this post was submitted on 16 Feb 2024
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... That's not the point here. The point is that they decided that if they launched the in-game shop at the same time as the game's initial release that they would get a bunch of bad reviews. This is worrying mainly for the fact that if they had this train of thought, that means that it must be super predatory.
Right, I understand. I was just expressing my thoughts on the article.
I don't have a strong opinion regarding game content rating systems, except that I don't know how to quantify how much "good" they contribute to society.
And I don't have much to say about video game monetization models, except that companies will always try to use a model that they think provides them with the most benefit.
The most interesting thought this article made me think of was "I wonder what kind of hats I'll be able to put on Kuma."
Edit: I've been thinking about this a bit more because I do think my dismissive attitude towards microtransactions in general is alarming. My comment was dishonest and flippant.
As someone who played Payday 2 and had a ton of discussions with my friends about their ever changing monetization models I feel like the ultimate conclusion I came to was "capitalism is exhausting." And I mean that in the very literal sense that capitalism will result in the physical, mental, spiritual, and financial exhaustion of everyone who doesn't hold capital. This is not good, but good things can come from it. As more people start to realize the system is broken more people will want to change it. So I was being dishonest, I actually do have a lot to say about video game monetization models.
The other thing I have more to say about is Tekken 8. Not the character customization feature, but about the story mode which is possibly the best videogame story I have ever experienced. I won't bore anyone with the details, but the story in T8 is the conclusion to a multigenerational feud between a grandfather and father, and a father and son. It is the end to what could have been an endless cycle of hate and violence. And this ending is only possible because Jin decides to face his demons, forgive himself, and forgive his enemies.
This lesson in my mind is literally the most important lesson for a person to learn, and so I'm willing to forgive the inclusion of microtransactions of it means that some kid somewhere who is struggling with accepting who they are can play this game and come to the realization and sense of peace that Jin and I did.
And if anyone wants to talk about this more I would love to.
Or perhaps it wasn't ready.
If history has shown us anything, it's that the shop is ALWAYS ready. It goes: build a store front, make a game around it, and lastly remove some features from the game and put them in the shop.
"Okay everyone: the reason this wasn't in the game at launch wasn't because it would be unpopular, it's because the game was launched unfinished. That makes it okay!"
Or that they knew that it's something a lot of people overreact about.
Mtx are just plain bad for consumers though. They can bleed money from people with bad spending habits and other issues and they hate a lot of content that used to (usually) unlockable in-game content, and if it's undeniably extra content then they usually become a bit wild like fortnite causing the game to lose a lot of is individual identity that it had at its start, or they just give poorer players FOMO. Other than being a way for consumers to give companies a little extra money for making a good game or content, I can't think of anything good to say about mtx especially when it comes to the actual game itself.
Thanks for making my point for me. It doesn't matter if mtx are completely cosmetic and don't particularly have any effects on gameplay. People are just going to complain about it existing at all
Because games took a very noticeable turn for the worse when microtransactions were introduced. Go play some older games and they're full of secrets and unlockables. Not only did you get much of the very same content, for free, but it was usually a lot more fun and engaging to find/collect everything than just forking over some money. It's not just games either, the entire business model of declining quality so they can sell you the same things over and over again for more and more money is permeating everything in society and people are getting really ticked off.
Because they are objectively bad for games and gamers. We're not complaining for the sake of complaining
You've either never seen or played games prior to mtx, a closet gambling addict, or spent too much on something like LoL and now have buyers bias trying to justify your worthless digital "goods", to be defending mtx as hard as you are.
I mean, if you throw enough shit around someone will eventually fling some back
It is not an objective truth, what makes you think that they’re good for games and gamers?
Remember when games would have you stuff for free by just playing the game normally, rather than having to empty your wallet or play the game like it was a second job? Because I do.
In other words something a lot of people don't like.