In-game summer item campaign for EU

[Swanmay]

Square Enix has released the info for the summer item campaign that the US and Japan have had previously. All you have to do is buy three magazines and then take a selfie with them for the mount. 

 

More info can be found here: 

http://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/topics/detail/8b316e1ae99e1807ec6785971c3c16b84020f539

[Kage]

This campaign is such bullshit. I'm so sorry EU service account holders.

 

DO NOT SUBSCRIBE!!! IT IS TOO LATE TO GET THE TWO ISSUES YOU NEED!!!!!

 

You will need to wait for September's October Issue to get the butler/maid/OFC. OFC requires the selfie picture of the magazines and item codes to be emailed and the item code to be sent to you.

 

Note: Separate campaigns offering the same in-game items are currently being planned for those residing in: France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand and Nordic territories. Further details on these campaigns will be posted at a later date.

 

August 2016 Issue 306 (Launching Thursday, July 14, 2016)

1 x Inferno Mask

30 x Jandelaine’s Token

1 x MGP Gold Card

 

September 2016 Issue 307 (Launching Thursday, August 11, 2016)

1 x Crag Mask

50 x Aetheryte Ticket

99 x Deluxe Heavenscracker

 

October 2016 Issue 308 (Launching Thursday, September 8, 2016)

1 x Butler Attire

1 x Housemaid Attire

99x Magicked Prism (Wings)

[Warren Castille]

What a shit show. Time-release stuff for things already in the game?

[Dravus]

Ugh. What a complete and utter disappointment. 

 

Putting aside the simple fact that UK players are expected to pay out more than Japanese and North American players spent on their promotions...we also have to wait three months to get access to all of the items and even then we need to send in a real life photo of ourselves as well.

 

Not only that but the claim that the magazine is 'widely available in supermarkets and newsagents throughout the UK' is a complete and utter lie. It's far from a common sight and many stores either don't stock it at all or only order a handful of copies per month.

[Warren Castille]

So what you're saying is we need one person to get all 3 copies of the mag, blur out their face with photoshop filters, and then give that to everyone on the internet right? You can email the picture, and unless they have a team of people specifically monitoring the emails and making sure they're all different but real people, there might be some hope of slipping in a template.

[Maril]

Additionally, a reddit thread has pointed out that the Game Master magazine was linked to an early GamerGate scandal. Apparently they fixed the scores of a very buggy game, and didn't handle the situation well when it was found out. 

 

As if the wait and the selfie-requirement wasn't bad enough, I'd feel bad about supporting a magazine that'd do something like that. Fortunately I don't live in the UK, so I am hoping whatever they have in store for the Nordic territories is better. I know we have a 7-11 chain here so one could hope it'd be sorta similar.

[Kilieit]

Could Square twelvedamned Enix really not find anyone better to run a promo with?

 

I was expecting Game or something - physical stores that have a vested interest in increased footfall. (Who can verify your presence and real-human-being-ness by way of the fact that you are there, in person, asking for a code.) Game regularly runs promos exactly like this with Pokémon, and I can only imagine other highstreet stores that sell stuff like game-time cards for MMO's would have a similar interest. But here we are.

 

And I was definitely not expecting something that will take three additional months. Which is totally bizarre in itself, considering the incredibly ephemeral time period that NA had to obtain their codes...

 

Honestly in my experience this is pretty typical of the UK gaming scene (unprofessional, arbitrary, opaque) so I'm not that... surprised, I guess. Glad about the extra items (MGP/Jandelaine/aetheryte tickets), not so much about the everything-else.

 

The main thing I'm worried about is what they'll do afterwards with the photos you send. I don't want to find they've hidden somewhere in the redemption TOS that they're allowed to use the photo for their magazine, with no opt-out. My friend intends to send an email to the magazine asking them about their intentions and their data protection on that matter, but I guess we'll see.

 

It's a shame that we're finding out about these complications now, when the exclusive deal's probably already been sealed, and it's not like player outcry to SE can reverse time (and financial business transactions). Rest in pieces EU region I guess.

[Valence]

Totally not interested in any of those items anyway, so I'll probably survive it.

 

The whole thing is ludicrous though.

[Warren Castille]

Already nearing 20 pages over on the Official Forums discussing how poorly implemented this is.

 

The announcement was only a few short hours ago.

[Nebbs]

So just the September issue for the RP gear. I can do that.

[Kage]

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/298950-About-the-EU-campaign-for-maid-outfit-and-fat-chocobo?p=3778581&viewfull=1#post3778581

 

Still BS tho~

 

Greetings,

Thank you for all your feedback. We would like to take this opportunity to clarify some points about the in-game item campaign with GamesMaster magazine.

Sending in a photo of yourself in order to obtain the Original Fat Chocobo Mount

 

First and foremost, you do not need to send a selfie to be eligible. Photos will be needed solely to verify that you own all three copies of the magazine as part of this campaign.

