Guild Wars 2

Malediktus.9250:

“Things are more expensive when they are new. Decreasing their cost over time is a business’ way of maximizing return.”
Except Anet earns nothing by reducing the price from 500 Gems to a miniscule amount of Candy Corn or plastic fangs. Only thing they achieved is making the people who bought this with gems last year angry.

Or they achieved making a larger number of people happy since the item is now within practical reach. I would wager that benefit was larger than keeping a small, few, exclusionists happy.

Chabo.7498:

Malediktus.9250:

“Things are more expensive when they are new. Decreasing their cost over time is a business’ way of maximizing return.”
Except Anet earns nothing by reducing the price from 500 Gems to a miniscule amount of Candy Corn or plastic fangs. Only thing they achieved is making the people who bought this with gems last year angry.

Why would they be angry they have had a year to reap the benefits of owning the miniature. Surely a similar analogy would be a game going free-to-play or having a huge discount a year after game was released. Should all those early purchasers be angry too?

Again a flawed comparison. Just stop making comparisons if they are flawed.

As far as I see it Malediktus, you are a vicitim of bad judgement. When I saw the Halloween prices last year, I scratched my head and said to myself: “This must be an error. Considering the (then-)availability of candy corn, so high a price for only a minipet is simply invalid”, and I moved along. No bad feelings against Arenanet, no regrets: this was clearly an error. Everyone makes errors.
An error that was remedied this year.
If you did not saw that last year and even spent valuable resources to pay an invalid price, then you could perhaps work on your judgement.

Some items were meant to be exclusive.

I wonder how people would react if ArenaNet slapped the Hall of Monument rewards into the gemstore.

I wonder how they would also react to ArenaNet adding the launch day Celebration Hat into the gemstore.

Holiday hats are no longer sacred it seems. The first Guild Wars game only allowed people to get old festival hats because they abandoned GW1 for GW2, so GW1 wasn’t going to get any new holiday hats. GW2 is not in that boat, yet HOLIDAY items such as the horns that were handed out in the first year are on sale for 200 gems. If you don’t see that as a cash grab, then you’re beyond any reach of persuasion.

There was NO reason to add the Miniature Carlotta pet as a reward for candy corn or 700 measly plastic fangs. 500 gems for the miniatures then 1,000 candy corn just to get an exotic Carlotta THEN 500 MORE GEMS to keep the three miniatures as well was pricy. Now all you need to do is spend 30 minutes spamming 1 at the labyrinth and you got it.

Ripping people off is not good business and this feels wrong. Why?

They’re still selling the miniature pack (Costumed Mini 3-Pack) in the gemstore. Even the description still says that you can throw them into the Mystic Forge for the Carlotta pet.. are you kidding me? If you’re going to throw Carlotta into the candy corn/plastic fangs vendor then why not the minis from the Costumed Mini 3-Pack?

Just doesn’t add up.

Silmar Alech.4305:

As far as I see it Malediktus, you are a vicitim of bad judgement. When I saw the Halloween prices last year, I scratched my head and said to myself: “This must be an error. Considering the (then-)availability of candy corn, so high a price for only a minipet is simply invalid”, and I moved along. No bad feelings against Arenanet, no regrets: this was clearly an error. Everyone makes errors.
An error that was remedied this year.
If you did not saw that last year and even spent valuable resources to pay an invalid price, then you could perhaps work on your judgement.

The price looked acceptable to me for an exotic quality miniature. Also the Halloween update was live for several weeks so Anet had plenty of chance to fix the price and automatically refund people (like they did with the people when Elonian Wine was bugged) who bought it for the invalid price if it was a mistake.
So its clear to me they only changed the price because there were too many whiners who want all their rewards on a silver plattern.

I got Carlotta last year and I spent all year saving up for Prince Thorn, then got it on the first day with less than 1/2 my stockpiled Candy.

I’ve got no complaints about the changes to either. I’m just happy more people will be able to get them if they want them.

