[Mega Thread] - Microtransactions, DLC, and Games as a Service (Part 1)

@dhg-ixxrmacxxi I was wondering when this thread was going to pop up.

Well ill get us started of then, let the games begin.

Im against them, i don't believe they are needed and Rare and Microsoft are able to sustain the game without them. The game is online only and ive paid £50 to get access to the servers so that should be my part done. I also pay Xbox Live which is there to support Microsoft and there servers and services (£60 a year) Microsoft owns Rare.

I also think its really bad how Rare have taken an extremely highly requested feature and slapped a paywall on it.

I personally think since a big part of the game is about cosmetics you should be able to unlock everything in game by grinding even if it does take hours and have monetary purchases as a fast track option.

Can we also try and keep this discussion civilised and be respectful of each other, i know its a hot topic with very big opinions and disagreements but let's keep with the forum spirit here.

Not 100% for this plan for SoT

Why not make it a reward for amazing tasks like in old games that made people impressed at how skilled the player was to own a rare unlockable rather than a fancy bought item... Take Halo 3 where you had to get 49 out of 79 achievements or 1000 gamerscore to own a Katana on your back.

This vid sums up mine (and some other members of this forum) opinion about this

It's Just Cosmetic (The Jimquisition)

What I'm seeing is really that the people who aren't happy seem to be really upset with the fact that the purchasable items may not be available to them at all unless the buy them with real money (though I don't think Rare has said that officially yet). This I believe is the real problem, though I can see exactly why a business would do it.
I'm sure that if there were a long drawn out process of unlocking these items in game as well there'd be many of us that would put in the effort, but still a large number that would skip it and just pay for it. In the end though it's up to the big bosses and that is way of the gaming industry nowadays. We just have to accept these decisions, get over it and enjoy the game. (really nothing else you can do)

I'm of the opinion that people don't care as much as they claim to. It's the internet. People like to make a giant fuss for attention or whatever other reason floats their boat.

If the people who are wholeheartedly against these microtransactions as they claim, they would speak with their wallet and not just by typing rage rants on the internet. If they truly cared about it so much, they wouldn't buy the game. Money is the one and only thing that rings true in a business. So if you want something to change, don't just not buy the microtransactions, don't buy the game.

But we all know that at least 90% of the people complaining about it and telling us they won't be buying the game will still do it. Thus the existence of the things they loathe so much will continue.

(I say all of this as someone who is completely fin with what Rare is doing. They don't break the game, I highly doubt they'll be the ridiculous prices people fear, and I understand that Rare needs money beyond the initial sales to continue development.)

But they're optional. What if they went with a sub fee because PC players don't pay for Xbox LIVE. Then you would be stuck paying for live, the game, and the monthly sub fee.

A very good point there, I might add that they could be charging DLC instead of the free expansion updates that they have for the future. Micro-transactions may very well be the saving grace that have swayed the higher-ups to allow this. I'd rather a game have optional Micro-transactions than be forced to buy DLC to continue the game to the level that I wish.

As long as it’s not 4.99 for just let’s say a hat then I don’t see anything wrong with mta’s. I’d be fine with paying 4.99 for a bundle of cosmetics (hat, shirt, jacket, pants and boots) that’s perfectly reasonable to me anyways lol.

@x-snozzberry-x said in [Mega Thread] - Microtransactions, DLC, and Games as a Service:

As long as it’s not 4.99 for just let’s say a hat then I don’t see anything wrong with mta’s. I’d be fine with paying 4.99 for a bundle of cosmetics (hat, shirt, jacket, pants and boots) that’s perfectly reasonable to me anyways lol.

Yeh I'm hoping the same, hopefully they'll realise that it'd be silly to price people out of the market. The more reasonable the price the more popular the purchase (I hope).

@DJM-XR07 In reply to your post on the locked thread.

DJM Said * "Obviously they need to make a profit.this is there job after all. and if people are willing to pay for little monkeys in sea of thieves than why is there a problem with that? you are in fact interested in the continued development of the game? and yes, could they hold off from having Microtransactions for a year? probably, is it a crime that they release them a few months after launch, no. just dont buy them, they dont do anything for progression and dont do anything in terms of gameplay" *

Firstly for me, the problem is a massive part about the game is cosmetics, its how us as players are going to make ourselves unique and forge our legend. You say they dont do anything for progression, but since the game has "horizontal progression" It kind of does as these are the items you are working towards by playing the game.

What tends to happen with MTs is the really nice items get a price tag slapped on them which is obviously going to make you want them. A rough example off the top of my head is Overwatch: The default skins are nice, they loop epic. But when the events come around see the limited timed skins which become avaliable then, they are in a league of there own. Thats what really worries me down the line with this game, we are going to be able to get nice items in game and still look cool. But there are always going to be those people who look Really nice because they have forked out some extra money on them. In a game all about forging youre legend and customisation it worries me.

Thats why i believe everything should be unlockable by playing even if it takes days of grinding to get one item, at least then you have a choice and the majority of people will just pay anyway so i believe everyone wins.

