Guild Wars 2

I personally find the idea that people couldn’t understand the gem store conversion system to be horrifying. I don’t know about anyone else, but by the 4th grade I knew about fractions and rounding and rates. I was 10 years old when I learned everything I’d need to know about the gem and gold conversion system, and I was a poor kid who went to a public school in a poor neighborhood.

I can’t remember where I read this (probably before the the full release from the game), but the cash shop is operated by an independent company. One that is probably commission by NCsoft themselves. Thus, the actual development team for pretty much everything else in the game doesn’t have that much control over how gems are handled. It makes sense when you think of this change as one that is done by the management of an out-of-touch company.

Seriously, the complete removal of a customized conversion system was a bad move. It’s like removing all the cents from the U.S. dollar. My simple suggestion: put it back. You can keep the whole pre-made deal thing, but you must have an option for customized purchases. Put it behind a second screen if it is such a problem.

Another note: a person’s inability to interface with the system isn’t necessarily the system’s fault. Something my award-winning (not an exaggeration) website design instructor told me is that no matter how simple and brain dead you make something, someone will always be deader in the head area.

But hey, look on the bright side, now for a mere 8400 gems worth of black lion keys you could get enough ticket scraps to get a halloween weapon! And new players wont be so confused when buying gems anymore so the games population will skyrocket giving us more people to play with! Come on, what else could you people want.

Like others stated, the problem lies in functionality lost, rather than moved away (hidden) from less comprehensible people and toward more comprehensible people…. After all, the system did exist and was already programmed, no need to take it away

Therefore, I agree with the idea of reimplementing the old custom-order system beside this new increment system, either as an additional input box on the conversion page, or in a separate tab within it.

As for more convenience than before, it should be made that there is a:
“Target spent gold” or “Target acquired Gems” for conversion from gold to gems, and
“Target aquired gold” or “Target spent Gems” for conversion from gems to gold.
This way, players can choose to convert in order to gain the amount they need of one currency, or convert what they are willing to spend in one currency into the other.

The old and new -could- be theoretically integrated through this as well by using the presets to auto-set the inputs in the custom conversion.

Also, if the graph was too confusing for the initial page, move it to a subtab, done.

edit: Thanks to Gaile for taking the brunt of this bulk, you personally deserve better than this. Didn’t actually encounter the frog back in GW1, but I recall hearing fondly about your doings back then.

Zaxares.5419:

As someone who only ever bought gems with cash, this new system doesn’t affect me in the slightest. (In fact, it kinda makes it more convenient for when I buy gems to trade for gold, since I often sell the gems in the same 400/800 etc. bulk packages that I bought them in.)

BUT, I do agree that making the new system more flexible would be a good idea. Allowing people to purchase gems in 100 step increments (or maybe even smaller), seems like a fair compromise.

I have only converted gold→ gems twice and buy gems every pay day. My main issue is the conversion history being removed so I cant track peaks and valleys so I get the most use out of my gems. The other issues I have with it are mostly minor and mostly coming down to too much mouse clicking if the prices are low but I really need the gold.

Smallest Unit should be 50, not 400…

No sir, I don’t like it.

Edit: So, what would make me like it better:

1) Allow me to trade any amount of gems or gold I have for the other. These fixed amounts make for nice examples, but there should be an option to type in exactly what you want to exchange. The interface can round for me and notify me it is doing so.

2) Bring the graph back but make it clearer and better than it was. I time my gem sales carefully to hit peak exchange rates. By removing the graph, you have removed an important tool for maximizing my return on the dollars I give you.

That’s pretty much it. Let me specify any amount. Bring back the graph. The rest can stay as far as I’m concerned.

You want to keep it simple for the nooblings? Then create an Advanced tab or button that allows me to specify exact amounts of gems or gold I wish to gain or part with, and bring back the graph in the Advanced interface.

Them’s my suggestions.

