Assassin's Creed III Includes Microtransactions

WorthPlaying writes, "If this week's XBLA and PSN store updates for Assassin's Creed III are any indication, you won't have to wait until Watch Dogs for microtransactions to appear in your Ubisoft games. They should be ready and waiting for you in Assassin's Creed III, which is hitting store shelves this week."

[dazzrazz]

Ubisoft making money of idiots !

[jwk94]

Tthe irony in this post is astounding.

[gaffyh]

Some people have more money than time, some people have more time than money. As long as you can obtain this credit in game, I see no issue in offering it up on the store for real money. In fact, I'd hope every developer does this if their game can offer it.

[jwk94]

I wasn't talking about the game lol. It was the grammar.

[mochachino]

It's obviously a typo, I'm sure he knows how to spell off...grammar troll.

[Muffins1223]

This is Horrible,i thought this would only be for mobile games and fuckin facebook games,my god if this continues gaming will be ruined.

[lashes2ashes]

I'm all for stupid or lazy people giving all there money to companies, doesn't hurt me and I find stupid people funny lol...now to find a way to tax stupidity to fix the government.

[AO1JMM]

How are they stupid or lazy?

[lashes2ashes]

I find it stupid to pay 60$ for a game and then pay more to unlock everything, That's my opinion.

[AO1JMM]

Funny how I got disagrees for asking a question.

Anyway,

I just wanted to know more of your opinion is all. I agree for the most part but I also see it from the other side as well. A lot of gamers just like there games alot and are willing to pay for extras even if some gamers see it as being milked or stripping content out of a complete game. ( I also disagree with that crap)

ultimately it is all about what you as a gamer see value in.

[sazzrah]

AO1JMM, you got disagrees because you appear to have not read the article.

What they have added to the PS Store and XBL Marketplace is 'Erudito points' which you can buy in different quantities. These points unlock in game normally as you level up (I believe in the online multiplayer) so that you can buy equipment, outfits etc... Buying them on the store this way means you don't have to level up to get them. Hence why people are saying these microtransactions are for 'stupid and lazy people'.

I don't see a problem with Ubisoft offering these to people, you can play the game as intended and get them or pay up and get them early. *shrugs*

[likedamaster]

@AO1JMM

You're stupid for expecting anything more than stupidity from N4G commenters.

[Knight_Crawler]

So your calling people stupid for spending there money how they want to -_-

I can drive a Civic but I own a BMW M3
I can eat at Burger King but I eat at Long Horns
I can shop at WalMart but I shop at Calvin Klein
I can play on PSN but I play on XBL
I can pirate music but I buy them on iTunes

I do this stuff because I can afford it and not because I am stupid.

[lashes2ashes]

And all of that has what to do with people blowing money to unlock game content they can just as easy get from playing the game. I don't see how they are anything a like. Now if you bought a m3 because you were told its fun to drive.. And then hired somebody else to drive it for you then yes I find that to be stupid. I also find people that buy a game and jump through all the story line to get to the next kill kill kill part to be stupid to. My best friend does that and I have told him its stupid lol. It's my opinion.

[Knight_Crawler]

"And all of that has what to do with people blowing money to unlock game content they can just as easy get from playing the game"

Some of us work for a living and have a social life outside of gaming - I can only play video games for 2 hours max a day and some times can only play 3 day a week so I can see where this would come in handy foe someone like me.

Thats good that some people can come home from school or stay home all day and play video games but not everyone is that fortunate.

Its optional and you should not be calling people stupid for doing it.

[GrahamGolden]

"knight_noobcrawler" Then you woke up.

[sazzrah]

I do wonder at you being able to afford those things, what kind of job do you do? Must be something that doesn't require thinking too heavily because your response is utterly irrelevant and makes no logical sense whatsoever.

People are suggesting that it is stupid to pay for something that you 1. have already paid for (the method of obtaining Erudito points exists within the game already) and 2. can easily access for no additional charge. They are not saying, as you insinuate, that people are stupid for paying for something more expensive when a cheaper alternative does the job just as well.

Also, about that... Calvin Klein? Seriously? Could you be anymore cliché? lol... No one is buying this little fantasy story you've made up for yourself, FYI.

