Is the tide of rage against IAPs and microtransactions hitting critical mass?

[ImpulsE69]

The point is and he is right 100% about this, that posting on a forum doesn't get anything done. You need to go to the companies making these games and somehow convince them that it is the wrong way to go about it. Not giving them any money is one such way to get the idea across to them. Nobody here is in any position to do anything so posting your frustration here doesn't serve the purpose you think it does. It's venting, not making a stand.

You are not wrong, but knowledge of the problem is a step in the right direction.

 

[Zorander]

You and others in this thread make it seem like every game is like you describe. That is far, far from the case.

No, it's certainly not the case now. The potential for it to become reality is very much there however.

 

[cmdrdredd]

You are not wrong, but knowledge of the problem is a step in the right direction.

Some developers are supremely guilty of taking advantage of every drop of coin they can get. Others simply offer extra maps, missions, maybe new story arcs later. I'd say Capcom with their fighters are extremely guilty of milking players for more money with so many version updates you need to buy and then if you want all the costumes etc.

Like I said I'm picky and I'll buy a pack of missions to extend the game or add a side story to a game I enjoyed, but I won't buy everything. One example was Sleeping Dogs. You could buy new Kung Fu moves and crap. I never bought any of it.

No, it's certainly not the case now. The potential for it to become reality is very much there however.

Maybe...but not every developer is intent on selling content after the game is shipped. There's many developers who would rather begin work on the next game. I think these developers will continue to do what they have always done.

 

[smackababy]

You are not wrong, but knowledge of the problem is a step in the right direction.

The point is nobody posting in this forum needs that knowledge. Well, perhaps some, but very few. This thread only serves as a "let's pat our selves on the back for not liking this thing that obviously enough people do like".

In fact, everyone who has posted so far is against IAP and severely limits their DLC purchases. And, as I originally stated (perhaps poorly), I vote against it with my wallet; is that not enough? Everyone calling for these boycotts expect me to do more than that? Should I join you on the picket line outside of Zenga HQ? Oh, you're not there. Perhaps I should just "me too" you every time a thread is made about it.

I'll admit, I do think PC gamers (and console gamers) are incredibly whiny about the most trivial of things. Guess what? You're not entitled to like, or even play, any game. If it doesn't suit what you like, then simply look for another. Don't start a thread about how bad the company is, or how they've ruined (genre, developer, game, industry, whatever). There are plenty of games that are more likely to suit your fancy; go enjoy them.

 

[Zorander]

Maybe...but not every developer is intent on selling content after the game is shipped. There's many developers who would rather begin work on the next game. I think these developers will continue to do what they have always done.

I fervently hope so. I'd hate to see the day when games are driven predominantly by commercial greed, with little to none of the spirit/fun behind the products.

 

[smackababy]

I fervently hope so. I'd hate to see the day when games are driven predominantly by commercial greed, with little to none of the spirit/fun behind the products.

What exactly do you think is driving them now? Developers aren't making games for charity. Sure, they have a passion for gaming, but that doesn't change the fact their main motivation is money.

The problem is that some developers understand that keep the gamers as happy as possible, while making slightly less money, is a better business investment in the long term than screwing them over repeatedly. At least, that's the idea. Zenga still seems to be in business though.

 

[SMOGZINN]

Maybe...but not every developer is intent on selling content after the game is shipped. There's many developers who would rather begin work on the next game. I think these developers will continue to do what they have always done.

Who? Name one game that came out in 2013/2014 that does not at least have planned DLC.

 

[mizzou]

I don't like F2P because I don't like the tiered structure of payments. I like to either get it all, or get nothing.

I've played F2P games before, but I generally quit after a while...or rage quit after paying a fraction of what the big donors usually throw in, and realizing it was a waste of money.

 

[artemicion]

Who? Name one game that came out in 2013/2014 that does not at least have planned DLC.

Rayman Legends
Super Mario 3D World
Pokemon X/Y
Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Zelda: Wind Waker HD
X-Com Enemy Within
MLB 13: The Show
Ni No Kuni
The Wonderful 101
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
Animal Crossing: New Leaf

Dunno if Diablo 3 or Starcraft 2 count in your book, since they had planned expansions but released more than a year apart.

 

[irishScott]

What tide? EA and others have made it clear that they don't care what gamers think a while ago. They're in it for the money at this point, and right now those shitty, exploitative click-and-wait-for-days mobile "games" are raking in dough. If you don't like a game, don't buy it, don't play it.

A hardcore gamer complaining about a company making bad video games is like a classically trained artist complaining about mass-production posters of Che Guevera.

 

[Zorander]

Rayman Legends
Super Mario 3D World
Pokemon X/Y
Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Zelda: Wind Waker HD
X-Com Enemy Within
MLB 13: The Show
Ni No Kuni
The Wonderful 101
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
Animal Crossing: New Leaf

Dunno if Diablo 3 or Starcraft 2 count in your book, since they had planned expansions but released more than a year apart.

XCom Enemy Within is a DLC itself!

