Microtransactions

[That Zephyr Guy]

What are your thoughts on microtransactions?

I personally find them fine as long as it doesn't prohibit normal play of the game itself. The kind that perturb me are the kind that make the game literally impossible to play without them. ("Buy some crystals? to make this game not move at a snail's pace!")

I guess the best examples of microtransactions I can think of come from MMOs and MOBAs. In most MMOs you can be a top-tier player off of the base content, and the purchasable content is usually cosmetic (like Maplestory), and in MOBAs you can spend the money on either heroes (which are unlockable with in-game currency) or you can unlock skins for your heroes.


I'll find myself spending 20 bucks on League every month or two because the way I see it is that it's a game that I spend a lot of time on, so spending money on a relatively free game that brings me a lot of entertainment is just fine.

 

[DarkDesertFox]

I don't like them. Especially if it offers an advantage over others. One time when I was a complete moron addicted to this app, I spent a total of like over $400 purchasing this currency called "Gralats" over my few years of playing the game. By doing so, I could upload my custom bodies, heads, shields, swords, etc. which actually got me into pixel art a bit. So I guess what I'm saying is another downside is they can be addictive and tempting purchases in certain games.

 

[seliph]

I hate them 'cause it's totally dumb that I spend $5 or more on a sword that just looks cool but I'm totally gonna do it! and they know I'm gonna do it they read me like a book i hate it

 

[skout]

I agree with you op. I am fine with them unless they provide some sort of advantage to the game over those who don't pay, because then you are just paying to be better at the game.

My favorite MMOs have cash shops but they are all cosmetic features so I don't have an unfair advantage over other users. Also, the MMOs I play are free to play so I honestly don't mind spending money every now and then on them, and really I don't see it any differently than people spending money on other hobbies like sports, collecting, etc.

 

[Mariah]

I will not pay for any item or currency within a video game with real money.

 

[pillow bunny]

the only microtransactions I've made was buying pokemon bank. I would never buy currency in a game

 

[Squidward]

I think they're fine as long as they're selling things such as costumes, mounts etc. but selling anything that affects the gameplay itself is not really cool.

 

[boujee]

Depends. I do micropurches on line play. I wouldn't spend money on games like Clash of Clans, subway runner, etc. Things that requires me to continue playing or I need whatever game currency to build something faster or to revive myself.

 

[Acruoxil]

I don't mind paying for something like a custom clothing like Dota 2. But in general Micro-transactions are pathetic.

 

[DJStarstryker]

DLC is as far as I go, and I don't even like that too much.

I don't do microtransactions. But it's easy to avoid since I don't play F2P or MMOs.

 

[demoness]

i have a kinda tempered view of them. i don't think they're the end of the industry or whatever melodrama people say now, and that's saying something because i'm usually more anti-capitalist, but i can see the anti-consumerism in buying a game full price and then dealing with micro payments that unbalance the game or restrict content and pressure you to participate. for something like a f2p mmo or moba or even one that is subscription based, you could argue they're money sinks because some competitive experiences are just $60, but those kinda games also occupy a lot of time and it's unlikely its players are buying 12+ games a year like say people that exclusively play home console kinda games so it probably evens out. that said, some people just have money to spend, some maybe their entire recreation is gaming so buying something like a skin or optional bonuses often is entirely where luxury goes. it's when these transactions restrict something super valuable to basic enjoyment to the moneybags of the world i'll start complaining.

i don't really want to outright reject the concept though because if someone really is happy with a value i find a waste i mean it's not my place to say anything because um i have sunk money in so many small otherwise pointless game micro-transactions let me tell you, especially skins or outfits i find mega cute.

 

[meowlerrz]

as much as I'm tempted to I try not to spend real money on games.

 

[EpicGamer12]

I obviously avoid pay to win games. In general, Micro transactions are fine. Although one could weakly argue that the effects a special cosmetic item subliminally has on the mind could improve gameplay. But who cares anyway.

 

[Tao]

It really depends on a case by case basis and what exactly we're classing as microtransaction or DLC since the line between them can be blurry these days, but in general:

- If a game cost ?50/$60, it probably shouldn't have microtransactions.

