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I Like FOMO Cosmetics, Why Don't Some People?

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HexHuntressThighs
HexHuntressThighs Member Posts: 548
edited February 28 in General Discussions

I always liked the idea of having to be there at the time a skin released to get it so that way I can actually stand apart from other people and have a very rare and unique cosmetic! Like the 4th year anniversary crowns for example! You had to be playing at the time to get them and you couldn't get them ever again.

Why don't people like that? I genuinely don't get it. Im not talking seasonal limitations either, I'm talking if you didn't buy it then; you'll never be able to get it again. I also think the upgradeable skins idea is sick also! Hopefully that comes to the game soon.

Post edited by EQWashu on
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Comments

  • HexHuntressThighs
    HexHuntressThighs Member Posts: 548
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    Or, or and hear me out. It's not scummy at all and it's just a neat reward for people who decided to get it and anybody who decided not to buy it just don't have it? I don't think its scummy or manipulative at all.

  • Xyvielia
    Xyvielia Member Posts: 2,415
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    Yeah, this topic’s delicately intricate.

    When taking it to extremes: It’s kind of like saying everybody gets their own opportunity to have an autographed 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card (worth $12.6mil); at their leisure. nbd

    I get what you’re saying tho; it’s like someone saying, “Yeah, I was at that baseball game, when it was MM card day and he hit his 200th home run (or whatever), and after the game he actually signed the card for me!”

    If you were there for the event, played the game, and got the cosmetics; or if you went to the store and purchased something that was exclusively themed to a time or an event, then you were part of that specific experience; ie. Going to a concert, buying a shirt from that tour, and then wearing it years later and someone sees you in the shirt and says, “Wow! You were actually at that show and saw them live! Awesome!”

    It’s just being presented here as the certainty that no one misses out on getting that keepsake piece of memorabilia nostalgia to enjoy, regardless of when they happened to be playing DBD.

    I’m happy everyone gets to enjoy what’s there without missing out on any of it.

  • Starrseed
    Starrseed Member Posts: 1,712
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    it depents on the reason why the item is no longer to get.

    if its like the anniversary stuff i can get behind it. its the birthday event you get the stuff only then. if its locked to a holyday and you can only buy it then but you can buy it again next year on that holliday im cool with it to but when they make skins and just for money reasons say after day x that skin is gone its ######### tactics to get more cash that it.

    and i dont get the people defending it. i mean sure the people that defend it are probably the people who have the money to just cash in when they like something and thats okey but i dont get how so many people actualy think when they get seen with something fomo the other player will awe on there knees how cool that skin is that they can never get. that is not happening but all over diffrent games people act like that is a thing.

    when i see a cool skin that is no longer available i check out where it comes from and then there are two reactions. is it (a) from an old hard challange that is no longer there because the game changed like in wow with the old challange mode sets then i resepct the player for the feat not the skin or it is (b) just not there anymore because the dev want it to be not there because they wanted to grab cash then i am mad about ######### buisness tactics but the player gets not probs from me for having money

  • HexHuntressThighs
    HexHuntressThighs Member Posts: 548
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    As you can see that’s what I’m doing here! Feel free to move on at your own convenience!

  • UndeddJester
    UndeddJester Member Posts: 2,165
    edited February 27
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    Not everyone shares the same opinion on FOMO, its a very divisive subject. It's the same thing as there are people who hate Battle Passes or Premium Currency just on principle, whether or not there is actually a genuine reason to.

    An equally valid interpretation of seasonal content is it is simply tied to the celebration of that particular season, to give people a reason to look forward to that season, and market towards that excitement, but alternatively you look at through the lens of FOMO. The truth is probably not a black or white answer regardless, but any claims people make is speculation either way.

    The debate of FOMO is a similar debate to Alcoholism. How much corporate responsibility is there vs. Self responsibility, and should everyone else, who are able to appropriately assess value and control their inhibitions have something they like taken away from them for the sake of a minority who lack the capacity to manage their conditions, and how much blame should be impartedon that minority for that inability?

    Depends on who you are and your own life experiences where you fall on the subject.

  • Nebula
    Nebula Member Posts: 1,392
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    In my experience, people who usually have a strong distaste towards FOMO often typically just have gripes with Capitalism. It’s simply leveraging the principles of supply and demand and emphasizes a consumer-driven market. It’s not inherently bad or evil and if you get preyed on by it you’ll be preyed on by every other nature of capitalism.

    At the end of the day it is the individuals choice to purchase the product or not, no one is forced. The game is rated M, if kids are purchasing things that they shouldn’t be, it’s on the parents to be accountable, not bHVR.

