Guild Wars 2

Hey copy cat! Do your own homework.

JustTrogdor.7892:

When to: When you want something from the gem store.
How much to: However much you want to spend on store items.
Return: The items you purchased.

Morrigan.2809:

When: when you want something from the store
How much: as much as you need:
Return: The item you bought

Mephane.8496:

Yargesh.4965:

Brutal Arts.6307:

Allisa Wonderland.8192:

@dewolfe wah wah wah, blah blah blah

What a mature and civil assessment. I know who’s opinion I should ask for in the future.

Yes I too will ask Alisa’s over dewolfe anyday.

Is this a rhetoric tactic or did you miss the sarcasm in Brutal Arts’ post?

Yes I was being sardonic to answer a sarcastic post, well caught. You got a prize but the person next to you did not, don’t feel too bad about it.

I have edited it to be sardonic since I was not being sarcastic in the least to Alicia’s post over the OP. This took into account the entire post of each rather than the closing argument.

andeysmandey.1647:

Ashen.2907:

andeysmandey.1647:

2-600 euros a month on gems here, i feel like the kite is the least i should get in return.

Did you not get the gems that you were paying for ?

Yes`? And i still believe that we high spenders deserve some items like the kite, without whiners clogging the forums.

since you classify yourself as a ‘high spender’ just buy the kites. problem solved.

This is making a mountain out of a lump on the ground. Not even going to bother calling it a molehill as it isn’t even that.

Rewarding loyal customers is something that is actually lacking in a lot of companies and those companies can learn from this and the previous gift.

Personally, kudos to ANet on this one; this is the 2nd time I have gotten a surprise thank you from ANet.

I absolutely love the fact that from time to time the company gives back to the players, no strings attached, just a quick, “here ya go, thanks for supporting the game”. A little Goodwill goes a long way.

In exact contrast to the OP, I wish they would drop some more surprise content in the game. Now I am not talking about inserting ‘Guild Halls’ without telling anyone (but if they did, I would be sooo happy right now) but just a little unadvertised add from time to time.

I guess some people just don’t like surprises but for me, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Conner.4702:

This is making a mountain out of a lump on the ground. Not even going to bother calling it a molehill as it isn’t even that.

Rewarding loyal customers is something that is actually lacking in a lot of companies and those companies can learn from this and the previous gift.

On the other hand, it illustrates why it’s lacking…

Company: Thanks for being a loyal customer! Here’s some free stuff!

Customer A: I don’t like this free stuff! Give me free stuff I like!

Customer B: Why did you just give me free stuff today? I should get free stuff every day!

Company: Ok, let’s not do that again…

Personally the way they have done this is way better than the alternative. Giving it “secretly” to the people that bought gems and supported the game financially over the last few months (notice its not just a single month or anything smaller) is a way of thanking those who honestly purchased gems to support the game or to get what they wanted from the cash shop. The alternative would be to publicly promote that buying gems during the next x time would get players a free kite now or worse a free mystery gift later would be a far more shady business strategy and would make me question their motives for the gift.

When I entered pvp and saw someone standing there holding one for the first time I was like “That is awesome, how did he gets this”, but I went to bed right after that without knowing. I looked it up this morning and found it was a gift for players who bought gems in the last 3 months and immediately went to check my bank records to see if it was still June when I purchased gems recently.

the destruction of customer trust has become the business model imo. not having a PTR so people can help work out design flaws or bugs, not releasing information prior to launching a patch even by 1 day, teasing things like a design of a whole new armor set and then discovering it was meant for the store alone, and releasing an achievement patch without the retro to when they made the promise of improving the rewards system and including the retro back to the time of the promise, pretty much left a permanent bad taste in my mouth and others. My friends refuse to come back to this title. In fact, some of them are seriously considering boycotting all titles supported by NCsoft from here on out because of the way the economy and combat was done in this game.

People don’t how serious customer trust is these days.

Long story short, you don’t buy gems in hopes of getting a free gift. It’s called a random act okittendness.

tigirius.9014:

the destruction of customer trust has become the business model imo. not having a PTR so people can help work out design flaws or bugs, not releasing information prior to launching a patch even by 1 day, teasing things like a design of a whole new armor set and then discovering it was meant for the store alone, and releasing an achievement patch without the retro to when they made the promise of improving the rewards system and including the retro back to the time of the promise, pretty much left a permanent bad taste in my mouth and others. My friends refuse to come back to this title. In fact, some of them are seriously considering boycotting all titles supported by NCsoft from here on out because of the way the economy and combat was done in this game.

