Animism.7530

Remind yourself, there is no gem store based gear progression in this game. Exotic is plenty for open PvE. Ascended IS needed for upper-tier Fractals and easy to craft. Legendary gear is more decorative (in some cases) but primarily only offers stat swapping at no cost and is earned by participating in top tier content and investing time after you have the personal skill. Like any good RPG, you earn it by playing the game, not putting down $$$. You can obtain all of that stuff with gem->gold purchases, and save lots of time.You could in theory, pay for 800 gems, convert to gold, and pay for a team to complete your T4 daily fractals. It could easily be more efficient than actually playing the game. OK ... But none of those things indicates the game is expensive. Whether you can get something with in-game or RL currency is irrelevant to how you can progress; the paths are the same and benefit players ability to make choices based on their RL circumstatnces ... but that's a different thread. You know, I've had some time to think about it .. it's pretty weird that you have a big problem with the current game business model because of how financially irresponsible addicts would spend money in it, making it 'expensive' for them ... but you have absolutely no problem with a subscription-based business model that makes the game expensive to a much wider, more responsible segment of players. Sounds like you have an agenda for change ... based on an invalid argument of reducing overall game expense to players. Don't worry, we will point these little discrepancies out as they are made. To be fair, I didn't originally suggest or state the change had to be to a subscription based model - that's all your misunderstanding.Also... It is certainly not a "different thread". But you are saying that it shouldn't be the current model because of 'expensive' to addicts right? I mean, maybe you need to elaborate what you DO support because if your argument is that we should abolish the current model for that reason ... it sure would be pretty nonsensical to replace it with one that is expensive for a larger, more responsible segment of the players don't you think? Honestly, I think it's just a big ruse to justify the way you want things to work without actually thinking about how "reducing expenses for players" justification would be even MORE relevant with any other model. I mentioned that I don't think gambling and loot boxes should be allowed in its current form. Not only because I think it's unethical in some examples, but also because it may be counterproductive in some other cases. Right ... and that has NOTHING to do with how expensive the game is. It is NOT unethical just because you think Anet should have built their business model around financially irresponsible players. Suggesting the game is predatory is is not recognizing how Anet HAS ALREADY created a business model where people can play for FREE. I'm sorry - but your response does not make sense and is incredibly defamatory. I did not say that they should have built their business model around financially irresponsible players. I have already mentioned previously in this thread about how funding from microtransactions tends to come from a minority of players. My opinion over whether it is unethical is my own, thanks. Being able to play the game for free in a limited capacity isn't even related to what we're discussing.

Remind yourself, there is no gem store based gear progression in this game. Exotic is plenty for open PvE. Ascended IS needed for upper-tier Fractals and easy to craft. Legendary gear is more decorative (in some cases) but primarily only offers stat swapping at no cost and is earned by participating in top tier content and investing time after you have the personal skill. Like any good RPG, you earn it by playing the game, not putting down $$$. You can obtain all of that stuff with gem->gold purchases, and save lots of time.You could in theory, pay for 800 gems, convert to gold, and pay for a team to complete your T4 daily fractals. It could easily be more efficient than actually playing the game. OK ... But none of those things indicates the game is expensive. Whether you can get something with in-game or RL currency is irrelevant to how you can progress; the paths are the same and benefit players ability to make choices based on their RL circumstatnces ... but that's a different thread. You know, I've had some time to think about it .. it's pretty weird that you have a big problem with the current game business model because of how financially irresponsible addicts would spend money in it, making it 'expensive' for them ... but you have absolutely no problem with a subscription-based business model that makes the game expensive to a much wider, more responsible segment of players. Sounds like you have an agenda for change ... based on an invalid argument of reducing overall game expense to players. Don't worry, we will point these little discrepancies out as they are made. To be fair, I didn't originally suggest or state the change had to be to a subscription based model - that's all your misunderstanding.Also... It is certainly not a "different thread". But you are saying that it shouldn't be the current model because of 'expensive' to addicts right? I mean, maybe you need to elaborate what you DO support because if your argument is that we should abolish the current model for that reason ... it sure would be pretty nonsensical to replace it with one that is expensive for a larger, more responsible segment of the players don't you think? Honestly, I think it's just a big ruse to justify the way you want things to work without actually thinking about how "reducing expenses for players" justification would be even MORE relevant with any other model. I mentioned that I don't think gambling and loot boxes should be allowed in its current form. Not only because I think it's unethical in some examples, but also because it may be counterproductive in some other cases.I also mentioned that more items should be made to be obtainable separate from the gemstore. I really don't think I need to be making a case for a perfect system here, my criticism of what we have should be perfectly acceptable.Besides which - see my last comment. I'm not going to answer your comments suggesting it is a ruse or that it would be solely for my benefit - please try be more considerate of what you are suggesting?

I'm surprised Balthazar didn't blow up more, to be honest.All talk, no explosions!

Not for me they weren't.I was selling Dungeons and Fotm to players looking to get quick exp or tokens. Then Arenanet broke it first by destroying dungeon rewards; and second by changing all of the CC mechanics to be lesser than they previously were.Suddenly soft CC did practically nothing to the enemies you wanted to use it on the most...