When it comes to the 'some of us have jobs and social lives' argument - you're just showing yourself up even more. If you haven't got time to spend an hour or two on the multiplayer to level up yourself, then why the hell are you buying a game that is 40-odd hours long? Playing the main game will almost certainly take you far longer than reaching max level in the multiplayer if Brotherhood and Revelations are anything to go by. Why not wait for Ubisoft to sell an unlock code for the main game too? One that just turns AC3 into a long cutscene movie removing all the pesky free-roaming and combat that you have to do to progress in the story... I mean, you have all that social life business to get on with and a job to go to, amirite? Buying that after already paying for the main game would be perfect for someone so busy like you and totally not stupid at all! ;)

[mochachino]

You are definitely insecure and empty if you require overpriced brand names and powerful cars you'll never be able to really experience to feel good about yourself or find meaning in your existence... or maybe it makes you feel superior, either way, you've just another sucker raised to buy things they don't need to feel a sense of self-worth.

What are you working for? To be another spoke in BS consumerist culture and make a few people really wealthy selling crap wrapped in a nice package.

Corporations own your soul.

[Grimhammer00]

I haven't read the article. But if its paying for early unlocks....

[Blastoise]

"The next generation will offer more and more item-based content. This will benefit our games' profitability"

Really not liking the sound of this.

[HappyCamper172]

That's what free to play games do and I'm ok with that but only if it's FREE TO PLAY not 60$ game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AzaziL]

This is only the beginning, people may shrug it off as simple content that could be acquired in game. Then they'll push the limits further and further, just like DLC.

Racing games where you get a starter car and have to pay for the rest, street fighter with only ken and ryu to start, call of duty with only a few free maps and starter guns and the rest have to be purchased.

I first realized this trend with Sleeping Dogs and how the first bunch of DLCs were just items in the game to unlock early. Then I realized how the game limits your car selection (can't steal cars and keep them) and limits in game income to make paying for the content more tempting then playing many hours to acquire it. But not tempting enough to make me even pay a $1 for what feels like a complete screw job.

[theWB27]

Another reason to complain...they've already confirmed your getting about 40 hours of gameplay for 65 bucks...so roughly 1.62 an hour for gameplay. Not counting the hours people spend on multiplayer and messing around in game. But people complain cause they want their cake and eat it too. THIS IS OPTIONAL...and for the life of me I don't understand why gamers think they're supposed to be immune to business, like these COMPANIES arent supposed to make money. We see what happened with Curt Schilling..he's broke because of bad business.

People are mad because games are getting more expensive and companies are finding ways to make more money, go figure.

Cell Phone- 2 year contract in order to get the best phone available when we know within a year a better phone will be released. But you have to keep paying for service until that contract ends in order to upgrade and sign another 2 year contract. MANDATORY for most people that cant afford a 800 dollar phone outright.

Cable- pay for service and we don't get every channel they offer, we have to pay extra for that. Internet, pay extra for faster. Pay extra to rent a movie.

Cars- Pay to get the base model, or pay X amount more dollars to get extra features ON A CAR.

Small examples of why petty gamers should get over themselves about OPTIONAL content from a BUSINESS that wants to make MONEY.

[Gamer-Z]

And you don't find anything wrong with that kind of system? It gives all the power to the business's to do and charge whatever they want and gives nothing to the consumer (which is you and me by the way). And optional can mean lots of things for instance your cars front windshield can be optional or a video games ending can be optional (ME3). The industry may be heading towards a free to play model but to me its really heading towards a pay to win model.

[theWB27]

How can I find something wrong with that system when it's always been that way? It's not giving whatever they, there are standards put in place and there are things considered extra...gamers think anything extra should already be given. A car windshield is mandatory because of safety regulations, but a better sound system is optional. ME3 alternate ending was optional, and FREE, and people still complained. The extra content they're releasing months after the game is optional and people are complaining about that being on the disc. The way some people look at it is anything extra should have been included from the beginning.

My question is...if everything is supposed to be standard then where do our options begin?

[HappyCamper172]

We don't want games to be like real world so i don't like your comparison. It should be for our fun and pleasure and not for our money.

It's like your imagining some fantasy world but you can't afford living in it.

Who would imagine something like that!!!!

[liquidhalos]

You say that its optional but you're wrong. What you fail to realize is that Ubisoft made the complete game then stripped bits out in order to charge extra for them. This is probably the first time i wont be buying an assassins creed game, gutted for assassins creed and gutted for gaming on a whole.

[theWB27]

I know...else would we get options? You don't think every business does that? You don't think designers know exactly what they cab put into a product and intentionally hold things back so one would be considered "premium? "

Why don't computers automatically come with the largest hard drive available or the fastest graphics chip? They have it available and intentionally gut the computer so we pay extra later.

