Q:
Aren't gems too expensive ?
Regardless of the cost, the only way for a game like this to survive and keep being developed or improved, is by selling just those gems.
It’s kind of logical to have them prevent online gold sellers making a profit behind their backs.
I don’t mind, and i think most people wouldn’t, buying gems from Anet if it helps improve the game and introduce new things. Even at 10$.
You’re forgetting the hidden price of having your entire account banned. Not much use getting your gold cheaper from thieves if you keep losing it along with all your other stuff.
Gems have always been 80 gems for $1€. The amount of gold you can get from that is related to how much gold had already been spent to by the previous batch of gems. Since a whole lot of people bought gold with gems, because you can buy stuff from the cash shop for “free”, that exchange rate is now high.
ArenaNet, and every other MMO company realizes that there are always people outside of the game who will take money for game currency. Obviously, and especially true with MMOs that subsist primarily on the cash shop, to have said cash go into their pockets than some usually dubious 3rd party. So they provide a method to convert cash indirectly into game currency.
Sure those companies can offer a better deal, just like those guys selling TVs and appliances from the back of an unmarked white panel truck. We stole it and pass the savings onto you. Or we are laundering money and are willing to take a loss to make it “clean”.
So people who actually sell you the gold and items, get banned. People who buy said loot, gets it taken away.
RIP City of Heroes
Yes, cash → gems has always been expensive.
No, Anet wont change it.