Guild Wars 2

For the past 2 years I have seen people beg you to (re)add certain items to the gemstore yet there is no sign of them to be found anywhere.

People are asking you to allow them to spend money yet you refuse to (re)add items for the sake of fictional exclusivity which does not exist in Guild Wars 2 to begin with since everything is easily obtainable by anyone who has access to a good farming location or a credit card.

I can only conclude that what we are seeing here is a false sense of item exclusivity that leads to decisions which are questionable in my opinion. I honestly would like to learn why you would deny yourself money like this with your ever decreasing revenue according to NCSoft reports.

(p.s, I’m well aware of the longterm profits by using fictional exclusivity since the masses eat it up like there’s no tomorrow but I do hope that one of you also understands you don’t have to rely on this if you keep a steady stream of content + desired items coming our way)

Just my 2 cents.

The vast majority of the items people have wanted back in the gem-store have been put back in the gem-store.

But I suppose that doesn’t count?

lordkrall.7241:

The vast majority of the items people have wanted back in the gem-store have been put back in the gem-store.

But I suppose that doesn’t count?

He’s likely referring to the exclusive rewards from the various living story releases. Although there was a vendor that sold those.

lordkrall.7241:

The vast majority of the items people have wanted back in the gem-store have been put back in the gem-store.

But I suppose that doesn’t count?

There are still a ton of items from the first year release that are not.
Anyone watching the appropriate thread would easily understand OP’s point of view.

Exlusivity is a great seller. If you promise xyz wont come back or will be a lot more expensive after x time (black lion weapons), it will sell better than something you can have any time.
A big part about MMOs is the special snowflake feeling.

I would need to see the logistics behind the “special snowflake” mindset because I can’t imagine it would be profitable. A handful of players may love it but, in order to keep those players, you have to deny others the ability to buy the same item later. I imagine catering to the others would be more profitable.

Crossplay.2067:

I would need to see the logistics behind the “special snowflake” mindset because I can’t imagine it would be profitable. A handful of players may love it but, in order to keep those players, you have to deny others the ability to buy the same item later. I imagine catering to the others would be more profitable.

“Limited time only” is a very well-studied marketing tool. It’s smarmy, but it works.

Also, other MMOs and raiding? Totally “special snowflake.” It’s a special snowflake that requires skill and organization, but you can bet a majority do it for the shiny gear at the end of it. It’s a bit of extra proof that people want to be special snowflakes.

Limited time availability only works well if your entire potential market always has and will have had access to the item. For example, video games. If a game has a limited edition, odds are that your entire potential market will have access to buy that limited edition because they don’t need to be a member of a certain thing to see it. Any person can go in off the street to a store to order it.

If portions of your potential market may have only become a part of your market after the limited item has already left but they would definitely buy it when they see other people that have it, then it’s actually bad marketing to deny them that ability to purchase it.

Filaha.1678:

Limited time availability only works well if your entire potential market always has and will have had access to the item. For example, video games. If a game has a limited edition, odds are that your entire potential market will have access to buy that limited edition because they don’t need to be a member of a certain thing to see it. Any person can go in off the street to a store to order it.

If portions of your potential market may have only become a part of your market after the limited item has already left but they would definitely buy it when they see other people that have it, then it’s actually bad marketing to deny them that ability to purchase it.

Or if you didn’t know about an outfit, like the Tribal Armor, until after it was gone…

LISTEN TO ME ANET PLEASE. I WANT TO PAY YOU FOR SKINS BUT YOU WON’T LET ME. I know you want my money, and you know I want the skins you made. WHAT’S THE PROBLEM??? I will buy marjory’s dagger and the katana if they ever come back, I’d buy them instantly. The whole point of a microtransaction model is to sell us skins, and yet you refuse.

Nausiation.1469:

I will buy marjory’s dagger and the katana if they ever come back, I’d buy them instantly. The whole point of a microtransaction model is to sell us skins, and yet you refuse.

But… they did come back. Belinda’s Greatsword, Marjory’s axe and dagger, Kasmeer’s staff, Braham’s mace and shield, and Rox’s bow and quiver were all available during the first week of Halloween.

Pandaman.4758:

Nausiation.1469:

I will buy marjory’s dagger and the katana if they ever come back, I’d buy them instantly. The whole point of a microtransaction model is to sell us skins, and yet you refuse.

But… they did come back. Belinda’s Greatsword, Marjory’s axe and dagger, Kasmeer’s staff, Braham’s mace and shield, and Rox’s bow and quiver were all available during the first week of Halloween.

And before that the Anniversary sale and before that during the month of March sale.

The problem isn’t that they don’t come back, it’s that those who claim they want them so badly seem to never check the Gem Shop on a regular basis. Or if they do they hesitate to pull the trigger and then it’s gone again. They then come to the forums to ask when they will be back or why are they available for a limited time.

If you can’t be bothered to buy it when it’s back, in all likelihood you would put off buying indefinitely if it was always in the shop. The whole point of pulling them and returning them for a limited time is to get players off their duffs and buy them.

Talk to any speciality auto manufacturer about exclusivity.. “…making only 300, and they are already sold, at 1.5 million dollars each…”

Be happy the exclusive skins aren’t much more expensive!

Save your allowance next time so you aren’t begging for an advance when something you want shows up on the gem store,

Allisa Wonderland.8192:

Talk to any speciality auto manufacturer about exclusivity.. “…making only 300, and they are already sold, at 1.5 million dollars each…”

Be happy the exclusive skins aren’t much more expensive!

Save your allowance next time so you aren’t begging for an advance when something you want shows up on the gem store,

Comparing pixels to an exclusive auto manufacturer is a bit of a stretch in my opinion.

And I’m sure that the “exclusive” skins cost exactly what the “manufacturer” feels that the market will pay.

Pandaman.4758:

Nausiation.1469:

I will buy marjory’s dagger and the katana if they ever come back, I’d buy them instantly. The whole point of a microtransaction model is to sell us skins, and yet you refuse.

But… they did come back. Belinda’s Greatsword, Marjory’s axe and dagger, Kasmeer’s staff, Braham’s mace and shield, and Rox’s bow and quiver were all available during the first week of Halloween.

Exactly. Just how exclusive is that?

Exclusive as in only available at the Gem Shop and when ANet decides they are available at the Gem Shop.

You can’t get it from the TP or by bonking critters on the head and riffling through their pockets.