Paid content in videogames (DLC, loot boxes, passes, currencies, "surprise mechanics" and - new! - pay more or wait!)

Anything to do with games at all.
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Fade
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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by Fade » Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:20 am

melatonin wrote:

I hope he had a tic tac before that

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Zellery
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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by Zellery » Thu Feb 28, 2013 1:52 pm

TheTurnipKing wrote:
Zellery wrote:
TheTurnipKing wrote:They're already affecting the type of games we get.

But the two examples we're talking about are Mass Effect and Dead Space. Are these games really a direct affect of micro transactions or would they have come out anyway? I think we both know the answer.

The fact that we're talking about a Gears of War style multiplayer horde mode crammed slap bang in the middle of what started out as an RPG speaks out as a testament to exactly what I'm talking about.

Sure, we might have had a Mass Effect 3 and a Dead Space 3. Theres very good odds that games bearing those titles would have looked very different if EA wasn't intent on squeezing every penny out of it's audience, though.

Mass Effect 3 is a great game bar the questionable end. Micro transactions had nothing to do with them botching the ending. :fp:

Also, Dead Space 3 is still exactly the same game whether you take out the micro transactions or not.

Whether you think either game is good or bad, their quality wasn't affected by their decision to include them.

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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by jawafour » Mon Mar 18, 2013 11:26 am

So Real Racing 3's micro-transactions are raking in the dough for EA. Pay-to-play is here to stay.

"Nick Earl, vice president of the company's mobile and social studios, said Real Racing 3's success meant he felt "vindicated early" following the decision to go freemium, as EA describes the business model.

'There's no question that going freemium was the right way to go,' he said.

'The vocal minority lashed out at freemium. We respect them and understand, but the market has spoken. That's just where things are going."


Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-03-18-ea-dismisses-real-racing-3-micro-transactions-furore-declares-the-market-has-spoken

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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by jawafour » Thu Aug 10, 2017 1:20 pm

Activision is taking the now-ubiquitous loot boxes to a new level in Call of Duty: WWII. And, yes, that's a low level.

PushSquare wrote:...if someone opens a cosmetic loot box while you’re watching them then there’s a chance you may win a prize...

Click for source.

Uhm... this is only gonna get worse, isn't it? Players will actually be watching other people opening boxes in-game, hoping that they cream off something from it. It's clear that publishers must be making money from these schemes, so some folk must be buying into it. Amazing.

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Cheeky Devlin
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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by Cheeky Devlin » Thu Aug 10, 2017 1:45 pm

Micro-transaction, "Gear" and Loot boxes are a strawberry floating Cancer. I'm so utterly beyond bored with them it's ridiculous. I just want a game that I can play from A-B without worrying about what currencies I have, if my gear is good enough or what random piece of shite I'm going to receive this time instead of something I actually need or want.

EDIT: Oh and nice bump Jawa. :lol:

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OrangeRKN
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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by OrangeRKN » Thu Aug 10, 2017 1:50 pm

We have gone too far this time

That's the dumbest thing

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Lagamorph
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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by Lagamorph » Thu Aug 10, 2017 1:51 pm

Loot boxes are literally gambling and should be regulated as such.

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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by jawafour » Thu Aug 10, 2017 1:52 pm

You can just imagine players running around and trying to stand near someone who is opening a loot box :lol: .

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Buffalo
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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by Buffalo » Thu Aug 10, 2017 1:59 pm

The loot boxes being random is what I've always had an issue with. I mean, I would consider paying money for short cuts, only if I knew what I was getting.

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OrangeRKN
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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by OrangeRKN » Thu Aug 10, 2017 2:08 pm

Buffalo wrote:The loot boxes being random is what I've always had an issue with.


Lagamorph wrote:Loot boxes are literally gambling and should be regulated as such.

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DML
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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by DML » Thu Aug 10, 2017 2:19 pm

Errkal wrote:I don't mind so much if it means the game is cheaper, and if the stuff you buy doesn't give you a massive advantage. There is a fine balance to strike.


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Trelliz
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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by Trelliz » Thu Aug 10, 2017 3:35 pm

Lagamorph wrote:Loot boxes are literally gambling and should be regulated as such.


They are very nearly gambling, which is how they get away with it. Unlike poker, roulette, slot machines etc you always get something out of lockboxes, card packs etc even if that thing is sellable for way less than the cost to open them. Thats why the pokemon card game and magic the gathering can be sold to kids.

Sites which let people gamble csgo, tf2 or dots skins were gambling because there was that possibility of losing items which have a monetary value, hence the controversy/crackdown.

I imagine all these big companies doing the blind boxes have had their substantial legal teams work out how to sail as close to the wind as possible without crossing any legal boundaries. Of course morally its completely strawberry floated up.

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rinks
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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by rinks » Thu Aug 10, 2017 6:47 pm

jawafour wrote:You can just imagine players running around and trying to stand near someone who is opening a loot box :lol: .

