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Put gamblers on a community blacklist

ChaosWotan
ChaosWotan
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SPOILER ALERT: after discussing the pros and cons of a blacklist, in the comments below, I no longer suppport it.

In order to prevent that gambling spreads to the whole gaming industry, exploiting kids and other vulnerable people, someone should create a website where one can publish screenshots of rich gamblers who have expensive items that 99 percent of the gaming community can't afford to buy.

Here I'm only talking about boycotting those who buy the most expensive items that are inaccessible to 99 percent of the gaming community, like the new radiant mounts in ESO for example. The boycott should not cover those who spend money on the old crown crate system which is a combination of gambling and regular purchase of items through gems, as long as these items are not so expensive that only 1 percent of the community can afford to buy them.

Game companies have the freedom to sell gambling products, and rich gamblers are free to buy them, but freedom goes both ways, so we gamers also have the freedom to not cooperate with high-rolling gamblers and not help them in the game, by not having them in our guilds or pvp groups, not helping them in chat zone, not reviving them, and ganking them in Cyrodiil. But without bullying or harrasing them. That will send a clear message to rich gamblers that it's counterproductive to spend hundreds of dollars on an exclusive item that only the very rich can afford to buy.

Average gamers who, by pure luck, get a radiant item in a crown crate will unfortunately become blacklisted too, but the chance of winning a radiant item is around 0.2 percent, so only a very tiny minority of average gamers will suffer because of this boycott, and they can avoid it entirely by using apex items instead of the radiant ones.

On the other hand, it's understandable that ESO needs a new source of income now that the game is basically free to play. Average players in the gaming community should therefore be responsible and become subscribers again. It will probably help if ZOS sends an email to each ESO owner and explain why the game needs more subscribers in order to create larger and better DLCs. In the email, ask how much a person is willing to pay for a subscription, and if he or she is willing to buy a 12 month subscription, or a 12 month VIP subscription for 30-50 dollars a month.

The annual subscription should include an option to not pay the whole sum at once, but pay part of it each month, if one agrees that failure of monthly payment will have the consequence of one year ban from the game and termination of your main character. This will secure that ZOS has a steady income and can safely plan new large DLCs at least one year ahead. But it will only work if a majority of gamers take the hint: either we subscribe or we get more gambling in the games we buy in the future.
Edited by ChaosWotan on December 5, 2017 1:31PM
  • DieAlteHexe
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    Do I understand this correctly...

    I'm a retiree with disposable income, some of which I choose to spend gaming. I like buying "needless" things. It amuses me (I don't get out much anymore :p ). So, if I understand this correctly, if I choose to spend my money on something that is considered "most expensive", I will be relegated to some sort of boycott?

    That about the size of it?

    Dirty, filthy casual aka Nancy, the Wallet Warrior Carebear Potato Whale Snowflake
  • Voxicity
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    I've spent a fair amount of money on crown crates and I would love to be added to your blacklist considering I play solo or duo with my wife and I always welcome being ganked so I can counter it and rek them.

    I'm on PC EU as @Voxicity if you wanna find me in game to take a screenshot, should be hanging around grahtwood around 5pm GMT onwards tonight :)
  • ChaosWotan
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    @DieAlteHexe

    Yes, running around with a $200 item = boycott.
  • Turelus
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    Maybe I misunderstand this but you want to ban people from playing games because they spent too much money on them?

    Because someone else spent their money in a way you don't approve of, you want to punish them rather than focus on the real people causing these issues (the rich corporations and publishers)?

    This is why loot boxes will never go away, we'd rather attack one another than the people causing the issues.

    @Turelus - EU PC Megaserver
    "Don't count on others for help. In the end each of us is in this alone. The survivors are those who know how to look out for themselves."
  • Voxicity
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    ChaosWotan wrote: »
    @DieAlteHexe

    Yes, running around with a $200 item = boycott.

