Square Enix Creates online Currency: "Crysta"

[Tulun]

You don't [i]have]/i] to RMT in FFXI by any means unless you're retarded and incompetent (see: 99% of gilbuyers). Some people will always be lazy and want to get ahead by spending real money, hence there's no way you can make a game "RMT-proof" by design. I very much doubt SE would do something as idiotic as the OP is describing, unless they feel like changing the game's default language to Arabic. What's funny is that even if they did implement purchasable in-game currency, there's nothing to stop CGF from simply undercutting their prices and continuing to function as normal.

No, you don't *have* to. But the fact is a lot of gil making is random ass luck. You put two hours into an ENM, KSNM, ISNM, BCNM (4 great examples of 'money making events') and there is no guarantee you will come out with much of any gil (though in the case of KSNM, Royale Ramble is good). The other big problem is that most of these events also require trigger items that can take hours to farm... so to get a shot at gil, you have to spend hours just to get a trigger to have a *chance* at it.

Meanwhile, if I farmed gold for two hours in WoW, I would definitely make X amount of gold, and if I was doing an instance, a rare item could drop on top of it.. or whatever. Or daily quests for monies.

Even crafting is a crapshoot. Since you rely on HQs to profit, if you have a bad streak, you are usually in the red... or you can get two rare HQs in a row and roll int he dough.

RMT would be far less of a problem if gil making was less luck based, and in part, less job based. Crysta for items is a bad idea (though hopefully, this isn't their intention), though. It's a cop out; pay us instead of them for our shitty system.

[TheBlazed]

I agree this is a case of selective reading and massive speculation. This seems just SE combining all their services, and renaming something as lame as "e-coin" to "crysta" a word that is much more SE. Speculating that "OMG they have currency!" (oh wait they have had it for awhile for JPs, and this is a JP only announcement) means that FFXIV will have buyable items with Crysta is a large fucking leap people.

While i do agree with you as in this being a large speculation just the fact of them having the idea whether to sell in game items or not has people worried. As an earlier poster said Most other MMO's have a cash shop and this could influence SE to put one in their game also.

Do they need it? no, but if they have the idea floating around its up to us to say "This is not some random fucking MMO, leave the cash shops to the companies who need it.
I hope it is just for fluff items but this has me worried just because im really looking forward to wasting yet another 10 years of my life.

Edit: Also i remember vaguely about a interview with one of the Dev that they specially said they would have no micro-transactions for in-game items for the fear of people buying their way to the top then quitting. Anyone else remember this interview?

[Celeras]

SE could literally require you to administer fellatio to Sage Sundi while having their logo tattood on your neck (yeah, it'd be crooked from all the head bobbing) as a monthly fee, and someone would still defend them.

And on the flip side, they could create a system that has absolutely nothing to do with their games and people (yeah, like you) would still come in and proclaim doom without having any facts.

They changed the pre-existing 'Member Points' name to 'Crysta', and didn't change any functionality that the old points used to have. FFXIV is mentioned nowhere on the page, and the image suggests playonline functionality which FFXIV won't even be using.

You may now continue your speculation.

[Okan]

http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/p...IVE_Points.jpg

Most of the reactions on this thread are pretty hilarious. Selective reading prevails once again.

http://talkplaystation.com/wp-conten...k-cards-02.jpg

http://wiimedia.gamespy.com/wii/imag...8032838390.jpg

I don't see your point. All of these cards are sold and typically don't offer in-game advantages. Granted some do (Tales of Vesperia will let you buy levels for your character, also money and items).

Most other games sell additional content like maps or add-ons. This alone invalidates your claim considering that you're comment alone is like saying that paying for Wings of the Goddess expansion or the new MP Map-pack for MW2 is like RMT.

On top of this, just as another member stated, he can rent movies. Or buy brand new games.

[Corrderio]

I'll have a wait and see attitude, however if they do intend to put this in XIV I'll quit in a heartbeat. I can understand item malls in F2P games but fuck that shit in P2P games.

[Kaslo]

I'll have a wait and see attitude, however if they do intend to put this in XIV I'll quit in a heartbeat. I can understand item malls in F2P games but fuck that shit in P2P games.

What if the buyable things aren't anything useful ingame but just something silly and fun with no stats?

[Corrderio]

You know that won't last long

[Celeras]

You know that won't last long

WoW does it, and its lasted for a long time with plenty of success.

But you know it will never come to that. People are getting mighty antsy and blowing things out of proportion imo. Odds are this will have nothing to do with the new game.

[Corresapolonia]

just hoping that they won't sell ingame Items that really boosts you up cause you got more money than others. other than that if ppl wanna buy a golden chair in their house or a chocobo on Speed i'm fine with that, as long as it doesnt affect the people that play this game in a "normal" way.

[Knyghtmayre]

http://i47.tinypic.com/ka5rp2.png

Somebody had to do it.

[Kurokikaze]

haha well played sir.

[miokomioko]

No one (other than the crappy journalist) is even speculating anything. We are mostly just saying "if they offer in-game items for "crysta," we are not playing this game."