People don’t how serious customer trust is these days.

And all this has what to do with a free Kite?
What does trust have to do with any of the issues you have?
I understand that you don’t like certain things that Anet has done but those things you list have nothing to do with trust but rather how you would like them to run their game:
a PTR
Pre- released patch notes
skins in the gem store (that people have been asking for since launch )
I am not even sure what your point is about the achievement rewards.

I’m sorry you and your friends feel this way since none of these things seems all that terrible to me.

tigirius.9014:

the destruction of customer trust has become the business model imo. not having a PTR so people can help work out design flaws or bugs, not releasing information prior to launching a patch even by 1 day, teasing things like a design of a whole new armor set and then discovering it was meant for the store alone, and releasing an achievement patch without the retro to when they made the promise of improving the rewards system and including the retro back to the time of the promise, pretty much left a permanent bad taste in my mouth and others. My friends refuse to come back to this title. In fact, some of them are seriously considering boycotting all titles supported by NCsoft from here on out because of the way the economy and combat was done in this game.

People don’t how serious customer trust is these days.

seems like most of your issues are not about customer trust or even remotely close to being about the free kite for gem buyers. People want skins in the gem store, highly asked for (see thread about items we want in the gem store). I know you are mad specifically about the salvage achievements being capped thus you feel like you lost 1000s of achievement points, but you must see why this had to be done.

tigirius.9014:

the destruction of customer trust has become the business model imo. not having a PTR so people can help work out design flaws or bugs, not releasing information prior to launching a patch even by 1 day, teasing things like a design of a whole new armor set and then discovering it was meant for the store alone, and releasing an achievement patch without the retro to when they made the promise of improving the rewards system and including the retro back to the time of the promise, pretty much left a permanent bad taste in my mouth and others. My friends refuse to come back to this title. In fact, some of them are seriously considering boycotting all titles supported by NCsoft from here on out because of the way the economy and combat was done in this game.

People don’t how serious customer trust is these days.

I think you should read the OP. This is more off topic than I usually am.

The OP is complaining about a gift given to people who have bought gems. His complaint was answered, quite accurately by saying if Anet advertised the gift beforehand, it would be looked on as an advertising ploy rather than a gift.

Your list of “complaints” is not only off topic for this thread, but it’s gotten to the point where I can’t take anything you say seriously.

Yes, I get it. You’ve lost trust in Anet. Some of your friends have lost trust too. Well I ran a pretty reliable computer store for years and years, and I experienced some customers losing trust in me as well. Fortunately they were a vocal minority that never affected the bottom line of a business.

This sort of thing doesn’t benefit the game or the forums at all. If I were you, I’d find a game I liked, because clearly you’re not happy and your lack of happiness has you making off-topic posts that don’t further the conversation at all.

Well, different from the 500 extra AP’s given to feed many GW1 players greed, I have nothing against gifting people who purchase gems with RL money as long as it’s not gamebreaking for the rest of playerbase.

Vayne.8563:

tigirius.9014:

the destruction of customer trust has become the business model imo. not having a PTR so people can help work out design flaws or bugs, not releasing information prior to launching a patch even by 1 day, teasing things like a design of a whole new armor set and then discovering it was meant for the store alone, and releasing an achievement patch without the retro to when they made the promise of improving the rewards system and including the retro back to the time of the promise, pretty much left a permanent bad taste in my mouth and others. My friends refuse to come back to this title. In fact, some of them are seriously considering boycotting all titles supported by NCsoft from here on out because of the way the economy and combat was done in this game.

People don’t how serious customer trust is these days.

I think you should read the OP. This is more off topic than I usually am.

The OP is complaining about a gift given to people who have bought gems. His complaint was answered, quite accurately by saying if Anet advertised the gift beforehand, it would be looked on as an advertising ploy rather than a gift.

Your list of “complaints” is not only off topic for this thread, but it’s gotten to the point where I can’t take anything you say seriously.

Yes, I get it. You’ve lost trust in Anet. Some of your friends have lost trust too. Well I ran a pretty reliable computer store for years and years, and I experienced some customers losing trust in me as well. Fortunately they were a vocal minority that never affected the bottom line of a business.

