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Francis rages about Microtransactions

Microsoft approach now is to squeeze everything they can out of your wallet by providing just the minimum needed to get a demo like experience
 
Will be interesting to see comparisons on whats locked / isnt when GT 6 hits on the 5th / 6th of December. Wonder if Boogie / Francis will do a video on that.
 
The problem is games are getting more and more costly to make. I don't understand why developers keep trying to make these unprofitable games.
The game I used to play (Dungeon Fighter Online) supposedly has 300 million users across Asia.

If a publisher has one of these games, they'd be set for life. It's either massive success or epic flop.
 
Agreed. I just don't like the direction MS is trying to take gaming in. From all the crap they changed (DRM) to microtransactions. I refuse to support them as a company.

I'm a huge Xbox fanboy but I agree with you. It's pretty sad really but they only have themselves to blame.
 
Wow they even have the balls to sell people an XP boost? That is something I've only seen in F2P games. How long does it take to get the best cars in Forza 5 with out paying compared to Forza 4?
 
Wow they even have the balls to sell people an XP boost? That is something I've only seen in F2P games. How long does it take to get the best cars in Forza 5 with out paying compared to Forza 4?

Ahem

iirGcaIoG6iPH.gif


I know. Awful.
 
Because the fanbase "gamers" keep demanding more and more shiny graphics among other things, yet want to pay the exact same prices they always have been.
That's a misnomer in the world where a COD game that looks like garbage is the top-selling title on not one but 4 different release platforms and when the biggest selling games not named GTAV and The Last of Us this year are Minecraft and Pokemon X & Y.

Developers keep using that as a crutch to justify their bloated budgets but there's no correlation to great graphics and great sales to speak of when artistically gorgeous games like Rayman Legends and Okami sell like crap. And the proof is in the pudding when you have to ask why are they so keen on appeasing these supposed "graphic whore customers" whom are apparently deathly silent on GAF or have PC rigs (in which case console game publishers aren't even reaching them) and so keen on ignoring the rather outspoken fanbase "gamers" who are creating an uproar over microtransactions.
 
Agreed. I just don't like the direction MS is trying to take gaming in. From all the crap they changed (DRM) to microtransactions. I refuse to support them as a company.
It's why I'm stressing for the "worst company in America" awards that if we're going to target entertainment companies over doing stuff we don't like rather than big companies destroying lives then at least we shouldn't mindlessly focus on EA. Yeah, EA still does crap we don't like and some like the idea of them winning 3 times in a row, but Microsoft tried to pull more in the video game space in the last year, and generally as a platform holder can have even more influence on the course of the industry; EA may bring up scummy DLC, but Microsoft can actively force certain DLC policies as shown with L4D and I suspect that second day price hike on Sleeping Dogs's Halloween DLC. Heck, beyond games the direction for Office seems kind of shitty with one activation per computer UNLESS YOU SPRING FOR THEIR SUBSCRIPTION, people seem to be saying Azure and SkyDrive has actually been rotten for business, and twisting the definition of "Worst Company" to be "the one that does the crappiest job" can hold water just because sometimes it's hard to tell if Microsoft really has any idea what they're doing.
 
Ahem

iirGcaIoG6iPH.gif

I know. Awful.

Wrong game to post, bro.
Apparently, the microtransactions are shown once or twice and are not a core part of the game itself.

On the other hand, Forza makes you pay for virtual cars because reasons. And no. I don't care if you can get them for free yourself if you play 400+ hours. That's bum.
 
He's just fucking right. This is becoming ridiculous fast. Now you all just try to be responsible consumers and vote against stupid microtransactions everywhere the only way you can: with your wallet (or better said: without it)
 
Wrong game to post, bro.
Apparently, the microtransactions are shown once or twice and are not a core part of the game itself.

On the other hand, Forza makes you pay for virtual cars because reasons. And no. I don't care if you can get them for free yourself if you play 400+ hours. That's bum.
Plus it sounds like that Bravely Default microstransaction's basically for those who really, REALLY have trouble getting into games like RPGs period. If it was more prominently displayed throughout the game and it was balanced so you NEEDED it it'd be a different story, as is it's probably more like a single moment to grit your teeth through then move on. And if we keep seeing that .gif posted we probably will be too desensitized to even want to grit our teeth.
 
