Curse

Ferret · Feb 22, 2007, 05:30 PM // 17:30

Actually, i have said ALL items should be available to ALL regions and ammended what i said before your post to reflect that, check my previous posts and you will find i'm not just saying that other regional items should be available for us, but ours for others too...i think you'll find that my agruement is not invalid on that point.

Guldur · Feb 22, 2007, 05:47 PM // 17:47

True, unfortunately i was already writting when you made your last post, and before that you only mentioned US and Europe.
The thing is, Us and Europe had the grey giant+collector edition, asia got all those minipets+coke items, South America, Africa and Autralia(probably others too) get nothing!

Every item should be obtainable in-game only, or else we will always find regions getting unique items and selling them by ridiculous prices without actually making any effort to get the items.

bobrath · Feb 22, 2007, 05:56 PM // 17:56

So because Guildwars is played by a global community, ANet should only provide global prizes and incentives to play regardless of market penetration, competition, or pricing? They should be disallowed from providing perks for players to folks when they attend certain events (skill pins are evil by your definition then also)?

I really dislike this idea. I got a mini-pig in this last festival (heck I got multiples) and I've got to say that because its available to pretty much anyone - I will more then likely end up tossing the pig on my mule or giving it away to a new player that gets GW for Christmas. On the other hand my mini-grey giant does get playtime. Part of the allure of mini-pets and their variety is that not everyone has the same pet.

Would I like to get a mini-raincaller? Absolutely. Is it unfair that I have to pay more for it then a mini-siege turtle? Nope - There are a ton more turtles out there then there are raincallers. Scarcity drives the price up. It doesn't matter how the item arrived on the market, it matters how the market values that item.

So just because some folks in one region are "gifted" with a valuable in-game resource does not make Anet an unfair company.

If we were talking about a resource that changed the balance of the game allowing one set of people to more effectively PvP or PvE, then yes I would agree that there would be an inherent unfairness. However, boutique items that affect only the appearance of your in-game persona - well there's an entire market around that and folks are more then welcome to use their hard earned gold to make their toons as "purdy" as possible.

Ferret, I appreciate that you are disappointed that you were unable to have a chance at one of the purple asian released mini-pets. Heck, I'll go so far as to say that I appreciate that you are upset that there are regions out there which have not as of yet had a chance at a regional mini-pet. However claiming that the mere existence of these mini-pets creates an unfair bias in the GW economy is just too much of a reach for me.

So what if a group of folks luck into an item that the rest of the world values at a high price. Just wait until the next hot item shows up. Remember the first days of the IDS, the first Totem Axes, the first Greens? There will always be items that hit the market and are worth large sums of in game money. Yes, its too bad that right now there are regions which have not yet had a chance to get a regional mini-pet. I'm sure it will balance out in the long run. If not, then Anet will be making that conscious choice.

Life isn't fair, this isn't a socialist experiment where all resources are given out equally to all parties.

Ferret · Feb 22, 2007, 05:57 PM // 17:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guldur

Every item should be obtainable in-game only, or else we will always find regions getting unique items and selling them by ridiculous prices without actually making any effort to get the items.

Very true and in fact probably the fairest thing to do, but no doubt others would then have complaints about that.

With the GW Store, most things could even be added there to be available to everyone who plays.

Ultimately, as passionate as i am about this whole issue, i do wonder what the point is. It is very unlikely anything will change or anything will be done about it. It all comes down to marketing and profit, which at the end of the day means revenue and GW continues as a game. It would be nice if these things could be fair and open to everyone, but i just cant see it happening even though i'd be overjoyed if that was the case.

Ferret · Feb 22, 2007, 06:04 PM // 18:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobrath

Skill pins are evil by your definition then also?

Not really, they have no game effect.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobrath

Life isn't fair, this isn't a socialist experiment where all resources are given out equally to all parties.

True enough and cant agrue with you on that.

Most of my last post would generally sum up my view on the rest. Thanks for taking the time to give your views as well though, it is appreciated and makes for a more balanced arguement.

