Many are convinced that videogames are on a dark and disturbing path; developers and publishers are giving in to Sith tendencies and ruining games – by saddling them with extra ways to wring money out of already dry consumers. One such person is Avalanche Games boss Christofer Sundberg, who believes that sort of thing is only going to become more prolific in this new generation.
Taking to Twitter, Sundberg said :
“Micro-Transactions, subscriptions and other biz models will be the next generation of games. It is that simple.”
Responding to a question from Eurogamer’s Wesley Yin Poole, Sundberg further explained that the “free-to-play has become a label for low quality, unfortunately.”
“But basically that’s where we’re heading. There will be f-ups for sure,” he added.” Hopefully we can lower the initial price point and build the game with the community instead.”
He could be right. Take for example, Killer Instinct on the Xbox One. It’s apparently a pretty decent fighter, but it’s available as a free-to-play game with just one character, and you need to pay to unlock the rest. More will be added over time, and at the end of Season 2, and $40 later, players will have a game with 16 fighters. I’m sure many would have preferred to just buy the game, on a disc, outright.
Forza 5, with its Season Pass, is likewise riddled with micro-transactions, as is bedfellow Ryse. EA ruined Dead Space 3 with microtransactions, and if they do the same with Dragon Age: Inquisition, I may just vomit in to my own shoes. Battlefield is a good example too; without a premium subscription, the base game becomes becomes a multiplayer snoozefest as the community is segregated, but for just two thirds of the price of the game itself, you get extra maps to play on.
I remember a time when map packs used to be free.
Last Updated: November 26, 2013
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 08:22
Awesome header. I say header of the week.
Lardus-Resident Perve
November 26, 2013 at 09:48
Agreed. Header of the week.
RyseandRepeat
November 26, 2013 at 09:49
But he’s used it before! Grr!
A 2 Brute?
November 26, 2013 at 10:01
Unfortunately for it to become header of the week, a $30 subscription fee to the Bigwigs of HackingYoGames & TakingYoLoot Incorporated is required. Please Logon to http://www.wewantallthegamerscash.com and receive a free bonus hat.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
November 26, 2013 at 10:15
agreed
jean
November 26, 2013 at 08:28
Unfortunate. I already hate DLC. I watch half the content of the games I buy (for example Mass Effect) through youtube already.
Gavin Mannion
November 26, 2013 at 08:31
I despise freemium games like KIller Instinct, just let me give you my money and you give me a game.
I don’t even mind extra maps as long as they are more than 6 months apart and that I get at least 5 new maps.. not remodelled maps from previous versions
Brian Murphy
November 26, 2013 at 08:36
I was right with you until the maps, but as a pig-headed, stubborn bastard, I refuse to buy any maps for any game unless the game also has map making tools.
RyseandRepeat
November 26, 2013 at 09:48
Candy Crush? How’s the wife? *Runs
Mike
November 26, 2013 at 08:33
It doesn’t bother me too much. I used to spend too much on games, but because of DLC, incomplete games and micro-transactions I’m spending less now. That’s only because I don’t feel like it’s worth spending my money on those games. So all they are doing is saving me money.
Brian Murphy
November 26, 2013 at 08:34
Yeah, won’t be seeing my money, people seem to forget games have been around for decades…those games don’t just disappear when Microsoft, Sony, Activision, EA, Ubisoft or whatever remorseless juggernaut of a corporation decides to start shoveling shit down your throats.
I don’t care how good Ryse, Forza or KI are, any game that tries this is a non-starter to me. And any person who buys into it, is an enemy to gamer’s. People bitch, piss and moan about the state of games and then just buy right into it, forgetting the principles they so easily toss to the curb for that newest digital fix.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 26, 2013 at 08:36
Exactly. I hate EA! Oh shiny new EA game BUY BUY! I hate EA! Rince & repeat.
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 08:37
Right there with you. Say no to EA.
Mark Treloar
November 26, 2013 at 09:22
Because they are the only culprits? Seriously if you employ this strategy you are buying Indie titles only. That is the reality.
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 09:24
No. Silly. Because I hate EA. It’s that simple. They’ve proved to me time and time again where their interests lie. Also, was kind of making a joke about ‘say no to drugs’.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 26, 2013 at 09:28
Well that escalated quickly. I only used EA as an example, I could just have easily used Ubisoft, Activision, Square Enix, etc heh.
