FYI: I absolutely hate the new supersized Crown Store ads

LadyNerevar · April 2018

I don't mind the size of the add, actually. Unlike the previous pictures, I can actually see what's being sold.

I do mind that it's positioned all the way at the top with a whole lot of blank screen at the bottom. I think it'd read as a lot less intrusive if it was properly centered.

The final little add when trying to exit the game is weird. It currently appears broken (telling me that there's a daily reward coming up in under a minute, but if I wait a minute and go to the screen there is nothing there), placing it when the player is trying to leave rather than as they're entering the game feels like a strange choice. If I'm logging out it's because I've got other stuff to do, trying to sell me stuff isn't going to make me stick around.

VaxtinTheWolf · April 2018

My slight bit of opinion here is that that space might be used to alert of Daily Rewards. That's where i'd put it if this thing shows up upon logging in. But still... Meh.

Carbonised · April 2018

MissBizz wrote: »

Side note... The giant ad appears to happen every time you log in. Every. Time.

At least for me.

Yes, same here. Also, there's a new category in the menu when you press ESC. They call it "announcements" but when you press it, you only get 7 large ads for Crown Store purchases.

I guess "announcements" is ESO euphemism for "advertisements".

JD2013 · April 2018

Not a fan either.

We know where the Crown Store is if we want it. Don't need it pushed in our faces every single time we log in with full screen adverts.

zaria · April 2018

xaraan wrote: »

Kova wrote: »

Hey guys, I wanted to let you know that a few of us are already writing an add-on to take care of this. It'll be small and simple and might even be added to an already in use addon.

This is cool and I thought there might be one to come out, but a shame it's needed.

I actually didn't mind the little box that popped up and let me know about something added to the store, but a giant one every log in and log out, ever day is bad designing. It's that type of stuff that makes people use add blockers on their browsers - b/c the adds become so intrusive. I'd have been fine with the little box popping up when they put new stuff in, but with what I'm seeing on the PTS I don't wanna see it at all.

I think I know why they do it.
The current add is visible enough but it's slow and use time to load. So you dismiss it to move your character. Had it popped at once I would look in store while game finish loading all.

ZoS see all kill them and figure it must be larger on all login, it's probably slower

LindsC · April 2018

It's not so mcuh the size that bothers me, it's the huge black block under the images with nothing in it that does

Elsonso · April 2018

Carbonised wrote: »

MissBizz wrote: »

Side note... The giant ad appears to happen every time you log in. Every. Time.

At least for me.

Yes, same here. Also, there's a new category in the menu when you press ESC. They call it "announcements" but when you press it, you only get 7 large ads for Crown Store purchases.

I guess "announcements" is ESO euphemism for "advertisements".

Yeah, I noticed that and thought the same thing. LOL

Gythral · April 2018

How hard is an ad-Blocker addon going to be to create?

'cos I do not feel that my gaming time should include more ads as sub.

Iselin · April 2018

Gythral wrote: »

How hard is an ad-Blocker addon going to be to create?

'cos I do not feel that my gaming time should include more ads as sub.

I have no idea how hard it would be to create but I do know that if ZOS is determined to splash these ads at us on every log in, it would be trivial for them to make removing them add-on proof.

AefionBloodclaw · April 2018

Yes, please remove these massive ads or make it smaller or something. This is disgusting marketing strategy, all it does is *** off your players who want to get in the game not have a massive ad thrown in their face when they log in >:(

Integral1900 · April 2018

Dam me they look ugly, which amature bodged that together

Thrawniel · April 2018

Adoman wrote: »

Stuga: "Do you know how long I've been looking for you? There are some fantastic deals on the Crown Store right now..."

Looooooooooooooool

Turelus · April 2018

So I did wonder... What if the blank space and the screen ad in general is actually the log-in reward screen?

That would make sense, however it also means we may not be able to suppress it (depending how collection method works) and it wouldn't need to be every log in just the first each day.

Seraphayel · April 2018

kojou wrote: »

Hoping they figure out a way to be less obnoxious...

Wait until they replace the beautiful loading screen images with Crown Store advertising billboards.

Elsonso · April 2018

Turelus wrote: »

So I did wonder... What if the blank space and the screen ad in general is actually the log-in reward screen?

That would make sense, however it also means we may not be able to suppress it (depending how collection method works) and it wouldn't need to be every log in just the first each day.

Need an addon that auto accepts/dismisses that screen, then.

If these login rewards are going to be intrusive to any demographic, justified or not, it should help to reduce logins from that group.

