item" analogy. They are not a need like the food pellets in the Skinner rat study. So, since they are not needed to survive, the only value they hold is their PERCEPTUAL value, and that of course can change at the drop of a hat.

If ZOS is really going to throw their entire game down the toilet to become just another predatory whale chaser trying to cash in on gambling addiction, then maybe they should at least do a little research on Whale Psychology first? For example, the primary reason whales will buy overpriced items is so they can stand around showing off to all the people that don't have it.

Exclusivity is what gives it the value, because these types of people are shallow materialists and totally insecure and need to buy fancy things like Disney's Lord Farquat from Shrek in order to have people look at them and be impressed by all the quality their money can buy.

Or at least pretend they are.

So, if you throw away your small payments and SUBSCRIBERS to chase the whales, NO ONE WILL BE AROUND TO CARE about their attention disorder.

Which means, THE PERCEIVED VALUE WILL TANK.

WHICH MEANS, you have just thrown your game away chasing a delusion.

And if you think all the loyal customers you just s*** on with this greedy BS are going to come back and give you another chance after you send them the message "we don't even care enough about you to comment, short term whale profits are all that matters to us," well...

Way to learn from history.

Esquire1980g_ESO · September 2016

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

JamilaRaj wrote: »

Esquire1980g_ESO wrote: »

Way back in the last thread over these lockboxes, I asked the question, WHY? I even asked if all the people I saw running around were completely F2P and just don't spend their cash. Now, I got this today.

"Hi Jim,

We noticed that you recently cancelled your ESO Plus membership and would like to see if we can tempt you back with a special one-time, buy three months, get one month free offer.

Image

As you probably know, ESO Plus membership comes with the following benefits:
•Access to all DLC Game Packs as long as ESO Plus membership is current
•1500 Crowns per 30-day membership to spend in the in-game Crown Store
•Unlimited use of the Craft Bag
•A +10% Upgrade to character progression

If you would take us up on this unique offer, simply respond to this email. We'll get back to you as soon as possible.

In addition, if there is anything at all we can do to help make your overall ESO experience better, please let us know. We're here to help!

Warm Regards,
Petyr
The Elder Scrolls Online Support Team

The Elder Scrolls Online Tamriel Unlimited"

I haven't seen this type of stuff since Star Wars Galaxies/SOE went into panic mode. Lockboxes, cash grabs, creating a "shortage" of crown store items via taking them out, FREE month(s) - just please come on back and give us some $, etc etc etc. ROFL, I've seen this EXACT offer coming from Funcom for a game they released in 2000. I would expect it there but not for a 2 year old game.

There's something more going on here besides just corporate greed.

And for ZOS, don't waste your effort on me. I seen what lockboxes do to a game 1st hand. The last month that the wife and I played TESO, we spent about $100.00 (crown sale/subs/etc). Now? I spend that $100.00 on connection(s) for my own servers which runs a AAA MMORPG that is in direct competition with yours. Altho, we/I can't charge for anything to do with that game so there's no subs, no store, and NO lockboxes. EVER! We do that and pay the price, due to the fact that we want a game to play that DOESN'T try this type of cash grab and are that fed-up with AAA studios pulling this type of F2P crap/inciting kids to gamble with parents credit cards.

I am pleased to see that jobs in CS that were lost during The Great Christmas Galway Massacre of 2015 are being replaced with jobs in The Whale Retention Department.
Also, do not be insensitive clod and resub, man. Petyr probably gets only paid if he manages to return a whale back to the herd, he needs your $100.

Uhhhhh, let me think on it......, OK, that's enough, NO!

Believe me, in my profession I've been called a lot worse than an "insensitive clod", in fact, that may be one of the better names.

You know why CA attys, swimming in the pacific ocean, NEVER have to endure a shark attack? Professional courtesy.

AmberLaTerra · September 2016

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

Korah_Eaglecry wrote: »

AmberLaTerra wrote: »

They are a game killer, every other major game that has introduced them is seeing massively dropping revenue and on the way to being shut or already shut down.

Being that the only way to make ZOS listen on this is to hit them in the wallet my sub has already been canceled. They have ignored over 150 pages of negative feedback here on the forums after all.

