|
Post by Timelord007 on Nov 17, 2017 15:52:35 GMT
What the hell is gling on with newly released titles lately all including microtransactions, Shadow Of War, Assassins Creed Origins, Destiny 2 & let us not forget the current controversy of Star Wars Battlefront 2 all have these & it sucks.
It's bad enough spending £40 for a standard & incomplete game but now we have the £60 Gold Editions which contain future DLC & these loot boxes & microtransactions as a pay to win for some gamers who wish to upgrade quicker.
Remember when you'd purchase a game that wasn't glitchy, was complete & didn't require you to fork out extra cash on DLC or upgrades? Me either, we as a gaming community i think need to stand firm & say no to these greedy gaming companies trying to milk more money out of us & go back to paying one payment for a game that has everything included.
I cancelled Battlefront 2 because of this & i won't pay for upgrades on Shadow Of War or Assassin's Creed Origins.
Wondered what other gamers opinions are on this topoc.
|
|
|
Post by Digi on Nov 17, 2017 16:25:03 GMT
I think a lot of the problems facing the video game industry today can be traced directly back to the conglomeration of the majority of development houses under almost exclusively either EA or Activision-Blizzard. Developers no longer have the freedom to make the game they want to make, they're now under the pressure of their owner/publisher setting arbitrary release dates that must be met whether the game is ready or not. So things are broken and buggy right from the get-go and need multiple-gigabyte patches on the day the thing comes out. Ideas that may once have had the freedom to breathe and gestate and make their way into a game naturally are artificially delayed by arbitrary release dates so that they become "Day 1 DLC."
And it's not enough... It's not just the industry shrinking down to a handful of owners, it's also that as the tech has advanced, the development time has increased exponentially. Where back in the day a company like id Software could be 5 guys pumping out a 20-40 mission game every 6-12 months and be original every time, now it's a team of dozens who spend years working on a single title that only takes 8 hours to finish--and it costs a small fortune to make. And--being a business--the parent companies want to squeeze as much money back out of it as they can.
So, in short: No, I don't think microtransactions are ruining gaming on their own. Because they're not a cause, they're a symptom of larger issues.
|
|
theotherjosh
Big Finish Creative Team
Likes: 2,309
Member is Online
|
Post by theotherjosh on Nov 17, 2017 16:25:50 GMT
I loved the original Shadow of Mordor but I put off purchasing it and Battlefront II because of the loot box issue. I figure I'll pick them up in six months or so in a Game of the Year edition.
I don't think you'll find anyone outside of EA who really likes the pay-to-win framework, but they'll keep doing it because it's so lucrative. I don't have numbers in front of me, but I've read that money from microtransactions substantially exceeds money from the sale of the base game. I don't know how we as consumers can reverse this trend when the publishers have such a strong financial incentive to continue it.
|
|
|
Post by ollychops on Nov 18, 2017 14:24:00 GMT
I don't have too much of an opinion on loot boxes, since the only game I play that has them is Overwatch, and I don't see them as a problem in OW, because the things in the loot boxes are purely cosmetic items like skins for the characters, sprays, emotes, etc. Overwatch also gives you loot boxes when you level up and when you win a certain amount of the arcade games, so at least you can earn them without paying for them. So, yeah, I think if you're going to do loot boxes then Overwatch it does it in the right way, as there's nothing absolutely necessary in the loot boxes (it's not like you need to use them to unlock characters for example).
|
|
|
Post by jasonward on Nov 18, 2017 14:30:42 GMT
Yes
|
|
|
Post by Timelord007 on Nov 18, 2017 16:01:16 GMT
I agree, so much so I've cancelled Battlefront 2, until we take a stand against these greedy companies will try & milk us for our cash. I remember when you brought a game & everything was included, i have seen the past & it worked.
