Crown Crate - Dev Pitch/Suggestion - Possible Increased Profits & Player Satisfaction

rhythmsuji · March 22

Hello! Coming here after a prompted topic on my most recent video (a crown crate opening)
Where a viewer suggested something I too have thought about and wonder if there has been consideration for within ZOS before.

The posited argument is that if rewards were often better by guaranteeing an Apex reward after 25 crates, or Radiant Apex after 50-100 (Or like a stacking buff which increases the chance which is semi reasonable)
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Then more people would buy crates, and the influx of crates purchased would positively offset the reduction of crates needed by the largest whales.

The current system relies on players who will buy 300-500 of each crate to get all the things which is a very low percentage of players. As the rewards are so scarce, this is the only way to be "completionist" about it.

How many players who currently don't buy any crates, or buy very little. Would buy 5-10-25 or more crates if the rewards were more tangible and guaranteed? And would that influx of players buying more, make up for the small percentage of whales needing to buy a couple hundred less each?

My guess is that it would, but perhaps there is actual data to show otherwise? Either way, I wanted to suggest this as food for thought. ^.^
Credit to: SweetScrollsAnonymous for the prompt.

lillybit · March 22

I buy a lot less crates than I used to because of how badly the drop rates have been decreasing.

This last time I got the 25 bundle (for the poly) and got 2 gold and 2 purples from the whole lot. 1 of each were just XP scrolls.

Even out of the blues, I got a lot of underwhelming furnishings I didn't bother keeping.

Granted I did get the recall too, but I'd have rather had decent results across the board than a single £50 reward, especially as I don't normally even get that

rhythmsuji · March 22

lillybit wrote: »

I buy a lot less crates than I used to because of how badly the drop rates have been decreasing.

This last time I got the 25 bundle (for the poly) and got 2 gold and 2 purples from the whole lot. 1 of each were just XP scrolls.

Yep, this is exactly what I have heard from so many people. I have to imagine they have seen metrics behind the scenes of dwindling purchases from a broad selection of players. I would guess that most the money currently comes from the same small group of high purchase players every cycle just due to disposable income or more indifference to a "hobby bonus budget" like my situation.

Malyore · March 22

I would rather they implement things that have people buying fewer crates. I would never want to encourage anyone to start gambling "25 or more crates".

Vonnegut2506 · March 22

I used to buy crates fairly frequently, but the drop rate is hot garbage. In the last 150 crates I have opened, one apex and zero radiant apex mounts. I got more non-combat pets from those boxes than I could ever afford to feed. It just isn't worth it anymore, especially with the terrible crap to gem conversion rate.

rhythmsuji · March 22

Malyore wrote: »

I would rather they implement things that have people buying fewer crates. I would never want to encourage anyone to start gambling "25 or more crates".

I don't disagree IF they were going to delete crates. But I believe that's not even close to an option, so I am offering something a lot better than what we have. Which would also result in more money for them (presumably).

Currently, the system as it is... is the absolute worst version of "25 more crates" for an addict especially.
Actually making the crates rewarding and requiring them to be purchased less by 1 individual to "get the fix" would save them money they were already going to spend and waste right? And then it would make it more usable for others who can't afford to open 25 and get nothing.

I understand that in your view that would also be a negative because it would mean more people interacting with the mechanic and you want it dead. Which is fine, I just wanted to further flesh out the alternative to that one since I personally don't think it's possible and this will be the main way the game is funded.

rhythmsuji · March 22

Vonnegut2506 wrote: »

I used to buy crates fairly frequently, but the drop rate is hot garbage. In the last 150 crates I have opened, one apex and zero radiant apex mounts. I got more non-combat pets from those boxes than I could ever afford to feed. It just isn't worth it anymore, especially with the terrible crap to gem conversion rate.

Precisely this. +1 Yeah this is the experience of most players most of the time they engage with it, I can't imagine this is the better business strategy haha.

Malyore · March 23

I still don't understand why they think it isn't profitable to just allow people to purchase what they want, when they want.

rhythmsuji · March 23

Malyore wrote: »

I still don't understand why they think it isn't profitable to just allow people to purchase what they want, when they want.

The Answer: And this has nothing to do with it being right or wrong morally, I am just answering.