- If a game has a monthly subscription fee (mostly PC. Not including PS+/XBL since I'm unsure how sub fee's are split with those), it shouldn't have microtransactions. The sub fee should be enough to cover everything and if not, they should probably reevaluate how they generate income since sub fees clearly aren't working for them.

- If a game makes it in some way harder/tedious for me to play without throwing down the cash, then **** that game.

- Microtransactions, especially in a multiplayer environment, shouldn't provide benefit to the player. I flat out refuse to play those.

- Microtransactions in a 'free to play' or 'buy to play' game, especially an MMO, are okay as long as their inclusion is reflected by a reduction in advertisements. I don't want ads everywhere, but I also can't expect an 'ongoing' game to improve and keep adding content without a steady source of income.

- If a company disguises microtransactions as neat little collectible ?11-?15 figures of my favorite characters that I can't resist buying, **** that company. Stop exploiting my one weakness.

 

[xiaonu]

What are your thoughts on microtransactions?

I personally find them fine as long as it doesn't prohibit normal play of the game itself. The kind that perturb me are the kind that make the game literally impossible to play without them. ("Buy some crystals? to make this game not move at a snail's pace!")

I guess the best examples of microtransactions I can think of come from MMOs and MOBAs. In most MMOs you can be a top-tier player off of the base content, and the purchasable content is usually cosmetic (like Maplestory), and in MOBAs you can spend the money on either heroes (which are unlockable with in-game currency) or you can unlock skins for your heroes.


I'll find myself spending 20 bucks on League every month or two because the way I see it is that it's a game that I spend a lot of time on, so spending money on a relatively free game that brings me a lot of entertainment is just fine.

please tell me you're joking about maple.
that game is the worst example.
before cubes, potential stamps, nebulites, and other gear enhancements, its nearly impossible to "fund" your damage to be even mediocre to attempt an intermediate boss. (because nobody plays in teams anymore on that game since damage became a big deal).

Its one thing to pay your way to enhancing gear, but maplestory is entirely a *gamble*. you can't just pay money and then have great results. No. you have to gamble your money in hopes of getting good stats. Yeah, its not necessary to buy, but it does divide the community by a lot. I funded my gear, only for it to be obsolete in a few years due to nexon adding more ways to gamble your way to damage and making bosses impossible to kill, and increasing the damage cap again.

On to cosmetics: It's all temporary garbage for 3 months. $3-$4 for a temporary pixel shirt. It's always been like that until enough people complained about it. (Because KMS has always had permanent items yet GMS never has). So what do they do? They make surprise boxes... A gamble!! As usual. You can gamble your way into getting permanent cosmetic clothing in hopes you like the item, or BUY a temporary shop and hope that the ugly things you got sell for mesos.

END RANT.

But yes, I do love microtransactions. I love character customization, and most of the mmorpgs I play , I specifically seek that feature. I have no problem shelling out money in cosmetic, permanent items and funding my character if the game if really fun. I've played maple for years. It was a great game, but its run its course. I enjoy tera too, love the mounts and outfits. I bought cute clothes on Maplestory 2 beta, and its really cute. I like expressing myself in game, it really motivates me to play.

 

[That Zephyr Guy]

-Rant snip-

In all honesty I haven't play Maple on the Nexon servers in years so I don't remember how bad it actually was. My idea of it is really a 7 year old memory that's admittedly not the most accurate. The servers I played on dropped all that stuff as normal loot so I probably forgot you had to pay for them.

 

[KaydeeKrunk]

They're addictive and horrible, I spend money on FR which is horrible... but I can't stop, thankfully I'm not ultra devout like some people, my friend sold a dragon on there to a man for "Gems" and he literally spent like $100 from each of his checks on gems for a few months just to buy this ONE dragon from her... I will maybe spend 20 here and there when something really cool and new comes out... still bad but not as bad.

4 years ago though I played some stupid app game and kept spending money on the in-game money and ended up spending like 500$ on a stupid pointless game because like you said the game was basically at a stand still and so I bought all this stuff to make it move faster and to pass my friends and stuff... it was pointless.

To me it's not far off from buying the stuff like amiibo cards, do you really need them? No, but you want them and they help you get what you want faster.

 

[Serine_Sapphire88]

I should probably consider myself lucky I don'y play MMO's or mobile app games. They don't interest me much.