Selling the solution: why the crafting bag and additional storage shouldn’t be paywalled

Tommy_The_Gun · January 14

It is one thing to be able to stack infinitive amount of items in a stack. But the real issue arises once you realise that there are only 240 bank slots and way too many crafting material types (like style materials) to even fit one stack of each.

This update, at least we are getting treasure maps to stack, so there is that. But if we would get some way to stack at least one stack of style materials outside of bank so that it would be accessible by crafting stations it would be a huge relief towards inventory management.

I do wonder why housing storage is not "visible" by crafting stations. It would solve a lot of issues without impacting performance & server data base size.

Also, funny thing about craft bag is that in theory, just one account has a potential to manipulate market prices of various items since it allows one account to pretty much keep all items without any limits. I think there was some kind of issue in the past when some items were bought by a single user and prices on that item skyrocketed. Kinda like RAM in real live.

Pevey · January 14

AScarlato wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

PeacefulAnarchy wrote: »

If the craft bag is your main reason to sub then this would allow you to not sub.

That is exactly my point. The craft bag is the most desired of the ESO+ perks by many players, and diminishing it's value could cause a significant drop in revenue.

This would be more concerning to me if they were returning more of their $2+B to the ESO team, rather than funneling a great deal to shareholders and projects they cancel.

At this point we are down to random free content and QoL for an entire year. It doesn't say to me that this game benefits all that much from excessive revenue.

And again, they could increase revenue from quality content or other perks, not creating nuisances. I want ESO to succeed - but for me that means having a quality offering. Not tactics like this and lootboxes.

Agree completely, and I also notice a lot of the comments against such a change are similar to when the game moved away from a mandatory sub. There was fear that there would not be enough revenue to support the game. But revenue increased, by a lot, because more players who tried the game decided to stick around.

The large portion of players turned off by the inventory pain pill tactic is hurting this game so much right now.

AScarlato · January 14

SilverBride wrote: »

AScarlato wrote: »

No one said they want to keep everything they ever loot. But I'm sure some people would just like to be able to finish a dungeon without having to make the choice to either run past loot, slow everyone down by nitpicking what I pick up, or manually destroying items mid-dungeon - which when I have played without ESO+ was certainly required.

Empty out bags before entering a dungeon and this won't happen. I've been able to run several dungeons before having to stop and clear out my bags.

Yes as an ESO+ player and also someone who probably has a ton of bag slots, which isn't everyone.

Anyway you clearly feel quite strongly about loving to pay for the craft bag, so you do you

lillybit · January 14

SneaK wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

AScarlato wrote: »

But you are talking about your own experience as you always have ESO+, and your little questing excursions.

This topic is discussing the scenerio where you do not have the craft bag and how utterly irritating and unreasonable the experience is, so much so that it pretty much forces you to sub if you do any content that involves looting on a regular basis.

It would be enough to drive some newer players away entirely given they dont have much bag or bank slots and would have to constantly be emptying their inventory of apples and other crap without having a $50 assistant to summon. Or at leave a bad impression on how it feels to play.

My little questing excursions as they were referred to aren't all I do. I do dungeons too and a trial here and there. But regardless of what I've done I still clear my bags at the end of every day and only store the few good items I find, and deconstruct and sell what I don't need.

The craft bag is very helpful to me because I do craft, and I get crafting mats mailed to me each day, and selling my mats is my biggest source of income. So I pay a sub to have it. It should not be diminished in value by creating a free version of it.

The value is in the craft bag, not the 15$ a month you pay for it…. Sheesh

How is this hard to fathom, you are forced to pay real money for quality of life in a video game. If it was free, the value of the craft bag would still be just that, the value of having a craft bag.

That's the thing tho isn't it? You're paying for quality of life. Just convenience.

If they made it base game, they would need to replace it with something equally indispensable. If not QoL how do you really think that would go?

Sub now for +10% damage in combat!
Sub for access to exclusive perfected weapons not available in game!
You can now wear up to 4 rings, you just need to sub to unlock them!

No thank you, I'll stick with QoL.

frogthroat · January 14

Without ESO+ crafting is pretty much impossible. And if you have a craft bag and quit ESO+, your crafting will use materials from your craft bag first, inventory second. This is by design.

The craft bag is probably the biggest single reason why people pay for ESO+. It pays for the servers to be kept up and it pays for new content.

