Micro-transactions

[VideoGameCritic]

I know plenty of you are gung-ho about the future of on-line gaming, but I've been more guarded, mainly because of what I've seen happen in the PC game world.   In addition to my pet peeve of companies putting out broken games (and leaving it up to you to patch them up), some companies are banking on a new form of revenue called "micro-transactions"  While these will be touted by some game companies as "inexpensive ways to extend the life of your game", in fact, it could easily be used (or should I say MIS-used) to nickel-and-dime casual players out of features that would normally be available "out of the box".

In Monday's Wall Street Journal there's an interview with Electronic Arts CEO Lawrence Probst, who happens to be stepping down.  Check out this section of the interview:

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Probst: The microtransaction segment is beginning to develop pretty significantly.  You've probably heard the story about our FIFA online [soccer] game in Korea.  We did 1.4 million microtransactions at a price point of $1.60 on average [between Aug 1 and Dec 31 last year].

Wall Street Journal: You were selling uniforms for game characters and things like that?

Probst: Yes, power-ups, uniforms, shoes - let your imagination run wild.
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My point is, game companies are actively pursuing new ways to make money off of on-line gamers, and it's important that we don't buy into these scams.  First, it's uniforms, then it's teams, then it's playing modes, and then it's different difficulty levels.  As Probst put it, "let your imagnation run wild".

I'd like to hear your thoughts and concerns about this.

[JustLikeHeaven1]

If you're interested Critic, click on the link below...its a debate about microtranactions with industry experts.  When you click the link make sure to click on episode 3 part 1.

http://www.gametrailers.com/bonusround.php

Personally I feel that the only thing you should pay more for is stuff that adds to actual gameplay.  I don't mind shelling out $4.99 for a pack of multiplayer maps, or perhaps an added chapter to the single player game.  Yet I can only see myself doing it for games I REALLY enjoy.

If it got to the point where you had to spend $25 on an outfit for your golfer in Tiger Woods 08, I'll hang up my controller and retire from gaming.

[Paul Campbell]

This reminds me of the DVD vs. Divx format war back when DVD was new.  You would buy the movie disk for about $5, after which it would work on your Divx player for about 2 days.  At that point the disk locked up until you bought another 48 hour viewing period through your Divx player, which was hooked up to a phone line.  Companies like Disney loved the idea because of the multiple plays their movies get in homes with kids, which is exactly why families didn't seem to like the idea.  I'm glad it failed because I buy my DVD's a pawn shops now for $4, and they usually look new.

I wouldn't mind this feature nearly as much if it actually worked a little more like Divx, believe it or not.  If we didn't pay nearly as much for the new game, yet still got plenty of features with the disk, and then got to select which features we actually wanted based on our tastes or trial downloads, that might be bearable.  But you know that is not what they are gonna do.  At best they could break even with the money they are making right now. 

I think it's almost inevitable that features that are currently standard are going to need to be purchased if this system takes over.

[Edward M]

I agree 100 percent.   Never buy horse armor for 2 dollars or new clothes for Tiger Woods for 1.50.   You are enabling them.  Never ever do that, stuff like that should be free, expecially connsidering Xbox live costs money and the prices of games went up to 60.  But I don't want to rule out online purchases all together.  If they want to create expansion packs that are downloadable that are as good as PC expansion packs for a reasonable price, then that would be awesome (As long as DRM doesn't show its ugly foot if you need to redownload it or transfer it to another Xbox).   But these micro tranactions have got to go.

[Steerforth]

Its all about 'disposable' income. Look how much money people throw away on supeficial garbage for their cellphones. The money must pour in when people text votes on reality shows, or vote on the 'greatest college football moment' or some other meaningless poll on sports.

Additional content that comes out later for a 'complete' game is one thing, but no doubt this little trend will get more and more out of hand, until the consumer finally says, "Enough!"