Its never been about keeping a large population with games that have these mechanics. If youve ever worked in retail its not the small purchases they are looking for. Its the "Big Ticket Item" sales theyre looking for. If you worked at Toys R'Us youd be told that what they want is to sell those big Power Wheel toys in the back because theyre "Big Ticket Items". The big purchases are what get them closer to their daily and weekly goals. And the faster they hit them the nicer their quarterly and yearly sales will look.

This is why ESO has Limited Time Offer mounts or special costumes like the Hero Costumes. This is why the Dro m'Athra mount spiked at 4,000 Crowns compared to any other LTO mount that cost almost half of that. These are ESOs Big Ticket Items and when they make them hard to get and limited in its time on the store. It drives up sales on them. Im willing to bet the Dro m'Athra mount was ZOS testing the waters. Trying to see if they could get players to pay a substantial amount of money on an item that would of gone for far less among other exclusive items.

The dont need small purchasing players. They want and need Big Ticket Item purchasing Whales that will fatten their profits.

The problem with that is with no small ticket sales the day to day bills are never met. A business cannot survive on the rare big ticket item, and jacking up the prices on the small ticket items id just as detrimental.

Let's look at your example of Toys R'us. They have locked themselves into living and dying on the big ticket sale, and they are on the verge of bankruptcy due to it.

Another example would be a cutlery store I worked in in high school. When I started there they sold all kinda of kitchen knives from the cheap ones to the high end big ticket high quality ones. We sold far more of the cheap ones and they covered costs making the big ticket sales when the happened pure profit. They later changed to only carrying the big ticket ones. Sales dropped like a rock and they went out of business not lone after.

The big ticket sales are great for a supplement to profit, but giving up mass amounts of smaller sales like subs or the person who may buy a small crown package for a specific costume just to get those big ticket sales in the big picture is a proven bad business move.

One that ZOS is in the process of making as businesses tend to often suffer from forgetting then repeating history.

Dakrana_Thrazvoth · September 2016

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

I don't like crowns crate (and gambling in general), who are just another way to increase prices of items. I've experienced that with Swtor, spent 150+ euros in 3 or 4 days this kind of randoms boxes, it's a predatory system, extremly addictive and dangerous. Even this recent changes announced for crown crate, I refuse to buy them. I don't want to grind and gambling with real money for get a little chance to loot what I really want.

Phinix1 · September 2016

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

AmberLaTerra wrote: »

The problem with that is with no small ticket sales the day to day bills are never met. A business cannot survive on the rare big ticket item, and jacking up the prices on the small ticket items id just as detrimental.

Let's look at your example of Toys R'us. They have locked themselves into living and dying on the big ticket sale, and they are on the verge of bankruptcy due to it.

Which is why this is always something you see MMO companies pull shortly before they sell off their assets or shut down the servers. It is a last ditch money grab before the crash. Which is why it is mind boggling to see a company like ZOS pull this with the ELDER SCROLLS franchise just two years into production when by all accounts the game is doing well.

What are they THINKING?

Do they WANT to shut the servers down?

Savos_Saren · September 2016

Neutral: I have NOT tested the crates, and my feelings are neutral, noncommital, or do not apply.

I am the worst kind of neutral. True neutral.

I'm not going to waste my crowns on crown crates. The idea is simply moronic (knowing ZoS's RNG).

However, if someone else wants to waste a lot of money on crates (thus giving ZoS more money to make better content)- then so be it.

Capitalism at its best.

However... if I find out that I'll no longer be able to purchase new mounts and/or new gear with my crowns without having to gamble for it, I'll be done. It is just a video game, after all. I'll take up some other hobby.

Phinix1 · September 2016

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

jaburns wrote: »

I am the worst kind of neutral. True neutral.

I'm not going to waste my crowns on crown crates. The idea is simply moronic (knowing ZoS's RNG).

However, if someone else wants to waste a lot of money on crates (thus giving ZoS more money to make better content)- then so be it.

Capitalism at its best.

However... if I find out that I'll no longer be able to purchase new mounts and/or new gear with my crowns without having to gamble for it, I'll be done. It is just a video game, after all. I'll take up some other hobby.

I guess you are done then. Just a quick forum search or PTS download will show you that most of the new mounts and cosmetics are Casino Crate Exclusive.

Same thing with housing items more than likely.

