Gaia isn't being money hungry...Updated 12/16/08

Is the thread title accurate?

Yes	67.9%	[ 1187 ]
No, It should be Gaia isn't being greedy	32.1%	[ 560 ]
Total Votes:			[ 1747 ]

[OffSide7]

A Touch of Irish Chaos

I've been saying that since all this started...People don't seem to realize that it does actually cost money to run a site like this...

I think most people are well aware. And it's fine, Gaia just needs to admit they're no longer a free site in anything more than the most technical sense.

[Leena no Majo]

OffSide7

A Touch of Irish Chaos

I've been saying that since all this started...People don't seem to realize that it does actually cost money to run a site like this...

I think most people are well aware. And it's fine, Gaia just needs to admit they're no longer a free site in anything more than the most technical sense.

Again, you are incorrect. Did you even read the post I made in reply to yours?

You do not, have to pay for ANY of the features on Gaia.

These cash only items DO NOT affect how you play this game or use the forums.

[Lazarus Larkin]

But there's still NOTHING on Gaia that you HAVE to pay real money for, since it's all still tradable.

Therefore... how on earth is it not a free site?

[XSK]

Leena_Rasui

ISK2

I suppose this also brings up the point that if this were truly a site not about the items and free there wouldn't be any gold in the first place. Real life problems such as social status based on actual money shouldn't be involved on a forum site IMO.

As for what you just said, its important to bring everything clearly to the users attention. frankly when I first joined and i was about...15 or so? i was under the impression that the site was completely free (didnt read the small print at all) thus i feel it is in the interests of the user to make it clear that real money is exchanged on the site.

Your not getting what I am saying are you?

You are not being made to pay for ANY of the features on this site.

You have such an issue with the Cash Shop, so does that mean you have the same issue with Monthly Collectibles?

Because these two are the SAME thing.

The items were brought in for our benefit, they are just something fun on the side for us. I don't know if gold was here from the beginning, I don't know if it was introduced, however it is not that hard to gain, nor is it that hard to save it up to buy the item you wish.

The only except to that being items that are suffering from extreme inflations.

Also, money makes the world go run. I doubt you will find any place that isn't affect by the "I have more money/items/posts/whatever so I'm better then you" mentality.

Look, I do understand what you are saying, but I'm merely pointing out counter arguments to your pro-gaia statements. Of course gaia is money hungry as they are a business, and as i said previously my point also reflects the monthly collectibles. The thing is how far will they go? Is it really going to be all that long before they do release something which you can only access by paying?

Also I have been to many forums where post count did in no way reflect your status.

[Snakes in a Train]

neutral

but we still don't know what they do with the money

there's no proof; seriously, there's only copy-pasta

[XSK]

Leena_Rasui

OffSide7

A Touch of Irish Chaos

I've been saying that since all this started...People don't seem to realize that it does actually cost money to run a site like this...

I think most people are well aware. And it's fine, Gaia just needs to admit they're no longer a free site in anything more than the most technical sense.

Again, you are incorrect. Did you even read the post I made in reply to yours?

You do not, have to pay for ANY of the features on Gaia.

These cash only items DO NOT affect how you play this game or use the forums.

Duh items are a feature. She said gaia needs to admit its not free in anything more than a technical standpoint which is true. People will still be under the impression the site is completely free which is wrong. And before you copypasta your response in again YOU DO HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE ITEMS. THEY ARE NOT FREE.

[Leena no Majo]

ISK2

Look, I do understand what you are saying, but I'm merely pointing out counter arguments to your pro-gaia statements. Of course gaia is money hungry as they are a business, and as i said previously my point also reflects the monthly collectibles. The thing is how far will they go? Is it really going to be all that long before they do release something which you can only access by paying?

Also I have been to many forums where post count did in no way reflect your status.

It didn't seem like you were getting it because you kept bring up the same negative points and in the technical sense, Gaia is still 100% free.

Monthly Collectibles have been around since 03 and they were made because people, of their own will and no prompting, donated to Gaia to keep them running. They made the MCs as a way to reward these people.

You do a have a point, in the fact of "where do they draw the line." However I firmly believe they will never made us have to pay to use something on Gaia, that would go against EVERYTHING they have been saying since Gaia was created.

However, we can not know for sure if something like this will or will not happen. It is a what if and it really is pointless to argue a what if situation.

[Leena no Majo]

Snakes in a Train

neutral

but we still don't know what they do with the money

there's no proof; seriously, there's only copy-pasta

We obviously do know what they do with the money, because if it didn't go where it needed to go, then there would be no Gaia right now.

[Leena no Majo]

ISK2

Duh items are a feature. She said gaia needs to admit its not free in anything more than a technical standpoint which is true. People will still be under the impression the site is completely free which is wrong. And before you copypasta your response in again YOU DO HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE ITEMS. THEY ARE NOT FREE.

But the items are not the heart and soul of this site. The items do not affect how you do or do not play this game.

So, in the technical standpoint they are 100% free because you DO NOT HAVE TO BUY THESE ITEMS.

Like the MCs, you will be able to buy them in the marketplace with gold.

[OffSide7]

Leena_Rasui

OffSide7

A Touch of Irish Chaos

I've been saying that since all this started...People don't seem to realize that it does actually cost money to run a site like this...

I think most people are well aware. And it's fine, Gaia just needs to admit they're no longer a free site in anything more than the most technical sense.

Again, you are incorrect. Did you even read the post I made in reply to yours?

You do not, have to pay for ANY of the features on Gaia.

