EA: micro-transactions will be built into "all of our games"

[RmandsDC]

Dear EA, just go bankrupt, it will be better for everyone...

 

[Guest]

EA is destroying gaming. Folks, if we want this to change we have to vote with our wallets. Join the boycott. I know it is painful as EA releases a lot of games I want to play. But they are ruining the experience. It's time to just say no.

 

[LNCPapa]

Not really sure what makes people want to shoot themselves in both feet. You think you'd learn after the first foot. Oh well, guess they'll get another golden turd this year.

 

[Sniped_Ash]

EA CFO Blake Jorgensen stated during an investor conference. "either to get to a higher level to buy a new character, to buy a truck, a gun, whatever it might be, and consumers are enjoying and embracing that way of the business."

When I read the above statement is consumers want this and enjoy it.

Is there anyone that enjoys this game model, I like to know the reasons?

The quote really is pretty disgusting if true. It really is pay to win and it's an utter debasement of the entire concept of playing games. Hell it's pretty damn close to enabling an addiction. Look at the crafting packs in Dead Space 3 or the multiplayer packs in Mass Effect 3. Buying either of those is straight up gambling and even though you can use the fake money gained while playing to buy them, it's still gross.

But like I said, I use Steam exclusively so ~~fly away EA~~

 

[Timonius]

...it's pretty damn close to enabling an addiction... is straight up gambling and even though you can use the fake money gained while playing to buy them, it's still gross.

I've been wondering about this trend in modern video gaming myself. A gambling addiction plus a gaming addiction can be doubly hazardous. My favourite MMO, SWTOR, just included what they call, Cartel Packs, which is essentially a pay for random digital items scenario. Not necessarily pay to win but there are some pretty rare items that some people will stop at nothing to get. These things, though really just a bunch of ones and zeroes, cost real money (though there are 'alternative methods'). I wonder at what point, if at all, this would be classified as gambling, and at what point a government will step in and say 'we will regulate this....oh and by the way, we want our cut.'

I think the overall concept of the micro-transaction is the new cash cow and companies like EA will attempt to exploit it to the max while appearing to not cross the line. Gamers will vote with their pockets, but a 'gamers got to game' right? I personally drew the line at every Tom, ****, and EA wanting to make their own exclusive and custom DRM. Not happening, they shot themselves in the foot. But that's alright, thanks to better distribution models I have a nice back catalog of legally owned games that I'll enjoy and probably never finish in my life time. Everyone has to evaluate what is the most important factor in this shifting video games market.

 

[oldikes]

Don't you already do this when you want to buy downloadable content?

No, buying DLC is an optional way of expanding your previous purchase. With microtransactions, its nearly impossible to compete unless you spending some more.

 

[Rippleman]

Cry cry cry, when is it their duty to satisfy everyone? If you don't like it, don't buy it. I "don't" buy things I don't like EVERYDAY. With some practice, you too can learn this easy trick.

 

[cliffordcooley]

Cry cry cry, when is it their duty to satisfy everyone? If you don't like it, don't buy it. I "don't" buy things I don't like EVERYDAY. With some practice, you too can learn this easy trick.

Before long I'm sure you will learn to completely do without. I detest anyone that classifies speaking out against something as crying.

 

[Buster Keaton]

I have a "free" shooter game on my phone that wants $9.99 to add extra lives! Otherwise you just wait until the lives fill back up by waiting. If they think that I would EVER pay, they are nuts.

 

[Rippleman]

Its a game, some people get up in arms. That's crying to me.

Cry cry cry, when is it their duty to satisfy everyone? If you don't like it, don't buy it. I "don't" buy things I don't like EVERYDAY. With some practice, you too can learn this easy trick.

Before long I'm sure you will learn to completely do without. I detest anyone that classifies speaking out against something as crying.

 

[cliffordcooley]

Its a game, some people get up in arms. That's crying to me.

But we are not just talking about one game, we are talking about the evolution of how all games will be.

 

[Rippleman]

Do something about it then. Create a game company and show them how its done. IF everyone hates it so much, it should be very easy for you to gain EA's past disgruntled customers. You could make billions, what you waiting for?

But we are not just talking about one game, we are talking about the evolution of how all games will be.

 

[cmbjive]

No, buying DLC is an optional way of expanding your previous purchase. With microtransactions, its nearly impossible to compete unless you spending some more.

