Why Are Houses Limited Availability?

KillingUGirl
KillingUGirl
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I understand limited availability mounts and clothing etc but Housing? I mean alot of us waited years for housing to be incorporated as a major part of this game, and it fell completely short of all expectations the whole housing system needs to be scrapped and we need a complete overhaul but that is another topic. For now it is what it is and we must deal with it.

Like i said housing is a long anticipated major component of this game and all housing should be available for purchase. Case in point I have been very sick for 3 years and I spent most my days unable to move and I enjoy playing ESO to help keep my life sane. I waited over a year for the housing and when it finally arrived it was severely disappointing ESO could have learned alot from Final Fantasy as their Housing system especially guild housing is fantastic. Well it is what we have so I decided to make the most of it.

I was at the point in the game where i really wanted to focus on housing, crafting furniture, getting crafting stations, setting it up for our guild etc. Problem was there wasn't a house I really like so i saved My crowns and kept hoping a new house would come out. Finally I saw that Piriahs Pinnacle was coming out and that was the one I really wanted that house unfortunately there was no official release date set for it and then I got much sicker and had to stop playing altogether. When I finally recovered I immediately went to purchase it and found I missed it by 2 weeks I was heart broken. I mean I had spent all these years waiting and saving and now it was no longer available? Like I said a wardrobe item fine but limited housing? that is senseless. So much work to go into something so limited seems like a huge waste of resources on ESO's part. They could be capitalizing on their efforts but instead it seem like such a waste of time on their end.

I would think that ESO was in the business to make money, here I am willing to spend quite a bit of money but I cannot. And not to be pouty or manipulative or throw a tanturm, just being realistic, but really there isn't much reason left to keep playing, I mean I was playing for the housing at this point and getting that stage of ESO all setup for my guild and building up that portion of ESO etc but now I have no option for that as my house is no longer available. I honestly dont really have any reason to continue at this point, ESO just isn't any fun If I cant participate in it to the fullest, and a major component of the game just isnt available to me. This mindset of making constant limited items in order to make money By ESO should not apply to housing. With such a large component ESO really should consider changing their MO and start accommodating all of their paying players. New housing should be available to all and not limited I am not even sure what the logic is to as they are missing out on a lot of money. Like I said a new wardrobe piece or mount fine but not Such an intricate large portion of the game.

I should be able to buy whatever house I want whenever I want to buy it plain and simple.
  • dodgehopper_ESO
    dodgehopper_ESO
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    I understand your feelings on the matter as most people have real lives that aren't hooked into the game so intently. This doesn't mean they do not care it simply means things come up. I've lost out on things in the past because of this as well.

    The reason why ZoS has these short window sales is to create artificial scarcity. People will tend to be more likely to buy the item and more willing to pay extra when they make an item artificially rare. This tactic is not just used in video games (and a lot of them do it nowadays) but its also used with other products now. There are some flaws with advertising with this way but you might be lucky and have them offer to sell it again in the future. They've done this with polymorphs before. I haven't seen them offer Houses in this manner though so it remains to be seen if they will do this.
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  • CaffeinatedMayhem
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    @dodgehopper_ESO is correct, and I'll add...it's a very stupid way to do things with such expensive items.

    Hey! If you don't have $100 in crowns to drop withint 4 days, TOO BAD! We only bring stuff around once per year so keep playing and you might be able to get it next year! (maybe, we're not sure yet)

    And to all the "well if you're gonna buy crowns do it at the sale, duh" people: No, I don't have $100 or $200 to drop on crown sales either. I have to save up my subscription crowns for 6-12 months and hope if Princely Dawnlight Palace goes on sale I only have to buy $25 worth of crowns because that's the max I can afford in a given month.
  • VaranisArano
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    Because the artificial scarcity of the limited time only sale is used to justify paying the high price for the housing.
  • Woefulmonkey
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    VaranisArano hit the nail on the head.

    It is a 'sales' strategy.

    The limited time availability gives players a sense of 'urgency' to buy the item.

    Knowing that they come up for sale 'yearly' also 'encourages' players to save up and plan for their purchases since the prices are high.

    Note the prices are basically set to 1 years worth of 'allotted' crowns if you are paying a monthly subscription.

    Further it may also cause some players to 'settle' on buying a house right away then buy the house the actually want later.

    This strategy is based on selling to 'long term' players who are 'most likely' to spend that kind of 'real' money.

    If that strategy is not working or ESO can be convinced that they would make more 'real' money by making houses available at all times I am sure they will.

    NOTE: Don't be surprised if some to the 'Older' limited time houses become permanently available as ESO adds 'New' limited time offers. Once a product loses its 'New Car Smell' it is old news and restricting access is no longer a viable strategy.
  • KillingUGirl
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    I understand what you all are saying but having that strategy apply to such a large intricate part of the game is backwards thinking. For a hat or motif or wardrobe piece sure I get it “limited time offer spend $20-$30” blah blah impulse buy sure but not for such major purchase. I guarantee they are acyalully losing money with this Model. How many more people would have bought this house if it were still available. They are missing out on revenue but beyond that housing should absolutely not be limited time availability. It’s like saying you can have the Morrowwind DLC but only if you buy it this week if you miss out then sorry you can never play that DLC again. Put the house on sale once a year but don’t restrict long term player from intricate parts of the game.
  • Pheefs
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    & remember its not just buyer urgency that makes limited time offers work for them, its about the hardware too.

    How much money did they get for the offering? -VS- How much server space for our housing shards?

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  • Stopnaggin
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    Do a search on ESO Concierge Service. Submit a ticket in game and see if they are willing to help. I know a friend of mine bought 2 horses for 2 different friends that way. If you get the right employee, they are more than willing to help.

    I believe this is the link https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/363871/concierge-service
    Edited by Stopnaggin on February 27, 2018 10:08PM
  • Mason_King
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    Right I just started playing the game and I was doing research as I bought it, and I was getting excited and then I learned some Houses, Pets and other items are no longer available.
  • f047ys3v3n
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    Limited time only stuff does a few things.

    1) Forces a decision preventing the maybe later forever non-commitment state that most of us spend our lives in.

    2) Ensures some degree of exclusivity to buyers. At least half of why folks buy vanity items is..... Vanity.

    3) Forces the unprepared consumer to buy crowns at full price. Did you even notice there is never a 40% off sale on when the best limited time only stuff is offered. There is a reason for that.

    4) Gives you something to look forward too every month in the showcase.

    I like the limited time only thing in general. It is something to look forward to and get excited about. Like the weekly luxury item vender in craig. But no like the one in Cyr. It sells necklaces and rings as well as shoulders and heads at different times from each other. How stupid is that. Yea, Ima spend 600k on these rings and just hope the neckace comes sometime in the next 6 months so that I can actually use it. Stupid.
    I am currently worried for the future of ESO. Population seems like it is in free fall and the cancellation of the North America in-person gathering feels very much like pulling the plug. Kudos on fixing the in-game economy though. Clearly whatever gold shenanigans were happening the last couple years are fixed.
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