[Elmer the Pointy]

Don't blame me, there's only one sentence that considers the possibility, and it doesn't even say "items," just "aspects."

I guess I should have punched up the other 90% of the article that deals with Crysta as a means of convenience for potential subscribers.

The idea is that Member Coins are currently used for a wide variety of things -- from digital clothes to actual SE goods to currency for an MMO. The fact that SE will now use Crysta for all Square Enix Account services opens up a lot of possibilities.

[miokomioko]

Oh, I'm for sure not blaming Elmer or anyone at JP Button...

"It also opens up the possibility for a lot more control on Square Enix's part. If certain aspects of Final Fantasy XIV were prone to abuse by RMT, they could become available through Crysta, swiftly invalidating the efforts of gil-farmers. However, it's a tricky issue since while some will surely welcome the elimination of RMT players, others will oppose the idea of paying real money for in-game currency or items."

I just don't understand the importance of that statement (whoever initially made it). It sounds like Square Enix has been completely capable of doing that since a long time ago with the Coins, why would making the coins universally called "Crysta" really affect anything? Just seemed like they were slippery sloping it just make this tiny piece news sound more important/foreboding.

edit: Just read Elmer's edit... What types of accounts did these coins initially work with? I'm assuming other Japan-only Square-Enix merch/mmos?

[Elmer the Pointy]

Oh, I said "don't blame me" because I wrote it.

Member Coins were only for the Square Enix Members site. Now they are set to merge all services under Square Enix Accounts, which will then use Crysta. Here are the two main points from the announcement:

スクウェア・エニックス アカウントとは、スクウェア・エニックス グループが提供する各種オンラインサービスを利用いただける共通のアカウントです。
どなたでも無料で登録できます。今後提供されるサービスに利用できるほか、既存のサービスを関連づけることで複数のIDを1つのスクウェア・エニックス アカウントで管理することができます。

The Square Enix Account is an account used across all of Square Enix's online services. Anyone can register one for free. Future services, as well as existing ones, can all be combined into a single account and managed under the Square Enix Account system.

「スクウェア・エニックス Crysta」は、「スクウェア・エニックス アカウント」で提供するすべてのサービスのお支払に利用できます。
スクウェア・エニックス アカウント管理システムからクレジットカードなどを使ってスクウェア・エニックス Crystaをチャージすることで、スクウェア・エニックス アカウントを利用するサービスのお支払を行うことができます。

Square Enix Crysta can be used to pay for all services supported by your Square Enix Account. By purchasing Crysta (by credit card or other means) via the Square Enix Account management system, you can pay for services that utilize your Square Enix Account.

Right now with Member Coins, "services" include a both store-bought products and in-game services. That was the main point, but perhaps my mistake was underestimating how psychotic passionate people are about RMT-related stuff.

[miokomioko]

http://activerain.com/image_store/up...2662775555.jpg

[Shadowrunner]

Even in speculation, I really don't see how people can get -so- worked up over it. If someone having better gear than you hurts your soul so much, first-in-line should be top prio.

I almost hope they -do- do it, it'll get those only hunting for e-peen to step out while those who do it for fun/skill/reward might get a crapshoot at some of the endgame content.

I can only see good in it. Even better, you're paying the company who produced the item, not some random group further down the lane. I just don't get what's so negative about it.

[TheBlazed]

Even in speculation, I really don't see how people can get -so- worked up over it. If someone having better gear than you hurts your soul so much, first-in-line should be top prio.

I almost hope they -do- do it, it'll get those only hunting for e-peen to step out while those who do it for fun/skill/reward might get a crapshoot at some of the endgame content.

I can only see good in it. Even better, you're paying the company who produced the item, not some random group further down the lane. I just don't get what's so negative about it.

1. No one here wants to get singled out/called gimp by someone because a guy can pay 12-20$ for an MMO monthly and dish out 100$ every month to pay for virtual items to be called 'good"

2. Its not just about the gear but the gameplay, it becomes a game of who's in the best economic status to spend money to get on top faster than others who play the game fairly.
a certain group can take down X monster becuase they paid X dollars while X group cannot.

3. Imagine if all FFXI Best items were able to be bought with real money tell me that wouldnt affect the game in general.

I like working hard for my things and i hate to see people who do 1/16th of what i do but have better stuff than me because their 'rich' then when you invite them to party they dont know how to do shit. (I.E Bought pimped accounts for over 5000$)

[Hyan]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w...men/t5naza.gif

If it'll affect the game in the slightest for anyone except those who a) use the services or b) get upset about pointless things I'll be surprised.

Let's all bash the million console games for using DLC content for milking out money from the players too! Oh but that's not even necessary, if the games are good either way who cares if you have to pay 5 bucks for random accessories? Not me. Of course it sucks to pay for content you could have in the game for free, but does that ruin the game for anyone? I'd suggest to check your priorities if that's the case.

And those who think you could buy ridills with crysta's.. get real.

[Mooshywooshy]

If I have to pay for items in game Im not playing!

But really I would play... I would just want to stab myself in the butt with a knife while I fork out 50 dollars for a chocobo hat.