Remind yourself, there is no gem store based gear progression in this game. Exotic is plenty for open PvE. Ascended IS needed for upper-tier Fractals and easy to craft. Legendary gear is more decorative (in some cases) but primarily only offers stat swapping at no cost and is earned by participating in top tier content and investing time after you have the personal skill. Like any good RPG, you earn it by playing the game, not putting down $$$. You can obtain all of that stuff with gem->gold purchases, and save lots of time.You could in theory, pay for 800 gems, convert to gold, and pay for a team to complete your T4 daily fractals. It could easily be more efficient than actually playing the game. OK ... But none of those things indicates the game is expensive. Whether you can get something with in-game or RL currency is irrelevant to how you can progress; the paths are the same and benefit players ability to make choices based on their RL circumstatnces ... but that's a different thread. You know, I've had some time to think about it .. it's pretty weird that you have a big problem with the current game business model because of how financially irresponsible addicts would spend money in it, making it 'expensive' for them ... but you have absolutely no problem with a subscription-based business model that makes the game expensive to a much wider, more responsible segment of players. Sounds like you have an agenda for change ... based on an invalid argument of reducing overall game expense to players. Don't worry, we will point these little discrepancies out as they are made. To be fair, I didn't originally suggest or state the change had to be to a subscription based model - that's all your misunderstanding.Also... It is certainly not a "different thread".

Remind yourself, there is no gem store based gear progression in this game. Exotic is plenty for open PvE. Ascended IS needed for upper-tier Fractals and easy to craft. Legendary gear is more decorative (in some cases) but primarily only offers stat swapping at no cost and is earned by participating in top tier content and investing time after you have the personal skill. Like any good RPG, you earn it by playing the game, not putting down $$$. You can obtain all of that stuff with gem->gold purchases, and save lots of time.You could in theory, pay for 800 gems, convert to gold, and pay for a team to complete your T4 daily fractals. It could easily be more efficient than actually playing the game. OK ... But none of those things indicates the game is expensive. Whether you can get something with in-game or RL currency is irrelevant to how you can progress; the paths are the same and benefit players ability to make choices based on their RL circumstatnces ... but that's a different thread. You know, I've had some time to think about it .. it's pretty weird that you have a big problem with how the game business structure exists because of how financially irresponsible addicts would spend money in it, making it 'expensive' for them ... but you have absolutely no problem with a subscription-based business model that makes the game expensive to a much wider, more responsible segment of players. Sounds like you have an agenda for change ... based on an invalid argument of reducing overall game expense to players. Don't worry, we will point these little discrepancies out as they are made. I find that most of these types of threads are veiled attempts to get support to change GW2 to a subscription model so that the players get everything for their monthly fee, not understanding that it would be cheaper in the long run to preserve the model that is currently in place. /smhAre you trying to infer that Guild Wars 2 would not do well under a subscription model and wouldn't have the potential to fund a greater amount of content if the game was worthy of the price to players? Are you also happy to avoid the topic of how a gemstore looks to casual gamers looking to play?

In the early days/years of GW2 I defended Anets monetizing principle of the Gemstore. It was one of the better ones.Not anymore. They became too greedy and aggressive with this. I do remember when Anet released expansions (if I remember correctly it happend with HoT/gliders and also with PoF/mounts), they released shortly after the expansion new skins for this new items in the gemstore and the price for the skins was much higher than the price for the complete expansion. The skins should have been part of the expansion that we bought and this greediness of Anet was/is totally disgusting. But as long as it works and they make money with this, I expect Anet will do so again in the future. It's really easy money - and if I'm honest, I already didn't like that the Living World segments in-between were not free, unless you play consistently or happened to log in at the right time. It was irritating to spend gems on segments of story that were for the most part, very underwhelming in the earlier seasons. For a casual player, I imagine this was generally viewed as extremely poor and may have put off many. The story has vastly improved now, thankfully. Though... I feel in a way there's a lot of time to make up for... Recently, I keep veering off at this point in a discussion over game lore and cinematics and find myself in awe of some of WoW's latest cinematics and trailers... though I barely touched the game and am fully adjusted to the modern combat system in GW2. The main thing I would contrast the MTX to would be Runescape/OS, though a handful of other titles of lesser hours or seriousness.I hope I can get the message across sincerely to Anet even though it may be unpleasant - but I personally consider GW2 to be the 'worst' out of all for MTX design..

Twisting the point... The progression in this game ends up as grinding for cosmetics. All the best cosmetics are now being sold and designed for the gem store.Honestly. What is so hard to understand. ... Probably the part where you claim these completely optional items has something to do with how expensive the game is for someone. Yes. In the same way that expansion packs for games are a measure of their expense for content. This is pretty... basic. I don't even think what you wrote is a sentence so I don't even know how to respond. "a measure of their expense for content" ... what does that even mean? What is expensive is simply a matter of a person's circumstances, that is all. Thank you. You have just outlined a major problem with the viability of this game to the general public.

Did I say that specifically? Please re-read my previous comments as the answer of where I start drawing a line is there, I promise you.

It's completely absurd to label a company immoral that makes goods or services available to purchase because a few people can't control their spending on things they don't need. That still has nothing to do with how expensive things are for someone. Do you need a bigger shovel to dig that hole you are in? Are you trying to say that the game is too expensive because people are irresponsible with their finances now? Nope ... still not going to work. I mean, you just literally condemned most companies (many I'm sure you patronize as well) for being immoral simply because they sell things to financially irresponsible people. I'm going to let that tea steep for a bit until it permeates your mind. Would I say that the game can be expensive because some people are 'irresponsible' and managing to pay thousands and thousands of real life currencies?Yes.... Yes I would. That depends on the person, not what is available for purchase in the shop. And yet the game is designed with gambling, with loot boxes, and with all the best flashy and prestigious looking items just one click away!This is almost becoming amusing to me, as people can likely tell with my responses turning slightly facetious.