Pauwin · January 14

SilverBride wrote: »

We don't need to pick up all the stuff. And not everyone's inventories are full. My bank and chests are not even close to full, nor do I have storage houses for furnishings. Inventory management is not a game created problem and ESO+ perks should not be devalued to address it.

I don't think that's a valid argument, not looting stuff because the player has no inventory space is frustrating and is not how the game is intended to be played in my opinion, which is why people feel pushed to get the ESO+ craftbag.

Your bank is not full because you probably have/had ESO+. For example, in my craftbag, I have 14k stacked rubedite ingots, without ESO+ those wouldn't stack and take 60 slots of 200 ingots. I could sell some, but having to deal with HUNDREDS of different mats that don't stack above 200 is just madness.

Gabriel_H · January 14

AlexanderDeLarge wrote: »

"yOu CaN pLaY ThIS gAMe wIThOuT thE CrAfTInG baG!"

YOU may not be able to but I know players who do, have dozens of sets, materials as far as the eye can see, and still space for more.

There are systems in-game that allow this, you just need to be creative with them. Granted, it's not as convenient as a craft bag, but if you want something that is you can sign up for ESO+.

Pevey · January 14

frogthroat wrote: »

The craft bag is probably the biggest single reason why people pay for ESO+. It pays for the servers to be kept up and it pays for new content.

Selling the game alone pays for the servers and pays for new content. We don't have the stats, but look at the player bounces from Steam sales. And we all know about Steam backlogs. How many games do you have in your library that you bought during a sale that you never got around to playing because you got sucked into a different game and then forgot about the others? For some people, it's a lot. So the sale bounces undercount the number of sales.

I would bet that ESO gains more new players in a year than they have daily active players. But then they promptly lose them. The churn in this game is unreal. It's no big secret why they leave. Any youtube review of ESO will tell you exactly why. And inventory management is always way up there on the list of reasons.

The battle pass is clearly something they've been working on for a while. That will be the steady flow of income they hope will sustain. You know the best way to sell more battle passes? Have more players!

shadyjane62 · January 14

Gabriel_H wrote: »

AScarlato wrote: »

This would be more concerning to me if they were returning more of their $2+B to the ESO team, rather than funneling a great deal to shareholders and projects they cancel.

But that isn't how the world is. You can aspire to the world you want, but you also have to deal with the world as it is.

Eso is not the only world in the Universe

Gabriel_H · January 14

shadyjane62 wrote: »

Gabriel_H wrote: »

AScarlato wrote: »

This would be more concerning to me if they were returning more of their $2+B to the ESO team, rather than funneling a great deal to shareholders and projects they cancel.

But that isn't how the world is. You can aspire to the world you want, but you also have to deal with the world as it is.

Eso is not the only world in the Universe

I'm talking about the real one.

Gabriel_H · January 14

Pevey wrote: »

Selling the game alone pays for the servers and pays for new content.

It doesn't. A Chapter costs $50. An ESO+ sub costs $140. A lot of players forgo the Chapter waiting until it gets rolled into ESO+. There is then additional revenue from Crowns.

Chapters and the upcoming Premium (which is the same price point) are the lowest and least consistent and predictable of the revenue streams.

loosej · January 14

My biggest issue with the craft bag is that players with access to it cost zos a lot less than players without.

If you have eso+, all your materials go in a single database. It doesn't matter if you have 5 columbine or 5000, they take up a single database record, and the amount of server space required for that record will always be the same.

If you don't have eso+ and store a stack of columbine in 20 character inventories, one in your bank, and some more in the craft bag you had during a free eso+ week, you're taking up 22 database records.

Paying for eso+ doesn't pay for "increased" storage. It pays for the increased storage used by non-eso+ players...

scrappy1342 · January 14

AlexanderDeLarge wrote: »

This is absurd. I was fine paying a subscription back when the game was subscription-only.

then pay for a sub. i would much rather have the option to play free and have to pay for the craft bag than have no free option at all. if you are ok paying for a sub, then just pay for a sub and get the craft bag. yeah, it's annoying to play without it. but at least i can log in and get endeavor seals, event tickets and daily bonuses without paying a dime. some day if i decide to play for realz again and sub, i'll have a lot more stuff that i would have otherwise missed out on

spartaxoxo · January 14

lillybit wrote: »

SneaK wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

AScarlato wrote: »

But you are talking about your own experience as you always have ESO+, and your little questing excursions.