 

[Jodell88]

Rayman Legends
Super Mario 3D World
Pokemon X/Y
Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Zelda: Wind Waker HD
X-Com Enemy Within
MLB 13: The Show
Ni No Kuni
The Wonderful 101
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
Animal Crossing: New Leaf

Dunno if Diablo 3 or Starcraft 2 count in your book, since they had planned expansions but released more than a year apart.

A couple problems with your list. There's only one PC game on it, and it's an expansion pack for a game that also has DLC.

I think you should try again.

 

[irishScott]

XCom Enemy Within is a DLC itself!

Technically it's a standalone expansion. Steam decided to make it DLC, presumably for moar profits.

 

[artemicion]

A couple problems with your list. There's only one PC game on it, and it's an expansion pack for a game that also has DLC.

I think you should try again.

Whelp I guess it just means if you're butthurt about DLC that much, you need to buy a console. Console wins!

 

[Fire&Blood]

I would rather play a game with it's mechanics unaltered, a "true" game rather than a game with it's mechanics designed around the idea "how do we milk the gamer as much as possible. If one is not able to comprehend the impact of designing a game around milking gamers then there is no discussion to be had.

To make a F2P to real life analogy, it's like having sex with your wife/gf and she runs out to the bathroom every time you are about to have an orgasm. She'll come back to bed but only if you buy the "golden condom of spectacular penetration" or "epic potion of a titanium erection" or some other ridiculously named money grab. Master minds behind these money pit games are certain you'll pay anything "in the heat of the moment" and they don't even bother to think twice about naming these purchasable items, they know they got you.

Ultimately, that's the biggest issue, it's not about making good games anymore, it boils down to making a good carrot to dangle in front of former gamers who now become whales.


If it weren't for negative impact on gaming in the big picture, I wouldn't have a problem with F2P's. Unfortunately, growth of F2P's derials quality standards, to make another analogy, it means more Transformers and less "No Country for Old Men".

Think about it. You drop $100 on World of Tanks and you enter a perpetual cycle, you spent money so you keep playing and eventually you spend more.
A year goes by and you play one game that you spent $500 on rather than playing 5 you spent $300 on.

A subscription based game can become F2P, even a traditional game can go F2P but a F2P cannot go to subscription or traditional model, it's lack of quality and core mechanic become exposed and it collapses instantly.

Any F2P extending it's prongs past the cosmetics is detrimental to the concept of gaming as we know it because everything is built around a money making platform rather than a good gaming platform that seeks to make monet. It's preying on the weak of which there are many seeking refuge in gaming. F2P is the cancer of gaming.

For those heavily invested in F2P titles, be aware that the values of the world you dedicate yourselves to extremely fragile, it's all to be altered at the creator's whim. The money you invest is evaporating constantly, the only variable is the rate.

Most of the time the counter arguments I hear are "you must be poor" to which I usually reply with a screenshot of my Steam backlog or my favorite one, "you can get by without spending" usually made by those that spent upwards of $500 on said title.

Do me (and yourself) a favor, stop falling for it.

 

[artemicion]

A couple problems with your list. There's only one PC game on it, and it's an expansion pack for a game that also has DLC.

I think you should try again.

I dunno, I could say, Rayman Legends is a PC game you dolt. Then someone would say "THAT'S ONLY ONE GAME."

I could go with Rogue Legacy, Gone Home, Don't Starve, Fez, Brothers, Antichamber, Monaco, Outlast and the like but then someone will probably say, "INDIE GAMES DON'T COUNT, FULL FLEDGED RELEASES ONLY." (whatever that means)

Then I'd probably go back to Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3, but someone would say "THOSE HAD PREPLANNED EXPANSIONS." Then I'd say, "We'll what's the f-ing point we're trying to make, are we only counting original IP's that dont' have planned sequels as well?" Which you would probably respond "Yes!" just to spite me.

Then I'd try to make the argument that games with superficial DLC like costume packs (Tomb Raider, Metal Gear Rising, etc.) should count because you basically get the full game experience without having to buy DLC and no one in their right mind would pay for such stupid DLC. But then someone would say "ALL DLC EVIL. ANY GAME WITH ANY DLC EVIL."

So I concede. You win this argument. I forget what the whole point of coming up with this list was, but you win. /slowclap

 

[Doppel]

I would rather play a game with it's mechanics unaltered, a "true" game rather than a game with it's mechanics designed around the idea "how do we milk the gamer as much as possible. If one is not able to comprehend the impact of designing a game around milking gamers then there is no discussion to be had.

This

 

[Jodell88]

I dunno, I could say, Rayman Legends is a PC game you dolt. Then someone would say "THAT'S ONLY ONE GAME."

I could go with Rogue Legacy, Gone Home, Don't Starve, Fez, Brothers, Antichamber, Monaco, Outlast and the like but then someone will probably say, "INDIE GAMES DON'T COUNT, FULL FLEDGED RELEASES ONLY." (whatever that means)

Then I'd probably go back to Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3, but someone would say "THOSE HAD PREPLANNED EXPANSIONS." Then I'd say, "We'll what's the f-ing point we're trying to make, are we only counting original IP's that dont' have planned sequels as well?" Which you would probably respond "Yes!" just to spite me.

