The Slippery Slope now That is Microtransactions

[The3rdWalker 1,264]

Let me preface that this was taken from a user on Reddit, I was not happy with the ability to buy infusible, legendary armor with stat rolls on it. This thread just so happened to pop up and it addresses my concerns.

 

Black Ops 3

 

11/6/15 - Game launched. A supply drop system is in the game using exclusively cryptokeys - a currency obtained by completing multiplayer matches - to open supply drops for a chance at camos, reticles, calling cards, specialist themes (the clothes your player wears, cosmetic), taunts, gestures you get the idea. All strictly cosmetic items.

 

12/15/15 - A patch is released, with three new weapons available in supply drops. Along with other things in there (All for free). These weapons are essentially reskins of the combat knife, the melee weapon in the game. They practically don't alter the game. These melee weapons are also extremely rare, estimated to be a 0.8% chance or lower. Community was cool with it. CoD points are also introduced. A currency you buy with real money to open supply drops with.
 

2/9/16 - New patch (Side note these aren't the only patches that take place, only the ones relating to what I'm talking about). This time with 5 new weapons. Two of them are melee, reskins. But three of them are bullet firing weapons. This is where it starts. Shit gets serious and public outcry commences.
3/22/16 - Despite the obvious outlash, 5 new weapons are added with 2 of them being bullet weapons.

 

How This Applies to Destiny

 

Point is, Activision is the same publisher. And there is heavy evidence that suggests that Treyarch did not want to add in these microtransactions but Activision made them (Can't find the posts at this time). BO3 can be used to predict what will happen to Destiny. The similarities cannot be ignored.

 

• Release microtransactions already a good way into the game. Silver anybody?
• Microtransactions can only get cosmetic items.
• Slowly introduce game altering items into game. But you can get them without paying!
   

This sterling treasure thing is shockingly similar to supply drops they even have an opening animation when they know that wasn't required. We got truly only cosmetic things at first. Emotes, masks. Then SRL came with the record book. Whatever. Now sterling treasure which you can technically get without paying. They could have easily made that gear 280 or something when you think about. The 1:1 infusion was probably influenced by the sterling treasure as well. What I'm trying to say is, show your distaste before it's too late. Some people are okay with microtransactions and even though I disagree, it's your opinion. Just don't wait until Destiny 2 comes out with microtransactions being a core part of the game to jump on the bandwagon that will ultimately do nothing because it's too late. The "Before all the cod points hate" post was exactly how this sub was when silver was introduced. There were also posts like this one when silver was announced, but the majority didn't listen. I'd hate to see the prophecy come true. Put a frog near boiling water and it'll hop right out. But put him in nice cool water and slowly turn up the heat...

[The3rdWalker 1,264]

Not to mention you can now "buy" reputation boosters. Buy treasures -> more rep -> faster faction ranks -> more weapons / armor from factions. This game could be on it's way to pay to win over the next 6 months or so.

[JsinOwl 644]

Hrmmm, microtransactions are fine in F2P games, when paying full price, I expect the full game in return. Methinks Activision wants to have their cake and eat it too.

[J4MES OX4D 9,889]

Activision games are moving towards pay to win and gambling. Now you have the base game (full price) season passes (about 90% price of the main game) microtransactions (specific cosmetic and in-game items) and now there is this other revenue stream that is popping up in their games and other AAA tiles which is a RNG gamble on in-game items (guns, stats, cosmetics etc..)

 

No doubt Activision were inspired by the likes of EA Sports's success with FIFA UT packs where players would spend double figures a month on these gambles despite not having any chance-based data disclosed or how the algorithms work. It's a grey area but companies are milking it before the laws get tightened in regards to age restrictions and win% disclosure.

 

It's great business for them and people are willing to ply hundreds of bucks on this chance-based gamble of a system. It has proven a massive success on Call of Duty whereby the publishers have been able to mitigate their losses on the 10m+ users who don't buy their games anymore because they've gone to shit. I think Advanced Warfare grossed massively due to Supply Drops despite selling like crap and when you have the likes of Ali-A and Tmartn grooming their users into buying them; Activision's vision of greed continues to thrive and this aspect will be present in all their games until the legality issues clamp down and restrict them. 

 

Microtransactions are not too bad as you get what you pay for but these cryptokeys/supply drops/packs and all that shit is a completely different thing and you are gambling against change and an algorithm that doesn't give you any idea of your win chances. 

[The3rdWalker 1,264]

So it's like Candy Crush now. Something to the likes of 2.5% of all players spent real money, but grossed $1.33 billion.

[techno 3,491]

I know Activision is not guilt free in all this but they are in the business of making money but the blame has to also be dropped at the consumer, the idiots that buy these microtransactions.

I've never bought or ever will buy a cod point because as stated it's a gamble however I have bought specific items before.

There does seem to be at least some backlash for both the cod community and even some youtubers over these supply drops but until people vote with there wallets they will not go away.

[Sennex 1,903]

It is getting to the point for me that I will wait for a GOTY edition of a game. I no longer want to spend more money on any of this.

 

I keep thinking of Borderlands 1, I picked up the GOTY with all the DLC for $20.