This topic is discussing the scenerio where you do not have the craft bag and how utterly irritating and unreasonable the experience is, so much so that it pretty much forces you to sub if you do any content that involves looting on a regular basis.

It would be enough to drive some newer players away entirely given they dont have much bag or bank slots and would have to constantly be emptying their inventory of apples and other crap without having a $50 assistant to summon. Or at leave a bad impression on how it feels to play.

My little questing excursions as they were referred to aren't all I do. I do dungeons too and a trial here and there. But regardless of what I've done I still clear my bags at the end of every day and only store the few good items I find, and deconstruct and sell what I don't need.

The craft bag is very helpful to me because I do craft, and I get crafting mats mailed to me each day, and selling my mats is my biggest source of income. So I pay a sub to have it. It should not be diminished in value by creating a free version of it.

The value is in the craft bag, not the 15$ a month you pay for it…. Sheesh

How is this hard to fathom, you are forced to pay real money for quality of life in a video game. If it was free, the value of the craft bag would still be just that, the value of having a craft bag.

That's the thing tho isn't it? You're paying for quality of life. Just convenience.

If they made it base game, they would need to replace it with something equally indispensable. If not QoL how do you really think that would go?

Sub now for +10% damage in combat!
Sub for access to exclusive perfected weapons not available in game!
You can now wear up to 4 rings, you just need to sub to unlock them!

No thank you, I'll stick with QoL.

Sub now for extra goodies from the battle pass

tomofhyrule · January 14

I can see why people would really want this, but especially in light of what we got in the reveal last week, I doubt this is happening anytime soon.

While the game may not be moving free-to-play, there have been a lot of free-play event windows and even the basegame is normally on sale for like $5. And now we're seeing more and more of the DLC being converted into basegame as well, so honestly there are fewer and fewer 'DLC' things that you'd need in addition to those. And they also said that any future non-cosmetic additions to the game will be free as well.

So all that said, while ESO can't be considered free-to-play, it's definitely giving you way more than a mobile game for the same price as a mobile game. Like, by the end of the year, these zones (and their stories) will all be completely free:

Khenarthi's Roost
Auridion
Grahtwood
Greenshade
Malabal Tor
Reaper's March
Stros M'Kai
Betnikh
Glenumbra
Stormhaven
Rivenspire
Alik'r Desert
Bangkorai
Bleakrock Isle
Bal Foyen
Stonefalls
Deshaan
Shadowfen
Eastmarch
the Rift
Cyrodiil
Craglorn
Imperial City
Orsinium
Hew's Bane
Gold Coast
Vvardenfell
Western Skyrim
Blackreach: Greymoor
the Night Market

and the following features are also completely free for basegame as well:

26 group dungeons (the basegame ones and IC)
2 solo dungeons (March and MHK)
6 trials (the crags, MoL, Kyne's, and Crimson Veldt)
3 arenas (Maelstrom, Dragonstar, and the Archive)
Warden class
Sage's Vault

In short, that's a lot. And all they're asking people to pay for are cosmetics from the Crown Store and Tomes and ESO+ for the remaining DLCs and the craft bag... and we don't even know if any of those other DLCs will also move to be free in the future.

Here's the big elephant in the room: ZOS is a business. Not only that, Microsoft is the parent company and has demanded a 30% profit margin on all of its properties. If ESO can't make a 30% profit margin, it will cease to exist. Period.
Yes, they had one big marketing thing of "oh, ESO made 2B in ten years!" Ok, so how much was spent on developer salaries? Server upgrades? Server maintenance? All over the last 10 years. If 2B is raw income, that still needs to be balanced against expenses.

As wonderful as it would be to live in a world where companies just give everything away for free and make it so we don't need to pay to enjoy their products, that is not the world we live in. It is in ESO's interest for more people to subscribe. If the main reason people are subbing is removed, what are they going to do to make up that income? Even more cosmetics?

Pevey · January 14

Gabriel_H wrote: »

Pevey wrote: »

Selling the game alone pays for the servers and pays for new content.

It doesn't. A Chapter costs $50. An ESO+ sub costs $140. A lot of players forgo the Chapter waiting until it gets rolled into ESO+. There is then additional revenue from Crowns.