    What if I've spent £1000 (theoretically, im not that dumb) on crown crates but didn't get a £200 item? I'm still a gambler

    Or is this more to do with a jealousy complex?
  • supaskrub
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    How about putting *** posters on a blacklist? and I mean that respectfuly

    Though i agree with your sentiments that the crown crate system at present is a vile practice with items that are hyped to be "super rare" and unobtainable even with crown gems the bottom line is its here and it seems to be working to ZOS's financial benefit.

    Proposing a guild blacklist ban on players who throw money at the crates is as vile a practice as the present crown crate system. You, I or anybody else have no right to interfere or be judge and jury over ANYONE for how they spend the money that is rightfully theirs.
    Edited by supaskrub on December 5, 2017 11:55AM
  • sdtlc
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    The grudge is strong with this one.
    Die Qualität verhält sich nicht zwingend proportional zur Masse...

    Meisterangler vor dem perfekten Rogen...
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  • DieAlteHexe
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    How about "no". Why should you (generic) get to dictate how I spend my hard-earned over a lifetime of work money?

    Or...actually, maybe "yes" cos I surely don't care to run with folks who are minding my business.

    Dirty, filthy casual aka Nancy, the Wallet Warrior Carebear Potato Whale Snowflake
  • Turelus
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    supaskrub wrote: »
    How about putting *** posters on a blacklist? and I mean that respectfuly
    I would fully support this, but without knowing exactly what we're classing as a trash post here I worry the forums might be very Turelus free if I blindly agree.

    @Turelus - EU PC Megaserver
    "Don't count on others for help. In the end each of us is in this alone. The survivors are those who know how to look out for themselves."
  • The_Protagonist
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    michael-jackson-eating-popcorn-gif-5-compressor.gif

    Edit: Added one gif for clarity

    popcorn.gif
    Edited by The_Protagonist on December 5, 2017 11:59AM
  • LadyNalcarya
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    I mean, I understand that you dont like crown crates etc... But. Mobbing is just wrong. Plain and simple.
    Also, some people got crown crate mounts (even special ones, like plague horse) from free crates.
    Dro-m'Athra Destroyer | Divayth Fyr's Coadjutor | Voice of Reason

    PC/EU
  • ChaosWotan
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    I'm a so-called "whale" myself, so it's not about "jealousy", but the new radiant system of pure gambling is just too much. However, as already written in the OP: everyone is free to play as they want. You can spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on gambling, but you can't dictate that other players want to cooperate or help you in the game.
  • wenchmore420b14_ESO
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    b6540g.jpg
    Drakon Koryn~Oryndill, Rogue~Mage,- CP ~Doesn't matter any more
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  • Voxicity
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    ChaosWotan wrote: »
    I'm a so-called "whale" myself, so it's not about "jealousy", but the new radiant system of pure gambling is just too much. However, as already written in the OP: everyone is free to play as they want. You can spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on gambling, but you can't dictate that other players want to cooperate or help you in the game.

    Why would someone spending their own money on something for their own enjoyment dictate the feelings of another individual towards them? I don't understand the logic there, other than jealousy

  • The_Protagonist
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    ChaosWotan wrote: »
    I'm a so-called "whale" myself, so it's not about "jealousy", but the new radiant system of pure gambling is just too much. However, as already written in the OP: everyone is free to play as they want. You can spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on gambling, but you can't dictate that other players want to cooperate or help you in the game.

    That is actually everyone else's free choice, whether if they want to play with them or not IMHO.
    Edited by The_Protagonist on December 5, 2017 12:02PM
  • DieAlteHexe
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    ChaosWotan wrote: »
    I'm a so-called "whale" myself, so it's not about "jealousy", but the new radiant system of pure gambling is just too much. However, as already written in the OP: everyone is free to play as they want. You can spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on gambling, but you can't dictate that other players want to cooperate or help you in the game.

    And yet you want to dictate how they spend their money by blacklisting them?

    *chucks a pot at you* It'll go well with your kettle.

    Dirty, filthy casual aka Nancy, the Wallet Warrior Carebear Potato Whale Snowflake
  • VaranisArano
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    Players have the freedom to use their money how they see fit.

