My ESO Financial History To Date (it's four digits..)

rotaugen454 · April 2019

TheValkyn wrote: »

ArchMikem wrote: »

FierceSam wrote: »

Hey ArchMikem,

Thanks for sharing this. Many people wouldn’t have the nerve. It’s illuminating to see where a gamer’s money goes.

Over half of that for cosmetic gamble boxes. You spent nearly 10 times as much on mystery crates as you have on the actual game.

I said Crown Packs, not Crown Crates.

Let's be honest. I doubt there's much difference.

Sure there is. I spent the majority of mine on houses, mounts, pets, and costumes. I’ll buy one 15 crate pack a season for fun, but won’t chase anything specific in crates.

Darkmage1337 · April 2019

Very interesting. Great topic!

Let's break it down, for me:

ESO Original PC/Mac Base Game Release: $59.99
Morrowind Digital Upgrade: $39.99
Summerset Digital Collector's Upgrade: $39.99
Elsweyr Digital Collectors Upgrade: $49.99
Total Base Game + Chapter Expansions: $190

ESO subscription: $14.99 per month
I have been an ESO subscriber since launch (April 2014 to present April 2019)
So, that is $14.99 x 12 months x 5 years = $900 just on the ESO subscription alone.
I have not bought zone-DLCs or dungeon-DLCs since I have always been a subscriber and 'rented' them.

The ESO Crown Store was released with ESO:TU on March 17th, 2015. ESO Players who kept their subscriptions received 1,500 crowns per month. So, April 2015 to April 2019 is 48 months. 48 months x 1,500 Crowns per month is 72,000 'free' Crowns that I apparently have received over the course of 4 years (I currently only have 16,400 Crowns on my account).

Plus, 3 or 4 5,500 Crown-Packs that I purchased for $20-$30 each during the annual or semi-annual Crown Store Sales/Discounts, when they are roughly 30% to 50% off. Let's keep it simple and say 1 5,500 Crown pack purchased per year x 4 years, my estimation is at: $100, though it is probably more like $150.

Total costs: $190 on lifetime game content + $900 on lifetime ESO subscription + $100 spent on Crown Store sales =
roughly $1,190 spent on ESO over 5 years.

Overall, not too bad, considering I currently have 295 days worth of ESO play-time (/played) across all 9 of my characters.
The Dark-Mage (EP MagSorc), my very first character: 42 days /played
The Moonlit-Knight (EP Tankplar), my 'main' character: 90 days /played
The Undying Nightshade (EP MagNB): 40 days /played
The Killionaire (EP StamDK): 22 days /played
Swims-Among-Slaughterfish (EP Magden): 8 days /played
The Dawn-Bringer (AD Magplar): 32 days /played
The Ironwood Kid (AD StamNB): 37 days /played
The Storm-Shield (DC TankSorc): 11 days /played
The Savage-Beast (DC DKTank): 13 days /played
295 days /played total across my current 9 characters.
202 days played on EP, 69 days played on AD, 24 days played on DC (202+69+24=295 days, total).

365 days in a year. ESO has been live for 5 years (April 2014 to April 2019). So, 365 days x 5 years = 1,825 days.
295 days played / 1,825 days ESO has been around = 16.16% of my lifetime in the past 5 years has been played on ESO.

By comparison, if a person gets 8 hours of sleep per day (24 hours), then that is 121 days spent sleeping out of 365 days in a year.
121 days x 5 years = 605 days asleep, out of the past 1,825 days ESO has been live. 605/1,825 = 33.15% time spent asleep.

TL;DR:
Approximately $1,190 spent on ESO, so far, over 5 years (April 2014 to April 2019).
On average, a person spends ~33% of their time asleep (8 hours per day).
On average, in the past 5 years, I spent ~16% of my time playing ESO. (4 hours per day).