McSlappy.1372:

So just logged in and took a look it’s $200-300 for a pay to win Legendary. Looked through the preview option that they’ve added since I last really played. Gawd those models look old and dated. How about MAYBE $20 maybe.

If we had that at that price, then the Legendaries wouldn’t be so legendary, would it?

Stats-wise they aren’t so different from what you get from an exotic or perhaps an ascended save for some neat perks you get like modifying the stats. Other than that, they don’t give a significant advantage over the rest.

Oh what a bunch of bs.

Give me a break.

The people hurt the most by this ARE the new players, so please, don’t act like this is some “amazing” feature. New players have the least amount of gold, and thus will be hit the hardest by having to “tier-up” when purchasing items off the BL. Oh you want that 500 gem item? lololol too bad. You have to shell out 800 gems for that now. Oh what’s that? You’re new? Oh ok, have fun getting 800 gems worth of gold or using your CC to buy it(hint: this is what they want you to do, and why they introduced this).

No thanks.

Well here is the thing gems are more gold now so me as student i dont work so ill never ever have any items from the gem store in a game that is heavy skin based whit 0% of any kind of form on progression what are my options A: uninstall, B:grind gold for months so u can buy just 1 skin so so so sad

At least make 100 gem increments. Not all of us want to “bundle.” Some of us just want to buy 1 lion guard key once in awhile.

Also, WARN US ANET before you roll stuff like this out! Seriously you all thought we’d all like to switch to the bundle plan? Who thought this was a good idea? Were they a former centurylink agent?

Sigh…

Good job creating something like MS Points. I would like to see a valid reason for me to buy stuff from the gem store now. I did get a laugh at that stupid justification though, so I guess this change was worth something.

I’m a returning player, (Returned due to festival), and I find myself very sad about this update.

I’m gonna say here why this new system don’t works:

-Situation 1: I have 10 or another random number of gems at my wallet. In before, I could get the exact ammount of gems I want to fill the final ammount I need. Now, I have this 10 or x number of gems obsolete.

-Situation 2: I just want (Or need) to buy a quick conveinence, such as bank express, or even one of those new gem store candys. With this system, it blocks this option for me. Because I’ll need to buy a full stack of gems, even if I don’t want to. (And I’m talking about both transactions, gold and real money).

So, Its very sad for me, a returning player, have this immense impact (Again) in another system that worked just as fine, and now is locked into a way that is not a universal design system. And sorry gray, I’m also a game designer, as a hobby, and a professional designer as a job and I need to say – What you guys are doing is a immense disrespect to players. Veterans, or news, don’t exist differences – Both are your players.

You want a suggestion? Here’s mine : let this new system the way it is, but also add a option in lower part of the page that allow the player to buy into variable ammount too. If you really come here saying that this is not possible, then is just left for me to agree that this is a simple tatic of anet to make people spend more into gems.

Thank you for your atention, hopes for a good decision. Cya o/

Just a simple basic move. Bring the old back = all happy

I currently have 181 gems. I want to buy the horns for 200 gems. I can no longer buy the 19 gems that I need.

My options to buy the horns are:
A. Buy 400 gems for 77gold
B. Buy 800 gems for $10
C. Buy nothing, and not get the horns.

I think I’ll go with option C.

This is a TERRIBLE system. And seriously this “confusing” excuse has just become a really, really bad joke now. It’s rather insulting to be honest. We’re not idiots. New players are not idiots either. And if it needed to be made easier for newbies there are better ways of doing so than this. Maybe your intentions are good. Maybe you are truly just trying to help newbies, but surely you see how this new system makes you look REALLY bad. As in cash grabby, unethical bad. Even if you aren’t. Fix this. Please. Show us you aren’t what all those people say you are. I want to believe in you Anet. I really do.

Surely you can just create a hint box or tutorial to help newbies navigate the exchange when they open it up for the first time. Bring back the old system, put in some hints or a tutorial.

Currency exchange tutorial now costs 500 gems.