This sort of thing doesn’t benefit the game or the forums at all. If I were you, I’d find a game I liked, because clearly you’re not happy and your lack of happiness has you making off-topic posts that don’t further the conversation at all.

“I’m glad people are enjoying the kites! Though I’m displeased that Arenanet would once again release items with no prior knowledge given to the costumers. Also, that these items are presently exclusive. *To me, not being upfront with and limiting the customers opportunities, are not a healthy or honorable way to conduct business.
I’ve first noticed this with the mini’s, then the Starcake Recipes, and now the Kites. A good precedent this does not make. How can the costumer have trust in this environment?”

Does that clear it up for you now? It’s one thing to disagree it’s entirely another to make false statements about someone. My point is that it’s not limited to the kites it’s been happening for months now about alot of things. But since you didn’t read what I wrote obviously you didn’t notice that did you.

Elothar.4382:

I have a bit of a different perspective on this. I have owned and operated a private business of about 15 years and I look at this, and similar issues, through a decidedly business filter. In my mind, what happened is that customers received something for which they had not directly paid…and it was given as a surprise. When I make a purchase decision regarding gems…or anything else…I use the basic economic principles of utility and cost. I determine how much I want or need something and then determine whether the asking price is worth it for me. When I purchase gems, it is because there is something in the gem store that I think is worth my money (typically extra bank slots, bag slots or character slots). The deal is consummated…I get what I want…they get what they wanted…deal done. But now, I get something extra as a surprise “thank you.” It has no strings attached…no conditions. Just a simple “thank you.” Maybe they planned it all along…maybe not. But…the minute that they tell you in advance, it is no longer a free thank you gift but rather another incentive to get you to spend money. Kind of a like a “but three and get one free” deal.

A surprise thank you gift seems thoughtful to me. I take the gift in the spirit in which I believe it was offered. Had they given me advance warning and told me that if I purchased X amount of gems I would get a free kite, it would not really seem like a free kite to me…but rather a part of the packaging of the deal – gems plus a kite for Y dollars. Both are legitimate marketing tactics but I am less likely to tumble on to the package deal than to buy what I want “straight up” and be pleasantly surprised by a free gift after the fact.

All that said, though, I am not sure what either tactic has to do with trust. They did not cheat us out of anything. They did not falsely represent what they were selling…or the price. No bait and switch that I can see. The only thing I can discern is they decided to give out a gift without prior “warning.” While others may well look on this warily, it does not seem like a trust issue to me.

This! End of discussion for me.

tigirius.9014:

Vayne.8563:

tigirius.9014:

the destruction of customer trust has become the business model imo. not having a PTR so people can help work out design flaws or bugs, not releasing information prior to launching a patch even by 1 day, teasing things like a design of a whole new armor set and then discovering it was meant for the store alone, and releasing an achievement patch without the retro to when they made the promise of improving the rewards system and including the retro back to the time of the promise, pretty much left a permanent bad taste in my mouth and others. My friends refuse to come back to this title. In fact, some of them are seriously considering boycotting all titles supported by NCsoft from here on out because of the way the economy and combat was done in this game.

People don’t how serious customer trust is these days.

I think you should read the OP. This is more off topic than I usually am.

The OP is complaining about a gift given to people who have bought gems. His complaint was answered, quite accurately by saying if Anet advertised the gift beforehand, it would be looked on as an advertising ploy rather than a gift.

Your list of “complaints” is not only off topic for this thread, but it’s gotten to the point where I can’t take anything you say seriously.

Yes, I get it. You’ve lost trust in Anet. Some of your friends have lost trust too. Well I ran a pretty reliable computer store for years and years, and I experienced some customers losing trust in me as well. Fortunately they were a vocal minority that never affected the bottom line of a business.

This sort of thing doesn’t benefit the game or the forums at all. If I were you, I’d find a game I liked, because clearly you’re not happy and your lack of happiness has you making off-topic posts that don’t further the conversation at all.

“I’m glad people are enjoying the kites! Though I’m displeased that Arenanet would once again release items with no prior knowledge given to the costumers. Also, that these items are presently exclusive. *To me, not being upfront with and limiting the customers opportunities, are not a healthy or honorable way to conduct business.
I’ve first noticed this with the mini’s, then the Starcake Recipes, and now the Kites. A good precedent this does not make. How can the costumer have trust in this environment?”