Guldur · Feb 22, 2007, 06:10 PM // 18:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobrath

Life isn't fair, this isn't a socialist experiment where all resources are given out equally to all parties.

Since we all bought the game for the same price (teorically), then yes, everything should be equally available to all.
Its like going to macdonalds, you pay 5 dollars and get an hamburguer, then next one in line pays 5 dollars and get a big-mac!

How great it would be if i could get an item worth 200k+ with no effort at all. For those who dont farm, that is really a big sum and a great advantage.

lyra_song · Feb 22, 2007, 06:30 PM // 18:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferret

Not really, they have no game effect.

Niether do mini-pets. Last i checked. they dont do anything....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guldur

Since we all bought the game for the same price (teorically), then yes, everything should be equally available to all.
Its like going to macdonalds, you pay 5 dollars and get an hamburguer, then next one in line pays 5 dollars and get a big-mac!

How great it would be if i could get an item worth 200k+ with no effort at all. For those who dont farm, that is really a big sum and a great advantage.

Well...the Japan and Taiwan got the game later than the rest of us.

Its more like, i pay $5 and get a hamburger. The next guy has to wait like 6-7 months, pays $5 get a hamburger and gets a free gift for waiting so damn long.

Ferret · Feb 22, 2007, 06:42 PM // 18:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyra_song

Niether do mini-pets. Last i checked. they dont do anything...

I'd call selling in-game for 200k plus gold an in-game effect.

Guldur · Feb 22, 2007, 06:58 PM // 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyra_song

Well...the Japan and Taiwan got the game later than the rest of us.

Guess what? No expansion is sold here in Brazil. I know only one place i can buy Prophecies box, yet i dont think they will ever give us gifts for that.

That said, they should aswell give everyone a chance to get nice/unique items, not regionall based.

lyra_song · Feb 22, 2007, 06:59 PM // 18:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferret

I'd call selling in-game for 200k plus gold an in-game effect.

And what does gold do in guild wars?

Buy yourself some armor? weapons? runs?

What advantage does gold have?

Doesn't make you a better player. Doesn't improve your skills.
All armor and weapons are balanced out so it certainly doesnt give you a fighting advantage.

I really fail to grasp whats so unfair. Free money in a place where money doesnt really do much?

Now if they gave them 200k in Balthazar faction or instant UAX, id be pissed. But its just a friggin mini-pet. -.o

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guldur

Guess what? No expansion is sold here in Brazil. I know only one place i can buy Prophecies box, yet i dont think they will ever give us gifts for that.

That said, they should aswell give everyone a chance to get nice/unique items, not regionall based.

"The goggles, they do nothing!"

Well I'm sorry you cant get a hold of a copy of faction or nightfall. That is a valid problem and something to complain about. Regardless, theres always importing, if you want it bad enough, you'll find a way.

The mini-pets are cute. They are fun. But really they don't do anything.

What you should be complaining about are the Pre-order items for Prophecies. Some of them have some nice effects thats not recreate-able. Now THATS imbalanced and needs to be resolved.

bobrath · Feb 22, 2007, 08:02 PM // 20:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferret

Thanks for taking the time to give your views as well though, it is appreciated and makes for a more balanced argument.

NP, I appreciate you taking the time to respond as well. I would agree that 200k is a valid in game effect - but only to extent that it allows for a greater customization of your character's appearance - however for a strict PvPer it would have zero effect. Perhaps that's why rewards for PvPers center around pretty fringes to their capes!

Sir Skullcrasher · Feb 22, 2007, 08:39 PM // 20:39

This is just a game, unless A-Net is giving out REAL-LIFE pets like a panda, alligator, monkey, snakes or whatever. I would get those in a heart-beat!

Mars Dragonblade · Feb 23, 2007, 01:12 AM // 01:12

I'd personally like to see mini-pets available in all regions. Once I've amassed a hefty amount of gold and I've pretty much finished NF, other than farm and try to help my leader and I's newly established guild off the ground, I'd like to start a collection. However, the prices for some of them are eye-poppingly ridiculous, the beetle for one, and I don't want to fork out tonnes for a foreign regional pet that we weren't entitled to in the the first place which others recieved for either very little effort or as a way to boost sales in those regions.