1 - Announce to the room that you're about to open a loot box.
2 - Wait for everyone to gather round.
3 - Quit the session.

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Return_of_the_STAR
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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by Return_of_the_STAR » Thu Aug 10, 2017 9:20 pm

jawafour wrote:Activision is taking the now-ubiquitous loot boxes to a new level in Call of Duty: WWII. And, yes, that's a low level.

PushSquare wrote:...if someone opens a cosmetic loot box while you’re watching them then there’s a chance you may win a prize...

Click for source.

Uhm... this is only gonna get worse, isn't it? Players will actually be watching other people opening boxes in-game, hoping that they cream off something from it. It's clear that publishers must be making money from these schemes, so some folk must be buying into it. Amazing.


The problem is around the world there are enough stinking rich adults and kids with daddy's credit card who won't bat an eyelid at spending hundreds on one game. Some Game developers can now survive off these customers and don't care as much about the normal customer anymore.

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Lagamorph
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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by Lagamorph » Thu Aug 10, 2017 10:12 pm

Return_of_the_STAR wrote:
jawafour wrote:Activision is taking the now-ubiquitous loot boxes to a new level in Call of Duty: WWII. And, yes, that's a low level.

PushSquare wrote:...if someone opens a cosmetic loot box while you’re watching them then there’s a chance you may win a prize...

Click for source.

Uhm... this is only gonna get worse, isn't it? Players will actually be watching other people opening boxes in-game, hoping that they cream off something from it. It's clear that publishers must be making money from these schemes, so some folk must be buying into it. Amazing.


The problem is around the world there are enough stinking rich adults and kids with daddy's credit card who won't bat an eyelid at spending hundreds on one game. Some Game developers can now survive off these customers and don't care as much about the normal customer anymore.

Aka the entire business model of the mobile game industry.

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Zellery wrote:Good post Lagamorph.
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Return_of_the_STAR
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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by Return_of_the_STAR » Thu Aug 10, 2017 10:14 pm

Lagamorph wrote:
Return_of_the_STAR wrote:
jawafour wrote:Activision is taking the now-ubiquitous loot boxes to a new level in Call of Duty: WWII. And, yes, that's a low level.

PushSquare wrote:...if someone opens a cosmetic loot box while you’re watching them then there’s a chance you may win a prize...

Click for source.

Uhm... this is only gonna get worse, isn't it? Players will actually be watching other people opening boxes in-game, hoping that they cream off something from it. It's clear that publishers must be making money from these schemes, so some folk must be buying into it. Amazing.


The problem is around the world there are enough stinking rich adults and kids with daddy's credit card who won't bat an eyelid at spending hundreds on one game. Some Game developers can now survive off these customers and don't care as much about the normal customer anymore.

Aka the entire business model of the mobile game industry.


Yeah exactly, I was going to reference that but couldn't be bothered. Some people spend thousands on games like clash of clans etc

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jawafour
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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by jawafour » Thu Oct 12, 2017 8:10 am

Following the focus on DLC / loot boxes / “micro” transactions in Shadow of War and Battlefront II, Metro GameCentral has posted an interesting article. They suggest that the only way to try and make publishers change their approach is to not purchase the games and I tend to agree with that line of thinking. Even so, this path will find difficulty in gaining wide-spread traction as most folk probably won’t even known about loot boxes and the like until they actually play the game.

As the article suggests, the current use of additional in-game payments does make you wonder what the videogaming landscape will be like in twelve month series time. Publishers are making big bucks from these new approaches and it is hard to see things changing. Personally I will be trying to avoid purchasing titles where I believe publishers are including payment schemes that are detrimental to the play and feel of the game. A small step but you gotta start somewhere.

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Tragic Magic
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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by Tragic Magic » Thu Oct 12, 2017 8:39 am

People defending this gooseberry fool or pretending it doesn't affect them at all :dread:

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Trelliz
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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by Trelliz » Thu Oct 12, 2017 8:39 am

The ESRB has ruled that lootboxes aren't gambling however as they are funded by publishers this is hardly surprising.

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PostRe: Micro transactions in all games (EA)
by 7256930752 » Thu Oct 12, 2017 8:43 am

jawafour wrote:Following the focus on DLC / loot boxes / “micro” transactions in Shadow of War and Battlefront II, Metro GameCentral has posted an interesting article. They suggest that the only way to try and make publishers change their approach is to not purchase the games and I tend to agree with that line of thinking. Even so, this path will find difficulty in gaining wide-spread traction as most folk probably won’t even known about loot boxes and the like until they actually play the game.

As the article suggests, the current use of additional in-game payments does make you wonder what the videogaming landscape will be like in twelve month series time. Publishers are making big bucks from these new approaches and it is hard to see things changing. Personally I will be trying to avoid purchasing titles where I believe publishers are including payment schemes that are detrimental to the play and feel of the game. A small step but you gotta start somewhere.

Does that article have definitive proof that a developer has artificially padded a game to make loot boxes more appealing?


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