Does that clear it up for you now? It’s one thing to disagree it’s entirely another to make false statements about someone. My point is that it’s not limited to the kites it’s been happening for months now about alot of things. But since you didn’t read what I wrote obviously you didn’t notice that did you.

Right, and people said in this thread, rightly so, that if Anet said if you spend money you’d get a gift, they’d be rightly criticisized for greed. That’s what makes it a gift.

The OP wasn’t complaining about anything but Anet giving away gifts without telling people first.

It’s funny how you want to take this one topic and make it about something else. You’re reading more into it than the OP intended. His comments were quite focused.

You’ve used to to complain about everything you want to complain about. You can make your own topic for that you know.

I absolutely love the kite!
And, anyway, you should not complain with those Who spends money on gem store. It’s the Only way you have To play your game for free with supernice contents every two weeks!

I 100% disagree with OP.

ArenaNet is giving a thank you to those who support them. This isn’t a purchased item, so it’s not about advertising and customer trust.

It’s about customer appreciation.

I did not receive a kite, and I fully support ArenaNets decision to do this.

tolunart.2095:

Esplen.3940:

Rule #1 to game forums: Players will always find something to complain about.

Yep. Watching the Decline of Western Civilization continue gets to me sometimes.

Ain’t that the truth!!!!!!!

Thank you for the kite, a.net, it’s cool!

OP, don’t worry, if you bought gems in the last couple weeks I’m sure you’ll get something next time around:)

It’s surprising to me that people frame this as a trust issue. I’m pretty nimble intellectually, but just can’t do the gymnastics to get there. The issue that first came up for me when I first saw them was “these things better go away when the fight starts”. It was a brief moment of clutter-rage.

I think it’s great when Anet let’s customers know, through fairly innocuous gifts, that they are appreciated. I feel appreciated and it just makes me want to support them more. I don’t go to the question of how much to give them in order to get something. It’s not an accounting-based relationship. I simply appreciate their appreciation.

Raine.1394:

It’s surprising to me that people frame this as a trust issue. I’m pretty nimble intellectually, but just can’t do the gymnastics to get there. The issue that first came up for me when I first saw them was “these things better go away when the fight starts”. It was a brief moment of clutter-rage.

I think it’s great when Anet let’s customers know, through fairly innocuous gifts, that they are appreciated. I feel appreciated and it just makes me want to support them more. I don’t go to the question of how much to give them in order to get something. It’s not an accounting-based relationship. I simply appreciate their appreciation.

I agree with this. I accepted the gift in the spirit I think it was intended. Nowhere did I feel I had to buy gems to get anything extra nor did I have any expectations of getting anything. I bought or buy gems as needed and just was lucky I had been given a gift card or two within the time frame needed. For those who didn’t or couldn’t buy gems (start asking for gem cards as gifts, folks!), I am sorry, but honestly how is not having or being able to get a kite going to make or break your game?

Material things (even virtual material things) are transient. What is lasting is the simple, nice gesture that ANet has made. It says to me they appreciate our support of the game. They have also given out plenty of rewards, i.e. the current achievement chests as a thanks for putting in the work to get to the various achievement levels. Maybe they should put in a kite in one of those achievement chests for those who were not able to get them. Say by 3500, 4000, or 4500 achievement points you get a kite.

No amount of anything would make me pay money on this game anymore, they had their chance to add serious content and balancing for almost a year, now my money goes to other companies that do add meaningful content..

nolop.8095:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brhhzum4ipo

Classic!!!! ….and true.

Elothar.4382:

I have a bit of a different perspective on this. I have owned and operated a private business of about 15 years and I look at this, and similar issues, through a decidedly business filter. In my mind, what happened is that customers received something for which they had not directly paid…and it was given as a surprise. When I make a purchase decision regarding gems…or anything else…I use the basic economic principles of utility and cost. I determine how much I want or need something and then determine whether the asking price is worth it for me. When I purchase gems, it is because there is something in the gem store that I think is worth my money (typically extra bank slots, bag slots or character slots). The deal is consummated…I get what I want…they get what they wanted…deal done. But now, I get something extra as a surprise “thank you.” It has no strings attached…no conditions. Just a simple “thank you.” Maybe they planned it all along…maybe not. But…the minute that they tell you in advance, it is no longer a free thank you gift but rather another incentive to get you to spend money. Kind of a like a “but three and get one free” deal.