Twisting the point... The progression in this game ends up as grinding for cosmetics. All the best cosmetics are now being sold and designed for the gem store.Honestly. What is so hard to understand. ... Probably the part where you claim these completely optional items has something to do with how expensive the game is for someone.Yes. In the same way that expansion packs for games are a measure of their expense for content. This is pretty... basic.

It's completely absurd to label a company immoral that makes goods or services available to purchase because a few people can't control their spending on things they don't need. That still has nothing to do with how expensive things are for someone. Do you need a bigger shovel to dig that hole you are in? Are you trying to say that the game is too expensive because people are irresponsible with their finances now? Nope ... still not going to work. I mean, you just literally condemned most companies (many I'm sure you patronize as well) for being immoral simply because they sell things to financially irresponsible people. I'm going to let that tea steep for a bit until it permeates your mind. Would I say that the game can be expensive because some people are 'irresponsible' and managing to pay thousands and thousands of real life currencies?Yes.... Yes I would. That is pretty much characteristic of what the game can offer. Ironically, it is before we even mention gambling and loot boxes.

Actually ... people purchasing things off the GS is a win win for EVERYONE ... so this idea he has about adverse affecting others ... pretty nonsensical. Anet gets paidPlayers continue to get to play the game Sounds to me like we have some 1%er anti-capitalist thinking here ... that ironically plays an MMO to support 'the man and his system of control through oppression and addiction'. There are very clear issues with the gem store and microtransactions in general within the gaming industry; to a point that it would be nonsensical for me to elaborate further and explain to you what you can find readily available on google.

A good quote to see - though it doesn't mean they didn't make a mistake, which I think they have somewhere down the line. First of all; there is little use asking me for statistical data, a player, writing constructive criticism to a large, wealthy company who manage the game.Second I'm not sure what you are referring to with "cash only". Please see one of my previous comments breaking down your question in more detail. Suffice to say, the requirement over items is not what we're discussing here. I think you would have to read the discussion thread further to find that answer; as I can only reiterate the basis of it so many times. I did not ask you for “statistical data“. Surely you can answer those simplified questions. @Swagger.1459"Think it would be good for you to gain a better understanding of “pay to win”... And if you think you do understand already, then I want you to explain, in detail, what are the cash only items offered on the gemstore that provide a statistical advantage over another player? What items give players a statistical advantage over other players in wvw, spvp, open world pve, raids, and fractals... that are only available to folks that fork over real money? You, like the op, accused Anet of being “predatory”... So I want you to explain to the community exactly how a game that doesn’t charge a monthly sub and allows players to exchange gold for gems to get anything off the gemstore for $0 “predatory”? " Those 3 questions do not ask for “statistical data”. 2 of them ask what items are cash only purchases in the gemstore that allow you to “win” over other players in the various game modes? What items can I only buy with cash that lets me beat everyone in wvw and spvp who didn’t buy those gemstore items? What cash only items allow me to beat raid and fractal bosses faster than players who didn’t buy those cash only gemstore items? Hmmm? You accuse Anet of being “predatory”, yet you can’t answer those simple questions to the community who reads this? The level of data and inferences you are asking for are best served and detected by Arenanet. We do not have access to their metrics. It's mostly only appropriate to comment on the reality of the situation (the end product), rather than the theory utilised which is largely an unknown factor. You are also confusing the points being made and the initial vertical progression system in the game, and I don't want to keep reiterating it. So you are admitting you don’t know what “pay to win” is? These questions are simple and do not require “statistical data” or “metrics”. You are clearly avoiding the questions because you cannot back up your claims. You can’t even answer a simple question calling out your “predatory” comments against a game that doesn’t charge players a monthly sub and that allows players to acquire any item off the gem store for FREE by exchanging gold to gems. You are clearly confused with the terms “pay to win” and “predatory”. Fine.. I'll respond to you even though your questions are answered through multiple of my previous comments and I made a point of that. I didn't say that cosmetics are required; I said that they end up being the sole purpose of the game, inherently through the horizontal progression system after the initial brief vertical progression. I even gave an analogy contrasting it directly to a vertical system and how microtransactions are generally received throughout different games. The remarks of Arenanet's tactics by me, and I'm quite sure the OP and others; relates to the design of the game inherently favouring people who are willing to pay for every item in their game through the purchasing of gems; and it equally undermines the value of those items. Hence; it can be called a wallet game.If you find something you fancy in this horizontal progression game (cosmetics.. after point 1...), the most viable way to get them (also factoring that the items that people tend to want to obtain tend to be in these later days of GW2 designed for the gem store) are designed by Arenanet to be through the gem store, for real-world money purchases. You did not answer those specific questions. You are deflecting because the answers do not fit your accusations, or you are confused on the terms “pay to win” and “predatory”. Ok. I'll leave this again to the scrutiny of the reader as it is perfectly clear... And most readers will see that you are either deflecting by not answering or confused with certain terms. No... You are asking questions that do not even relate to the point; questions that were already answered previously and not being appropriate to what was being proposed. I say I'll leave it to the scrutiny of the reader, because I am confident that what I have said makes enough sense and that someone with equal analysis of the points in mind and language used, will come to a similar conclusion. Yeah? How is my prettier mount skin giving me a power advantage over another player in wvw and spvp? What CASH ONLY power enhancement items can I buy that let's me beat player who didn't buy that item? What CASH ONLY power enhancement items let me beat raid bosses faster than a player who didn't buy them? Yeah.. Anet is so "predatory" and walking a moral line by NOT charging a subscription fee and allowing all players to buy anything off the gem store by exchanging gold to gems... Riiiiiight.... Why are you asking those questions regarding pay to win for a vertical progression system, for a game that I've mentioned multiple times is a horizontal system? Putting things in caps lock won't make your questions any more relevant. Because P2W isn't an abstract, but has an actual meaning. None of the stuff I buy adversely affects any other player in the game, unless they're mad at how much bank space I have? Maybe they're mad because I have a flying carpet glider skin, or can equip an outfit until I get to my final armor, or even after, if I don't like that skin, instead of using up my alteration charges? To keep this closer to the topic, so I don't have to hear from a moderator again: How does how many character slots I have affect your gameplay? How does what skins I'm using on my mounts affect your game play? I don't even have all of the mounts. So you see, the "On Topic" response to "but this is predatory, and P2W" is "No, it's not. It's the least predatory system out there". My Skimmer isn't shooting lasers out of it's eyes, does it even have eyes, because I got a different skin, if I got a different skin. My Springer can't suddenly trump a griffon or sky scale because it has a different skin. My Raptor didn't suddenly make every other mount in the game irrelevant because of a new skin. Having 14 character slots didn't suddenly make me able to beat everyone in PvP, or to be able to solo T4 Fractals. So what am I "winning" for it to be P2W? The nature of competitiveness through horizontal progression is undermined by the gem store. I wouldn't have phrased it as adversely affecting other players; but to be honest on reflection, it does. Does a new player see the gem store and think they would rather spend all their time farming in game, or do more people tend to purchase gems in order to get the items they want? I think we both know the answer to that question and all of these responses trying to deflate the argument with this in mind misses the point so much that I'll simply stop responding to questions that have been asked a million times. If it's not adversely affecting other players, then it's a non-issue. I'm glad we've cleared that up. You see, it doesn't matter how many character slots you do, or don't have, to me. It's irrelevant, because you can only play one at a time, if they're all on one account. The same is true for how you got them, or didn't get them. I don't care if you just got your wallet out to buy some bank space, or character slots, or outfits. In fact, I'd thank you for that, because it puts money in the coffers for work on the game. None of that, however, changes the nature of the items in question, and that none of them are required to play. This is the "On Topic" issue the OP raises, that these items are needed, and that it's predatory to charge for them. They are not needed, and it's not predatory.... It is adversely affecting other players. Yes, gem store sales of certain items and designs obviously influences the progression and future design work within the gem store. I shouldn't have to point this out.