While your photo must feature yourself holding the printed bonus item codes, you do not need to feature your face. As long as the player submitting the photo is visible in the image in some way, and the team can verify that you possess the item code print-outs from all 3 magazines, you will be awarded the in-game item mount.

 

In addition, GamesMaster will not use the photos provided for anything other than verification for the in-game mount item code. They will not, under any circumstances, be used in any public way or form and will be destroyed after being confirmed by the GamesMaster team.

 

 

Campaigns planned for other territories

 

In the Lodestone post, it was stated that:

Note: Separate campaigns offering the same in-game items are currently being planned for those residing in: France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand and Nordic territories. Further details on these campaigns will be posted at a later date.

 

The campaigns for other countries will be independent and won’t be tied to GamesMaster magazine. Distribution methods and campaign content will vary per country/campaign, but the same range of in-game items will be available through these campaigns. We will follow up with further announcements on promotions for other territories as soon as information is available.

 

Although GamesMaster is a UK-based magazine, non-UK residents can take part in this campaign by ordering the printed magazines online as they can be shipped to over 100 countries globally (a list of these 100 countries can be found here).

If you possess a European service account and would like to take part in the campaign, you can order printed copies of the magazine to obtain the in-game item codes.

 

 

Magazine subscription

 

You do not need to subscribe to GamesMaster magazine in order to take part in this campaign; you can purchase each issue separately and still acquire the Original Fat Chocobo Mount.

The first issue with FFXIV in-game item codes will be available here from Thursday 14th July. We will update the Lodestone post accordingly to make that clearer, and update when each issue becomes available for purchase through the coming months.

[Virella]

"You mean, what I have to spend a shitton of effort and more money then the US?"

 

 

Well hopefully the Dutch one won't be as bad, but knowing SE at this rate they won't use some weirdo promo with bol.com and we have to endure Gamestop of variant of it.

 

Fuck that.

[Kage]

I should point out that this is shitty but it is not yet time to blame NA Amazon loopholes (not yet). They haven't (and probably never will) mentioned it but this is likely a very large dumbass idea by SE's EU marketing.

[Parth Makeo]

Japan: Buy shit at 7/11

USA: Buy min $20 physical item about gaming.

EU: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MAGAZINE FOR THREE MONTHS AND GET ALL THE GOODIES! 

 

Yeah that seems...Fair...

If i could i would give you my Mask Codes i still have yet to redeem (since I think they are quite ugly. Especially Titan)

[Dravus]

As an aside, to give further insight into why UK players are so annoyed...this isn't the first time we've been expected to spend much more money than players in other regions. UK players had to spend a considerably higher amount for the Heavensward Collector's Edition than almost everybody else - and that particular issue was never formally addressed by Square Enix.

[Kage]

The thread was deleted eds

[Kilieit]

(bigger)

 

 

 

[Dravus]

The thread was deleted eds

 

It's back up now - a community representative stated that it was taken down to be cleaned up and implied that if people post inappropriate responses there's a genuine risk that it'll be removed altogether.

[Swanmay]

I never expected this to cause so much friction since I don't regularly peruse the SE forums and got this off tumblr.

 

IMO I've never heard of this magazine let alone seen it anywhere for sale. I'll have a look on Thursday at my local Morrisons. It could be good, it could be crap. As long as it's only a few quid I don't really mind... Worst comes to worst I can read it when I go away on Saturday.

 

That being said, I personally don't agree with SE making us UK players pay extra just so we can get what everyone else has! There's no reason we should have to! It's exactly the same with collector's editions! And don't even get me started on the EU vs US Squeenix stores! For years now they have been hiking up the prices for us EU residents and I don't understand it. Why should we have to pay more?

[Jana]

Anyway though, this sucks for English players. Hopefully the rest of the EU will get something better, maybe something that can be an alternative for England. Though probably not.

 

 

*Mod edit has been made, linked to other action to keep the topic from derailing.

[Kage]

I've heard and read but not fully understood... EU trade laws tend to complicate promotional stuff like this? Something something something? I know part of the EU laws are why a lot of video games have several language options and all that. It sounds very complicated to run international promo campaigns that business lawyers have to read through and make sure things go 'ok'.

 

Me thinks SE EU majorly fucked up with this outdated idea of which there are several issues I have with it (but it's not just SE EU).

 

Both SE EU and SE Japan have campaigns that rely on resources that sell out (magazines vs specific drink items).

 

SE EU forces the UK players to have to wait almost 3 months to get the entire set of items that (at least) NA players were able to get all at once.

 

Not quite as alarming, the relative difference in cost. I don't remember how many points were required to get all the items in the Japanese promo event and how much the drinks cost. UK will need to pay roughly $30 versus roughly $20 that NA players paid.

 

Fuck everyone who says people who have complaints are 'entitled'. No one is asking for this to be free. People would just like to be able to have the relative ease that others had it. (Also, again, there's no real evidence that NA players taking advantage of the Amazon loopholes caused this dumbfuckery that I attribute solely to SE EU so far.)