AmberLaTerra · September 2016

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

Phinix1 wrote: »

AmberLaTerra wrote: »

The problem with that is with no small ticket sales the day to day bills are never met. A business cannot survive on the rare big ticket item, and jacking up the prices on the small ticket items id just as detrimental.

Let's look at your example of Toys R'us. They have locked themselves into living and dying on the big ticket sale, and they are on the verge of bankruptcy due to it.

Which is why this is always something you see MMO companies pull shortly before they sell off their assets or shut down the servers. It is a last ditch money grab before the crash. Which is why it is mind boggling to see a company like ZOS pull this with the ELDER SCROLLS franchise just two years into production when by all accounts the game is doing well.

What are they THINKING?

Do they WANT to shut the servers down?

I asked that very question on the PTS threads about this topic. Is this just an effort to drive profits down because they want to shut down the game.

When all the likely solutions can be eliminated the remaining no matter how absurd must be the answer.

Savos_Saren · September 2016

Neutral: I have NOT tested the crates, and my feelings are neutral, noncommital, or do not apply.

Phinix1 wrote: »

jaburns wrote: »

I am the worst kind of neutral. True neutral.

I'm not going to waste my crowns on crown crates. The idea is simply moronic (knowing ZoS's RNG).

However, if someone else wants to waste a lot of money on crates (thus giving ZoS more money to make better content)- then so be it.

Capitalism at its best.

However... if I find out that I'll no longer be able to purchase new mounts and/or new gear with my crowns without having to gamble for it, I'll be done. It is just a video game, after all. I'll take up some other hobby.

I guess you are done then. Just a quick forum search or PTS download will show you that most of the new mounts and cosmetics are Casino Crate Exclusive.

Same thing with housing items more than likely.

Let's not jump the gun just yet. This is PTS- not the actual game. I don't think anyone knows any specific details about housing yet, either... so let's not assume the sky is falling.

Slylok · September 2016

Neutral: I have NOT tested the crates, and my feelings are neutral, noncommital, or do not apply.

I havent tested the cratesand I fail to see where / how they are going to impact the way I play the game.

Tandor · September 2016

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

jaburns wrote: »

Phinix1 wrote: »

jaburns wrote: »

I am the worst kind of neutral. True neutral.

I'm not going to waste my crowns on crown crates. The idea is simply moronic (knowing ZoS's RNG).

However, if someone else wants to waste a lot of money on crates (thus giving ZoS more money to make better content)- then so be it.

Capitalism at its best.

However... if I find out that I'll no longer be able to purchase new mounts and/or new gear with my crowns without having to gamble for it, I'll be done. It is just a video game, after all. I'll take up some other hobby.

I guess you are done then. Just a quick forum search or PTS download will show you that most of the new mounts and cosmetics are Casino Crate Exclusive.

Same thing with housing items more than likely.

Let's not jump the gun just yet. This is PTS- not the actual game. I don't think anyone knows any specific details about housing yet, either... so let's not assume the sky is falling.

Now now, don't spoil other people's fun

!

Korah_Eaglecry · September 2016

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

Phinix1 wrote: »

Korah_Eaglecry wrote: »

The dont need small purchasing players. They want and need Big Ticket Item purchasing Whales that will fatten their profits.

If that were true then Walmart wouldn't be a successful global empire.

This is a total fallacy and surprising to see supposed AAA companies still chasing this delusion. It is like the economics "guru's" that honestly believe the Skinner study of caged rat survival instincts somehow predicts human entertainment behavior like TV ratings. The two are totally unrelated impulses.

Same with this "big ticket item" analogy. They are not a need like the food pellets in the Skinner rat study. So, since they are not needed to survive, the only value they hold is their PERCEPTUAL value, and that of course can change at the drop of a hat.

If ZOS is really going to throw their entire game down the toilet to become just another predatory whale chaser trying to cash in on gambling addiction, then maybe they should at least do a little research on Whale Psychology first? For example, the primary reason whales will buy overpriced items is so they can stand around showing off to all the people that don't have it.

Exclusivity is what gives it the value, because these types of people are shallow materialists and totally insecure and need to buy fancy things like Disney's Lord Farquat from Shrek in order to have people look at them and be impressed by all the quality their money can buy.

