Reminder that microtransactions don't inherently make games worse.

Colonel J·5/19/2019, 11:45:41 AM·4 votes·1,638 views

I see alot of entitled gamers lately rating games poorly simply for containing microtransactions, like lootboxes, that have little to no bearing on the actual game. This is completely ridiculous and hypocritical because these very same entitled gamers do not hold other companies to the same "muh ethical business practices" or "muh pro-consumer" views. These same entitled gamers have little care for the business practices of Apple and Nike for example. I wouldn't be surprised if these entitled gamers even own some of the above products or products from other companies who engage in even more saddening behavior. Either way, these entitled gamers care very little for what others do and should stop acting all high and mighty with all their finger-wagging.

Games are about having fun and if microtransactions actively prevent you from having fun, that isn't simply them existing in the first place, then fine rate the game worse, but don't go around saying games are bad simply for having them.

32 Comments

SuicidePlank5/19/2019, 11:49:36 AM5 votes

I liked buying AoE in the store and just playing it. Now I would need several day one patches and different Nations would be DLC, also Lootboxes for no reason would be shoved in. I don't want to pay for anything in my already paid game.

Project Xayah5/21/2019, 4:56:29 AM2 votes

[{quoted}](name=Colonel J,realm=NA,application-id=yrc23zHg,discussion-id=2nmEkzrh,comment-id=,timestamp=2019-05-19T11:45:41.832+0000)

I see alot of entitled gamers lately rating games poorly simply for containing microtransactions, like lootboxes

I'm going to stop you right there. To be clear, "micro-transactions" and "lootboxes" are not the same thing. Micro-transactions are a system that is designed to prey on "barely fun" features in games (such as making players wait for things to happen) and giving players the option to circumvent those "barely fun" walls by spending small amounts of money (generally, $5 or less). Micro-transactions are designed to effectively hide the actual amount that players are spending on a game so that they think along the lines of "oh, it's only $1, I can afford that" but ultimately spending much more than they can afford, because they simply lose track.

Lootboxes, on the other hand, are designed to prey on the addictive tendencies of a very small portion of users (in much the same way as gambling devices, such as slot machines) by using flashy colours and effects, and generating a "positive feedback loop" that triggers the release of "happy chemicals" in the brain. Lootbox system may utilise micro-transactions as a way to "boost" their profits, but they can also be used effectively alongside "macro-transactions" (such as in LoL) to generate large amounts of profit off a very small portion of users, and can even be tied directly to other exclusive content to promote further usage (again, LoL is a good example of that).

little to no bearing on the actual game.

Again, I'm going to stop you there. There are many cases where micro-transaction and lootboxes have a significant bearing on the actual game, even if they're not utilised in the gameplay itself. LoL is a good example of that, because it is, quite simply, overrun with lootboxes. Seriously, take a few minutes to really look at the state of LoL right now. Look at all the "reward" systems that exist in-game and look at what they all (save one) have in common. That's right, it's lootboxes!

Now you might be thinking "oh, but they're only cosmetic, and they're free! What's the harm?" but you'd be dead wrong. For one thing, they are most certainly not only cosmetic. In case you haven't realised, the levelling system and earning Blue Essence (the primary, "free" currency in LoL), and subsequently earning champions, is based almost solely around the existence of lootboxes, in the form of "levelling" capsules. Instead of being able to earn the basic currency directly (save from FWotD, which gives only a trivial amount), players are instead forced to actively use lootboxes just to fill out their champion pool. This is among the first lootbox based systems to be introduced to LoL, and I believe that Riot has intentionally done so as a way to "train" the community into thinking that lootboxes are normal and that they shouldn't worry about how many there are in-game.

Now if you think there's no harm because they're largely free, think again. Providing "free samples" is a tactic that is used by DRUG DEALERS to get people addicted, and subsequently spending money they don't have, on their products. What Riot is doing is using the same kind of tactics that have proven so effective for drug dealers, to get as many people addicted as possible, all for the sake of profit, and dam the consequences, and there are more than a few companies out there who use these tactics.

Ultimately, these tactics are ruining the game by their very presence, because, for many players, they need a steady supply of these "products" in order to get that "happy chemical" trigger in their brain and actually get enjoyment out of the game. For them, it's not about anything actually in-game that they enjoy, it's all about that addictive "positive feedback loop" that's built into things like lootboxes, and they'll ultimately spend as much money as it takes to get that.

The bottom line is that these tactics should be largely condemned, and that we, as a community, should genuinely care when games are being actively flooded with these immoral and dangerous tactics, just because some guy who does fuck all while everyone else does all the work wants a thicker wallet.

If you don't see the issue here, you're part of the problem.

Darkdemon6535/19/2019, 11:54:22 AM1 votes

Your ultimate point is fine, but everything else about your post and philosophy is garbage.

CLG ear5/19/2019, 12:07:28 PM1 votes

would you go on a date with Kai'sa

Colonel J5/21/2019, 3:57:19 AM1 votes

No one ever addressed the hypocrisy of these entitled gamers :/

Destaice5/21/2019, 6:42:48 AM1 votes

While I’ll agree on the grounds that purely cosmetic micros are okay since they’re ignorable I don’t think you should expect gamers to care about the shoe industry