SavantDreadtech Posted August 15, 2021 Share Posted August 15, 2021 'Free' grinds paired with cash-outs are a form of paywall. That's why they exist. Even if one opts for the grind, the system itself none the less remains monetized, on top of our subscriptions. Not 'having to' cash out simply doesn't matter. GS *is* monetized Conquest, plus a timer to push sales. Monetized consumables now provide a 2.5X advantage for the Renown crate-drop mechanic. Focusing on the availability of free boosts or the poor content of the boxes is to miss the forest for the trees. That's just tuning. I expect Renown crates to be aggressively re-tuned in 7.x. Posts like yours validate EA's most cynical assumptions about their customers. Again, it's like EA put us all in a giant cauldron of water, set us over an enormous raging fire, and no one cares because the water isn't hot yet. Structurally, almost nothing remains to separate us from the most predatory mobile games. We have gambling products, timers, monetized advantage-producing consumables, sabotaged QoL with cash-outs, item grinds with cash-outs, money laundering, and cash leaking into every core game system. All on top of our subscription costs. We should care when they introduce problematic structure, and not wait for aggressive tuning. As we can see by your post, doing that normalizes the structure, the way EA intended. Which still did not change the structure of the game, as the paywall has been there since day one when the cartel market came into the game. Which is why you can buy strongholds with CC or in-game credits, why you can buy legacy perks, other perks with CC or in-game credits or unlock/buy/reaching set goals. Why you can buy unlocks such as inventory lines, legacy tabs, and such by buying with CC or in-game credits or some decorations by CC, in-game credits or by crafting. Nothing changed at all with GS> it just gives an option to buy with CC, it is not needed. No player has to take part or even complete GS, Going back to the actual topic at hand.. It really would be nice if any details can be given out BW. It may make a difference to to what characters I will level up before the new xpac comes out. Also any idea if the Master Datacron from cartel will have an extra level added, so 60, 70, 75? Will the equipment box also be upgraded if a new level is added. Will renown crates remain the same/similar to what they are now or go back to command crates style? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toraak Posted August 15, 2021 Share Posted August 15, 2021 'Free' grinds paired with cash-outs are a form of paywall. That's why they exist. Even if one opts for the grind, the system itself none the less remains monetized, on top of our subscriptions. Not 'having to' cash out simply doesn't matter. GS *is* monetized Conquest, plus a timer to push sales. Monetized consumables now provide a 2.5X advantage for the Renown crate-drop mechanic. Focusing on the availability of free boosts or the poor content of the boxes is to miss the forest for the trees. That's just tuning. I expect Renown crates to be aggressively re-tuned in 7.x. Posts like yours validate EA's most cynical assumptions about their customers. Again, it's like EA put us all in a giant cauldron of water, set us over an enormous raging fire, and no one cares because the water isn't hot yet. Structurally, almost nothing remains to separate us from the most predatory mobile games. We have gambling products, timers, monetized advantage-producing consumables, sabotaged QoL with cash-outs, item grinds with cash-outs, money laundering, and cash leaking into every core game system. All on top of our subscription costs. We should care when they introduce problematic structure, and not wait for aggressive tuning. As we can see by your post, doing that normalizes the structure, the way EA intended. Wrong. A paywall is something that you are REQUIRED to pay or you don't get it. If you can get it free in game it's not a paywall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlatTax Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 (edited) Wrong. A paywall is something that you are REQUIRED to pay or you don't get it. If you can get it free in game it's not a paywall. Oh man. No. A sufficiently tedious grind, paired with a cash-out, is indistinguishable from a required purchase. Grinds are tuned in bad faith all the time, for the express purpose of functioning as paywalls. Developers also know the forums are filled with people who won't see the sleight of hand, and will defend the practice for them. We can do better. Edited August 16, 2021 by FlatTax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlBuzzard Posted August 16, 2021 Share Posted August 16, 2021 (edited) There is no injustice. There is no deception. GS (for example) is simply there as a means of extending old data (AKA old content) rehashing / repurposing it substituting for new stuff until the next release of updated and new content. While the benefits are without question limited in some regard it should also be acknowledged that there are benefits to those who choose to get them. IMO the only real debate is over the "push" toward "group" or PvP involvement or participation. ( A debate of which I refuse to discuss at this time). BTW... as long as "choices" are available for EVERYONE to make then the so called unjust taxation or push to REQUIRE spending additional cash on the game is nonexistent. The only concern in which I AM watching is the utilization of noninteractive companions (also available in the CM) having "special" abilities that are not available through many of the "favorite companions" which utilize VA throughout the stories in game. ( To clarify: non interactive NON-VA companions VS "favorite companions" which DO use VA / interacting) . That would definitely then set up a situation that would be defined as PTW. For now ... none of these exist in game. We can speculate all we want to ... but for now PTW is a strawman. Fighting this theory is as affective as chasing the wind ! edited for clarification Edited August 16, 2021 by OlBuzzard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts