Feldon With Game Update 57, various in-game Merchants will start carrying StationCash items.
If you think this is worthy of further comment, well read on… If not, well, the word of the day is “slippery slope”.
When I got a TiVo (ok, a DVR clone) I had good reason. I wanted to watch TV on my own schedule (this was the dawn of episodic serials where you can’t miss an episode or you’re screwed) and to skip commercials.
You see, I value my time. More than I value the income of ad executives. And I already know all about the products I buy without any help. I also manage to discover new products from reputable sources (ie. not TV). I don’t make my decisions based on what Sally Struthers tells me to buy.
- When they added StationCash, I memorized its location, filed it away as “if I want it, I know where to get it” and didn’t give it a second thought.
- Then they added it to the Welcome Screen. Which I disabled.
- Then they subtly added it in other places, in fleeting mentions, all over EQ2Players, the official EQ2 website, etc. These were understandable.
- Game Update 57 will add a giant “SC” button to the default user interface that thus far nobody has been able to disable.
Here is where I draw the line. But not Sony…
- With Game Update 57, various in-game Merchants will start carrying StationCash items.
From the EQ2 Forums:
Yes, we’ve added station cash to this window because of another key feature that you may not have noticed yet. Certain Marketplace items may now appear in a merchant list of it coincides with what the merchant is selling. For example, a horse merchant might also display a couple of marketplace horses (as an example) and you would be able to purchase those items from the merchant rather than having to use the Marketplace window. The SC amount at the bottom of the window makes it easier to see if you have the funds to purchase those items.
I have to ask: Is it really that hard to find the StationCash Marketplace? Are people having trouble finding it despite its current prominence? If SOE have maxed out the number dollars they can wring from their customers’ wallets, do they really think adding more buttons and putting StationCash on merchants is going to sustain unsustainable revenue?
Turning up the volume on your television does not improve the quality of the programming.
I’ve already received reassurances from 2 developers that these merchants are not ones that people use on a daily basis. Rothgar went on the record with this comment:
You haven’t even seen this in the game yet. I’m going to ask that you wait until you at least see how its implemented before asking for changes. I think you’ll find that its not that many merchants and not that many items.
Frankly? I don’t care. SOE have shown absolutely no self-restraint with RMT. Once they justify adding items which cost real dollars to in-game merchants, it won’t stop there. It doesn’t matter that they start with items nobody cares about on merchants nobody uses because it won’t stop there.
I agree 150%, feldon.
Someone brought this to my attention in another news clip on this site. I already figured this out (this blog really confirmed it) and was in the process of removing all EQ2 links, the game, and just before i delete this link to EQ2 wire i thought i’d say. Bye, love your site; but the greed of SOE i cannot stand no more, time to completely wash my hands of this company once and for all.
http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/2010/07/28/everquest-2-extended-a-deceptive-rip-off/
Can’t wait for LOTRO, turbine is about the players, its kinda nice to go to a company that doesn’t think it’s entire playerbase are a bunch of idiots who can’t read or write or think for themselves, pretty pathetic SOE.
If you want to be treated with respect and dignity, click below.
http://www.lotro.com/
Last visit and post on the incredibly awesome EQ2Wire. Later.
(PS, dude you should really start a site like this for another mmo. Starting to make you look bad supporting this company actually.)
I agree as well.
Agree, I don’t need SC popping up everywhere. I know where to get it if I want it. Funny how they said it would not pop up and now here it is right in our face.
I’d would draw the line one item above where you did… but otherwise agree.
they can add that button ton the f2p servers, keep that shif off the live servers
I agree :/
That is basically Real Life commercials in the game world.
It saddens me that the “new style EQ2” which is going on for a few weeks doesn’t care for lore, or the integrity of the game world.
When I play i want to forget about RL, not see commercials in in game merchants.
Or Templars trained in Neriak*sighs*
I’ve had enough of this company. The greed is unthinkable.
Live servers you pay monthly and are bombed with RMT.
New Extended which basically funnels you in to a monthly sub to be even playable and if not the limited to play option is so restricted you would need to spend money on RMT up the wazoo and ultimately still would not be enough to be able to play properly.
I’m out. /canceled – i can’t stand this anymore. They literally have gone to far this time.
I have no problem with it – time is money. If it takes me a couple hours to get 50 plat to buy a mount for 50 plat, I don’t see a problem with also showing me alternate mounts which I can purchase for real money that are in the SC marketplace as long as what is being shown by the merchant is relevant. This isn’t end-game items, or plat being purchased that upsets the balance of the game, just more options at optioned pricing. I don’t see an issue here.
Just wait for the day when there is a repair armor with SC button on the mender. SC button to enter a zone? Why not. etc. Free 2 Play is code for Free 2 Look it’s really Pay 2 Play or do anything.
What’s next, Loot windows with a “This item will cost XXX Station Cash to loot?”
since georgie steped into his new shoes, Eq2 has been going backwards…
I just came from test. Oh dear… is all I can say.
Marketplace splash screen
SC on UI bar
LONG list of items on the Fuel Merchant, House merchant- SC crap… and cant even sort to bottom so that I dont have to look at it.
Not a happy camper. As a fairly new player (3 months) I am getting pretty upset about these upcoming changes. I can only imagine what a veteran player with many characters is feeling.
… in free fall
and just to prove us right, look at this nonsense…
Can’t even tradeskill without being bombarded with this shit.
Rothgar said they’re going to fix it, but the point is, what is preventing them from going down that road?
Its wretched.
I logged into the test server and the usual classy feel of EQ2 was replaced by a feeling I was playing some cheapo Chinese made crap.
A welcome screen hawking virtual wares on 3/5ths of the screen.
Then a big button always in view, constantly reminding me I can buy something with station cash.
And then station cash items on vendors.
I felt dirty, I also felt like I should be subscribing somewhere to get rid of it all, but strangely enough I was actually a subscriber 😛 I’ve got Fanfaire next weekend, after that I might just give EQ2 a long rest, its in game friends and Frogloks that are the only things keeping me in the game right now.
About the only thing i’m going to miss is this site. Baaaah, i can’t stay away. I love this site too much! I just might not post as often. lol
“What’s next, Loot windows with a “This item will cost XXX Station Cash to loot?””
Good one Tryon, but oh man don’t give them ideas like this.
/rant
I think something like this on the F2P servers is acceptable (after all that is how they plan to pay for the F2P is with our nickles and dimes). But, if this shows up on the paid servers I’m gonna be ticked. If I want station cash items on the game that I pay a monthly fee for then I will go to the marketplace and shop for what I want and I do not want my server to become “he with the biggest wallet wins” so I want those items on my server to be fluff, I want to earn my rewards not purchase them. However, if I pay nothing to play on the F2P server then I expect (from a business sense) that options to use SC will be everywhere. This is one of the biggest reasons I do not want the merge between F2P and paid (legacy) servers.
As a long term customer I also expect the company to the best of their ability to provide me the service to keep me happy and entertain me (that is why I pay my $15/mo) and if my voice and the voice of hundreds of others in protest of this are not heard then this F2P idea to bring in new customers will have a catostrophic effect and be the downfall of the business. Now as long as the F2P stays seperate from my paid service than I will gladly continue playing cause it IS as Dave put it a “kick ass game”. Just please don’t ruin that concept for me.
In a nutshell: If I want to fund my game a piece at a time or advance my toon with my wallet, I will go to the F2P server (I’m sure there are people out there who want to do exactly that). But, If I want to simply pay my monthly dues and enjoy my game without being harrased by… Hmmm…(how to describe it…) /sings “ever-quest has got a store E,I,E,I,O, with SC here, and SC there, Here SC, There SC, Everywhere an SC store, ever-quest has got a store, E,I,E,I,O” then I will stay right here on my favorite MMO that I love and have loved since launch.
/endrant
Awful… It really keeps getting worse.
I’m willing to bet SOE has already had that idea =/
I really, really hate this. I liked (emphasis on past tense) this game, but nowadays with only 4 updates a year, little to no class balance, SC flooding everything, etc. I’m glad that FFXIV (which I’m iffy about) and Guild Wars 2 (fairly promising, but probably won’t have raids) are coming out soon. There are quite a few MMOs coming out in the next year or two, and SOE is gonna lose a lot of players if they keep turning EQ2 into Perfect World.
EQ2 was one of the best fantasy MMOS out there. However, I’m paying a subscription monthly. Leave the RMT stuff for the Marketplace menu item and out of the merchants, especially on the servers where people pay to play. Maybe on the free to play stuff, fine. However, I pay my monthly fee to get away from real life, not have to deal with in-game hawking for real life money.