Or at least pretend they are.

So, if you throw away your small payments and SUBSCRIBERS to chase the whales, NO ONE WILL BE AROUND TO CARE about their attention disorder.

Which means, THE PERCEIVED VALUE WILL TANK.

WHICH MEANS, you have just thrown your game away chasing a delusion.

And if you think all the loyal customers you just s*** on with this greedy BS are going to come back and give you another chance after you send them the message "we don't even care enough about you to comment, short term whale profits are all that matters to us," well...

Way to learn from history.

Youre making the mistake of assuming that because Walmart gives deals on items that are typically more expensive in competing stores that they arent aiming for those big ticket purchases. Which they are. They just go about it a little differently.

Most of those deals are meant to drive out competition but theyre also used to convince the customer to buy more than what they originally intended to walk into the store for. For something just a few dollars cheaper the customer might be compelled to buy something else they felt they needed or wanted but would of otherwise skipped because it would of been too much.

Youre also assuming that every subscriber or small payment players will just up and leave. But they wont. Many will stay because theyve already spent a good bit of money on the game and countless hours on their characters. Those characters and those purchases will hold those players here as they perceive them as valuable.

ZOS might be readjusting their business model to aim for the whales but they are still going to be happy to take those small purchases none-the-less. Which is exactly why they "still plan to release items to the Crown Store". If they were to wholely focus on small purchases then sure, theyd "need" those players and those small purchases. But now that theyre focusing their efforts on getting Whales to open their wallets for bigger and bigger purchases. They can just use the small purchases to supplement the Big Ticket Sales.

Kendaric · September 2016

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

AmberLaTerra wrote: »

When all the likely solutions can be eliminated the remaining no matter how absurd must be the answer.

Have an "awesome" for that .. I love Sherlock Holmes

On topic:

I've seen the crates in SWTOR, where I could happily ignore them as the items gained from them were available for sale on the GTN (their auctionhouse). This is not an option in ESO at this point and I will not gamble for items that I want, so I won't buy any of the crates unless we can trade in any unwanted items, be they consumables or collectibles, for gems.

nimander99 · September 2016

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

It was a good idea to close the other thread, at 117 pages I was literally making the same points over and over. This thread gives a much more concise range of voting options.

Then when this hits 97% of people not wanting this "content" and 117 pages we can start a new poll after they've been released.

Also, how dare you make me hate Pacrooti ZoS! Darn you too Oblivion for ruining such a beloved character...

Waseem · September 2016

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

i was against RNG mystery boxes from the beginning, but still, tested them to see how zenimax treats dumb
well.. what can i say
the law does not protect the stupid.

if you buy RNG mystery boxes seeking something and come complain after it, no one ever would care except people like you

keep in mind, zenimax have lawyers and people who get paid to spread ideas and features that trigger you to buy the next crown, keeping it all legal and what not.. they even have people who draw that icons in crownstore and test which icon is more attractive than the other so it get published as final icon which we all see..
they know how *** works more than you and me

whatever feelings of betrayal and disappointment you feel does not affect them at all, we are basically numbers to them, not humans or robots( take robots of customer service as example). money is our vote, though

RNG mystery boxes are designed for profits, people who like lottery and all that *** are those who will abuse the heck out of it, or those having over 5 villas and 20cars still play eso for fun
you buy 1 or 500 mystery boxes, a green light - RNG boxes are working
you dont buy any mystery box, no light - RNG boxes needs adjustments to make them more attractive (ofcourse, mostly people who already buy them will fall for that one and buy more, but if they increase the chance of getting a mount by 0.000000000001% its perfectly honest and legal to announce that they increased the drop rate, same if they increase it by 200% while its 0.5%.. that new 1% chance is an increase)

Waseem · September 2016

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

ZOS could even give ESO+ subs a free RNG box when they launch
dont forget the free meth samples, though

Phinix1 · September 2016

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

Waseem wrote: »

whatever feelings of betrayal and disappointment you feel does not affect them at all, we are basically numbers to them, not humans...

If a corporation plans to be successful in the long term, then public perception goes a long way.

If your customers end up seeing you as a crook that just wants to put all their profits into new and clever ways to manipulate them into spending money instead of expanding on the quality of the product that originally brought them in, all you will end up with is a bunch of bad press and a mass exodus as soon as the next game (single player or MMO) comes along.