A good quote to see - though it doesn't mean they didn't make a mistake, which I think they have somewhere down the line. First of all; there is little use asking me for statistical data, a player, writing constructive criticism to a large, wealthy company who manage the game.Second I'm not sure what you are referring to with "cash only". Please see one of my previous comments breaking down your question in more detail. Suffice to say, the requirement over items is not what we're discussing here. I think you would have to read the discussion thread further to find that answer; as I can only reiterate the basis of it so many times. I did not ask you for “statistical data“. Surely you can answer those simplified questions. @Swagger.1459"Think it would be good for you to gain a better understanding of “pay to win”... And if you think you do understand already, then I want you to explain, in detail, what are the cash only items offered on the gemstore that provide a statistical advantage over another player? What items give players a statistical advantage over other players in wvw, spvp, open world pve, raids, and fractals... that are only available to folks that fork over real money? You, like the op, accused Anet of being “predatory”... So I want you to explain to the community exactly how a game that doesn’t charge a monthly sub and allows players to exchange gold for gems to get anything off the gemstore for $0 “predatory”? " Those 3 questions do not ask for “statistical data”. 2 of them ask what items are cash only purchases in the gemstore that allow you to “win” over other players in the various game modes? What items can I only buy with cash that lets me beat everyone in wvw and spvp who didn’t buy those gemstore items? What cash only items allow me to beat raid and fractal bosses faster than players who didn’t buy those cash only gemstore items? Hmmm? You accuse Anet of being “predatory”, yet you can’t answer those simple questions to the community who reads this? The level of data and inferences you are asking for are best served and detected by Arenanet. We do not have access to their metrics. It's mostly only appropriate to comment on the reality of the situation (the end product), rather than the theory utilised which is largely an unknown factor. You are also confusing the points being made and the initial vertical progression system in the game, and I don't want to keep reiterating it. So you are admitting you don’t know what “pay to win” is? These questions are simple and do not require “statistical data” or “metrics”. You are clearly avoiding the questions because you cannot back up your claims. You can’t even answer a simple question calling out your “predatory” comments against a game that doesn’t charge players a monthly sub and that allows players to acquire any item off the gem store for FREE by exchanging gold to gems. You are clearly confused with the terms “pay to win” and “predatory”. Fine.. I'll respond to you even though your questions are answered through multiple of my previous comments and I made a point of that. I didn't say that cosmetics are required; I said that they end up being the sole purpose of the game, inherently through the horizontal progression system after the initial brief vertical progression. I even gave an analogy contrasting it directly to a vertical system and how microtransactions are generally received throughout different games. The remarks of Arenanet's tactics by me, and I'm quite sure the OP and others; relates to the design of the game inherently favouring people who are willing to pay for every item in their game through the purchasing of gems; and it equally undermines the value of those items. Hence; it can be called a wallet game.If you find something you fancy in this horizontal progression game (cosmetics.. after point 1...), the most viable way to get them (also factoring that the items that people tend to want to obtain tend to be in these later days of GW2 designed for the gem store) are designed by Arenanet to be through the gem store, for real-world money purchases. You did not answer those specific questions. You are deflecting because the answers do not fit your accusations, or you are confused on the terms “pay to win” and “predatory”. Ok. I'll leave this again to the scrutiny of the reader as it is perfectly clear... And most readers will see that you are either deflecting by not answering or confused with certain terms. No... You are asking questions that do not even relate to the point; questions that were already answered previously and not being appropriate to what was being proposed. I say I'll leave it to the scrutiny of the reader, because I am confident that what I have said makes enough sense and that someone with equal analysis of the points in mind and language used, will come to a similar conclusion. Yeah? How is my prettier mount skin giving me a power advantage over another player in wvw and spvp? What CASH ONLY power enhancement items can I buy that let's me beat player who didn't buy that item? What CASH ONLY power enhancement items let me beat raid bosses faster than a player who didn't buy them? Yeah.. Anet is so "predatory" and walking a moral line by NOT charging a subscription fee and allowing all players to buy anything off the gem store by exchanging gold to gems... Riiiiiight.... Why are you asking those questions regarding pay to win for a vertical progression system, for a game that I've mentioned multiple times is a horizontal system? Putting things in caps lock won't make your questions any more relevant. Because P2W isn't an abstract, but has an actual meaning. None of the stuff I buy adversely affects any other player in the game, unless they're mad at how much bank space I have? Maybe they're mad because I have a flying carpet glider skin, or can equip an outfit until I get to my final armor, or even after, if I don't like that skin, instead of using up my alteration charges? To keep this closer to the topic, so I don't have to hear from a moderator again: How does how many character slots I have affect your gameplay? How does what skins I'm using on my mounts affect your game play? I don't even have all of the mounts. So you see, the "On Topic" response to "but this is predatory, and P2W" is "No, it's not. It's the least predatory system out there". My Skimmer isn't shooting lasers out of it's eyes, does it even have eyes, because I got a different skin, if I got a different skin. My Springer can't suddenly trump a griffon or sky scale because it has a different skin. My Raptor didn't suddenly make every other mount in the game irrelevant because of a new skin. Having 14 character slots didn't suddenly make me able to beat everyone in PvP, or to be able to solo T4 Fractals. So what am I "winning" for it to be P2W?The nature of competitiveness through horizontal progression is undermined by the gem store. I wouldn't have phrased it as adversely affecting other players; but to be honest on reflection, it does. Does a new player see the gem store and think they would rather spend all their time farming in game, or do more people tend to purchase gems in order to get the items they want? I think we both know the answer to that question and all of these responses trying to deflate the argument with this in mind misses the point so much that I'll simply stop responding to questions that have been asked a million times.

