Treat yo Self!

[Ohoni.6057]

There's been a bit of discussion lately about the role of the Gem Store, about the perceived value of in-game rewards, and about whether ingame content-based rewards are "good enough" to properly incentivize players. Most players seem to accept that the gem store in concept is a necessary element to funding the continued development of the game, and if they do not, then they're incorrect. But it is fair to say that players like to have good rewards for their play, to make some accomplishment and have the game say "hey, you did something cool, here's a fancy prize!" How do we reconcile these two factors?

Why not have a "Treat yo Self!" proc that you can be rewarded with?

This proc would appear when you complete certain achievements, or as rare random drops similar to Precursors. They would show up perhaps as an inventory item or a bouncy chest, and convey the simple message, "Treat yo Self!" They would be the game telling you that you have accomplished something, and you deserve a reward for your efforts, so go into the gem store and buy something nice! Maybe a skin you've been thinking about, or perhaps some sort of boombox. This serves the dual functions of rewarding you for your efforts, by highlighting that you're owed a treat, and also funding the game, by putting this reward in the form of an opportunity to purchase something from the gem store. Perhaps there could even be a form of "wish list" or "layaway" function through which you could lock down a single item at a given price, so even if it's later removed from the store or changes in price, you can get the current deal on it, saying "when I get a 'Treat yo Self!' proc, I'll pick that up."

Makes sense, right?

tl;dr, Treat yo Self.

[Jordan.5930]

Is this a cross over episode?https://i.imgur.com/WduNfSl.gif

[Just a flesh wound.3589]

Can we buy an increased rewards chance booster from the gemstore? ?

[CharterforGw.3149]

But people already have that by themselves, if Anet starts making these procs it will only be annoying.

Edit: wouldn't this also encourage Anet to focus more on the gem store, and not on any actual rewards from playing the game, instead just throw in another "Treat yo self by paying us because we tell you to" and they're done.

[Just a flesh wound.3589]

So looking over your suggestion more closely... We don’t actually get anything? All we get is a suggestion from ANet to buy something from the gemstore???

How in heck is this a reward?

[Holykitten.3064]

I would find this annoying.

I know the Gemstore is there, I check it daily when there’s something I’ve decided I want (Shoulder Scarf right now). I don’t need a pop up to tell me to buy something, when I know there’s nothing I want.

“Why not have a "Treat yo Self!" proc that you can be rewarded with?”In your suggestion, you are rewarded with an annoying pop up to tell me to spend money, no thanks. I spend when there’s something I want.

Your suggestion is poor, and wouldn’t encourage more spending in the Gemstore, it would cause an annoyance.

[Ohoni.6057]

@"Just a flesh wound.3589" said:So looking over your suggestion more closely... We don’t actually get anything? All we get is a suggestion from ANet to buy something from the gemstore???

How in heck is this a reward?

Because it lets you know you've earned a treat. I've read a few people saying that they should have less items in the gem store, and just have a subscription like some other games and put those items in the game. Well this would basically achieve the same results! Instead of paying $10 a month, and getting a skin drop from a mob, you would get a "Treat yo Self!" drop off the mob, and could then spend $15 in the Gem Store to get the skin. It's like the same basic thing, only more flexible.

[Ayumi Spender.1082]

@Ohoni.6057 said:

@"Just a flesh wound.3589" said:So looking over your suggestion more closely... We don’t actually get anything? All we get is a suggestion from ANet to buy something from the gemstore???

How in heck is this a reward?

Because it lets you know you've earned a treat. I've read a few people saying that they should have less items in the gem store, and just have a subscription like some other games and put those items in the game. Well this would basically achieve the same results! Instead of paying $10 a month, and getting a skin drop from a mob, you would get a "Treat yo Self!" drop off the mob, and could then spend $15 in the Gem Store to get the skin. It's like the same basic thing, only more flexible.

The treat of if this was added in, I'll just quote one of my favourite skritts in the game.(Screech) you!

[Just a flesh wound.3589]

@Ohoni.6057 said:

@"Just a flesh wound.3589" said:So looking over your suggestion more closely... We don’t actually get anything? All we get is a suggestion from ANet to buy something from the gemstore???

How in heck is this a reward?

Because it lets you know you've earned a treat. I've read a few people saying that they should have less items in the gem store, and just have a subscription like some other games and put those items in the game. Well this would basically achieve the same results! Instead of paying $10 a month, and getting a skin drop from a mob, you would get a "Treat yo Self!" drop off the mob, and could then spend $15 in the Gem Store to get the skin. It's like the same basic thing, only more flexible.

