Do you remember when games used to come out to be completely playable, little to no bugs, nothing you need to pay to unlock, no DLCs and can offer hundreds of hours of entertainment? Those were a simpler time.
Monetization in video games has seen a drastic change in recent years, nowadays, more and more games releases felt unfinished, just to realize that some content was probably cut to be sold as DLCs later. More and more games greet you with a banner telling you there is a deal going on and you can get 10 shiny loot boxes for only $24.99. There are even a few very notorious examples of a company putting a full $60 price tag on their games, and forcing players to pay more in-game to unlock content or to progress their characters. In this Reddit thread , a user named MBMMaverick expressed his displacement about EA locking a key character “Darth Vader” in their game “Star Wars BattleFront 2” which the user has already paid $80 for, EA’s response replied stating “The intent is to provide players with a sense of pride and accomplishment for unlocking different heroes.” Which were quickly massively criticized by Reddit users and this comment would become the most downvoted comment in the history of Reddit (668K downvotes.)
So what exactly is wrong with microtransactions? In my opinion, microtransactions are fine as long as they cosmetic and doesn’t impact gameplay much, I believe microtransactions can indeed provide players with a sense of pride and accomplishment, but the boundaries are very vague and difficult to pin it down, Call of Duty World War 2 has a genius execution for microtransactions, while you are opening loot boxes, you go into a lobby where people can practice shooting or just chat with each other, when you open a loot box, your loot box content is visible to all other players in this lobby, so when you get a lucky pull, you can show them off to all nearby people and sometimes people log in just to go onto this lobby to watch people open loot boxes.
Overall, microtransactions are not exactly a bad thing, but some companies have way overdone and in turn ruined the reputation of their games such as NBA2K19, which 65% the users reviewed the game as “would not recommend.” , Fallout 76, which suffered a chain of catastrophic events that lead to the game’s swift death just a few weeks after it’s initial release and many others.
Reddit Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsBattlefront/comments/7cff0b/seriously_i_paid_80_to_have_vader_locked/dppum98/
NBA2k19’s steam page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/841370/NBA_2K19/
I am very against the use of microtransactions when gaming. In some cases it can divide a game’s community. Previously, I was an avid EA Sports FIFA player. I have played every installment in the series since FIFA 12. In most of the FIFA games, I would purchase FIFA points, EA’s primary microtransaction. The use of FIFA points allowed the player to open packs, which contain players that can improve your starting 11, which aids the player to victory in online matches. However, I eventually realized that this was a huge rip off and never bought FIFA points ever again after FIFA 17. This was an excellent decision on my part, as it saved me lots of money in the long run. In addition, I’m aware that some of my close friends have spend thousands of dollars on these microtransactions. Every time they purchase more FIFA points, they instantly regret it. I think there is a factor of addiction hidden in the intentions of these microtransactions. I have only talked about the negative side, being pay-to-win items, of microtransactions thus far. On the other hand, I think there are certainly acceptable methods of implementing microtransactions to video games. Apex Legends, a popular, free battle-royale game includes microtransactions in a fair and non-disruptive manner. They offer the purchase of Apex coins, which can be spent on cosmetic-only items such as weapon and character skins. This allows players to play the game absolutely free without being at a disadvantage to players who have purchased Apex coins. This allows the game to be solely based on skill, and does not allow players to pay for an in-game advantage, like other games that offer microtransactions. Overall, I am not a fan of the practice of including microtransactions in video games, but I do not have a problem with them in games that do not provide players with an in-game advantage.
Source article: https://www.casino.org/news/ea-hits-1-billion-in-microtransactions-slapped-with-lawsuit-over-fifa-20/
In my opinion, the integration of microtransactions within games is completely absurd. The only reason a microtransaction exists within a game is to prey on gullible consumers. Nearly all microtransactions bypass a fundamental aspect of playing games: earning a reward through effort. Instead, this gives a player the option to show off their wastefulness of real-life money. The toleration of microtransactions has made this issue even worse, as its nearly impossible to find a recent game that doesn’t have them. In the end, though, it is a player’s choice if they want to buy into the corporate greed of the game developers.
