Guild Wars 2

Gaile Gray.6029:

Actually, there is information about purchasing the game, as opposed to acquiring it for gems. (Emphasis added for clarity.)

Q: Is the expansion “buy to play”?
A: Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns is a paid expansion to Guild Wars 2, but once you buy it, there are no subscription fees. This means that you can continue playing and access future updates for Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns with no subscription fee.

Since gold can be acquired simply through playing the game, using in-game currency is not a form of payment in this context.

I’d really like a clarified statement that your information is from the inside, rather than just reading the FAQ like the rest of us. I know it probably is, but the way you’re distinguishing purchasing and acquiring just doesn’t make sense given what’s already in game:

When I check other items(like the digital deluxe edition) on the gem store, the button says “Complete Purchase”. And when I go to a vendor, the button says “Buy”. And when I go to buy gems, the button says “Buy Gems”. Those sound like forms of payment to me.

Gaile Gray.6029:

• 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.

Sounds like an interface problem that should be fixed by changing the interface, not the interface and functionality.

Gaile Gray.6029:

• 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.

More like microsoft points, which they got sued over? Sure, that’s exactly what it reminds me of.

Gaile Gray.6029:

• 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.

Not fair, not cool. Don’t remove functionality just because few people used it.

Gaile Gray.6029:

• 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.

If ANet was listening to feedback and totally in control of the situation, I firmly believe this new system would have lasted hours at most. I have a feeling that NCSoft is putting the iron fist on you and forcing this change. If there was some way for you to disclose whether or not that’s happening without causing serious legal issues, that would be awesome. Until then, you’ve got about a trillion rants aimed at ANet which is probably pretty stressful. Sorry about that.

I’d like an invite to the guild(NA). I’m very interested in a place to do dungeons in a helpful, friendly environment instead of risking running in to elitist trolls in LFG.