    I think ESO+ isn't worth it even for the crafting bag, I think the 2 Dungeons DLCs are overpriced, I think that Crown Crate RNG is nothing I want to mess with, and I think I'll limit my spending on this game.

    But that's ME, and other players make different choices and that's just fine. Its their money, after all. They get to make the decision with their money - just like I get to make my choices with my money.

    If your problem is that players spend their money in a way that incentivizes ZOS continuing the practice of purely-RNG mounts and items that you find distateful, maybe you should consider addressing the root cause of your problem: ZOS and their business practices, not the players. You can't punish players for using their money how they see fit just because you don't think you can reach ZOS any other way. No one made you the judge and jury of how anyone else spends their money on a video game.
  • Woeler
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    Maybe we can make an idiot list.
  • DieAlteHexe
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    Players have the freedom to use their money how they see fit.

    I think ESO+ isn't worth it even for the crafting bag, I think the 2 Dungeons DLCs are overpriced, I think that Crown Crate RNG is nothing I want to mess with, and I think I'll limit my spending on this game.

    But that's ME, and other players make different choices and that's just fine. Its their money, after all. They get to make the decision with their money - just like I get to make my choices with my money.

    If your problem is that players spend their money in a way that incentivizes ZOS continuing the practice of purely-RNG mounts and items that you find distateful, maybe you should consider addressing the root cause of your problem: ZOS and their business practices, not the players. You can't punish players for using their money how they see fit just because you don't think you can reach ZOS any other way. No one made you the judge and jury of how anyone else spends their money on a video game.

    ^^^^^^ This.

    And good luck to you (OP).

    Dirty, filthy casual aka Nancy, the Wallet Warrior Carebear Potato Whale Snowflake
  • The_Protagonist
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    Woeler wrote: »
    Maybe we can make an idiot list.

    Now that sounds like a very reasonable list to make, it would save many players countless hours in game and on the forums here.
  • ChaosWotan
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    Nobody is forced to act on a blacklist. Every player will still have full freedom to cooperate or not with any other player. And it's not an endorsement of mobbing or harrasing anybody. Unlike someone here calling me an "idiot" :)
  • srfrogg23
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    ChaosWotan wrote: »
    In order to prevent that gambling spreads to the whole gaming industry, exploiting kids and other vulnerable people, someone should create a website where one can publish screenshots of rich gamblers who have expensive items that 99 percent of the gaming community can't afford to buy.

    Here I'm only talking about boycotting those who buy the most expensive items that are inaccessible to 99 percent of the gaming community, like the new radiant mounts in ESO for example. The boycott should not cover those who spend money on the old crown crate system which is a combination of gambling and regular purchase of items through gems, as long as these items are not so expensive that only 1 percent of the community can afford to buy them.

    Game companies have the freedom to sell gambling products, and rich gamblers are free to buy them, but freedom goes both ways, so we gamers also have the freedom to not cooperate with high-rolling gamblers and not help them in the game, by not having them in our guilds or pvp groups, not helping them in chat zone, not reviving them, and ganking them in Cyrodiil. But without bullying or harrasing them. That will send a clear message to rich gamblers that it's counterproductive to spend hundreds of dollars on an exclusive item that only the very rich can afford to buy.

    Average gamers who, by pure luck, get a radiant item in a crown crate will unfortunately become blacklisted too, but the chance of winning a radiant item is around 0.2 percent, so only a very tiny minority of average gamers will suffer because of this boycott, and they can avoid it entirely by using apex items instead of the radiant ones.

    On the other hand, it's understandable that ESO needs a new source of income now that the game is basically free to play. Average players in the gaming community should therefore be responsible and become subscribers again. It will probably help if ZOS sends an email to each ESO owner and explain why the game needs more subscribers in order to create larger and better DLCs. In the email, ask how much a person is willing to pay for a subscription, and if he or she is willing to buy a 12 month subscription, or a 12 month VIP subscription for 30-50 dollars a month.