A surprise thank you gift seems thoughtful to me. I take the gift in the spirit in which I believe it was offered. Had they given me advance warning and told me that if I purchased X amount of gems I would get a free kite, it would not really seem like a free kite to me…but rather a part of the packaging of the deal – gems plus a kite for Y dollars. Both are legitimate marketing tactics but I am less likely to tumble on to the package deal than to buy what I want “straight up” and be pleasantly surprised by a free gift after the fact.

All that said, though, I am not sure what either tactic has to do with trust. They did not cheat us out of anything. They did not falsely represent what they were selling…or the price. No bait and switch that I can see. The only thing I can discern is they decided to give out a gift without prior “warning.” While others may well look on this warily, it does not seem like a trust issue to me.

Well reasoned, and said. It isn’t a trust issue, it’s an entitlement issue. But that’s business on the internet these days. Give a token gift to show appreciation for customer loyalty, and suddenly someone says you did something wrong.

nolop.8095:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brhhzum4ipo

LOL. I posted this in another thread where someone was complaining about the kites:

As you head from the bottom WP up to the Zephyr and land at the last lightning pull platform there is a child and a woman NPC. Every so often the dialog goes something like this:

Child: I want! I want! I want one mom!

Mother: Okay you can have one.

Child: But I want two! I want two!

I cracked up when I heard that. It reminds me of this forum every time there is some new skin, fun item, reward, or gift. I wonder if it was intentional.

JustTrogdor.7892:

nolop.8095:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brhhzum4ipo

LOL. I posted this in another thread where someone was complaining about the kites:

As you head from the bottom WP up to the Zephyr and land at the last lightning pull platform there is a child and a woman NPC. Every so often the dialog goes something like this:

Child: I want! I want! I want one mom!

Mother: Okay you can have one.

Child: But I want two! I want two!

I cracked up when I heard that. It reminds me of this forum every time there is some new skin, fun item, reward, or gift. I wonder if it was intentional.

If it wasn’t, it sure is ironic!

Oh, and then the mom said he could have three. :-)

tolunart.2095:

Conner.4702:

This is making a mountain out of a lump on the ground. Not even going to bother calling it a molehill as it isn’t even that.

Rewarding loyal customers is something that is actually lacking in a lot of companies and those companies can learn from this and the previous gift.

On the other hand, it illustrates why it’s lacking…

Company: Thanks for being a loyal customer! Here’s some free stuff!

Customer A: I don’t like this free stuff! Give me free stuff I like!

Customer B: Why did you just give me free stuff today? I should get free stuff every day!

Company: Ok, let’s not do that again…

Don’t judge the masses because of the actions of an individual.

If there is one thing I’ve learned from this forum it’s that you can’t give free stuff or rewards for anything or people who didn’t get it will complain about being cheated.

I received a kite, it is in my vault. I also got the last “thank you” (somebody remind me what it was, I have totally forgotten.)

I don’t purchase things through the gem store to get “thank you’s”, or to get “random reinforcement”, or to walk around with “advertisements” in game in the hopes that other players will see them and want to buy them from the gem store, or (pick a phrase that says “this was misconstrued” and/or cynical reaction). I purchase things through the gem store because I want to use them in game.

Surface value, ANet did not need to thank me. Surface value it was kind/good business/(pick an adjective) of them to do so. It does not change how I feel about the game or ANet.

Looking below the surface, it’s obvious there’s a pattern here. ANet seems to be sending fluff items to players that have purchased things via the gem store. The pattern may or may not continue. It may be random reinforcement (usually extremely effective), it may be something they will continue to do, which means players can count on receiving some “free” fluff based on their previous purchases.

In which case, feel free to view it as “already paid for”. In which case it isn’t “free”. In which case.. wait… what was the argument about? Not being warned that “free” stuff was being sent to players who made previous purchases to gauge when/how much a player should pay to get “free” stuff? … I just got lost in my own twisted logic of trying to define what “free” means. Never mind.

Back on topic:

@OP, I am sorry you feel you can’t trust ANet over this issue. They are your feelings, and you have a right to feel/express them.

I have other issues I don’t trust ANet over. The list is moderately long but incredibly shorter than any other list from other developers I have encountered over the years.

lmao wow.

I thought my priorities were kittened.

Dante.1508:

No amount of anything would make me pay money on this game anymore, they had their chance to add serious content and balancing for almost a year, now my money goes to other companies that do add meaningful content..

