Are microtransactions, day one DLC packages and day one patches etc really that 'evil'? • Gaming • General Gaming • Eurogamer.net

Syrette 7 Mar 2013 19:05:17 51,181 posts
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Microtransactions in full price titles such as Dead Space 3 - totally avoidable.

Day one/pre-order DLC - totally avoidable, doesn't not have to mean it's content that has been cut from the title, and most 'exclusive' DLC eventually gets released for all anyway.

Day one patches/TUs - don't really see the problem.

I'm not saying I'm all for these things but I'm not sure they're worthy of the furore they create and I certainly wouldn't boycott a company over them.

sanctusmortis 7 Mar 2013 19:07:28 9,914 posts
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YES.

If I bought the game, I should have everything I need to pay for until you release an expansion. I shouldn't have to change retailer just because that thing I'd like isn't going to be at the shop I use, but another one. A game should be released in perfect working order ready to go out of the box.

Simple.

nickthegun 7 Mar 2013 19:09:12 87,711 posts
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Syrette 7 Mar 2013 19:11:49 51,181 posts
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sanctusmortis wrote:
YES.

If I bought the game, I should have everything I need to pay for until you release an expansion. I shouldn't have to change retailer just because that thing I'd like isn't going to be at the shop I use, but another one. A game should be released in perfect working order ready to go out of the box.

Simple.

You're not wrong really, pre-order exclusives annoy me too even if said DLC eventually becomes available to all.

But on the other hand as much as I hate to admit it, we are talking about money-making businesses here. So I understand why they exist even if I don't like them.

King_Edward 7 Mar 2013 19:12:03 11,470 posts
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Yep. Forcing this shit on developers and customers is shitty.

Metalfish 7 Mar 2013 19:21:05 9,191 posts
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If a game is a piece of art, then yes.
If a game is a product to be consumed, then maybe
If you hate this stuff but buy it anyway, you are at least partially condoning it.

StarchildHypocrethes 7 Mar 2013 19:22:24 33,974 posts
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Preorder stuff is all pointless tat and DLC is all avoidable. Couldn't give a rats cock about it to be honest.

Deleted user 7 March 2013 19:28:19

Of course they're not evil.

They're boring.

DFawkes 7 Mar 2013 19:35:32 32,785 posts
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I don't like it when the existence of micro-transactions alters the game in noticeable ways for those avoiding them. Thankfully I think that's quite rare.

MatMan562 7 Mar 2013 19:38:56 3,470 posts
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Microtransactions are ok if done right and not forced on a game that doesn't need them.

Day one/ pre-order dlc isn't terrible but we would be better off without them.

Day one patches or updates are fine if you have an internet connection but, because not everyone has an internet connection, are pretty bad. If a game is almost unplayable upon release then it will stay that way for those people. The Skyrim debacle comes to mind.

ronuds 7 Mar 2013 19:40:40 21,781 posts
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Day 1 patches get a bad rap. A game goes gold about a month (?) prior to it showing up on store shelves. I don't mind that they've improved the game in that time.

Deleted user 7 March 2013 19:51:42

They're all shit. A way to get games out the door before QA is done properly and to make more cash than they deserve. Mass Effect 2 - day 1 DLC advertised in-game with massive spoiler FFS.

Even crack dealers aren't as bad as publishers. At least you get your first few rocks for free, until you're hooked. No, publishers insist you pay �40 first and then ravage your pockets.

They are all criminal scum and should be hanged.

RobTheBuilder 7 Mar 2013 20:09:06 6,976 posts
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DLC - No
Day One Patches - annoying but better than bugs
Micro-transactions - Yes. They force game design to be around making money not playing well.

Savatage 7 Mar 2013 20:13:40 39 posts
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Not online so I don't give a toss about the other two, but day 1 patches means publishers can knowingly shove an unfinished, buggy piece of toss out the door and charge full price for it, and there's not a thing I can do about it. Hate em.

/glares balefully at Skyrim

Deleted user 7 March 2013 20:19:19

RobTheBuilder wrote:
Micro-transactions - Yes. They force game design to be around making money not playing well.

Not inherently. There are dozens of mobile games with microtransactions that are perfectly playable without spending a penny. Endless Runners are a good example here - in ones like Jetpack Joyride or Temple Run you progress in the game by playing the game. You can pay to skip that progress (or to make it easier), but at no point are you prevented from playing as normal, at no point does it inherently funnel you towards "you must pay to get past this specific point".

