130°

Take-Two Believes Loot Boxes Are a “Perfectly Reasonable Mechanic” but a Small Part of Its Business

During Take-Two Interactive Software’s financial conference call, CEO Strauss Zelnick was asked to comment on the loot boxes controversy.

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2236d ago
TekoIie2236d ago

Under certain circumstances.

XiNatsuDragnel2236d ago

I believe they should not be apart of any business

execution172235d ago

Says the company that sells in game currency for real world currency

DarXyde2235d ago

I have no opinion of loot boxes really since I'm not an online gamer, but people should not be too upset about their inclusion.

You, as consumers, have the right to not purchase them. If a game's multiplayer depends on you investing in loot boxes, don't play multiplayer. If it negatively impacts single player, don't play single player. If the game itself is riddled with loot boxes, don't buy it.

If loot boxes plaguing a game means you miss the next GTA or Red Dead Redemption, I say so be it. Have self control. Vote with your wallets and show developers that you're not going to take these practices lying down.

If people complain but sales remain strong, their investors will be content and you'll see it happen again. But when the inclusion of loot boxes affects their sales, they've received your message.

BlackIceJoe2235d ago (Edited 2235d ago )

I think you miss the point, of course we all have the right not to buy loot boxes, but if just one person buys them every gamer gets jacked too.

Lots of games have been fundamentally changed because of loot boxes and what once was considered free in game you now have to pay for it.

Take as an example The Lord of the Rings game by WB Shadow of Mordor, then Shadow of War, the sequel was a better game, but because of the garbage loot boxes the sequel is trash and the worse game. You couldn't really play the game if you didn't buy a loot box. I thankfully never did, but that doesn't change the fact some people did and because of people buying stuff that should be free, or shouldn't be in the game at all, every gamer suffers from that.

You can say all day long don't buy this game or that game, I'm not, but again because some people want to buy them we all have to live with them now and that shouldn't be alright with anyone.

I remember a few years back before loot boxes, game companies were trying to find any way they could to hurt consumers, be it adding on disk downloadable content, game passes, then adding always on internet that was for not just multiplayer games, but single player games too, then forced multiplayer, now microtransactions, games as a service and loot boxes are the new way to hurt games, so if you call yourself a gamer, you shouldn't be so pro hurting the consumer.

DarXyde2235d ago

That's quite a logical leap: "you say don't buy games with these practices, but if others do, all other gamers get screwed, therefore, you are anti-consumer."

Pump the brakes for a second...

Number one, I don't just call myself a gamer. I AM a gamer: I've 100%'d a slew of titles before achievements or trophies were cool, cleared Contra III on very hard, revisit retro titles on their original hardware a few times a year, and can still quote games from my youth better than I can quote The Lion King. I'm pretty invested in my hobby. Even so, it is because I love this hobby so much that I have the self control to say no to these practices. If loot boxers wanna screw that up, I don't buy games. I don't care how highly anticipated of a sequel it is. Point blank, end of story. You think I wouldn't skip The Last of Us Part II if it had loot boxes that ruined the single player experience? You'd lose that bet, I promise you that. I'm not drawn to the bells and whistles the way others are, so it is off no grave consequence to me if I become a retro gamer-- I'm already planning on that once we enter the exclusively digital era. I've already decided I'm not getting the next Xbox because I'm not rewarding Microsoft's push for a digital, cloud based future in gaming. I'm a principled gamer, and if that means I miss out on modern

I tell you all of this so you understand: the industry is going to do what will keep investors happy. I've just learned that they, with all of their power, cannot get me to support them in poor practice. I don't complain and I don't write then angry letters. I just don't buy. And if everyone did that, they would think twice. Selling a game in pieces is another surefire way to cut any support from me.

I don't speak for you all, but when things get bad, just understand that we could've done something about it. They're welcome to try, but they will be punished. That simple.