As far as I remember, the prices last year were based on wrong assumptions on Candy Corn availability by Arenanet. So the prices were not wrong due to a bug (someone entered a wrong number) but were put in the game correctly as intended. Only some time into the event it became clear that the calculation behind the price was wrong.

A correction as hotfix was not possible, since the price was “right” – according to the original calculation. A new price had to be calculated from scratch on the actual Candy Corn availability, and I assume there was not enough time to do this within the time frame of the Halloween event. And since there was no critical game component involved, Arenanet probably chose to let it be as it was.

I’m not very fond of such forms of exclusivity. The players should be able to choose their outfit and toys from a wide range of things. Personal taste and not money should make the outfit. See me: I own the Witch’s_Hat. I don’t know how it happened, the skin simply survived to the wardrobe update in the mess that is my account inventory. Now I am using it for my Asura on my ascended armor.

It is sad to tell people that it is not currently available who ask where they could got it from. It’s heartbreaking, because I see almost no one with it, and it is such a nice addition to your outfit. I would like to see it available for everyone again, and I don’t fear that as a consequence every second person in the world would run around with that hat.

Silmar Alech.4305:

I’m not very fond of such forms of exclusivity. The players should be able to choose their outfit and toys from a wide range of things. Personal taste and not money should make the outfit. See me: I own the Witch’s_Hat. I don’t know how it happened, the skin simply survived to the wardrobe update in the mess that is my account inventory. Now I am using it for my Asura on my ascended armor.

It is sad to tell people that it is not currently available who ask where they could got it from. It’s heartbreaking, because I see almost no one with it, and it is such a nice addition to your outfit. I would like to see it available for everyone again, and I don’t fear that as a consequence every second person in the world would run around with that hat.

Yes, while we are at it, the whole wardrobe should be unlocked as soon as you create your first character, because people need access to every single cosmetic in this game.

There is still plenty of exclusive stuff out there. ANet made a mistake last year in making too many of the Halloween related items too hard to get and corrected this year. Even though it means that the candy corn node I have in my home instance is far less valuable I don’t mind, because I am enjoying this holiday’s more attainable goals more than last year, where I just didn’t bother.

I do however sympathise with the idea that older stuff should climb in value. I would perhaps like to see something like the Black Lion collections model where Zuzu returns for 16 cobs instead of 12 next year. But that’s a different argument. All that has happened here is that ANet recognise that they made a miscalculation last year and fixed it making for a better experience for the majority of players.

Cormac.3871:

There is still plenty of exclusive stuff out there. ANet made a mistake last year in making too many of the Halloween related items too hard to get and corrected this year. Even though it means that the candy corn node I have in my home instance is far less valuable I don’t mind, because I am enjoying this holiday’s more attainable goals more than last year, where I just didn’t bother.

I do however sympathise with the idea that older stuff should climb in value. I would perhaps like to see something like the Black Lion collections model where Zuzu returns for 16 cobs instead of 12 next year. But that’s a different argument. All that has happened here is that ANet recognise that they made a miscalculation last year and fixed it making for a better experience for the majority of players.

Prince Thorn aside, there is no reason to make Mini Ghost Carlotta from a gem store items to a bargain Candy Corn/plastic fang item.

@Cormac: Yeah, JS himself even admitted that they made the “sinks too difficult for players to interact with” last year. They went the opposite direction this year; the Halloween “tokens” drop like rain. Sink prices have been lowered, but there are many more available sinks this year, which means there’s a higher chance that more players will take part because there’s something that appeals to them.

Furthermore, the average player can now “make bank” during the festival by selling all their Candy Corn and Skulls/Fangs/Nougat on the TP, which further acts as a gold sink, improving the state of the economy.

All in all, Halloween 2014 is much more elegant and a better experience for everyone.

Malediktus.9250:

“Things are more expensive when they are new. Decreasing their cost over time is a business’ way of maximizing return.”
Except Anet earns nothing by reducing the price from 500 Gems to a miniscule amount of Candy Corn or plastic fangs. Only thing they achieved is making the people who bought this with gems last year angry.

