As a veteran gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a sense of disillusionment when it comes to modern gaming practices. The once pristine world of video games has been tainted by the insidious and pervasive presence of microtransactions.
Gamers often express frustration when they discover that highly anticipated games contain microtransactions. Introduced as an additional feature in modern gaming, these small transactions involving real-world currency have transformed the experience of fully enjoying games into one where every penny is extracted from players. Over time, this practice has evolved into a parasitic one.
Today’s newly launched games often face criticism for excessive use of microtransactions, which has become a growing concern. A look back at some of the most egregious examples of microtransactions in video game history might provide valuable insights. Regrettably, it seems that big publishers continue to disregard these lessons.
Horse Armor DLC in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Back in the day, I remember the Horse Armor DLC for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion as one of the earliest instances of microtransactions. It wasn’t the first, but it certainly paved the way for this model that we see so prevalently today. Initially priced at $2.50, I never thought this concept would endure until now. It truly was a pioneer in its field.
Initially, the gaming community rejected the notion. Players believed that no one would be enticed by it and wouldn’t spend extra money on cosmetics in a video game. However, today, gamers are often expected to pay up to $100 for exclusive skins. The community now considers the Horse Armor DLC as the spark that initiated this trend.
Item enhancers in Pokemon Unite
Over the last couple of years, I’ve noticed that Pokemon games have been quite a hot topic, and for good reason. One game that has drawn a lot of criticism is Pokemon Unite, the mobile MOBA spinoff. When it initially came out, it was a smashing success. However, there was one significant issue with it.
During Pokemon Unite, you could upgrade your Pokemon’s gear using item enhancers, giving an edge before starting a match. These upgrades can be obtained for free, but they require a lot of effort (grinding). The game provides the option to spend real money to skip this effort and instantly boost these enhancers instead.
Besides causing problems through its parasitic business approach, it also significantly interfered with the pairing process in games. Frequently, matches would be unbalanced because players with fully upgraded equipment always had an edge. Developers attempted to resolve this by simplifying the progression for free users, but the issue was severe enough to garner criticism.
Extra features and costumes in Dead or Alive 6
For many of its releases, the Dead or Alive series held its ground against fellow combat-style games within the industry. However, similar to other examples here, questionable business tactics led to a decline in game quality over time.
Dead or Alive 6 appears to have shifted its focus towards a fashion-centric experience rather than traditional combat. Now, I’m not implying that this is a negative change, but it seems that the game has become overly expensive with its season passes, costume bundles, and even hair color options! The total cost of owning the entire game comes close to $500!
VCs and Player Packs in NBA 2K
For quite some time now, NBA 2K series has been under fire within the gaming community due to the consistent lack of change in its gameplay. Regrettably, the developers have shown minimal effort to rectify this issue as the game maintains a relatively casual user base that appears content with the status quo. In recent years, however, the game has drawn in ‘high-spenders’, or players who are willing to invest money to enhance their multiplayer characters.
Virtual currencies (VCs) have drawn criticism from gamers who wish to play without incurring additional costs. For instance, a game like Pokemon Unite suffers from poor matchmaking when most opponents pay for their characters, effectively turning them into future sports stars like Michael Jordan. If a player chooses to spend money, they’ll find every shot lands perfectly. However, unlike Pokemon Unite, this practice persists year after year without the publishers taking any corrective action.
Post-launch microtransactions in Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled
You can consistently rely on Activision to generate revenue from every intellectual property (IP) they possess. This becomes clear with each new release of Call of Duty, as it demonstrates their pursuit of financial gain in various forms. However, the most disappointing addition of microtransactions emerges from a game that was once cherished, tarnished by Activision’s apparent desire to profit at the expense of its players.
Enthusiastic older gamers were overjoyed when Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled debuted, as it beautifully recaptured the charm of the original games. Yet, just a few weeks after its launch, Activision subtly introduced microtransactions, disguised as Wumpa Coins for in-game unlockables. Earning these Wumpa Coins without spending money can be frustrating due to intense online competition and unbalanced rewards.
Loot boxes in Star Wars Battlefront II
Just as the eagerly awaited John Williams-composed theme for the series generated great excitement, so too did the unveiling of Star Wars Battlefront II. The anticipation alone might have ensured the game’s success and financial gains. However, it appears that Electronic Arts couldn’t resist the lure of additional profits even after such high expectations.
Those who purchased the Deluxe Editions of the game felt disillusioned upon realizing that playing iconic figures such as Darth Vader demanded extensive grinding. Not only did players have to spend extra to access these characters, but they also had to pay more upfront than the initial cost.
The mistake made in Star Wars Battlefront II was so massive that not only gamers but also the Belgian government intervened to rectify the issue. Luckily, the game has undergone substantial improvements since then, and they’ve even streamlined their progression systems to alleviate the excessive grind when playing favorite characters.
In certain aspects, the gaming community may exhibit harmful behavior, but it can unite strongly against microtransactions. It’s high time for microtransactions to become obsolete and allow gamers to fully enjoy their gaming experiences when they purchase a game. Unfortunately, as long as we continue to buy them, publishers will persist in including them until the end of days.
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2024-11-21 01:12