I find the new gem purchase limitations to be kind of insulting. Please re-allow the option to buy custom quantities of gems.

I like the change.
Doesn’t bother me one bit.

I asked three other players in this household.
Two said the change was a lot easier to understand.

Simple solution to those who don’t like the change: Provide an “expert” button that displays the old exchange interface. Problem solved.

BTW, love the new outfit.

Auger.1790:

I currently have 181 gems. I want to buy the horns for 200 gems. I can no longer buy the 19 gems that I need.

My options to buy the horns are:
A. Buy 400 gems for 77gold
B. Buy 800 gems for $10
C. Buy nothing, and not get the horns.

I think I’ll go with option C.

I will as well go with option C.

Gaile Gray.6029:

Ok, guys. Some of you are unhappy about this change, I can see that. BUT… quite honestly, most of you are sort of (I hate to use the word) ranting (sorry!) instead of offering suggestions.

Hi Gaile,
My suggestion is since people use the Trade Post daily, and have had to adapt to the new buy/sell slider (u know the 1/250 quantity slider).

Why not since they use that daily, have the same mechanics for the gem exchange a slider from 1-250? That way your pleasing everyone, people like me who buys 15-20 gems day to day over time to save for the items they want without putting huge holes in ur bank balance. Whilst also pleasing people who buy larger amounts who can buy in repeatable block over 250 gems at the move of a slider.

At least this way people can purchase the “exact” amount they require and not having to purchase over the required amount and spending Gold they didn’t need too.

Also Ideal for new players too, who are not going to have 70-80g for their first Gem purchase, hell i know players who been playing for ages who have never even had 70-80g all in one go.

Hope something does get sorted with this because i really want an item off gem store and it only costs 200gems and getting the 400 would be a waste.

And, I’m now going to start a bet how long before people remember things cost . . . mostly, multiples of 100 or 50 on the Gem Store.

Which always made me wonder why people would buy odd numbers and then be unable to use them.

Gaile Gray.6029:

Ok, guys. Some of you are unhappy about this change, I can see that. BUT… quite honestly, most of you are sort of (I hate to use the word) ranting (sorry!) instead of offering suggestions.

I assure you, the team leader told me not 15 minutes ago, they will listen to suggestions.

• Does that mean you get everything you want? Probably not.
• Does that mean you should suggest something? Yes, of course! Because they’re expecting player input.

So you want lower increments? Think it through and present a suggestion! You want XYZ in the interface? Post that idea. You would rather see something else? Post what you think about that other thing.

Thanks for your cool head, Gaile. I’ll admit I came in here ready to rant. The change is offensive because it pigeonholes us into buying large amounts of gems even if we don’t need or want – or can’t afford – that many.

I am truly trying to be constructive here, so I want to make clear, hopefully without ranting, that reducing the customer’s flexibility and functionality, pigeonholing their choices, is a poor way to streamline. In this case, it makes more clicks (such as the nine clicks for 375 gold example given earlier), and also reduces our ability to get what we want (such as buying odd or small numbers of gems to make a nice rounded number to buy a particular item without having leftover gems that we can’t use).

Putting 400 gems as the smallest possible amount to purchase was the most egregious error in judgement.

• Keeping the same interface, simply make the increments smaller at the beginning and wider apart: (1?), 10, 100, (250?) 400, 2000, would solve the majority of the problem.

• Someone suggested being able to put in how many we want to BUY instead of how much we want to SPEND [on a sliding basis, I mean, not just with buttons as seen currently]. That, to me, is the best idea of all. It clarifies the relative costs of things better than the current system, and allows us to choose how many we want.

Also important in this discussion:

• Paying attention to the synergy between item prices and purchasable items. It’s really aggravating when things don’t come out to be multiples of each other. Why can’t the 35-gem items be 25 gems, 118 gem items (?!!!) go to 100 or 125? If some items are 1000 gems, why not offer a 1000 gem option in the cash part of the store? Why make outfits cost 700 gems but only sell gems in 800 gem chunks?