I don't follow this logic. In either case you're spending money after the original game has been released. Microtransactions can be structured to where you buy additional in-game quests similar to what you need to do with DLC. As it stands now, there is DLC that is nothing but weapon and/or skin packs - something that fit perfectly under the rubric of microtransactions.

I don't see the big issue with microtransactions. After all EA is not saying that you are required to buy them. In fact, in Dead Space 3 there is a cheat that allows gamers to to pick up infinite scavenger parts and, when brought to EA's attention, the company declined to fix it.

 

[cliffordcooley]

Do something about it then. Create a game company and show them how its done.

Geez, how narrow minded can anyone possibly be?

• I suppose you think everyone has the power and knowledge to fix their own problems. If this is the case why does anyone pay to have things they don't understand done.
• I'm also guessing you think everyone has the power to make change without voicing their opinions. Good luck in your efforts making change to suit your needs or desires.

Believe it or not, I don't blame the gaming industry for making these changes. I blame each and everyone that is actually willing to pay these prices. So in essence there is no way for me to show the gaming industry, how to keep pricing fair for those who are not willing to pay a fortune for nice game-play experience. You see this goes outside the scope of one mans capabilities.

 

[Guest]

either to get to a higher level to buy a new character, to buy a truck, a gun, whatever it might be, and consumers are enjoying and embracing that

I don't know anyone that 'enjoys' paying for something they've already paid for. Just shows how far removed from their customers EA actually are.

 

[Darth Shiv]

Cry cry cry, when is it their duty to satisfy everyone? If you don't like it, don't buy it. I "don't" buy things I don't like EVERYDAY. With some practice, you too can learn this easy trick.

They don't have to satisfy everyone but they certainly want to satisfy more rather than less. After all that is how you make that funny thing called MONEY which is all they care about.

 

[oldikes]

I don't follow this logic. In either case you're spending money after the original game has been released. Microtransactions can be structured to where you buy additional in-game quests similar to what you need to do with DLC. As it stands now, there is DLC that is nothing but weapon and/or skin packs - something that fit perfectly under the rubric of microtransactions.

I don't see the big issue with microtransactions. After all EA is not saying that you are required to buy them. In fact, in Dead Space 3 there is a cheat that allows gamers to to pick up infinite scavenger parts and, when brought to EA's attention, the company declined to fix it.

DLC is meant to expand the game experience and are very large. Developers dont need to persuade people to buy DLC more then once. DLC simply need enough content to justify the price. However, developers need micro transactions to sell over and over. The only way to do that easily is to give people who spend on micro transactions a distinct advantage.

 

[DriverJ]

I like being offered additional content for games, and on console I really don't mind paying for QUALITY extra DLC (IE adding time or replayability to the game). However this is seeming more and more rare from EA. While I LOVE Dead Space 3, and did purchase the DLC pack with some of the weapons. However, I wasn't all that impressed with the DLC pack that I paid for. Yeah they were some nifty ideas, but most of it I could have built with in game parts already... Sure it was a nifty weapon to have right away, but honestly. I'd rather have paid the money for more content.
Once having been a PC gamer paying for "Map Packs" for MP games is ridiculous to me. Maps used to be free for anyone who wanted to download them. It was a community thing. I loved Quake 2 and still regularly play it because of the amount of content available. Now if I wanted anything even similar in scale map wise to what I have for Quake 2, I'd be paying hundreds or thousands (I had something like 5,000 different MP maps, and some add on single player content).
Sure the face of gaming may be evolving, but I for one say for the worse.
Mass Effect was a good example of good DLC, extra story, some more game play. I don't mind paying for house developed story content that gives me more game hours, but for a multiplayer map please.
I like getting additional in game weapons or what not if I purchase a collectors edition, but to have to purchase those items after the price of the game? Get real.

 

[Guest]

Just an example Bioware was one of the finest RPG developers some time ago, then EA bought Bioware and now Dragon Age, Mass Effect, SWTOR ( it should be Kotor 3 –standalone game) all changed to accommodate the greed of EA ( DLC, micro transactions, over simplified rpg game logic) and the quality of the games went downhill. I hope the rest of game developers companies resist the urge of being bought by EA.

 

[ReederOnTheRun]

The sad thing is that this will probably turn out to be a great business strategy. Gaming is so mainstream now that there are a lot of hardcore gamers that will just keep paying. Do you and your wallet a favor and go outside or choose another brand.

P.S. - I hate you, EA. I just got into BF and now you are taking it away from me :-/