Wrong game to post, bro.
Apparently, the microtransactions are shown once or twice and are not a core part of the game itself.

On the other hand, Forza makes you pay for virtual cars because reasons. And no. I don't care if you can get them for free yourself if you play 400+ hours. That's bum.

I'm not saying they're equally annoying, not at all (however I still find it mood-breakingful awful)

I was just responding to the "just in F2P" bit.
 
Why would we buy a game we basically already have though. Besides, racing games are profitable - hugely popular worldwide. Just make decent improvements over the previous versions.

If it's not better, why should I buy it, for charity?

True, but, why does it always have to be better graphics that are the selling point? How about new modes, new courses, cars, race types, or other things?

This whole thing where we have to push to the edge is kind of hurting a lot of companies.
 
True, but, why does it always have to be better graphics that are the selling point? How about new modes, new courses, cars, race types, or other things?

This whole thing where we have to push to the edge is kind of hurting a lot of companies.

Problem is graphics are the easiest way to convince most people that it's an upgrade. It's hard to describe more realistic physics as a selling point for mass consumers but they're going to have to learn with diminishing returns on the graphics end. Better for games, not much for sales, increasing the price is not a good option imo.

They also have to put out less sequels and more DLC/expansions. Microtransactions just put people off your franchise except the most hardcore or silly rich, and I'm pretty sure they want more than just those guys buying it.
 
Fuck, every word of it is true.

And that ending? Golden.

"Maybe by the end of the generation I can spend another 60$ to not even install the game to beat it"

Indeed.

Go boogie.
 
His normal voice is a lot deeper than I expected lol... seen a lot of his Francis but never his real.

That said, I laughed pretty hard a couple times. It's an exaggeration but he makes a good point and his real analysis shows this better. Forza style micro-transactions are basically a way of leveraging their most dedicated consumers with higher profit margin items to be able to accept lower profit margins on a static $60 blockbuster price in relation to increasing budget* costs, so that overall they can achieve net profit margins more on par with generations of lower budget costs.

The problem I have with this is that it's not as simple as just ignoring the purchase content. You cannot ignore it because its inclusion impacts the game design that does affect me. You can be sure that when designer the grinding speed of Forza, it was influenced by micro-transactions. Facets of the experience, even the atmosphere, are impacted. When a grind can by bypassed through a micro-transaction, it does diminish it. Even if no one bought it, and I mean zero people bought it, just by knowing that the grind can technically be bypassed, it diminishes the value it has an accomplishment.

So my problem with it is, first when the game already has a regular price, and two when "ignore it" is proposed solution when it's not. Granted, ignore the game is a solution, but I don't want to ignore Forza. It's a great core game. I will, but I express my opinion on it because I don't want to have to ignore a great game in the future over it.

*assuming the budget of Forza would have had unrealistic $60 margins without these transactions, otherwise then they're not simply leverage their best customers but exploiting them
 
Wow that was brutal. Major just got demoted to private. Daaaaayuuum. I agree with everything he said, this is the most disgusting use of micro-transactions I have ever seen. Dead Space 3 got torn to shreds because of them, but Forza 5's are much, much worse. Damn it Microsoft, if you do this to Halo 5, the internet will break. Quantum break. Oh yeah I hope they don't do it to that game either. A$$holes.

(When is Jim going to talk about this one in-depth? Angry Joe? Meh, I'll check my Youtube now).

The Boogie video was really good. I agree with him that we should not only not buy the micro-transactions, but also not buy the game (ie. Forza 5). I don't want another generation ruined.
 
anyone else notice he almost dropped character there a few times?

MS should have known Forza wasn't going to make it's money back on the investment, it's probably the same with all the next gen exclusives. I don't see Sony making the money back they invested in KZ or Knack.

now it looks like MS is trying to cover some of the cost and ultimately pissing off the fan base.

MS is still the same company here. people like to say they did 180's and turned things around but it's business as usual at Microsoft. I didn't fall for it.
 
anyone else notice he almost dropped character there a few times?