I know that from a financial standpoint, of course that’s going to be profitable for YOU, but at the consumer end, it’s not profitable for me…. and that makes the consumer unhappy. It’s aggravating to have to plan out my purchases so that I can end up without weird numbers of unspent gems for months between gem store purchases, or without having to convert some of the gems to gold at a loss, or what have you.

I guarantee, if you made $10 buy 1000 gems and adjusted your item prices to be easy multiples, you’d have people so much more willing to spend money. Outfits for 500 gems. Or if you must, 1000 gems for the first month and 500 gems thereafter (with a big red notice on the buy page, “1000 gems for this new release item; price goes down in XX days”)

• Paying attention to the synergy between the needs and desires of noobs and vets. And I use the term “noobs” advisedly, because the level of simplicity required to cater to them is mindboggling. Clarity and simplicity in design are nice (the new design of the exchange is attractive, btw), but so many times lately you guys have been trading away convenience and reward (in the sense of getting what we want or need) in order to gain that clarity and simplicity.

Economically, being required to buy at least 400 gems at a time is not good for the customer, especially when considering that synergy I just mentioned previously. We know it’s good for you and it’s not good for us. We’re not ignorant of math. And that makes this situation frustrating.

Thanks for listening.

Lol at “give us suggestions to improve this feature” crap.

Ok, here you go: stop making things suck.

You’re welcome.

But you know this already, and you decided a long time ago to put monetary gains before providing quality products. It’ll work in the short term, but where do you think your reputation is headed? Maybe you should just disable trading gold for gems?

I wish you would see upper management handle this response and not a forum rep dealing with a mob. The rookie mistakes this company makes and then asks low tier employees to take the bullets, truly disgusting.

Edit: oh and I believe they have the 400 gem set to deal with players buying gold off 3rd party farming sites. #thetruth

IF this new system was merged with the old functionality, as in have these new options, but retain the ability to buy in different numbers if a player so wished, and retained the price history, then this would have been a great change. Easy to cater to new players, easy for a quick purchase, and would have the benefits of both worlds without the drawbacks.

But no. once again a truly horrifying decision. Is it because of Anets precious metrics? A handful of (well reasoned) complaints that while need to be addressed, doesn’t need the baby to be thrown out with the bathwater?

Or is it just Anet once again screwing the veterans over? A big change, and once again, the big question, WHERE THE KITTEN WAS THE COMMUNICATION???? Oh, thats right, another big change foisted upon the game without even a glancing pass over the community.

Just think, if the Anet brains trust had bothered to pass these ideas over the community, they might avoid this. Once again a change that was so drastic that it is causing genuine harm to Anet’s reputation (no, don’t laugh, they apparently still have one), and where, kitten many times before, going along the path they did, but more cautiously and without hurtling themselves off the cliff, would have made a good change. Everything in moderation. A smaller step along these lines would be grand, but hey, Anet knows whats best, eh?

And as for removing the pricing history, well data can still be collected by players, but trends will be a little harder to identify, and removes a little of the stock-market style fun that could be had in speculating. It also very conveniently hides detailed information should Anet decide to have a stealthy fiddle with the economy. Oh, you wouldn’t do that Anet? Forgive me if I I don’t believe a word you say anymore.

This is what the communication drive got us? A system that is so extreme in changes that no one could want this? Never change, Anet, and going by recent new features, there is no fear of that.

Rant and anger over, sorta. Seriously, Anet, the only way to build systems that work for the players rather than against is to include us in the development before release. This, like so many times before, would have been a great change if you hadn’t overcooked the flaming idea. As always, you went far to the extreme, and I am just wondering, how on earth can this keep happening? And again no communication about such a big change before hand. Do you, Anet, truly have respect for players and can demonstrate that when you have in no uncertain terms shafted us yet again?

