this is why these publishers and i am not even going to call them greedy and fighting so hard to protect MT in games. The reason i won't call them greedy because your have people like this gamer here who are called whales and they are the reasons we all have to deal with MT in our games
That doesn't mean the publishers aren't greedy. They're ruining the scene for most gamers to make far more money than they need from some people with more money than sense (and some without both, who end up bankrupting themselves). That's practically a definition of greed.
They are greedy, and they exploit psychological impulses. But we can't only blame the developers, and I won't call this person stupid. But I can think MJ of other things I'd spend 220k on rather than a video game.
I'm not sure what's worse, seeing the same gating strategies used in subscription based AAA games like WoW (it's one of BFA's largest criticisms) or the fact developers are talking about this sort of spending in a positive way.
I don't hate microtransactions (or even loot boxes) as long as they are cosmetic, fairly implemented, and don't lock any gameplay aspect behind a paywall. There are FTP games that understand this perfectly, and I am, in fact, a big fan of Paladins, a FTP game that I've been playing non-stop for over a year now because their microtransactions are pretty well implemented (100% cosmetic, loot boxes never give you repeat items, and plenty of options to buy stuff you actually want outright if you don't want to bet on loot boxes).
But any game that restricts my playtime unless I pay money, or becomes pay to win in any way... yeah no, fuck that.
The reason why I tried it is because I'm a Transformers fan but unfortunately this falls into the oh so familiar pay for everything you do realm that plagues these ftp games on mobile devices.
No. People need to take individual responsibility. It's not the industry, it is people like this guy who got us where we are today. We need to stop blaming the companies and blame the ones who support this crap because it is them who we can thank for MTX's in every game.
Chicken and Egg I suppose. MT obviously came first. The rise of MT, and predatory practices came because of whales making it a profitable venture.
I wouldn't blame an individual for the rise of MT, nor is there any reason for me to hold them accountable for their own spending since it isn't my money. I would say they are the reason that publishers keep pushing these practices though. Not even just whales, but those who routinely spend money on expensive MT, but ultimately, the industry is responsible.
AnubisG: Actually, if a bartender lets you get drunk, and something happens to you or to others as a result, he can be held liable. Same goes for parents if their kids get themselves and their friends drunk or high in the house, then they go out and get in a wreck.
There are people without impulse control who end up as alcoholics or compulsive gamblers. Then there are the many children who play games. There are good public-policy reasons to restrict gambling mechanics and other predatory microtransactions in games. I'll remind you that NBA 2K20 is rated E, for everyone. Toddlers can spin the roulette wheel and pull on the one-arm bandit. This crap has got to stop.
@AnubisG: (1) actually yes it legally is the bar's fault. They are not supposed to serve you enough to get drunk -- it's not enforced until something happens like a drunk driving tragedy, but it is technically the law. (2) even if it wasn't, if a guy gets drunk in a bar every night for a year, loses his job and sells his stuff to pay for more booze, and the bar knows it? Yes it is their fault at that point, morally as well. You should not profit from addiction.
The laws surrounding drinking in a bar, and what the bar is responsible for, is not just if the guy gets in an accident on the way home and happened to be above the legal limit. The bartender....not necessarily the bar...can be held liable for continuing to serve someone who is overly innebriated. There is no hard limit on number of drinks, or the amount of intoxication, and it is only enforced when something happens. Typically, it's a civil suit, but often it doesn't go anywhere because it requires proving negligence on the bartenders part.
@Viva
You're 2nd scenario about the guy losing his job is not the responsibility of the bar, or those serving him. They are not required to perform any kind of qualification of a person's personal information other than verify they are legally allowed to drink. If someone loses their job over their habits, then they have problems that are well beyond the scope of responsibility for any business serving them. Even if they know that that's what is happening with the person, it isn't wrong to serve them. They are the customer, who made the choice to come in on their own. The moral quandary assumes that the bar is responsible for keeping that guy on the straight and narrow, or within their limits, which they aren't.
There should also be a spending cap. Once a person reaches the limit they end up with ownership of the game and no need for further purchases.
@AnubisG "If you go into a bar and get drunk, is that the bars fault? I don't think so." That's why responsible serving of alcohol laws exist. Once someone is drunk you stop serving them.
That's almost my annual salary, and my wife makes a bit more. We live rather humbly, and our bills are maybe $30K a year between us.
So yeah, it's certainly possible to have that kind of money to spend. I choose to spend mine on actual games, fixing up the house, and woodworking stuff. Rest goes into savings for an early retirement.
Not trying to. Just think that it's certainly possible to spend that much on what may seem like frivoulous things, because not everyone is strapped for cash. Don't know the circumstances this particular guy had, and I do feel spending them on MT is wasteful, but we all have our vices I suppose.
30K isn't that much in bills for a year really. Mortgage, 2 cars, insurance, utilities. So on and so forth. By humbly I mean we don't spend our money on extravagances like expensive vacations, more expensive houses, more expensive cars, and we don't drown ourselves in debt. I'll buy nice things when I buy stuff I want, but outside gaming, I'm not one to just spend a lot of money on things just because I might have a desire for it. My wife barely spends any money on things that aren't necessary, but has moments where she likes to splurge on clothes or something.
