This is how crown crates work, the entire point is to make you spend more than you would for a direct sale.
If crates were guaranteed to give you only drops you didn't already have, or if duplicates gave you enough gems to purchase another item of the same value everyone would only need to buy enough crates to get an item (any item) of the same value as the one they want. This way you have to buy at least 3 times that many.
Yes, but if they lose sales from anyone who's been playing this game for a year or more, then that's not really a great formula for making money. If they really wanted to make more money, they'd address this issue and make the Crates a better deal for people who already have a lot of Crown Store items. If they made the gems worth more than they are now, it would solve the issue.This is how crown crates work, the entire point is to make you spend more than you would for a direct sale.
This is how crown crates work, the entire point is to make you spend more than you would for a direct sale.
If crates were guaranteed to give you only drops you didn't already have, or if duplicates gave you enough gems to purchase another item of the same value everyone would only need to buy enough crates to get an item (any item) of the same value as the one they want. This way you have to buy at least 3 times that many.
I know this is how they work, obviously, since I gave enough detail in my original post to illustrate that. The point of the Crown Store is to bring in money to ZOS. Players who have already purchased many Crown Store items already spend more than the casual Crown Store shopper. To penalize the group of people who already support the game more than others does not give as much value for the money spent to everyone. It's not about RNG at this point, since the more you support the company, the less likely you are to get something of value.
I didn't mean that's how they work as in "the mechanics of the process you described are correct" - I meant the end result of that process, which is frustrating you, is exactly what ZOS want from it.
It's annoying for you because it means you have to spend more money to get what you want. It's good for ZOS because you have to spend more money to get what you want.
Yes it does mean they'll lose some customers - just like the RNG nature of the crates means they lose some customers who would have bought those items if they were sold directly. But if, for example, half the people who already have everything in the crown store are put off, but the remaining half are spending 3 times as much as they would otherwise then ZOS is still making more profit by doing it this way.
Of course I have no idea what the actual numbers are. Even ZOS can only extrapolate from data on direct sales vs. crown crate sales (and some forum feedback). But annoying as it is I really wouldn't be surprised if they are making more money this way because for every person who refuses to buy into it there's someone who considers it a fraction of their beer money for the week and couldn't care less if it's a good deal or not.
harvester100b16_ESO wrote: »I have spent £100's on items in the store since it started but I also see me being penalised for doing so with regards to crown crates I had some saved crowns so I got enough to get a lightning wolf mount but I'm going to be very hesitant on future crates as my last MMO SWTOR went down this gambling preying money route and that killed it for me.
Please ZoS rethink the way these crates work for your loyal long term people who spend money and at least give us better exchange rate for the gems
The simple answer? Because these crates are not in any way designed for the customer.
I have a screenshot somewhere of my first batch of crates where 4/5 cards were things I owned previously before crates were released. I felt pretty robbed, but don't worry! Wonderful gems very valuable! Or whatever that stupid cat says.
The simple answer? Because these crates are not in any way designed for the customer.
I have a screenshot somewhere of my first batch of crates where 4/5 cards were things I owned previously before crates were released. I felt pretty robbed, but don't worry! Wonderful gems very valuable! Or whatever that stupid cat says.
They are just designed with a flaw in them. To accept that without saying anything, or asking ZOS for an explanation, doesn't help to fix it. If ZOS responds with a comment such as "it's working as intended," as they've done on some things in the past, at least we'll know. If they respond with a statement saying they realize there's a problem, or that they're working to increase player satisfaction with the items, then that's at least what I'd like to hear. In a situation like that, I'd happily buy some more crates and hang onto them until ZOS says it's fixed.
There are loads of ways to make this better for us, but making it better for us makes less money for them so they're not going to change it at all.
This is how crown crates work, the entire point is to make you spend more than you would for a direct sale.
If crates were guaranteed to give you only drops you didn't already have, or if duplicates gave you enough gems to purchase another item of the same value everyone would only need to buy enough crates to get an item (any item) of the same value as the one they want. This way you have to buy at least 3 times that many.
I know this is how they work, obviously, since I gave enough detail in my original post to illustrate that.
The simple answer? Because these crates are not in any way designed for the customer.
I have a screenshot somewhere of my first batch of crates where 4/5 cards were things I owned previously before crates were released. I felt pretty robbed, but don't worry! Wonderful gems very valuable! Or whatever that stupid cat says.
They are just designed with a flaw in them. To accept that without saying anything, or asking ZOS for an explanation, doesn't help to fix it. If ZOS responds with a comment such as "it's working as intended," as they've done on some things in the past, at least we'll know. If they respond with a statement saying they realize there's a problem, or that they're working to increase player satisfaction with the items, then that's at least what I'd like to hear. In a situation like that, I'd happily buy some more crates and hang onto them until ZOS says it's fixed.
There are loads of ways to make this better for us, but making it better for us makes less money for them so they're not going to change it at all.
But that gets away from the original point of my post, which is the fact that the crates do not evenly distribute rewards to all players. Since some players benefit more than others, it violates the principle of fair treatment to all players.
I guess I am a sucker then? Because I wanted a lightning mount for my lightning themed sorcerer, and rather than just buy what I wanted I had to play their game.bluemanjoe_ESO wrote: »This is how crown crates work, the entire point is to make you spend more than you would for a direct sale.
If crates were guaranteed to give you only drops you didn't already have, or if duplicates gave you enough gems to purchase another item of the same value everyone would only need to buy enough crates to get an item (any item) of the same value as the one they want. This way you have to buy at least 3 times that many.