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
November 26, 2013 at 09:31
I don’t know about that. I mean.. yeah.. there are a lot of culprits and it is certainly an ailment the industry needs a remedy for. But EA as especially bad. And when you’re that big, you’re sort of leading the way. Setting the tone by your example. So we need to set a tone of our own.
Of course I’m just an immature raging gamer with no real world issues and little concept or knowledge of corporate responsibility. What do I know?
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 09:34
Yea. Got a bit overzealous there. Have some serious beef with EA
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
November 26, 2013 at 09:24
CD Projekt Red?
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
November 26, 2013 at 09:24
EA needs to realise that we’ve had enough. We will no longer suffer abuse at the hands of their marketing campaigns, filling our ears with honeyed nectar and leaving us feeling empty, hollow, and ashamed the next morning.
Say no to the lies. Say no the deceit. Say no to EA.
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 09:24
Hear hear.
Also, that ashamed thing the next morning…we don’t talk about that.
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
November 26, 2013 at 09:25
Oh. I thought this was a safe environment with fellow victims, where we talk about our pain.
You mean this isn’t the support group meeting?
I’ve taken another wrong turn. *Limps off
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 09:27
Support group for men. Where no one talks about anything and just sit in silence, but everyone understands one another.
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
November 26, 2013 at 09:28
But… that is called a Pub?
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 09:29
Heh. Didn’t think of that. Why pay for therapy then?
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 26, 2013 at 09:30
Because Dr Walker isn’t free. 🙁
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
November 26, 2013 at 09:33
Can someone explain why the good black Dr. Walker charges more than the red Dr. Walker? Just because they’re different colours isn’t enough of a valid reason to charge such varying rates! I think we should equilize the rates and all pay the same price. Preferably the price of red Dr. Walker.
And then someone needs to let blue Dr. Walker know what is what. Cause that guy is crazy expensive.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 26, 2013 at 09:34
Johnny Walker Blue is crazy expensive because it’s smurf-tacular!
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
November 26, 2013 at 09:35
IT HAS SMURFS IN IT?!?!?!?!
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 09:35
Up to three squeezed smurfs per bottle in fact
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
November 26, 2013 at 09:36
Adults drink smurfs.
Childhood
Ruined
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 09:35
Sadly that is also true. And cheap wine just makes everything worse, so you really do get what you pay for.
RyseandRepeat
November 26, 2013 at 09:50
You called? I completely agree with you though. EA has taken was could have been a passing phase and set a new precedent. Not cool.
Kensei Seraph
November 26, 2013 at 08:39
The biggest problem is a lot of people don’t think this way and just buy, buy, buy.
As long as the publishers and developers think it’s the best way to make money nothing will change.
Brian Murphy
November 26, 2013 at 08:44
Eventually people will become as disenfranchised as the rest of us. And then the bubble bursts, and all that’s left of gaming is mini-app games. Yay for the future!
Kensei Seraph
November 26, 2013 at 08:53
I’d rather face a zombie apocalypse.
Hell, even a Dead Space zombie apocalypse would be better, and I’m not an engineer or a soldier so I’d be one of the first to go.
Brian Murphy
November 26, 2013 at 09:07
It’s capitalism gone awry, imo. Companies pushing markets too far, too hard. They inflate a bubble until it can’t sustain that kind of growth/revenue stream….then the bubble bursts, and they move on to the next victim.
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 08:35
I’m just saddened to see what game-makers went that route. Guys like Codemasters and Relic used to be quite respectable. Now I really don’t feel much for either of them because of hundreds of unnecessary micro transactions and added DLC’s
Brian Murphy
November 26, 2013 at 08:40
They go this route, because we let, nay, encourage them. For all of our angst filled forum messages, people just go out and buy this shit ad-nauseum. And all it takes is a few companies to hit big on one such title, for all the other vultures to try to get a slice of the pie. The only way to discourage/prevent bad behavior is to not buy into it.
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 08:44
I’ve never bought add-ons or any micro transactions. They won’t get my money. But I totally agree with you. Take RaceRoom. Great game, but I won’t buy any of the content that actually makes it playable, because micro-transactions is just not how I’ll pay for a game. I’d much rather wait for something like Assetto Corsa, and just buy a full game instead.
Brian Murphy
November 26, 2013 at 08:46
Well, I use the term ‘we’ loosely. Obviously there are some of us who hate this kind of shit with a passion, and have no qualms passing on a game because it doesn’t suit our principles. But, we’re just 2 people, EA/Activision etc… scoff at the $120 bucks you and I represent.