Too bad you didn’t decide to stop spending time on these forums as well.

jayb.1329:

Dante.1508:

No amount of anything would make me pay money on this game anymore, they had their chance to add serious content and balancing for almost a year, now my money goes to other companies that do add meaningful content..

Too bad you didn’t decide to stop spending time on these forums as well.

One day he’ll realize being able to post is a privilege, not a right and not free either.

@Dante, you’re not required to support the game. You’re not required to play it. You’re not required to whine about it. Feel free to do any of that if you like though. It’s B2P and you’re obviously making the most of that model. But do not be mistaken. Such a blatant claim of non-support effectively means you’re voice has become worthless in the consideration of future content.

Dude it’s a gift… Anet is simply saying thank you to the people who already spent money. People are insane…

They try to do something nice, to show some customer appreciation…..they get slapped in the face. sigh

You know, they aren’t the only company that does things like this. The company I primarily buy my beading materials from occasionally does this as well. I randomly get little tidbits mailed to me, as a ‘thank you’ for my business, or even included as a little extra in the order.

No ‘spend this much and get x free’ ploys. No ‘sign up for our customer appreciation rewards’ (such a joke those). Those things are ploys to get you to spend more money, and if they had advertised the kite in a such a way, it would have devalued it immensely.

Dante.1508:

No amount of anything would make me pay money on this game anymore, they had their chance to add serious content and balancing for almost a year, now my money goes to other companies that do add meaningful content..

So now the community and ANET now knows nothing you bring to the community table no longer has merit and your posting privileges should be removed if all you are going to bring is contemptible comments.

goldenwing.8473:

Looking below the surface, it’s obvious there’s a pattern here. ANet seems to be sending fluff items to players that have purchased things via the gem store.

Is it for buying items in the store with gems, or for purchasing gems with money? I used gold to get gems during the time period and did not get the kite, so I think it is the latter.

IndigoSundown.5419:

goldenwing.8473:

Looking below the surface, it’s obvious there’s a pattern here. ANet seems to be sending fluff items to players that have purchased things via the gem store.

Is it for buying items in the store with gems, or for purchasing gems with money? I used gold to get gems during the time period and did not get the kite, so I think it is the latter.

It’s for buying gems whether using RWM or exchanging IGM for gems and there was a certain amount that had to be purchased AND a time-frame on said purchases.

This free item business has done nothing but increase my trust and loyalty to Anet (or whichever group is responsible for the free items).

I don’t really see how giving gifts to people who spent money within a certain time frame would negatively impact the people who didn’t receive the gifts.

I’ve seen many promotions similar to this: You spend X amount of $ you will get this free gift. In this case Anet didn’t tell you up front but decided to surprise us. Hooray for us that actually support the game! The ones who didn’t get a kite are people who didn’t spend one red cent. You are are no more disadvantaged by us getting free kites than we are advantaged by receiving them.

It’s a bloody kite -or- bloody minis!

I didn’t buy the collector’s edition and didn’t get the special elite skill.

Doing this is a great idea to drive gem store purchases. They’ve established a pattern of giving free items to people who spent money. Those that spent nothing see this, inexplicably get kitten, but then are likely to buy something so they can get in on the next go around. At minimum you have to spend $10.00. If you spend it now just on gems and then receive a free item a month from now worth $10.00, is it really free, or did you just pay for it a month in advance lol.

IndigoSundown.5419:

goldenwing.8473:

Looking below the surface, it’s obvious there’s a pattern here. ANet seems to be sending fluff items to players that have purchased things via the gem store.

Is it for buying items in the store with gems, or for purchasing gems with money? I used gold to get gems during the time period and did not get the kite, so I think it is the latter.

The gift is for purchasing gems, not purchasing items with gems.

goldenwing.8473:

I have other issues I don’t trust ANet over. The list is moderately long but incredibly shorter than any other list from other developers I have encountered over the years.

Nicely said.

Something that is easy to lose track of sometimes is that, even if ANet is less than perfect (a lot less) they are still better than any other MMO developer that I have done business with.

tolunart.2095:

IndigoSundown.5419:

goldenwing.8473:

Looking below the surface, it’s obvious there’s a pattern here. ANet seems to be sending fluff items to players that have purchased things via the gem store.