Technically these ways are more profitable than allowing purchases at all times. But they can be less profitable if the company strangles the buyer too tight.

1. Exclusivity
2. Higher prices in a round about way
3. As you pointed out there is a gambling "enjoyment" or addictive nature to these systems.
That is why most companies enact a lot of the same tactics, they do work when done "right" even if they are not altruistic or in favor of the consumer. Its fully because its in favor of the company.

I am not arguing in favor of them, but rather how to make them more mutually beneficial while they still get their marketing/sales tricks use because it wont be going away.

Though, I will say. I am VERY shocked they did away with daily login rewards/requirements for seals. Because that was another tactic to inflate daily login numbers and keep people trained on a habit they would feel bad breaking for even a day. And they did get rid of that. Still blown away by that choice, since most games have shown no sign of doing away with that mechanism.

tsaescishoeshiner · March 23

I agree—I think it should come with an Apex exchange token for that specific Crate. Otherwise, buying Crates to get a specific Apex or Radiant Apex, which some people do, is pretty terrible odds-wise. Like a 1% chance for a specific mount.

It's a 1-in-50 chance to get a random Apex reward (let alone the one you actually want) and 1 in 400 for a random Radiant Apex. I think a guaranteed exchange would encourage people to actually get somethig guaranteed in exchange, but I don't know how they'd keep the whales buying.

ISO_Flow · March 23

tsaescishoeshiner wrote: »

I agree—I think it should come with an Apex exchange token for that specific Crate. Otherwise, buying Crates to get a specific Apex or Radiant Apex, which some people do, is pretty terrible odds-wise. Like a 1% chance for a specific mount.

It's a 1-in-50 chance to get a random Apex reward (let alone the one you actually want) and 1 in 400 for a random Radiant Apex. I think a guaranteed exchange would encourage people to actually get somethig guaranteed in exchange, but I don't know how they'd keep the whales buying.

Well they would not need to? Whales would still spend a ton, but OP's whole point is that all the other players buying more would not only offset the loss of any extra whales wont spend. But would also gain ZOS more. And lets be real, the whales will still buy as many crowns to own everything+Just cause+To buy gold lol

Malyore · March 23

ISO_Flow wrote: »

tsaescishoeshiner wrote: »

I agree—I think it should come with an Apex exchange token for that specific Crate. Otherwise, buying Crates to get a specific Apex or Radiant Apex, which some people do, is pretty terrible odds-wise. Like a 1% chance for a specific mount.

It's a 1-in-50 chance to get a random Apex reward (let alone the one you actually want) and 1 in 400 for a random Radiant Apex. I think a guaranteed exchange would encourage people to actually get somethig guaranteed in exchange, but I don't know how they'd keep the whales buying.

Well they would not need to? Whales would still spend a ton, but OP's whole point is that all the other players buying more would not only offset the loss of any extra whales wont spend. But would also gain ZOS more. And lets be real, the whales will still buy as many crowns to own everything+Just cause+To buy gold lol

To each their own, but it was me taking notice to the constant ugly/obnoxious designs, and all of the permanent garbage of the crates that made me stop buying. I used to be a whale, as they call it. Now, ZOS has to fight me for my ESO+ subscription each month. No amount of radiant apex rewards would change that, because those have no value to me. Just because they are the top rarity and glow with sparklefarts doesn't mean that's what I want to own. I want to buy what I want to buy.
Lately, that has been almost nothing in the crown crates. And because of their design philosophy, I have been getting all of what I want to buy for free with endeavors instead. So maybe in the end I can't complain too much.

LunaFlora · March 23

this seems like a decent idea

FlameDark · March 23

Tbh the rate is absolute trash and is the reason I do not buy more crates then I already do. Why bother spending more then $30 max on crates when spending $200 probably will get me the same items anyways (just a whole lot of the same extras being pulled and probably a ridiculous amount of scrolls and potions).

coop500 · March 23

Personally, I am refusing to buy crates this season simply until the devs address the awful bugs with some of the items. Especially that hair, goodness me.

Otherwise, I agree with the OP. I'd be much more inclined to buy crates more often if I knew there was a better return. Sadly, I think they deem the crown gems as their system for this idea.