Then I'd try to make the argument that games with superficial DLC like costume packs (Tomb Raider, Metal Gear Rising, etc.) should count because you basically get the full game experience without having to buy DLC and no one in their right mind would pay for such stupid DLC. But then someone would say "ALL DLC EVIL. ANY GAME WITH ANY DLC EVIL."

So I concede. You win this argument. I forget what the whole point of coming up with this list was, but you win. /slowclap

I lol'd.

I don't mind DLC unless it's day one DLC/ buy from this retailer and get this!/preorder and get this!

 

[Bateluer]

Rayman Legends
Super Mario 3D World - Rehash of existing games, essentially DLC
Pokemon X/Y - Pokemon is nothing more than DLC ad nauseum
Zelda: A Link Between Worlds - 3DS game, basically click and point DLC
Zelda: Wind Waker HD - Remake of previous game
X-Com Enemy Within - Standalone DLC for existing title
MLB 13: The Show - All sports games are simply rehashing of previous titles, no evolution or innovation in the genre for decades yet the price keeps rising
Ni No Kuni
The Wonderful 101
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate - Exploitation Genre
Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Facebook game?

Dunno if Diablo 3 or Starcraft 2 count in your book, since they had planned expansions but released more than a year apart.

On D3 and SC2, I'll give Blizzard some credit here, both these games did/will get real expansions. Blizzard states years ago that SC2 would be split into three parts, and whether or not that was exploitative to simply bilk customers for money or whether the games were worth it is worth its own thread.

 

[gdansk]

Okay, I dislike some aspects of the present state of the game industry. Particularly the mobile & web time-based games.

But there is nothing wrong with Animal Crossing: New Leaf or Monster Hunter 3. They don't make you spend any more money. Just time. It's the classic MMO grind but without the monthly fees or DLC. There is nothing wrong with wasting some willing participants time. But to offer not to waste their time in exchange for money is clearly exploitative.

Just my two cents.

 

[BoberFett]

So smack, are we to understand that you don't stand up for anything you believe in? That's essentially what you are saying. You don't have an opinion on gas prices? Abortion? Who the next president is? All these things are probably considered by most to be much more important than a game, I agree, but that really isn't the point. Saying nothing is accepting what is given to you also giving you no right to complain.

Sitting idly by does not change anything. Calling it "whining" is just an attempt to cheapen opinions that differ from yours (which if you look at the history around here, is 99% of the time). As someone stated, it's only a game, but it all revolves around the same mindset. What is interesting is you are all for it, yet make a point to repeatedly engage anyone who thinks otherwise. I have no issues with your opinion being different from mine, but it doesn't mean I'm just going to sit (in silence) and accept what you say....oh wait...just like you didn't! (get what I did there?) You simply not paying is your way of dealing with it, speaking out is others.

:thumbsup:

 

[WelshBloke]

I'm fine with DLC and some IAPs. If I dont think its worth the money I wont pay it.

But they have killed Dungeon Keeper mobile completely. To have it take 24 hours or about £1.50 to dig out one square is ridiculous.
The actual game isnt that far from being a great game either, and thats the annoying thing. They have deliberately cocked it up by making everything take so long that unless you spend stupid amounts of money on it you just cant progress at an entertaining level.

 

[Doppel]

Watching total biscuit now because I LOVE raging Brits, who doesn't.

Anyway, Francis, somebody needs to get him an intervention. Is half the reason people watch him because they want to watch the final video where his heart just gives up? I watched his long autobiography vid and it was interesting, but seriously the guy is not well.

EDIT: Okay, I was hoping he'd rage, and Francis does rage quite well. I laughed for sure with him going on about the mining.

 

[NTMBK]

Watching total biscuit now because I LOVE raging Brits, who doesn't.

Anyway, Francis, somebody needs to get him an intervention. Is half the reason people watch him because they want to watch the final video where his heart just gives up? I watched his long autobiography vid and it was interesting, but seriously the guy is not well.

EDIT: Okay, I was hoping he'd rage, and Francis does rage quite well. I laughed for sure with him going on about the mining.

Francis is a character, portrayed by the actor Steven.

 

[XiandreX]

Hypershills be shilling.

IAP, microtransactions, and DLC is mostly a plague on the industry that has caused video game quality to decline.

'Just ignore them' isn't a valid response, as they negatively impact the games they are.

+1

On a sidenote I am about to reach level 216 on Candy crush and I have not spent a dime. Yes I wish I didnt have to wait but mini games are just that... pick it up, play for a bit and do some work or real life stuff.

However when the the microtransactions affect the PC/Xboxone/PS4 industry at its current pace its pointing to
bleak times ahead for all of us regardless of opinion. Frustration is going to get worse and turn more people off titles that levy it.