Is the game being designed to force people to use the Crown Store?

jedtb16_ESO · January 2017

No.

in this context the definition of 'force' can only be....

Coercion or compulsion, especially with the use or threat of violence

get a grip.

Kodrac · January 2017

No.

Force? No. Gentle nudge to at least take a look in there? Yes.

idk · January 2017

No.

@Reykice

ESO isn't a pure subscription based game. As such it cannot purely rely on subscriptions.

Further, cash shops have become a major revenue source with gaming. Even your precious WoW has come to that.

There is nothing in the ESO Crown Store you need in game so Zos isn't forcing anyone to buy crowns. Zos even made it so everyone can get into housing for free and set multiple tiers of housing for every in game budget. Now, if you feel you must have the biggest homes it's your choice to buy or not and how to buy. However, no one needs a manor.

NewBlacksmurf · January 2017

Yes.

Yes and anyone saying no either doesn't buy dlc or doesn't sub.

If you sub, you're buying crowns so you should have selected yes

Only those who don't sub and who only play the base game can say no technically.

Stovahkiin · January 2017

No.

Lesson of the day to everyone who says "yes" here: all it takes to avoid the unnecessary buying of things from the crown store is a bit of self control and patience. (Who would have guessed it??)

Personally, I've only bought a few outfits and a single mount from the crown store in all my time playing. I don't typically feel any overwhelming need to spend money in order to get something that can be gained with some extra gold and time spent. I still remember playing Runescape years and years ago and having to grind money and skills for months (sometimes even longer than that) to get something I wanted. But did it feel good when I finally got it? Oh hell yes it did.

Danikat · January 2017

No.

I've never felt like I had to buy something from the store. The main thing I feel pressured to buy in ESO is bank and bag slots, and I get them with gold.

Almost everything I've bought from the crown store is 'fluff' - things which are fun to have but don't provide any real benefit. New mounts and pets mainly but also some costumes and the hair pack (that last one was annoying though, I got it on the PTS thinking I may as well because it's free, then found I really liked having it and ended up buying it on Live).

I've bought the DLC too, but even then I didn't feel like I had to, and I think I got a full game for the base price, unlike some where it's almost like you pay full price for a 'starter pack' game and have to buy a bunch of DLC to bring it up to a full game.

I'm planning to get a house, but I'm almost certainly going to get that with gold. I'm fine with the gold prices - the apartments are only slightly more expensive than the basic horse and the small and medium priced ones are also reasonably priced I think. (The one I want is 325,000 which is a lot for me but not impossible to save up.)

If the crown prices prove to be really cheap (like the lower end of predictions so far - 200 crowns for an apartment, 5,500 for a manor) I might consider that. But I'm fully expecting them to be much more expensive, in which case I'll spend my gold instead.

Stovahkiin · January 2017

No.

NewBlacksmurf wrote: »

Yes and anyone saying no either doesn't buy dlc or doesn't sub.

If you sub, you're buying crowns so you should have selected yes

Only those who don't sub and who only play the base game can say no technically.

So.. I'm just imagining that I've been subbing for months just because I voted "no" ?

I'm not paying for crowns when I sub; I'm paying for the benifits of being a sub when I sub.... The crowns are an added benit of subbing in my eyes, but that isn't all you get (obviously)

OrphanHelgen · January 2017

Yes.

Got surprised to see all the "no" answers actually

rotaugen454 · January 2017

It is mainly for people who have to have every costume and pet.
"How much...is that Daedra...in the window? Rharr! Rharr!"

Thealteregoroman · January 2017

No.

polar wrote: »

Crowns are only an option, and if you pay the sub, you get crowns you can spend on stuff. If you dont pay the sub, you can get it free by making gold. All seems pretty fair to me. Someone, somehow has to pay for ongoing development.

OKAY!!!!!! lol aint that the truth......

Danikat · January 2017

No.

OrphanHelgen wrote: »

Got surprised to see all the "no" answers actually

It seems that a lot of people who voted yes think it's self explanatory (or at least that they don't need to explain). But if you, or anyone else who voted yes, can explain which items you feel forced to buy and why I think that would be helpful for those of us who feel differently and really don't get it.

At the moment I can't understand why anyone would feel they need anything in the crown store, but obviously I'm missing something because many people do feel that way.

Bakkagami · January 2017

No.