  • Bafugaboo
    Bafugaboo Member Posts: 339
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    This is a showcase of why it works. Good or bad it works. I agree I dislike when I cannot get something that was released for a limited time. I also know the feeling of having that thing/item. Just because it is a sales tactic should not cheapen it for those who like it. That content most likely would not of existed at all if they did not forecast a decent return on the investment of making it. Unfortunately most things in life can be looked at for their darker reasons, but then you will miss out of the brighter ones.

  • HerInfernalMajesty
    HerInfernalMajesty Member Posts: 977
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    I agree with most people here. I personally do not enjoy limited run items.

    I'll do my due diligence and give the opposition its best argument.

    Sure, I understand why some items are just for the “veterans” of the game. You’ve played since the beginning. You’ve dedicated your life to this game since the beginning. While other people have been jumping around playing/doing other things you have been stalwartly loyal to DBD. And of course you want respect for that. You want something to show for that. I get it. But loyalty cosmetics encourage at best what? Besides the pride of loyalty, a whale consumer to keep spending? Splurge spending to keep the company afloat when normally less spending would take place? The one gray area I can see are anniversary events. I’m thinking that anniversary events are the one area that most of us are willing to compromise. Maybe all anniversary events could look slightly different from each other or something.

    Generally, I don’t think these things are justification enough to keep the majority of the player base looking longingly at things they can never have. And I don’t think most “veterans” who love this game want that for the newcomers or for even some of the newer “veterans”. I know that I personally wouldn’t want that for newer players.

    The internet, digital games, and digital sphere are still very new to us as a species. Sure we had imagination and dreams before that but the digital phenomenon is like the dream world in the real world. And surprise! We need as many degrees of freedom as possible to express ourselves as fully as we want in the digital realm. I fully believe that it is a human right to fully express ourselves in any way that we choose, not just in the physical world, but the digital world too.

    In finality, I firmly believe that prior cosmetics, charms, banners, badges, etc. should be made available for the player base. There is a certain peace of mind that can come from a satisfactorily expressed digital self. We would also see more expressions of individuality which imo is a good thing overall.

  • HexHuntressThighs
    HexHuntressThighs Member Posts: 548
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    I’m asking people specifically why they don’t like FOMO skins! And everyone here is telling me why! So yes I am doing research on the question I want answered.

  • HerInfernalMajesty
    HerInfernalMajesty Member Posts: 977
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    There’s some things that I don’t see eye-to-eye with you (and that’s okay!).

    But on this subject I fully agree with you. I’d rather games be a peaceful oasis instead of a Las Vegas casino.

  • HerInfernalMajesty
    HerInfernalMajesty Member Posts: 977
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    I think everything should be available to everyone too.

    A game’s total amount of available expressive options should be part of a game’s appeal. It should be a showcase for onboarding new players.

    Having so many avenues of expression locked behind a “look but don’t touch” mindset is just too cruel and pretentious.

  • HerInfernalMajesty
    HerInfernalMajesty Member Posts: 977
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    Personally it’s difficult for me to enjoy something that someone else wants but can’t have. It’s like being at a party where there is room for more, but some people are locked outside just looking through the windows.

    It inherently feels wrong to me.

  • Mooks
    Mooks Member Posts: 14,299
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    Well..

    let’s hope there won’t ever be a time limited cosmetic that OP would want but they can’t get due to real life circumstances


    or let’s hope it actually happens so they understand how it’s just not that nice?

  • HexHuntressThighs
    HexHuntressThighs Member Posts: 548
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    If it’s about a character I care about then I won’t miss it lol. It’s really not hard to log on for 20 seconds to buy something! I’ve done it plenty of times and have never missed out on a single thing I wanted in a game in over 10 years!

  • Nebula
    Nebula Member Posts: 1,392
    edited February 27
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    False scarcity is used by almost every corproation in a capitalist society. The most popular products are often the "1 of 100s", the luxury products, and limited time products. People value exclusivity and scarcity and the system will not change as long as this exists. You either adapt to see past false scarcity or fall victim to it. Companies exist to create profit, not to cater to you individually.

    I keep seeing people essentially saying "I don't like FOMO because it feels cheap and dirty" which sure, is a validated feeling, but that doesn't change anything. It doesn't mean that FOMO is unethical, or even mean that there aren't people (like OP) that actually enjoy the exclusivity tied with FOMO marketing, false scarcity or not, and there's nothing inherently wrong with that.

  • Xernoton
    Xernoton Member Posts: 5,170
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    The concept of FOMO is always used to manipulate people into buying things they actually don't want. Basically, the game tells you: "Look, you can now buy XYZ skins for a limited time. Think about it, wouldn't it be nice to have them? Don't take too long though because they will disappear!"

    So they try to manipulate you into making a decision before you fully thought it through. It's a cheap move to get some more cash out of customers. There have been studies that show the exact psychological effects.

    The worst part is that it's not used for free content, that you would play and unlock normally (like achievements) but for monetised content.

