There are a lot of threads out there about more difficult overworld content, some of us understand that there's a problem with that, though...
Hardcore players don't pay. That's what I always see. ZOS couldn't support themselves via hardcore players because I believe they don't really want to pay their way. They just want to pay the bare minimum, and that's that.
Guild Wars 2 - Heart of Thorns proved that, eh?
ArenaNet built a hardcore expansion and it almost saw ArenaNet close their doors for the effort. Cash shop purchases dried up, they had no funds coming in. They had to apologise profusely, at length to the casual audience and redesign it to be more casual. Casual players pay their way. So many MMOs have ended up on life support or worse because they either tried to appeal to a hardcore demographic from the outset or chose to do so later on.
The reason why is basic psychology, really. It's due to how they see their role in the game, what they think the game actually is and what their place is in it. Whereas I see ESO as an entertainment product, they don't.
You see, hardcore players view their grinding as work. It's a job, they're just schmoes on the factory line and it's the job of the developer to reward them for their time and effort. This is really obvious from not only the precednet set by GW2, but also from threads I've seen here on these very forums.
An example of hardcore players expecting too much came about when it was suggested they could simply use white armour, drop their CP points, or even use no armour to raise the difficulty for themselves. They disdainfully dismissed this idea, snubbing their noses at the concept of having to make any effort outside of their perceived existing 'profession.' Casuals will make fun for themselves all the time, but the mere idea is unthinkable to the hardcore player.
An example of hardcore players believing that it's the job of the developer to reward them rather than making a profit arose with the angry threads that arose with the news of the factotum polymorph. ZOS is a business, money is important, and casual players have always been understanding of this and as supportive as their disposable income allows. However, with the hardcore mindset it was a cardinal sin to try to make money if that money took away from hardcore 'earnings' in any way. ZOS shouldn't try to make money, you see.
Casuals understand that they should pay their way if they want something. I want a crow pet. I'm not just going to be an obnoxious little snot and demand ZOS add such a thing. I'll ask, politely, and I'll pay the price they set out for it if they do decide to oblige. So this should be true of hardcore players too, yes? If a developer is expected to work, they should be paid!
That's just common sense.
That's not going to fly with hardcore players, though, in my opinion because they'll see it as the job of the developer to reward them for their 'work.' This is due to the aforementioned peculiar disconnect where the hardcore player doesn't seem to realise that the developer is a company selling a product meant for entertainment rather than an employer who's offering job opportunities. Whenever an 'employer' isn't providing proper rewards, if the 'work' has therefore dried up, they'll leave and find another source of 'employment' with more active rewards. The hardcore demographic isn't loyal to a game, they'll flit back and forth between titles depending on which is the latest with content. Which means that between content drops the developer wouldn't see any purchases made on their cash shop anyway, even if that ever did happen.
It's strange. It really is. I've just seen it too often though. I know that this is how it is and I want to prove that. I want to prove that there isn't a willingness to put their money where their mouth is. I want to do that because I don't want to see another title I love end up on life support if they decide to appeal to hardcore players more.
I feel casual players are very often subsidising hardcore players by paying far, far more than hardcore players ever do. Who buys the personalities, the houses, the furniture, the non-combat pets, the emotes, and so on? It's not the hardcore, they expect it to be a hand-out for 'working' on a veteran dungeon. And that's my point. Where tha hardcore see it as a 'job,' casual players understand it's actually an entertainment product. They see it more like, say, a vacationing spot.
As such, casual players are inclined to pay their way. They'll fund their favourite place as much as their disposable income allows as they understand that there are costs of running and upkeep. Even in periods where new attractions aren't being added to their favourite location, they'll keep putting money in to ensure it stays open, because they love that place so much. They'll continue to pay the entry fees, but they'll make their own fun to entertain themselves.
So the casuals will be roleplaying, making alts, and gathering lore to entertain themselves whilst paying, trusting that new attractions (new content) will turn up eventually. That's the difference.
The hardcore player pays little, yet expects much
The casual player pays much, but expects little.
So how do we do it? How do we prove that there's no future in supporting the hardcore? it's simple, really. Let's say that this can be an experiment. If this poll succeeds then ZOS can follow this as a means to profit off of hte hardcore. If it fails then it proves that there's no profit to be found with the hardcore. It's a concept elegant in its simplicity. You want it? You pay for it.
Would you be willing to buy veteran versions of zones from the cash shop? Each zone would be its own purchase and would be tailored to hardcore play. ZOS could release these zones in waves.
I would be okay with this. It wouldn't get rid fo their casual demographic as it wouldn't impede their ability to play. Therefore the reliable funds available to ZOS from casual players wouldn't go anywhere, and hardcore players could show their desire to fund ZOS's continued efforts.
Would you be willing to buy veteran versions of zones?
[Poll] Hardcore Players -- Would You Buy Veteran-Difficulty Zones from the Crown Store? 189 votes
Yes -- I would spend money to buy veteran zones.
No -- It should be part of the base game, I shouldn't have to buy it.