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT:

1) Keep the current numbers for easy access, but include option for a manualentering of a number. I.E. Have your 1000 gem button, then an option at the bottom, check box or something that gives an interface similar to the old one where you input a number and does the old calculation.

2) Re-introduce the price history chart. It was a nice feature that allowed for speculation.

3) In any future change to a system, or the introduction of a new one, notify the community, say, 2 weeks before hand, and be on hand to take criticism and feedback, and engage with the community before release. That way hopefully the released product may actually reflect the direction Anet want to go AND the needs and desires of the community. At the moment its very much “We’re doing this and to heck with you guys”. Allow us into the process, if only at the later stages. You’d avoid a lot of rage from the communities and have a much easier time of us.

Gaile Gray.6029:

Hey there,

Here are a few tidbits from the team:

• A lot of newer players had trouble with the interface. That doesn’t apply to you, you’re veterans who have been around the conversion block a time or two. But newer players will benefit from the updated system.
• The goal was to make the Gem Store more like other shopping experiences, and if you think about it, there is more of that feel to it now.
• You may be surprised to know this (I know I was) but very few people bought gems at smaller denominations than the first one offered in the new system. That’s not to say they never did, nor that there wouldn’t be the desire to do so. But overall, the current options were selected based on player purchases in the past.
• The team is going to listen to your feedback and, if and when it’s practical and desirable, they can look towards adjusting the new system to better meet your needs.

So please keep your thoughts coming on the new system. Feel free to make suggestions but please, keeping them constructive would be very much appreciated.

I’ve been on the fence about buying gems for $$$ to buy a few things in the store. This change and (lack of) response to the outrage just put me solidly in the “never give Anet any more money” camp.

Well done.

I don’t post often, but this deserves a post.
I like the simplicity of the new system, but I hate that now I cannot buy the amount that I need and am forced to buy a very large amount!
Easy fix: leave current system and add in a “buy gem amount” slot. You select how many gems you want and it will choose the correct price for you! Always thought we should have had an option like that to begin with.
With the current way you cannot any longer buy the amount of gems needed for sale items and such.
Thx for your time!
Syn

Tobias Trueflight.8350:

And, I’m now going to start a bet how long before people remember things cost . . . mostly, multiples of 100 or 50 on the Gem Store.

Which always made me wonder why people would buy odd numbers and then be unable to use them.

When they have sales, it’s not unusual for the sales price to be an odd number. So there’s tons of people out there with a strange amount of gems. I currently have 181 gems, and there is no way for me to buy 19 gems to even it out. With this new system I will forever have useless gems.

Hey, I got a suggestion.

If you bring back being able to buy Gems singly or in bulk with Gold, allow us to buy them singly or in bulk with cash too! It’s totally perfect and there’s no way anyone could dislike it.

Just bought $10 gem using credit card, I need 900 for the new outfit and devil horn. Then I saw this stupid change, worst spent money ever.
Sorry Anet, I’ve got to say this, maybe I won’t buy another gem using my real money.

Auger.1790:

Tobias Trueflight.8350:

And, I’m now going to start a bet how long before people remember things cost . . . mostly, multiples of 100 or 50 on the Gem Store.

Which always made me wonder why people would buy odd numbers and then be unable to use them.

When they have sales, it’s not unusual for the sales price to be an odd number. So there’s tons of people out there with a strange amount of gems. I currently have 181 gems, and there is no way for me to buy 19 gems to even it out.

It’s why I said “mostly”, and my brain kicked me in the hands before I hit post to remind me of that detail. Mostly because I have an odd number of gems myself . . . and no idea how.

This kind of feels like a big slap in the face to anyone who converts gems to gold or gold to gems, and I’m not spending anymore money buying gems until they sort this mess out, because I’m NOT okay with this. Atleast add a way to buy 50 gems at a time, because having 400 gems as the lowest possible is just plain dumb.

afoot.6932:

I find the new gem purchase limitations to be kind of insulting. Please re-allow the option to buy custom quantities of gems.