These cash only items DO NOT affect how you play this game or use the forums.

I missed it- the thread moved a bit fast on the first two pages.

The fact that you don't HAVE to pay is trumped by the fact that those who do have a huge advantage over those who don't.

Getting to the stuff you posted in response on the first page:

Quote:

I disagree with you.

I like the items, I love my avatar, however Gaia is not about the items. They are just something extra and something fun or us.

We don't have to pay for the games, we don't have to pay for towns or the forums, we don't have to pay for cinema. We don't have to pay for any of the features, nor do we have to pay to be on the site.

There for, Gaia is still free.

I think part of the problem is that the items have, for many people, become what Gaia is about and that's just not it.

You do not need items to enjoy gaia, which is why I stand by the belief that Gaia is still a 100% free site.

The avatars may be a minor thing for you, but for me (and I'm guessing a lot of others) it's pretty much the main attraction. Gaia is full of a lot of inane conversations. If I'm looking for forum chatting, I can find it elsewhere quite easily. If I'm looking for games, I can find much much better ones for free than fishing and slots. (Wouldn't play 'em if they didn't get me gold and items for my avatar- heck, I stopped playing WordBump as soon as it stopped giving gold, and I wouldn't be surprised if plenty of other people did the same.) The towns aren't bad, but what makes them fun for me is having a personal avatar walk around, as well as a personal home (home is secondary, though.) If I wanted to watch videos, I'd go to youtube. The cinemas are very limited.

I'm not saying I don't like these features, or that they shouldn't have them, or anything like that. I'm saying these are all secondary to the avatars. By far for me. Less so for others. The fact that it's a minor part for you doesn't really change the fact that it's a huge pull for others.

People keep repeating over and over that you don't HAVE to pay for the new items and that they can be bought in the marketplace. No one has responded to my point- spending money gives you a massive advantage.

I'm not mad- I understand Gaia is a business. I just think it'd be nice if they were honest about the money issues up front.

I'd also like to point out that even though some people will say the avatars are a minor point for them, for many, many people it's, at the very least, the thing that brought them here. I know it was for me- I saw someone's avatar elsewhere and wanted to make my own. Friends asked where they can find a place to create an avatar, so I showed them this place. Someone else online saw the avatars I made and asked about the site. To me, and I'm betting to tons and tons of others, it is the "heart and soul" of the site.

[Lazarus Larkin]

And I'm gonna say it again: people who have more real-life money have ALWAYS had an advantage, because they're the people who could plunk $200 down on MCs every month and sell them later.

[Hugs of Spice]

I have mixed feelings about the whole thing.

I mean, I'm OK with it, I'm not gonna leave Gaia because of it, but, eh, it rubs me the wrong way a little.

Why not make it a regular shop? I just don't get it. They say it's for items that they think are too fancy or not fancy enough to make MCs. OK... So why not just release them like ordinary commons? There are commons that are cooler than some MCs, and plenty that aren't as spiffy.

And if the thought is that you can buy them with Gaia cash, and sell them on the marketplace, what makes that any difference to any other shop? I can buy clothes from the Durem Depot with Gaia cash, and sell those on the marketplace too.

The only thing different about this shop is that there are no set gold prices. The people with money get to set the prices now. I might think an item from a shop is worth about 500 gold, but that's not going to matter if the majority of people who buy the item think it's worth 5,000 gold.

And people say that it will come down in price as more people get them, but really, don't deny artificial inflation. And because these items can only be earned originally by money, that's going to bring them up in price, even if no one on the market buys them.

Why should I complain about this if the MCs have been this way for a long time? I dunno. Like I said, mixed feelings. Perhaps because it's only 2 MCs a month and this shop ads a whole new layer of higher status items. Perhaps because there are only 2 MCs a month, I don't have to worry about a lack of updates on common items. When the staff starts this shop, there's a possibility that non-pay item designing will go on the backburner.

But *shurg* whatever. Gaia is where I come to waste my time. I'm not gonna leave because my status goes down here.

[Leena no Majo]

Because no one is denying the fact that people who have the money to blow have the advantage, they always have since MCs came out.

However, this for me, when it came for the few items I really did want, made that item much more precious to me because I took the time and effort to work for it.

I understand that items and your avatar mean that much to you, however I just don't agree with it being unfair because you will still be able to buy the items in the marketplace.

If you couldn't, then I would be completely agree that the cash shop isn't fair.

[OffSide7]

Caden Blue

And I'm gonna say it again: people who have more real-life money have ALWAYS had an advantage, because they're the people who could plunk $200 down on MCs every month and sell them later.

I completely agree. Good point. People with real life money have ALWAYS had an advantage- this is just pushing the site more and more in that direction.

[OffSide7]

Leena_Rasui

Because no one is denying the fact that people who have the money to blow have the advantage, they always have since MCs came out.

However, this for me, when it came for the few items I really did want, made that item much more precious to me because I took the time and effort to work for it.

I understand that items and your avatar mean that much to you, however I just don't agree with it being unfair because you will still be able to buy the items in the marketplace.

If you couldn't, then I would be completely agree that the cash shop isn't fair.

Personally, working for items doesn't affect me at all, especially since "work" to me often translates as "time wasted" but I understand why it means something to others.

I don't think it's unfair. I think it's totally fair- the people who own and run this site are entitled to make a living off of it. Well, ok, I'm a little annoyed they got me addicted and then made the site more and more in favor of those who spend cash while claiming it was a "free site"- but I understand why they do it.

I just think, as I said, it should no longer claim to be a free site. That's all.