That’s not a treat! That’s a Kitten ingame advertisement!

This is got to be the worst suggestion I’ve seen yet.

[Illconceived Was Na.9781]

I am not sure how I feel about the game suggesting you spend gems after completing a goal, collection, or achievement. I don't think I want ANet confusing the idea of "rewards for accomplishment" with "would like a nice merlot to go with your steak?"

I can imagine modifying it so that we get more gems for AP reward chests and a selection of items that unlock with various AP ranks. We'd be able to afford some of those items without spending our own gold or RL cash. And after, if wanted, we could choose to spend more to get more of them. This makes it exclusive, without preventing anyone from earning them; it offers a reward without pressuring people to spend extra.

I am not sure how I'd feel about that secondary idea if someone else suggested it. But at first blush, I dislike it less than the OP's idea. That smacks of "pay to feel good", which feels worse than "pay to win", at least for me.

That said, while I admire the OP for trying to figure out ways for ANet to raise more cash from people who actually want to spend (rather than hiding the amount of spending behind a lotto), I think this is a step in the wrong direction.

[maddoctor.2738]

The next step:When you are out of character slots you will get a notification on character select to buy a new slot.When your inventory is full you will get a popup to buy another bag slotWhen your bank is full you will get a popup to buy another storage upgradeWhen you die you will get a popup asking if you wish to buy (and use) a revive orbWhen your gear is damaged you will get a popup asking if you wish to buy a repair canisterWhen you fall to your death you will get a popup to buy Heart of Thorns to unlock glidingWhen you are struggling to reach a distant waypoint you will get a popup to buy Path of Fire to unlock mountsAnd so on

[Alatar.7364]

Can I also have the game to pat me on the head?I am sorry, this is not a particularly good idea. It would only bring in the feel of "commercialising" the game.

[Kumouta.4985]

Something that annoying only makes people despise it and possibly the gemstore or anet itself. Bad suggestion.

[Svarty.8019]

I think gold-to-gems is enough of a way "treat yo self", to be fair.

[Rawr.9467]

I'd prefer if this game didn't resort to in game popup tactics like most mobile freemium games.

[Lonecap.4105]

I was reading it like, "oh yeah nice, so when I get a big achievement I can pick something from the store free?"

Then I realised what you were actually suggesting. What the fuck dude?

[mtpelion.4562]

Knowing what I know about @Ohoni.6057, I'm going to say this is definitely a case of sarcasm. The suggestion is not a real one, but rather an intentionally bad one that serves to illustrate a point.

Extra points for the Parks and Rec reference though.

[Fallesafe.5932]

This is a grandmaster troll. I love.it =) And this is juuuuust about where we are right now.

How about, at certain personal milestones, we get pop ups with a promo-code for 10% off on black lion keys?

[BeardedVagabond.8136]

@Ohoni.6057 said:

@"Just a flesh wound.3589" said:So looking over your suggestion more closely... We don’t actually get anything? All we get is a suggestion from ANet to buy something from the gemstore???

How in heck is this a reward?

Because it lets you know you've earned a treat. I've read a few people saying that they should have less items in the gem store, and just have a subscription like some other games and put those items in the game. Well this would basically achieve the same results! Instead of paying $10 a month, and getting a skin drop from a mob, you would get a "Treat yo Self!" drop off the mob, and could then spend $15 in the Gem Store to get the skin. It's like the same basic thing, only more flexible.

Why. What benefit does that have over anything. Other than annoyance. They already make it obvious that you can buy gems and that you can convert it to gold. Another reason for obvious gem store sales? Yeah, no.There is no benefit.

Someone clearly finally got around to watching a TV show and is late to the party

[TexZero.7910]

Did it ever pass through your though process that the reason people dislike the store is exactly because it's become to integral to the game from a gameplay perspective ?

No one would care if we had reasonable amounts of content to play, with reasonable rewards. We just dont want to have to swipe the credit card for every god dang skin to come out between now and the next expansion because after all we were sold a content rich expansion, not a gemstore heavy one.

[Ohoni.6057]

@TexZero.7910 said:Did it ever pass through your though process that the reason people dislike the store is exactly because it's become to integral to the game from a gameplay perspective ?

No one would care if we had reasonable amounts of content to play, with reasonable rewards. We just dont want to have to swipe the credit card for every god dang skin to come out between now and the next expansion because after all we were sold a content rich expansion, not a gemstore heavy one.

This is a bit of an aside, but I think PoF had a ton of content to it. What it didn't have is a ton of armor skins, but that's not the only type of content.