MS should have known Forza wasn't going to make it's money back on the investment, it's probably the same with all the next gen exclusives. I don't see Sony making the money back they invested in KZ or Knack.
Actually it sounds like Knack was relatively cheap to produce or at least had a smaller budget. Killzone's another story, though they went with the season pass route and some cosmetic stuff rather than microtransaction hell.
MS is still the same company here. people like to say they did 180's and turned things around but it's business as usual at Microsoft. I didn't fall for it.
They're probably testing what they can get away with and back tracking from there. Which is a model probably better left to science experiments rather than the marketplace because of the resulting ill will: I know I'll be paying attention to what MS actually does microtransaction-wise with their games going forward as there's a very strong chance that it'll undermine the games I WOULD want an XB1 for, ergo I'd skip on the system entirely. Which was very likely anyway after how redundant the 360 turned out, but this could bury it further.
 
I dont understand. Francis is a character so he cant ask particular thing to Major Nelson but is not a character when he bash microtranslation on Forza 5?
 
The thing that gets me with Forza 5 is that you can't even drive all the cars in Free Play mode, even though you could in Forza 4.

That's just downright cynical.
 
I think Boogie needs to go 100% Boogie.
Francis was fun for a while, but Boogie is such a charming person that i'm starting to hate the Francis character now.
 
I think Boogie needs to go 100% Boogie.
Francis was fun for a while, but Boogie is such a charming person that i'm starting to hate the Francis character now.
Francis almost seems more like an excuse just to smash something. But from what I watched I kind of expect Francis actually would be better off as a character for skits as it were, whereas when he just wants to say something is probably better done as Boogie.
 

This is all good, and while it's possible to argue that all microtransactions are evil, there's always going to be a point where microtransactions are more or less devious. In Forza 5 specifically, since he brought that up, the issue seems to be not just that you can bypass the game as he clearly points out, but that the significantly stripped content (re: free play mode, less tracks to drive, and all those other things) just makes it that much more of a grind and it would perhaps have been good if he would gone it to that in a little bit more detail. But nonethless, it's good that he raises awareness to his viewers around the issue at large.
 
Francis almost seems more like an excuse just to smash something. But from what I watched I kind of expect Francis actually would be better off as a character for skits as it were, whereas when he just wants to say something is probably better done as Boogie.

Nah, i think his normal person is far better at telling things like they are.
I can't sit a Francis episode through anymore. I love watching/ listening to Boogie though.
Might be just me.
 
MS #1 worst company NA.

A really disgusting practice and pretty much all we can do is inform others and avoid supporting these companies.
 
I think Boogie needs to go 100% Boogie.
Francis was fun for a while, but Boogie is such a charming person that i'm starting to hate the Francis character now.

Yeap. I totally agree. Boogie comes out pretty real when he's himself, like no hidden agenda's or whatever. He just speaks his mind and his OPINIONS. And that's great.

Francis is a bit too much now, the furby one was pretty funny though, gotta admit!! :-P

Haven't watched this yet cause i'm at work but will definitely watch tonight. I never really knew about him until the recent NY invite by Sony and Major Nelson flying over there and shit. I subbed to his channel too, mostly for his boogie stuff.

Nah, i think his normal person is far better at telling things like they are.
I can't sit a Francis episode through anymore. I love watching/ listening to Boogie though.
Might be just me.

nah, it's not just you :P

francis comes out obnoxious and annoying, like a real life Eric Cartman (which I suppose this is the whole purpose of that character)
 
I'm amused by the fact that Boogie cited Blizzard expansions as the predecessors to DLC when in fact the very first game expansion disks were, oddly enough, extra cars for a driving game.

Back in 1989.
A driving game that is near and dear to my heart.
Test Drive II: The Duel.
Which, I owned for the Commodore 64 and then subsequently repurchased for the Amiga.
I still remember purchasing the Supercars and Muscle Cars floppy disks from my local computer shop (which was called Neutron Computers).

$T2eC16V,!wsE9suw)ph9BQvMvhzWJ!~~60_35.JPG


How many cars did you get on this disk? 5
You got a Lambourghini Countach, a Corvette ZR1, a Porsche 911 RUF, a Lotus Turbo Esprit... and, my favorite, a Ferrari Testarossa.
And it retailed for about $25 or thereabouts.