Someone should make a database out of all of this data. LOL.
Anyways, it seems like time well-spent, to me!

oxygen_thief · April 2019

~74.89 euro since 9/25/2016

jainiadral · April 2019

Ri_Khan wrote: »

If anyone's curious to see their actual tally, your eso account page has a billing history. It's probably a good idea to put that number in your head at some point. I imagine I'm definitely on the lower end of the splurge scale here. On average, spent about $90/year since 2014, mostly due to subbing for the craft-bag and dlc/chapter's. I could easily spend more and probably would have but the scummy methods the marketeers decided to use and how that affects the game have completely turned me off from doing so. Ya know, voting with the wallet and all that.

If you're on Steam, your account page here will ba blank. You have to click a tiny link in the Steam client on your Account page. I think it's called "Account Purchase History."

jainiadral · April 2019

thedude33 wrote: »

As a hobby/entertainment expense ESO ranks very low on cost per time played. Ridiculously low.

Compare it to:

- your monthly phone bill
- movies
- cable bill + netflix, crave etc
- Daily coffee bill
- night out at the pub/club
- concerts
- Night out at the Casino
- etc etc

ESO isn't even a blip on the radar

Crates? I don't buy them. Personally, I think it's silly to pay for that kind of stuff but I don't judge. If you have the money then why not. When you don't have the money is the problem. That's your issue that you have to solve.

Crave? What's that? I googled, but some of the results were... ew.

Even if you grind and make your own coffee, decent grade beans are more expensive than ESO+. I'm kinda glad I got too old for metal shows. At 37, getting shoved around by even the peeps at the borders of drunken mosh pits was leaving me bruised

For me, ESO's a lot cheaper than a couple months worth of Barnes & Noble trips.

Davor · April 2019

For me, I don't have a clue. For me, I HATED ESO on launch. So it was the game that included Imperials package I got. I HATED the game so much on PC I never even went past the "free" month. I refused to support a game I already bought full price and need to keep paying to play.

Then One Tamriel came out for Xbox. I bought it again. Played it but didn't like it. Played on and off. Later if finally clicked for me on Xbox. Got a new laptop and tried it on there since I already bought it, and found it more fun now that I can use a controller on it. Stayed on PC and got ESO+. Then got Xbox One X and tried it since I already bought it. Loved it. Got ESO+ for it.

Found out I am getting no where jumping between the two platforms so stopped on Xbox and played on PC. Because of life events, played on and off. When not playing no ESO+ when playing had it.

Bought Morrowind "story" three times. Once for PC. Collector's edition for Xbox and gave the codes for my daughter, and then bought Morrowind again when I came back to Xbox.

Now I play regularly on Xbox One X. Have an ESO+ again.

This might be the first time I don't buy anything for PC now with Elswyer coming out. Will get it for Xbox one. If there was a physical Collocter's edition, then I would have bought it for PC and upgraded edition for Xbox. Since daughter doesn't really play anymore, it seems only one copy I will get now.

ArchMikem · April 2019

idk wrote: »

Is Xbox Gold required to play the game? If not drop it. Otherwise it is costs for doing other stuff.

Save most of your money spent on ESO by not buying crowns. That is a lot of crowns you have purchased. I hope they were all on sale.

But yes, it can be easy to chalk up big expenses in the game without realizing it. Hopefully some that are looking to save some money take a look at their own expenses and realize how much money they can save by avoiding unnecessary purchases of crowns.

ESO is an online game, and Gold is required to play online.

BlueViolet · April 2019

I'm not game to try and add up what I've spent, I'd probably end up feeling really guilty, since we're on a budget. I've paid for 2 games, and two subs plus extra crowns ( which I no longer buy since they jacked up the prices in AU ) over the last five years, for me and one kid, and helped out kid 2 when he was getting started.

Thankfully kid2 now pays his own way for his ESO hobby.

Nemesis7884 · April 2019

Can u check somewhere how much u spent? Well i probably dont want to know....

D0PAMINE · April 2019

I made the mistake of adding it up. Over 3k

Paazhahdrimaak · April 2019

Your not alone man.

Lots of us have run up quite the bill.
We should forum a union

Elsonso · April 2019

Ackwalan wrote: »

That's about 30$ a month to play everyday. You can't go to the movies that cheap.