Yeah, why not just have that “easy” mode setting as the default mode, but then have an “advanced settings” exchange link at the bottom that we can click on that takes us to the old normal exchange.

And you realize this new system isn’t just annoying to people who buy gems with gold. I often buy gems with real money to buy various costumes or minis. Often times I have some gems left over. Sometimes I hang on to the gems and wait for something new to come out. Other times I say “meh, let me just exchange the rest of this for some gold.” Now with this silly new system I can no longer just exchange the rest of my gems for gold. I’m stuck only selling only certain increments and can’t get the full value for all my gems. It’s aggravating.

Gaile (and “the team”),

My suggestion: Have a button marked “Set custom amounts”, that takes you to the old screen. Add a “Return” button to the old screen to take you back to the new one.

My position: I rarely buy gems with gold. I’m casual, and rarely have much gold. I blow it on gear for my alts, or getting skins in-game. Right now, I actually have less than 18 gold. But I often exchange a few gems for gold to get that last little bit I need to get something I want from the market. It works (worked) great for me. Sometimes, I’d just take any leftover gems I had when it was a small amount, and exchange them all. Now, I can’t do any of that.

My rant: This is a very clear marketing ploy, it’s online marketing 101. This is hardly the first place I’ve seen it, and I’ve never really liked it but I’ve dealt with it when I had no other choice. The problem here is, I DID have a choice, until it was taken away. This part of the game has been made more hostile and predatory towards the players. There is no denying this, even if it did come with a cleaner exchange screen. (And for what it’s worth, the new exchange screen is pretty kitten nice. I like the totals that show at the top.) People are upset, not just at this but at this on top of all the other distressing changes that have been made in the last year. Anyone surprised by the backlash this instigated really isn’t paying attention.

With due respect,
Palador

Can someone explain to me how a change meant for “new players” has a minimum exchange rate of 75g??? It took me months to get that much gold initially. Far longer than it took me to figure out how to multiply two numbers together to exchange gold for gems.

HEY, HERE’S A THOUGHT. If it was “too confusing for new players”, which we all know sounds so darn farcical, it’s not even funny, why didn’t you just add the fixed denominations, then have another button that says CUSTOM AMOUNT????

CAN WE ALL PLEASE JUMP ON THIS???

THERE IS NO EXCUSE WHATSOEVER, AS THIS TYPE OF OPTION COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY INCLUDED ALONGSIDE THE FIXED DENOMINATIONS.

“Oh, you’re only one gem away from that character slot you wanted to purchase? Too bad, buy four hundred.”

Tobias Trueflight.8350:

And, I’m now going to start a bet how long before people remember things cost . . . mostly, multiples of 100 or 50 on the Gem Store.

Which always made me wonder why people would buy odd numbers and then be unable to use them.

5 Foil wrapped candies: 118 gems.
Bank access: 35 gems.
Total makeover kit: 350 gems.
Riding Broom: 250 gems
5 Magic find booster: 550 gems
5 transmutation charges: 270 gems
Various finishers: 500-650 gems

Purchasable amounts of gems: 800, 1600, 2800…

Tell me how those numbers on top can divide evenly into the numbers on the bottom. (okay, sure, bank access goes evenly into the biggest one… so I should have to spend $35 in real money to get an evenly divisible costing amount of bank access express items?)

ZudetGambeous.9573:

Can someone explain to me how a change meant for “new players” has a minimum exchange rate of 75g??? It took me months to get that much gold initially. Far longer than it took me to figure out how to multiply two numbers together to exchange gold for gems.

OMG, I completely forgot about that. QFT. I only have 110 gold right now as a dedicated vet.

Before I quit for good, just wanted to leave this suggestion here.

Use a slider.