TheGamez1002235d ago (Edited 2235d ago )

Thing is, casuals eat up microtransactions very often especially in very popular games like cod, mobile games, and fortnite. So really...us real gamers choosing not to buy has little to no effect since the vast majority of "gamers" are casuals lol. Microtransactions will pretty much forever be there because of this and we cant really do anything about it but complain and whine while companies still make millions off of this. They dont care about the minority's "message". Thats just how business is.
It sucks really bad for us because devs will be forced to implement crappy microtransactions because the rich ppl say so rather than making a much more quality game. Get the game out asap with microtransactions that work perfectly but the game itself is broken or has a a lack of content day one. Thats how so many online games are these days and I can imagine it being even worse in the future......all because of microtransactions. This also affects single player games Im afraid. Look at ac odyssey, dmcV, sports games, and fighting games, etc etc.
So yea...its a pretty damn big ass deal for us actual gamers. The future doesnt look too bright for us.

DarXyde2235d ago

I don't see how this goes against my argument for self control.

If you don't like the direction of the industry, do not support the industry. If the studios die, they die.

Natural selection.

2235d ago
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50°

Blacknut Announces a New Partnership With Kalypso Media

Blacknut has announced a brand new partnership with Kalypso Media. This will see Kalypso's gaming portfolio arrive on Blacknut.

The partnership will take hold from June 27th with the arrival of a selection of Klaypos Media titles onto the Blacknut cloud gaming platform.

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160°

It Shouldn't Take Expedition 33's Success to Remind Square Enix That Turn-Based Still Sells

TNS: Expedition 33 was the wake-up call Square Enix needed, telling it turn-based RPGs are still popular, but that shouldn't have been the case.

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Relientk7718h ago

True, but if it does get it through their thick skulls, then that works.

Although, the Dragon Quest 1 + 2 HD remakes will be turn-based and (the worst kept secret) Final Fantasy IX remake should be turn-based I would imagine. Let's see if any newer games go turn-based too.

thorstein14h ago(Edited 14h ago)

DQIII HD Remake was turned based and very successful. Then there was a really obscure turn based game came Balder's Gate 3. I heard it might have done well.

Profchaos11h ago

I wouldn't be shocked if they switched ff to the vii remake combat system

PapaBop7h ago

It won't get through to them though, despite E33's success, they still won't risk going fully turn based for their big budget projects simply because they are still in the mindset that it needs to be action combat to appeal to the mainstream audience. I hope I'm wrong but don't underestimate just how stubborn Japanese execs can be

barom20m ago

Ya'll are hyping up Expedition 33 too much. Reminder that FF XVI sold 3 million in a week and it took Expedition 33 approximately a month to get to that (33 days to reach 3.3 million).

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DivineHand12518h ago

While it is true that Sqaure Enix has moved away from turn based games compared to how they were in the past, there is a good reason for it.

Older gamers will know this but during the ps2 era, we were flooded with turned based games from Japanese studios and this created a form of fatigue back then going into the next generation.

When Square released FF13, they received heavy criticism for making the game turned based like every other FF game and not doing enough to innovate. This is why they made FF15, FF7 Remake and FF16 have real time combat. It gave the series a fresh spin and has brought in new fans to the series.

I personally would be happy with either turned based FF or the real-time combat version we see today.

Shane Kim17h ago

Remake and Rebirth have "turn based" if you set it in the settings.

Lexreborn214h ago

Dang wish I saw your post before I made mine because we definitely feel the same way lol

Profchaos11h ago(Edited 11h ago)

Yeah hit the nail on the head but its like ww2 games we get hundreds of them then a decade of nothing and people start missing them i think we're going to start seeing them return

Claire, dragon quest even yakuza have seen turn based return

andy8517h ago

Only need to look at their own game DQ 11 approaching 10 million to show there's a market. And that's not as big of a name as FF

Tacoboto17h ago

Another article about Expedition 33 and Square Enix and turn-based games? This is starting to sound like propaganda.