There is no reason for a microtransaction to exist, other than to take your money. For example, a game developer could easily integrate an in-game currency that is a reflection of your time played or the challenges you complete within the game. This currency could then be used to buy the items you want or to open up loot boxes within the game.
Another issue is the dependency on microtransactions. I have met many players on many different games who believe that buying and trading in-game items is the most fun fart of the game. These players, however, don’t realize their playing directly into the game developers money taking trap. They also fail to realize that there would still be an item economy if the means of purchase was an in-game currency.
I agree with you that even though the game company provides microtransaction, consumers still have the chance to chose if they are going to make the payment. However, like what we talk about in class, a lot of new things are come with both good and bad sides, for this scenario, I think it depends on how much it’s going to affect your game experiences. It should be fine if you still can freely play the game, but need to spend a little more time than the player who paid for the game. I’ve played a game that needs to make in-app purchases after I play for 10 minutes, and I need to play for every time I open a new chapter, and the game experience was really bad. Another thing is I think it would be better if the game companies limited the minimum microtransaction age. There are so many news about how kids spend thousands of dollars on microtramsaction, and their parents didn’t even notice that until they saw their credit card transaction. I think the companies suppose to notify the parents when their kids who under a certain age are going to purchase something in the games.
I play NBA 2K every year and I just bought the newest NBA 2K20 last month. Video game microtransactions in this game is happened in My Career mode and My Team mode. For My Career, you will create yourself as a basketball player to play in NBA games or other online players in the online park. You can pay to get coins for clothes or improve your rating (higher rating can let you make more shots or run faster). My Team mode is buying a lot of NBA player cards to build your team and play with another online player’s team. I only play MY Career mode. This game is cost 59.99 dollars and I usually cost 70 dollars to buy coins. For me, the most important reason of buying coins is saving my time and let me reach the 99 rating (highest rating) faster. If I do not spend 70 dollars, I need spend a lot of times to upgrade my rating. I do not think video game microtransactions is bad in NBA 2K. If you do not buy anything, you can still play everything in this game. Video game microtransactions is just making this game easier and save the player’s time. Video game microtransactions is not necessary. If there is a game requires video game microtransactions to get all functions in this game even you spend a lot of time, then this game is bad even it is free.
This a great post analyzing the current argument about video game microtransactions. I agree with your idea that microtransactions have become a popular trend in today’s video game culture. Most of game producers are doing this just for extra profits. There is no doubt that games can make a fortune from these microtransactions even if the games are free to play. Chinese mobile game ‘King of Glory’ is free for everyone to play but in 2018 this game received 1.93 billion dollars revenues generated from its in-game microtransactions because players love to unlock heroes and buy unique skins.
In my opinion, I think microtransactions in games can be good for both consumers and producers as long as they do not affect our gameplays. Producers can make extra profits so that they have the financial support to maintain this game or develop a new game for us to play. Consumers should not be required to pay for necessary items in the games and spending money in the games should be make your character more powerful than others. under these circumstances, players can increase their pleasure by spending money in the games.
I think you make a very valid point. These microtransactions have become second nature to us but can really effect the price of the game. I know for example that fortnight makes a ton of money from in app purchases. Fortnight is a free game, but gives users the opportunity to buy costumes and other non game play effecting things. Although the app is free, 69% of users have spent money on the app. That is crazy to me that people would pay for something that is free.
https://www.pcgamesn.com/fortnite/fortnite-in-game-purchases
There are also many instances of kids getting bullied for not having some fortnight costumes. That is ridiculous to me. Although I play fortnight occasionally, I do no put my own money in. I think that it can be good in moderation but some people over do it.