Buy Gems or Buy Gold. Use the slide to specify the number of gems or gold you wish to get, interface calculates the number of gold (for gems) or gems (for gold) you will need to get that amount. Fix the top of the slider to the max amount you can do in one transaction or the maximum funds the player currently has for the given mode. Make the slider move in one currency increments with the arrow keys to allow fine-tuning at higher resolutions than pixel-level. For simplicity, add buttons to jump the slider to specific values if desired (or hide the slider in a “Custom” option).

Have fun everyone, was a good two years!

I feel what would be easiest and would make me happy, would be to:

1. Have an option to sell a single gem (Or better yet, let the player set the amount. Like it used to be.)
2. Have an option to buy a single gem (Or better yet, let the player set the amount.)
3. Add the graph back ( It lets me know when it is a good time to sell or buy, and brings me much joy. )

Or just revert it back to the way it was. That would make me the happiest.

I only covert gold and gems when I have weird amounts of gems left, which the current system won’t let me fix. I guess I could spend it all on candy but- lol nope.
If this isn’t fixed I’ll just consider my extra gems a sad tip for all the fine service Anet has given me in the past.
Cause I won't be buying any more gems until then.

At the end of the day how can Anet Justify this crap? i loved the fact that i could buy the gems i needed. now i have to dump 80g for a revieve orb in fotm or a make over kit for my main. this is insane.

One bad thing after another in the world of tyria. I never dreamed that the same Anet the maker of the most free and open mmo would rip off there Loyal and Long lasting Player base. I am Crushed.

46k hours played, at this rate i dont think i will make it to 5k.

As it stands right now I can click to buy 9 gems 250 times and get 2250 gems, or I can click once and get 1865 gems. That is called Highway Robbery in most circles.
I have 800 gems left over from a gift card I got last Christmas, I wont be asking for them again, that is for sure. I will never buy gems. and I wont convert my gold to gems either. Thank you Anet.

Gaile Gray.6029:

Ok, guys. Some of you are unhappy about this change, I can see that. BUT… quite honestly, most of you are sort of (I hate to use the word) ranting (sorry!) instead of offering suggestions.

I assure you, the team leader told me not 15 minutes ago, they will listen to suggestions.

• Does that mean you get everything you want? Probably not.
• Does that mean you should suggest something? Yes, of course! Because they’re expecting player input.

So you want lower increments? Think it through and present a suggestion! You want XYZ in the interface? Post that idea. You would rather see something else? Post what you think about that other thing. Please don’t get into the whole “I’m going to kick the devs and their little dogs, too” because it’s not doing you or us any good at all.

I’m not here to apologize. I’m here to communicate and right now, the communication is coming in without a whole lot of substance. Over to you for suggestions and constructive input!

and THIS is just one of the glaring issues players have with the dev team. where was the search for input and suggestions PRIOR to launching these monumental changes? instead of collaborating with the players and moving together you want to walk your own path then wonder why there is no one following you. you literally bring this on yourselves, so i am sorry i have no sympathy for your woeful disregard for feedback PRIOR to patches. and you create such a contentious atmosphere for players that you lose any goodwill players would have afforded you and then the cycle just becomes more vicious as players become more disgruntled and with each successive patch the devs appear to be more disconnected from the needs and wants of the playerbase.

all the devs needed to do was allow players to enter the EXACT amount of gems or gold they wanted and there would have been ZERO need for anything to be simplified (which is such a cop-out and using “feedback” from tickets as a reason for it makes it even more slimey as the players cannot verify it and i bet even if there are some who were confused by it the volume was no where near enough to warrant a change of this scale). ANet what happened to you? when did development of GW2 become more about inconveniencing and alienating the player base for some quick cash instead of building upon the game you created in beta which the players could really put their support behind? /sigh

Blatant attempt to gouge as much real world cash/in-game gold from the consumer as possible. Perfect example is outfit prices being set at 700 gems, which isn’t divisible by 400, meaning you have to spring for the 800 gems. It’s the same crap Microsoft pulled with its Microsoft points on Xbox Live, which they’ve since retired.