Is it for buying items in the store with gems, or for purchasing gems with money? I used gold to get gems during the time period and did not get the kite, so I think it is the latter.

The gift is for purchasing gems, not purchasing items with gems.

What?!??

/Apoplectic glare

How dare you, good sir or good madam, deign to insinuate that my outrageously mad ramblings were anything but absolutely flawless in all factual details!

/cough

Yes, you are correct, purchase of gems.

goldenwing.8473:

tolunart.2095:

IndigoSundown.5419:

goldenwing.8473:

Looking below the surface, it’s obvious there’s a pattern here. ANet seems to be sending fluff items to players that have purchased things via the gem store.

Is it for buying items in the store with gems, or for purchasing gems with money? I used gold to get gems during the time period and did not get the kite, so I think it is the latter.

The gift is for purchasing gems, not purchasing items with gems.

What?!??

/Apoplectic glare

How dare you, good sir or good madam, deign to insinuate that my outrageously mad ramblings were anything but absolutely flawless in all factual details!

/cough

Yes, you are correct, purchase of gems.

Merely correcting a typo, your flawless reputation is intact.

;)

tolunart.2095:

goldenwing.8473:

tolunart.2095:

IndigoSundown.5419:

goldenwing.8473:

Looking below the surface, it’s obvious there’s a pattern here. ANet seems to be sending fluff items to players that have purchased things via the gem store.

Is it for buying items in the store with gems, or for purchasing gems with money? I used gold to get gems during the time period and did not get the kite, so I think it is the latter.

The gift is for purchasing gems, not purchasing items with gems.

What?!??

/Apoplectic glare

How dare you, good sir or good madam, deign to insinuate that my outrageously mad ramblings were anything but absolutely flawless in all factual details!

/cough

Yes, you are correct, purchase of gems.

Merely correcting a typo, your flawless reputation is intact.

;)

Lol, more important to have data correct than any reputation. Thanks for catching that! (forgot to put the obvious /wink on previous post).

And once again another example of why we can’t have nice things. As the saying goes no good deed will ever go unpunished.

Honestly people why cant you appreciate the gesture instead of analyzing everything trying to find something wrong / evil to critic?

What gives this gesture power is the very fact its unexpected! Arenanet give stuff to everyone periodically. The horns, The witch’kitten, the doll this/last month etc.. They’re nice but not as nice as the kite and the mini set before that. The mini set was entirely unexpected. The kite… also entirely unexpected who’d expect them to do that just 1 month later?

Gifts are gifts, People who expected Arenanet to co-ordinate with them about the gifts, do they expect people who give them gifts for holidays and birthdays do the same? do they argue with family members who dont co-ordinate any gifts they plan to give them that they’re breaking their trust because there is a chance they’ll get the same gift from multiple people or something they dont like without said co-ordination? if thats what they do I kinda bet they no longer get any gifts anymore.

Thing is a gift is something that is entirely owned by whoever is doing the gifting. See it from that point of view. If you want to buy a gift to a loved one/ family member etc.. you find it sensible you need to advice them from before, tell them what you’re planning to do etc… etc.. that would essentially remove the benefit of gifting, the appreciation of getting something unexpected. The light in the receiver eyes when they get something they like etc..

Same here, the fact its unexpected is what it gives it power. When they give free stuff just like that with an update… ohh cool, bit happy thats it. When they do something like this? pleasantly surprised and appreciative.

They gave away a free, entirely cosmetic, item out of the goodness of their heart? /gasp /indignation HOW DARE THEY?! How could I ever trust them again after such a shameful display of generosity.

But wait! There are some who didn’t get the entirely cosmetic item that most people probably will never take out of their inventory anyway? STOP THE PRESSES! This is big news! How can they run a business like this?!

Yep, it’s obvious to me now- GW2 is doomed. Their gift giving ways are just unacceptable… nay, downright deplorable. How could you, Arenanet? Just… how could you?

TY for continuing to share your points of view. It’s fascinating how polarizing this was. That’s why I chose to post this question. For those they kept this on topic, TY too. This wasn’t about the item itself, it’s about knowledge.

Another fascinating aspect is how some see this as an act of generosity. While others see it as a marketing ploy. I’d be in the latter category honestly.

Some post seemed to not have read that I buy gems frequently and I received a kite. So remember this was a philosophical discussion for the community as a whole…. Why am I asking, because I like to see everyone as happy as can be