new SE interview by Bercus over on BG

[Irisjir Callard]

Re: new SE interview by Bercus over on BG

Back on topic,

According to IGE, currently a million gil is running $24.58US. (that seems the be the minimum unit you can buy)

To suss out a mere 25 accounts would immediately cost them ~$615(1). After the next fees are collected (for content ID's), that cost increased at least by ~$325(2). Not to mention the costs for actually hiring someone to do this. Just to pull out a low-ball number from thin air, lets says that's another $300(3) for a part-time temporay employee.

So, the total cost to rid a single server of a mere 25 RMT accounts would be roughly $1,240(4), or $49.60(5) per account. To rid the 32 servers of 25 RMT accounts each (800 accounts total), this endevor runs about $40K(6).

And what's the ROI on that $40K?
Will banning 800 accounts attract scads of new players to offset the cost? Personally, I don't think so.
Will banning 800 accounts make most of the poeple who grouse about RMT be quiet? Doubtful, and it's not like they're going quit paying anyway.
Since you're not going to attract new players, will some of the existing players start paying extra cash every month to offset this cost? (hey now, stop giggling)







(1) 25 X $24.58 (the cost of 1 million gil from IGE) = $614.50 -- rounded up to $615
(2) Assuming one contend id per RMT account, 25 X $12.99 (the cost for one content ID) = $324.75 -- rounded up to $325.
(3) Like I said, pulled out of thin air -- go ahead and grouse about it. Minimum wage in CA is $6.75. $6.74 X 40hours = $270. -- rounded up to an even $300
(4) $615 + $325 + $300 = $1,240
(5) $1,240/25 accounts = $49.60/account
(6) $49.60 X 800 total accounts = $39,680 -- rounded up to $40K

Now this is the kind of breakdown of the gilselling issue that I like to see.

Playing Devil's Advocate, is $40,000 really that much to a huge gaming company that rakes in millions a year (probably millions a month for all I know)? And even better, it would 'flag' the 'bank accounts'. Yes, hitting the gilsellers in the wallet hurts them.

But think about it this way...you can put a seamstress out of business by emptying her purse, or by breaking her fingers.

A graphic representation, but if the 'bank' accounts get flagged and LEFT UNBANNED for a few weeks, with JUST THOSE accounts monitored, the real workhorses of the RMT would show up...the 75thfs that camp monster signa and ochiudo's kote for their livings. Oh, I'm sure you'd also get a few slightly more expendable fishbots and the like. But even the fishbots usually have some work put into them, like being 65+ so they can fish in Onzozo without aggro.

Then SE could hit not only the banks, but the gil-collection methods at the same time. Not only removing XXX million dollars worth of gil from circulation and crashing the financial situation of IGE, but keeping it held underwater for the entire time it takes the RMT to level up new collectors. A 'bank account' can be made in a single day, but a good farming account that produces seven million gil a day, now that takes some time to level, be it making the gil through NM camping, mining, crafting....


Of course, to give credit where credit is due, this seems to be exactly what SE did the LAST time they did a megabanning. So many of the familiar faces in Gusgen mines, so gleefully gone forever! Granted, the RMT is back, in numbers at least but not in strength. Infact, of the new horde of RMT on midgard, I dont' see ANYTHING that's going to be ready to pump out a massive load of gil for the christmas sales.

Maybe we will get lucky this year and RMT will "know the joy of a welfare christmas".

[Stromgarde]

Re: new SE interview by Bercus over on BG

The chart, picture, etc... itself was not posted... there are were few wide shots with the page in the frame, but that's about it.

[Icemage]

Re: new SE interview by Bercus over on BG

Dear mods: stop Pming me I'm really tired of my firefox crashing because you want to warn me for saying "damn" Frankly [if you cant tell by my post count by now] I dont post on these forums. But I will replay to someone bashing someone else because they asked end game questions, it needs to be flammed, he is a moron [oh no mods please dont warn me ;; I said moron ] He flammed someone else and started the flames, its easy. He was totaly out of line and "wahhh i'm low level I dont have an optical hat my LS whipes to bubbling burnie ;; please dont ask about questions that really matter and ask about why I'm so bad at this game"

Oh no, will I get another PM now about a craptasical warn for a forum I visit maybe once every year?

Actually, you'll visit this site never. You've been asked twice to not flame other users, which you've ignored.

3 strikes, you're out. Banned.


Icemage
FFXI Forum Super Moderator

[Dragonly]

Re: new SE interview by Bercus over on BG

I woud like to see this chart he show the SE guys.

[neighbortaru]

Re: new SE interview by Bercus over on BG

t2small11, flaming is against forum rules. if you can't abide by that then kindly leave or not post (cause we will continue to issue warnings).

and fyi, nothing "needs" to be flamed. I assure you, people can disgree without resorting to insults quite well in the real world.

[t2small11]

Re: new SE interview by Bercus over on BG

Dear mods: stop Pming me I'm really tired of my firefox crashing because you want to warn me for saying "damn" Frankly [if you cant tell by my post count by now] I dont post on these forums. But I will replay to someone bashing someone else because they asked end game questions, it needs to be flammed, he is a moron [oh no mods please dont warn me ;; I said moron ] He flammed someone else and started the flames, its easy. He was totaly out of line and "wahhh i'm low level I dont have an optical hat my LS whipes to bubbling burnie ;; please dont ask about questions that really matter and ask about why I'm so bad at this game"

Oh no, will I get another PM now about a craptasical warn for a forum I visit maybe once every year?