|
|
|
Post by anothermanicmondas on Nov 18, 2017 20:05:33 GMT
I think the real problem is that as gaming hardware gets more powerful, the man-hours needed to properly use the power, put details into the graphics, etc increase making the development costs more expensive so the industry is having a harder time making profit (except for a few series which sell by the bucket). In order to make a profit the game industry is trying 3 tactics. 1) cutting costs - typically done by reusing assets - so you get the same maps reused for multiple locations, and the Assassins creed approach to sequels 2) getting more money per sale - incresing the price, adding paid downloads, microtransactions and 3) selling more copies - "dumbing down" for greater mass market appeal, forcing multiplayer modes into singleplayer games to encourage people to hold onto their copies rather than trading them in.
the rushing out (bugged) games is tied to this - as developers move to a "patch" mentality - grabbing money as quickly as possible to make their budget commitments and not worrying about getting the game fixed until later
|
|
|
Post by muckypup on Nov 18, 2017 20:25:36 GMT
If we all don’t buy these games, they will have to change the model They are still working on the free to play, pay to advance module beloved of mobile app developers, even though they get your cash.
Just wait a while, the price will either plumit and the dlc won’t seem so bad or wait for the enivitble re-release with the added content.
But yes this is wrong on every level.......
|
|
|
Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Nov 19, 2017 0:13:17 GMT
Yes. Next question.
|
|
|
Post by Audio Watchdog on Nov 19, 2017 0:37:32 GMT
I don't know what most of those words mean.
|
|
|
Post by Timelord007 on Nov 19, 2017 9:02:42 GMT
I think the real problem is that as gaming hardware gets more powerful, the man-hours needed to properly use the power, put details into the graphics, etc increase making the development costs more expensive so the industry is having a harder time making profit (except for a few series which sell by the bucket). In order to make a profit the game industry is trying 3 tactics. 1) cutting costs - typically done by reusing assets - so you get the same maps reused for multiple locations, and the Assassins creed approach to sequels 2) getting more money per sale - incresing the price, adding paid downloads, microtransactions and 3) selling more copies - "dumbing down" for greater mass market appeal, forcing multiplayer modes into singleplayer games to encourage people to hold onto their copies rather than trading them in. the rushing out (bugged) games is tied to this - as developers move to a "patch" mentality - grabbing money as quickly as possible to make their budget commitments and not worrying about getting the game fixed until later Superbly put my friend.
|
|
theotherjosh
Big Finish Creative Team
Likes: 2,309
Member is Online
|
Post by theotherjosh on Nov 21, 2017 14:55:48 GMT
I was reading a review of Battlefront II. I saw that they had (temporarily) removed microtransactions from the game, but that the more expensive deluxe game provides some significant boosts vs players who just bought the basic game.
I tend not to play online very much. I'm old and slow and getting repeatedly murdered by a bunch of racist twelve-year-olds is not my idea of a good time. I was considering buying the game for the single player campaign once the price went down, but I think I'm going to skip entirely after learning this.
|
|
|
Post by Digi on Nov 21, 2017 15:26:24 GMT
I was reading a review of Battlefront II. I saw that they had (temporarily) removed microtransactions from the game, but that the more expensive deluxe game provides some significant boosts vs players who just bought the basic game. I tend not to play online very much. I'm old and slow and getting repeatedly murdered by a bunch of racist twelve-year-olds is not my idea of a good time. I was considering buying the game for the single player campaign once the price went down, but I think I'm going to skip entirely after learning this. The single-player campaign mode has exactly nothing to do with the loot crates or microtransactions - I played and beat it over the weekend, so I’ll attest to that. That said, the campaign is extremely short (it can’t have taken me more than six hours start to finish), so definitely wait for the bargain bin if that’s the only part of the game you’re interested in.
|
|
theotherjosh
Big Finish Creative Team
Likes: 2,309
Member is Online
|
Post by theotherjosh on Nov 21, 2017 16:11:15 GMT
The single-player campaign mode has exactly nothing to do with the loot crates or microtransactions - I played and beat it over the weekend, so I’ll attest to that. That said, the campaign is extremely short (it can’t have taken me more than six hours start to finish), so definitely wait for the bargain bin if that’s the only part of the game you’re interested in. Heh, well, that's approximately six hours longer than the campaign mode in Battlefront 1 Seriously though, thanks for the tip. I'll see how the game evolves before I decide.
|
|
|
Post by Timelord007 on Nov 22, 2017 9:10:34 GMT
My cousin did the main campaign in 4 & a half hours which is shocking considering the price of this game but it's EA so i expect nothing less, there the farmers & were the cattle that there trying to milk our money out of, FOUR HOURS!!!!, give me witcher 3 or fallout 4 over this game anyday.