 

We still don't know what other regions in the EU will get as their campaigns but they are eligible to participate (somewhat) in the one currently targeted at UK players. As such this poorly implemented campaign still affects them.

 

I understand this is a promo but really it sounds like having to run through a maze in a marathon to get the items.

[Lutka]

I've heard and read but not fully understood... EU trade laws tend to complicate promotional stuff like this? Something something something? I know part of the EU laws are why a lot of video games have several language options and all that. It sounds very complicated to run international promo campaigns that business lawyers have to read through and make sure things go 'ok'.

 

Not quite as alarming, the relative difference in cost. I don't remember how many points were required to get all the items in the Japanese promo event and how much the drinks cost. UK will need to pay roughly $30 versus roughly $20 that NA players paid.

 

It has to go through multiple countries to be accepted and it turns into a tedious procedure that takes a very long time. One of the main reasons why Europe tends to get the short stick in the gaming industry (not just because of language requirements but also that the marketing procedures become a pain in the butt) I commend SE for at least giving multiple promotions across difference countries in this case because it does in fact makes things a little bit easier. 

 

I can confirm that it was around $26 (give or take cents) for the Japanese Promo in total, according to my friend who plays there. NA definitely got the better hand in the promotion with significantly greater options (JP had a select choice of drinks, UK has one single magazine option) as well as price. I can also confirm that if someone wants to ensure they get the third code in the UK event, which has the butler/maid outfit, plus the other two magazines they do have to pay $34 in total.

[Maril]

I've heard and read but not fully understood... EU trade laws tend to complicate promotional stuff like this? Something something something? I know part of the EU laws are why a lot of video games have several language options and all that. It sounds very complicated to run international promo campaigns that business lawyers have to read through and make sure things go 'ok'.

 

Me thinks SE EU majorly fucked up with this outdated idea of which there are several issues I have with it (but it's not just SE EU).

 

Both SE EU and SE Japan have campaigns that rely on resources that sell out (magazines vs specific drink items).

 

SE EU forces the UK players to have to wait almost 3 months to get the entire set of items that (at least) NA players were able to get all at once.

 

Not quite as alarming, the relative difference in cost. I don't remember how many points were required to get all the items in the Japanese promo event and how much the drinks cost. UK will need to pay roughly $30 versus roughly $20 that NA players paid.

 

Fuck everyone who says people who have complaints are 'entitled'. No one is asking for this to be free. People would just like to be able to have the relative ease that others had it. (Also, again, there's no real evidence that NA players taking advantage of the Amazon loopholes caused this dumbfuckery that I attribute solely to SE EU so far.)

 

We still don't know what other regions in the EU will get as their campaigns but they are eligible to participate (somewhat) in the one currently targeted at UK players. As such this poorly implemented campaign still affects them.

 

I understand this is a promo but really it sounds like having to run through a maze in a marathon to get the items.

 

Yes, the laws do tend to cause issues. It's also why you sometimes see give-aways and other such promotions where certain countries despite being in the EU are excluded. I faintly remember, but back in Rift I think it was The Netherlands that tended to get excluded because whatever give-aways (like through streams) that were done ended up getting caught in some variety of anti-pyramid-scheme laws, which only the Netherlands has. 

There's only certain areas where the law that's in place comes straight from the EU, and some countries like Denmark has exceptions/reservations where they're basically holding the right to make laws within a certain area without the EU sticking it's nose in things.

I wouldn't be surprised if the reason for them making campaigns different from country to country is because of these laws, beyond the fact that you'll be hard pushed to find anything that distributes the same thing to all of the EU.   

I wish I had anything I could link you but I can't really seem to find anything that explains it.

[Dat Oni]

I feel so sorry for you guys across the pond. This is some bullshit.

[Gabineaux]

Japan: Buy shit at 7/11

USA: Buy min $20 physical item about gaming.

EU: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MAGAZINE FOR THREE MONTHS AND GET ALL THE GOODIES! 

 

Yeah that seems...Fair...

If i could i would give you my Mask Codes i still have yet to redeem (since I think they are quite ugly. Especially Titan)

 

Canada: Lumped in with the USA. Buy something, ANYTHING from Amazon.com that will ship to Canada. If it's over $20, well deal with it. It will most likely be over $20. If it never arrived.. (in my case) too bad.

 

I paid $65 for in game items I guess? lol. Never got the game I ordered. They won't refund me or re-send the game until the item they allegedly shipped returns to them. It arrived in Canada two weeks ago, never saw anything. Nothing on the door, nothing at the post office. Nothing at all. Called Amazon twice, they said too bad, this is the policy blah blah.

 

Dealing with American Amazon has always been in a pain in the ass to me. Always. In my case I wouldn't be surprised if they dropped the game on my doorstep and walked off, not waiting for a signature and someone walked by and picked it up. In that case that's just Canada's shitty postal service. :roll: But hey at least I didn't have to take a picture of myself for strangers. I'll take over paying $40 over that. That's just strange. Why the fuck do they need pictures of people?