Chapters and the upcoming Premium (which is the same price point) are the lowest and least consistent and predictable of the revenue streams.

How many times in the past have they boasted about their "millions" of players? These are people who bought the game, signed up, probably never to be heard from again. That is a very large amount of revenue compared to subs from their tiny, loyal player base. How much do you think servers cost?

AScarlato · January 14

tomofhyrule wrote: »

If the main reason people are subbing is removed, what are they going to do to make up that income?

Developing quality content worth paying for, then add other incentives to the sub that aren't making the game without it flat out irritating to experience?

Not as easy as problem--> solution sales and loot boxes, but we all work hard for our money.

Gabriel_H · January 14

Pevey wrote: »

How many times in the past have they boasted about their "millions" of players? These are people who bought the game, signed up, probably never to be heard from again. That is a very large amount of revenue compared to subs from their tiny, loyal player base. How much do you think servers cost?

It also includes players who bought the game, setup a sub, then stopped playing after a year or two - that's still more sub money than Chapter money - especially if the game was bought on sale.

In the modern world revenue needs to be large, consistent, and predictable - that's why they are moving to seasons and free play - it's a hook so they can reel in more subs, more crowns, and a spread chapter cost.

Cooperharley · January 14

ESO is slowly transitioning towards a very similar monetization model to Fortnite.

Fortnite is a seasons-based game with a battle pass (multiple tiers included). It also has a rotating cosmetic shop and an optional subscription model that provides you not only with V-bucks (crowns) equal to the cost of the subscription per month, but also exclusive cosmetics to the subscription & special deals. Sound familiar?

I don't see them giving us the craft bag OR selling it outright until they bring much more to ESO+. Sure, the doubled bank space and transmute crystal cap is pretty dope, the 1500 (or 1650 i think actually?) crowns is great on a monthly basis and it's nice having deals on crown store stuff, but the only really big seller *nowadays* is the craft bag. I don't think anyone would get ESO+ without it nowadays, especially with all of the DLCs slowly becoming free to play (eg, we're getting Thieves' Guild/DB/Orsinium/Vvardenfell in U49 & Greymoor later this year).

Orbital78 · January 14

Zos' model is the main reason I never touched FO76 even though I'm a Fallout fan.

Cooperharley · January 14

SilverBride wrote: »

Soarora wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

Soarora wrote: »

A lot of people have stated on the forums that they only have ESO+ for the craft bag. ZOS needs money or we all lose the game. That said, I wonder if they could do with the craft bag what they do with the bank— let non-ESO+ members have a limited amount of storage (maybe half a stack of each material) with ESO+ members having infinite.

That would decrease the value of the sub which would result in some players dropping it. The craft bag is a major perk and subs need major perks for players to feel they are worth the monthly fee.

Only a little bit. Half a stack is just enough to not immediately get swarmed by random materials but not enough to comfortably deal with materials that are gained often (like trait materials) or to craft (according to UESP, it takes 130 ancestor silk to make a CP 160 hat. A stack is 200, so a craft bag limited to half a stack wouldn’t even be enough to do one third of a max writ).

I think it would hurt the subscriber numbers a lot. It would be just enough to cause many to drop their subs.

They should leave the ESO+ perks just as they are. If players want these perks they need to pay for them as us subscribers do.

I, too, think that ZOS should provide value and enticement to play the game in other ways. Most games nowadays have moved away from the subscription model or never adopted it at all. I don't think ESO+ is going away for a while, but I'm also not a fan of it. I've been a subscriber for a long time solely for the craft bag. I'd love to see them do away with ESO+ perks and ESO+ altogether.

tomofhyrule · January 14

AScarlato wrote: »

tomofhyrule wrote: »

If the main reason people are subbing is removed, what are they going to do to make up that income?

Developing quality content worth paying for, then add other incentives to the sub that aren't making the game without it flat out irritating to experience?

Not as easy as problem--> solution sales and loot boxes, but we all work hard for our money.

Welp, all future content will be free from now on. So whether it's glorious or literal garbage, nobody's paying for it either way.

And again, what other incentives could they add to ESO+ that do not turn it into P2W? They already give 10% extra of all currencies.