Adernath · April 2018

ak_pvp wrote: »

Yo what the heck. This is a payed product, don't cram ads down our throats further than the hypermonetized rest of game is.

@ZOS_GinaBruno @ZOS_JessicaFolsom @ZOS_RichLambert

Don't.

Well said.

Who is gonna invest in a game which looks more and more like a cheap freebie app every season?
Can someone please replace that person in the marketing section responsible for all this BS?

Smaxx · April 2018

Turelus wrote: »

So I did wonder... What if the blank space and the screen ad in general is actually the log-in reward screen?

That would make sense, however it also means we may not be able to suppress it (depending how collection method works) and it wouldn't need to be every log in just the first each day.

I'd bet that's actually the case. But considering the daily login rewards are broken right now (just see the "<1 Min." at logout), I guess that's also the reason why it constantly shows up.

Mystrius_Archaion · April 2018

Kova wrote: »

Hey guys, I wanted to let you know that a few of us are already writing an add-on to take care of this. It'll be small and simple and might even be added to an already in use addon.

Don't add it to another addon. Stand-alone addons are best, then people can choose what they want and don't want.
It's the same way they already bundle the desirable items in the crown crates with crap consumables.

Raz415 · April 2018

It's like ZOS forgets that everyone actually buys this game, we don't get it for free on Steam. This disgusts me.

Marabornwingrion · April 2018

Raz415 wrote: »

It's like ZOS forgets that everyone actually buys this game, we don't get it for free on Steam. This disgusts me.

Agree. ZOS treats this game like some Korean free 2 play MMO which requires cash shop to keep it running.

Mystrius_Archaion · April 2018

Raz415 wrote: »

It's like ZOS forgets that everyone actually buys this game, we don't get it for free on Steam. This disgusts me.

It's not free on Steam, in fact you are likely to pay more on Steam than with a retail copy discounted clearance at a later date, barring Steam sales down the road being comparable.

But yes, your point is accurate that we don't need to be reminded that we can buy stuff.

jmgrant44ub17_ESO · April 2018

Sabbathius wrote: »

Oh, that's so...tacky!

ZOS, do you guys really need this? REALLY? Is your financial situation really that awful? Or did you hire some brilliant new manager in your marketing department? Do you want your game to look like a cheap F2P mobile game? Because this is how you make your game look like a cheap F2P mobile game.

Yes they do. Looking at how ZOS operates, I thought for sure they were going F2P this summer. There is no way they can make enough money off this Summerset “Chapter”. Morrowind was a big sell because of the iconic name but Summerset not so much. In fact Summerset is only relevant to the people playing right now. I have been on several of the game streaming sites and have seen almost no ads for this chapter. This is part of the F2P model.

Mystrius_Archaion · April 2018

jmgrant44ub17_ESO wrote: »

Sabbathius wrote: »

Oh, that's so...tacky!

ZOS, do you guys really need this? REALLY? Is your financial situation really that awful? Or did you hire some brilliant new manager in your marketing department? Do you want your game to look like a cheap F2P mobile game? Because this is how you make your game look like a cheap F2P mobile game.

Yes they do. Looking at how ZOS operates, I thought for sure they were going F2P this summer. There is no way they can make enough money off this Summerset “Chapter”. Morrowind was a big sell because of the iconic name but Summerset not so much. In fact Summerset is only relevant to the people playing right now. I have been on several of the game streaming sites and have seen almost no ads for this chapter. This is part of the F2P model.

Ads have to be paid for and take time to come up and that is also if they don't have another ad that paid more for the space/time which gets shown more. It is not surprising that you wouldn't see ads for it all that often.

And FYI, I started elder scrolls gamed with TES3 Morrowind. So Vvardenfell was nostalgic for me, but it falls far behind how much I wanted Summerset because of the high elf race as they are portrayed in the elder scrolls games. I saw "Summerset, home of the high elves, home of magic, most magical place on Nirn" aka Disney Land.

Summerset is a big deal. It's more interesting for people than Morrowind. All Morrowind had was nostalgia, above the same checkboxes that any other dlc would have.
Summerset also has a guild being added, which is much more appealing than a Warden class that requires starting over a new character without the achievements and all because we can use the skills on our existing characters.

Also, this game is still "buy to play" not completely "free to play".
I do think they see less value in this chapter though, as we noticed when we tested the content, because they are now including Morrowind in it to sweeten the deal for new customers. That does not mean they are going to let everybody get the base game for free and play forever for free, like free to play games.
They are guaranteed money this way.