If I had as many hours in a movie theater as I have in ESO, for as much as I have spent on ESO, the movie theater would probably be calling the police to have me removed.

NorthernNightmare · April 2019

ohgod im scared

so rather than look at what ive spent I decided to take my gameplay hours and times my wage
so far I've gotten 7K worth from it, less than ive spent
that makes me feel better

JadeCoin · April 2019

Thar she blows!

Just kidding. I've spent a fair amount on this myself. It's entertainment, it gives me quality time with my significant other, and the expenses are spread out over a long period of time (= years), so I don't think it's unreasonable. I spend less than I would if we went out for drinks every Saturday night.

That said, I knew a friend who drove himself into credit card debt trying to get a radiant apex. That's where I draw the line. I buy the small things if I really want them and it's within my monthly entertainment budget. I pass on the big things, and never attempt to get a specific prize through gambling.

Karivaa · April 2019

ArchMikem wrote: »

I don't know why I decided this would be an idea, let alone a good one, but I went into my Xbox Live order history to tally up all the money I've paid into The Elder Scrolls: Online since purchasing the game back in August of 2015. It's, really staggering, bit depressing, and enlightening, even when granted these were spread out over the last almost four years of playing. I even broke it down. Starting with the major content purchases, the Base Game up to pre-ordering Elsweyr. These amounts are in USD and all but the Xbox Live gold are before Tax, and all lesser content packs such as the Dark Brotherhood, Thieve's Guild etc were purchased via Crowns.

Base Game: $59.99
Morrowind Upgrade: $39.99
Summerset Upgrade: $29.99
Elsweyr Collectors Upgrade: $49.99

Major Content Sub Total: $179.96

It's interesting to note Summerset was $10 cheaper than Morrowind.

Now onto the purchases that actually made the wallet cry.

Crown Packs Sub Total: $1,426.40
ESO Plus Subscription Sub Total TD: $338.81
Xbox Live Gold Total TD: $261.08

GRAND TOTAL TD: $2,206.25

To put into perspective, that's about $400ish more than my monthly income, spent over the last 3 years, 8 months of playing. When viewed like that, the in-the-moment costs don't seem like much at all. Adding it all together however, by far, makes this my most expensive hobby I've ever had in my life.....and I don't believe I'm gonna stop before the Servers die first.

So then, how much have you guys bled into-I mean supported our favorite game?

Ack there is no way I want to do this!

akredon_ESO · April 2019

1800 bucks roughly. over the course of 5 years which really isn't that much

Vandril · April 2019

Digital Imperial Edition (2014) - $79.99
Morrowind Digital Upgrade - $43.44
Summerset Digital Upgrade - $32.57
ESO+ Total (Before Internet Tax Laws) - $74.95
ESO+ Total (After Internet Tax Laws) - $211.77

Total - $442.72 (USD)

I plan to purchase Elswyr Digital Upgrade soon, so that'll add another $43.44 for a grand total of $486.16 since 2014. I've played on and off since then, so that's somewhere between 2 and 5 years of entertainment for $486.16, or between $0.26/day and $0.67/day.

MMORPGs are the absolute most inexpensive form of entertainment if you've already got a computer and internet connection.

r34lian · April 2019

Mine is 2700 INR that is $1 = 70 INR

everlastingodeb17_ESO · April 2019

Keep financing this *** company, it's because of people like you they dont care about the EU server state, way to go

rotaugen454 · April 2019

They got another $270 out of me with the latest crown sale. That should last about a year and is about the cost of seeing one movie a month and getting snacks.

DocDova · April 2019

Soul19reaper wrote: »

Mine is 2700 INR that is $1 = 70 INR

I see another fellow Indian, how are you buddy ?

What server are you on ? @Soul19reaper

VvardeFellow · April 2019

I don't buy collectors editions, and I don't have to pay for xbox, and I have spent less than $250 on crown packs in 5 years, and I don't buy gamb....err loot crates.