Unfortunately, the masses control gaming….and these are the same bottom feeding mollusks who buy Justin Bieber albums.
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 08:47
Sadly, you are right.
Brian Murphy
November 26, 2013 at 08:48
Completely off-topic, but just a heads up, Chocolate Chip cookies with bacon in them, are fucking amazing!
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 08:55
O_O
Brian Murphy
November 26, 2013 at 09:02
Don’t knock it until you try it! 🙂
Friend of mine sent me a giant batch of bacon chocolate chip cookies, and bacon double-chip brownies. Whether my heart survives them or not, they’ll be tasty until something bursts 😉
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 09:18
Oh, I’m not knocking it. I’m wondering why I have not discovered this myself.
TiMsTeR1033
November 26, 2013 at 09:08
Bacon in cookies…. sounds just wrong!
Brian Murphy
November 26, 2013 at 09:09
Bacon makes everything better, so by that statement of fact, Bacon makes cookies better!
TiMsTeR1033
November 26, 2013 at 08:49
The Americans are to blame for these micro transactions! Now look at their country, all this debt! from abusing their credit cards! be like: Kid sees new game, sees pink hoody for character, “mom can I use your credit card?” sure honey! THIS IS THE WORLD WE LIVE IN FOR MANY FAMILIES AROUND THE WORLD!
CAE9872
November 26, 2013 at 13:04
Bacon and chocolate do not go together!!! Reminds me of restaurant here in Cape Town – sold Steak with chocolate sauce. So wife drags me to try it which I duly did…ummm…NO!!!
Brian Murphy
November 26, 2013 at 17:12
Steak does not equal bacon. Salty goes with sweet, Bacon represents salt, chocolate represents sweet. It works, and it’s good 😉
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 26, 2013 at 08:38
This is probably the main reason I don’t buy games on release any more. I hate seeing new content for a game I finished 6 months previously. I’ll much rather wait & get the entire game once.
Kromas
November 26, 2013 at 08:44
I must admit that when it comes to micro transactions Valve got it right. Say what you will about Dota2 or TF2 but those games are free and all micro transactions are purely visual.
Matthew Holliday
November 26, 2013 at 12:39
and make more money in the long run, Ive dropped more money on dota 2 than I would ever spend buying another games collectors edition.
even if you consider that only 1 in 10 people are doing that, its still more profitable.
that 2.50$ is so misleading.
TiMsTeR1033
November 26, 2013 at 08:47
What is this industry coming to! The devs are just getting bloody lazy, and milking people like cows and acting as if we are as stupid as cows too! I say its time for the people to say NO! (This goes for E-Toll too) We must fight these bastards!
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 08:47
A storm is coming
TiMsTeR1033
November 26, 2013 at 08:50
It came yesterday! but blew over…. but STILL we must RISE ABOVE THIS (not Ryse)
Brian Murphy
November 26, 2013 at 08:53
Our storm, and when it arrives, it will shake the Universe!
Emperor….we come for you!
Long live the Fighters!!!!!!
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 26, 2013 at 08:55
What did I do?
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 08:55
Oh shit. He’s here…
All hail the Emperor
TiMsTeR1033
November 26, 2013 at 09:01
Don’t bow down to filth!
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 26, 2013 at 09:03
You’re talking, but all I hear is, “Timmeh! Timmehtimmehtimmeh!”
TiMsTeR1033
November 26, 2013 at 09:08
Fine… I am sorry for insulting you….*cough* kcus uoy*cough
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 09:18
O_o
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 26, 2013 at 09:26
I accept your humble apology & hope you get proper treatment for your TB.
Brian Murphy
November 26, 2013 at 09:05
There is only 1 Emperor Shaddam the 4th, and believe me, you don’t want to be him. Paul Muad’dib had serious issues with that guy, and…he wasn’t Emperor for much longer after that.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 26, 2013 at 09:06
I’m tempted to release my Sardaukar legions to show you the error of your ways heretic.
Brian Murphy
November 26, 2013 at 09:09
Release them, pretty sure a few worms, the Feydakin, and hell, who’m I kidding, all it’d take is Paul getting angry….you saw what he did to Sting..!
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 26, 2013 at 09:12
Oiled him up & put him in a winged speedo. A fate worse than death.