  • Caiman
    Caiman Member Posts: 2,080
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    This is digital media. There is no "supply", it costs very little to make it available to people to buy via digital distribution, unlike physical products. It's all just data, not raw materials that need to go through supply chains and processing and physical distribution. There is no reason for FOMO to exist in digital products other than to take advantage of people's instincts and emotions. It is pure greed, nothing else, no excuses, no justifications. It is unethical, it is slimy and sleazy, it is exploitation.

    People can enjoy it, but it's a terrible thing to enjoy, and I'm not resigning myself to "it's just business" because it's not; it's just greed.

  • Nebula
    Nebula Member Posts: 1,392
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    I totally get what your saying about digital media but this is just how the world works. Corporations are and always will be revenue driven. You can either learn how to identify marketing tactics and avoid falling prey to them, or be a consumer.

    bHVR is transparent with their limited time items and the like, they're not just pulling these after a week without warning. They explicitly state that things such as the Attack on Titan set are limited time, there's no dishonesty anywhere. There is nothing inherently unethical about FOMO unless it's manipulative and not transparent.

  • Caiman
    Caiman Member Posts: 2,080
    edited February 28
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    I agree that people should be educated about how marketing works. Smarter consumers would push smarter markets. It's why I don't accept "that's just how the world works." It only works that way because it's allowed to. If people changed, so would everything else. But that's something that's really hard to make happen.

    Licensed stuff I can understand, deals like that are tricky and complicated and a matter of compromise. Maybe BHVR wanted the AoT skins to be available forever but the license-holders blocked them from doing that and that's what led to their unavailability. I can't blame BHVR for having trouble with the complicated world of licenses, copyrights, and trademarks. Just look at what happened with Stranger Things.

    Post edited by EQWashu on
  • Reinami
    Reinami Member Posts: 5,010
    edited February 27
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    Because it is gatekeeping.


    The value of your skin does not decrease just because someone else has it. Someone else having it, does not take anything away from you. All you are doing with these types of things is creating a sense of superiority over others because "i have it and you don't"

  • AssortedSorting
    AssortedSorting Member Posts: 954
    edited February 27
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    If digital live-service FOMO goods didn't amount to database table entries being checked as yes/no I might give them more respect.

  • HerInfernalMajesty
    HerInfernalMajesty Member Posts: 977
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    That’s the problem isn’t it? That sense of superiority of exclusivity is the thing of value that people get from this. They do feel that the value decreases based off of other people having it.

    But like you I don’t agree with it. In fact I also believe that the “superiority” shouldn’t be a thing of value in the first place when it comes to Dbd cosmetics. Developing a system like this grooms and encourages players to think and feel this away. I’m firmly against that.

  • Reinami
    Reinami Member Posts: 5,010
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    I suppose i should say the "REAL" value of the skin does not decrease. It's still the same skin, and costs the same for everyone. Just making it exclusive creates a superiority complex for the person who owns it, allowing them to think they are "better" than other people.

  • Marc_go_solo
    Marc_go_solo Member Posts: 4,851
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    There's a section within the playerbase that will be very susceptable to impulse buying. Whether this is due to a learning disability, a type of addiction, or something else, these are vulnerable adults who are easily preyed upon. As somebody who works with these people, I can attest to the vulnerabilities regarding impulse and FOMO.

    There are others who - frankly - should have better control and the blame is based at least partially on their desire to buy cosmetics. Those others should have enough control not to fall into the trap.

    However, what makes FOMO tactics in marketing isn't necessarily the idea of it. Seasonal FOMO happens often in fashion, for example. What makes it problematic is the knowledge vulnerable people are out there who are susceptable to this, then doing this with that knowledge. Knowing this, it could go so far as to say this is potentially ableist in nature, because they must have looked into this or heard about this after a FOMO event, but refuse to alter it in accordance.

    Basically, if they did an event with limited time cosmetics that didn't need real money to pay for them and instead were rift cosmetics, that would be different because it only involves time playing. With money, it's much more problematic.

  • Brimp
    Brimp Member Posts: 2,760
    edited February 27
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    It's just a super annoying marketing tactic. Like the amazon prime deals. Like I don't want to get a subscription to a service I rarely use just to get a skin. Limited time events I get because the ones in dbd can alter how the game is actually played. But making cosmetics limited time is just "wait 11 more months or possibly never if you miss them!"

  • Thusly_Boned
    Thusly_Boned Member Posts: 2,798
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    This.

    And this.

    It is scummy, without question. Creating artificial scarcity is just a crappy, coercive way of doing business. Effective, but gross. Not everyone has money for trivial purchases all the time. And even less so around the windows when most limited time items are available (like Christmas, most notably).