I also never said it was a Crime to have them, Lootboxes and incentivising children to gamble maybe, but that's a different conversation.

I also want Rare to continue development of there game, im massively against Microtransacations but it doesnt mean i dont love the game. However i dont believe they need to lock highly requested features from the community behind paywalls to do it. I touched on Buying the initial game plus my xbox live membership, i personally believe i am supporting Microsoft enough and should be able to get access to the full game.

Maybe they should do it so if you play the game through the gamepass then you can buy MTS but i don't believe people who have fully commited and actually have paid for the game should. Or like i said above we should at least have the option to get them through grinding out gameplay.

@lothaes the way I see it if you love the game what’s wrong with supporting it as long as it’s not outrageously priced.

@ant-heuser-kush said in [Mega Thread] - Microtransactions, DLC, and Games as a Service:

@saracens-lament said in [Mega Thread] - Microtransactions, DLC, and Games as a Service:

But they're optional. What if they went with a sub fee because PC players don't pay for Xbox LIVE. Then you would be stuck paying for live, the game, and the monthly sub fee.

A very good point there, I might add that they could be charging DLC instead of the free expansion updates that they have for the future. Micro-transactions may very well be the saving grace that have swayed the higher-ups to allow this. I'd rather a game have optional Micro-transactions than be forced to buy DLC to continue the game to the level that I wish.

They deliberately chose not to go with DLC because it would fragment the player base. So it was either optional MTs or a monthly sub that we would be FORCED to pay in order to enjoy the game.

The next argument is this, "It's cut content and should have been in the base game I just paid $60 for. They're using cut content to milk the player base." Yeah, well say that in three years when the game is still being supported and everything is free -- for everyone.

I think that people have forgotten the days when you bought a game and it was buggy as anything and you were just left with it. Constant updates/fixes weren't always a thing, and long term work on a game needs to be funded. Yes Microsoft will make a tidy profit from the initial sales, but that money will most likely get put into funding a new venture. Not keeping this one running. That's where the Micro-transactions come into play.

@ant-heuser-kush said in [Mega Thread] - Microtransactions, DLC, and Games as a Service:

@knifelife said in [Mega Thread] - Microtransactions, DLC, and Games as a Service:

@dhg-ixxrmacxxi I was wondering when this thread was going to pop up.

Well ill get us started of then, let the games begin.

Im against them, i don't believe they are needed and Rare and Microsoft are able to sustain the game without them. The game is online only and ive paid £50 to get access to the servers so that should be my part done. I also pay Xbox Live which is there to support Microsoft and there servers and services (£60 a year) Microsoft owns Rare.

I also think its really bad how Rare have taken an extremely highly requested feature and slapped a paywall on it.

I personally think since a big part of the game is about cosmetics you should be able to unlock everything in game by grinding even if it does take hours and have monetary purchases as a fast track option.

Can we also try and keep this discussion civilised and be respectful of each other, i know its a hot topic with very big opinions and disagreements but let's keep with the forum spirit here.

But they're optional. What if they went with a sub fee because PC players don't pay for Xbox LIVE. Then you would be stuck paying for live, the game, and the monthly sub fee.

A massive part of the game is about cosmetics so optional or not, if you dont fork out for them there is a massive chance as a player you are going to feel inadequate to people who have.

We all know the better pets and items will be paywalled, with the lesser if any being obtainable in game. I just think its a sly move on there part when a massive core component of the game is customisation.

People are spending £50-80 on this game, they should be able to feel as good as other people playing without having to pay extra for the pleasure. Its why i think as long as they make it so the really dedicated can still get them i think it will be okay.

@shadowstrider-7 said in [Mega Thread] - Microtransactions, DLC, and Games as a Service:

@knifelife I understand the issue with buying MT cosmetics in a game where milestones are cosmetics. However, the milestones are going to be obviously noticeable. I'll be able to look at you (for example) and know by seeing your outfit that you're a pirate that has sank many ships.

I think as long as there is distinction between paid and earned, the system will work perfectly fine.

Ultimately its all speculation so i cant agree or disagree with you, but the trend of other developers is have the lesser items avaliable to unlock in game and have the nice ones with a price.

By doing that when people see the paid items they are in awe and will go out and buy it themselves. That in itself will unbalance the whole game in sense of horizontal progression and earning your legend. They need to have it at a minimum where you can grind your a*s of them.

@shadowstrider-7 said in [Mega Thread] - Microtransactions, DLC, and Games as a Service:

It's really boiling down to a jealousy issue here. Player A has a monkey, but Player B does not. Player B gets angry because s/he feels it isn't fair that Player A was able to buy one. Some people have expendable income, some don't, that's life.

Now it's time for my ever-growing list of real-life analogies:
I said this in another thread, but it's totally true!
My neighbor owns an Aston Martin DB7 while I drive around in a Honda Civic. I'm not knocking on his door to tell him how unfair it is for him to own that car. Instead, I'm inspired to work harder so that I too can have an Aston Martin DB7.