Discounting gem store items will screw people over, because it will put people in situations like I’m currently in, where I’m sitting at 240 gems. Those 40 gems are completely useless. Additionally, people who want to convert gems to gold are put in a situation where they screw themselves out of having a useable amount of gems in the event they want to purchase something evenly from the gem store.

Ridiculous.

The current interface can be convenient, but the flexibility of the old interface really should be restored. The simplest solution that could have been done (and it almost had to have been discussed at some point) is changing it so instead of choosing how much of currency A you wanted to convert into currency B, setting it up so you chose how much of currency B you wanted and it lets you know how much of currency A is needed.

Would have been much simpler, much more flexible, and much less confusing.

OK, ok yeah… I’m not exactly happy with the new UI ’Cuz when I could buy gems it was always a matter of how much gold I wanted to spend not how many gems I needed. The new UI completely bags the concept of “Odd Lots.”

My feels is to bring back the old UI in some way for us Veterans while leaving this UI up for the new chums. Maybe have an “Odd Lots” button to access it. Problem solved.

My fallback is go with the 100 gem lots. I’ll get used to it I guess. I was very skilled with the old UI and had a lot of data in my head about the historic prices. I never got much use outta the graph except to flag very broad trends.

I’m very confused how this got past any internal design review without serious objections being raised. For the life of me I can’t see how this is a positive for Anet.

I would like to ask that we remember Gaile is/has been/ will be a strong advocate for the players while maintaining her job. That’s a tough road to walk so please, stay frosty, she’s a really good egg. Makes a great Spice Cake too.

Odeezee.7362:

and THIS is just one of the glaring issues players have with the dev team. where was the search for input and suggestions PRIOR to launching these monumental changes? instead of collaborating with the devs and moving together you want to walk you own path then wonder why there is no one following you. you literally bring this on yourselves, so i am sorry i have no sympathy for you woeful disregard for feedback PRIOR to patches. and you create such a contentious atmosphere for players that you lose any goodwill players would have afforded you and then the cycle just becomes more vicious as players become more disgruntled and with each successive patch the devs appear to be more disconnected from the needs and wants of the playerbase.

This.

I think we should have the ability to buy a custom amount of Gems with Gold, basically have the capability of the old system and if guys want to leave this in for new players that’s fine with me. But please don’t force veterans who have used the old system and like it to be forced to use something that forces us to buy more Gems than we need.

For as long as we don’t have custom gold to gem conversions I will not be buying gems or converting gold to gems. It’s that simple for me. I rarely post on the forums but for this I had to say something. Quite shocking change honestly. I’ve been a loyal player since the head-start, never expected to see this happen.

Wow this thread has exploded….

I have to agree there should have been lower tier options for buying gems.

25
50
100
200
400

This would not confuse new players, if it does they are well under the age to be playing any MMO.

shaquinna.2869:

Gaile Gray.6029:

Bellizare.5816:

LOL, looks like torches and pitchforks time.

And Gaile, people are reacting in an understandable manner.

It’s because they are angry.

The big question in my mind, is why?

Yeah, I was thinking the same about the pitchforks and torches.

I don’t discount players when they are upset, though, and I truly understand that sometimes things hit close to home and cause some angst, anger, upset, any sort of reaction. (I’d think it was possible to have the discussion without it devolving into unpleasantness, but then, I always was an optimist! )

I asked a quick question of a team leader about the changes. I thought the answers were pretty clear so I posted them. But if you want more info, maybe there’s more to be learned and I’ll ask about that tomorrow.

The way you treat the people in this forum with your so called ‘sarcasm’ tells enough of what Anet thinks of us.

Anet just destroyed these peoples perspective on the gemstore and trust and faith in the game. But I’m sure we’re all glad you understand this.

Perhaps you are unclear on the definition of sarcacsm.

Edited because I can’t spell atm. : (