    The annual subscription should include an option to not pay the whole sum at once, but pay part of it each month, if one agrees that failure of monthly payment will have the consequence of one year ban from the game and termination of your main character. This will secure that ZOS has a steady income and can safely plan new large DLCs at least one year ahead. But it will only work if a majority of gamers take the hint: either we subscribe or we get more gambling in the games we buy in the future.

    No. Attacking, blacklisting, harassing or otherwise annoying other players because they make bad purchases is not ok.
  • Turelus
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    ChaosWotan wrote: »
    Nobody is forced to act on a blacklist. Every player will still have full freedom to cooperate or not with any other player. And it's not an endorsement of mobbing or harrasing anybody. Unlike someone here calling me an "idiot" :)
    So go start a personal spreadsheet and enjoy it. We'll just continue not black listing people for things which are none of our business though.
    @Turelus - EU PC Megaserver
    "Don't count on others for help. In the end each of us is in this alone. The survivors are those who know how to look out for themselves."
  • SisterGoat
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    What even... Blacklist people who got a radiant apex mount from a free crate too, just because you're sour you didn't get one? This thread is going to get locked.
    Jumps-In-Water - Magicka Templar
    Dar'akar - Stamina Nightblade
    Jumps-In-Lava - Magicka Dragon Knight
    PC/NA
  • Turelus
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    Woeler wrote: »
    Maybe we can make an idiot list.

    Now that sounds like a very reasonable list to make, it would save many players countless hours in game and on the forums here.
    Again... I feel I should confirm my status before agreeing to these kind of things. :neutral:
    @Turelus - EU PC Megaserver
    "Don't count on others for help. In the end each of us is in this alone. The survivors are those who know how to look out for themselves."
  • DieAlteHexe
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    ChaosWotan wrote: »
    Nobody is forced to act on a blacklist. Every player will still have full freedom to cooperate or not with any other player. And it's not an endorsement of mobbing or harrasing anybody. Unlike someone here calling me an "idiot" :)

    Then why call for "community"? Do it yourself, have those you encounter who are freaked out by it join you but the suggesting to make it community wide IS mobbing.

    As for calling you an "idiot", I don't think that's the case here. I think you've just got a bee up yer arse and are overreacting in how to resolve it. The suggestion to take it up with the source makes far more sense than trying to "suggest" how others spend their money which, as you've seen, isn't being met with much approbation.

    Dirty, filthy casual aka Nancy, the Wallet Warrior Carebear Potato Whale Snowflake
  • ChaosWotan
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    @Turelus

    It is our business when the game companies introduce a model that exploits the vulnerable and risk turning some individuals into gambling addicts. Have no problem boycotting those who support this model. That's allowed in a free country. And non-cooperation is not mobbing. You can play or not play with anybody you want. That is freedom.
  • Ratzkifal
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    Hmm. Well go ahead and start this @ChaosWotan . I fully support your decision /s, but keep in mind that this is the very definition of a witch hunt, that a community boycott like that is harrassement in itself and that you directly violate the terms of agreement of this game and forum if you pull through with it.
    Edited by Ratzkifal on December 5, 2017 12:24PM
    This Bosmer was tortured to death. There is nothing left to be done.
  • SisterGoat
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    Okay whatever, but this is borferline name shaming and ZOS is not going to allow it here.
    Jumps-In-Water - Magicka Templar
    Dar'akar - Stamina Nightblade
    Jumps-In-Lava - Magicka Dragon Knight
    PC/NA
  • LadyNalcarya
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    ChaosWotan wrote: »
    @Turelus

    It is our business when the game companies introduce a model that exploits the vulnerable and risk turning some individuals into gambling addicts. Have no problem boycotting those who support this model. That's allowed in a free country. And non-cooperation is not mobbing. You can play or not play with anybody you want. That is freedom.

    But arent they the "victims" of this system, then?
    According to your logic it would be much more reasonable to boycott ZOS.

    And btw, even in a free country its not ok to mob and harass people.
    Edited by LadyNalcarya on December 5, 2017 12:24PM
    Dro-m'Athra Destroyer | Divayth Fyr's Coadjutor | Voice of Reason

    PC/EU
This discussion has been closed.