I for one will boycott these predatory gambling "Casino Crates" even if they are the only way to get something I like the looks of. I have enough willpower to go without another Senche reskin.

A mount is a mount. The ability to roleplay a rainbow guar-riding vampire clown does not make up for a lack of investment in actual content.

Mercutio · September 2016

Neutral: I have NOT tested the crates, and my feelings are neutral, noncommital, or do not apply.

Waseem wrote: »

ZOS could even give ESO+ subs a free RNG box when they launch
dont forget the free meth samples, though

I would be surprised if they do not. In fact it would probably be in their best interests to give a free one away to subbers each month.

BruceLeeroy91 · September 2016

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

Whilst I myself am very much opposed to these crates, I think the whole "these are ruining the game" position is preposterous. They offer cosmetic items with the exception of the crown xp scroll which is hardly pay to win. I will most likely not be purchasing any of these crates, and I do buy a good amount of cosmetic items and will continue to do so, just without gambling. It's not like they are taking everything we have all progressed towards with our characters away.

Overall the game and gameplay will be drastically unaffected and I do not understand the explosive reactions of people saying they will quit because of this.

Simple solution, don't freaking buy them, use some self control.

Do that and we can all continue to enjoy the game as it is. If people wish to gamble let them gamble, it doesn't affect any other players in the game.

silvereyes · September 2016

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

First of all, I'd like to give a big cheer for the OP. It's hard to write good polls, and I think you nailed it. The options are equivalent for positive, negative, and neutral views; there are no loaded terms; and you even added cross-tabs for whether a person tested on PTS themselves or not, which is interesting data.

As for my thoughts on the crates themselves, they are already detailed in another post:
https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/comment/3387093#Comment_3387093

tl;dr: Don't like. The implementation is not honest. The marketing is not honest. The experience is bad for the customer. The value is bad. It diverts development resources from fixing more important things. And it gives ZOS an even bigger incentive to make the crown store P2W, either outright or de-facto.

Phinix1 · September 2016

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

BruceLeeroy91 wrote: »

I will most likely not be purchasing any of these crates, and I do buy a good amount of cosmetic items and will continue to do so, just without gambling.

That's the problem though. It remains to be seen just how many cosmetic items will actually be available to straight up buy moving forward. There is a lot that they are putting up as Casino Crate exclusive, and you better believe, most of the things people will want the most will not be put up to just straight buy.

Also, the whole thing about circulating limited time only items (which I am also against) back into the store will likely now see them only available through Casino Crates.

Already on the PTS there are a lot of cool cosmetic items that are only available via Casino Crate.

That is what most people are upset about, besides this being shameless preying on gambling addicts.

Morimizo · September 2016

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

Esquire1980g_ESO wrote: »

Way back in the last thread over these lockboxes, I asked the question, WHY? I even asked if all the people I saw running around were completely F2P and just don't spend their cash. Now, I got this today.

"Hi Jim,

We noticed that you recently cancelled your ESO Plus membership and would like to see if we can tempt you back with a special one-time, buy three months, get one month free offer.

Image

As you probably know, ESO Plus membership comes with the following benefits:
•Access to all DLC Game Packs as long as ESO Plus membership is current
•1500 Crowns per 30-day membership to spend in the in-game Crown Store
•Unlimited use of the Craft Bag
•A +10% Upgrade to character progression

If you would take us up on this unique offer, simply respond to this email. We'll get back to you as soon as possible.

In addition, if there is anything at all we can do to help make your overall ESO experience better, please let us know. We're here to help!

Warm Regards,
Petyr
The Elder Scrolls Online Support Team

The Elder Scrolls Online Tamriel Unlimited"

I haven't seen this type of stuff since Star Wars Galaxies/SOE went into panic mode. Lockboxes, cash grabs, creating a "shortage" of crown store items via taking them out, FREE month(s) - just please come on back and give us some $, etc etc etc. ROFL, I've seen this EXACT offer coming from Funcom for a game they released in 2000. I would expect it there but not for a 2 year old game.

There's something more going on here besides just corporate greed.