A good quote to see - though it doesn't mean they didn't make a mistake, which I think they have somewhere down the line. First of all; there is little use asking me for statistical data, a player, writing constructive criticism to a large, wealthy company who manage the game.Second I'm not sure what you are referring to with "cash only". Please see one of my previous comments breaking down your question in more detail. Suffice to say, the requirement over items is not what we're discussing here. I think you would have to read the discussion thread further to find that answer; as I can only reiterate the basis of it so many times. I did not ask you for “statistical data“. Surely you can answer those simplified questions. @Swagger.1459"Think it would be good for you to gain a better understanding of “pay to win”... And if you think you do understand already, then I want you to explain, in detail, what are the cash only items offered on the gemstore that provide a statistical advantage over another player? What items give players a statistical advantage over other players in wvw, spvp, open world pve, raids, and fractals... that are only available to folks that fork over real money? You, like the op, accused Anet of being “predatory”... So I want you to explain to the community exactly how a game that doesn’t charge a monthly sub and allows players to exchange gold for gems to get anything off the gemstore for $0 “predatory”? " Those 3 questions do not ask for “statistical data”. 2 of them ask what items are cash only purchases in the gemstore that allow you to “win” over other players in the various game modes? What items can I only buy with cash that lets me beat everyone in wvw and spvp who didn’t buy those gemstore items? What cash only items allow me to beat raid and fractal bosses faster than players who didn’t buy those cash only gemstore items? Hmmm? You accuse Anet of being “predatory”, yet you can’t answer those simple questions to the community who reads this? The level of data and inferences you are asking for are best served and detected by Arenanet. We do not have access to their metrics. It's mostly only appropriate to comment on the reality of the situation (the end product), rather than the theory utilised which is largely an unknown factor. You are also confusing the points being made and the initial vertical progression system in the game, and I don't want to keep reiterating it. So you are admitting you don’t know what “pay to win” is? These questions are simple and do not require “statistical data” or “metrics”. You are clearly avoiding the questions because you cannot back up your claims. You can’t even answer a simple question calling out your “predatory” comments against a game that doesn’t charge players a monthly sub and that allows players to acquire any item off the gem store for FREE by exchanging gold to gems. You are clearly confused with the terms “pay to win” and “predatory”. Fine.. I'll respond to you even though your questions are answered through multiple of my previous comments and I made a point of that. I didn't say that cosmetics are required; I said that they end up being the sole purpose of the game, inherently through the horizontal progression system after the initial brief vertical progression. I even gave an analogy contrasting it directly to a vertical system and how microtransactions are generally received throughout different games. The remarks of Arenanet's tactics by me, and I'm quite sure the OP and others; relates to the design of the game inherently favouring people who are willing to pay for every item in their game through the purchasing of gems; and it equally undermines the value of those items. Hence; it can be called a wallet game.If you find something you fancy in this horizontal progression game (cosmetics.. after point 1...), the most viable way to get them (also factoring that the items that people tend to want to obtain tend to be in these later days of GW2 designed for the gem store) are designed by Arenanet to be through the gem store, for real-world money purchases. You did not answer those specific questions. You are deflecting because the answers do not fit your accusations, or you are confused on the terms “pay to win” and “predatory”. Ok. I'll leave this again to the scrutiny of the reader as it is perfectly clear... And most readers will see that you are either deflecting by not answering or confused with certain terms. No... You are asking questions that do not even relate to the point; questions that were already answered previously and not being appropriate to what was being proposed. I say I'll leave it to the scrutiny of the reader, because I am confident that what I have said makes enough sense and that someone with equal analysis of the points in mind and language used, will come to a similar conclusion. Yeah? How is my prettier mount skin giving me a power advantage over another player in wvw and spvp? What CASH ONLY power enhancement items can I buy that let's me beat player who didn't buy that item? What CASH ONLY power enhancement items let me beat raid bosses faster than a player who didn't buy them? Yeah.. Anet is so "predatory" and walking a moral line by NOT charging a subscription fee and allowing all players to buy anything off the gem store by exchanging gold to gems... Riiiiiight....Why are you asking those questions regarding pay to win for a vertical progression system, for a game that I've mentioned multiple times is a horizontal system? Putting things in caps lock won't make your questions any more relevant.