I still enjoyed that, even though I already saw it on the other thread haha!

@ant-heuser-kush said in [Mega Thread] - Microtransactions, DLC, and Games as a Service:

@knifelife said in [Mega Thread] - Microtransactions, DLC, and Games as a Service:

@ant-heuser-kush said in [Mega Thread] - Microtransactions, DLC, and Games as a Service:

@knifelife said in [Mega Thread] - Microtransactions, DLC, and Games as a Service:

@dhg-ixxrmacxxi I was wondering when this thread was going to pop up.

Well ill get us started of then, let the games begin.

Im against them, i don't believe they are needed and Rare and Microsoft are able to sustain the game without them. The game is online only and ive paid £50 to get access to the servers so that should be my part done. I also pay Xbox Live which is there to support Microsoft and there servers and services (£60 a year) Microsoft owns Rare.

I also think its really bad how Rare have taken an extremely highly requested feature and slapped a paywall on it.

I personally think since a big part of the game is about cosmetics you should be able to unlock everything in game by grinding even if it does take hours and have monetary purchases as a fast track option.

Can we also try and keep this discussion civilised and be respectful of each other, i know its a hot topic with very big opinions and disagreements but let's keep with the forum spirit here.

But they're optional. What if they went with a sub fee because PC players don't pay for Xbox LIVE. Then you would be stuck paying for live, the game, and the monthly sub fee.

A massive part of the game is about cosmetics so optional or not, if you dont fork out for them there is a massive chance as a player you are going to feel inadequate to people who have.

We all know the better pets and items will be paywalled, with the lesser if any being obtainable in game. I just think its a sly move on there part when a massive core component of the game is customisation.

People are spending £50-80 on this game, they should be able to feel as good as other people playing without having to pay extra for the pleasure. Its why i think as long as they make it so the really dedicated can still get them i think it will be okay.

So if they sell a Santa Suit for Christmas you're going to be upset because I look cool? Why punish people because they want to spend money on a silly outfit? You think your $60 and Xbox LIVE membership got you everything and you enjoyed that content and got your money worth... This is three years later...

Why punish people because they don't want to? Works both ways..

You're second point confuses me, My purchase of the game should get me everything i believe yes, also my Xbox live is a subscription and its recurring so they are still extracting money out of me. I also havent asked them to support the game for "X" amount of years and i might not even be playing the game in 3 years. So that confused me personally.

At the end of the day i dont believe they need the Microtransacations they can do it without but they see an opportunity to extract more funds from there consumers that way. Its just one of those things we will never agree on lol.

Heck why dont they make PC players pay for Xbox Live and then we can all be happy and they can use that to support there game for the next 500 years.

@knifelife As much as I agree with your sentiment, reality is likely different. I mentioned in the thread that is now closed...this is all about profit. Nobody develops a game (or anything for that matter) without profit in mind. I have no doubts they (the Bosses) have gone over several market analysis to find what they "believe" is the right mix based on current market trends. MS has been around, and has remained VERY successful for a VERY long time. A business does not do that based on stupid decisions. Take a look at Gamepass...I am willing to bet that is foreshadowing to a new pardigm in gaming marketing. Don't be surprised if you see major publishers (like EA) start a "Netflix like" gaming service.

With all of that said, I am OK with the MTs. I may buy some, I may not. I know my kids will (which I guess that means I really will, but you get the point). I will remain OK with it as long as the game is getting the support these MTs are supposedly funding.

Finally, for those that are against MTs 100% and upset you may not be able to earn a pet, look me up online sometime, [mod edit]. No charge.

@dhg-ixxrmacxxi
thankyou for making this tread as it was needed.

@shadowstrider-7 said in [Mega Thread] - Microtransactions, DLC, and Games as a Service:

@touchdown1504 said in [Mega Thread] - Microtransactions, DLC, and Games as a Service:

look me up online sometime, you can touch my monkey. Seriously pet it, stroke it, fondle it. No charge.

Sea Of Feels. Rated M for Mature.

Come on man, get your mind out of the gutter, just trying to offer something nice to folks that won't buy one! Hey, as long as no one chokes my pet chicken, we can all be friends!

@shadowstrider-7 said in [Mega Thread] - Microtransactions, DLC, and Games as a Service:

@touchdown1504 said in [Mega Thread] - Microtransactions, DLC, and Games as a Service:

look me up online sometime, you can touch my monkey. Seriously pet it, stroke it, fondle it. No charge.

Sea Of Feels. Rated M for Mature.

@shadowstrider-7 said in [Mega Thread] - Microtransactions, DLC, and Games as a Service:

@touchdown1504 said in [Mega Thread] - Microtransactions, DLC, and Games as a Service:

look me up online sometime, you can touch my monkey. Seriously pet it, stroke it, fondle it. No charge.

Sea Of Feels. Rated M for Mature.

Best.Comments.Ever...... +1 for sure