I know this is how they work, obviously, since I gave enough detail in my original post to illustrate that.
if you know how the crown crates work then what's the point of this thread. The crown crates gets ESO money, people spend the money. If you don't like it don't buy it. If enough people don't buy it they will change the rate. Unfortunately lot of suckers in this world.
bluemanjoe_ESO wrote: »This is how crown crates work, the entire point is to make you spend more than you would for a direct sale.
If crates were guaranteed to give you only drops you didn't already have, or if duplicates gave you enough gems to purchase another item of the same value everyone would only need to buy enough crates to get an item (any item) of the same value as the one they want. This way you have to buy at least 3 times that many.
I know this is how they work, obviously, since I gave enough detail in my original post to illustrate that.
if you know how the crown crates work then what's the point of this thread. The crown crates gets ESO money, people spend the money. If you don't like it don't buy it. If enough people don't buy it they will change the rate. Unfortunately lot of suckers in this world.
Only there are literally no items to give away, and it costs them nothing to make the crown crates a better deal for people. These are pixels in a game file that cost them NOTHING except what it cost them to pay their employees to make the item originally.... With too high a drop rate, ZOS will effectively give items away ...
ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »Hi everyone, here’s where we are with Crown Crates:
We put systems on the PTS for player feedback for a reason – we have sifted (and continue to analyze) your feedback on Crown Crates, and as such, we’re going to make at least the following changes to the system before it goes live later this year:We may well find other changes we want to make as well, and will let everyone know what we have done when this initial round of changes are in and can test them internally.
- We are working to change the way the system works to ensure that you get higher tiered items more often.
- We will allow you to convert unwanted Crown Crate consumables into Crown Gems. This way, you won’t be stuck with consumables you may not want, and you will also have more Gems to purchase the items that you do want.
- We will also take another look at Crown Crate potions, food, XP scrolls, etc. with an eye towards boosting their effectiveness and/or duration. This may entail us adding new recipes to allow crafters to make similar items.
So long-term players won't spend money... that's completely not true. IF there is something a long-term player wants, they WILL spend money to get it. If they don't, then they clearly didn't want it bad enough in the first place. I swore I'd never spend a cent on the Crown Crates, yet when I returned to the game after a couple months hiatus and saw the Storm Atronach Senche, I decided I would invest the money necessary until I either received the Senche or had enough Gems to buy it outright. Thankfully, the RNG goddess was looking out for me because I only had to buy two 15-packs to receive it. Yet, even if I hadn't, I would have spent the necessary money because it was something I wanted.
SydneyGrey wrote: »Only there are literally no items to give away, and it costs them nothing to make the crown crates a better deal for people. These are pixels in a game file that cost them NOTHING except what it cost them to pay their employees to make the item originally.... With too high a drop rate, ZOS will effectively give items away ...
I know that you know that. I see what you're saying, but I'm just making a point. It would literally cost them nothing to give us more gems per item. They're making the crates a bad deal on purpose, and I just don't understand why. Maybe they think that if people are TOO happy, they won't buy from the crown store any more after a while? Weird way of thinking, if you ask me.
bluemanjoe_ESO wrote: »SydneyGrey wrote: »Only there are literally no items to give away, and it costs them nothing to make the crown crates a better deal for people. These are pixels in a game file that cost them NOTHING except what it cost them to pay their employees to make the item originally.... With too high a drop rate, ZOS will effectively give items away ...
I know that you know that. I see what you're saying, but I'm just making a point. It would literally cost them nothing to give us more gems per item. They're making the crates a bad deal on purpose, and I just don't understand why. Maybe they think that if people are TOO happy, they won't buy from the crown store any more after a while? Weird way of thinking, if you ask me.
lost money is a cost. By lowing the price they would be losing money so it does cost them something. The price they have it at is what they have researched that will make them the most profit. If their research changes they will change the price, but it seems like it's working for them.
So long-term players won't spend money... that's completely not true. IF there is something a long-term player wants, they WILL spend money to get it. If they don't, then they clearly didn't want it bad enough in the first place. I swore I'd never spend a cent on the Crown Crates, yet when I returned to the game after a couple months hiatus and saw the Storm Atronach Senche, I decided I would invest the money necessary until I either received the Senche or had enough Gems to buy it outright. Thankfully, the RNG goddess was looking out for me because I only had to buy two 15-packs to receive it. Yet, even if I hadn't, I would have spent the necessary money because it was something I wanted.
Depends on the player.
There are several things in the crown crates I'd like to have and would happily have bought if they were sold directly. It really bothers me that I don't have some of them, like the clouded leopard cub and the red wolf pup. But I really hate gambling with real money so no matter how badly I want them I refuse to let myself buy them. Even if I knew it'd be cheaper to gamble I would not do it.
I suppose you'll say that means I don't want them enough, but to me how much I want the things in the crates and how much I do not want to gamble are two separate things, it's just that in this case they're in conflict.
I wasn't talking about them lowering the price. I was talking about letting us have more gems per item. It would literally cost them nothing.bluemanjoe_ESO wrote: »lost money is a cost. By lowing the price they would be losing money so it does cost them something.
SydneyGrey wrote: »I wasn't talking about them lowering the price. I was talking about letting us have more gems per item. It would literally cost them nothing.bluemanjoe_ESO wrote: »lost money is a cost. By lowing the price they would be losing money so it does cost them something.