And for ZOS, don't waste your effort on me. I seen what lockboxes do to a game 1st hand. The last month that the wife and I played TESO, we spent about $100.00 (crown sale/subs/etc). Now? I spend that $100.00 on connection(s) for my own servers which runs a AAA MMORPG that is in direct competition with yours. Altho, we/I can't charge for anything to do with that game so there's no subs, no store, and NO lockboxes. EVER! We do that and pay the price, due to the fact that we want a game to play that DOESN'T try this type of cash grab and are that fed-up with AAA studios pulling this type of F2P crap/inciting kids to gamble with parents credit cards.

I got this as well, and responded:

This offer might have been appealing before the Crown Crates, but I refuse to do any more business with a company that engages in this predatory gambling scheme. The only reason I have not uninstalled this game and removed my account from your official page is because I hope you folks will come to your senses and ditch this atrocity. If it goes live, all the disposable income I had planned to invest in this game (and had significantly to this point) will go elsewhere, to honest merchants, who appreciate my business, and who don't want to receive ten times market value (or more) for their product.

It's despicable, deplorable, and should be illegal (or at least require a gambling license). The amount of time and effort you spent on the implementation of this system (filling the store with more items than have ever been available before), creating a hypnotic rhythm of soothing sound and appealing artwork, and utilizing a favorite character (Pacrooti) as a skeevy rogue charlatan is reprehensible.

Come back to ESO Plus? You'll be lucky if I darken the doors of Sentinel again. Go hunt your whales in other waters, Jabba.

I could have ignored the gambling and just been annoyed by the exclusives that I would not be acquiring, but seeing the Crown Crates in action removed all doubt of who this company is, what they're capable of, and the direction the game is headed. It's truly very sad.

UrQuan · September 2016

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

silvereyes wrote: »

First of all, I'd like to give a big cheer for the OP. It's hard to write good polls, and I think you nailed it. The options are equivalent for positive, negative, and neutral views; there are no loaded terms; and you even added cross-tabs for whether a person tested on PTS themselves or not, which is interesting data.

Yeah actually, I totally agree with this. Most polls you see on the forums (not all, but most) are horribly biased either in the way they ask the question, or the options they give you, or both. This poll qualifies as the gold standard for how a poll should be presented. It asks an unbiased question, gives links to the 2 biggest discussion threads on the topic, and gives completely unbiased options for people to pick that should give everyone an option that accurately portrays their opinion on the topic.

DYSEQTA · September 2016

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

BruceLeeroy91 wrote: »

Simple solution, don't freaking buy them, use some self control.

Congratulations on completely missing the point of why these are being added to the game and why they are so terrible. They are predatory, exploitative, and socially irresponsible. They prey on those who are psychologically predisposed to addiction which is an inherent lack of self control. It is psychological manipulation of those with a weakness in this regard. The inherent anonymity of online gaming for most people compounds the problem.

Is crack or ice OK just because you don't feel the need to take it? Are cigarette companies justified in selling addictive, known harmful products to consumers? This is exactly like cigarettes. An industry allowed to continue when it is known to be both harmful and addictive. This is the reason i believe that marketing practices of online gaming companies need to be taken to consumer protection authorities for a closer look, as this is big tobacco all over again.

Try thinking about someone other than yourself for a moment of your life.

Pomaikai · September 2016

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

I will not EVER test, try, or use one of these evil gambling crates. They are HORRIBLE! Quite frankly, they spell the beginning of the end for the integrity of any game they're implemented in, and I have serious doubts now about the ultimate longevity of ESO.

Here's what it comes down to. These types of gambling items prey on the addictive personalities of many players. They can, and will turn some people who have never had a gambling problem into addicts. I've seen it happen in other P2W types of online games, and it's horrible what happens to some people financially. Yes, this is not P2W "yet", but it's the first step on that long downwardly spiraling path.

I get trying to make money on your game, but you don't do so by preying on your customers, and that is EXACTLY what these boxes are doing. Preying on people. It's vile, and it's disgusting. My buying another game made by Zenimax, ZOS, or any of their other subsidiaries, should these things actually be implemented, will not happen. You lose a customer for life for any other new game or venture that you create.

That is how bad these things are.

Hadan_of_Rift · September 2016

Negative: I have tested the crates, and I do not want this feature to be implemented in the game.