[neighbortaru]

Re: new SE interview by Bercus over on BG

le sigh.

stop with the flaming already.

[kuu]

Re: new SE interview by Bercus over on BG

Actually more people isn't really more people.

It's usually only certain times like weekends or just when the NA/JP sleep shift happens.

Faf,
It's like 3 big HNMLS + 2 small + 1 unknown.

So it's a 1 of 6 chance your LS gets it.

Big HNM shells already have more then enough to do and don't really care as much as loosing to the competition. It's only smaller ones who bitch a lot because they don't have manpower/organization power to broaden their end-game events.

I like it currently, better then 1 to 2 giant shells going at it. Everytime a shell becomes to big, it gets into serveral drama situations both externally and internally(especially internally).

[Mog]

Re: new SE interview by Bercus over on BG

Ok, relaxxx with the flaming guys. Kitty sounds really full of (her/him)self, but keep the flaming to yourselves. x.x

[t2small11]

Re: new SE interview by Bercus over on BG

No need for pretending its a well known fact, tho I am in a totaly bot free LS, you are cought using bots your kicked, at least we play by the rules.. Got fafnir a few days ago gogo stone I Lol.

[DakAttack]

Re: new SE interview by Bercus over on BG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un2kC-AVLCs

Sorry kitty what was that you were saying about HNM's not being bad? Have fun trying to get your gear, dumbass.

Just upgrade your claimbot and maybe you'll get more claims, yeesh. Let's not pretend playing by the rules is going to get you anywhere anymore.

[t2small11]

Re: new SE interview by Bercus over on BG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un2kC-AVLCs

Sorry kitty what was that you were saying about HNM's not being bad? Have fun trying to get your gear, dumbass.

[Zamphire]

Re: new SE interview by Bercus over on BG

Outpost warps, teleport spells, rented chocobos, chocobo breeding, teleport rings, warp tarus, warp cudgels, airships, boats, warp scrolls, warp spells and Staging point warps... and people are still having a hard time getting where they need to go? Really, WTF? Are these people complaining in endgame, level 20 or just plain retarded? Getting around has only gotten easier, what else is needed here?

Yes, getting around the main continent has gotton much much easier, I dont think anyone complains about it. But, getting from one continent to the other is still very hard and time consuming. As far as I know there are only 3 ways to get from the main continent to the near east. One way can only be used once every 24 hours, one takes at the very least 35min, and then there's setting your homepoint in Al Zahbi. How does any of the things you mentioned help to keep people from setting their home point in AZ? The fact of the matter is, it's the SMART thing to do to set your HP in AZ. Seek in AZ, got a group on the main continent? Great, warp taru to Jueno. Seek in Jueno, get an invite to the Far East? Shit, it's gonna be at least 30min if you've been to AZ once that day already.

And then WAAAAAAHHH, HNM camps are too crowded. *gasp* Competition. He actually suggested for the kings to pop more often? Hell, let's just ask them to increase the AFv2 drops in Dynamis and all NM drops to be 100 percent. Let's just install a LEVEL UP macro while we're at it.

Yes, why don't we do this? I'd love to have all my AFv2 already. Wouldn't mind having 17 lvl 75s either.

/sarcasm off.

[Caspian]

Re: new SE interview by Bercus over on BG

Legal, can you post and or link the drawing? I recall you posting the idea in general somewhere here previously, but wasn't sure on the specifics. I'm at work and now the filter here isn't allowing BG's forums.
This way people can see a little better what the interviewer was showing the devs and Sundi.

[Ziero]

Re: new SE interview by Bercus over on BG

I don't know how people could complain there was no good info in this interveiw. Despite the obvious translation problems, on both the interviewer's and the Dev's part, there was some interesting points made.

They confirmed the development of a Sea/Sky like endgame zone
They confirmed the development of a new type of battle grounds, possibly similar to dynamis or limbus.
They pretty much assured everyone FFXI will not get an official windower anytime soon, if at all.
They admitted new gobby bags are a 'good idea' and thus will possibly add them.
They said that individual server jumping and switching is something they thought about and are possibly working on
They said they will most likely change the pop timers on the three kings, if not completely change the way are fought.
Admited that Ulli had problems and that they are still trying to think of a way to fix them.
Gave the reasons why limbus/dynamis aren't true instanced zones

Considering the fact a few questions were utterly pointless (fighting mickey mouse and re-choosing one of a kind items) and some questions have been answered repeatedly in the past (changes to old areas, about job updates, and the ever popular Gil seller problem), it's no surprise some questions weren't answered. Very rarely will any dev give clear confirmation on content they are *thinking* of adding or changing so all the 'we're not sure's, 'maybe's and 'we don't know's shouldn't be a surprise.

CoP was all story, and is still considered by many to be one of the best FF storylines through out the series. But ToAU has been all about content, stuff that all players can be involved with in some way. How anyone could say they stopped trying with this game or that they don't listen to the playerbase after adding things players *specifically* asked for is missing out on something. And they've already said, many times, that they won't go back to change 'old' content until they fully release the new stuff.