628815915_tp.jpg


The fun twist is this.
Test Drive II: The Duel was developed by Distinctive Software and published by Accolade.
This studio was purchased a couple years later in 1991 by Electronic Arts and remolded into EA Canada.

And who conceived the first ever expansion disk for a driving game back in 1989? Distinctive Software's co-founder... who happens to be this guy...

Don-Mattrick-president-Interactive-Entertainment-Business-at-Microsoft-1904037.jpg
 
Francis is his "attention getter" though. Without Francis most of us would have no idea who Boogie is, and the same is likely true for any future audience he has. So its important for him to keep that character around.
 
I'm amused by the fact that Boogie cited Blizzard expansions as the predecessors to DLC when in fact the very first game expansion disks were, oddly enough, extra cars for a driving game.

Back in 1989.
A driving game that is near and dear to my heart.
Test Drive II: The Duel.
Which, I owned for the Commodore 64 and then subsequently repurchased for the Amiga.
I still remember purchasing the Supercars and Muscle Cars floppy disks from my local computer shop (which was called Neutron Computers).

$T2eC16V,!wsE9suw)ph9BQvMvhzWJ!~~60_35.JPG


How many cars did you get on this disk? 5
You got a Lambourghini Countach, a Corvette ZR1, a Porsche 911 RUF, a Lotus Turbo Esprit... and, my favorite, a Ferrari Testarossa.
And it retailed for about $25 or thereabouts.

628815915_tp.jpg


The fun twist is this.
Test Drive II: The Duel was developed by Distinctive Software and published by Accolade.
This studio was purchased a couple years later in 1991 by Electronic Arts and remolded into EA Canada.

And who conceived the first ever expansion disk for a driving game back in 1989? Distinctive Software's co-founder... who happens to be this guy...

Don-Mattrick-president-Interactive-Entertainment-Business-at-Microsoft-1904037.jpg

Mind. Blown.
 
I love this guy:

"You know, like in Candy Crush, they'll be like, 'do you want to spend $2 on some donuts?', and I thought that sounded like a pretty good deal 'cos I'm already spending more than that at Krispy Kreme."

Awesome.
 
Amazing video, all true.

Boogie you have so many followers now, why not start a campaign against this crap? Like a serious campaign. The suits would have to listen and we might be able to curb these sons of bitches!
 
I think Boogie needs to go 100% Boogie.
Francis was fun for a while, but Boogie is such a charming person that i'm starting to hate the Francis character now.

If you saw his other video that basically is the purpose of Francis is to drive people insane.
 
I'm amused by the fact that Boogie cited Blizzard expansions as the predecessors to DLC when in fact the very first game expansion disks were, oddly enough, extra cars for a driving game.

Back in 1989.
A driving game that is near and dear to my heart.
Test Drive II: The Duel.
Which, I owned for the Commodore 64 and then subsequently repurchased for the Amiga.
I still remember purchasing the Supercars and Muscle Cars floppy disks from my local computer shop (which was called Neutron Computers).

$T2eC16V,!wsE9suw)ph9BQvMvhzWJ!~~60_35.JPG


How many cars did you get on this disk? 5
You got a Lambourghini Countach, a Corvette ZR1, a Porsche 911 RUF, a Lotus Turbo Esprit... and, my favorite, a Ferrari Testarossa.
And it retailed for about $25 or thereabouts.

628815915_tp.jpg


The fun twist is this.
Test Drive II: The Duel was developed by Distinctive Software and published by Accolade.
This studio was purchased a couple years later in 1991 by Electronic Arts and remolded into EA Canada.

And who conceived the first ever expansion disk for a driving game back in 1989? Distinctive Software's co-founder... who happens to be this guy...

Don-Mattrick-president-Interactive-Entertainment-Business-at-Microsoft-1904037.jpg

Shiat... People never change...
 
I've know his videos for a while now and i always liked it/ thought it was funny. I just don't anymore. I rather listen to Boogie.

Well then you should be happy to the fact that he seems to be more into also making more boogie vids to accompany the francis ones.
 
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