Are Microtransactions Killing the Gaming Business?

Micro transactions are increasingly common; Bidness Etc questions their impact on the gaming industry.

[roxette92]

it's a plague. worst thing that ever happened to gaming.

[hennessey86]

But if you want console gaming to continue then you will have to put up with it. Developers are seeing the millions of pounds casual gamer's are spending on stupid little games every day and they want a piece of the pie. As long as it is not forced on to us then I don't see an issue. There is no way developers are going to continue pumping millions into developing console games when they can make the same profit on mobile with a quarter of the effort.

[DiscoKid]

It's business, and business is good. They wouldn't do it if consumers don't buy into it, as ugly it seems.

[freshslicepizza]

good business usually delves into good relations with your consumers. what they should be doing is offering free content even if it is small items like camouflage gear or new guns. you build relations so that you have consumers already on your side for new expansion packs to sell as dlc.

this all creates a relation with the consumer who is likely to stick around longer and not just beat the game and sell it. which in turn goes to the used bin where the publisher won't get any money from the resale.

[n4rc]

killing it? nah..

wanna see micro-transactions go away, games prices go up..

id rather ignore them then pay for them against my will..

this is just based on the principal.. i know some are horrible and shady about it but they arent bad if done properly

[ninsigma]

At the moment I think it's killing specific games due to having the model rather than the business as a whole but if the trend continues and escalates, then I have no doubt it well have some sort of affect on it.

[NeoGamer232]

A lot of people growing up in this generation seem to be excepting them. It is funny my kids have a Tsom Tsoms game on their iPads and are always asking me to give them money to buy more in the game.

Whereas people like me who grew up paying $60 for a game and never having to pay more simply are refusing microtransactions.

Personally, I have been reassessing playing video games now that microtransactions are here. Simply put it is making gaming much more expensive or time consuming because if you are unwilling to do the microtransactions the cost is personal time.

The gaming industry is a big mess right now, and my willingness to participate is waning quickly.