A good quote to see - though it doesn't mean they didn't make a mistake, which I think they have somewhere down the line. First of all; there is little use asking me for statistical data, a player, writing constructive criticism to a large, wealthy company who manage the game.Second I'm not sure what you are referring to with "cash only". Please see one of my previous comments breaking down your question in more detail. Suffice to say, the requirement over items is not what we're discussing here. I think you would have to read the discussion thread further to find that answer; as I can only reiterate the basis of it so many times. I did not ask you for “statistical data“. Surely you can answer those simplified questions. @Swagger.1459"Think it would be good for you to gain a better understanding of “pay to win”... And if you think you do understand already, then I want you to explain, in detail, what are the cash only items offered on the gemstore that provide a statistical advantage over another player? What items give players a statistical advantage over other players in wvw, spvp, open world pve, raids, and fractals... that are only available to folks that fork over real money? You, like the op, accused Anet of being “predatory”... So I want you to explain to the community exactly how a game that doesn’t charge a monthly sub and allows players to exchange gold for gems to get anything off the gemstore for $0 “predatory”? " Those 3 questions do not ask for “statistical data”. 2 of them ask what items are cash only purchases in the gemstore that allow you to “win” over other players in the various game modes? What items can I only buy with cash that lets me beat everyone in wvw and spvp who didn’t buy those gemstore items? What cash only items allow me to beat raid and fractal bosses faster than players who didn’t buy those cash only gemstore items? Hmmm? You accuse Anet of being “predatory”, yet you can’t answer those simple questions to the community who reads this? The level of data and inferences you are asking for are best served and detected by Arenanet. We do not have access to their metrics. It's mostly only appropriate to comment on the reality of the situation (the end product), rather than the theory utilised which is largely an unknown factor. You are also confusing the points being made and the initial vertical progression system in the game, and I don't want to keep reiterating it. So you are admitting you don’t know what “pay to win” is? These questions are simple and do not require “statistical data” or “metrics”. You are clearly avoiding the questions because you cannot back up your claims. You can’t even answer a simple question calling out your “predatory” comments against a game that doesn’t charge players a monthly sub and that allows players to acquire any item off the gem store for FREE by exchanging gold to gems. You are clearly confused with the terms “pay to win” and “predatory”. Fine.. I'll respond to you even though your questions are answered through multiple of my previous comments and I made a point of that. I didn't say that cosmetics are required; I said that they end up being the sole purpose of the game, inherently through the horizontal progression system after the initial brief vertical progression. I even gave an analogy contrasting it directly to a vertical system and how microtransactions are generally received throughout different games. The remarks of Arenanet's tactics by me, and I'm quite sure the OP and others; relates to the design of the game inherently favouring people who are willing to pay for every item in their game through the purchasing of gems; and it equally undermines the value of those items. Hence; it can be called a wallet game.If you find something you fancy in this horizontal progression game (cosmetics.. after point 1...), the most viable way to get them (also factoring that the items that people tend to want to obtain tend to be in these later days of GW2 designed for the gem store) are designed by Arenanet to be through the gem store, for real-world money purchases. You did not answer those specific questions. You are deflecting because the answers do not fit your accusations, or you are confused on the terms “pay to win” and “predatory”. Ok. I'll leave this again to the scrutiny of the reader as it is perfectly clear... And most readers will see that you are either deflecting by not answering or confused with certain terms. No... You are asking questions that do not even relate to the point; questions that were already answered previously and not being appropriate to what was being proposed. I say I'll leave it to the scrutiny of the reader, because I am confident that what I have said makes enough sense and that someone with equal analysis of the points in mind and language used, will come to a similar conclusion.