Reykice wrote: »

Stovahkiin wrote: »

Absolutely not, while I don't agree with all of Zeni's recent marketing decisions, we certainly are not being forced to buy things from the CS. After all, the majority of items in the crown store are cosmetic anyway; and the last time I checked, I was not being forced in any way, shape, or form to pay for them.

If you feel the unbearable urge to quickly and easily buy items that are also available through other methods, then that's your problem, no one is forcing it on you.

So... you think its reasonable to ask the average player to have 25 milion gold for the houses and who knows how much more for furniture?

Do you have that much gold? Would you spend it all on this IF you wanted it?

Had to lol at this line of reasoning. Of course the AVERAGE player wouldn't be able to get all homes. Noone is asking the AVERAGE player to have it. Wait, noone is ASKING u to do anything. Housing is 100% your choice, and at best most people are expected to have 1 maybe 2 houses.

Defilted · January 2017

No.

The game is designed to encourage you to use the Crown store in some areas.

Bakkagami · January 2017

No.

Danikat wrote: »

OrphanHelgen wrote: »

Got surprised to see all the "no" answers actually

It seems that a lot of people who voted yes think it's self explanatory (or at least that they don't need to explain). But if you, or anyone else who voted yes, can explain which items you feel forced to buy and why I think that would be helpful for those of us who feel differently and really don't get it.

At the moment I can't understand why anyone would feel they need anything in the crown store, but obviously I'm missing something because many people do feel that way.

From what I've gathered on forums, a lot of people feel entitled to be able to obtain all content in the game but don't want to put in any amount of work. ZOS gives them an easy way out (in some cases) in crown store but that would mean actually paying so they then get offended that they have to either pay or work for it.

Slurg · January 2017

I do not know.

I would vote "other", because IF one is strongly motivated to achieve certain objectives in the game within a fixed amount of time, they certainly may feel forced to spend. But if one does not care about the things being offered, that's a definite no.

I think the intent is to provide a strong level of encouragement to spend overall, based on our desire and motivation, which will vary for each individual.

BlackSparrow · January 2017

No.

NewBlacksmurf wrote: »

Yes and anyone saying no either doesn't buy dlc or doesn't sub.

If you sub, you're buying crowns so you should have selected yes

Only those who don't sub and who only play the base game can say no technically.

No one forced me to sub... I chose to keep subbing after it went free-to-play, because I wanted to support the game. Now, I have extra perks, like free access to all DLC and the Crafting Bag. It's not something I'm forced to do... I sub because I want to.

And that's the way it should work. Entice the players to pay by offering rewards when they do.

Are you expecting an entirely free experience? You can have it, but you have to realize that for every person who buys the box and then never pays another cent, another paying player has to pick up the slack. How else do you expect the game to pay for its servers, its employees, its office space?

All things considered, ZOS has been fairly responsible about what they put in their cash shop. They want you to buy from it, yes, and you can get cool stuff like mounts, DLCs, and convenience items... but you are never forced to.

Sigma957 · January 2017

No.

I said no because anyone can afford to get a house be it a small one as they are reasonably priced and furniture can be crafted or bought for gold. Potions, food etc can be crafted it just takes a little effort and time to acquire the recipes. CS is there for those that want everything now.

MissBizz · January 2017

Yes.

SantieClaws wrote: »

Forced no.

But encouraged certainly yes.

The housing system as it stands makes it very difficult for new players to fully participate and decorate their homes to any reasonably desirable standard yes.

The crown store enables a massive shortcut to this by offering houses and all the furniture. The imagination limited only by the wallet yes.

This one she wonders if the system was designed to be so material and time intensive as to make the store seem the preferable option yes?

Yours with paws
Santie Claws

I feel bad calling Santie "The Cat"... But the cat is right.

I lean more towards yes than no, but I am like Santie where it's not forced, but being pushed much more heavily.

BloodWolfe · January 2017

Yes.

SantieClaws wrote: »

Forced no.

But encouraged certainly yes.

The housing system as it stands makes it very difficult for new players to fully participate and decorate their homes to any reasonably desirable standard yes.

The crown store enables a massive shortcut to this by offering houses and all the furniture. The imagination limited only by the wallet yes.

This one she wonders if the system was designed to be so material and time intensive as to make the store seem the preferable option yes?

Yours with paws
Santie Claws

Pretty much sums up how I feel as well.

Unsent.Soul · January 2017

No.