Elsonso · April 2018

Raz415 wrote: »

It's like ZOS forgets that everyone actually buys this game, we don't get it for free on Steam. This disgusts me.

Maybe... this is future capability for when no one has to buy the game to play?

There has always been the theory that "B2P" was just a short-term money grab on the way to full F2P.

Mystrius_Archaion · April 2018

lordrichter wrote: »

Raz415 wrote: »

It's like ZOS forgets that everyone actually buys this game, we don't get it for free on Steam. This disgusts me.

Maybe... this is future capability for when no one has to buy the game to play?

There has always been the theory that "B2P" was just a short-term money grab on the way to full F2P.

Not likely.
This way is ideal from any marketing perspective. They sell the game at full price implying greater quality, then put it on sale to be even more enticing. That leaves them still fully open to "milk'em dry" just like any truly F2P game.

This is more money this way.

WhiteCoatSyndrome · April 2018

Carbonised wrote: »

MissBizz wrote: »

Side note... The giant ad appears to happen every time you log in. Every. Time.

At least for me.

Yes, same here.

And here. I have gotten to the point where every time I log into the PTS and see it I /feedback how much I hate it. (Usually I limit myself to once per bug.) If they're going to spam me, well...turn about is fair play, Zenimax.

Elsonso · April 2018

Mystrius_Archaion wrote: »

lordrichter wrote: »

Raz415 wrote: »

It's like ZOS forgets that everyone actually buys this game, we don't get it for free on Steam. This disgusts me.

Maybe... this is future capability for when no one has to buy the game to play?

There has always been the theory that "B2P" was just a short-term money grab on the way to full F2P.

Not likely.
This way is ideal from any marketing perspective. They sell the game at full price implying greater quality, then put it on sale to be even more enticing. That leaves them still fully open to "milk'em dry" just like any truly F2P game.

This is more money this way.

For now, yes. Eventually, sales will decline to the point where they have concerns about not getting enough new players. New players that replace players that leave are what drive Crown Crates. The Crown Crates must survive! That is when they will pull out the F2P card and play it. If that doesn't work, after a few rounds of predatory, possibly P2W, cash store practices, they can safely shut down the game. They will have milked the cow dry, killed it, and sold the carcass to McDonald's.

Itzmichi · April 2018

Unnecessary feature. Nobody asked for that

Iselin · April 2018

lordrichter wrote: »

Raz415 wrote: »

It's like ZOS forgets that everyone actually buys this game, we don't get it for free on Steam. This disgusts me.

Maybe... this is future capability for when no one has to buy the game to play?

There has always been the theory that "B2P" was just a short-term money grab on the way to full F2P.

That's no longer necessary. The line between F2P and B2P has been sufficiently blurred that it's no longer necessary. It's not like back in the days when GW2 released (or even like the days when ESO first went B2P) where you could see a distinct difference between B2P and F2P. B2P now has loot crates and expensive mounts and costumes just like F2P.

I seriously doubt there would be any kind of significant population boost from dropping the entry fee that is often on sale as low as $9.99.

As a matter of fact if the type of B2P that ESO has had existed 10 years ago, all those MMOs that went F2P would have gone to this type of B2P instead.

Mystrius_Archaion · April 2018

lordrichter wrote: »

Mystrius_Archaion wrote: »

lordrichter wrote: »

Raz415 wrote: »

It's like ZOS forgets that everyone actually buys this game, we don't get it for free on Steam. This disgusts me.

Maybe... this is future capability for when no one has to buy the game to play?

There has always been the theory that "B2P" was just a short-term money grab on the way to full F2P.

Not likely.
This way is ideal from any marketing perspective. They sell the game at full price implying greater quality, then put it on sale to be even more enticing. That leaves them still fully open to "milk'em dry" just like any truly F2P game.

This is more money this way.

For now, yes. Eventually, sales will decline to the point where they have concerns about not getting enough new players. New players that replace players that leave are what drive Crown Crates. The Crown Crates must survive! That is when they will pull out the F2P card and play it. If that doesn't work, after a few rounds of predatory, possibly P2W, cash store practices, they can safely shut down the game. They will have milked the cow dry, killed it, and sold the carcass to McDonald's.

You talk as if that is happening now. I'm telling you that's still likely at least 5 years or more down the road.

World of Warcraft is the other game with player numbers around the same level as this game right now. They still have a mandatory subscription with less cash shop greed. This game wouldn't go F2P without losing a lot of paying players.