Ok, if you are going to write that the 'only' real problem' MIGHT be computer specs; we can stop this line of enquiry here. Guild Wars 2 is infamous for having some of the worst optimisation and frame rates. Have they said the new expansion will have additional PC requirements? I have not seen any - that is why 'might' is the correct word. You are playing a game. Not grocery shopping in real life. Stop trying to justify spending real-life money amounts for clothes on in-game clothes and/or QOL items. Ok, as soon as someone points me to where the game requires me to own those outfits? Just like that poster's example of cereal in an aisle at Wal-Mart, I'm not required to buy any of that either. You see, you don't need that stuff, and it just being there, being for sale, isn't predatory. Remind yourself of the gear progression system in this game, please. There's gear progression in GW2? Wow. Arenanet have stated it themselves enough, I have no need to provide you with the many videos detailing this fact. The commons you get for free, then the uncommons you get for free, then the rares you get for free, then the exotics that drop less frequently but are typically cheap on the TP, the the ascended that people craft, through mats they farm themselves, to legendaries that require effort (but are more for looks/convenience). That's the gear progression. PvP doesn't even need you to be in common gear, because gear is ignored - apart from what weapons you equip, because that controls 1-5 skills. Everything outside of raids, wvw, and (higher level) fractals can be done in rares. It really baffles me that so many people are missing the point. All gear types up to Ascended are a vertical progression system. This is known to be a very short venture in GW2.The horizontal progression system which GW2 has, is precisely the latter of your first paragraph; mostly intertwined with gemstore skins.Please understand the point here of the disparity between items earnt in-game (or) through the gemstore whilst losing more value through conversions to gems; and the value of purchasing gems and items directly from Arenanet. Gemstore skins are horizontal progression? I see you ignored my second paragraph which pointed out that the higher end gear is optional for people in general PvE. The story throws gear at you, as does leveling your character. Additionally, ascended trinkets, if one wishes those, are bought with magic and map currency. Or laurels. Or guild commendations. Or WvW tokens. Or PVP tokens. What is your actual point? Yes. They are horizontal progression in a game that is built around cosmetics.I ignored it because it is trivial. The functionality of legendary armour is just that - entirely not needed or even involved in either a power creep or cosmetic outfits.I understand there are a few items that can be farmed in game - it is very clear there is a massive disparity between general items earnt in game and through the gemstore.I do not need to validate this as it is entirely self-evident with the range of items and cosmetics placed on there. I literally just explained it to you, and for some reason you proceed to then explain the brief vertical progression system that I have already mentioned. The game is not built around cosmetics. All the skins and cosmetic addons are just that - cosmetic. None of them are required to play the game. They are just for show. It is not at all like pay to play/win. I have plenty of fun playing and could not care less about skins. If they give me some in game I might use them. If they do not give them to me, I do not care, and will not miss them. There is a big difference between wants and needs. Whether the next expansion will be more heavy on components is irrelevant. The vanilla game already has such poor optimisation that events and locations can put solid modern machines to frame rates practically unseen in modern games. It is that reason why GW2 is infamous and an outlier for elements of poor performance. This, in a way, is a blurred compliment to Arenanet given that the game has some other elements so strong that it overwhelms many negatives. We are generally settled with the expectation that this game will never be able to handle many players in close proximity spamming animations. It is for show... but there is a reason 'they' call it Fashion Wars. Both this game and the original, are practically loot-grind games. Though I admit, not as extreme as other titles.

A good quote to see - though it doesn't mean they didn't make a mistake, which I think they have somewhere down the line. First of all; there is little use asking me for statistical data, a player, writing constructive criticism to a large, wealthy company who manage the game.Second I'm not sure what you are referring to with "cash only". Please see one of my previous comments breaking down your question in more detail. Suffice to say, the requirement over items is not what we're discussing here. I think you would have to read the discussion thread further to find that answer; as I can only reiterate the basis of it so many times. I did not ask you for “statistical data“. Surely you can answer those simplified questions. @Swagger.1459"Think it would be good for you to gain a better understanding of “pay to win”... And if you think you do understand already, then I want you to explain, in detail, what are the cash only items offered on the gemstore that provide a statistical advantage over another player? What items give players a statistical advantage over other players in wvw, spvp, open world pve, raids, and fractals... that are only available to folks that fork over real money? You, like the op, accused Anet of being “predatory”... So I want you to explain to the community exactly how a game that doesn’t charge a monthly sub and allows players to exchange gold for gems to get anything off the gemstore for $0 “predatory”? " Those 3 questions do not ask for “statistical data”. 2 of them ask what items are cash only purchases in the gemstore that allow you to “win” over other players in the various game modes? What items can I only buy with cash that lets me beat everyone in wvw and spvp who didn’t buy those gemstore items? What cash only items allow me to beat raid and fractal bosses faster than players who didn’t buy those cash only gemstore items? Hmmm? You accuse Anet of being “predatory”, yet you can’t answer those simple questions to the community who reads this? The level of data and inferences you are asking for are best served and detected by Arenanet. We do not have access to their metrics. It's mostly only appropriate to comment on the reality of the situation (the end product), rather than the theory utilised which is largely an unknown factor. You are also confusing the points being made and the initial vertical progression system in the game, and I don't want to keep reiterating it. So you are admitting you don’t know what “pay to win” is? These questions are simple and do not require “statistical data” or “metrics”. You are clearly avoiding the questions because you cannot back up your claims. You can’t even answer a simple question calling out your “predatory” comments against a game that doesn’t charge players a monthly sub and that allows players to acquire any item off the gem store for FREE by exchanging gold to gems. You are clearly confused with the terms “pay to win” and “predatory”. Fine.. I'll respond to you even though your questions are answered through multiple of my previous comments and I made a point of that. I didn't say that cosmetics are required; I said that they end up being the sole purpose of the game, inherently through the horizontal progression system after the initial brief vertical progression. I even gave an analogy contrasting it directly to a vertical system and how microtransactions are generally received throughout different games. The remarks of Arenanet's tactics by me, and I'm quite sure the OP and others; relates to the design of the game inherently favouring people who are willing to pay for every item in their game through the purchasing of gems; and it equally undermines the value of those items. Hence; it can be called a wallet game.If you find something you fancy in this horizontal progression game (cosmetics.. after point 1...), the most viable way to get them (also factoring that the items that people tend to want to obtain tend to be in these later days of GW2 designed for the gem store) are designed by Arenanet to be through the gem store, for real-world money purchases.