That’s not true. They get your 500 Gems, then they make it widely available in game to draw people into the game. They may not have sold any gems to those people, but ArenaNet has two things it needs, people buying gems, and a healthy in-game population.

They got cash out of people the first time around, they got some people to come back and play Halloween content to get them the second time around.

Malediktus.9250:

Cormac.3871:

There is still plenty of exclusive stuff out there. ANet made a mistake last year in making too many of the Halloween related items too hard to get and corrected this year. Even though it means that the candy corn node I have in my home instance is far less valuable I don’t mind, because I am enjoying this holiday’s more attainable goals more than last year, where I just didn’t bother.

I do however sympathise with the idea that older stuff should climb in value. I would perhaps like to see something like the Black Lion collections model where Zuzu returns for 16 cobs instead of 12 next year. But that’s a different argument. All that has happened here is that ANet recognise that they made a miscalculation last year and fixed it making for a better experience for the majority of players.

Prince Thorn aside, there is no reason to make Mini Ghost Carlotta from a gem store items to a bargain Candy Corn/plastic fang item.

1) it gets people playing the game to earn the mini through in game activities.
2) people complain that too many items are from the gem store. Putting it in game is one more reward that people can get by playing instead of buying.
3) they dropped the price on it to allow more people to get it. More people getting ingame rewards means happier customers who play more, give a good recommendation of the game to their friends and possibly buy more from the gem store.

Just because you can’t think of reasons why a company lowers the price on an item doesn’t mean that there is no reason.

Malediktus.9250:

“Things are more expensive when they are new. Decreasing their cost over time is a business’ way of maximizing return.”
Except Anet earns nothing by reducing the price from 500 Gems to a miniscule amount of Candy Corn or plastic fangs. Only thing they achieved is making the people who bought this with gems last year angry.

I bought this last year, and I’m okay with it being reintroduced as an earnable reward this year. I have however also benefited from the reduced prices this year, obtaining both Prince Thorn & a Halloween Pail (in addition to the new Maize Balm recipe and Hexed Outfit) so far.

Last year I opted out of the grind for these items because of the insane requirements from my casual perspective, so I really appreciate the changes this year. If that means that my Carlotta is a little less exclusive, then so be be it.

I am one of those few people who got the Prince Thorn mini last year, so here is my perspective. I farmed in the Labyrinth for pretty much the entirety of last years Halloween event to get enough candy corn/money to buy candy corn for that stupid mini, and what did I think when I finally got it? “Wow, this wasn’t at all worth the effort.” The mini doesn’t talk, it doesn’t have any special particles or do anything other than the human male idle animation. The only thing I’m miffed about concerning the price reduction is that the previous owners weren’t recouped some candy corn, although I suppose it doesn’t matter considering how easy all of the event materials are to get this year.

As for Carlotta, I hope this is a sign of Anet’s future stance concerning miniatures. I always thought it was stupid that you basically had to buy a set of event themed minis twice if you wanted all 4 of them.

yup.. never did ANET says those minis were going to be exclusive… you assumed too much….

I can never understand this mentality of "I don’t want you to have what I have.’ I’ve been playing Guild Wars from the beginning, I’ve unlocked all kinds of cool rewards in my HoM, and if they were in the gem store tomorrow I’d have absolutely NO problem with it. Heck I’ve had exclusive use of them for two years, it’s about time new players got to enjoy them too!

Last year, people complained about how expensive these things were. Now, some who acquired them last year are complaining they are too cheap.

As a player, I far prefer that ANet adapt from mistakes, instead of rigidly holding to the old way.

I do like the idea of rewards that are exclusive to being present at a certain time & place — it’s a way of being able to say, “hey, I was here at the beginning” — but even so, I think there shouldn’t be more than a few such items in the game in total. ANet, however, has been moving in the direction of fewer and fewer truly exclusive items. I expect, therefore, that every previously limited-supply item in the game will see a comeback of some sort.

azizul.8469:

yup.. never did ANET says those minis were going to be exclusive… you assumed too much….