I know if may seem like a lot in bills, but it's probably just a matter of perspective. If I was making 30K a year, then yeah, I'd probably be struggling. I know some people make less than that in a year...and at one point in my life I have as well. I remember what it was like to live paycheck to paycheck, which is why I try to save and spend my money wisely. Gaming is probably my only real expensive vice. Woodworking is another big hobby of mine, but that doesn't require constant output of funds once you have most of the tools you would use.
Anyhow, I don't really care to keep discussing my personal finances. Bringing it up wasn't really the point of my original post. My point was that many people have plenty of disposable income for things that many others would not spend money on.
It IS his money. He can do what he wants. So if he wants to fuck himself over because he can't afford to pay the rent, buy food, or maintain whatever family he may have, all because of a mobile game, that's on him ;p I'm not stopping him, and neither should you.
@UnSelf, Completely agree. Most people whine about MT for two reasons. They do not have funds or they are mad someone took a shortcut to get the equipment, gear or weapons that they want without grinding that some people did. MT does not hurt the industry in the slightest. It helps keep the prices of games down prices have been the same for a games for over a 2 decades now. Look at the price to go to a movie now compared to 20 years ago. Id rather have the suckers pay for MT than have to pay another 20 to 30 bucks for a game.
I think it's really dumb to spend that much money on a game's MT. But you're making a lot of assumptions about the person's financial status, and life in general to try and say why it's a bad thing. If i went out and spend that much, it would delay my retirement, but I wouldn't be put in dire financial straights because of it. I wouldn't spend that much on MT, just saying.
It is possible he put himself into a lot of debt to achieve this, but even being able to get 250K in credit means you make a lot of money, or have a house that you got a 2nd mortgage on.
@Jrio You’re thinking too small.this guy is enabling the predator practices of MT’s in video games.
@Racer Your argument would work if games were going down in price.. but no, they’re staying the same. If these practices were only in free to play/mobile games? Sure.. but sadly they’re in games where costumers already give money just to buy the product.
You think games haven't gone down on price? If you factor inflation in, yes, they've become less expensive, way less, since they were first introducted. Nintendo 64 games were routinely 70 bucks or more. I remember paying about 80 bucks for Super Smash Bros at Electronics Boutique 20 years ago. That is more than $120 for a game today, adjusted for inflation.
When the PS3 / Xbox 360 generation arrived, standard price for games rose from $50 to $60. I remember how people talked about that. That was in 2005 (Xbox 360 launch), and the standard price of games remains $60 today, 13 years later. Adjusted for inflation, those $60 from 2006 translate to $78 today...
So yes, games absolutely come down in price with the years. If you don't agree with microtransactions and other monetization practices, then be prepared to fork $90 for new game releases...
And this is why, ladies and gentleman, we will never get rid of MTX's. Precisely because of people like this. This is the real issue. People like this.
Don't blame the companies. Blame people like these.
I blame both. I blame the companies for targetting idiots like this ( there is a video on Youtube called "let's go whaling" that demonstates how these CEO's think ) and I blame the idiots for being idiots.
@AnubisG. Would you rather pay another 20 to 30 bucks per game. MTs keep the prices down. Let others pay more for the games I sure do not want to pay more than I already do for a game.
I don't think that MTX's keep the prices down. But let's say they do and the alternative would be $20-$30 more expensive games. In that case, games would not be built around MTX's so yeah, I would rather pay that much more personally. However, if you look at game prices, you will see that games are $5-$10 off in about 2 weeks after release. Than about 1-2 months after release they can be found for $15-$20 off and in about 6 months you can find them for 50% or more off. So I don't think that MTX' keep prices down. They make more than enough on $60/ game. They make so much on that that they don't even have to keep it at that price point for long. Let's not forget that way more people play games than 20 years ago or even 10 years ago. Games make more than Hollywood and the music industry combined.
@AnubisG, inflation alone would make game prices rise. I sure hope you make more money today than you did 20 years ago. Do you think it costs the same to make a game today as it did 20 years ago.
Games are worth what the market will bear. If they raise prices by 50% they will sell a lot fewer copies. Now that digital distribution is taking over, there is very little up-side to doing that. MTs just rake in a lot more money gratuitously. They have nothing to do with keeping the industry afloat.
I blame them both. Compulsive gamblers are too weak to resist; but companies, if legally required, could stop the unconscionable practice of predatory microtransactions. So that's where the push needs to go. They need to be held liable, one way or another.
I used to play this game and wow, every thing was centered around gating a user as much as possible.
Wasn't long before you hit a wall or have to wait days to farm or build items because you're not spending real money.
Oh hell no MTs need to stop
I'd hate to be that guy explaining to the wife we can't afford rent or keep food in the fridge because I spent the money on a damn cellphone game.
🤦♂️
It was me 🙂