A good quote to see - though it doesn't mean they didn't make a mistake, which I think they have somewhere down the line. First of all; there is little use asking me for statistical data, a player, writing constructive criticism to a large, wealthy company who manage the game.Second I'm not sure what you are referring to with "cash only". Please see one of my previous comments breaking down your question in more detail. Suffice to say, the requirement over items is not what we're discussing here. I think you would have to read the discussion thread further to find that answer; as I can only reiterate the basis of it so many times. I did not ask you for “statistical data“. Surely you can answer those simplified questions. @Swagger.1459"Think it would be good for you to gain a better understanding of “pay to win”... And if you think you do understand already, then I want you to explain, in detail, what are the cash only items offered on the gemstore that provide a statistical advantage over another player? What items give players a statistical advantage over other players in wvw, spvp, open world pve, raids, and fractals... that are only available to folks that fork over real money? You, like the op, accused Anet of being “predatory”... So I want you to explain to the community exactly how a game that doesn’t charge a monthly sub and allows players to exchange gold for gems to get anything off the gemstore for $0 “predatory”? " Those 3 questions do not ask for “statistical data”. 2 of them ask what items are cash only purchases in the gemstore that allow you to “win” over other players in the various game modes? What items can I only buy with cash that lets me beat everyone in wvw and spvp who didn’t buy those gemstore items? What cash only items allow me to beat raid and fractal bosses faster than players who didn’t buy those cash only gemstore items? Hmmm? You accuse Anet of being “predatory”, yet you can’t answer those simple questions to the community who reads this? The level of data and inferences you are asking for are best served and detected by Arenanet. We do not have access to all of their metrics. It's mostly only appropriate to comment on the reality of the situation (the end product), rather than the theory utilised which is largely an unknown factor. You are also confusing the points being made and the initial vertical progression system in the game, and I don't want to keep reiterating it.

Well the general suggestion that in order to play the game in its glory, the best way would be to be wealthier in real life and pay for the goods (when you already own the game).Something I completely understand! Though I think games should be games... not an opportunity for gambling and this level of tactical manipulation...

It's a very safe assumption that the majority of wealth accumulated from microtransactions comes from a minority of players, with either addictive personalities or a very large wallet. There are plenty of case studies and law cases in the news referring to this.

The vanilla core game can struggle with FPS, and when I say struggle, I of course mean it can turn to 20FPS.Also suggesting someone move countries or find a better paying job in order to play the game is outlandish.

A good quote to see - though it doesn't mean they didn't make a mistake, which I think they have somewhere down the line. First of all; there is little use asking me for statistical data, a player, writing constructive criticism to a large, wealthy company who manage the game.Second I'm not sure what you are referring to with "cash only". Please see one of my previous comments breaking down your question in more detail. Suffice to say, the requirement over items is not what we're discussing here. I think you would have to read the discussion thread further to find that answer; as I can only reiterate the basis of it so many times.

30-40g an hour is not hard but you will uninstall from boredom, would you rather have fun or grind endlessly It is halloween however with easiest farm in game This is probably the best constructive comment so far. I'd strongly point to a major problem in this game being just how boring it is to farm gold. I honestly feel that if only a few elements of Guild Wars 2 changed, the playerbase would rightfully skyrocket through the roof; as I'm sure it was intended to before release.. I kind of see this from two angles. In one I don't have to purchase any cosmetics with real cash because I can convert gold to gems. In the other I hate grinding for gold so converting enough gold to gems takes a long time. Having an option to use my credit card every now and then is fine for me because I don't want to grind and I do want to support Anet. The way it is set up now is fine because I will not ever pay a mandatory fee for any kind of game. To be fair, some types of things in the GS are overpriced so I don't buy them. I will purchase the occasional outfit or random mount liscense though.I practically agree with your sentiment; though I stop at things like outfits and essentially gambling for skins.When the game originally released - I was content with having a few skins on the gemstore to support them, I supposed it would be fine and wasn't a sign of bad things to come down the line. There were also plenty of skins being offered in game at the time - nothing was really that flashy from either route. But now... It has become a wallet game... The skins they are designing look better than what should ultimately be the pinnacle, legendary gear. It's not just one set, it's practically the vast majority of their designs. That is a really, really big problem to me. This all started around Heart of Thorns with glider skins, as someone else pointed out in this thread. Another prime example could be Chaos gloves - an item that was in the original game for in-game currencies. They decided to release it for gems.