 

Minecraft, I spent $20 on, it has huge levels of support from Mojangg still. 

 

I guess my price point is $20

[JsinOwl 644]

That's my price point as well except for multiplayer games that I play with people here.

[The3rdWalker 1,264]

It is getting to the point for me that I will wait for a GOTY edition of a game. I no longer want to spend more money on any of this.

 

I keep thinking of Borderlands 1, I picked up the GOTY with all the DLC for $20.

 

Minecraft, I spent $20 on, it has huge levels of support from Mojangg still. 

 

I guess my price point is $20

The handsome collection was a steal in my eyes.

[Sennex 1,903]

Sadly I really didnt' enjoy BL2, so I avoided anything after that one. The only reason I put as much time into it as I did was that my son enjoyed it

[cyberninja2601 1,105]

Few things from my point of view

 

1) Micro transactions are there because games are not getting the revenue they use to and companies like Activision have a responsibility to their share holders. If you look at their revenue statements, the downloadable revenue had been going down. This is a way to try to get it back up

2) A lot of people just get a few things here and there because they are real cheap and don't notice/care. At $2-3 per transaction people don't sweat it. Next thing you know 20 Million people buy shit they really didn't need that cost the company almost nothing.

3) Many people don't have the time to put in to level stuff up so they don't mind taking a short cut. I've done that myself on BF games. With the fuck do I want to level the recon when I use it less than 5% if the time if I can pay $5 to get all the gear when I want/need to use it

4) As mentioned as long as people are willing to pay, companies will do it. The solution is pretty simple, if no one where to buy it (Cod Elite anyone), it will simply go away

[TigerBurge 2,374]

The sales alone on Destiny,CoD and other AAA titles alone make enough revenue,then throw in DLC they make more. DLC now are all content locked on disc any way so you're not getting anything that wasn't there for the most part. All these little additions should be free to people who buy the game and purchased the season pass.

[JsinOwl 644]

How can video game companies not be getting the revenue they used to?

[TigerBurge 2,374]

How can video game companies not be getting the revenue they used to?

They make more. They have to be.

[TigerBurge 2,374]

Yeah they aren't struggling. 4.65 billion revenue

http://venturebeat.com/2015/11/03/activisions-1-04b-earnings-surged-past-expectations-last-quarter/

Here's a complete list. Revenue is in billions https://newzoo.com/insights/rankings/top-25-companies-game-revenues/

[The3rdWalker 1,264]

The new Year 1 330 legendary weapons can only be achieved in packages from ranking up a faction.... Which you can buy with money... (Rep boosters)

Destiny will be uninstalled now.

[JsinOwl 644]

I understand it's a business, but my whole thing is that this shit is losing strategy in the long term because it will alienate players and when an alternative comes along they will jump ship. Perfect example is Witcher 3, made by independent studio CD Projekt Red and distributed by Warner Brothers. Those fuckers did it right and now have a massive reservoir of goodwill and postivie press. I will buy their next game, cyberpunk 2077 the day it drops full price no questions asked because I trust them and want to support them. That's the strategy for long term success and ultimately more dollars IMO.

[cyberninja2601 1,105]

Revenues are a concern for the board or director and shareholders.  The activision fiscal reports which are legal requirements state  (no marketing bullshit)

 

 

Activision 

 

Product sales in december 2015 quarter   $711M

Subscription sales                                      $642M

Total                                                            $1353M   

 

Product sales in december 2015 quarter   $1094M

Subscription sales                                      $481M

Total                                                            $1575M

 

Key observations

 

the December Quarter is the holidays quarter where Cod and Destiny are released 

Product sales from 2014 to 2015 are down about 30%

Subscription sales from 2014 to 2015 however are up about 50%

 

For fiscal year 2015 

 

Product sales in                                         $2447M

Subscription sales                                      $2217M

Total                                                            $4667M

 

For fiscal 2014    

 

Product sales in                                         $2786M

Subscription sales                                      $1623M

Total                                                            $4406M        

 

Key observations

 

Product sales in 2015 are down around $300M

Subscriptions sales are up around $600M  

Totals sales up around $260M

 

 

 

Subscription, licensing and other revenues represent revenues from World of Warcraft subscriptions, licensing royalties from our products and franchises, value-added services, downloadable content, and other miscellaneous revenues.

 

 

So game sales are down but they are making up the revenue with DLCs and other downloads. 

 

 

http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/ACTI/1803618832x0x879468/F09D2E95-3D63-48EA-B59D-01E15CC991E7/Q4_2015_ATVI_Earnings_Press_Release.pdf

[Docwagon 856]

To play Devil's Advocate, seeing as other than the Iron Banner event this has absolutely no impact on anyone other than the person buying vs grinding...why should I care?

 

In a PvP game, I totally get it.  Buy this DLC or box o' treasure or whatever to get an advantage over the slobs who don't, the "pay to win" microtransaction, got it.  In a PvE game, though?

 

I'm a bit more ass-chapped about the cost of the Fallout 4 season pass, personally.  $50?  And you're going in blind about what all you're going to get?  Fuck that sideways.