Microtransactions | Aggravating Necessities

OnlySP: "When video games initiated their plan for world domination, they began as entertaining time sinks that allowed consumers to immerse themselves in something other than television or reality. From simple experiences such as Pong to more complex titles including the Mass Effect series or Metal Gear Solid, video games have transformed into something more enrapturing than mere amusement. This popular form of entertainment has become a lifestyle, a profession, and even a sport. However, with every evolutionary, positive venture comes some controversial elements, and one such point of contention in the industry is the implementation of microtransactions."

[freshslicepizza]

People don't want game prices to go up which is why publishers have created other revenue streams.

[SourtreeDing]

i dont understand the hate with this.. Spend your money if you want on Loot boxes or Microtransactions damn babies as long as its not pay to win i dont care for these practices.. bc you spend the money if you want

[HyperMouse]

Thats the problem they are slowly becoming pay to win or making the grind much harder so you consider buying loot boxes, look at new Forza 7 and Shadow of war, it will only get worse

[bolimekurac]

but hyper mouse you cant spend actual money in forza 7 yet

[Nyxus]

I'd rather see the prices go up if that would mean no microtransactions, honestly.

[AspiringProGenji]

meanwhile Horizon Zero Dawn:

- gives you loot boxes for leveling up
- gives you loot boxes for helping NPCs
- gives you lot boxes for trading with merchants
- Gives you Loot boxes for completing tasks
All of that free loot at $60.

W3 and Zelda and other examples too...

I don't buy that excuse anymore when even SP games have MTs.

[freshslicepizza]

Who knows what the future may lie, Uncharted for example went from a strictly single player game, to a game with online multiplayer added on to a game with microtransactions.

We have all witnessed the progression of some sort of online model entrenched in games and DLC being sold. The old model of buy a game, finish the campaign and your done is getting fewer and fewer. Publishers want to keep players engaged and a reward system like microtransactions and loot boxes are becoming more popular.

Most publishers now release fewer games but are making more money through this model.

[Liqu1d]

That's because the excuse is nonsense. Games are perfectly capable of making a healthy profit at $60, then you have deluxe and collectors editions priced even higher. Microtransactions were implemented because publishers are greedy.

[freshslicepizza]

@Liqu1d
"That's because the excuse is nonsense. Games are perfectly capable of making a healthy profit at $60, then you have deluxe and collectors editions priced even higher. Microtransactions were implemented because publishers are greedy."

That $60 game now costs more than it did to make that $60 game back in 2005, simple economics. Some have been able to remian profitable that's true but we have also witnessed lots of developer closures and less new IP's because the risk can sometimes be very costly.

[UCForce]

@moldybread Your logic is flawed as ever. So tell me this, do you want another video game crash ?

[KTF26]

With all these DLCs and deluxe and collector editions
Why add micro transactions?

[2600Thunder]

Games do not cost more than movies to make so since I just enjoyed Blade Runner 2049 for $15 in 3D, why should I be expected to pay more than $60 for a game? Just because I spend more time using the product? No, not happening and I am not missing out because the games implementing these practices are empty themed slot machines at best.
Movies:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...
Games:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

[SegaGamer]

"This popular form of entertainment has become a lifestyle, a profession, and even a sport"

A sport ? gaming is not and never will be a sport, it's a hobby. I know the article isn't about that but it bugs me when people say this.

[Phantom2244]

Definition of sport: "An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment."

By definition, gaming can be considered a sport in specific circumstances, such as mass tournaments, paid competitions, streaming, etc. Physical exertion is applied through the use of finger muscles. Tiny exertions compared to more mainstream sports, but exertions nonetheless.

[SegaGamer]

Anybody can be good a games, there is no talent, no real skill, just practice, even kids can be better at games than adults. It's not a sport and shouldn't be recognised as one. If you are going to class gaming as sport because of the tiny physical exertion of our fingers, then anything can be a sport.

If gaming is a sport, then literally every board game ever made can be seen as sport too.

[Umbrus462]

You lost me as soon as you said games have no real skill. Whether something is a sport or not is not a basis on whether or not it requires skill. The mere fact you have to practice to get better indicates it requires some level of skill, because skills are what you develop when you practice something. Different forms of writing require some measure of skill, editing scenes in movies and television requires skill, building a gaming computer requires a minimal amount of skill, training a dog requires skill. Doing well in a video game, whether in a single-player or multiplayer aspect, requires skill (developing reaction time, making better decisions, timing, accuracy, etc). None of these things are considered a sport by many (except maybe video games, which is why we're even having this discussion), yet they do require practice to perfect, which, as I already said, means there's a skill threshold involved.

[HyperMouse]

Im guessing you havnt seen a Lol championship

[bolimekurac]

its a sporty as well

[Skuletor]

It's called e-sports and it's existed for a long time now.

[Umbrus462]

Just because it bugs you when people say this, doesn't mean it's inaccurate.

[Skuletor]

Microtransactions are necessities? GTFO

[Umbrus462]

What an articulate and informed rebuttal...