Reykice wrote: »

Stovahkiin wrote: »

Absolutely not, while I don't agree with all of Zeni's recent marketing decisions, we certainly are not being forced to buy things from the CS. After all, the majority of items in the crown store are cosmetic anyway; and the last time I checked, I was not being forced in any way, shape, or form to pay for them.

If you feel the unbearable urge to quickly and easily buy items that are also available through other methods, then that's your problem, no one is forcing it on you.

So... you think its reasonable to ask the average player to have 25 milion gold for the houses and who knows how much more for furniture?

Do you have that much gold? Would you spend it all on this IF you wanted it?

Average player to have 25 million? Are you serious? Where'd you get 25 mil? Don't inflate numbers to make your flawed discussion hold more weight.

Reykice · January 2017

Yes.

Stovahkiin wrote: »

Reykice wrote: »

Stovahkiin wrote: »

Absolutely not, while I don't agree with all of Zeni's recent marketing decisions, we certainly are not being forced to buy things from the CS. After all, the majority of items in the crown store are cosmetic anyway; and the last time I checked, I was not being forced in any way, shape, or form to pay for them.

If you feel the unbearable urge to quickly and easily buy items that are also available through other methods, then that's your problem, no one is forcing it on you.

So... you think its reasonable to ask the average player to have 25 milion gold for the houses and who knows how much more for furniture?

Do you have that much gold? Would you spend it all on this IF you wanted it?

Is there actually a house on the pts that costs that much or are you making that number up to make you feel better about your arguement? I haven't been on the pts myself but the most I've heard of a house costing was like 3m

Lol the number is from their patch notes... 4m for the expensive houses, 25m in total for all.

2 houses only via the crown store(the biggest ones).

Stovahkiin · January 2017

No.

Reykice wrote: »

Stovahkiin wrote: »

Reykice wrote: »

Stovahkiin wrote: »

Absolutely not, while I don't agree with all of Zeni's recent marketing decisions, we certainly are not being forced to buy things from the CS. After all, the majority of items in the crown store are cosmetic anyway; and the last time I checked, I was not being forced in any way, shape, or form to pay for them.

If you feel the unbearable urge to quickly and easily buy items that are also available through other methods, then that's your problem, no one is forcing it on you.

So... you think its reasonable to ask the average player to have 25 milion gold for the houses and who knows how much more for furniture?

Do you have that much gold? Would you spend it all on this IF you wanted it?

Is there actually a house on the pts that costs that much or are you making that number up to make you feel better about your arguement? I haven't been on the pts myself but the most I've heard of a house costing was like 3m

Lol the number is from their patch notes... 4m for the expensive houses, 25m in total for all.

2 houses only via the crown store(the biggest ones).

So the "average player" is going to be forced to buy all of them? I think the majority of players will just be buying one or two, maybe even a couple more, but certainly not all of them. And even then, it's their choice; literally no one will force you to buy even one house either with in game gold or crowns

Reykice · January 2017

Yes.

billp_ESO wrote: »

Yes, except nobody is actually being FORCED to buy anything. When essential items are locked behind the paywall, that's the day I will quit.

So far, it's just the cosmetics, nice-to-haves, etc, that is for sale.

Bottom line: is it possible to have a great time without spending a cent in the Crown Store? Yes.
Is it possible to have everything in the game without spending a cent in the Crown Store? No.
Is ZoS taking advantage of the fact that Crown Store items are trivial to create, versus actual content, and are much more lucrative? Yes.

Yea i think your last point is what i wanted to say. Why make 3k Crown DLC`s when you can make 5k Crown mounts that take no time to make.

In the end the game suffers.

theher0not · January 2017

Yes.

Yes. Why else would they put a daily CD on mount training or make bag and inventory upgrades so expensive?

Though they are not forceing people, just trying their hardest to bait us by making things anti fun and offer a way to skip it for real money.

Stovahkiin · January 2017

No.

theher0not wrote: »

Yes. Why else would they put a daily CD on mount training or make bag and inventory upgrades so expensive?

Even with that logic, you're not being forced to buy them via crowns. I have never used crowns to buy invy space or mount speed, and I don't have much of a problem with it.

I think all you "yes" voters are confusing what it means to be FORCED to buy things via the crown store. If all of these items were NOT available by using in game gold then I would agree with you, but that simply isn't the case as of now.

Sinthrax · January 2017

Yes.

People still won't admit it. There is always a choice. But the bottom line is to get the game in whole you have to spend money....

Unsent.Soul · January 2017

No.

