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Free-to-play games have become increasingly popular and according to Electronic Arts COO Peter Moore, they'll be the norm in as little as five years, with only major franchises surviving as $60 products. "I think, ultimately, those microtransactions will be in every game, but the game itself or the access to the game will be free," Moore told Kotaku last week. Industry executives often say wacky things, but Moore's sentiments aren't exactly far-fetched when you look at how many companies are using the freemium model.
Tons of new games are being developed around microtransactions from the get-go, while many outfits have used free-to-play as a backup strategy following poor retail performance, and developers like Valve have converted games that were already successful such as Team Fortress 2 to experiment with the model. Even Diablo 3, a full price game, has embraced microtransactions to an extent. Players technically can't buy items directly from Blizzard, but the company gets a cut of real money auction house sales.
Although I think it's awesome developers are exploring uncharted waters, I've yet to buy in-game items with real money. Maybe I'll eventually get comfortable with it -- I might have to if Moore's predictions hold true -- but exchanging cash for digital gear feels... exploitative. DLC aside, when I buy a game outright, I get the full experience, whereas free-to-play games by their very nature must hinder my access. Some titles do this more tastefully than others, but it doesn't change the way I feel about microtransactions.
Have you purchased in-game items, characters or currency with real cash? If so, in what game(s)? If not, what's stopping you?
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User Comments: 28
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I don't think I'd like to see microtrasactions in every game, and I appreciate those Kickstarter games which say that they'll give the complete game to anyone who pays, no DLC, no special editions.
On the other hand, I love "free to play" MMO's. As a casual player I don't feel like subbing, and having a free base game to enjoy with inexpensive upgrade options is a good way for me to play. I paid SOE $35 over the two years since Everquest II Extended came out. If I had to subscribe I'd pay nothing. Same goes for City of Heroes. I don't play much, so the option of playing games and paying just what I feel like are great.
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GeforcerFX said:
Do too my fiancial issues at this time I have found myself sampling Steam's F2P offerings, I have too say some do it right and others do it wrong. I think releasing a completly free game with at least 40-50 hours of playability for free is a great idea. Like lets take a FPS whats become almost stanrdard is paying for more powerful guns. Why not just have advancement options like what 60 games have and have map packs. The game comes with 8 maps and another 8 maps will cost you $20 total. If u want to play through the hours and hours to level up and get new weapons that's fine but if u really want that gun now being able too drop something as small as $1 on the same weapon that anyone can get for playing is the way too go. As long as the pay to win, ie more powerful guns then what regular no paying players can get, doesn't take hold I am ok with this for FPS's. Even just giving gimmicky things like cool camo and other stuff that would allow people who enjoy the game too help support it would be worth the effort, while letting the game stay completely balanced. I am gonna be working through the rest of the different F2P genres over the next few weeks, but so far I am not pushed away by them, should be nice for this year since I will be low on cash for the next couple months.
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I play EVE. If they transition to F2P or micro-transactions I won't play anymore.
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