Whats the point of Events anymore?

El_Borracho · January 2019

The funny part about this thread are the complaints about the tickets being sold in the guild store, how that insults players who play, and how that encourages people to not participate in future events. Only yesterday it seems people were complaining about how many people were doing these events, that it created a cluster of activity that encouraged too many people to play, and how it would lead to people not participating in future events.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/449448/bah-humbug-whats-your-least-favorite-new-life-festival-quest

I really like the demands for ZOS to create an alternate way to get these achievements. So they wouldn't have to suffer through trying to find a honeycomb in the Stonetooth Bash because there were too many players killing wasps. Alternatives like buying the achievement in the guild store.

Almost makes me long for the good ole days where people would demand nerfs because they died in PVP. Almost

magikarper · January 2019

yodased wrote: »

The problem stems from wanting to feel superior to other people by having something they dont.

Why does it matter if someone else uses the time they spent at work vs you using the time playing the game?

So you are saying the only benefit of the events is the ability to get something others dont have.

Thats kinda messed up really, why does what anyone else does to get items affect you in any way? You got it first without dishing out real money, they have to wait and buy it.

Who cares?

The other side of the coin you described is the people that want to have something only because other people have it, i.e., the "Keeping up with the Joneses" phenomenon. I play the content I find fun, because entertainment is the only thing I'm looking for in a game. I don't care what others do or don't win, achieve, buy or "own."

Iluvrien · January 2019

yodased wrote: »

The problem stems from wanting to feel superior to other people by having something they dont.

Why does it matter if someone else uses the time they spent at work vs you using the time playing the game?

So you are saying the only benefit of the events is the ability to get something others dont have.

Thats kinda messed up really, why does what anyone else does to get items affect you in any way? You got it first without dishing out real money, they have to wait and buy it.

Who cares?

Emphasis mine. It affects others because it changes the way ZOS deploys items in the game.

Every time ZOS gets a cash injection through these types of monetisation practices it increases the probability that they will do similar (or worse) again.

It affects all of us.

idk · January 2019

JadonSky wrote: »

I'm trying to figure out the point of events anymore and getting a little frustrated. First event i'm talking of was the gifting event to get the White Gryphon pet and now they are showing it will be in January crown store case the same month we are suppose to get it. That's a big slap to the face. The reason a lot of people participated was to get an "Exclusive" pet, to have something unique that others might not have.

I stopped after reading this much.

I did not see any indication in the Zos news article that the pet was exclusive to those who did the gifting. To read into it that it was exclusive to that is ones own dealings. I have linked the news article below in case there is any question.

For many, they got the pet for free since they organized the trading so parties involved, including themselves, got things they would use. Ofc, I expect some did not think things through as well but that is a personal issue.

https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/55273

yodased · January 2019

Iluvrien wrote: »

yodased wrote: »

The problem stems from wanting to feel superior to other people by having something they dont.

Why does it matter if someone else uses the time they spent at work vs you using the time playing the game?

So you are saying the only benefit of the events is the ability to get something others dont have.

Thats kinda messed up really, why does what anyone else does to get items affect you in any way? You got it first without dishing out real money, they have to wait and buy it.

Who cares?

Emphasis mine. It affects others because it changes the way ZOS deploys items in the game.

Every time ZOS gets a cash injection through these types of monetisation practices it increases the probability that they will do similar (or worse) again.

It affects all of us.

We can't actually know that right now though. Past behavior of course is a good predictor of future behaviors, but this is the first of its kind.

This particular issue doesnt change the itemization systems, since the event was held as all other events and the rewards were not cash locked.

If you are predicting that they will removethe ability to gain rewards through events and only offer these types of rewards for crowns, thats one thing. If you are stating for fact that this changes how ZOS handles rewards i cant back that.

What is so bad about offering a paid option for grind items? You have a choice, grind or pay.

Both options have positives and negatives and will be differing for each person, but what's actually wrong here?

Is the consenous that in game time is worth more than cash value? Is it just basic tribal infighting because people view cash buyers as the enemy?

This particular event, having the items available for money after its over changes nothing within the current system. Sure it piggybacks on the event ending, but if you wanted the rewards for the events you got them.

Everyone acting like using money for vanity is some kind of evil, so my question remains:

If you used the event to get the reward and nothing was changed from any other reward system, why do you care if someone else buys it after you have had it for a month?

It feels like its judging elitist attitudes that are snubbing their collective nose at perceived "not true gamers". No other hobby has this level of pure hate towards people who value time over cash.

Where else can you find so many people marginalizing their peers for valuing time over money. Its crazy

ccfeeling · January 2019

Waiting a better game come out , I won't join those freaking bored events .