Gaile Gray · Feb 23, 2007, 05:30 AM // 05:30

I believe that the so-called Asian or Japanese Miniatures were prizes for winning a competition, and a very tough competition, to boot. They were not handed out like Easter candy to anyone who asked. (Do you guys fact check things, or just run with what someone else says as "truth?"

) Those miniatures are rare, and hard to come by, because they are the topmost prize for a Guild Wars PvP event.

So those items are rare, yes, rather like the rarity of those who earned a whole bunch of Wintergreen items or the Greased Lightning miniature. Funny, I don't see people complaining about the latter. Can it be a shadow of xenophobia colours this discussion?

arcanemacabre · Feb 23, 2007, 05:36 AM // 05:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

Funny, I don't see people complaining about the latter. Can it be a shadow of xenophobia colours this discussion?

Xenophobia? Nah. I mean, it's not like GW promotes war between countries/regions or anything.... oh, wait...

lyra_song · Feb 23, 2007, 05:40 AM // 05:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

So those items are rare, yes, rather like the rarity of those who earned a whole bunch of Wintergreen items or the Greased Lightning miniature. Funny, I don't see people complaining about the latter. Can it be a shadow of xenophobia colours this discussion?

Its not as much fear as it is jealousy.

Gaile Gray · Feb 23, 2007, 05:44 AM // 05:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyra_song

Its not as much fear as it is jealousy.

Point well taken. It's just a shame that things like a free character slot with a pre-release bonus pack (Nightfall), or a pre-order item (Prophecies, Factions, Nightfall), or the Gray Giant are seen as just fine, because, well, they're in someone's own region. But an item given as prize in a different region, even where the qualifier to get it is ever so much higher, is seen as unfair or preferential.

As far as I know, the miniatures are all tradeable. Is that not true? If it is true, then anyone, anywhere, can purchase one, if one is available and he/she can meet the price. That seems the very essence of supply and demand, free trade, and fairness.

Savio · Feb 23, 2007, 05:46 AM // 05:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

I believe that the so-called Asian Miniatures were prizes for winning a competition, and a very tough competition, to boot. They were not handed out like Easter candy to anyone who asked. (Do you guys fact check things, or just run with what someone else says as "truth?")

[wiki]Miniature[/wiki]
Gold, green, and purple minipets were given as tournament/contest prizes. The purples ones were additionally given out at netcafe drawings, which could be some cause for concern. But whatever: most of this argument in this thread is "Somebody else has something that doesn't affect me but I can't ever get it, so I want it." I'm not worse off because I can't get that sexy spider shield from Taiwan.

Gaile Gray · Feb 23, 2007, 05:54 AM // 05:54

And all I really want is a Bone Dragon. *sob*

I have to admit the Naga is beautiful, and ... ok, ok, there are some pretty cool ones amongst the prizes in other countries, I admit. But still, no need to get all heated about it. It's just the way it goes. Some have the Chimeric Prism, for example, and because it cannot be traded, it may end up being even more precious over time, who knows?

Anyway, as I said before, I have been told that my team will get some of those miniatures for prizes in the future, so all hope is not lost!

lyra_song · Feb 23, 2007, 05:58 AM // 05:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

And all I really want is a Bone Dragon. *sob*

I have to admit the Naga is beautiful, and ... ok, ok, there are some pretty cool ones amongst the prizes in other countries, I admit. But still, no need to get all heated about it. It's just the way it goes. Some have the Chimeric Prism, for example, and because it cannot be traded, it may end up being even more precious over time, who knows?

Anyway, as I said before, I have been told that my team will get some of those miniatures for prizes in the future, so all hope is not lost!

Ya but unlike the Miniatures, which do nothing, the chimeric prism is actually useful. o.o

You should have put pandas in those COWs.