Rather than the monthly, which is plus, and the divided into month's expenses, I look at it as how many hours have I've played.
Before retiring, I'm sure it was over 25 hours a week, now it's 6 hours a day, broken up, most days.

Cheap entertainment.

DocDova · April 2019

To be honest I don't have any regrets for what money I spend on ESO, once year new chapter is reasonably priced and we get all dlc with plus membership, which also reasonably priced, if I divide it by how many hours I play this, it's not bad. I don't watch TV or go to movies, so 15 dollars a month for my main source of entertainment is not bad.

If people don't spend too much on cosmetic items, I guess ESO is value for money deal.

Mojmir · April 2019

Bought imperial edition at launch
Everything else is paid for by rewards and or apps i run
No sub
Havent spent any of my own money directly since imperial city came out.

Kaymorolis · April 2019

Lets see...

ESO Gold Edition: $29.99
Morrowind CE: $59.99
Summerset CE: $39.99
Elsweyr: $39.99

Crown packs (just 3 purchases!): $56.97
ESO Plus (25 months and counting): $374.75

Total: $601.68

That's not too bad for the amount of enjoyment I get from the game.

tommalmm · April 2019

It's not that bad in my case. I've been playing ESO for ~4 years and have spent ~2200 PLN, which is roughly ~500 EUR. Most of it in the form of ESO Plus + a few crown packs. I've had a great time, btw.

Nestor · April 2019

Ok, so a few weeks ago,.my GF at the time wanted to see a concert I had little interest in, but being the GF, you do what you got to do. $220 for the tickets, $20 for parking, $60 for dinner and drinks. So, $300 for 3 hours of an evening. Whether I enjoyed myself or not is irrelevant, it was $100 an hour.

With ESO, I spent the $250 on content, subbed since release so about $700, and spent maybe $200 during crown sales. So, $1150 for 5 years of entertainment. I don't even want to think about how many hours, 5,500 to 6,000 over those years.

Considering the Alternative, ESO is by far the cheapest entertainment dollar this side of a deck of cards. Of course the price plummets to pennies on the hour if you stay away from the shinies in the crown store.

grannas211 · April 2019

Those are rookie numbers, gotta pump those up.

ArchMikem · April 2019

everlastingodeb17_ESO wrote: »

Keep financing this *** company, it's because of people like you they dont care about the EU server state, way to go

I'm on NA, sooo...

xenowarrior92eb17_ESO · April 2019

ArchMikem wrote: »

I don't know why I decided this would be an idea, let alone a good one, but I went into my Xbox Live order history to tally up all the money I've paid into The Elder Scrolls: Online since purchasing the game back in August of 2015. It's, really staggering, bit depressing, and enlightening, even when granted these were spread out over the last almost four years of playing. I even broke it down. Starting with the major content purchases, the Base Game up to pre-ordering Elsweyr. These amounts are in USD and all but the Xbox Live gold are before Tax, and all lesser content packs such as the Dark Brotherhood, Thieve's Guild etc were purchased via Crowns.

Base Game: $59.99
Morrowind Upgrade: $39.99
Summerset Upgrade: $29.99
Elsweyr Collectors Upgrade: $49.99

Major Content Sub Total: $179.96

It's interesting to note Summerset was $10 cheaper than Morrowind.

Now onto the purchases that actually made the wallet cry.

Crown Packs Sub Total: $1,426.40
ESO Plus Subscription Sub Total TD: $338.81
Xbox Live Gold Total TD: $261.08

GRAND TOTAL TD: $2,206.25

To put into perspective, that's about $400ish more than my monthly income, spent over the last 3 years, 8 months of playing. When viewed like that, the in-the-moment costs don't seem like much at all. Adding it all together however, by far, makes this my most expensive hobby I've ever had in my life.....and I don't believe I'm gonna stop before the Servers die first.

So then, how much have you guys bled into-I mean supported our favorite game?

im a sub since early access...+ bought all digital deluxes...I guess I spent far more than you...did I ever complained?...why would I...if I wanted to I could had stopped.