Its not about being exclusive, but making them more than 10x easier to get. I fully expected them to come back, but with the same requirements.

Malediktus.9250:

azizul.8469:

yup.. never did ANET says those minis were going to be exclusive… you assumed too much….

Its not about being exclusive, but making them more than 10x easier to get. I fully expected them to come back, but with the same requirements.

That’s the definition of exclusive.

juno.1840:

Malediktus.9250:

azizul.8469:

yup.. never did ANET says those minis were going to be exclusive… you assumed too much….

Its not about being exclusive, but making them more than 10x easier to get. I fully expected them to come back, but with the same requirements.

That’s the definition of exclusive.

Maybe if you want to take exclusive literally to the purest form. Then the whole game is exclusive because its buy to play.

Malediktus.9250:

juno.1840:

Malediktus.9250:

azizul.8469:

yup.. never did ANET says those minis were going to be exclusive… you assumed too much….

Its not about being exclusive, but making them more than 10x easier to get. I fully expected them to come back, but with the same requirements.

That’s the definition of exclusive.

Maybe if you want to take exclusive literally to the purest form. Then the whole game is exclusive because its buy to play.

It is apparent you are either being intentionally obtuse or are a great troll. There is a reason why definition exist, so use them.

Guild wars 2 is not exclusive. If I wanted to play guild wars 2, I can go buy guild wars 2 nothing is stopping me short of being poor. guild wars 2 would be exclusive if only a few people can get in the game and there is no way for me to get it.w

silvermember.8941:

Malediktus.9250:

juno.1840:

Malediktus.9250:

azizul.8469:

yup.. never did ANET says those minis were going to be exclusive… you assumed too much….

Its not about being exclusive, but making them more than 10x easier to get. I fully expected them to come back, but with the same requirements.

That’s the definition of exclusive.

Maybe if you want to take exclusive literally to the purest form. Then the whole game is exclusive because its buy to play.

It is apparent you are either being intentionally obtuse or are a great troll. There is a reason why definition exist, so use them.

Guild wars 2 is not exclusive. If I wanted to play guild wars 2, I can go buy guild wars 2 nothing is stopping me short of being poor. guild wars 2 would be exclusive if I am I can only a few people can get in the game and there is no way for me to get it.w

Well Juno said the old prices were exclusive

MithranArkanere.8957:

And Scrooge McDuck enjoyed swimming in coins. That doesn’t mean it’ right of fair for others… neither physically possible.

That does sound like fun!

If gw2 gets housing, i want to fill mine with gold and go swimming too

Malediktus.9250:

juno.1840:

Malediktus.9250:

azizul.8469:

yup.. never did ANET says those minis were going to be exclusive… you assumed too much….

Its not about being exclusive, but making them more than 10x easier to get. I fully expected them to come back, but with the same requirements.

That’s the definition of exclusive.

Maybe if you want to take exclusive literally to the purest form. Then the whole game is exclusive because its buy to play.

Taking your latest example, should all of us who bought the game at launch be up in arms that the game is being sold at a discount now? We got our value for the higher price, we were first! Expecting more than that just seems selfish to me. And I am not trying to call you selfish just saying it feels that way “to me”.

BilboBaggins.5620:

Malediktus.9250:

juno.1840:

Malediktus.9250:

azizul.8469:

yup.. never did ANET says those minis were going to be exclusive… you assumed too much….

Its not about being exclusive, but making them more than 10x easier to get. I fully expected them to come back, but with the same requirements.

That’s the definition of exclusive.

Maybe if you want to take exclusive literally to the purest form. Then the whole game is exclusive because its buy to play.

Taking your latest example, should all of us who bought the game at launch be up in arms that the game is being sold at a discount now? We got our value for the higher price, we were first! Expecting more than that just seems selfish to me. And I am not trying to call you selfish just saying it feels that way “to me”.

Well the game is worse than at release. 2 years have passed and the player base is much smaller than at release now. Especially noticeable in WvW, where even the top EU servers dont much queues anymore.
So you could argue that the game degraded and is worth less now.