I hate using WoW comparisons, but Blizzard is making money hand over fist with RMT transactions. Not because they are in your face, but they are useful without causing issues for people who don’t buy the item. For example, the mount that you buy for $25 that every character on your account can use, or the noncombat pets.
SOE may make money in the short term by pushing the RMT crap, but in the long term, it will just hasten the death of EQ2.
EQ2 also needs new players. Shoving RMT transactions in their face 24/7 is not the way to get people in the game and them subscribing.
Very bad move indeed. I can’t say I am surprised, but I’m a bit saddened at the contined cheapening and soiling, somehow, of EQ2 by SOE in their eternal search to squeeze the last penny out of us. And, sadly, I’m not convinced by Rothgar’s comment:
“I’m going to ask that you wait until you at least see how its implemented before asking for changes.”
When, if ever, have SOE rolled back on a change like this due to adverse comment? On somethign that could make them money? Never.
GU57 is rapidly shaping up as the EQ2 equivalent of NGE…
I think if you have a subscription, you should be given the option to not see those items. Free accounts should have no choice. If I’m paying every month, there’s no need to squeeze money out of me. You’re getting it, every month.
For all the “purity of the game” talk the simple reality is that EQ2 doesnt make much money. If having Station Cash items on vendors gives them the revenue they need to continue making content rather than have to lay off more of the developers then lets have more Station Cash
I know i go on about my accounts are running out and i’m leaving, even though all that is true, deep down i hoped they would do something to really turn the game around.
Everything they are doing is only making me glad that i did cancel and they are running out.
I must say I’m glad i still have time on this last account because it’s good to be able to post my thoughts on the forums and was able to try the F2P (if you can really call it that).
I think EQ2 has truly come to an end.
Sweet…for $50 we’ll add 200 to your roll!!!! You have a better chance at winning your rolls on leather gear now. Grats!
Unreal. Rift and SWTOR cannot get here fast enough.
Next will be a travel fee of 500SC every time you use a bell, druid ring or wizard spire!!!
I have no problem with SOE earning money, they are a business. Decrying ‘greed’ is unfair, because all MMO companies are in the business for profits. SOE should earn as much money as they can, and I’m more than happy to help them if I feel the product suits my needs.
However, SOE seems to be very heavy handed and inept when it comes to marketing things in a manner that is appealing. And the latest ‘in your face’ RMT crap is just that. I don’t mind RMT. I’ve even purchased a few SC items. But I don’t want to feel I just walked into an infomercial when I log in.
There is a lot I love about EQ2, but most of it seems to etend from to a point just before TSO.
Maybe its time to take a breather again. Right now Age of Conan has been holding my interest well on the side, I may give it more of my attention while EQ2 decides what it wants to evolve into.
Feldon, thanks for reporting, I always come here first for my EQ2 news.
PS – I miss the old Qeynos vs. Freeport storyline, which just faded away. TSO and shadow crap is fine, but not as THE major storyline (well, besides Naggy, etc) behind several expansions.
I have to agree with most people here, this is a slippery slope thats getting steeper. I just cancelled my 2 accounts, and in the process of deleting my links.
In your comments about how SC is being thrown at us, you never mentioned the cat you must buy and cannot adventure for as being another SC insert into the game, a game that I already pay $15 a month to play. For $15 MONTHLY fee, you would have thought that I get access to everything….but not unless I spend more on other items.
Keeping these SC messages on the F2P servers only was the way to go, but putting it on the servers where we pay $15 a month, reminding us each time we goto a vendor that we should pay more to FULLY enjoy the game is bad. Does a dis-service to us veteren players. For a monthly fee, we get part access to everything, and you are reminded each day of this now (SC button and vendors)
I don’t like the direction EQ2 has taken recently (2010) and I am getting out now before more heartache sets in. I’ll check in at year end and see how things are going, but I will find other ways to escape RL for a couple hours a night. Good adventures for those that stick around.
Quick observation: Anyone on a paid sub server will be pissed about this and i completely agree, they should be.
Ironically though the F2P is designed to essentially force a player to sub to get any value from the game.
What I’m getting at is the F2P is really a “subscription server” not an actual “F2P model” however it will be acceptable to do things like this on that server because they throw a F2P label on it.
These are worrisome times for the EQ2 player base for sure.
Man what a downfall for this amazing longstanding mmo I live through in just 1.5 year… stunning