Brian Murphy
November 26, 2013 at 09:15
No, Sting (Feyd Rautha) did that of his own accord (or by Baron Harkonnen’s decree). Paul dressed him up with a nice bone knife going straight through the bottom of his jaw out the top of his head. Then he yelled at him, causing the foundation of the palace to crack underneath Sting’s body.
(I watched Dune many times when I was younger lol)
Think about it though, the Emperor released his legions of Sardaukar on Paul and the Fremen, and the fight was over what, 5 minutes later? So, in real terms that’s like a half hour. Sardaukar ain’t nuthin but a thing, to the Sleeper.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 26, 2013 at 09:19
I prefer my version, it’s more humiliating heh.
Brian Murphy
November 26, 2013 at 20:03
I dunno man, Sting getting taken out by Kyle MacLachlan, is pretty humiliating. I mean, he died to this guy!!!!
http://snarkerati.com/movie-news/files/2010/01/dune-maclachlan.jpg
Willem Swanepoel
November 26, 2013 at 08:49
The biggest problem is, majority of the US/EU gamers do not have money problems. To buy a DLC or two once a month is like spending less on candy and more on digital candy.
We can bitch and moan and bitch and moan and bitch as much as we want, it wont change, it will become worse and unfortunately for us, you are going to have to buy it or just not play it … (if you want to follow the right path) 😉
meh…
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
November 26, 2013 at 09:26
Is there ever an excuse to pirate?
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 09:28
Because you’re a real pirate?
Arrrr
(I’m not one though. Not really one for the sea)
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
November 26, 2013 at 09:34
Lol. I suppose 2 of the 4 million pirated copies of the Witcher are now in the hands of pirates off the coast of Somalia? 😛
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 09:37
I’m almost entirely convinced that it’s so. Could be a whole bunch of American cosplayers also.
Willem Swanepoel
November 26, 2013 at 10:19
nope but people think it is their right to do so because of the poor quality of games or dlc.
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
November 26, 2013 at 10:26
So if the game is region locked, go without? If the game is 2 hours long but $60, go without? If you are a destitute teenager who can’t afford his/her own games, go without?
Don’t get me wrong. I’m against piracy most of the time. But I can see why it happens. Games are ridiculously expensive. I ‘get’ why people do it. I just wait for humble bundles and Steam sales, myself. But some people don’t even have that option. Plus sometimes the cracked versions operate BETTER than the bloody retail/digital ones! Very frustrating. Since there are no other real options available, just go without?
Kensei Seraph
November 26, 2013 at 10:25
Buy game, DRM won’t let me play it, spend 16 hours trying to get it to work legitimately, fail, get pirated crack, spend 30 minutes installing legit game, crack it, play game, enjoy Bioshock.
Seemed like a good reason to me at the time.
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 10:27
Hahaha. “enjoy bioshock”
We’ve all been there.
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
November 26, 2013 at 10:27
That would have frustrated me as well. Would have easily done the same thing. I also know a ton of people who pirate games and then buy the originals afterwards.
Matthew Holliday
November 26, 2013 at 12:37
thats not pirating though, thats problem solving.
you bought the game, cracking a game is not illegal, you could redownload the full cracked install from piratebay in front of a policeman and be 100% within the law.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 26, 2013 at 09:02
I think even worse than buying DLC, is when that DLC is when it’s not up to the standard of the original game. My example for this is Sleeping Dogs. The main game is really good, but the add-on campaign DLCs are nowhere near as polished – they’re basically just go to spot on map, kick arse, repeat for 30 minutes.
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
November 26, 2013 at 09:12
I don’t mind micro transactions where the things you buy are purely cosmetic. For instance, in Borderlands and DotA you can buy character skins/items/couriers and what not and it doesn’t really make a difference to the gameplay. Hey, if you want to look PRETTIER when you take down that Handsome Bastard and have the money for it, go for it. If you want to pay $38 000 for a courier, I’m down with that. It doesn’t give you an advantage and I can still play the core game fine.
It’s when games feel incomplete, or DLC is haplessly tagged on for maximum profit with minimum effort. This is when I feel outraged. I’ll never buy an EA sports game, because changing the shift roster for all the clubs isn’t worth top dollar. The Witcher 3 will be, because it’s built from the ground up. It’s different each time. They don’t recycle the same maps (stadiums) and move characters around and charge you for it. The plot isn’t exactly the same as the previous game.