    I don't know how many times recently I've seen a limited time cosmetic I wanted but couldn't justify it in that moment. Now I'm a grown ass adult with serious financial responsibilities and a little (not enough all the time, lol) self control, but a lot of players are kids or younger people with less impulse control (and maybe mommy and daddy's credit card info), and for them this is almost predatory.

    And it's one thing if a company does this with a property as a rule, and you know what to expect. It gets worse when you do what BHVR did and pull a whole bunch of stuff that had been available year round into it almost without warning. That's really what irked me. They changed their ecosystem years into the game's life.

    I tend to avoid games that do this, and all of a sudden I found myself heavily invested in a game that just decided to really lean into it, which makes me resentful.

    And none of this is even taking into account how relatively overpriced these cosmetics are. Like grossly overpriced, especially for a game that isn't ftp.

  • HexHuntressThighs
    HexHuntressThighs Member Posts: 548
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    I only use the term FOMO for everyone who is going to respond to easily understand what I mean. So that way I don’t have to waste time explaining that seasonal cosmetics that leave every year do not count. I don’t normally call them FOMO cosmetics because they are simply just limited time cosmetics.

  • Iron_Cutlass
    Iron_Cutlass Member Posts: 2,804
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    If you THINK you arent talking about FOMO, then dont use the term FOMO?

    Idk what to say other than articulate your thoughts better, not trying to be rude of course.

  • HexHuntressThighs
    HexHuntressThighs Member Posts: 548
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    Just trying to simplify the idea to fit in a short easy to understand title lol. It wouldn’t have fit any other way, and everyone understood exactly what I meant. I just don’t believe I FOMO at all because I’m never forced to buy anything lol

  • GolbezGarlandGabrant
    GolbezGarlandGabrant Member Posts: 801
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    I'll only accept FOMO if it's not some everyday Meg/Dwight outfit and something truly unique. Overwatch has the Pink Mercy or some of their "Support a Streamer" skins as an example of a better job of doing FOMO.

  • UndeddJester
    UndeddJester Member Posts: 2,165
    edited February 28
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    Having wants and needs is not the same as having no self control. You can't call yourself a victim for buying/doing something that was offered in good faith and mutually agreed.

    Hypothetical: You go on a night out, have a bit too much to drink, an attractive lass starts flirting with you, one thing leads to another and you end up cheating on your girlfriend.

    You were drunk, you have actual reasons why your judgement might be impaired, and you acted on your human impulses. Yet you are, and should still be, held accountable for your actions.


    Too many people in our world today don't want to accept responsibility for their own actions, and are all too ready to place the blame on someone else. If you have a condition, such as addiction, you might have a very valid reason for having that addiction, and its unfortunate you have that struggle. However that doesn't now act as an excuse for your behaviour, and doesn't give you a free license to blame others for your problems. It is your responsibility to manage that condition.

    A seasonal skin is not in the same camp as a loot box. It is there to celebrate the season. I don't think you can really accuse a company of exploiting their customers to buying a product, when that product comes back every year.

    Now there have been cosmetics that have been limited edition that haven't come back. These have more credit to saying they are exploiting FOMO. I don't see a problem with these either, because I understand that all of this online purchasing is stuff we don't actually own anyway. It is ultimately a waste of money. However I buy those cosmetics because want something cool and unique for my characters, and because I like to support game developers for games I like.


    Why people have to assume it is a tactic of exploiting people with a hoarder mental illness, and not a service provided to people like me who just want to support the developer, I don't know... but its up to you how you want to look at FOMO I guess.

    Post edited by UndeddJester on
  • Pepsidot
    Pepsidot Member Posts: 1,658
    edited February 28
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    I hold the same opinion as OP, but only for items that can be earned for free.

    Even CLUB PENGUIN had exclusive badges and party hats to celebrate each anniversary! You had to login and go to the coffee shop or something. Just something you can show off, having supported and played the game for years. Even the devs, fog whispers and twitchers have exclusives, to show off and reminisce!

    I think what's more of an issue is that BHVR's definition of "exclusive" and "time limited" is very flimsy. They have re-released many skins that were "exclusive" and "time limited" and keep on doing so. It's a spit in people's faces every time they do.

    For example, the 5th anniversary crowns. If you wanted all of them, you had to play EVERY killer and ESCAPE as EVERY survivor (this was when you could have perkless survivors).

    And all of a sudden, they just gave people a simple code to unlock all of the 5th anniversary crowns, ON THE 7TH ANNIVERSARY! Why on earth did they do that? They didn't play during that event. They didn't put in the time to get it, even if they only unlocked it on a handful of characters.

    Can you think of ANY other game where the developers give away "exclusives" from past years on a whim like this?

    I am happy that the 4th anniversary crowns have still not been released to everyone... although I suspect the trend will continue and that they WILL be re-released, probably this year, and again, for no good reason.

    Anyway, that's my rant over.

This discussion has been closed.