I'll be playing Shadow Of War & Assassins Creed Origins over Christmas which will be far longer than 4 hrs.
|
|
|
Post by Digi on Nov 22, 2017 13:01:25 GMT
I'll be playing Shadow Of War & Assassins Creed Origins over Christmas which will be far longer than 4 hrs. I’m currently at about 55h played; finished the main plot a few days ago but there are soooo many side quests still to go!
|
|
|
Post by jasonward on Nov 22, 2017 13:45:55 GMT
My cousin did the main campaign in 4 & a half hours which is shocking considering the price of this game but it's EA so i expect nothing less, there the farmers & were the cattle that there trying to milk our money out of, FOUR HOURS!!!!, give me witcher 3 or fallout 4 over this game anyday. I'll be playing Shadow Of War & Assassins Creed Origins over Christmas which will be far longer than 4 hrs. 4 hours? Oh my word. You know, I paid Mojang I think it was £16 for a copy of Minecraft back whilst it was still in beta, since then I've received regular game updates, new content and bug fixes and continue to play the game several years later, usually for more than 4 hours per day. I do understand that Minecraft and Star Wars Battlefront are somewhat different propositions but if Mojang can build a highly profitable multi billion dollar business that continues to support and update a game first released over 8 years ago, then I see no reason that EA can't release a game that doesn't look to exploit its players at every opportunity whilst offering almost no game play.
|
|
|
Post by Timelord007 on Nov 23, 2017 8:19:34 GMT
I'll be playing Shadow Of War & Assassins Creed Origins over Christmas which will be far longer than 4 hrs. I’m currently at about 55h played; finished the main plot a few days ago but there are soooo many side quests still to go! I'm really looking forward to playing these two games, huge AC fan & loved the previous Shadow Of Mordor game, also have Evil Within 2 to bash through which had good reviews.
|
|
|
Post by Timelord007 on Nov 23, 2017 8:31:57 GMT
My cousin did the main campaign in 4 & a half hours which is shocking considering the price of this game but it's EA so i expect nothing less, there the farmers & were the cattle that there trying to milk our money out of, FOUR HOURS!!!!, give me witcher 3 or fallout 4 over this game anyday. I'll be playing Shadow Of War & Assassins Creed Origins over Christmas which will be far longer than 4 hrs. 4 hours? Oh my word. You know, I paid Mojang I think it was £16 for a copy of Minecraft back whilst it was still in beta, since then I've received regular game updates, new content and bug fixes and continue to play the game several years later, usually for more than 4 hours per day. I do understand that Minecraft and Star Wars Battlefront are somewhat different propositions but if Mojang can build a highly profitable multi billion dollar business that continues to support and update a game first released over 8 years ago, then I see no reason that EA can't release a game that doesn't look to exploit its players at every opportunity whilst offering almost no game play. EA don't care about gamers they simply want to milk us for our cash, the Battlefront II debate has certainly proved that gamers aren't going to be mugged off anymore & quite rightly too, A four hour single player campaign is shocking for a game especially one using the Star Wars brand EA should be pulling out the stops to deliver a epic not a greedy money making cash cow. You could imagine Christmas kids playing this & being disappointed by teatime they completed the game & can't use the characters they want online because they need to pay for them or play the game over & over repetitively to unlock characters which would take a age. EA destroyed Mass Effect a game i originally adored & now they ruined Star Wars, the game you mentioned has obviously been worth playing & that company obviously cares & likes to reward there gamers, a pity EA don't take a leaf out there book.
|
|
theotherjosh
Big Finish Creative Team
Likes: 2,309
Member is Online
|
Post by theotherjosh on Nov 24, 2017 2:41:15 GMT
I saw that Shadow of War was 40% off and I decided to pick it up. They tried to upsell me before I checked out. "Wouldn't you rather buy the deluxe version of the game with more in-game currency?" It was really quite infuriating.
|
|