ProfessorKittyhawk · January 2019

The white gryphon pet shouldn't be in the crown store. It wasn't free because we still had to spend money in some way to gift things to people. But making it available for *anyone* to buy kind of removes the uniqueness of it.

But I mentioned it in another thread about the Midyear Mayhem in January being a reason to keep the event train going to keep people playing to get the indrik mount and the berries to evolve them. Constant events to get people to keep playing just screams desperation.

Korah_Eaglecry · January 2019

JadonSky wrote: »

I'm trying to figure out the point of events anymore and getting a little frustrated. First event i'm talking of was the gifting event to get the White Gryphon pet and now they are showing it will be in January crown store case the same month we are suppose to get it. That's a big slap to the face. The reason a lot of people participated was to get an "Exclusive" pet, to have something unique that others might not have. But instead it was just a marketing ploy to get people to buy crowns right before the new years to make your numbers look good before EOY... or at least that's what it feels like now. Also some people spent more then 1000 crowns for the event because it was hard to find unique items for exactly 500 a piece so I hope the crown store will not have it for 1000 or less. I feel really cheated here.

NOW even worse, I see that you are going to allow people to buy the event tickets for the indrik mount in the crown store at the end of Q1.... so why everyone else had to put in all the grinding and work to earn their mount and berry's everyone else can just buy it. This makes the mount no longer feel special to me in any way. I loved that I got it, and I earned it, it felt like a special mount because of this and it was something I was able to show off the work I put in. Now it just feels like a waste of my time. I don't even know how to extend my frustration with this. You took something special from the players that work hard for something then just give it away to anyone that wasn't willing.

Might as well start adding all the Monster sets to the crown store next or how about solo arena gear....oh wait maybe I shouldn't give you any ideas.

So disappointed...

So youre upset that you paid to get something, and now others are paying to get the same thing?

_Salty_ · January 2019

Events are time sinks disguised as a meaningful experience.

JadonSky · January 2019

Korah_Eaglecry wrote: »

So youre upset that you paid to get something, and now others are paying to get the same thing?

It's the principle of it. Lets say there is an event you have to donate up to a $1000 for entry (could be more if you like but minimum $1000). The event is you have to place your hand on on a car and who ever can keep their hand on the car longest wins it.

After hours, you win the event and when there about to hand you your keys a random guy in the crowd who has been watching says hey can i just buy one of those for a $1000 dollars and they let him and hand him the keys to the same car.

Wouldn't you be a little frustrated and doesn't it seem a little pointless to of had the event anyways when I could of just bought the car to start at a set price. Kinda seems like waste of your time and not so much of a prize anymore.

But everyone looks at it differently. I get it, its just a game and some people won't agree with me. It would be one thing if it was in the crown store months later or added to a crown crate. But literally to announce it will be in the crown store the following month before anyone who actually participated in the event got theirs juts seems kinda wrong to me. It was just a marketing ploy to get their crown store purchase numbers up before their end of year audit.

Jhalin · January 2019

Korah_Eaglecry wrote: »

JadonSky wrote: »

I'm trying to figure out the point of events anymore and getting a little frustrated. First event i'm talking of was the gifting event to get the White Gryphon pet and now they are showing it will be in January crown store case the same month we are suppose to get it. That's a big slap to the face. The reason a lot of people participated was to get an "Exclusive" pet, to have something unique that others might not have. But instead it was just a marketing ploy to get people to buy crowns right before the new years to make your numbers look good before EOY... or at least that's what it feels like now. Also some people spent more then 1000 crowns for the event because it was hard to find unique items for exactly 500 a piece so I hope the crown store will not have it for 1000 or less. I feel really cheated here.

NOW even worse, I see that you are going to allow people to buy the event tickets for the indrik mount in the crown store at the end of Q1.... so why everyone else had to put in all the grinding and work to earn their mount and berry's everyone else can just buy it. This makes the mount no longer feel special to me in any way. I loved that I got it, and I earned it, it felt like a special mount because of this and it was something I was able to show off the work I put in. Now it just feels like a waste of my time. I don't even know how to extend my frustration with this. You took something special from the players that work hard for something then just give it away to anyone that wasn't willing.

Might as well start adding all the Monster sets to the crown store next or how about solo arena gear....oh wait maybe I shouldn't give you any ideas.

So disappointed...

So youre upset that you paid to get something, and now others are paying to get the same thing?

Taking this comparison to its extreme so the point is realized: Every skin from dungeon and trial achievements is placed in the crown store. Having those skins is now pointless and no longer indicates effort put in, time spent, or skill used to get it. It just means you had some money laying around.

It’s the same reason we had so much outcry about the Welkynar motif; By putting it in the Crown Store in the same moment as the in-game release, it heavily disincentivized endgame raiders from farming it, as the price on the motifs was hard capped from the start via Crown Gifting

It’s not about keeping others from having it, it’s about having something to show you put in time and effort to obtain something.