Cosmetics (loot boxes and tomes) and the sub are literally the only thing that's going to be making any money for this game from here out. As such, they kinda need to have something very desirable in the sub, because "more sparkleponies" probably isn't going to keep a consistent revenue flow... especially since half of the players also want a "hide everyone else's sparkleponies" toggle as well.

Cooperharley · January 14

SilverBride wrote: »

Pauwin wrote: »

There is just so much stuff to pick up in this game, it feels like every single QOL update included something about items becoming stackable because players rightfully complained (siege, maps, writs, surveys, what else ?), or removing items from inventory (collectibles, sticker books/transmute...). But inventories are still full ! Crafting mats would be the next and maybe final step

We don't need to pick up all the stuff. And not everyone's inventories are full. My bank and chests are not even close to full, nor do I have storage houses for furnishings. Inventory management is not a game created problem and ESO+ perks should not be devalued to address it.

Aight, I'm all for everyone having their own opinions, but saying "inventory management is not a game created problem" is just objectively wrong. The game has TONS of materials that you pick up passively over time. That is the game presenting you with tons of materials. It creates friction and drives you towards ESO+. Why have ESO+ and the craft bag if your bank and chests are not even close to full?

AScarlato · January 14

tomofhyrule wrote: »

Welp, all future content will be free from now on. So whether it's glorious or literal garbage, nobody's paying for it either way.

I'd rather pay to have more content than get small drops of random content "free". They are making the choice to develop and offer less and make what comparatively little they do create free. This being "free" is no selling point to me who wants the game to succeed and have fun new stories and experiences. The assumption here is that we want everything for free. I don't.

As for your other questions about replacements and what would be compelling that wasn't already suggested, that would be for them to figure out as a company.

I run my own company and I would not be successful if most of my customers low-key felt ripped off or if I created hurdles to doing business with me but offered paid ways around them.

Pevey · January 14

Gabriel_H wrote: »

Pevey wrote: »

How many times in the past have they boasted about their "millions" of players? These are people who bought the game, signed up, probably never to be heard from again. That is a very large amount of revenue compared to subs from their tiny, loyal player base. How much do you think servers cost?

It also includes players who bought the game, setup a sub, then stopped playing after a year or two - that's still more sub money than Chapter money - especially if the game was bought on sale.

In the modern world revenue needs to be large, consistent, and predictable - that's why they are moving to seasons and free play - it's a hook so they can reel in more subs, more crowns, and a spread chapter cost.

That's really a stretch to assume enough stay and sub for long enough to move the needle on the revenue comparison. I recall Rich casually mentioning on a stream a few years back that most new players (i.e., more than 50%) don't reach level 10. LEVEL 10! (This is paraphrasing from memory... If anyone has a link, would appreciate it)

I don't know if they've boasted about the "number of players" recently, but in 2020 it was > 16 million. That's a lot of revenue from game sales. Compared to < 100k (using a VERY high estimate to be super generous) who actually play the game regularly. And many of those are mostly checked out, just log in to do writs, manage trader, whatever.

I completely understand that businesses want steady revenue. I just don't buy that ESO+ is giving them that. Thus, this new quarterly battle pass.

lillybit · January 14

spartaxoxo wrote: »

lillybit wrote: »

SneaK wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

AScarlato wrote: »

But you are talking about your own experience as you always have ESO+, and your little questing excursions.

This topic is discussing the scenerio where you do not have the craft bag and how utterly irritating and unreasonable the experience is, so much so that it pretty much forces you to sub if you do any content that involves looting on a regular basis.

It would be enough to drive some newer players away entirely given they dont have much bag or bank slots and would have to constantly be emptying their inventory of apples and other crap without having a $50 assistant to summon. Or at leave a bad impression on how it feels to play.

My little questing excursions as they were referred to aren't all I do. I do dungeons too and a trial here and there. But regardless of what I've done I still clear my bags at the end of every day and only store the few good items I find, and deconstruct and sell what I don't need.

The craft bag is very helpful to me because I do craft, and I get crafting mats mailed to me each day, and selling my mats is my biggest source of income. So I pay a sub to have it. It should not be diminished in value by creating a free version of it.

The value is in the craft bag, not the 15$ a month you pay for it…. Sheesh

How is this hard to fathom, you are forced to pay real money for quality of life in a video game. If it was free, the value of the craft bag would still be just that, the value of having a craft bag.

That's the thing tho isn't it? You're paying for quality of life. Just convenience.