In summation. DLC and micro transactions are okay if they’re done right. But if you add DLC that changed the core gameplay mechanics – or offered a competitive advantage to people with money – then I’m no longer supporting your games.
Weanerdog
November 26, 2013 at 09:16
The price of games in the states have been pretty stable for a while, So instead of increasing the price they are now tacking on DLC and micro-transactions. Now if the DLC is decent as in well made and polished I don’t mind. If the micro transactions are just horse armour or something that does not change the multiplayer balance/shortens a grind in SP, I don’t have a problem with it. When it is something that is balance breaking or necessary to actually enjoy the game then they can go suck eggs. Remember folks in ‘Merica cost is relatively low.
Umar Seeker of Truth
November 26, 2013 at 09:29
……I have no words….maybe I could buy some :/
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 26, 2013 at 09:29
Just as long as you remember vowels are premium content DLC.
Umar Seeker of Truth
November 26, 2013 at 09:31
It’s fine I got the oxford season pass 😉 I think ahead bru
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 26, 2013 at 09:32
Those are UK-English vowels. You’ll have to buy compatibility packs for US- or ZA-English.
Umar Seeker of Truth
November 26, 2013 at 09:34
Damn this region-locking words!! The ZA word store has a limited number of words, such as voetsek and fok die kak
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 09:39
Those can’t be used against bosses though, you need the “Boks” DLC.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 26, 2013 at 09:44
Which you only got if you bought the game from Incredible Connection.
John's (JJ's) finest excuse
November 26, 2013 at 09:45
Oh snap
Anon A Mouse
November 26, 2013 at 09:50
I’ve read somewhere that EA made $100 million from micro transactions / add-on / what ever they call it, last year. That’s a lot of money made for almost nothing so I do believe that is the way the industry is going. And with always on being the norm in a year or two don’t be surprised if they’re going to charge you to play by the hour, like the whores they are.
InsanityFlea
November 26, 2013 at 09:57
This is where I find a new hobby.
Galbedir
November 26, 2013 at 10:17
Which is why the only company I am happy to throw my money at is CDprojekt and the Witcher series. Good guy developers. I remember when Witcher Enhanced Edition came out for consoles, and I was all like ‘awww’. Only to see that they just gave it for free to any PC users who had already purchased the Witcher 2. Thats the kind of service I like to see, and the kind of company that I will always be happy to give my hard earned cash to. I’ve always been a huge Battlefield fan, having the originals from Battlefield 1942-Battlefield 3, however I’ve decided to give Battlefield 4 a miss…sad sad days,
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 26, 2013 at 11:15
Me too. When they released Witcher 2 on GOG they gave everyone who bought it on Steam (like me because it was the cheapest) a free GOG key. And the enhanced editions are free upgrades for original owners. Witcher 3 is the only game I’m preordering, along with Cyberpunk 2077 depending on how it looks.
CypherGate
November 26, 2013 at 11:11
This are dark times…
Rags
November 26, 2013 at 11:31
These where they days:
http://liandri.beyondunreal.com/Unreal_Tournament#Bonus_Content
Matthew Holliday
November 26, 2013 at 12:33
What about battlefield 3 and 4?
R450 for premium, which gets you all the multiplayer exclusive DLC, but costs as much as the game did, but then the maps arent played in South Africa as much cus of the size of our player pool.
does that still count as a micro transaction?
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
November 26, 2013 at 12:41
Battlefield is a good example too; without a premium subscription, the base game becomes becomes a multiplayer snoozefest as the community is segregated, but for just two thirds of the price of the game itself, you get extra maps to play on.”
Matthew Holliday
November 26, 2013 at 16:36
I bought the game for R450 on pc, then premium is another R450 again.
its the same price as the actual game, premium actually cost more than the game on BF3.
The problem we have locally, is that our player pool isnt high enough to support 64 player DLC maps. at the moment, we have maybe 300 online at any given moment, of which we can imagine 1 in 5 people having premium.
thats one 64 man server full at any given time during the day, and maybe another 2 32 man servers during peak times.
Do you think that justifies the extra R450?
And people actually argued with me that “it would be worth it, because battlefield” when they released it on BF3…
BF3 turned into repeating the same 3 maps over and over, the premium servers were all empty.
UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy
November 26, 2013 at 12:35
I don’t REALLY have a problem with DLC. As long as the core game is worth the money and a solid play through on it’s own.
When the game starts needing the DLC then I get pissed.