80% of 230 votes are NEGATIVE. Still gets put in the game because ZOS listens.

Eiagra · September 2016

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

silvereyes wrote: »

First of all, I'd like to give a big cheer for the OP. It's hard to write good polls, and I think you nailed it. The options are equivalent for positive, negative, and neutral views; there are no loaded terms; and you even added cross-tabs for whether a person tested on PTS themselves or not, which is interesting data.

Thanks!

I wanted to try and keep the metrics to those two basics: How the player feels, and whether they've tested it on PTS. I'm glad to see the range of votes, as the broader a perspective the playerbase can provide, the more accurate the overall voice of the playerbase will be. Optimally, this voice will be heeded to guide ZOS's planning and development in the coming days.

Palidon · September 2016

No way am I wasting my money on those crates. If I want to gamble I will go to Vegas. The odds are better there.

Esquire1980g_ESO · September 2016

Negative: I have NOT tested the crates, and I dislike the idea/direction and/or I dislike what I have read.

Morimizo wrote: »

Esquire1980g_ESO wrote: »

Way back in the last thread over these lockboxes, I asked the question, WHY? I even asked if all the people I saw running around were completely F2P and just don't spend their cash. Now, I got this today.

"Hi Jim,

We noticed that you recently cancelled your ESO Plus membership and would like to see if we can tempt you back with a special one-time, buy three months, get one month free offer.

Image

As you probably know, ESO Plus membership comes with the following benefits:
•Access to all DLC Game Packs as long as ESO Plus membership is current
•1500 Crowns per 30-day membership to spend in the in-game Crown Store
•Unlimited use of the Craft Bag
•A +10% Upgrade to character progression

If you would take us up on this unique offer, simply respond to this email. We'll get back to you as soon as possible.

In addition, if there is anything at all we can do to help make your overall ESO experience better, please let us know. We're here to help!

Warm Regards,
Petyr
The Elder Scrolls Online Support Team

The Elder Scrolls Online Tamriel Unlimited"

I haven't seen this type of stuff since Star Wars Galaxies/SOE went into panic mode. Lockboxes, cash grabs, creating a "shortage" of crown store items via taking them out, FREE month(s) - just please come on back and give us some $, etc etc etc. ROFL, I've seen this EXACT offer coming from Funcom for a game they released in 2000. I would expect it there but not for a 2 year old game.

There's something more going on here besides just corporate greed.

And for ZOS, don't waste your effort on me. I seen what lockboxes do to a game 1st hand. The last month that the wife and I played TESO, we spent about $100.00 (crown sale/subs/etc). Now? I spend that $100.00 on connection(s) for my own servers which runs a AAA MMORPG that is in direct competition with yours. Altho, we/I can't charge for anything to do with that game so there's no subs, no store, and NO lockboxes. EVER! We do that and pay the price, due to the fact that we want a game to play that DOESN'T try this type of cash grab and are that fed-up with AAA studios pulling this type of F2P crap/inciting kids to gamble with parents credit cards.

I got this as well, and responded:

This offer might have been appealing before the Crown Crates, but I refuse to do any more business with a company that engages in this predatory gambling scheme. The only reason I have not uninstalled this game and removed my account from your official page is because I hope you folks will come to your senses and ditch this atrocity. If it goes live, all the disposable income I had planned to invest in this game (and had significantly to this point) will go elsewhere, to honest merchants, who appreciate my business, and who don't want to receive ten times market value (or more) for their product.

It's despicable, deplorable, and should be illegal (or at least require a gambling license). The amount of time and effort you spent on the implementation of this system (filling the store with more items than have ever been available before), creating a hypnotic rhythm of soothing sound and appealing artwork, and utilizing a favorite character (Pacrooti) as a skeevy rogue charlatan is reprehensible.

Come back to ESO Plus? You'll be lucky if I darken the doors of Sentinel again. Go hunt your whales in other waters, Jabba.

I could have ignored the gambling and just been annoyed by the exclusives that I would not be acquiring, but seeing the Crown Crates in action removed all doubt of who this company is, what they're capable of, and the direction the game is headed. It's truly very sad.

I haven't responded to the email yet, but you gave me some very good ideas. The entire guild I was in here, cancelled. I was pretty sure, after living thru SWG's NGE that we weren't the only ones.