If they made it base game, they would need to replace it with something equally indispensable. If not QoL how do you really think that would go?

Sub now for +10% damage in combat!
Sub for access to exclusive perfected weapons not available in game!
You can now wear up to 4 rings, you just need to sub to unlock them!

No thank you, I'll stick with QoL.

Sub now for extra goodies from the battle pass

You're kinda making my point for me, because that's more or less coming and isn't indispensable.

If they give everyone a craft bag they will add something else everyone needs.

If not convenience it'll be p2w

SneaK · January 14

lillybit wrote: »

SneaK wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

AScarlato wrote: »

But you are talking about your own experience as you always have ESO+, and your little questing excursions.

This topic is discussing the scenerio where you do not have the craft bag and how utterly irritating and unreasonable the experience is, so much so that it pretty much forces you to sub if you do any content that involves looting on a regular basis.

It would be enough to drive some newer players away entirely given they dont have much bag or bank slots and would have to constantly be emptying their inventory of apples and other crap without having a $50 assistant to summon. Or at leave a bad impression on how it feels to play.

My little questing excursions as they were referred to aren't all I do. I do dungeons too and a trial here and there. But regardless of what I've done I still clear my bags at the end of every day and only store the few good items I find, and deconstruct and sell what I don't need.

The craft bag is very helpful to me because I do craft, and I get crafting mats mailed to me each day, and selling my mats is my biggest source of income. So I pay a sub to have it. It should not be diminished in value by creating a free version of it.

The value is in the craft bag, not the 15$ a month you pay for it…. Sheesh

How is this hard to fathom, you are forced to pay real money for quality of life in a video game. If it was free, the value of the craft bag would still be just that, the value of having a craft bag.

That's the thing tho isn't it? You're paying for quality of life. Just convenience.

If they made it base game, they would need to replace it with something equally indispensable. If not QoL how do you really think that would go?

Sub now for +10% damage in combat!
Sub for access to exclusive perfected weapons not available in game!
You can now wear up to 4 rings, you just need to sub to unlock them!

No thank you, I'll stick with QoL.

I’m lost on this one..

Unlocking the craft bag from the paywall somehow opens the floodgates to subscribe to pay to win.

Oh wait, so like paying for Arcanist or Monomyth?

lillybit · January 14

@tomofhyrule you missed out antiquities and scribing from your features list!

Melivar · January 14

ESO+ bonuses to inventory as well as the craft bag allow us to be hoarders of things we don't really need but hey you never know. The craft bag being the biggest portion of this. Lots of other useful benefits as well but that's not the discussion of this thread.

That is also why no matter how much people complain or give potentially valid points that the craft bag will never be removed from ESO+.

Personally, I have it so I don't think it should be removed for an obvious reason. I think at this point in the game i could also subscribe for 1 month fill up the craft bag and furnishing vault and be fine as I would only need to stock up on new style fragments and newer things. With the furnishing vault and stackable writs and surveys I would likely have 100 free slots of storage without ESO+.

I like the game I play to have nice and new things and I and others who purchase the sub allow that to happen so as long as I like the game, I will have a sub for the game. Your free to play the game with as much or little monetary involvement but you have to make more and more concessions the less you are willing to help support and that's fine to.

Think about it if you're not helping to pay to support the game how important do you think your opinions really matter.

spartaxoxo · January 14

tomofhyrule wrote: »

AScarlato wrote: »

tomofhyrule wrote: »

If the main reason people are subbing is removed, what are they going to do to make up that income?

Developing quality content worth paying for, then add other incentives to the sub that aren't making the game without it flat out irritating to experience?

Not as easy as problem--> solution sales and loot boxes, but we all work hard for our money.

Welp, all future content will be free from now on. So whether it's glorious or literal garbage, nobody's paying for it either way.

And again, what other incentives could they add to ESO+ that do not turn it into P2W? They already give 10% extra of all currencies.

Cosmetics (loot boxes and tomes) and the sub are literally the only thing that's going to be making any money for this game from here out. As such, they kinda need to have something very desirable in the sub, because "more sparkleponies" probably isn't going to keep a consistent revenue flow... especially since half of the players also want a "hide everyone else's sparkleponies" toggle as well.

Some of the most lucrative games out there get the majority of their income from sparkle ponies. Just as in the real world, fashion is big business. People like to look good