I spose we will also see more adds in games, and I am instinctively negative on that, although Pikmin 2 for GC really did it in a clever, unoffensive way. The Dole sticker on the bannanas in Monkeyball wasn't so bad either. Of coures, the additional income these games presumeably raked in through these adds did not lower their purchase price. Its like commercials in movie theaters, just how much can you take?

[Alienblue]

The reason I love the Internet and Forums and E-mail is because, after I pay my local ISP fee, it's all free! No way I could afford to get on here if it cost a few bucks every time.

And for games, I don't like cyber-space only games! I want a game I can hold in my hands, be it cartridge or disc or DVD. I want to OWN the game (or particular copy of the game anyway). I would gladly pay ten bucks for an old school game like Time Pilot if someone put it on GBA cart (I know, it is on Konamis Arcade Action, I have it)...but ANY old game, I would buy even for PS2! If it's a good game I'll buy it-ONCE! I won't keep spending 5 bucks every time I want to play it-that's EXTORTION!

(By the way, in case anything happens to my hard drive I backed up all my computer games on ZIP disc-Uneverknow!)

[J.M. Vargas]

I'm all for micro-transactions... if the publishers sell the original game way below MSRP or free!  A barebones "FIFA '08" for $9.99 + extra modes + player uniforms + special teams = about $49.99 in the end.

[Atarifever1]

I think it makes sense in some cases.  Not everyone would want a Sevendust song for Guitar Hero, but if a pack of them were offered to download for the game (after I had already bought the actual Guitar Hero game with a good selection of songs) then for $10 or something, I'd be all over it.  It would improve the experience in games like Guitar Hero, DDR, Dneky Kongas, etc.  However, once th transactions are accepted, it is impossible that they will not get out of hand and destroy all that is good in gaming.  Eventually a game will cost $100+ to be worth "owning" and even then, half your game will likely be on temporary lease to you from the publisher.  This is not just a prediction, you can put that one down as prophecy. 

Glad I've sworn off modern gaming. 

[john-boy]

hopefully there will be loads of crack sites with all this stuff for free.

I'm pissed off with modern gaming - it's getting to be a chore. I've bought a DS but only seem to play retro style games on it.

[m0zart1]

[QUOTE=Atarifever]I think it makes sense in some cases.  Not everyone would want a Sevendust song for Guitar Hero, but if a pack of them were offered to download for the game (after I had already bought the actual Guitar Hero game with a good selection of songs) then for $10 or something, I'd be all over it.  It would improve the experience in games like Guitar Hero, DDR, Dneky Kongas, etc.  However, once th transactions are accepted, it is impossible that they will not get out of hand and destroy all that is good in gaming.  Eventually a game will cost $100+ to be worth "owning" and even then, half your game will likely be on temporary lease to you from the publisher.  This is not just a prediction, you can put that one down as prophecy.[/QUOTE]

I agree with the first part of what you said but not the second.  I think that pay-per-download content is a good idea in general, and I personally believe that the example you described is right on the money.  We're all willing to buy Guitar Hero II for what amounts to just a different song-list at full MSRP.  What about just downloading those songs in a pack to add to our original game?  Seems great in the abstract.  Personally, I prefer having hard media on disc or cart, so it isn't quite as appealing to me, but most gamers I know don't hold onto their old games anyway.  For them, downloadable content is perfect.

 

Same goes with other beefier examples.  I wouldn't mind playing new dungeons for Twilight Princess at this point.  That was hinted at in the past.  And I don't think it's out of the question for someone to download a new adventure package with new areas to explore, quests to fulfill, enemies to fight, etc., for Oblivion.  Again though, I would hope that there is an option to buy those bigger items on disc.  I prefer the idea of hard media.

 

The part I don't agree with is that this trend has to ruin gaming.  Right now it's a bit young, and we see mostly useless content available for download (outside of the game itself) -- silly things like costumes, etc.  I think personally that we should avoid buying things like that, and buy only those things that truly expand the game, and weren't reasonable to add to the game's initial release.  In such a situation, it would be more heavily encouraged for gaming companies to release truly great and worthwhile content and leave the minor stuff to the game's original package.