The game didn't sell because it's a turn-based game; it sold and is enjoyed because it's a really freaking good game that released completed at a good price without gamer drama attached to it. No Mtx, no wait-until-it's-patched, minimal bloat, a self-contained story, no multiplatform BS. Just a solid original game that absolutely nails what it intended to do.

Redemption-6416h ago

I was just about to say the same thing.

anast15h ago

This comment should have a 100 upvotes, at least.

CrimsonWing6916h ago

Maybe try actually listening to the fans who have supported the series for decades. This habit of ignoring your core audience just to chase people who were never interested in Final Fantasy in the first place makes no sense. And when that approach fails, doubling down on it is beyond baffling.

The battle system has never been the main reason non-FF or non-JRPG players stayed away. Gutting the series’ identity to chase a broader market doesn’t attract new players. It just alienates the loyal ones.

Keep going down this road and we’ll end up with Final Fantasy Fortnite abomination or a F2P Battle Royale game.. Oh wait…

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240°

Sony is all-in on PlayStation Plus, says its most expensive tier is thriving

Sony kicks off PS Plus' 15th anniversary by chatting with Game File about the past, present and future of its gaming subscription service: Talking price, catalogue tweaks and where the PS3 games are.

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CrimsonWing691d 16h ago

Glad, I’m about to downgrade when they raise the price. For me, I don’t really access much or care about the games they have in the library and if I do, it’d be cheaper to just buy them over time rather than stick to some expensive subscription model.

crazyCoconuts1d 15h ago

When you're new to the service you've got an avalanche of games to play. After you catch up, I agree, it's not worth it beyond the Essential tier for me.
That being said, the Essential tier is the best deal in console gaming imo, based on the monthly games you get to keep.

Profchaos1d 9h ago

Yeah same will be downgrading $214 aud is insane and we don't even get the streaming capabilities in Australia which they said would make the top level subscription cheaper.

If i was to just buy the games I actually play that come to the service id be far better off.

Ill keep the essential tier to retain the games ive collected since the ps3 and for mp but I'm not convinced of the premium tiers value any more

victorMaje1d 6h ago

Went back to essential a few months ago. I’m buying more physical and it has helped in finishing more games.

Profchaos20h ago

Tend to agree if i go to the trouble of buying a disc ill typically finish it

Alos881d 16h ago

Extra is probably the best value for money right now, Premium doesn't have anything special enough to justify paying the additional imo.

OtterX1d 15h ago

*unless you have a Portal & you catch Premium on discount during Days of Play or Black Friday.

Yea, I really do wish they'd up their effort on Premium titles, but allowing a large catalog of titles that can stream to your Portal without even having to use your PS5 is pretty awesome. We travel about 2 hours to stay with my inlaws from time to time, so it's been pretty killer to only need to take my Portal for that!

andy851d 14h ago

Yup if you have a portal premium is the best tier for sure

KyRo22h ago

Extra has been getting worse and worse each month. I've had it since it's launch and it's been great to play some games I may not have played but the selection has been declining rapidly for a while now. My sub runs out in August and I'll be going back to essential. They actually add games to that which are more appealing.

jznrpg1d 15h ago

Add some more classics with trophies. Vagrant Story first

OtterX1d 15h ago

Nice choice. I agree!

Jeanne D'Arc was my favorite PS+ catalog title from last year & I Platinumed it!

Eonjay1d 13h ago

I like Ridge Racer, Tekken and Grandia. Add Xenogears, digimon World 3, Classic GTA and ill be happy

jznrpg1d 11h ago

Jeanne D’Arc was great!

@Eonjay there is a Grandia collection available for PS4, I’m not sure if it’s been on plus already or not

darthv721d 15h ago

cloud streaming to the portal, without using the ps5, is the selling point of premium to me.

Obscure_Observer1d 15h ago

If the consumers are happy, Sony is even happier.

It is what it is.

Eonjay1d 13h ago

I tend to agree with you.

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