Reykice wrote: »

Stovahkiin wrote: »

Reykice wrote: »

Stovahkiin wrote: »

Absolutely not, while I don't agree with all of Zeni's recent marketing decisions, we certainly are not being forced to buy things from the CS. After all, the majority of items in the crown store are cosmetic anyway; and the last time I checked, I was not being forced in any way, shape, or form to pay for them.

If you feel the unbearable urge to quickly and easily buy items that are also available through other methods, then that's your problem, no one is forcing it on you.

So... you think its reasonable to ask the average player to have 25 milion gold for the houses and who knows how much more for furniture?

Do you have that much gold? Would you spend it all on this IF you wanted it?

Is there actually a house on the pts that costs that much or are you making that number up to make you feel better about your arguement? I haven't been on the pts myself but the most I've heard of a house costing was like 3m

Lol the number is from their patch notes... 4m for the expensive houses, 25m in total for all.

2 houses only via the crown store(the biggest ones).

Lol did the patch notes also say you must buy them all lol? Lol see? The average player won't drop all their time into making gold to buy ALL of the houses.

BlackSparrow · January 2017

No.

theher0not wrote: »

Yes. Why else would they put a daily CD on mount training or make bag and inventory upgrades so expensive?

Though they are not forceing people, just trying their hardest to bait us by making things anti fun and offer a way to skip it for real money.

(Those were that expensive before the game went free-to-play, and therefore before the Crown Store was even a thing. Heck, mount upgrades used to be worse. Originally, you upgraded the mount instead of the rider, which meant that if you changed your mount, you started aaaaall over.

They're called gold sinks. They have nothing to do with the Crown Store so much as helping stabilize the in-game economy. The fact that they offered bag/bank upgrades and riding lessons in the Crown Store as convenience items was literally an afterthought.)

Unsent.Soul · January 2017

No.

BlackSparrow wrote: »

theher0not wrote: »

Yes. Why else would they put a daily CD on mount training or make bag and inventory upgrades so expensive?

Though they are not forceing people, just trying their hardest to bait us by making things anti fun and offer a way to skip it for real money.

(Those were that expensive before the game went free-to-play, and therefore before the Crown Store was even a thing. Heck, mount upgrades used to be worse. Originally, you upgraded the mount instead of the rider, which meant that if you changed your mount, you started aaaaall over.

They're called gold sinks. They have nothing to do with the Crown Store so much as helping stabilize the in-game economy. The fact that they offered bag/bank upgrades and riding lessons in the Crown Store as convenience items was literally an afterthought.)

Well said, if only people who posted know what they were talking about...

Reykice · January 2017

Yes.

Unsent.Soul wrote: »

Reykice wrote: »

Stovahkiin wrote: »

Reykice wrote: »

Stovahkiin wrote: »

Absolutely not, while I don't agree with all of Zeni's recent marketing decisions, we certainly are not being forced to buy things from the CS. After all, the majority of items in the crown store are cosmetic anyway; and the last time I checked, I was not being forced in any way, shape, or form to pay for them.

If you feel the unbearable urge to quickly and easily buy items that are also available through other methods, then that's your problem, no one is forcing it on you.

So... you think its reasonable to ask the average player to have 25 milion gold for the houses and who knows how much more for furniture?

Do you have that much gold? Would you spend it all on this IF you wanted it?

Is there actually a house on the pts that costs that much or are you making that number up to make you feel better about your arguement? I haven't been on the pts myself but the most I've heard of a house costing was like 3m

Lol the number is from their patch notes... 4m for the expensive houses, 25m in total for all.

2 houses only via the crown store(the biggest ones).

Lol did the patch notes also say you must buy them all lol? Lol see? The average player won't drop all their time into making gold to buy ALL of the houses.

No but let us assume you want the achievements or all the content like you would want with any other thing. Then its 25 mil to buy them + the furniture is veeeery hard to make and will need Legendary Tempers and so on so another couple of mil there at the very least.

At 1 milion per month.... what looks easier? Farming 30 months to get them or just buying via Crown Store? That was my point. If you really want them, nobody will farm 30 million gold for the average player that is impossible and ZOS knows it.

Making something so hard to get then offering it instantly for cash is as immoral as it gets you can always hide behind the "oh but you can get it in the game" but in reality no you can`t unless you literally farm gold for months and months.

That was my point, if you want all the content, all the achievements, you will need to use the Crown Store or farm 25+ million gold. That, for most people, is not a reasonable choice as most will never have 25+ million gold ever.