I agree with you partially. The increase of micro-transactions has steadily increased over the years but the reason for this is simply money. While I do agree there can be benefits for both the producer and consumer, the producer of the games is benefiting the most. As a consumer, the average video game costs you $60 which is more than enough money for a video game. The fact that the consumer cannot naturally unlock certain characters or features as they play the game seems ridiculous. Although this may seem ridiculous, people will sadly still pay more money to get what they want which then benefits the producer even more.
People can argue that paying for certain features or characters also brings happiness to consumers, but most of the audience playing these games are kids so this truly effects parents. The video game Fortnite has multiple micro-transactions for new skins, swords, and overall characters. I know of a kid that spent $300 on his parents’ credit card just from these in-game micro-transactions. While this benefited both the kid and the producers of Fortnite, the parents were the ones who got a nice surprise on their credit card bill.
Overall, I believe the video game business is a dirty business just like most other businesses are. It is just a matter of how smart we as consumers will be concerning our spending habits as a society.
I’m not a console gamer but this concept of microtransactions seems like it has the same effect as in-app purchases on iPhone and iPad apps. I remember seeing more news about this a couple of years ago when games like Candy Crush and others like it were targeting kids on their parents phones with in-app purchases for level ups or coins to make the game easier or more entertaining. Where the microtransactions on the console seem more like an annoyance and a little bit like a rip off the in-app purchases left a bad taste in people’s mouth for ethical reasons, targeting kids who were holding their parents phones connected to their credit cards.
The whole thing always comes down to making the most money possible. I am a Digital Art major and most of my peers are looking to go into the video game design business. It seems to me that when things get more complex, more technologically advanced and more important to the lives of the consumers it makes the incentive to try and take advantage too enticing for a little while, while the industry figures out a way to change and grow with its audience. We aren’t talking about Pac Man and Tetris any more, so there needed to be a way to support the growing interest in the newest technology.
Reference:
https://www.wired.com/story/apple-arcade-reshape-mobile-gaming/
I don’t like Microtransactions either. I can understand the fact that for the game company they need to make a profit from the game, especially those free-to-play. With my personal experience, I have seen most microtransactions happened on mobile apps stores. There are a lot of games which have attractive beginning to push me to complete an in-game-purchase, however, the unlock content depressed me and most of them are the repetition of the previous content or mode. I have to admit it has a good advertisement, but it is not a good game which worth the money I paid. Also, there is another phenomenon that you paid more, and you get more powerful. No matter in mobile games or online video games today, it’s common to pay to win. The more commercialize the game industry is, the less attention paid on the game competition itself. I have a friend who used to be obsessed with H1N1. She never won in a single round but she always felt confident and displayed her various skins of weapon and clothes, as if she was the winner. I don’t think the spirit of playing video games is to compete with how many skins you have but the final result. So I do agree that Mrcritransations is not good.
I agree completely. The gaming industry has changed drastically. Microtransactions definitely have an impact on the game overall. Some of the pros in the view of the video game developers is that they have increased revenue. With the rapid development of technology and internet capabilities, the developers can now advertise these microtransactions in numerous ways.
This ability can have a negative impact on the consumer. If you put yourself in the shoes of the consumer, the last thing you want to do is spend more money on a game that you already bought. In order to equalize some of the expenses in gaming, microtransactions should be limited in video games that are not free to play. By implementing this, the consumer would be more likely to be open to microtransactions if the game was initially free to play with.
Another con to watch out for in microtransactions is that it has the ability to give a player an unfair advantage. In video games that promote competition, I would make sure the microtransactions do not give certain players an advantage over others. Not only is this unfair, but it would reflect badly on the developers in reviews.
A benefit of microtransactions is that it keeps the game interesting. There are many cases where players stop playing a video game because it looks dated. Microtransactions allow developers to bring updates to the gameplay in order to keep it current and relevant. For these types of microtransactions, I believe that they are acceptable in games because buying the update is like buying a new video game in a way.
https://www.gamezone.com/originals/the-pros-and-cons-of-microtransactions-in-a-major-release/