Tricky 7 Mar 2013 20:25:26 5,088 posts
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You see Bremenacht's taking the same black and white view about microtransactions that so many hand-wringers have. If it's clear that the game design had been gimped as a result of it's inclusion then yes (assuming it's a full price game) I'd agree it's bad, but I haven't yet seen a prime example of this actually being the case (and that includes DS3).

King_Edward 7 Mar 2013 20:29:01 11,470 posts
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Tricky wrote:
You see Bremenacht's taking the same black and white view about microtransactions that so many hand-wringers have. If it's clear that the game design had been gimped as a result of it's inclusion then yes (assuming it's a full price game) I'd agree it's bad, but I haven't yet seen a prime example of this actually being the case (and that includes DS3).

You missed the Real Racing 3 review?

Tricky 7 Mar 2013 20:32:47 5,088 posts
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@King Edward - I said full priced game. Free to play is a whole different matter.

RobTheBuilder 7 Mar 2013 20:35:55 6,976 posts
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@meme Those games are some of the better examples.

Problem is that when large companies with shareholders become involved it destroys gameplay. A game which is fairly designed won't require anyone to buy anything, a game which gets people buying add-ons has to be designed to be grinding or unfairly difficult in order to drive revenue.

King_Edward 7 Mar 2013 20:37:50 11,470 posts
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Is there anything customer friendly about microtransactions?

disusedgenius 7 Mar 2013 20:44:16 10,677 posts
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Mircotransactions are fine if implemented correctly.
Day One DLC leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
Day One patches are better than the alternative.

Syrette 7 Mar 2013 20:46:03 51,181 posts
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King_Edward wrote:
Is there anything customer friendly about microtransactions?

Well, someone out there is buying them...

StarchildHypocrethes 7 Mar 2013 20:46:54 33,974 posts
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King_Edward wrote:
Is there anything customer friendly about microtransactions?

Anything offering a customer willing to pay a shortcut, that doesn't impact on anyone else, is surely customer friendly.

King_Edward 7 Mar 2013 20:57:14 11,470 posts
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Syrette wrote:
King_Edward wrote:
Is there anything customer friendly about microtransactions?
Well, someone out there is buying them...

That doesn't make it friendly.

Look at Dead Space. A friendly shortcut would've been to offer unlimited resources on easy mode.

Offering a paid for shortcut in a paid for game is like charging you extra for being shit or busy. It's not friendly, it's exploitative.Obviously it's different if the game is free as the player can simply not play the game, and not lose anything.

Evil is a strong word, I think dickish fits best.

Edited by King_Edward at 20:58:24 07-03-2013

ronuds 7 Mar 2013 20:59:17 21,781 posts
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It's not that microtransactions are "inherently" evil - I think it's more that we're watching EA and the like make them become that way with each game they release.

disusedgenius 7 Mar 2013 20:59:57 10,677 posts
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To be fair they make much more sense if you don't go straight for the most egregious example as the standard.

THFourteen 7 Mar 2013 21:05:26 54,987 posts
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King_Edward wrote:

Tricky wrote:
You see Bremenacht's taking the same black and white view about microtransactions that so many hand-wringers have. If it's clear that the game design had been gimped as a result of it's inclusion then yes (assuming it's a full price game) I'd agree it's bad, but I haven't yet seen a prime example of this actually being the case (and that includes DS3).
You missed the Real Racing 3 review?

The review is not accurate. I've played for 4 hours now and not spent a penny.

There is a few initial "waits" of five minutes here and there, but after you have more than one car you're laughing.

Deleted user 7 March 2013 21:28:45

Tricky wrote:
You see Bremenacht's taking the same black and white view about microtransactions that so many hand-wringers have. If it's clear that the game design had been gimped as a result of it's inclusion then yes (assuming it's a full price game) I'd agree it's bad, but I haven't yet seen a prime example of this actually being the case (and that includes DS3).

I mentioned one: ME2! As soon as you start the game, the in-game store immediately advertised a big spoiler. The AC series made a point of digging out chapters and DLCing them, making it very clear you're missing parts of the whole, but I don't feel I missed out there.

Also, there's no hand-wringing going on here. I don't like it. It feels very much like the thin end of a wedge. I detest the idea that DLC gets sorted out before they've even fixed the bugs in a game.

The stuff that really works is stuff that's clearly added on. Minerva's Den springs to mind, although I've not played it. You take it or leave it. Borderlands, RDR, Modern Warfar, Halo - all take it or leave it DLC. Nothing taken away; no problem at all.