Shantu · January 2019

I just ignore events. The game is so rife with mindless, RGN driven repetition, I find no joy in seeking more of it via "events" (the one exception being PVP in the Midyear Mayhem).

I don't mind ZOS selling whatever they want in the Crown Store. After all, ESO is a business. If it doesn't make money, it won't be around for anyone to play and gripe about. Personally, if it meant saving hours, days, weeks, sometimes months of grinding and fighting RGN crap, I would buy gear and weapons in the crown store in a heartbeat.

Smitch_59 · January 2019

_Salty_ wrote: »

Events are time sinks disguised as a meaningful experience.

I'd say that pretty much describes ESO as a whole.

Sylvermynx · January 2019

@JadonSky - sorry you're disturbed about this. But really.... not much in this world is exclusive. And that's especially true of things in a MMO.

Exclusive: a one-of-a-kind prototype sports car; your own personal dome painted to replicate the Sistine Chapel ceiling (if you're into either of those); a previously unknown Picasso (if you're into that); a better-than-the-Hope-Diamond (and certainly hopefully more attractive) blue diamond.

Seriously - the point to a game like this is the fun. It's not stuff that's just pixels. Maybe you should donate some of those hours getting those pixels to - oh, I don't know, mitigating hunger in your city, helping veterans, the homeless, animals....

Gah. I'm rapidly becoming the cynic my brother has always said I am. I've always replied that I'm not a cynic, I'm a realist. Whatever. Everyone should have fun with the game in whatever way floats their personal boat.

Callous2208 · January 2019

Sylvermynx wrote: »

@JadonSky - sorry you're disturbed about this. But really.... not much in this world is exclusive. And that's especially true of things in a MMO.

Exclusive: a one-of-a-kind prototype sports car; your own personal dome painted to replicate the Sistine Chapel ceiling (if you're into either of those); a previously unknown Picasso (if you're into that); a better-than-the-Hope-Diamond (and certainly hopefully more attractive) blue diamond.

Seriously - the point to a game like this is the fun. It's not stuff that's just pixels. Maybe you should donate some of those hours getting those pixels to - oh, I don't know, mitigating hunger in your city, helping veterans, the homeless, animals....

Gah. I'm rapidly becoming the cynic my brother has always said I am. I've always replied that I'm not a cynic, I'm a realist. Whatever. Everyone should have fun with the game in whatever way floats their personal boat.

Mostly correct but not entirely. Expensive real money cosmetics here and gear in less savory mmos are usually exclusive. If one cares for exclusives, they need to look to the crown store/crates for a chance at scratching that itch.

Kiralyn2000 · January 2019

Smitch_59 wrote: »

_Salty_ wrote: »

Events are time sinks disguised as a meaningful experience.

I'd say that pretty much describes ESO MMOs as a whole.

Bouldercleave · January 2019

Steelshiv wrote: »

Callous2208 wrote: »

It's the only content. Mindless repetive tasks

Glad someone else sees the events as mindless repetitive tasks. It became a chore to do the New Life Celebration for the last two weeks.

Agreed. After I got what I NEEDED to get out of it (the achievements, the feather, and writ skin) I just logged in one character and did one event a day to get the mystery box then went on my way.

Sylvermynx · January 2019

Bouldercleave wrote: »

Steelshiv wrote: »

Callous2208 wrote: »

It's the only content. Mindless repetive tasks

Glad someone else sees the events as mindless repetitive tasks. It became a chore to do the New Life Celebration for the last two weeks.

Agreed. After I got what I NEEDED to get out of it (the achievements, the feather, and writ skin) I just logged in one character and did one event a day to get the mystery box then went on my way.

Actually, I logged in 15 girls every day to get the easy quests for a LOT of xp. There were some I knew I wouldn't be doing - the lockboxes and Bergama run - 2000 ms lag means those are NOT going to happen; and the Betnikh thing was WAY too much messing for way too long. But I did 4 of the available quests on every girl just for the xp. My main got the mystery box and the tickets.

The worst thing? Not really having time to do survey maps.... Yesterday and today, I ran over 200 maps on my main. There's only so much you can do, so many hours in a day. Events.... mean I have to put "normal" stuff on a back burner.... Oh, I still have another 50+ maps left to do....

FlyingSwan · January 2019

I believe ZOS think that a constant stream of events will keep people in game more and sell more subs. It's no coincidence that they started a yearly sub around the same time as announcing the 2019 event roadmap. The implication is the game is perhaps not as healthy as we thought was.

Doesn't work for me however, the events are repetitive things that often depend on broken or constrained systems. I couldn't care less about a golden deer that barks like a dog and has laser beam eyes, on account of the fact I am not nine years old. I still ride my 'paint horse'.