Why is it that one phone has 4g and another doesn't...gutting the abilities of said phone.

That's my point....if everything is included then where does our choice begin? Gamers now think anything extra should have been included. They have 40+ hours of gameplay included and you say the game is gutted...it's laughable for you to think they aren't running a business. I mean hell even 10 million dollar homes don't have everything you can have in a house.

The color, armor, and weapon options out the box have always been enough for me which the extra options feel...extra.

So if you feel like this huge game is gutted....other things, more important things, should really be bothering you and keeping you from buying them cause they're a lot more gutted.

[liquidhalos]

@theWB27

Not enough bubbles to reply directly.

You're talking about physical hardware that costs money to produce on a mass scale that uses actual resources and man hours to produce for the individual. That does indeed warrant paying extra for, however what I'm talking about is software that is created once, then merely duplicated on disc for the consumer. So your analogy is pointless in this instance.

Devs make a complete game then lock sections off to make us pay extra for them. We are then in a situation where were paying for something that in past generations would have been free. Heck, how many times have you payed for dlc to only have your console install it directly from the disc?

[Nightfallen]

What bothers me is this thought that game companies purposely cut content in order to sell it. I hope in AC3 it is multiplayer related items or simple things like skins.

[solidboss]

quite possibly the smartest comment i have read all day. completely agree.

[ExCest]

Wunderbarrrrrrrrrr!

[Godchild1020]

This has been part of gaming on current gen console since 2010, maybe before.

Look at MAG; It had DLC where you could buy extra slots. That is kind of a micro-transaction. Saint's Row: The third has it; you want a new weapon or gang clothing, buy it from the PSN store or Marketplace. Sleeping Dogs has it as well.

Street Fighter X Tekken and Dust 514 also has microtransactions. SFXT with it's Gem System and Dust 514 with its in game money.

There are more and all I'm saying is Assassin's Creed 3 is not the first 60 dollar game to start with microtransactions. Unless I'm mistaken on what a microtransaction is.

[BlueTemplar]

The difference with Dust 514 is the fact its a free-to-play game supported by the micro-transactions - in the case of AC3 its a full price title with not so much as a discount.

[Neo Nugget]

I don't mind time saving packs as long as they are for single player. After all, it's all for a single person who should be able to decide how they want to play their own personal instance. When you get into the multiplayer side of things I start to get a little irritated (*cough* Battlefield *cough*).

[Neo Nugget]

SPOILER FOR AC3 BELOW.

BEWARE!

***

[jd666]

WARNING, BUCHIACH BELOW!!!

[liquidhalos]

That is so true, the cheat pack DLC for battlefield 3 was utterly disgraceful. Dont get me wrong, i love BF3 and i put over 200 hours into it, but the way they have handled DLC means i will not be buying any more of their games.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

OMG... Someone can spend money in a game to level up faster, It's shocking! This is totally going to ruin my experience! Oh... You mean I don't need the micro transactions? I can play through my own game without all that micro business? I have my own free will too? Son of a b*tch, what great news! So why are all the kids crying again?

[jd666]

All this is is the option to buy credits instead of earning them, no biggie!! I've been playing this since yesterday and it's something special!!

[Harmy666]

I really disagree with the whole, spend money to unlock things you can unlock for free by playing the game! I would never do that, I like to play a game the way it's supposed to be played… but at the same time, I don't HAVE to buy it, so I'm not complaining because some people like to storm through a game with all the unlocks and feel like a total badass from the get-go. Ubisoft is just tending to everyone's needs, and at the same time racking in on the dough! That cash will then help with future DLC and whatever other gamse they have planned for the future. But anyways, that's my rant over! Only 3 days left (UK)! YAY!

[jd666]

Some people are so busy disagreeing that they've no idea what they're disagreeing about!!

[Xof]

As long as it's for stuff that's in-game obtainable, it's tolerable.

The moment Ubi, or anyone else, go past that point is the moment I stop being a customer.

[stage88]

Nah, I don't want this on console games. Leave it to mobile devices and even there i don't like it.

[RockmanII7]

I'm not upset with this, if someone wants to pay for a game so they can pay for it to beat itself that's their prerogative.

[Vortex3D]

I don't care about the player can "buy" his way into playing the single player. But do not let online multiplayer do the same thing because it destroys the game. NFS has been really bad with gamers "buy" their way into online multiplayer like buy super cars with real money immediately and the rest of us who play the game the regular way have no change to win anything to earn any car.