Pinches
New member
Let me start this thread by debunking several claims that refute the notion that the server is pay to win or that paying provides a competitive advantage.
If the option exists, then someone will use it.
Remember this line so that I do not have to repeat myself
"The server is just pay for convenience"
While I could understand an argument like this if the store only sold items such as Masterballs, Claim Blocks, and commands (/fly, /pokeheal, /pc), you are going to have a hard time convincing anyone that Max IV mods, Millions of Pokedollars, and Tokens only provide a simple "convenience".
However, there is another side to this kind of statement. For players who do not care about tournaments or competitive battling in general, then all of the perks from the donor shop are conveniences to them.
For most people who play on this server, their end goal is to breed tirelessly, make money, and win tournaments. The last three items I mentioned that could be purchased with real money provide an enormous advantage for these people.
"Everything you can buy in the shop is obtainable without money"
This is not true and even if it was the system is still pay to win. A non-donor still has to put in several more hours of playing to obtain anything someone else can buy with real money.
Crate keys are a prime example of items that can only be obtained through the store (excluding the one Lunar you get from PM).
I am not saying you are unable to have a good time on this server if you do not donate.
Personally, I am a completely Free to Play (F2P) player and I have competed in and won several tournaments. I know that with hard work you can obtain a good competitive record. Furthermore, I am not trying to say that this server being pay to win is damaging, harmful, or risky. I understand that servers need money to maintain development and uptime which inevitably necessitates micro-transactions. Complex Gaming is also one of the most successful and popular pixelmon servers as far as I can tell. This server has made some commendable choices to make the competitive scene much more friendly to non-donors. There are numerous opportunities to earn money outside of competitive breeding and tourneys (Bingo, Pickup, Hunts, HAs, etc.) which allows non-donors to make up the difference with patience.
Then what are the problems with Pay to Win?
While many will point those with this inquiry to Mojang's EULA which forbids the sale of in-game advantages, this dainty document has not been enforced for many years. It is unlikely, but not impossible that Microsoft (the company that bought Mojang shortly after the EULA was updated) will persecute servers that break these terms. However, I believe a dangerous precedent is being set. The success of Complex Gaming may inspire other pixelmon servers to adopt similar methods of micro-transactions and set a standard.
What's the point of this rant?
I really don't remember, I started the draft this morning and just wanted to finish flushing my thoughts out.
If the option exists, then someone will use it.
Remember this line so that I do not have to repeat myself
"The server is just pay for convenience"
While I could understand an argument like this if the store only sold items such as Masterballs, Claim Blocks, and commands (/fly, /pokeheal, /pc), you are going to have a hard time convincing anyone that Max IV mods, Millions of Pokedollars, and Tokens only provide a simple "convenience".
However, there is another side to this kind of statement. For players who do not care about tournaments or competitive battling in general, then all of the perks from the donor shop are conveniences to them.
For most people who play on this server, their end goal is to breed tirelessly, make money, and win tournaments. The last three items I mentioned that could be purchased with real money provide an enormous advantage for these people.
"Everything you can buy in the shop is obtainable without money"
This is not true and even if it was the system is still pay to win. A non-donor still has to put in several more hours of playing to obtain anything someone else can buy with real money.
Crate keys are a prime example of items that can only be obtained through the store (excluding the one Lunar you get from PM).
I am not saying you are unable to have a good time on this server if you do not donate.
Personally, I am a completely Free to Play (F2P) player and I have competed in and won several tournaments. I know that with hard work you can obtain a good competitive record. Furthermore, I am not trying to say that this server being pay to win is damaging, harmful, or risky. I understand that servers need money to maintain development and uptime which inevitably necessitates micro-transactions. Complex Gaming is also one of the most successful and popular pixelmon servers as far as I can tell. This server has made some commendable choices to make the competitive scene much more friendly to non-donors. There are numerous opportunities to earn money outside of competitive breeding and tourneys (Bingo, Pickup, Hunts, HAs, etc.) which allows non-donors to make up the difference with patience.
Then what are the problems with Pay to Win?
While many will point those with this inquiry to Mojang's EULA which forbids the sale of in-game advantages, this dainty document has not been enforced for many years. It is unlikely, but not impossible that Microsoft (the company that bought Mojang shortly after the EULA was updated) will persecute servers that break these terms. However, I believe a dangerous precedent is being set. The success of Complex Gaming may inspire other pixelmon servers to adopt similar methods of micro-transactions and set a standard.
What's the point of this rant?
I really don't remember, I started the draft this morning and just wanted to finish flushing my thoughts out.